Jellyfishin'

My favorite band with the line-up I had the privilege of seeing in concert three times. Brilliance!

A Simple Thank You

...to all of those who have served in the military and their families, to those who've risked life and limb to defend our freedoms and way of life, and to the millions who've given their lives for our country. Your sacrifice has made it possible for me to raise a beautiful family and live a good life in peace. You have my deepest and most sincere gratitude.

Invested In Our Defeat

“Since retaking Congress in November 2006, the top foreign policy priority of the Democratic Party has not been to expand the size of our military for the war on terror or to strengthen our democracy promotion efforts in the Middle East or to prevail in Afghanistan. It has been to pull our troops out of Iraq, to abandon the democratically-elected government there, and to hand a defeat to President Bush.

“Iraq has become the singular litmus test for Democratic candidates. No Democratic presidential primary candidate today speaks of America’s moral or strategic responsibility to stand with the Iraqi people against the totalitarian forces of radical Islam, or of the consequences of handing a victory in Iraq to al Qaeda and Iran. And if they did, their campaign would be as unsuccessful as mine was in 2006. Even as evidence has mounted that General Petraeus’ new counterinsurgency strategy is succeeding, Democrats have remained emotionally invested in a narrative of defeat and retreat in Iraq, reluctant to acknowledge the progress we are now achieving, or even that that progress has enabled us to begin drawing down our troops there.”

Sounds like a Republican, but it's actually from a speech former Democrat (and current Independant) Senator Joe Lieberman from Connecticut gave to the Center for Politics and Foreign Relations/Financial Times breakfast at The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies.

Senator Lieberman also indicated, “…there is something profoundly wrong—something that should trouble all of us—when we have elected Democratic officials who seem more worried about how the Bush administration might respond to Iran’s murder of our troops, than about the fact that Iran is murdering our troops.

There is likewise something profoundly wrong when we see candidates who are willing to pander to this politically paranoid, hyper-partisan sentiment in the Democratic base—even if it sends a message of weakness and division to the Iranian regime.”

A Day In The Life

This video pretty much sums up a typical day for me (except for the Bud Lite part).

My Top 25 Favorite Beatles Songs

I don't remember the first time I heard The Beatles. It seems like their music has always surrounded me. As a child I remember being moved by the beauty and poignancy of "Yesterday." As a young teen, I remember playing "Day Tripper" on guitar with Wade on drums until his dad kicked us out of the garage at 10 pm. As an adult, I have come to appreciate not only their musical catalogue, but also the impact they have had on me and the music industry as a whole, including many of the bands and musicians I love to listen to today.

Ok, so I think Myke and I are like the only guys that remotely care about this list...but, still. It's meaningful to us in our own musician-nerd way. I've been procrastinating posting this list because it is so difficult to choose my favorites. I've loved different songs during different seasons for different reasons. I'm fairly certain that I'll feel completely different about the order of these songs within...oh, I don't know...about a week. But for now, here are my Top 25 Favorite Beatle Songs.

Yesterday -- See above.
Eleanor Rigby -- Two profiles in loneliness, a topic with which we are all well acquainted. Impeccable string section.
I Am the Walrus -- LOVE the psychadelic instrumentation and lyrics. Brilliant arrangement.
Hey Jude -- The anthem for all time.
Dear Prudence -- Simply beautiful. GREAT guitar work throughout.
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds -- Wonderfully imaginative, Classic chord progression. Psychedelia at its finest.
Let It Be -- Almost feels like singing a sacred hymn when this song comes on.
Something -- Just gorgeous from start to finish. One of George's best guitar solos.
Here Comes the Sun -- A song of hope.
Hello Goodbye -- I don't know why, but this song always makes me happy. One of my favorite choruses.
Getting Better -- Another song of hope. Love John's contribution ("it can't get no worse"). Cool sitar in the third verse.
Come and Get It - Classic McCartney.
Strawberry Fields -- George Martin's brilliance shines through on this one.
A Day In the Life -- One of my faves in 7th grade. Remember singing it with a good friend who moved far away that summer.
All You Need Is Love -- Fused 7/8 time with a fantastic melody. One of the most memorable choruses of all time.
She Said, She Said -- Groovy.
The Long and Winding Road -- Some of the most beautiful string parts ever written. Gorgeous melody.
She’s Leaving Home -- This one is going to hit homefor me soon enough.
Happiness Is A Warm Gun -- Myke re-introduced me to it. Incredible verse melody.
I Want You (She’s So Heavy) -- What can be said about the ominous guitar riff? It...is...awesome.
Here, There and Everywhere -- Simple and lovely.
Penny Lane -- Catchy tune. Cool horn part. Another great melody.
We Can Work It Out -- "Life is very short..."
Mother Nature’s Son -- Makes me wish I was basking in the sun somewhere in the great outdoors.
Revolution -- John's vocal is sooooo cool in this song.

As I look at this list I am reminded that I could easily change a handful of these songs out with others, like "Fool On the Hill," "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window," "Paperback Writer," "Lady Madonna," "In My Life," "Helter Skelter, "Glass Onion, "Golden Slumbers, "For No One," and "Across the Universe." But, for now, this is it!

What are YOUR favorites?

The Rock 'n Roll Hall of Lame

Ok, Mike and I have been talking about making a Top Ten list of the most overrated rock bands/musicians. Mike is usually the Top Ten guru, but I think I'll take a crack at it. This list is intended only for critically-acclaimed artists that are widely considered to have acheived "legend" status. Here's my list:

1. The Grateful Dead -- This band tops my list because I can find absolutely no redeeming value in their music. It's as simple as that. If only they had quit taking acid long enough to realize how much their band sucked...

2. Santana -- Largely acclaimed for fusing latin rhythms into the rock genre, Santana had a couple of nearly-listenable songs in the early '70s. As a guitar player, I HATE his tone. Although his playing is proficient, I find it totally uninspired. I'm never moved, excited, or impressed in any way when listening to his crappy solos.

3. R.E.M. -- Has there ever been any other band so critically acclaimed that is so average? They have written a few decent songs. Nothing amazing. No brilliant musicianship. Michael Stipe's voice is marginal, and oftentimes irritating. And whenever I see interviews with them, they come off so pretentious -- clearly believing themselves to be deeply profound artists. So self-important...and so totally AVERAGE.

4. Bruce Springsteen -- I respect the amount of effort that he puts into his live performances, but I can't figure out how this guy has sustained a 30-year music career with the crap he puts out. Evidently the blue-collar thing appeals to a large segment of our society. I just find his music boring and predictable.


5. The Doors -- In a historical context, the Doors were significant. Their stage shows were wild and unpredictable, and Jim Morrison exuded a sexualty that was almost unparalled. In these ways, they personified the counter-culture of that era. But, Morrison was a freak and his poetry/lyrics, especially toward the end of his life, were so abstract as to be nonsensical. It was just drug-induced drivel. His untimely death catapulted him into "rock hero" status that was massively overstated and undeserved. The keyboards were one-dimensional, although cool on occasion (e.g. "Light My Fire"). While they had a few good tunes ("Hello, I Love You" rocks), their catalog of music, when viewed in its entirety, absolutely does not merit the adulation they have received in the annals of rockdom. Maybe their "greatness" will dawn on me someday, like it did with Hendrix in my early 20s. So far 30 years of listening hasn't done the trick.

6. The Clash -- During the punk era of the late '70s, critics labeled them "the only band that mattered." There's no question that they were trailblazers for that genre. But, I can't change the station fast enough when one of their songs comes on the radio.

7. Eric Clapton (1980s to present) -- As a guitarist myself, I feel like I'm commiting an act of sacrilege by saying this. But, everything Clapton put out after the 1970s is crap. These days, his guitar tone sucks, most of his recent songs are not memorable (save "Tears in Heaven"), and he no longer plays with the fire of his youth (to be fair, none of us do). Just compare his solo on the live version of "Crossroads" with anything he's put out over the last 20 years. There's no question that he deserves his legendary status for his work in The Yardbirds, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, Cream, and Derek and the Dominos. But beyond that, forget it.

8. Guns 'n Roses -- The first time I heard "Welcome to the Jungle" I knew this band would have an impact on the music scene of the day. Their first album had some songs that were decent--even refreshing, considering the crap put out by hair bands during that unfortunate era. But, Axl Rose is a friggin' ego-maniacal, self-important idiot (a trait he shares with several others on this list) with a grating voice that got worse (if you can imagine that) as his career progressed. Slash is a massively-overrated guitarist/drunkard. My most vivid memory of him was at a benefit concert in Santa Monica many years ago when he made a guest appearance with Great White (who sucks worse than ‘GnR’) and was so drunk he couldn't play. He got booed off the stage.

9. Pearl Jam -- Hailed by many as a premier grunge band, they were somehow able to "fool some of the people all of the time" with below-average songs, non-sensical lyrics, and a disheveled singer who sounded like he was trying to keep from swallowing a mouthful of cough syrup. Also, pick a melody and stick with it, for crying out loud. (Sorry, Myke)

10. Nirvana -- I struggled with this one a little bit. They wrote some good songs, ushered in the Grunge movement, and obviously had a huge influence on many bands that followed (way too much, in my opinion), which is why I think some of their accolades are deserved. But, like Jim Morrison, the mystique and prestige of Nirvana was elevated to mythic proportions after Kurt Cobain's death. There's no way to know for sure, but I believe it is highly unlikely that Nirvana would have garnered as much adulation had Cobain not taken his life. I'm not saying they weren't a cool band; just that they are highly overrated.

Dishonorable mention:

Blue-collar rock: John "Cougar" Mellencamp (sucked from Day 1)
Punk: Sonic Youth (trashy, sloppy, sucky)
Jam Band: Dave Matthews Band (quirky and unconventional can be cool; but, in the case, it just sucks).
EMO: The Smiths (one word: Morrissey)
Brit Rock: Oasis (a couple of great songs. But, how many different ways can you write the same song?)

That was pretty fun. I'll update If I think of more.

Grief For Another Life Lost

Christopher Hitchens writes about a young soldier from Irvine, California--just a few miles down the 55 Freeway from me--who died in combat in Iraq earlier this year. In it, Hitchens recounts his grief about the young soldier's death after learning that one of Hitchens' articles helped persuade him to join the service.

I don't exaggerate by much when I say that I froze [after reading the news report about the soldier's death]. I certainly felt a very deep pang of cold dismay. I had just returned from a visit to Iraq with my own son (who is 23, as was young Mr. Daily) and had found myself in a deeply pessimistic frame of mind about the war. Was it possible that I had helped persuade someone I had never met to place himself in the path of an I.E.D.?

It's an interesting and, at times, moving article.

Teach Your Children Well...

Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder.

Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was Capone's lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time.

To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but also, Eddie got special dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago City block.

Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him.

Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was.

Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good example.

One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done. He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al "Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great.

So, he testified.

Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay. Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine.

The poem read: The clock of life is wound but once, And no man has the power To tell just when the hands will stop At late or early hour. Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may soon be still.

----------

World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific.

One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet. As he was returning to the mother ship he saw something that turned his blood cold: a squadron of Japanese aircraft was speeding its way toward the American fleet.

The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet.

Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly.

Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction.

Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft.

This took place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.

So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.

SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?

Butch O'Hare was "Easy Eddie's" son.

(h/t The Corner)

If Moveon Had Existed 65 Years Ago

via Red State

Responding to Truthers on 9/11

The 9/11 truthers have no decency. On the anniversary of 9/11, these idiots saw the opportunity to shove their grotesque conspiracy fantasies down the throats of people who came to visit Ground Zero and pay their respects. Total disregard for the solemnity of the ocassion.

Six Years On

I still get incredibly sad watching the remembrances and re-broadcasts of the events of that fateful day, 6 years ago. I also get sad when I think about how united our nation was in the aftermath of the attacks, and how divided we are now.

I understand that there will always be disagreements about the best way to conduct policy--both foreign and domestic--and I think that is one of the things that makes our democracy healthy. However, today a significant number of Americans evidently hate their country and/or the current administration so much that they actually believe, in the face of mountains of evidence to the contrary, that their own government either committed the atrocities of that day or were complicit in their execution. Like most conspiracists, these people string together any loose thread of apparently contradictory information they can find and force it into bizarre scenarios that conform to their pre-conceived fantasies.

Normally, I just ignore the rantings of this pathetic group of fabulists. But, their cancerous ideas have begun to spread through the body of the Democrat party, to the point where 42% of registered democrats subscribe to their claims. I guess I should be glad that it's not a majority...yet.

From where does this madness derive? Why is their initial reaction to always assume the worst? Do they really believe it deep down? Is it pure political calculation? Are they genuinely delusional? It's hard to say. I'm not a psychologist or sociologist. People believe what they believe for a variety of reasons. Of course, these people are entitled to their opinions. And I'm entitled to say that I think their opinions are reprehensible. The fact that their ideas are even seriously entertained by rational adults is just...sad.

Well, I guess I had to get that out of my system. Now I can devote my thoughts and prayers to the families and friends of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Although I'm an optimist by nature, I fear that nothing short of another terrorist attack will unite us--as we were 6 years ago.

Straight From the Jihadis' Orafices

It is clear to anyone who has been paying close attention over the past 6 (or more) years that al Qaeda is warring against the West because its belief system is incompatible with any society that is not subjugated to its interpretation of Islam. For those who still doubt, The Al Qaeda Reader (ed. Raymond Ibrahim) provides proof directly from the leaders of al Qaeda themselves.

According to Bruce Thornton, who reviewed the book,

"[Ibrahim] has organized these writings into two sections: theology, writings intended for fellow Muslims that ground al Qaeda’s war against the West in the traditional Islamic doctrine of jihad; and propaganda, writings meant for Westerners that cast bin Laden’s war as a just response to the depredations of Western powers."

Thornton concludes,

The Al Qaeda Reader, simply by letting our enemies speak in their own voices, explodes the popular delusion that Western crimes and policies are responsible for the “distortion” of Islam that al Qaeda represents. As Ibrahim writes, “This volume of translations, taken as whole, prove once and for all that, despite the propaganda of Al Qaeda and its sympathizers, Radical Islam’s war with the West is not finite and limited to political grievances — real or imagined — but is existential, transcending time and space and deeply rooted in faith.” This means that the fight will be long and hard, that leaving Iraq or creating a Palestinian state will not buy peace, and that the side that accurately understands its enemy and has confidence in its own beliefs will
ultimately triumph.

Bedtime Ballad

This rings true for just about any parent...

So That's How They Do It

Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) on one of the perks he enjoyed while serving as a military officer.



No wonder the military continues to meet or exceed its enlistment and retention goals.

Last Rites

The Belmont Club refers to a blog called The Ambulance Driver, which recalls the moments, over seven years, when the blogger had to tell anxious loved ones the person he was crouched over was dead; beyond his help. There were men gone from old age, young blond accident victims, the middle-aged expired from a heart attack, daredevil young men on their shattered motorcycles. And the anxious survivors "... and then I say The Words. 'I'm afraid she's dead.' "

Wretchard observes:

As children we know one sort of God, the kind who loves us like our parents. He is the God who we spoke to just as if He was in the next room in the moments before we went to sleep. And as we grow up, the God of our childhood slips away forgotten, but He is replaced, if we are in Grace, by one we can speak to as adults. He never truly goes away, but as we are adults, leaves us mostly on our own. The God of adulthood comes seldom and usually in moments of great happiness and loss. There finally is the Lord who speaks to us when we are old, when we awake bewildered to watery brightness of each new day, when we know we are close to leaving the flowers and yet are not wholly despairing of meeting them again.

The Ambulance Driver captures the most secret moments of society. The ones most hidden from view.

The comments section has some interesting commentary, as well.

LTA Show @ Plush

Lower Than Angels is playing a show!

Plush Cafe in downtown Fullerton
Tuesday, July 17th @ 8 p.m.
Should be a fun gig.
Hope to see you there!

My Hero For Today...

...is Alex McIlveen, a scottish cab driver who kicked the burning terrorist at the Glasgow Airport so hard in the balls that he tore a tendon.

The man has the spirit of William Wallace (if not the same methods)!

10 Politically Incorrect Truths About Human Nature

I found this expose interesting (and, in some cases, funny) reading. The list is presented below. Follow the link to find the reasoning behind these "truths."

1. Men like blond bombshells (and women want to look like them)
2. Humans are naturally polygamous
3. Most women benefit from polygyny, while most men benefit from monogamy
4. Most suicide bombers are Muslim
5. Having sons reduces the likelihood of divorce
6. Beautiful people have more daughters (one of my favorites!)
7. What Bill Gates and Paul McCartney have in common with criminals
8. The midlife crisis is a myth—sort of
9. It's natural for politicians to risk everything for an affair (but only if they're male)
10. Men sexually harass women because they are not sexist

The list is a product of psychological thought known as evolutionary psychology, which leans heavily on evolutionary theory. I don't know how much of it I believe (re: the psychology, that is), but it is interesting, nonetheless.

Happy Birthday, America

The family and I celebrated Independence Day at a block party with dozens of neighbors, many of whom we met for the first time. It was a great party with tons of food and friendship. The kids got to play in a bounce house, or keep cool while playing in a kiddie pool and a slip-n-slide. It was a very fun time. Cherie will probably post a blog with pictures at her blog, Chering Life.

It was nice to spend time with people celebrating something we all have in common--love for our country.

I like this post from Captain Ed:

Today we celebrate the birth of our nation, as conceived by a group of men in a Pennsylvania hall who many considered at the time as traitors. They dared to imagine a nation whose leaders would not be derived from notions of royalty nor from the power of arms, but chosen by free people as leaders accountable to the populace. They took the ethereal notions that sprang from the Enlightenment and dared to make them a reality -- hoping that this radical experiment would take root in the North American continent, but having no clue that it would become a shining beacon for the entire world over the next two centuries.

It wasn't a model of perfection, and indeed, our birth has resembled our journey ever since. Dissent over the nature of a representative democracy appeared from the very start. The first structure of the government would have to be scrapped and re-imagined from scratch just a few years later. It would take decades more before the nation finally dealt with the inherent contradiction in the Declaration of Independence and its assertion that "all men are created equal," and the detestable institution of slavery -- and another century after that before the government finally took action to ensure that those words prevailed. Arguments about the division of power between the states and the federal government have continued from the first moments until this moment.

We have been far from perfect, but we have recognized our failures and prevailed over them in the fullness of time. Winston Churchill once said that democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others -- and we have been the model for that, for better and worse. America has been a beacon of hope for the world for centuries, not just because of the words in our Declaration and Constitution, but because we as a people try our best to live up to them.

Conservatives and liberals, Republicans and Democrats, independents and centrists, and those who cringe when they hear any of those labels -- they want America to live up to its best ideals, our best selves, each in their own way. Happy Independence Day to all of us, and may we continue in our efforts as our ancestors have to continue to keep America as the shining city on the hill.

In 1981, three months after surviving an assassin's bullet, Ronald Reagan talked about our nation's birth in his Independence Day speech:

Thomas Jefferson wrote that on that day of America's birth, in the little hall in Philadelphia, debate raged for hours, but the issue remained in doubt. These were honorable men; still, to sign a Declaration of Independence seemed such an irretrievable act that the walls resounded with cries of "treason'' and "the headsman's axe.''

Then, it is said, one unknown man rose to speak. He was neither young, nor strong in voice; yet, he spoke with such conviction that he mesmerized the hall. He cited the grievances that had brought them to this moment. Then, his voice failing, he said: "They may turn every tree into a gallows, every hole into a grave, and yet the words of that parchment can never die. To the mechanic in the workshop, they will speak hope, to the slave in the mines, freedom. Sign that parchment. Sign if the next moment the noose is around your neck, for that parchment will be the textbook of freedom, the bible of the rights of man forever.'' And sign they did.

What makes our revolution unique and so exciting, then, is that it changed the very concept of government. Here was a new nation telling the world that it was conceived in liberty; that all men are created equal with God-given rights, and that power ultimately resides in "We the people.''

We sometimes forget this great truth, and we never should, because putting people first has always been America's secret weapon. It's the way we've kept the spirit of our revolution alive -- a spirit that drives us to dream and dare, and take great risks for a greater good. It's the spirit of Fulton and Ford, the Wright brothers and Lindbergh, and of all our astronauts. It's the spirit of Joe Louis, Babe Ruth, and a million others who may have been born poor, but who would not be denied their day in the Sun.

The men without the words would have been little more than mutineers. The words without the men would have been long forgotten, if ever remembered at all. On the Fourth of July, we honor them all, and all those who came after to preserve and promote the Union.

Another view on the meaning of Independence Day.

More on the reasons why we celebrate Independence Day from a speech by President Calvin Coolidge on July 4, 1926:

We meet to celebrate the birthday of America. The coming of a new life always excites our interest. Although we know in the case of the individual that it has been an infinite repetition reaching back beyond our vision, that only makes it the more wonderful. But how our interest and wonder increase when we behold the miracle of the birth of a new nation. It is to pay our tribute of reverence and respect to those who participated in such a mighty event that we annually observe the fourth day of July. Whatever may have been the impression created by the news which went out from this city on that summer day in 1776, there can be no doubt as to the estimate which is now placed upon it. At the end of 150 years the four corners of the earth unite in coming to Philadelphia as to a holy shrine in grateful acknowledgement of a service so great, which a few inspired men here rendered to humanity, that it is still the preeminent support of free government throughout the world.

Although a century and a half measured in comparison with the length of human experience is but a short time, yet measured in the life of governments and nations it ranks as a very respectable period. Certainly enough time has elapsed to demonstrate with a great deal of thoroughness the value of our institutions and their dependability as rules for the regulation of human conduct and the advancement of civilization. They have been in existence long enough to become very well seasoned. They have met, and met successfully, the test of experience.

It is not so much then for the purpose of undertaking to proclaim new theories and principles that this annual celebration is maintained, but rather to reaffirm and reestablish those old theories and principles which time and the unerring logic of events have demonstrated to be sound. Amid all the clash of conflicting interests, amid all the welter of partisan politics, every American can turn for solace and consolation to the Declaration of independence and the Constitution of the United States with the assurance and confidence that those two great charters of freedom and justice remain firm and unshaken.

Instant Karma Is Going To Get You...

A Californian man who tried to kill his girlfriend by leaving her in a car parked across railway lines was himself killed when an oncoming train hurled the car into him as he fled.

His girlfriend survived, the Associated Press reported.

...gonna knock you right on the head...

Another Celebrity Spector-cle

It seems that every couple of years, we must endure the spectacle of a celebrity trial. This year it's the Phil Spector show. The woman Spector is accused of murdering, Lana Clarkson, was a former actress who was working as a hostess in the Foundation Room at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. I'm a "Foundation Member" and have frequented this VIP bar/restaurant over the past several months, getting to know quite a few of the waitresses and staff. News reports indicate that some HOB staff have been called to testify at the trial. I haven't been to the Foundation Room for awhile, so I don't know who, specifically, has testified. But, I'm interested to find out.

Anyways, one of the things that accentuates the circus atmosphere of this celebrity trial is the crazy hair-dos that Spector wears to court, most notably this one:

Apparently, Spector is considering some other hair styles for the remainder of the trial. Here are the candidates (or should I say, nominees) for the next "look"...

(h/t The Corner)

I'll Huff and I'll Puff...

Blogger Chris Kelly at Huffington Post wrote an asinine post about the recent Rasmussen Poll alluded to in one of my recent posts.

In his polemic, Kelly explains why he doesn’t think it’s stunning that 61% of Democrats either believe the U.S. government was, or might have been, complicit in the murder of its own people. “Let's set aside whether or not 61% of anything can be stunning,” Kelly writes [I wonder if he would find it stunning if 61% of people didn’t believe in global warming, or if 61% actually liked George Bush, etc.]. He then adds the “no opinion” vote to the “no” votes and draws the grammatically-challeged conclusion, “In other words, a made-up non-quasi-plurality of Democrats don't not not think that the president didn't see 9/11 coming.”

Cute. While it is true that the “no opinion” vote can be lumped into the “no” category, it is inconsequential. For if someone has “no opinion,” it can mean only one of three things. Either, 1) they believe it could be true (or not), they’re just unsure, 2) they don’t really care [highly doubtful since the percentage of Americans who fall under this criterion would be infinitesimal], or 3) they’re unable to express an opinion due to some inability to reason or form logical conclusions. Now, unlike Kelly’s post, which is littered with ad hominem attacks against President Bush and conservative talk radio host Michael Medved, I’m not going to assume No. 3 applies to these Democrats. So, that leaves the first two possibilities, both of which, if considered by any fair-minded person, are shocking.

The salient point here is that the people who had "no opinion," presumably witnessed the events of that fateful day either in person, on live TV, or in endless replays, and perhaps even saw footage of bin Laden admitting his group carried out the attacks, and are still willing to entertain the idea that the Bush Administration had foreknowledge and did nothing—or perhaps even assisted the attackers—which, under either scenario, would make it an accomplice to the mass murder of its own citizens. I just find that astonishing.

Kelly then makes "three" points, only one of which is even remotely relevant (see Point 2 below). My response to each of his arguments is as follows:

Point 1: While it is true that 35% doesn’t represent a “take over” of the Democrat party, it’s undeniable that a minority of radical activists (i.e. MoveOn.org, DailyKos, etc.) is having a significant influence on party leadership. These activists have been largely successful in marginalizing moderate Democrats whose views are much closer to mainstream Americans.

Point 2: Kelly makes the absurd observation that the poll question, “Did Bush know about the 9/11 attack in advance?” was ambiguous. How could the question be any more explicit? The pollster didn’t ask, “Do you think Bush knew that a terrorist attack would occur someday?” If that had been the question, then he may have a basis for argument (although the certitude of foreknowledge implied by the question would be impossible for anyone to verify).

Instead, Kelly asks if the August 6th report called “Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US” counts as knowing in advance of the 9/11 attacks. The short answer: NO. This conflation is a red herring. For by this logic, any president could be implicated for colluding with terrorists in the event of a future attack because of the “foreknowledge” presented in intelligence briefings everyday, which detail leads and other information related to hundreds of ongoing terrorist plots to strike on U.S. soil. This, of course, is preposterous.

The fact is the poll question was specifically about 9/11. The intent and structure of the question is unambiguous. So Kelly either doesn't know the definition of ambiguous or he is lying. In either case he comes off badly. Now, if Kelly, or anyone else for that matter, can show evidence that the intelligence community presented Bush with detailed information about the terrorists plans prior to the attacks on 9/11, including the specific date, time, method and targets, then he should present that evidence.

Shhh. Hear that? It's nearly 6 years of deafening silence on the matter.

Point 3: Another helping of ad hominem attack, which can be added to the list of snide remarks about Bush’s alleged stupidity. While we’re on the topic, how is it that so many Democrats think Bush is stupid and yet he’s able to coordinate a consipiracy, the magnitude of which the world has never seen? An administration that can’t keep leaks about wire tapping and rendition programs from the front pages of the NY Times is supposed to be able to ensure secrecy about their alleged complicity in the most horrific and notorious terrorist attacks of our lifetimes. It would be laughable if so many Democrats didn’t believe it were true.

He then throws in Point 4 for good measure, which is a crude ad hominem attack against Medved.

That Chris Kelly tries to defend the indefensible with such smugness and animosity says all I need to know about him. While I can think of a few adjectives to describe his arguments, suffice it to say that “brilliant” is not one of them.

One more thought: If the standard of "foreknowledge" about 9/11 is knowing that bin Laden wanted to attack the U.S. at some point in the future, then what is Bill Clinton's responsibility? After all, not only did he know that bin Laden was "determined to strike the U.S.," but his organization already had attacked the WTC in 1993. So, Clinton must have known ahead of time about 9/11, according to this ridiculous logic. Again I say, asinine.

Thought For The Day

From the Jawa Report, regarding the election of Sarkozy:

...socialism/leftism is such a detrimental and demonstrable failure of a governing philosophical dogma that even the FRENCH rejected it decisively.

I just got a chuckle out of that.

Why I Am Not a Democrat: Reason #376

Rasmussen Poll:

Democrats in America are evenly divided on the question of whether George W. Bush knew about the 9/11 terrorist attacks in advance. Thirty-five percent (35%) of Democrats believe he did know, 39% say he did not know, and 26% are not sure.

Republicans reject that view and, by a 7-to-1 margin, say the President did not know in advance about the attacks.

So, not only does more than 1/3rd of the Democrat party believe that George Bush allowed the murder of nearly 3,000 of its own citizens--without one shred of evidence, I might add--but, an additional 26% are willing to entertain the idea. Get that? Not some fringe group. Sixty-one percent of the Democrat Party believe the American government either murdered its own people, or could have.

If Only She Knew

I finally mixed "If Only She Knew," which is a song I wrote a couple of years ago. I recorded Wade playing the drums on it during the "Running Out Of Time" session in August 2006. I figured I'd record the rest of the tracks shortly thereafter. Unfortunately, a few days later most of my guitar equipment was stolen and I wasn't able to finish it like I'd hoped.

Over the last several months I've been buying new guitar equipment and a couple of weeks ago I decided to record the bass, guitar, rhodes piano, and vocals over Wade's old drum tracks. If you go here, you'll hear the result. Thanks to Wade and Bobby for the assist with pro-tools. Also, thanks to Myke and Darren, who are awesome guitar players and, along with Bobby and Wade, inspirational musicians.

I'm still very new at using pro-tools, so it's not perfect. But, drop me a line and tell me how you like it.

Critical Asses

Last time Bob and I were in The People's Republic of Soviet Monica, we watched a large bike ride that included some weirdos, anti-war protestors, and the like. I didn't think much of it, since it appeared rather harmless and not unusual for the area. After reading this article, I'm not so sure about how harmless these Critical Mass bike rides are.

It was supposed to be a birthday night out for the kids in San Francisco, but instead turned into a Critical Mass horror show -- complete with a pummeled car, a smashed rear window and little children screaming in terror.

I understand these freaks were trying to make a point. But, if these people ever threaten my children like they did that family in San Francisco, it won't take long for the situation to reach critical mass.

They're Here

The long wait for the arrival of my in-laws is over. Sandra and Evert Heskes arrived from Toronto today. Everyone is so happy to see them and they are very pleased to be here. I'm excited about our planned trip to Las Vegas with them and the Harrisons this weekend. Other than hanging out with the family, the highlight of the weekend for me will be attending the Cirque du' Soleil presentation "Love".

I can't wait.

Regurgitating The Apple

Evan Sayet gives a cogent explanation of the corrosive affect that 40 years of leftist indoctrination has had on the ability of many in our society to form basic judgments about right and wrong.

DiFi In Trouble

In my work as a commercial real estate appraiser, I am often in contact with the biggest commercial brokerage firm in the world--CB Richard Ellis. In fact, a friend of mine works for the company, and I called another one of their other brokers today. That's why I was surprised to see that CB Richard Ellis is part of a war-profiteering scandal surrounding one of the U.S. Senators representing my home state of California.

Reportedly, Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has resigned from the Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee, for which she was chairperson and ranking member for 6 years, during which time she had a conflict of interest due to her husband's ownership of two major defense contractors, who were awarded billions of dollars for military construction projects approved by Feinstein. Apparently, Feinstein's husband, Richard C. Blum, has a controlling interest in CBRE, which "holds congressionally funded contracts to lease office space to the Department of Veterans Affairs. It also is involved in redeveloping military bases turned over to the private sector. In 2005, CB Richard Ellis made $100 million in federal contracts, only half of which had been part of full and open competitive bidding."

I'm kind of bummed because, even though I mostly disagree with her politically, I actually like Senator Feinstein. She's typically fair-minded and reasonable--and a helluva lot better than our other Senator.

But, Captain Ed makes the salient point:

During the 2006 election, Feinstein's party made a lot of hay out of non-competitve contracting by the government. Democrats railed especially about Halliburton, even though Halliburton won 95% of its contract dollars by full and open competition. Now we see that Feinstein herself had no problem with non-competitive practices, as long as it meant stuffing her own pockets with taxpayer money.

Michelle Malkin reports:

The NYTimes is demanding an investigation. Arianna Huffington has launched ads lambasting Feinstein. The left-wing blogosphere is an uproar over Feinstein's war profiteering.

Kidding.

Republican Congressman Randall "Duke" Cunningham is serving jail time for taking bribes in exchange for tens of millions of dollars in government contracts. While there is no evidence that Feinstein accepted bribes--and therefore no laws appear to have been broken--it was certainly unethical to award multi-million-dollar no-bid contracts to her husband's companies. It will be interesting to see if this gets much play in the MSM.

"We've Come Here to the Viper's Nest of Anti-Semitism"

The amount of anti-Semitism on some of today's university campuses is almost unbelievable. I say almost because it is not entirely surprising, considering the intellectual corruption of our universities by faculty activists who have turned their classrooms into platforms for radical political causes.

Needless to say, the perniciuos indoctrination taking place on many university campuses has had a deleterious impact on our schools. Powerline links to a YouTube video, which is a recently-released documentary of violent demonstrations that took place at Concordia University in Montreal in 2002. The documentary shows the rabid anti-semitism directed at students trying to attend a speech by former Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. After the riot, only two students were suspended and none arrested. How were the victims treated? Well, the Israeli student group, Hillel, is banned from the student union and receives no share of the student council budget, while the Palestinian organization receives full benefits and access. Hmm. Seems fair.

Unfortunately, this venemous hatred has not abated. Pro-Palestinian students directing violence and intimidatation against others is indicative of the anti-semitism that has been allowed to flourish on many university campuses--where educators (AKA thought reformers) inculcate students with criticism of "Zionism," as an insidious cover for their Jew-hatred.

It's sad when a peaceful anti-Israel protest at Berkeley comes as shocking news.

Caption Contest Anyone?

Hillary Pilloried

The left is not going to let Hillary Clinton off the hook for her vote to authorize the Iraq War. A former UN weapons inspector claims Hillary knew during her husband's administration that Iraq had disarmed, but she voted for the resolution anyway.

In a speech delivered at the time of the vote, Hillary spoke of her "conviction" that the resolution was "in the best interests of the nation." While I do believe Hillary is a dishonest, vindictive person, I have no idea whether her vote that day was predicated on a sincere belief in the faulty intelligence that was available at the time or not.

The inspector has no such reservation:

Hillary can try to twist and turn the facts as she defends the words she spoke when casting her fateful vote in favor of a war with Iraq. But no amount of rewriting history can shield her from the failed policies of her very own husband, policies she embraced willingly and wholeheartedly when endorsing war.

Run, Hillary, run. But your race towards the White House will never outpace the hypocrisy and duplicity inherent in your decision to vote for war in Iraq.

This Discussion Needs To Happen

The Free Muslims Coalition was recently contacted by Pastor Howard Gardner, a minister with the Assemblies of God, who wrote a letter that he and numerous other Christian leaders want delivered to prominent Muslim religious leaders. The Pastor made it clear that the Christian leaders are only interested in a serious dialogue rather than a superficial, politically correct, discussion. The Free Muslims Coalition have agreed to a arrange meetings between Christian and Muslim leaders and to secure a response to the “Christian letter.”

Read the letter here. Hopefully, the Free Muslims Coalition will respond and begin the process of a constructive dialogue.

On a related note: The recently-concluded Secular Islam Summit 2007 featured a collection of moderate Muslims speaking out for freedom. This link leads to a video interview of some of the featured speakers, which is well worth watching.

An Inconvenient Utility Bill

After watching the Academy Awards on Sunday night I coined a new term to describe the way in which the stars fawned over Al Gore: Goreship. The adoration heeped upon Gore during the show by the likes of Melissa Etheridge and Leo DeCaprio was just creepy. The entire audience broke out in rapturous applause as he collected the Oscar for Documentary Feature for his film An Inconvenient Truth acting as though they were being visited by a demi-Gore. And the Goracle of Global Warming (coined by Captain Ed) even had coattails--Etheridge's insipid song in Truth beat out far superior tunes from the movie Dreamgirls for the Oscar in the Music (Song) category, an act reminiscent of the Grammy's Jethro Tull Moment.

It's irritating when pampered stars, who travel by private jet and stretch limo, lecture others about how they should live. Even Al Gore apparently doesn't follow his own advice.

Gore’s mansion, located in the poseh Belle Meade area of Nashville, consumes more electricity every month than the average American household uses in an entire year, according to the Nashville Electric Service (NES).

In his documentary, the former Vice President calls on Americans to conserve energy by reducing electricity consumption at home. The average household in America consumes 10,656 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, according to the Department of Energy. In 2006, Gore devoured nearly 221,000 kWh—more than 20 times the national average.

Last August alone, Gore burned through 22,619 kWh—guzzling more than twice the electricity in one month than an average American family uses in an entire year. As a result of his energy consumption, Gore’s average monthly electric bill topped $1,359. Since the release of An Inconvenient Truth, Gore’s energy consumption has increased from an average of 16,200 kWh per month in 2005, to 18,400 kWh per month in 2006.

UPDATE: Al Gore has responded via Think Progress:

1) Gore’s family has taken numerous steps to reduce the carbon footprint of their private residence, including signing up for 100 percent green power through Green Power Switch, installing solar panels, and using compact fluorescent bulbs and other energy saving technology.

2) Gore has had a consistent position of purchasing carbon offsets to offset the family’s carbon footprint — a concept the right-wing fails to understand. Gore’s office explains:

What Mr. Gore has asked is that every family calculate their carbon footprint and try to reduce it as much as possible. Once they have done so, he then advocates that they purchase offsets, as the Gore’s do, to bring their footprint down to zero.

I think Captain Ed has it right:

Interesting that he doesn't dispute the numbers; he just tries a little misdirection instead.

First, the solar panels and the compact fluorescent light bulbs will certainly make a difference -- but the TCPR report looks at his electricity bill, which still indicates (a) a high level of usage, and (b) an increase since the movie's release. Solar panels generate electricity at the location, which should then decrease the amount of power he's buying from the utility. If it's still going up, there seems to be a serious management problem somewhere.

Second, as I mentioned above, purchasing offsets only means that Gore doesn't want to make the same kind of sacrifices that he's asking other families to make. He's using a modern form of indulgences in order to avoid doing the penance that global-warming activism demands of others. It means that the very rich can continue to suck up energy and raise the price and the demand for electricity and natural gas, while families struggle with their energy costs and face increasing government regulation and taxation. It's a regressive plan that Gore's supporters would decry if the same kind of scheme were applied to a national sales tax, for instance. (italics mine)

And basically, it doesn't address the issue of hypocrisy. If Gore and his family continue to increase their consumption of commercial energy with all of the resources they have at hand, then they have no business lecturing the rest of us on conservation and down-scaling our own use. (via The Anchoress)

Amen.

Ed-Words Hurt

The blogosphere is abuzz with the brouhaha over two lefty bloggers that were hired and apparently fired by the John Edwards campaign for anti-Catholic remarks made on their blogs. It seems the bloggers in question, Amanda Marcotte of Pandagon and Melissa McEwan of Shakespear's Sister, have written some things that aren't very...shall we say...diplomatic. Here's Marcotte on the virgin birth:

Q: What if Mary had taken Plan B after the Lord filled her with his hot, white, sticky Holy Spirit?

A: You’d have to justify your misogyny with another ancient mythology.

Charming.

Look, I'm all for people spewing whatever vile hatred that resides in their hearts on their personal blogs. Whatever. That the Edwards campaign failed to vet their new-hires more closely before making them part of the team seems odd, particularly when considering that Catholic voters are a key audience to which Edwards is tageting his populist message. Then again, this is the same guy who had to interrupt his busy schedule in the midst of building his 28,000-SF mansion in order to kick off his presidential campaign from New Orleans. So much for symbolism, John.

Mary Katherine Ham @ Townhall has a few observations. Here's one:

At 28,000 square feet and 100 acres, if there are two Americas, I'm sure John can pony up and house at least one of them.

UPDATE: It looks as though Edwards is keeping the bloggers on the payroll, after getting assurances "that it was never their intention to malign anyone’s faith." I'm not buying it. Either is the religious left.

Kathryn Jean Lopez wonders how the Edwards campaign would’ve reacted if Marcotte had said something equally offensive about Mohammed.

A Muslim Defends '24'

I found this article refreshing, in light of the political correctness that pervades our society. It is an opinion article written by an American Muslim about the hit show '24'.

I am an Arab-American as well as a fan of "24." The two things are not mutually exclusive, despite what the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and other such groups have to say about this season's opening episodes possibly increasing anti-Muslim and anti-Arab prejudice in American society.

Most of the terrorists represented in "24" through the years have been Arab Muslims. Why? Well, probably because most terrorists today are, in fact, Arab Muslims. As a descendant of Syrian Muslims, I am very well aware that the majority of Muslims world-wide are peaceful, hard working, and law abiding. That still does not change the fact that the greatest terrorist threat to the U.S. today comes not from the ETA, the IRA, etc., but from one group: Islamic terrorists.

And this is what makes "24" a compelling drama every week. Instead of pretending Islamic terrorists don't exist, the show presents frighteningly real worst-case scenarios perpetrated by Osama bin Laden's followers. So CAIR thinks it's over the top for the terrorists in "24" to blow up Los Angeles with a nuke? Please, if bin Laden and his crew had nukes, most of us would be way too dead to argue over such points.

There is a dangerous trend in the U.S. today that involves skirting the truth at the risk of offending any individual or group. When Bill Cosby talks to African-Americans about self-respect and responsibility, and says publicly what many have been saying privately for years, he's branded a "reactionary," "misinformed," "judgmental," and so on. When "24" confronts America's worst fears about al Qaeda--whose goal remains to kill as many Americans as possible whenever possible--the show is said to be guilty of fueling anti-Muslim and anti-Arab prejudice.

Well, here's the hard, cold truth: When Islamic terrorists stop being a threat to America's survival, viewers will lose interest in "24," because it will have lost its relevancy. Until such time, I will continue to watch "24"--because, believe it or not, the idea that there are Jack Bauers out there in real life risking their lives to save ours does mean something to me.

On Giuliani's Bid

The Presidential election cycle begins seems to begin earlier every 4 years. Although we are more than 1-1/2 years from the next election, Democrat and Repbulican presidential candidates are attempting to outflank each other in hopes of attaining their party's nomination. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama appear to have taken the early lead for the Democrats, while John McCain, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani (despite not officially declaring his candidacy) look to be the early front-runners on the Republican side.

For me, it is way too early to decide for whom I will vote. That will play out over the next year or so. However, I did run across an article about Giuliani today that gave a pretty comprehensive run-down of his accomplishments as the Mayor of New York City. The article attempts to show his credentials as a conservative, for which he is not generally regarded, due to his three marriages and his support for abortion rights, gay unions, and curbs on gun ownership. Here's a sample:

Today, Americans see Giuliani as presidential material because of his leadership in the wake of the terrorist attacks, but to those of us who watched him first manage America’s biggest city when it was crime-ridden, financially shaky, and plagued by doubts about its future as employers and educated and prosperous residents fled in droves, Giuliani’s leadership on 9/11 came as no surprise. What Americans saw after the attacks is a combination of attributes that Giuliani governed with all along: the tough-mindedness that had gotten him through earlier civic crises, a no-nonsense and efficient management style, and a clarity and directness of speech that made plain what he thought needed to be done and how he would do it.

My New Canadian Herouxs

Attention immigrants, the town of Herouxville in Quebec has a message for you: no stoning women, and no pouring acid on them either.

Don't Expect To See These Heroes At The Movies

Pulling 16-hour days, volunteering for repeated tours of duty at FBI outposts in the Middle East, constantly aware that their failures will be remembered when their successes are forgotten, the G-people are clearly heroes.

But if they're hoping that their seminar will win them props from filmmakers in general — a picture or two celebrating their courageous work in the war on terror — I suspect they are going to be disappointed.

Read why here.

Who's More Dangerous To Jews?

Mel Gibson or Jimmy Carter?

Mel: An entertainer with obvious psychological issues who was universally reviled, despite his profuse apologies for anti-semitic comments uttered while drunk. Certainly, he's an influential figure, due to his recent Hollywood blockbusters. But, once the tape of his tirade during a drunk driving arrest hit the airwaves, he immediately went to the media and renounced his remarks, rightly expressing embarassment and shame. I've also read reports of private meetings he has held with Jewish leaders to apologize. It's possible that he's insincere--I really don't know (or care, for that matter). But, I find the outrage surrounding Gibson a little puzzling in light of the relative quiet in the media surrounding the recent tome penned by a certain former peanut farmer.

Jimmy: A former U.S. President and Nobel Peace Prize winner who recently wrote a book suggesting that it's ok to kill Israeli Jews until they are willing to give in to Palestinian territorial demands, among other (outrageous) things. Not only is he not sorry for it, he's all over the media (which he intimates is controlled by the Jews) promoting his book/ideas. Members of the advisory board of his own human rights organization have resigned over the book and, to their credit, even some on the left are calling him to the carpet. I haven't read the book, but have read excerpts that are factually incorrect and/or outrageous in any context, especially coming from such a signficiant American political/social figure.

Even more disturbing:

[Former official in theU.S. Justice Department’s Office of Special Investigation, Neil] Sher has decided to go public with the hope that a public made aware of Carter’s support and defense of a Nazi SS man will help illustrate why the arbiter of the Camp David Accords came out with a book defending the Palestinians after the landslide election of the Islamist Hamas terror group.

Who do you think is more dangerous?

U.N.der Indictment

Former U.N. Oil-for-Food chief Benon Sevan has been indicted in New York federal court for allegedly taking bribes under the program from Saddam Hussein's regime, U.S. authorities announced Tuesday.

According to the press release, Sevan allegedly received $160,000 generated from the sale of Iraqi oil under the program from one Ephraim Nadler, an associate who was also indicted, on behalf of the government of Iraq. The money was allegedly used to pay off overdue credit cards and bills.

If convicted, Sevan would face a maximum sentence of 50 years' imprisonment.

It's. About. Time.

Good News on the Global Economy

According to The Grapevine by Brit Hume:

The latest version of the Index of Economic Freedom from the Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal concludes that world economies are moving toward greater freedom and prosperity — and the incomes of poor people around the world are rising because of that.

The study of 157 countries takes account such factors as freedom from government, tax rates and property rights. Hong Kong is ranked number one for the 13th straight year, with Singapore, Australia and the U.S. rounding out the top four.

The report says economically free countries enjoy significantly greater prosperity than those heavilyy regulated by government. And it says that while the world is growing richer — the gap between the haves and the have-nots is narrowing.

LTA @ The Roxy Theater

Lower Than Angels played a show at The Roxy Theater in Hollywood on January 5th, 2007. It was a fun show. Myke played/sang great, Wade was solid on the drums and Darren was a wizard on the guitar, despite a cable problem that complicated things for a couple of songs (but, he made it work!). Unfortunately, Bob Hartry couldn't participate because he was finishing a record for Vineyard Music.

I was stoked to try out my new Magic head/cab amplifier made by local amp maker and all-around good guy, Mike Moody. It sounded great in tandem with my 1964 Fender Deluxe. Overall, it was a very fun gig.

The next night, Cherie and I went to the House of Blues with a few friends to see a Led Zeppelin cover band called Led Zepagain. It was a great show and lots of fun!