It's that time of year to get all caught up in one of pop culture's most self-indulgent events, the Grannys . . . I mean the Grammys.
I always chuckle to myself remembering when a friend asked me why, since I am so involved in music, do I not watch American Idle. . . I mean American Idol. Groping for words, it was difficult to explain that my love of music is a love of music and not a love of pop culture. And these days, with an exponentially larger number of avenues from which to obtain music than when I was a kid, I no longer have to settle for what the corporate music monopolies offer me. . . and I don't.
Not that I'm criticizing. There's room in this big ole world for all of us with our many and varied tastes. Just understand that it is a big ole world and there's lots more from which to choose. But you have to open your eyes (or your ears) and find it.
So, Rock on Granny! (I mean Grammy)
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. . . may well be the malady from which I suffer. . .I am a consumerproduchondriac. . .
. . . a disease that is spread through the saliva of blututhious devisus (pictured above) when injected, unbeknownst to you, into your ear canal. Symptoms of the disease include the inability to make telephone contact with the person that you contact most, using the voice command feature. All functions famously until the voice tells you, "calling mobile 1" and then nothing happens.
Consumerproduchondria can also be contracted through other consumer products, as I well know, and manifests itself in that the consumer product (or some specific function thereof) will, for some odd reason, work.
You know that it is consumerproduchondria specifically when you scour the manual that accompanies your product at purchase, and there is mention of nothing remotely resembling your situation to be found. Identification of the disease becomes confirmed when you speak to a real customer service representative and they say, "I've never heard of that before."
The only remedy to this debilitating condition is a conscientious manufacturer with sympathetic customer service reps who will happily replace your item a little or no cost to you. If you cannot locate the remedy at your local pharmacy, take two aspirin and call me in the morning.
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(from the Denver Post)
". . . On Thursday, the Senate voted 96-3 in
favor of new restrictions designed to keep lawmakers from trading stocks
based on inside information gleaned from their legislative roles.
Democratic Sens. Michael Bennet and Mark Udall supported the bill.The
measure also would ban legislators from sharing insider knowledge with
others who would make trades on it. In addition, federal lawmakers
would be required to disclose their trading activity. The measures also
would apply to some members of the executive branch. No doubt,
it's a good thing. It's also an idea that has been kicking around since
2006. But it wasn't until "60 Minutes" and others in the media recently
began reporting on the issue that it was put on the fast track in
Congress. . . "
(from Jack Abramoff: Members Of Congress Engaged In
Insider Trading Doug Mataconis)
". . . This is the kind of thing that only serves to increase public cynicism
about government, of course. It strikes me that if it’s illegal for a
corporate officer to engage in stock trades based on information that
comes to him based on his position, it should be illegal for a Member of
Congress or a member of his staff to do this same. The legal position
that the information they base their decisions on is “public” because
its in Congress is a legal fiction. In reality, as noted above, these
people have knowledge about the timing of legislation and hearings, and
the likelihood that a particular bill with pass that an ordinary
investor does not. It’s either all illegal, or not [none] of it is. . . "
Vote them ALL OUT this election!!!
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Gingrich goes too far to say Obama has
put more on the rolls than other presidents. We asked the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition service for
month-by-month figures going back to January 2001. And they show that
under President George W. Bush the number of recipients rose by nearly
14.7 million. Nothing before comes close to that. And under Obama, the increase so far has
been 14.2 million. To be exact, the program has so far grown by 444,574 fewer
recipients during Obama’s time in office than during Bush’s.
(from Reuters)
Unlike Americans who rely on a paycheck,
Romney earns most of his income from investment profits, dividends and
interest. The returns for 2010 and estimates for 2011 showed that he
will pay a total of $6.2 million in taxes on income of $42.5 million. Romney and his wife Ann paid an effective
tax rate of 13.9 percent in 2010 and expect to pay a 15.4 percent
effective tax rate when they file their returns for 2011. Those rates are far below the top income tax
rate on wages, which is 35 percent, because the U.S. tax code in recent
years has favored investment income over wage income.
Let's stop folks from FREELOADING on government programs.
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. . . cell phone provider who wants to stick me with any nickel and dime bill they can now that I have terminated my account. . . .
Though I terminated my account on 11/13/2011, I received invoices for "Monthly Service Charges" for the period 11/11/2011 - 12/10/2011 and 12/11/2011 - 1/10/2012 during which I was provided service for only the period 11/11/2011 through 11/13/2011 on four of the five phones under this family plan. (The fifth phone had been dormant since July 2011 since my son had to contract an alternative provider as required by his new employer.)
I spoke to several of your customer service reps on 12/22/2011 culminating in my request to have the supervisor (Ram) call me, as he was unavailable and I had an appointment. Ram did not return my call that day or afterward.
In addition, no customer service rep reminded or informed me on 12/22/2011 that the fifth phone in the plan (mentioned above) must be cancelled, a courtesy, and I would hope responsibility of customer service under such circumstances.
I spoke again to customer service on 2/6/2012 at which time I was finally advised to cancel the fifth phone, which I did.
I am writing to assure you that I will pay you for service provided to me. I always paid invoices in a timely manner and did, in fact, receive very good service (as well as customer service when sought) from your firm during my contract. I am very disheartened though, at the uncooperative attitude I have received from your customer service department now that my account has been terminated.
In an effort to exhibit my good faith and hope that we can arrive at an agreement, I am enclosing a check for $14.79 which I presume will cover the period for which you did provide service (a portion of the the invoice for 11/11/2011 - 12/10/2011) up to the date That I terminated the account- 11/13/2011. [$147.90 for 30 days, pro-rated to cover 3 days]
I believe this is more than fair and correct and I do hope to receive confirmation from you of your agreement soon.
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. . . and ballads. Charles Lloyd has done, and continues to do it all. Check it out.
Lloyd was born in Memphis, Tennessee. From an early age, he was immersed in
that city's rich musical life and was exposed to jazz. He began playing
the saxophone at the age of 9 and took lessons from pianist Phineas Newborn. One of his closest
friends was trumpeter Booker
Little. Lloyd became a sideman in the blues bands
of B. B. King, Howlin'
Wolf, Bobby "Blue" Bland and others.
In 1956 Lloyd moved to Los Angeles and earned a music degree from the
University of Southern
California. During this period Lloyd played in the big band of Gerald
Wilson. From 1960 to 1963 Lloyd played in the band of drummer Chico Hamilton and became its musical director. Though the
band was known for playing "chamber
jazz" at the beginning of Lloyd's tenure, his influence as a
composer and a player quickly pushed it in a more progressive post-bop
direction. Lloyd's key musical partner in the band was the guitarist Gábor Szabó. In 1964 Lloyd left Hamilton's group to play with
alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley. During this period
he recorded two albums as a leader for Columbia Records; his sidemen were other young musicians
including Herbie Hancock, Ron
Carter and Tony Williams. Through 1966-1968
Lloyd led a quartet with pianist Keith
Jarrett, bassist Cecil McBee (afterwards, Ron
McClure), and drummer Jack DeJohnette, that producer George Avakian signed to a contract with Atlantic Records. The quartet's music was an interesting
fusion of straight-ahead post-bop, free
jazz, and soul jazz. The group's music quickly caught on
with both jazz fans and critics. Somewhat surprisingly, they also
achieved a fair amount of crossover success with young rock fans and
became the first jazz group to play in The
Fillmore. The album Forest
Flower became a big commercial hit, largely on the strength of
the title track. Other noteworthy albums include Dream Weaver and Love-In.
In 1968, after the quartet's demise, Lloyd entered a state of
semi-retirement. Despite recording several albums during the 1970s and
occasionally appearing as a sideman, he practically disappeared from the
jazz scene. During the 1970s Lloyd played extensively with The Beach Boys both on their studio recordings and as a member
of their touring band. In the late 1970s Lloyd was a member of
Celebration, a band composed of members of the Beach Boys' touring band
as well as fellow Transcendental Meditation
followers Mike Love and Al
Jardine. Celebration released two albums.
Upon being approached by pianist Michel Petrucciani in the early 1980s, he resumed
playing actively. From 1989, Lloyd toured actively and recorded for the ECM label. Although his playing
had not changed much stylistically since his groundbreaking work in the
1960s, these recordings showcased his sensitivity as a ballad
player. Noteworthy albums include Canto, Voice in the Night, The Water Is Wide (featuring Brad
Mehldau, John
Abercrombie, Larry Grenadier and Billy
Higgins), Lift Every Voice
(featuring Geri Allen), and the live Rabo
de Nube with Jason Moran). Lloyd has shown great consistency
and creativity in his period with ECM, much of his music containing a
strong spiritual element, some it heavily in a "world music" vein, and
some of it unusual and experimental as in the duets on Which Way
is East? with his longtime friend and musical soulmate, Billy
Higgins. (from Wikipedia.com)
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In recent weeks, much has been written about Tim Tebow, the quarterback of the Denver Broncos. Until this past season, Tebow had been a back-up quarterback and did not draw much public notice. When he was in college he had led the University of Florida to two national championships and won the Heisman Trophy in 2007. He was drafted by the Broncos in the late first round of the 2010 draft. Most NFL teams had passed over Tebow because there was doubt that his talents were of NFL standards. This past season, Tebow got his chance, when the Broncos started the season with a 1-4 record. Tebow started the next eight games, winning seven out of eight, and the Broncos rose to first place in their division.
Tim Tebow started receiving a lot of attention. He received a higher that usual level of attention partly because of the way he brought his religion into the spotlight of the playing field. Tim identifies himself as a born-again Evangelical Christian, and in the best of Evangelical tradition, he wants the whole world to know that Jesus Christ is his Lord and Savior. After key events in a ballgame, Tebow bends down on his left knee, bows his head, and raises his right hand to his forehead. It is Tebow’s chosen way to witness to all those watching that Jesus Christ is the Lord of life.
Because of his forthright display of his religion, he has become the idol of millions of born-again Evangelical Christians. His practice of bending knee and bowing head has become the rage in some circles and is now referred to as “Tebowing.” Many Evangelical Christians adore him, but many others have responses that range from mild discomfort to outrage.
I can identify with Tim Tebow, because I too am a born-again Evangelical Christian. I too was an athlete. Since I was a young boy, it has been important for me to identify myself as a Christian. I too confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. After being a very successful high school football player, I enrolled at Illinois State University and became a two-way Freshman starter on a Conference Championship football team. While I was never involved in anything like Tebowing, I found ways to use my status as an athlete at a State University to let people know that Jesus is Lord. After a year at Illinois State and an Army enlistment, I returned to college at Wheaton College, a leading center of Evangelical Christianity. I played football for Wheaton for three years. The college motto “For Christ and His Kingdom” was the team motto. The team members were the finest group of teammates I ever had. The Wheaton teams on which I played were championship teams, and excellence was a part of our Christian witness. There was never a prayer to win, but we all knew that the way we played the game was a part of our witness for Christ the Lord.
Vigorously sharing with the world that Jesus Christ is Lord is at the very heart of Evangelical Christianity. When a highly committed Evangelical Christian walks onto the football field, he does not leave his Jesus behind. From everything that I have read, Tim Tebow is a very fine young man. He lives an exemplary life. No one works harder at refining his football skills than does Tebow. He is first on the practice field and the last to leave.
Tebow’s religious display on the playing field ought to be respected because it is a part of who he is. We do not call into question the practice of Albert Pujols making the sign of the cross as he walks to the plate. Neither should we call into question the religious display of Tim Tebow on the football field. It is as closely tied to his identity as the yarmulke worn by an Orthodox Jew. We need to be reminded that Sandy Koufax, possibly the greatest left-handed pitcher in history, refused to pitch the opening game of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur.
There is a problem that Tim Tebow has given himself. He is making his confession of faith very public. How will he now live his life. For the rest of his life the world will demand a life that lives up to his confession.
Some years back, a leading American politician became the darling of Evangelical Christians. He confessed that he had been born-again. He was pro-life and opposed gay rights. He joined one of the right churches. He was a man of wealth. In the context of an important campaign, he was pressured to release information about his personal finances. He did so. According to his federal income tax return, he had not given a single penny to the church of his membership. He lived in opulence, but his record of being charitable was almost non-existent.
Jesus is quoted as saying “Where your treasure is, your heart will be also.”
From the day of the revelation of his finances, I knew that the politician was a fraud, and even worse. He had used Evangelical Christianity for political purposes.
When Tim Tebow says “Jesus is Lord,” that means that all the millions he is making as a football player belong to Jesus. What will he do with the millions of Jesus money that is being placed under his stewardship? I want Tim Tebow to be the real thing. We need devoutly religious people in the public square. Tim Tebow is needed just now on the football field. I truly hope he will always be what he says he is.
THE END
The Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister, who lives in Palmer, Alaska. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.
(Make no mistake about Howard Bess. READ Howard Bess.)
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