Letter from Jesus about Christmas

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season.


How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.*

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up.... It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5 Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :

I LOVE YOU,
JESUS

New additions to my reading list!

1. Thirty-Nine Years of Short-Term Memory Loss - Tom Davis

2. Heavy Rotation: Twenty Writers On The Albums That Changed Their Lives

3. Black Postcards: A Rock & Roll Romance - Dean Wareham

4. The Time Machine Did It - John Swartzwelder

5. The Gangster Of Love: Johnny "Guitar" Watson - Vincent Bakker

The books in my "to read" pile...what's in yours?

In no particular order, with convenient Amazon.com links:

1. Left Behind: Jesus In The Age Of The American Empire - Brent Bourgeois

2. The Ambient Century - Mark Prendergast

3. The Fourth Bear - Jasper Fforde

4. First Among Sequels - Jasper Fforde

5. A Cook's Tour - Anthony Bourdain

6. Mr. Monk And The Dirty Cop - Lee Goldberg

7. Best Friends, Worst Enemies: Understanding The Social Lives Of Children - Thompson/Grace/Cohen

8. Pennsylvania Curiosities - Clark DeLeon

9. Daily Negations - John S. Hall

10. 1,000 Places To See In The USA and Canada Before You Die - Patricia Schultz

11. Appetite For Self-Destruction: The Spectacular Crash Of The Record Industry In The Digital Age - Steve Knopper

12. The Best Of World Cafe - David Dye

13. Typhoid Mary - Anthony Bourdain

14. The Nasty Bits - Anthony Bourdain

15. Rocking The Classics: English Progressive Rock and the Counterculture - Edward Macan

16. The Toothpick: Technology And Culture - Henry Petroski

Recent playlist

Sorry for the lack of a playlist update. Here's what I've been listening to/watching lately:

1. BBC Radio 2 special about Spinal Tap's new album

2. BBC Radio 3 special about the "Hendrix Chord"

3. "Beat Mining with the Vinyl Hoover" - BBC Radio 4 special about vinyl collecting and sampling culture

4. "Home Recorded Voices" - BBC Radio 4 special examining "domestic home recordings".

5. Easy Star All-Stars - Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band (reggae reinterpretation of The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper" album)

6. Earth, Wind and Fire - That's The Way Of The World

7. Frank Briggs - China Ranch

8. Frank Sinatra - Sinatra '57 In Concert

9. Interview with Bruce Fowler - April 14, 1996

10. Jukebox The Ghost - Let Live And Let Ghosts

11. Living In A Box - Living In A Box

12. Mat Kearney - City Of Black And White

13. Reduced Shakespeare Company podcast

14. Negativland - Over The Edge Vol. 3: The Weatherman's Dumb Stupid Come-Out Line

15. Tim and Eric - Awesome Record, Great Songs

16. The Tim Heidecker Masterpiece - Working Vacation (Yes, THAT Tim Heidecker. Go check out the video for "Bottle Of Wine". Spectacular song.)

17. Anthony Bourdain - No Reservations - bunch of episodes from Season 2

Frank Briggs' "China Ranch" - buy it today!

Some of you may be familiar with Frank Briggs' work with Mike Keneally, or his instructional books and DVDs. Either way, you need to go get his new album, "China Ranch". I'm not going to go into a long detailed review in which I try to show off my ability to correctly spell the names of people like Chick Corea and Dave Weckl (two people whose names have come up in comparison to Briggs' compositional and drumming styles). It's a jazz/funk/fusion funfest!

And it's not only for adults! Kids like it too! My 2.5 year old son particularly enjoys "Riverwalk," which he has asked to hear a number of times after the first time he heard it. So, go purchase it here:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/fbriggs

Learn more about Frank Briggs' activities here:

http://www.frankbriggs.com

Republican "Values"

Special thanks to "Political Tiger" for putting this together.

John McCain - Left his first wife after she had been severely injured in an automobile accident for a rich former rodeo beauty queen 18 years his junior. Investigated by the Senate Ethics Committee for attempting to influence federal regulators inquiring into the Lincoln Savings and Loan, owned by McCain's friend and campaign contributor Charles Keating. Between 1984 and 1986, McCain failed to disclose over $15,000 worth of trips and gifts from junk bond king Charles Keating on his financial disclosure forms, and only reimbursed Keating after the scandal broke.

Cindy McCain - Stole drugs to feed her drug habit, including Percocet and Vicodin, from her own nonprofit medical relief organization, American Voluntary Medical Team. An AVMT employee, who had discovered her illegal drug use, tipped off the Drug Enforcement Administration and a federal investigation ensued resulting in McCain paying the costs of the government's investigation.

George HW Bush - Linda Tripp says had he an affair with a woman named Jennifer Fitzgerald while president.

George W. Bush - Convicted of drunk driving. Lied to congress and US citizens about Iraq's nuclear capability just to justify his pre-emptive war. Covered up Saudi aid to 9-11 hijackers. Lied on a juror form about his arrest record, a felony in Texas. Lawsuit filed by Christian book writer Margie Schoedinger claimed Bush raped and harrassed her. She was found dead of a gunshot wound 9 months after filing the lawsuit.

Neil Bush - Fined for his "ethical disability" in Silverado savings and loan investigation. Cost to tax payers: 1 billion dollars (still paying interest), Cost to Bush: $0. The $50,000 fine was paid by a banking deregulation lobby. Admitted that he had sex with prostitutes while on trips to Thailand and Hong Kong.

Jeb Bush - Defaulted on a $4,56 million loan from Broward Federal Savings in Sunrise, Florida. After federal regulators closed the S&L, the office building that gave Jeb used that loan, the $4.56 million to finance was reappraised by the regulators to $.5 million, which Bush and his partners paid, thereby leaving the taxpayers with a $4 million LOSS.

Columba Bush - Smuggled $16,000 worth of clothes and jewelry into the US after a trip from France.

George P. Bush - Broke into ex-girlfriend's house and drove circles in her front yard with his car during a fit of rage.

John "Jebby" Bush - Caught by the police with his pants down in a parking lot, having sex with a teen-age girl.

Noelle Bush - Arrested for prescription fraud. Ordered by a judge to attend a rehabilitation program. During her time at the facility, Bush was found in contempt of court twice - once after being accused of taking prescription pills from a nurse's office and once after she was caught with cocaine.

Barbara and Jenna Bush - Arrested at an Austin restaurant, Jenna for trying to use a fake ID and Barbara for being in possession of alcohol. Jenna had received a citation in April 2001 for possessing alcohol. Her boyfriend was jailed in March, 2001, and was released to the Secret Service.

Dick Cheney - Convicted at least twice for drunk driving. Received five draft deferments from serving in Vietnam because he "had other priorities in the sixties than military service."

Tom DeLay - Had to resign in disgrace as House majority leader after a Texas grand jury indicted him on a conspiracy charge stemming from a long-running campaign finance investigation. Admonished by House ethics committee three times for unethical behavior.

I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby - Indicted on five charges related to the CIA leak probe: one count of obstruction of justice, two counts of perjury and two counts of making false statements. He was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in a grand jury's investigation of the outing of CIA operative Valierie Plame. The trial also implicated Karl Rove and Dick Cheney in a campaign to discredit her husband, retired diplomat and Iraq war critic Joe Wilson.

Paul D. Wolfowitz - Served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense for George W Bush and considered the architect of the Iraq War. Nominated by Bush for president of the World Bank, where he became involved in a relationship with World Bank Senior Communications Officer (and Acting Manager of External Affairs) for the Middle East and North Africa Regional Office Shaha Ali Riz, despite the organization's own ethics rules precluding simultaneous employment of couples if one reports to the other even indirectly through a chain of supervision. Wolfowitz promoted her to a job at the state department under Liz Cheney, the daughter of the vice-president, resulting in a raise of over $60,000, as well as guarantees of future increases, more than double the amount allowed under employee guidelines, while keeping her on the World Bank payroll.

Larry Craig - Idaho's anti-gay Republican Senator was arrested and pled guilty to soliciting gay sex in an airport restroom in June 2007.

Glenn Murphy Jr. - Chairman of the Clark County Republican Party and president of the Young Republican National Federation accosted two men by attempting to perform oral sex on them as they slept.

David Vitter - A "family-values far-right conservative" Senator from Lousiana, had an affair with a prositute in 1999 and admitted to a "serious sin" after his telephone number was disclosed by the so-called "D.C. Madam" in 2007. Lost a lawsuit for assulting a woman at a town hall meeting. Had a pack with white supremacist David Duke to suppress the black vote.

John Ensign - Admitted he had an extramarital affair with a staffer after the threat of being blackmailed.

S.C. Governor Mark Sanford - Disappeared for a week without telling anyone, including his wife and State Law Enforcement Division, which provides security for him. Later Sanford's spokesman told the press that Sanford was hiking the Appalachian Trail. After returning to duty, he admitted he had actually been in Argentina with his mistress.

Republican Congressman Mark Foley abruptly resigned from Congress after "sexually explicit" emails surfaced showing him flirting with a 16-year old boy.

Ted Haggard - Adviser to George W Bush on "spiritual matters" and fervent homophobe who resigned his leadership of the National Association of Evangelicals and stepped aside as pastor of his church after admitting to having a three year affair with a male prostitute and using methamphetamine.

Bob Allen, Florida Republican representing District 32 of the State House of Representatives, arrested 7/11/07 for solicitation for prostitution after he solicited an undercover male officer inside a public restroom, offering to perform oral sex for $20. Before his arrest, Representative Bob Allen sponsored a failed bill that would have tightened the state's prohibition on public sex. He also has been a supporter of amending the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage and has opposed a bill to curb bullying of gay students. After his arrest, he blamed his actions on a fear of African-Americans!

Coy Privette, the president of the Christian Action League, a North Carolina ultraconservative Christian political organization based in Raleigh, arrested on 7/19/07 for soliciting prostitution after paying his hookers with checks and then reporting then stolen. Privette also served as a Republican in the N.C. Legislature from 1984 to 1992 and has been a member of the board of commissioners in Cabarrus County since 1998.

Philip Giordano, Republican mayor of Waterbury, Conn., was convicted of paying a crack-addicted prostitute to bring her daughter and niece to him for sexual encounters in 2000 and 2001, when they were 8 and 10. He was sentenced to 37 years in prison for sexually abusing the two girls.

Matteo Fontana - Department of Education official under George W Bush, overseer the student loan industry, was put on leave after disclosure that he owned at least $100,000 worth of stock in a student loan company.

Julie MacDonald - Apointed by George W Bush to oversee the Fish and Wildlife Service although she has no academic background in biology. She overrode recommendations of agency scientists about how to protect endangered species and improperly leaked internal information to private groups.

Philip Cooney - Former oil-industry lobbyist who became chief of staff for the White House Council on Environmental Quality under George W Bush, acknowledged to a House committee that he edited three government reports to eliminate or downplay links between greenhouse gases and global warming. He left the government in 2005 to work for Exxon.

J. Steven Griles - A former oil and gas lobbyist who became Deputy Interior Secretary under George W Bush, convicted in the Abramoff influence-peddling scandal, pleading guilty to obstructing justice by lying to a Senate committee about his relationship with Abramoff. Abramoff repeatedly sought Griles' intervention at Interior on behalf of Indian tribal clients.

Darleen Druyun - Air Force procurement officer under George W Bush served nine months in prison in 2005 for violating conflict-of-interest rules after agreeing to lease Boeing refueling tankers for $23 billion, despite Pentagon studies showing the tankers were unnecessary. After making the deal, she quit the government to join Boeing.

David H. Safavian - White House aide for George W Bush was convicted last year of lying to government investigators about his ties to Jack Abramoff and faces an 180-month prison sentence.

Claude Allen - George W Bush's domestic policy adviser, pleaded guilty to theft in making phony returns at discount department stores. He was to two years of supervised probation and fined $500.

"Jeff Gannon" - Pseudonym for James Guckert -- who worked for fake news agency Talon News, with "daily passes" obtained from the Secret Service and FBI allowing Guckert/Gannon access to White House press briefings and to parse questions to President George W. Bush. Guckert/Gannon was later exposed as a gay prostitute.

John Doolittle, Deputy Whip for the Republican party in the House, resigned from the Committee on Appropriations in response to a raid by the FBI at his Northern Virginia home investigating his involvment with Jack Abramoff. His wife worked for Jack Abramoff and was paid via a company called Sierra Dominion Financial Solutions, based at the couple's home and founded just after Congressman Doolittle gained a seat on the Appropriations Committee. She is the only employee.

Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), caught by police with a prostitute in a parked car in California. Subsequently, Calvert repeatedly attempted to cover up the incident for nearly a year, publicly denying that it ever occurred.

Republican Congressman Dan Crane had sex with a female minor working as a congressional page.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist - Under investigation from the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission about his sale of stock in his family's hospital company one month before its price fell sharply. Accepted over $23,000 from the tobacco industry, although he is a doctor. Adopted cats from animal shelters so he could kill them.

Randall Harold "Duke" Cunningham - Resigned from the House after pleading guilty to accepting at least $2.4 million in bribes and underreporting his income for 2004. Plead guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion. Sentenced to eight years and four months in prison and an order to pay $1.8 million in restitution.

Bob Dole - Cheated on his first wife with his current wife, Elizabeth Dole.

Henry Hyde - Had a seven year affair with a married woman with three kids, an affair that continued even after the woman's husband, Fred Snodgrass, found out about it and demanded that Hyde leave his wife alone.

Newt Gingrich - Dumped his ex-wife while she was in a hospital bed suffering from cancer. Was screwing his aid while sitting in judgment of President Clinton. He resigned as speaker of the house. Also funneled hundreds of millions of dollars to his campaign donors. His district received more taxpayer's money than all the other districts in America.

Bill Bennett - When not telling Americans how to be virtuous can be found in Las Vegas gambling the night away.

Gov. John Rowland - Had to resign after it was discloses he illegally accepted gifts from state contractors. Plead guilty federal charge of criminal conspiracy.

Rep. Bill Janklow - Convicted of manslaughter. Habitual speeder and reckless driver.
John Linder - Has a wandering eye for his female staff members.

Mike Bowers - Cheated on his wife for fifteen years.

Jack Ryan - Had to drop out of senatorial race after it was disclosed he forced his wife to perform sex acts in front of strangers.

William Cohen - Cheated on his wife then dumped her for his mistress..

Jeanine Pirro - Republican District Attorney required a grocery chain to hire Bernard B. Keriks security consulting firm in 2004 to settle charges brought by her office. In 2005, Ms. Pirro was caught on tape asking Mr. Kerik to secretly tape her husbands conversations to see if he was having an affair with another woman, prompting a federal investigation.

Bernard Kerik - Had overlapping affairs with Judith Regan, the publisher of his recent memoir, and a city correction officer. He used the same New York City apartment for liaisons with the women. Accepted unreported gifts of thousands of dollars in cash and other items from associates at a New Jersey construction company while serving as NY police commissioner. Ordered to pay a conflict-of-interest fine for using three police officers to do research about his mother for his autobiography.

Guy Millner - Has been married three times, partly because he has sex with women he isn't married to.

Rush Limbaugh - Cheated on at least two of his four wives. Dope addict. Used his maid as a drug runner. Accepted plea agreement to avoid charges of prescription fraud. On probation with mandatory drug screening. Avoided draft during Vietnam by saying he had an anal cyst. Fired seven times.

Mitch Skandalakis - Hired hookers from his Las Vegas hotel room.

Rudolph Giuliani Married three times. His first marriage was to his second cousin. He lived with his second wife while still married to his first wife. His second wife found out through a press conference Giuliani was leaving her for his assistant who he was having an affair with. Estranged from both his son Andrew and his daughter Caroline.

Michael Deaver - Was so drunk he doesn't remember hiring hookers.

Richard A. Delgaudio - Nationally-known Republican party fund-raiser plead guilty to producing child pornography after paying two teenage girls to pose for sexual photos in a Baltimore hotel.

Nicholas Elizondo - Director of the "Young Republican Federation" molested his 6-year old daughter and was sentenced to six years in prison.

Earl "Butch" Kimmerling - The Republican anti-gay activist was sentenced to 40 years in prison for molesting an 8-year old girl after he attempted to stop a gay couple from adopting her.

Bill Randall - A Florida Congressional candidate and minister, he fathered an illegitimate child during his affair.

Phil Gramm - Funded porn movie. Draft dodger. Laundered illegal campaign funds. Wife Wendy corporate crook.

Rep. Bob Barr - Cheated on all three of his wives. Used pro-lifer's money to get elected and then forced his wife to have an abortion. Also a member of the CCC, a KKK like organization.

Bill McCartney - Promise Keepers founder who didn't keep his Promise to his wife and then lied about it for 20 years.

George Will - Divorced his first wife, leaving her with a mentally disabled child, for a younger woman.

Bob Dornan - Regularly beat his wife but he is a 'family values' republican.

Rep. Ken Calvert - Christian Coalition ally was caught by police in 1993 receiving oral sex from a prostitute. His ex-wife also sued him for failure to pay alimony.

Rep. Dan Burton - Had at least six adulterous affairs, and fathered an out-of-wedlock child which he ignores.

Rep. Robert Bauman - Homophobic Congressman charged with soliciting sex from a 16-year old boy he picked up at a gay bar, admitted that he had been the victim of an extortion scheme by a man who had a sexual relationship with him.

Rep. Bill Thomas - Cheated on his wife with health care lobbyist Deborah Steelman.

Sen. Strom Thurmond - Cheated on his fourth wife at age 88! Raped his underage maid and fathered a child by her.

Gilbert Davis - Paula Jones' attorney, who allowed himself to be videotaped drunk during his adultery.

Bob Packwood - Drank huge amounts of hard liquor and then tongue-kissed his female staffers against their will.

Gov. Kirk Fordice - Got so hopped up by his mistress that he crashed his Jeep Cherokee and got himself hurt.

Beverly Russell - The Christian Coalition coordinator and Republican activist molested his stepdaughter Susan Smith, who later killed her own two children.

Gov. George Ryan - Found guilty by a federal jury of all 18 counts of federal public corruption charges against him.

Rep. Donald "Buz" Lukens - Found guilty of having sex with a minor and sent to jail.

Rep. Sue Myrick - Cheated on her husband and left him for another man.

Bob Livingston - The GOP Speaker-to-never-be, cheated on his wife Bonnie - with at least four women.

Michael Huffington - The Former GOP Congressman who cheated on his wife Arianna - with other men.

Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin - Had an adulterous affair with her Security Guard - a state trooper.

Edward Schrock - Republican Congressman resigned from Congress after he was caught searching for sex on a gay telephone service.

Rep. Helen Chenoweth - After criticizing President Clinton for the "sordid spectacle" of an extramarital affair and airing a campaign advertisement in which she says that "personal conduct and integrity does matter," she admitted that she had engaged in a long-term affair with a married man.

Rep. John Schmitz - Extreme right-wing Republican fathered two children by a mistress, a former student named Carla Stuckle whom Schmitz taught when he was a professor at Santa Ana College. His daughter, Mary Kay LeTourneau, made national headlines when as a school teacher, she was arrested twice for having sex and producing two children with an underage student of hers (beginning when he was only 13 years old).

Rep. John Boehner - Distributed money from tobacco industry lobbyists on the House floor to members who had voted in favor of tobacco interests.

Gov. Bob Taft III - Plead no contest in Aug. 2005 to charges that he violated state ethics laws, becoming the first governor in the state's history to be convicted of a crime.

Spokane Republican Mayor Jim West - Homophobic mayor admits meeting men online for sex - as well as offering gifts, favors and a City Hall internship to a young man for sex.

West Hartford Republican Mayor Philip Giordano is serving a 37-year sentence in federal prison for sexually abusing 8- and 10-year old girls.

Edison Misla Aldarondo - Republican legislator was sentenced to 10 years in prison for raping his daughter between the ages of 9 and 17.

Donald "Buz" Lukens - Republican Congressman was found guilty of having sex with a female minor and sentenced to one month in jail.

Neal Horsley -Republican anti-abortion activist admitted to having sex with a mule.

Matthew Glavin - President of the conservative Southeastern Legal Foundation, which sought to have President Clinton disbarred in Arkansas; resigned after being charged with public indecency for fondling himself and an undercover park ranger in May in Georgia's Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

Republican pastor Mike Hintz, whom George W. Bush commended during the 2004 presidential campaign, surrendered to police after admitting to a sexual affair with a female juvenile.

Jim Bakker - Cheated on his wife. Stole millions of dollars. Eventually got locked up in chains and sent to federal prison.

Jimmy Swaggart - Who broke down crying after he got busted with an ugly hooker. Turns around and is caught doing it again.

Pat Robertson - Impregnated a girl and refused to marry her until her parents threatened to contact the media. Owns interest in gold mine in Liberia and supported the ruthless dictator Charles to protect his mine. Advocates abortion for Chinese women.

Lou Beres - Republican chairman of the Oregon Christian Coalition confessed to molesting a 13-year old girl.

Richard Nixon - Forced to resign in disgrace. Covered up Watergate. Pardoned by Gerald Ford for "for any and all crimes" that he might have committed while President.

G. Gordon Liddy - Convicted of conspiracy, burglary, and wiretapping.

H.R. Haldeman - Convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury.

John Ehrlichman - Convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury.

Attorney General John N. Mitchell - Convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and perjury.

Spiro Agnew - Resigned office of Vice-President after pleading guilty to tax evasion.

Ronald Reagan - Dumped Jane Wyman by cheating on her with several Hollywood starlets. Secretly sold weapons to terrorists then lied about it.

Oliver North - While guest host on the Rush Limbaugh show he advocated the assassination of President Clinton. Lied to congress. Sold arms to enemies. Guilty of obstruction of justice, shredded Iran Contra documents, ordered his secretary to smuggle out incriminating evidence in her panties.

Playlist for vacation to Maine

Most car rides were spent flipping through Sirius/XM stations (the exceptions being repeated listenings to the Bingo Kids version of "She Loves You"). I mostly did a lot of video watching. In no particular order:

1. We Will Rock You (the musical) - I love Queen, and I love Ben Elton, but this was a god-awful piece of crap.

2. Tim And Eric Awesome Show Great Job (Season 2)

3. Eureka (Season 3, Episodes 5-8)

4. The Apple - Everybody do the BIM! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cuVdsNaTBY

5. The Young Person's Guide To Becoming A Rock Star (Episode 1)

6. Anthony Bourdain - No Reservations (Sicily, Las Vegas, New Zealand, Malaysia)

Playlist for Wednesday, June 3, 2009

1. Cairo - Cairo

2. Mandy Moore - Amanda Leigh

3. Marvin Gaye - Live In Montreux 1980

Playlist for Monday, June 1, 2009

1. The Disappearing Art Of The Mix Tape - BBC Radio 4 special

2. R.E.S.P.E.C.T. - The Art Of Backing Vocals - BBC Radio 4 special

3. Zinescene - BBC Radio 4 special about fanzines

How would you feel if someone put your marriage to a vote?

Reading list for Saturday, May 30, 2009

1. Who Are You - The Life of Pete Townshend - Mark Wilkerson (http://www.townshendbio.com/)

Playlist for Friday, May 29, 2009

1. X-Files - Season 7, Episodes 12-14 ("X-Cops", "First Person Shooter" and "Theef")

My Challenge to those against Gay Marriage

I challenge those of you who are against gay marriage to come up with ONE valid argument that does not:

1. rely on Bible references (See www.godhatesshrimp.com),

2. equate homosexuality to adultery, bigamy, child molestation, incest or bestiality (See Rick "Man On Dog" Santorum),

3. sound bigoted when you substitute "interracial" for "gay".

Good luck.

Pointless Things To Say To A Small Child

My wife to our son: "Don't make a mess."

Me: "That's like saying 'AC/DC, don't write songs about sex and drinking'."

4 Way Street (Arnold/Boggia/Bricklin/Muir/Parsons) live at the Painted Bride on New Year's Eve 2005-2006.

With special guest Amos Lee! Yes, I finally finished uploading the show to YouTube. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=A489328881EF4E7B

Playlist for Thursday, May 28, 2009

1. Mike Keneally & Bryan Beller - The Tiki Terrace - Des Plaines, IL - May 16, 2009

(Side note: Mike Keneally is one of my top three favorite musicians of all time, the other two being Frank Zappa and Todd Rundgren. You may be familiar with his work with Frank Zappa, Steve Vai and Dethklok. Why not go to www.keneally.com and explore his unique musical view?)

2. The Reduced Shakespeare Company - Podcast #129 - Three Day Weekend

(Another side note: The Reduced Shakespeare Company is absolutely brilliant. You may remember one of their writers/actors/managing partners, Austin Tichenor, as Samuel, the boyfriend/husband of Javier in the television show "Felicity".)

3. Steve Kuhn, Steve Swallow and Billy Drummond - Upstairs Jazz Bar and Grill - Montreal, QC - October 4, 2008

4. Steve Reich - Music For 18 Musicians - Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble

Support Prop 2!

Please note: I did not write this, but I agree with it completely. My thanks to "Stephanie" for composing it.

Marriage is between a man and a woman, exclusively, for life. It's in the Bible. I propose Prop Two, a California Ballot Initiative, to criminalize adultery and divorce. Because:

Mark 10:11,12 He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."

Rom 7:2-3 "For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man."

1Cor 7:39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives.

Luke 16:18b The man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

1Cor 7:10-11 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

NIV, Exodus 20:14 You shall not commit adultery.

NIV, Proverbs 6:32 But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.

NAS, Luke 18:18-20) And a certain ruler questioned Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments, 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.'"

A Small Example of Right-Wing Hypocrisy

A "friend" on Facebook has a collection of "flair," which includes this among the usual right-wing claptrap:

"I didn't vote for Obama. But he is my President, so I will respect him."

This is followed by "1 Peter 2:13-20". A quick check reveals it to be this passage:

¹³Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, ¹⁴or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. ¹⁵For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. ¹⁶Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. ¹⁷Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

¹⁸Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. ¹⁹For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. ²⁰But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.

A few pieces of flair later, we find one with the "No" symbol across the Obama logo, with this phrase underneath:

"No thanks, already have a messiah."

So much for respecting him.

Playlist for Wednesday, May 27, 2009

1. Mike Keneally & Bryan Beller - Midlothian Music - Orland Park, IL - May 15, 2009

2. Mike Keneally & Bryan Beller - The Tiki Terrace - Des Plaines, IL - May 16, 2009

(Side note: both of Bryan Beller's solo albums are amazing. Go to www.bryanbeller.com and purchase them immediately.)

Playlist for Tuesday, May 26, 2009

1. Sound Affects - BBC Radio 2 documentary about the power of music.

2. Morton Subotnick - Good Shepherd Center Chapel - Seattle, WA - April 30, 2009

3. Mike Keneally & Bryan Beller - Midlothian Music - Orland Park, IL - May 15, 2009

4. Lost and Found Video Night Vol. 5 - Collection of unusual and rare video footage.

5. Local police scanner