pianogonzology

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Suspects? . . .

. . . possibly one closely connected to and loved by that particular camp . . .

(from https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/dnc-allowing-donations-from-federal-lobbyists-and-pacs/2016/02/12/22b1c38c-d196-11e5-88cd-753e80cd29ad_story.html)
". . . The Democratic National Committee has rolled back restrictions introduced by presidential candidate Barack Obama in 2008 that banned donations from federal lobbyists and political action committees.

The decision was viewed with disappointment Friday morning by good government activists who saw it as a step backward in the effort to limit special interest influence in Washington. Some suggested it could provide an advantage to Hillary Clinton’s fundraising efforts.

“It is a major step in the wrong direction,” said longtime reform advocate Fred Wertheimer. “And it is completely out of touch with the clear public rejection of the role of political money in Washington,” expressed during the 2016 campaign. . ."

What do you think?
Tell me at
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http://www.ohomusic.com

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(To Access all Ray Jozwiak - Gonzo Piano music you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
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Also, be sure to visit:
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Saturday, February 13, 2016

Our Wonderful . . .

. . . Press . . .

Why do I have to hear, see, read about Donald Trump every day as if he really is a serious, viable, candidate for president of the United States of America? Because of our wonderful press - gawd bless 'em!

"You can say what you want I have no doubt that it (waterboarding) does work in term of information and other things," Trump told (Jake) Tapper. ["other things"? - my note]

Jacob Paul "Jake" Tapper is an American journalist, cartoonist and author. As of 2016, he is the Chief Washington Correspondent, anchor of the CNN weekday television news show The Lead with Jake Tapper

Did Jake Tapper ask Trump to provide empirical evidence of maybe an example or two of instances where he (Trump) could prove that the statement he had just made was, in fact, accurate?

NNNNOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

Our dedicated, objective, informative press at work? (Maybe "Jake" is a better cartoonist?)

Friday, February 12, 2016

That's . . .

. . . life. . .

(from https://offbeatenglish.wordpress.com/2013/05/13/life-quotes/)
". . . Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today. ~James Dean

As you grow older, you’ll find the only things you regret are the things you didn’t do. ~Zachary Scott

And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. ~Abraham Lincoln

I’m less interested in why we’re here. I’m wholly devoted to while we’re here. ~Erika Harris

You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it.~Charles Buxton

You live longer once you realize that any time spent being unhappy is wasted. ~Ruth E. Renkl

You may delay, but time will not. ~Benjamin Franklin

If you wait, all that happens is that you get older. ~Larry McMurtry, Some Can Whistle

Minutes are worth more than money. Spend them wisely. ~Thomas P. Murphy

Begin doing what you want to do now. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand, and melting like a snowflake. ~Marie Ray

Whether it’s the best of times or the worst of times, it’s the only time we’ve got. ~Art Buchwald

If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance. ~Andrea Boydston

Life is always walking up to us and saying, “Come on in, the living’s fine,” and what do we do? Back off and take its picture. ~Russell Baker

Every second is of infinite value. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

We are always getting ready to live but never living. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

You only live once; but if you live it right, once is enough. ~Adam Marshall

Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons. ~Ruth Ann Schabacker

Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is the special occasion. ~Author Unknown

When one has a great deal to put into it a day has a hundred pockets.~Friedrich Nietzsche, Human, All Too Human

Every day of our lives we are on the verge of making those slight changes that would make all the difference. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic’s Notebook, 1960 . . ."

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Beware! . . .

Discovered this article, in various places online, which appears to originate either with the Clinton campaign or from inside the clique in the Democratic Party . . .

(http://bsalert.com/news/2753/8_Reasons_Why_Serious_People_Cant_Support_Bernie_Sanders.html) ". . . I dig Bernie Sanders. I've always loved him and his perspective. I agree with 99% of what he promotes in terms of long-term policy. But I still find myself uneasy with his candidacy. As many of those on the left and the "disenfranchised" are "feeling the Bern" and hopping on the Bernie Sanders bandwagon, theres (sic) a schism developing among those who pine for social change. It seemed hard to fathom that a candidate that has been so succinctly enumerating many of the problems people on the left, center and right have been harping about has now become so contentious? I gotta be honest.. to me it feels like another Deja Vu moment. How I felt when I heard all my friends get so excited about Ralph Nader in 2000, and how his fresh rhetoric was going to change the political landcape (sic)... It doesn't seem to make sense. Even among the editors at BSAlert, there's contention on the value of a Sanders presidency. Allow us to provide you with what we think are some troubling issues with Sanders and why we feel, as much as we love what he says, In my opinion (though not the opinion of everybody here) Sanders is a pied piper more than he is a path to change. . . If all you want is Bernie elected; if all you care about is "sending the message" ok, I can't argue with that. But if you care about actually seeing his policy ideas executed, and moving in a more progressive direction during the next 4-8 years, you have to at least be open to these arguments . . . "

. . . what this article fails to openly state is that, if you like Bernie Sanders and want to begin a real change, and don't vote for Bernie Sanders because of 'arguments' such as those stated in this article, then you will get MORE OF THE SAME.

Some of the fatuous points made in the article include (with my retorts following):
1. What Bernie Sanders promises he cannot deliver

No president accomplishes everything promised. Bernie Sanders stands for removing big business from government. PERIOD!

2. Like those on the right, Sanders is a divider, not a uniter

Nice try, equating Bernie Sanders to the Republican clowns. Doesn't fly though. Of course Bernie Sanders is a divider. But only in that he divides those that want to remove big business from government and those (read: the authors of THIS article) who do not.

3. There's too much at stake in this election

No argument here. But in my mind, not for the same reasons stated in the article.

4. Sanders does not mobilize minority voters

You wait and see, pal!

5. Sanders has yet to face the media hate machine

Another GREAT reason not to vote for Bernie Sanders????????

6. Bernie Sanders is old. The age card will be played by his opponents.

Two words: Ronald Reagan

. . . I'm tired of this now. You certainly have better things to read.

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

A Different . . .

. . . point of view. . .

(from Robyn Morton https://medium.com/@Lookingforrobyn/when-you-ask-me-to-vote-for-hillary-174becdb5ccc#.8bwk6t3qm)
". . . This isn’t about policies with which I disagree. . . You are asking me to consciously give up on any hope I may have of living a sane life in our country. . . To vote for her in the primaries, I would need to believe that the establishment on both the right and the left have so thoroughly strangled the political system that it is no longer “reasonable” to even try for reform. I have to be so scared of political opponents gaining power that it is worth it to sacrifice even the hope of being able to get ahead, have a savings cushion, access healthcare, send our kids to college, retire, or just not feel like we’re constantly living on a knife’s edge, all because of fear of a potential future. . . If you think it is reasonable to fear the opposition more than to hope for having a better life — then I’m guessing you live a fairly comfortable life and don’t feel strong motivation to change it. . . maybe you don’t really understand what you’re asking of me when you advise me to make decisions based on “practicality.” And notice, I’m not even saying you’re wrong. What I am saying is that for me to choose Hillary over Bernie right now is to literally choose to give up on the best chance we have ever had to finally become a reasonable, civilized nation, and say instead “No, we can’t do it, I am too scared of what might happen. . .” "

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

How . . .

. . . Is Where We Go . . .

. . . another can't-get-it-out-of-your-head-composition by Jay Graboski. With Jay, David Reeve, Ray Jozwiak (OHO) and Bill Pratt in the studio last Friday. Good people, good fun . . . good music!

How Is Where We Go
by Jay Graboski with OHO and some additional musical friends (with Bill Pratt on vocals, keys and assorted wisdom)

What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html or at
http://www.ohomusic.com

Get your copy of OHO's Where Words Do Not Reach now!

The Ocean City Ditty Video is now on YouTube

My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music is now available at - Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak

Monday, February 8, 2016

Third . . .

. . . is a charm . . .

. . . the wonder of modern, digital, recording technology enables one (literally. . . ONE, although not in this case) to conceive a composition of the musical persuasion and to create a record ("As in a record of an event, the event of people playing music in a room". . . Ani DiFranco) documenting a performance of said composition for posterity. Well that's what we're doing here. And, like most of like, good things are worth waiting for.

This tune was conceived quite a while ago as a sort-of 12/8, 1950s-style ballad (think Unchained Melody-like), lyrics dealing, somewhat nebulously, with the phenomenon of gossip. Jay took the tune and OHO-ized it, introducing a heavy rhythmic guitar riff to underpin the introduction (and repeated turnaround) and the unusually-timed, uptempo mid-section to incorporate sonic variety into this longer-than-pop-radio-boss-hit-bound-single-running piece.

Drums are soon to follow. We kind of like how its coming along. You? . . . .

Third-Hand Intelligence
work-in-progress recorded at The Bratt Studio (Bill Pratt at the helm) by OHO- Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak

What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html or at
http://www.ohomusic.com

Get your copy of OHO's Where Words Do Not Reach now!

The Ocean City Ditty Video is now on YouTube

My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music is now available at - Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak