Finally, we come to the last full day of the Bush Administration. Normally, I don’t wish for a day off to be over in a hurry, but I think I’ll make an exception today. Hopefully it’ll be over soon.
Watching yesterday’s Obama musical variety show was interesting (and a little bid odd). I don’t recall ever seeing anything like that for a change in presidents (but then, we haven’t ever had a change like this, have we). Most of it was very good, some downright moving, some a bit on the corny side, and even a part or two that was downright boring (I’m thinking of whoever that white lady was that sang some smarmy crappy thing; I’m sure it was wonderful – just not my thing). A little bit for everybody, which I reckon is what it was supposed to be.
Our national anthem is still a pretty shitty song (can we change it to “America the Beautiful” or “This Land is Our Land” – the highlight of the day, for me, personally – already?), though the Marine dude did about the best job you can do with it. Jamie Fox did a great Obama impression, I thought. Shots of the crowd continued to prove that white people still look really stupid when they try to groove to the music (especially in winter parkas). If you’re going to do “American Pie” (rather odd choice, don’t you think? “Them good old boys drinkin’ whiskey and rye, singin’ this’ll be the day that I die.” Well, maybe it was rather apropos after all), why not get Don McLean to do it instead of Garth Brooks (who really got way too much face time, IMHO, and wouldn’t exactly be my first pick to do “Shout”). Well, gotta through some red meat to the crackers, I guess. Little Stevie Wonder aint so little these days, but he played a lot more on-key than Herbie Hancock, I thought (hard to tell with those jazz types; they can get away with playing lots of off-key stuff, and get praised for being artistic).
Mostly, it was pretty good stuff. And really nice to see so many people (of so many different shades) in DC, there, not to protest something bad, but to celebrate sea change, the likes of which this country hasn’t seen since, well, since ever, I think. People there, not to effect change, but to stand testament to it.
Good luck to the President-Elect, and to all of us.
Far be it from me to critisize someone’s musical taste :tongue: (I’ve only seen the beginning of the concert and a little bit of the middle) but the guy who sang the national anthem either blew it or they hadn’t rehearsed it. He missed the opening stanza, never bringing the microphone up to his mouth and then came in too early on the word “brave”. Picky of me maybe but I’d expect better from the military.
I haven’t heard Herbie Hancock so I won’t say anything except that jazz is a boutique art form (for a reason) that isn’t understood by everyone.
Of course, maybe that’s why the average age of the “Blue Note Allstars”
concert saturday night was about my age (60) or older :tap:
The National Anthem is a terrible song. When I was a kid we sang “My Country T’is of Thee” but now they try to make the kiddies sing the Anthem. It is impossible and it sounds terrible. Jimi Hendrix did it the best! :tongue:
Lincoln’s has nice photos, today and a report on the turkey (FK of the North was opining). Someone captured the turkey and took it to a wildlife rehabilitator who was told to take the turkey to a park in the Bronx where there is an established flock. So turkey may well get a mate but the bird watchers of Central Park are quite angry.
http://www.palemale.com/
Reasons we still have work to do: http://newsfromthewest.blogspot.com/2009/01/mlk-day-martin-luther-king-cult.html
I just hope this redneck starts drinking and playing with fireworks.
Yeah, the Marine dude did do
I just didn’t want to dis him, ‘cuz you’re not supposed to do that these days (frankly, I could live w/o the whole militaristic thing). Otherwise, I’d have mentioned that he walked out to the microphone like he was trying not to crap his pants. Still, the SSB is a crappy song, meant to be sung while drinking (if not drunk), and makes about as much sense to me as pledging allegiance to a piece of cloth.
I used to listen to a lot of jazz when I was younger. Not so much any more. Some if it I like more than others. Herbie wasn’t playing a jazz tune though – he was playing keyboard on some pop song that I don’t recall now, and it sounded like he hit a lot of clinkers to me. But then, I’m a rather clueless philistine, so what do I know?
Since I did not get a stream of HBO, I only saw some out of synch flashes while I listened but I agree with everything said and this.
Concert for a president hits the right note, mostly
A lot of the time I was very moved and happy that most of the time the program was not overrun by the mawkishness and military worship for which this country has become known. It also did not seem to be overly religious and they even left the invocation out for all of the non-believers. I think that they did mention the Gay Men on NPR but I could be wrong.
The Herbie Hancock/will.i.am/Sheryl Crow part was a complete clinker and I was pissed off that of all the great performers they had they gave U2 a second song. Pete Seeger et al was probably my highlight and I can’t wait to see it. I am sorry that Odetta could not join him.
Another highlight and surprise was Bettye LaVette. Now I have to find out why Mavis Staples was overlooked. We had a little Bettye LaVette here a few weeks ago when she appeared on The Kennedy Awards show here.
I’m reposting this because I’m still mad as a hornet:
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I’ll have to read about that CP turkey later. Thanks sp for the update.
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I LOVE our National Anthem! :nana:
I thought that Marine was so nervous, bless his heart. He walked in using what I think is a march pace for certain things.
Laters!
‘Lost in Space’ actor Bob May dies at 69
Danger!
🙁 :gate:
Thoughts on Sunday’s Lincoln Memorial concert:
1) It seemed like the guy signing the National Anthem was having audio problems, like his mic was cutting out at the beginning. The end did seem like he flubbed it, though. Maybe an early sign not to expect perfection from the new administration.
2) The song Herbie Hancock played on was “One Love” by Bob Marley. He wasn’t playing “off-key” as much as he was wandering away from the chord structure of the song, which would have sounded better had he been backed by maybe just bass and drums. With full instrumentation, it just sounded odd as opposed to jazzy.
Personally, I would have rather heard Herbie playing “Cantaloupe Island” or “Watermelon Man,” but that’s just me.
3) Who was the guy playing guitar on “This Land Is Your Land” with Seeger and Springsteen? I thought it was Dave Grohl at first, but when I stopped making dinner and looked more closely obviously it wasn’t him. For what it’s worth, I didn’t recognize Ashley Judd right away either, although in my defense I’m not used to seeing her with so many clothes on. :hubba:
4) And after all that, the best music I heard all day on HBO was when they played “Stand!” (Sly Stone, not R.E.M.) at the end of the season premiere of Big Love.
Sunday’s big Lincoln Memorial show was billed as the “We Are One” concert, intended to celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama with a spirit of unity. But for those of us watching at home, one participant was excluded — Gene Robinson, the “first openly gay, non-celibate priest to be ordained a bishop in a major Christian denomination.” Robinson was on hand to deliver an opening prayer to the event, but this prayer went unseen by anyone watching on HBO, who provided and sponsored the coverage.
Reached for comment, a spokesperson for HBO stated that decisions regarding the timing and presentation of Robinson’s remarks were made by the Presidential Inaugural Committee, and that Robinson was “not a part of our show from the start.” Indeed, Robinson appeared minutes before the 2:30pm start time of the concert coverage. HBO’s response to the matter has been uniform.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/19/exclusion-of-gay-bishop-f_n_159114.html
We had to put Minnie to sleep, today. She’d been holding her own until yesterday, when she couldn’t keep her food down. We tried medication but it didn’t work. This morning she tried to chase a squirrel. Her heart was in it but the body was just too tired.
What a lovely dog she was. A good heart and very beautiful. I called her Miss
America Dog.
🙁 🙁
Oh, Sue, I’m so sorry.
Oh God, Sue. I’m so sorry. They are with us such a short time. Hugs to you and your hubby.
Very sorry to hear that news Sue. Chasing squirrels to the end. :pup:
🙁 :gate:
Sending you a hug through the ether.
:knit2: Heartfelt condolences, Sue.
:pup: Minnie is now in Doggie Heaven chasing squirrels and feeling like a million doggie cookies. :pup:
But that sure doesn’t make it any easier to miss her being by your side. 🙁 It’s always hard when our best friends have to move on. 🙁
#9
Kevin — that was Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, Pete Seeger’s Grandson.
He’s following in the Seeger tradition and is quite a good folk artist. He was in St. Paul last year for the Peace Island Picnic which was held on the last day of the Thug Convention right across the Big Muddy on Harriett Island. He was one of the main acts and was just great. The police closed off one of the bridges to the Island, so that cut down the attendance somewhat. But my 2 oldest daughters, their husbands, my grandbabies & I were all part of the human peace sign. We’re in the lower third of the left outer upper quadrant of the picture in the linked article.
I don’t think some people would have taken Watermelon Man the right way.
RG got the rest.
I think pj’s white woman was Renee Fleming singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” a bona fide mawkish Jerry Lewis moment.
Yep, that’s who it was. Bleh.
Oh, I’m so sorry, Sue. 🙁 It’s so hard to lose our best friends. I like to think that dogs go to Sirius, the dog star, where they are the masters. :pup: :gate:
Does anyone know what time the inaugeration will start?
I believe the coverage begins at 10 AM EST, with the swearing-in at noon. No doubt the homophobic mega-church pastor’s invocation will not be scheduled for 9:55 AM.
SueP- My heart goes out to you over your sweet dog :gate: 🙁
vernon- Thank you so so much for posting that video. If I don’t hear her live on Letterman or Leno or SNL within the next year promoting her comeback album it’ll be a crime. Still moves me to tears.
Oh, I guess I’ll be missing it. Gotta work. Lots to do in the green house.
PJ, FK, RG, Vern, Andy Art and KP, the kind thoughts are really appreciated. Thank you.
Oh, you got me thinkin’ ’bout Sweet Jane. Our dance song just came on too. “Monogamy” by the Au Pairs. I’d jump around cuz it’s that kind of song and then Jane would want to join and I’d grab her paws and dance with her while she bit my hands. :pup: I miss her. Why can’t dogs have the life span of parrots? :parrot:
Sue, I am so sorry for your loss. We’ve only had Diana for a month, and we can’t imagine life without her smiling face every day.
This should be the theme song for tomorrow. One Nation Under A Groove Funkadelic both, grooves AND rocks! :fist: :pup: :boobs: :bong: :yinyang: :dancers:
Chocolate City works, too!
Yep, they may go, but they are not forgotten, KP. When my Hadley passed :gate: I had no idea how much time I had spent helping that old guy. Not a complaint – it was an honor – it was just noticeable and amazing how much time was devoted to that three legged guy. They are special and give back hundred-fold what you give them.
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cool peace sign RG!
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love it Vern!
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Okay, I find this weird. A wheelchair for a strained back muscle? I’m wondering if it’s his ticker…… :nod: RG – diagnosis?
They better check his wheelchair for explosives :omg:
#31 — ya think there’s something they’re not telling us? :paranoid:
Strained muscle from moving boxes my :spank: . He’s got the $$$ to pay flunkies to do that stuff. I can’t believe that he would be lifting a finger to do any manual labor.
PJ sez he got muscle cramps from bending over a shredder for the past few months. I gotta wonder if those vein grafts in his knees aren’t acting up. Only his doctors know for sure and they must be pretty concerned if they are telling him to use a wheelchair instead of walking.
That man is a waste of medical resources. Any suffering he experiences has been well earned and he deserves not a shred of compassion. He is 👿 incarnate.