Don't . . .

. . . like to advertise (at least without receiving adequate compensation), but. . .

(by Michael Isikoff, MSNBC.com) 

". . . Hubris: The Selling of the Iraq War, a documentary special hosted by Rachel Maddow that will air Monday night on MSNBC at 9 p.m. (and based on a book I co-authored with David Corn), provides new evidence that the dissent within the administration and military was even more profound and widespread than anybody has known until now.  “It was a shock, it was a total shock–I couldn’t believe the vice president was saying this,” Gen. Anthony Zinni, the former commander in chief of U.S. Central Command, told me in an interview for the documentary. Zinni, who had access to the most sensitive U.S. intelligence on Iraq, was on a stage in Nashville, Tennessee, receiving an award from the Veteran of Foreign Wars on August 26, 2002, when he heard the vice president launch the opening salvo in the Bush administration’s campaign to generate public support for an invasion. “Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction,” Cheney said. “There is no doubt he is amassing them to use against our friends, against our allies and against us.” Zinni, sitting right next to Cheney’s lectern, says he “literally bolted” when he heard the vice president’s comments. “In doing work with the CIA on Iraq WMD [weapons of mass destruction], through all the briefings I heard at Langley, I never saw one piece of credible evidence that there was an ongoing program.” He recounts going to one of those CIA briefings and being struck by how thin the agency’s actual knowledge of Iraqi weapons programs was. “What I was hearing [from Bush administration officials] and what I knew did not jive,” Zinni says. . . "

What do YOU think?
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html

You can NOW download your
very own copy of Ray Jozwiak's
newest release:
AMBIENCE & WINE

Please visit
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

Tweet

Marketing. . .

. . . at it's worst. . .

To my dearest love
Or current resident
Sending you these lines
To show you how much I care
How can I convey
To you this sentiment
You're the one for me
My dearest
Please insert your name on the dotted line_ _ _ _ _

There's no obligation
There's no purchase required
There are over five thousand
Who are qualified
And eligible to win the grand prize
Rules and regulations
Must be read carefully
Entries must be postmarked by the thirtieth
At quarter to three

To my dearest love
Or current resident
Sending you these lines
To show you how much I care
How can I convey
To you this sentiment
You're the one for me
My dearest
Please insert your name on the dotted line_ _ _ _ _


Once I made a solemn
Vow to someone I knew
And I thought her vow was also solemn too
But I thought with my heart
And didn't see it through
Not that any lesson
Of great value has been learned
Such experience should teach us something good
Or maybe I enjoy getting burned

It's not a weakness to be
Predisposed toward sharing
I might survive all alone
But I'm just not that daring
Desperate men will seek desperate measures
to get what they think that they need

To my dearest love
Or current resident
Sending you these lines
To show you how much I care
How can I convey
To you this sentiment
You're the one for me

My dearest
Please insert your name on the dotted line_ _ _ _ _


You're the one for me

My dearest
Please insert your name on the dotted line_ _ _ _ _



The Dotted Line
©1997 Raymond M. Jozwiak




What do YOU think?
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html

You can NOW download your
very own copy of Ray Jozwiak's
newest release:
AMBIENCE & WINE

Please visit
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

Tweet

Who . . .

. . . said What? . . .

(from  Juvenal 55 AD - 127 AD, Roman poet & satirist)
"A healthy mind in a healthy body."
   
"Be gentle with the young."
  
"Be rich to yourself and poor to your friends."
 
"The people that once bestowed commands, consulships, legions, and all else, now concerns itself no more, and longs eagerly for just two things - bread and circuses!"


(from The Baltimore Sun, local news publication)

". . . the venture looks like a success. Outside and in, the bistro is full of charm. The outdoor bar was bustling when we arrived, and tables on the wooden deck quickly filled up. Inside, dark gray walls gave the small dining room a cozy feel. Stacks of books and offbeat art created a quirky vibe, but white linens dressed the space up. . . "

(from Ray Jozwiak, creative musician)

". . . You are invited to Bread & Circuses Bistro
27 E. Chesapeake Avenue
Towson, MD  21286
410-337-5282
http://bandcbistro.com/

Friday, February 22, 2013, from 6:00 til 9:00PM for an evening of great food, drink, ambiance and Gonzo Piano (eclectic, original [mostly], jazz-inspired solo piano) by . . . me,  Ray Jozwiak. . ."

(For my complete schedule, see http://www.rayjozwiak.com)
Now You Can Get RAY JOZWIAK-GONZO PIANO Ringtones for your Cell Phone Absolutely Free at: "http://www.myxer.com/artist/14413289/" http://www.myxer.com/artist/14413289/

Also, please visit:  "http://www.rayjozwiak.com" http://www.rayjozwiak.com
http://pianogonzology.blogspot.com/
http://cdbaby.com/all/rjozwiak
 http://www.myspace.com/gonzopiano
 http://www.sonicbids.com/RayJozwiakGonzoPiano

What do YOU think?
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html

You can NOW download your
very own copy of Ray Jozwiak's
newest release:
AMBIENCE & WINE

Please visit
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

Tweet

Ragin'. . .

(from allmusic.com)
". . . 1969 was a pivotal year in the musical career of Doug Kershaw (born Douglas James Kershaw). An appearance on the premier broadcast of The Johnny Cash Show, on June 7, brought him to the attention of his largest audience and led to a contract with Warner Brothers/Seven Arts. Two months later, Kershaw's autobiographical tune, "Louisiana Man," became the first song broadcast back to Earth from the Moon by the astronauts of Apollo 12. Kershaw capped the year with a much-publicized, week-long engagement at the Fillmore East in New York as opening act for Eric Clapton's Derek & the Dominos. While it seemed to many rock and pop fans that Kershaw had appeared out of nowhere, he had already sold more than 18 million copies of the records he had done in the early '60s with his brother, Rusty. "Louisiana Man" had been a Top Ten country hit in 1961 and its follow-up, "Diggy Diggy Lo," had done almost as well. The son of an alligator hunter, Kershaw was the seventh born to a family that eventually included five boys and four girls. Raised in a home where Cajun French was spoken, he didn't learn English until the age of eight. By that time, he had mastered the fiddle, which he played from the age of five, and was on his way to teaching himself to play an amazing 28 instruments. His first gig was at a local bar, the Bucket of Blood, where he was accompanied by his mother on guitar. After teaching his brother Rusty (born Russell; February 2, 1938) to play guitar, he formed a band, the Continental Playboys, with Rusty and older brother Peewee in 1948.

Although they initially sang in French, J.D. Miller, owner of the Feature record label, persuaded them to incorporate songs in English into their repertoire. With the departure of Peewee from the group in the early '50s, Doug and Rusty continued to perform as a duo. The brothers quickly built a solid reputation for their high-energy performances of Cajun two-steps and country ballads. In 1955, they recorded their first single, "So Lovely, Baby." Released on the Hickory label, the tune became a Top Five country hit in August 1955. Shortly afterward, they were invited to become cast members of the Louisiana Hayride, a popular radio show broadcast from Shreveport, LA. In 1957, they recorded a Top 40 country hit, "Love Me to Pieces." They became members of the Grand Ole Opry the following year. Despite the demands of his music career, Doug enrolled in McNeese State University and earned an undergraduate degree in mathematics. At the peak of their early career, in 1958, Doug and Rusty decided to simultaneously enlist in the United States Army. They devoted their attention to the military until their dismissal three years later. Picking up where they left off in February 1961, the two brothers recorded "Louisiana Man," a song Doug had written while in the Army. The song was eventually covered by more than 800 artists. By the time their debut album, Rusty and Doug, was released in July 1964, however, the Kershaw brothers had elected to go their separate ways.
Two Step Fever

It took another three years before Doug signed a songwriter's contract with BMI. Despite the success of his solo career, Kershaw continued to be plagued by depression and sorrow. His father had committed suicide when he was only seven. Until 1984, Kershaw battled drug and alcohol abuse and he became known for erratic behavior. Although he continued to perform and record, his albums of the 1970s failed to duplicate the commercial success of "Louisiana Man" and "Diggy Diggy Lo." In 1981, Kershaw rebounded with his biggest selling hit, "Hello Woman," which reached the country music Top 40. In 1988, he recorded a duet, "Cajun Baby," with Hank Williams, Jr., that became a Top 50 country hit. Marrying his wife, Pam, at the Astro Dome on June 21, 1975, Kershaw began raising his own family, which included five sons -- Douglas, Victor, Zachary, Tyler, and Elijah -- and two grandsons. His son Tyler plays drums in his band. Kershaw released a French-language album, Two Step Fever, in 1999. Michael Doucet of Beausoleil is featured on the duet "Fievre de Deux Etapes." Hot Diggity Doug was released in mid-2000 and Still Cajun After All These Years followed in early 2001. Easy appeared from Cooking Vinyl in 2002. . . "

What do YOU think?
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html

You can NOW download your
very own copy of Ray Jozwiak's
newest release:
AMBIENCE & WINE

Please visit
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

Tweet

Bits. . .

. . . pieces. . .

The eighteenth century is the Age of Enlightenment.  The Enlightenment popularizes the ideas developed during the Age of Reason.  The Enlightenment is basically the view or belief that modern science and our understanding of the social world derived from modern science can help us to improve the living conditions on this planet.  War, poverty, and injustice are not God-given punishments for our sinfulness but bad management.  Oppressive governments can be reformed or overthrown.  Social inequality can be alleviated and, maybe, overcome.  Disease is not to be accepted stoically but to be fought with new medicines.  Poverty can be reduced through the productivity of new inventions and technologies.  Ignorance can be overcome through universal public education.  Human societies are perfectible if only we have the will and use our scientific knowledge to plan and socially engineer for a better future.  There is no limit to what human reason and ingenuity can achieve. The French Enlightenment thinkers are known as the philosophes. They are not really philosophers but what we would today call journalists or popularizers. One of the great achievements of the philosophes was the publication of the Encyclopédie.  All those who contributed articles are known as the Encyclopedists.  Philosophes and encyclopedists are often used as interchangeable terms when describing the French Enlightenment.

Opponents of the French government's plans to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption took to the streets of Paris in January. With an estimated 350,000 marchers, the demonstration was considered one of the largest in years. The French government took note, but vowed go ahead with its plans for the law anyway.

France now joins Britain in taking a major legislative step in recent weeks toward allowing gay marriage and adoption — making them the largest European countries to do so. The Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Spain, as well as Argentina, Canada and South Africa have authorized gay marriage, along with nine U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

What do YOU think?
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html

You can NOW download your
very own copy of Ray Jozwiak's
newest release:
AMBIENCE & WINE

Please visit
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

Tweet

Hooch. . .

(from http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/02/11/171732213/less-potent-makers-mark-not-going-down-smooth-in-kentucky?sc=ipad&f=1008)
". . . Kentucky is bourbon country. Bar shelves in Louisville are stocked with a crowded field of premium bourbons; the city's Theater Square Marketplace restaurant alone carries close to 170 different brands. So when news trickled out that longtime distillery Maker's Mark plans to water down its bourbon, locals were stunned.

Bourbon has to be aged at least two years — and that's where Maker's Mark got in trouble. Chief Operating Officer Rob Samuels says the company simply didn't make enough.

"The phones have been ringing off the hook over the last three or four months from most every city in the country where Maker's Mark is not available," Samuels says. "As far away as California and as close to home as the package store five minutes from the distillery."

Now, the company says it must spread the remaining supply over more bottles to meet growing demand. The Maker's Mark label will now read 84 proof instead of the traditional 90.

The Samuels family invented Maker's Mark six decades ago and has been distilling in Kentucky even longer than that. The company prides itself on quality and tradition. Its slogan used to be, "It tastes expensive ... and is."

Samuels says keeping that signature taste, despite weakening the drink, was key.

But maintaining flavor is one thing — maintaining the company's image is another. People might not notice a change in the taste, but they are likely to notice that the price isn't going down.

"My initial reaction was, that's how bourbons that are not premium brands would deal with it," says Jason Falls, a marketing professional who has worked with Maker's Mark in the past. Knob Creek had a similar shortage in 2009, he says, "and I believe the way the brand dealt with it was they sent T-shirts to all their ambassadors that said, 'I survived the drought ... of 2009.' "

It's unclear if Maker's Mark's move will hurt the brand's global reach. But in Kentucky — bourbon country — locals aren't too happy with the change.

"It's gotten ... a lot of outrage," says Sara Havens, who writes about the bar scene for the Louisville Eccentric Observer newspaper. "People asking if they're going to lower the price now, [or] just that it's kind of not fair."

Havens says she'll still drink Maker's Mark, but probably less often. "[When] you go to a bar and you know one drink is watered down and the other drink is potent, you always go to the potent one," she says.

To avoid another shortage, Maker's Mark is planning to expand operations — and they're not alone. In Kentucky, there are now more barrels of bourbon than there are people. So even if an old standby like Maker's Mark is hard to find, there'll always be something to drink. . . "


 I have three observations:

1.  They were up-front and honest about what they were doing and why with the boss taking complete responsibility.  Must be worth something.
2.  Taste-testers (Makers Mark taste-testers, that is) found no significant difference.  (SURPRISE!)
3.  Since MOST people have it on the rocks, with a little water or in a Manhattan or Old Fashioned, they won't notice any difference.  [Note:  I drink it NEAT!]

So I don't know what to think.  Based upon number 1, maybe I'll just buy a bottle and see what I think for myself.

What do YOU think?
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html

You can NOW download your
very own copy of Ray Jozwiak's
newest release:
AMBIENCE & WINE

Please visit
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

Tweet

Songs. . .

. . . are for everyone. . .

(from Christopher Hitchens, God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything)
". . .One must state it plainly. Religion comes from the period of human prehistory where nobody—not even the mighty Democritus who concluded that all matter was made from atoms—had the smallest idea what was going on. It comes from the bawling and fearful infancy of our species, and is a babyish attempt to meet our inescapable demand for knowledge (as well as for comfort, reassurance and other infantile needs). Today the least educated of my children knows much more about the natural order than any of the founders of religion, and one would like to think—though the connection is not a fully demonstrable one—that this is why they seem so uninterested in sending fellow humans to hell. . .”

What do YOU think?
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html

You can NOW download your
very own copy of Ray Jozwiak's
newest release:
AMBIENCE & WINE

Please visit
http://www.rayjozwiak.com

Tweet