Radio Nowhere

2009 Year in Review - The Music Edition

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:52:28 GMT

2009 was an interesting year musically for me as I plunged much deeper into the Jazz pool, beyond the getting my feet wet stage. Venturing past the basics by Miles Davis, John Coltrane and others and reaching out for more Horace Silver, Stan Getz and others.

Many of these artists seminal work was released 0ver 40 years ago, so writing reviews of old Jazz records when I don't know much about the field in general smacks of being a dilettante...Of course, that's never stopped me before!   Let's take at look at some of the best new music in my not so humble, pedestrian opinion then, shall we?

5. Bruce Springsteen - Working on a Dream What more can I say about an album that is easily his best since his last one, right? I have to admit, that the sequencing made little sense to me, and for somebody as meticulous as Springsteen is, 'Outlaw Pete' struck me as an odd choice for the opening track. That aside, one thing that continues to draw me to Springsteen's music is that he writes from where he is. I have been particularly taken with the chorus of the song, 'This Life'

This life, this life and then the next
With you I have been blessed
What more can you expect

His singing voice has aged well. The vocal tonalities for this particular track suit it perfectly. An older man, who has traveled some miles in life, reflecting on the bounty around him. Of course, the fabulous sax line from The Big Man doesn't hurt this song either. Just another solid entry into the Springsteen catalog.

4. The Bird and the Bee - Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future The follow-up to the stunning debut from this duo shows tremendous growth and a slick sense of humor. The "love letter" to David Lee Roth, titled 'Diamond Dave' is a hoot. 'Love Letter to Japan' is another stellar song from the album. My only complaint is the inclusion of 'Polite Dance Song' which is also on the still available and in print EP, 'Please Clap Your Hands.'

3. Brian Setzer Orchestra - Songs from Lonely Avenue The Orchestra's first release of all new, non-holiday material since 'Va-Voom' a few years back, has them in fine form. Setzer had the concept of a soundtrack for a noir film and by and large, he succeeds on this outing. From the opening track, 'Trouble Train' to the elegant and acoustic 'Elena' the album pulses with feeling and mood. It is the moodiest of the releases from the BSO and that works in its favor, given the intent.

2. Norah Jones - The Fall The cover of the album to me is a real turn off. Ugly dress, huge dog and top hat? I don't like it, even though others do. But, the contents...oh the album itself is terrific. I found her last album to be a let-down, a holding pattern sort of. There was some looking back, some looking ahead and just some looking around. Jones steps out from behind the piano, no more Jazz Chanteuse for her, she moves into much more pop material and does so quite effectively. The opening track, 'Chasing Pirates' starts things off and she never really lets go from there. There isn't a weak track on this album.

1. Melody Gardot - My One And Only Thrill Shut off the lights, put the album on and listen. This sounds like it was recorded in those circumstances. Very personal, very close and quiet. Yet, this isn't a wimpy album by any stretch. With the sole exception of a cover of 'Over the Rainbow' Gardot shows a song selection well suited to her talents. Her reading of that song isn't bad, but it left me wondering why did she do it?    This album, really was my personal favorite of the year. I know I've played it more than just about anything else I've bought this year.

Vault Issue: Thin Lizzy - Still Dangerous Back in the 70's, everybody and their dog released a live album.   Most of them were cleaned up in the studio with flubbed parts fixed and the like. It was called 'Sweetening'. And for years, Thin Lizzy's 'Live and Dangerous' was the poster child as one of the worst offenders of his practice and that it wasn't really a solid document of their live shows.

This album should help to dispell that right now. No overdubs, and you can't fix any of the late Phil Lynott's parts. This is just a raw, and mixed recording of Thin Lizzy at the peak of the powers and popularity in the US. Recorded live in Philly in 78 or so, they hammer their way through a ferocious set of prime Lizzy tunes. It's not perfect, but live shows aren't meant to be. They were a terrific live act, and now they have two examples to point to.

Re-issue of the Year: The Beatles - The Whole Catalog This is a gimme, it's easy, no thought required and it was long overdue.

Writer's Block: Simply wonderful

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:20:21 GMT

It's often said that the simple things in life are the most precious. What small pleasures make you the happiest?

Submitted By nisie

View 800 Answers

My wife's smile.
The smell of Jasmine Tea
Laughter
The sound of snowfall at night
Motorcycle engines
Mike Shannon saying, "C'mon, Get Up, Baby, Get up, Get Up, Get Up....Oh Yeah....Home Run...."
A cat purring
Daffodils blooming
Finding money in the couch

Can't Wrap This...

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:56:59 GMT

Warner Home Video Can Kiss My Ass...

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:20:39 GMT

I guess I won't be buying any new Warner Home Video releases next year. They have decided that since less than 20% of the people in the country have Blu-Ray players, they can force the rest of us into buying a new player by not selling stand alone DVD versions of their home video releases.

Complaining won't do a damn bit of good, but voting with my wallet sure will. So, until they get their corporate heads out of their asses, I won't spend any of my DVD money on their releases; past, present or future.

Which means that no more Smallville, or any other TV shows they put out will be purchased by me.

Good luck with this, Warner Home Video. I hope the view of my back turning on your stupid business practices pleases you.

2009 In Review

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:14:39 GMT

Because I don't do enough naval gazing bloviation around here, I am planning on writing up a series of Year in Review posts.

Oh, the joy...the rapture...

Shark Attack!

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:46:41 GMT

Elaine is quite the talented lady. Besides having to be married to me, she crochets. This is what she crocheted for her co-worker and friend over the weekend.

Katy is proudly wearing a shark eating what's left of her brains in her head....

Katy's Eldest offspring modeling another hat Elaine crocheted this weekend, mostly from leftover yarns from other projects.

And here is Katy's youngest, Harry with still another hat Elaine crocheted. The label on the yarn said the color was carrot, but it looks sort of like a terracotta plant container to me. Still, Elaine has mad crochet skills and her hats look terrific, don't ya think?

Thanks to Katy for sharing the pictures...after being strong-armed into it.

Head*ache....

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:53:16 GMT

I feel like my face is being squished....head hurts.....

Angels We Have Heard on High (and out of tune as well...)

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:37:22 GMT

Driving home with Elaine last night from a day out, we were listening to The Roches Christmas CD and "Angels We Have Heard on High (Gloria in Excelsis Deo!), a song I first learned when I was 6 years old. In the church choir for children. My sister was also part of that grand assemblage.

So, my mother gets a call from the poor, beleaguered leader of this wonderful singing group, and as near as I can recollect from my mother's story the conversation went a little something like this....

"Hello?" Mother answered the phone with fear and trembling

"Mrs. <Mark's Mom>?" a voice asked.

--EDITORIAL ASIDE--
Since <Mark's Mom> is also my Sister's Mother, I'll just refer to her in this post as Mrs....um....lessee....Oh! Smith! Yes, how original....beats hell out of typing that long, redacted name and also doesn't slight my sister or leave her out being as how we share the same parentage....
--END EDITORIAL ASIDE--

"Yes," Poor Mrs. Smith sighed, expecting more tales of her son picking through the trash, or causing disruptions in Sunday School

"Mrs. Smith, we have a small problem with your children in the choir" the beleaguered director of the Grand Assemblage pronounced. Mrs. Smith thought to herself, "Now, why doesn't this surprise me?"

Getting a hold of herself, Mrs. Smith asked, "What is the problem?" The 'This time' left out, yet implied I am sure....

"Well, it is an interesting problem. We are teaching the children to sing 'Angels We Have Heard On High' and your two darling angels have really gotten a hold of the words, and the music and sing it with great gusto and belief." The director told her.

"So, what's the problem?" asked Mrs. Smith, reaching for the whiskey bottle, knowing the boom was about to fall.

"As I said, everything is fine...except they insist on singing so well and loudly about two steps out of key with everyone else..." said the voice of the director.

Mrs. Smith set down the whickey bottle, knowing that grand calamity had not struck this day (and wanting to save the nerve calming tonic for when it was truly needed) and said, "Oh...is that all?"

"Yes, Mrs. Smith, that is all...but it will be a big problem the day of the performance if your dear, sweet, angels sing so loud and in a totally different key from all the rest of the children...." the voice of the director trailing off.

"Well, Director...I can help you with this. I shall help you with this. This will not be a problem for you at all. Pray, tell me what key you are doing the program in?" Mrs. Smith bravely asked. She was secure in her ability to solve what sounded like a trifling problem.

"Oh, bless you Mrs. Smith, bless you...we are going to do the program in the Key of C and your dear, sweet angels typically sing it in E, and sometimes G and once in F#, but if you could get them to sing it just this one time, this one solitary time in C, I would be forever grateful." prattled on the Director.

Grand assurances were made, promises agreed to and all was well with both women.

Until the day of the church program, that is.

You see, for all the work my poor mother put into getting us to sing "Angels We Have Heard On High" in the Key of C, which we finally learned to do at home to her great satisfaction...well, I think my Sister did a better job of actually not singing it in a different key than did I. I am pretty certain that I sang part of it note perfect, in the Key of E and part in the Key of A, just to add variety. And at quite a loud level of WRONG KEY, I might add. So, Sister got the lessons from Mother down pat and I....well, I mucked things up, it seems.

I cannot help but think of this whenever I hear that song at Christmas-time. It never fails to make me smile.

------
Notes: My mother did not reach for a whiskey bottle when she got a phone call about me. And it is a good thing, as she never would have sobered up. I was constantly in trouble for one thing or another. My sister, on the other hand, was a good kid and her biggest problem was simply being my little sister. Having to follow a mess like me through school was no picnic for her.

As far as it goes, I only remember my mother drinking the occasional glass of wine. The bottle of booze made for a good bit of satire...or, at least I hope it did. I also don't know how true the conversation is (not much, would be my guess) but the story itself is true. And I did sing the song in several different keys...in one show.

Writer's Block: Voulez-vous parler ...

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:11:16 GMT

Which language(s) do you currently speak? If you could learn only one other language, what would you choose, and why?

Submitted By stormvoel

View 1362 Answers

I am currently only flatulent in 'Murican and IgPay AtlinLay...

More Haz Happy Pen!

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:49:40 GMT

More of the uber-coolness from Elaine. She presented me with a pen, just like the one pictured at left (Psst! Over THERE!). It is a Lamy Safari Demonstrator Clear pen, with an Extra Fine nib.

It is every bit as cool as it looks, I must say. And it writes very well. And will get better as I break it in. I have found that letter other people write with my fountain pens isn't the best of ideas. It seems everyone writes in a unique fashion and the nib of a fountain pen sets itself to your own idiosyncratic foibles and letting others muck about with them, well...it causes problems.

Included were two packages of ink cartridges, which I will be able to refill with the marvelous Waterman ink she also gave me.

She further found a used copy of William Safire's book, 'Freedom' which is one of the better historical novels I can remember reading. Which I did, over 20 years ago, not long after it came out.

I was working at a radio station that carried Larry King on the radio, back when he was a decent interviewer and much more fun to listen to. He interviewed Safire after the book was released, and I was so impressed with Safire's interview, that I bought the book and never regretted it.

Of course, over the years, the book disappeared, and when Safire died, I added it to my Amazon wish list. So, Elaine strikes again!

Thanks again, Honey!

Stand Up for Christmas? Really?

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:31:00 GMT

I saw on a friends Facebook page, a bit he wrote about a web site called 'Stand For Christmas' So, being the curious fellow I am, I went and looked at the site to see for myself.

I was aghast. Ab-so-fuck-ing-lute-lee horrified. As a Christian, I am embarrassed. Disgusted, would be a better term for it.

From the opening paragraphs, the following:

We're asking YOU to decide which retailers are "Christmas-friendly." They want your patronage and your gift-shopping dollars, but do they openly recognize Christmas?

What difference does it make? I mean, honestly? Does having CHRISTMAS music playing in the store, no matter the beliefs of the owners matter so much to the cowardly minions of the Religious Right (which is neither) that they would stoop to economic blackmail to get their way? This is little more than poutey children taking their ball and going home. Honestly, what does having the word 'Christmas' on the walls have to do with buying a book, clothes or what have you at Holiday Time. Last I looked, the Holidays were for everyone, not just Maniacal so-called Christians.

Their is a list of stores that are rated by how much Christmas Dogma (Christian Code Words, like...Christmas....) is on the walls, or being played over the loudspeakers....and they have to be hymns, not 'Santy Claus type stuff.' Nope, it's all just a ploy to make business owners cower before the almighty CHRISTIAN dollar. It reminds me of the money changers outside the temples that the Savior got all pissed off with....

It's time for the Religious Right (which is neither) to wake up, realize that the fallacy of this being a "Christian" nation will continue as long as stupid, misguided and just plain hurtful shit like this is being done. I know damn good and well that the Savior wouldn't approve of this, nor would he recognize anyone participating in this as being one of his.

Remember, misguided believers, 'By your fruits you shall be known' And right now, your fruits smell spoiled.

As a follower of the Savior, I am insulted by this web site, and this premise. I find it to be completely and totally against anything and everything the Savior taught in the Word. Wake up, People and quit being led astray.

EDIT: Because I just can't let this go....

Answer me this, anyone who believes this is a good idea...How does involving yourself in something like this bring Glory to G*d? How does it? What does this REALLY say about so-called followers of His Son?

I has Happy Pen!

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:46:57 GMT

I has a happy fountain pen. My wonderful, lovely, beautiful, and marvelous wife bought me two bottles of the ink pictured at left. This fantabulous ink is now in one of my fountain pens and is beautiful to behold.

I was so excited about it, I wrote a letter to my grandmother last night. She should have it by the end of the week. Unless of course, the mail gets bogged down because of the weather.

Thanks, Honey!

Gosh! A Present!

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:20:26 GMT

I got a present! I got a present!

My thanks go to irish_injun for the pretty snowflake she presented me with! It's there on my profile and I like it!

Thanks, Beth!

Writer's Block: 2012

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:54:32 GMT

If the world were going to end on December 21, 2012, how would you spend the last of your days on earth and why?

Submitted By rainwizard

View 710 Answers

This question begs me, pleads with me, to wonder just what the fuck is the matter with people? I realize that many people with nothing resembling common sense are actually buying into this bullshit. These are also the same dipshits who bought 'Pet Rocks' and believe that a tin foil hat will also protect them from having their brain scanned. In their case, they are exempt. Mainly because it is clear to me that they ain't got no damn brains to scan....

On December 22, 2012 I plan on having a cold frosty something with lots of booze in it and laughing myself silly at the dopes who buy into this load of tripe.

Damn fools will believe almost anything.

Week in Review

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:52:59 GMT

It's been close to a week since I finished the NaNo novel. I was excited at the time, then a sense of sadness set in, due to the absence of that constant writing. However, I am sticking with my plan of leaving the text alone for a while before going back to mess around with it...

Work has been a$$holes & elbows busy around here. It seems to come in waves, times where you can barely keep your head above water and other times when it is pretty quiet. It ain't quiet now. Which is a good thing. Job security and all.

I read that Bobby Bowden "retired" after 34 years at Florida State as head football coach. While I have little love for any Florida college football team, I always got a good laugh or two from Bowden. He did take a pretty pathetic program and get it up on its feet, and won lots and lots of football games. And any coach who can knock around 'The Old Ball Coach' Steve Spurrier...well, so much the better. For a man to end his coaching career to say he "Ain't had a job in 55 years..." you gotta like that attitude.

I am disappointed that Obama's "Change I can Believe In" is staying longer in Afghanistan, sending more troops and not learning a damn thing from history. This is not the "Change" I signed up for. So, since I am sitting in the cheap seats, "BOOOOOOOOO!"

There...I feel ALL better now! (snark)

It looks increasingly like Mizzou is going to get bent over and screwed again regarding bowl selections with teams with worse records getting better bowls. Again. Just like the last two years, in fact. The Big 12 may not consider itself an outgrowth of the Big 8, but they still suck. Having all those damn Texas schools in the conference, and having to put up with them and the bullshit that goes along with it...I think Mizzou would be better off in the Big Televen...(Ten). At least they have a slotting system based on Regular Season records and not how many butts will fill Bowl seats. The idea of a 6-6 Iowa State team that Mizzou pounded on the football field getting a much better bowl slotting annoys me no end...And Conference leadership just dances around with their hands in the pants or their heads up their asses and does nothing.

Finally, listen to the Charlie Brown Christmas album. It will make you feel better.

Fog - Carl Sandberg

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:04:17 GMT

Fog

The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

---

Just wanted to share a poem I truly love....

Writer's Block: Name that tune

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:55:55 GMT

Is there any song you'll never grow tired of hearing? If so, what is it, how long have you loved it, and why?

Submitted By connxx

View 1386 Answers

This is an easy one. So many popular songs have been played to absolute death. Just pummeled into our heads by too many plays on the radio, car stereo's or iPods, that to hear them just "One More Time" is enough to make projectile vomiting look like a great try out sport in the next Olympiad...

I could listen to most any song by Led Zeppelin over and over again. At one point in time I had made a point of listening to 'Stairway to Heaven' on an almost daily basis. It was a great stress reducer, and that idea came from one of my friends from Michigan, lo those many moons ago.

I could also listen to 'Year of the Cat' or 'Song on the Radio' by Al Stewart everyday and it wouldn't strike me as often enough. Great songs both. Loved them both for years and years.

More recent songs that have seeped into my pores include 'The Way it Is' and 'Maybe Tonight' by Nicole Atkins. Or 'My Favorite Things' by John Coltrane. Songs that bear and improve to my mind with repeated listenings.

But the one song that really does it for me, always makes me reach for the volume knob to crank it up, is 'Born to Run' by Springsteen. I've loved it since I was a boy, when it came out in 1975 and rattled my little General Electric AM Clock Radio...it was the first song I remember playing 'air guitar' to. It was one of those first songs that got blasted out of my cheap car stereo speakers when I got my first car stereo, it is just one of those songs that have become more than just a song, but a valued friend.

To this day, hearing that song makes me feel like a 15 year old boy ready to take on the world...

Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner!

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:42:01 GMT

Damnation, Hold the Phones and Wake Up Aunt Tessie! I finished the Novel! EARLY!

It needs work, it's not based on a novel by a man named Lear, but it does have a beginning, a middle and an end. And that, my friends, is what a story is all about. Those are the things you need.

I know there are internal continuity gaffes. I know that scenes in Autumn are immediately followed by scenes in Summer. I'm pretty sure that some of the characters have two names or are described as looking different in different places. I'm likewise certain that there are places where it doesn't read too dreadfully, and others where it is apparent I didn't have a clue what I was doing.

So what?

It's the first time I ever wrote a book. 211 pages, double spaced, in the period of 28 and 3/4 days. With a couple of days off for good behavior and mental health. I did it.

Even though there were times I didn't want to. The relentless pace of NaNoWriMo made quitting easy, but I wanted...no, needed to finish this. For nobody else but myself, I needed to finish this.

To be honest, I don't know how people with kids do this, or college students, or high school students...or anyone with all manner of distractions do this. I really don't. I don't have a lot going on in my life besides the things I choose to do, so not getting this done would have been a complete 'FAIL' on my part. I really tip my hat, no...scratch that, I take off my hat to those of you who did this with kids wanting/needing attention or studies needing attention or whatever else took your attention away from NaNoWriMo. Even if you don't 'win' but kept on going, that makes you winners in my world.

It's all over. I intend on putting the manuscript to the side and leaving it there until February, at least. Then, we shall see.

Eat till ya puke, Baby!

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:29:09 GMT

And that is what many of us across the U.S. did today. We did it with family, or friends, or friends who have become family or both. All manner of national and local and family traditions were observed today. Huzzahs! all around!

One of the great things about Thanksgiving is that is is a National, Secular holiday. I don't have to worry overly much if somebody is going to get upset with me for celebrating the holiday, it has no religious attachment to it. Anyone can pause, reflect and be thankful. Doesn't matter what faith, if any you observe or don't. And, it is about reconnecting with family, with friends, and food. Lots of food.

And for our dinner we devoured the better part of a smoked turkey. They're great in that they taste like ham. They come cooked, just heat 'em and eat 'em. What could be easier, right? And then there is my favorite holiday dish and that is Green Jell-O. It has lime jell-o, cottage cheese, nuts, pineapple all mixed up together. Sounds weird, tastes great.

Elaine made what she called her mother's dressing. Corn bread, biscuits, onions, sage and I don't know what all were in there. Now, there's one serving left. Just enough for my lunch tomorrow. :-)

I baked bread. Okay, I cheated. I used a box mix and a bread machine. But, I didn't let Elaine fill the thing up and push the button, so I baked bread. That, my friends, is my story and I am sticking to it. (Sourdough was one loaf, and European Herbs and Cheese was the other)

And we had Egg Nog, complete with brandy. And pumpkin pie that Elaine baked from scratch (poor scratch) last night. Cranberries, and Cranberry Festival type stuff...with goodies inside.

And we gave thanks for many things today. Homes, jobs, friends, healthy stupid cats, friends, our health, and so forth and so on. It was a wonderful day. Even if we had nothing at all with bacon involved...

Twas The Night Before

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:26:06 GMT

And I sit, about 2500 words from the finish line of NaNoWriMo...and I am feeling weary. Weary of the forced feeling of the writing, weary of knowing that I "have" to write. And thankful that it will be over soon.

Still, it has been quite the experience. One that, on the whole, I am glad I have done. And will probably do again next year, G*d help me...

Tomorrow our dear friends, Pat and Sheila will be joining us for Thanksgiving dinner. We have a smoked turkey and other goodies for tomorrow. The smell of fresh baked sourdough bread is filling the house. Thanks be for bread machines. You might call it cheating, but I call it wonderful. Bread mixes in a box are also a Good Thing.

But, there are things I am quite thankful for. You, for one. Whoever you are that is taking the time to read this. That you care enough to read my legible scribbles means a lot to me. Whether you are a part of the Mighty Friends List or not, thanks.

I am thankful for my family, both the related to kind and the chosen kind. Both have great importance to me, and all are loved.

And I am thankful for Elaine. She saves me from myself on a daily basis and doesn't believe it at all.

Enjoy your time with your friends and families.

The Home Stretch

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:14:10 GMT

I passed 41,000 words yesterday. That's 168 pages of double spaced printed out writing. I have never in my life crammed so much story into a narrative as long as this.

Yet, it still feels sketchy. Incomplete in some respects. I know I will be going over the 50,000 word goal to tell the story to its logical conclusion. But my writing style (read: lazy) is such that I spend more time telling rather than showing. It reads ham-fisted in parts, and in others it is not so bad. It isn't the steaming pile of doo-doo I expected it to be, but it sure needs another cycle or three in the word-tumbler.

Since I am ahead of the game and have next week off (YAY for vacations!) I am for the most part going to take today off. Going to spend it with Elaine, and go to visit one of her school friends. Have a nice dinner, hold hands, enjoy her beautiful smile, stuff like that

Then, tomorrow It is back to the book. Hopefully to hit my goal before the end of the week.

Writer's Block: The right fight

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:14:30 GMT

What is your proudest life accomplishment so far and why?

View 562 Answers

It undoubtedly would have to be when I singlehandedly saved the world from total destruction by staving off a massive invasion of the Interstellar Menace, the Ain T'real.

Quick thinking, a radio tuned to Bob & Tom convinced them this planet had nothing but idiots with marshmallow stuffing between their ears and a 50 pound bag of sweet potatoes...I would have had them listen to Rush Limbaugh, but I didn't want them thinking we were crazy AND stupid....

Too bad it's a secret and I can't tell anyone...

More Hate in the Inbox

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:24:23 GMT

The following appeared in my Inbox this morning. It is still amazing to me, that in a world so full of information and ways to check bullshit like this out, that people are still so fearful of anyone different that this sort of shit would be accepted at face value, complete with hypocrisy glaze...
---------
Been around before but maybe a good reminder.

Which means once or twice around the Intertubes isn't enough to spread lies and hatred, preying upon the ignorance of scared people.

After what happened at Ft. Hood this email seemed very appropriate. The shooter, a ‘Muslim’ soldier,
had been talking to another ‘Muslim’ that worked at a convenience store and told him that he didn’t want to be
deployed because he couldn’t shoot his fellow ‘Muslims’. It evidently didn’t matter how many Americans they had killed.

And my question is had the Fort Hood shooter been an enraged Baptist, Methodist or Quaker, who wanted the war to stop, would we even be having this conversation? I think not. I believe there would be a discussion more centered on how somebody so obviously mentally ill was allowed to advance in the Military. While there has been some of this in the media, most ignorant and scared people latch onto the fact that the alleged shooter is Muslim and therefore hates all God Fearin' 'Mericans...

CAN MUSLIMS BE GOOD AMERICANS?

This makes me wonder, can bigoted, ignorant Right Wing Ultra Conservatives be 'Good Americans?' Can Ultra Left Wing Liberals be 'Good Americans?' Also, it makes me wonder what makes a Good American? How does one become a 'Good American?'

This is very interesting! We all need to read it from start to finish.....and send it on to anyone who will read it.

I will say that I am sorry that I did read this....

Maybe this is why our American Muslims are so quiet and not speaking out about any atrocities.

Maybe this is why many so-called 'Good Americans' are idiots...

Can a good Muslim be a good American?

This question was forwarded to a friend who worked in Saudi Arabia for 20 years.

Something I highly doubt...but hey, anything is possible.

The following is his reply:

Theologically - no. . . . Because his allegiance is to Allah, The moon God of Arabia.

What is a 'Moon God?' Allah is a monotheistic god, not one of many. Allah is considered to be the name of G*d to Muslims. It appears that the original bigoted idiot who wrote this was attempting to marginalize Islam in the same way others try to marginalize Christianity by referring to the Savior as 'Zombie Jesus' That, and somebody has been getting their information from Jack Chick's cartoons...

Religiously - no. . . . Because no other religion is accepted by His Allah except Islam
(Quran, 2:256) (Koran).

The First of the Ten Commandments, for both Jews and Christians says, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me." Exodus 22:2-3

Which says that those of the Jewish or Christian faith are to accept no other gods or religions except those. Yet, that is somehow okay...according to the writer of this piece.

scripturally - no. . . . Because his allegiance is to the five Pillars of Islam and the Quran

Does this even make sense? What are the Five Pillars of Islam, anyhow?
The 'Five Pillars' of Islam are the foundation of Muslim life:

Faith or belief in the Oneness of God and the finality of the prophethood of Muhammad;
Establishment of the daily prayers;
Concern for and almsgiving to the needy;
Self-purification through fasting; and
The pilgrimage to Mecca for those who are able.

I don't see anything here that says anything about not being a 'Good American' or a 'Good' anything else, for that matter.

Geographically - no. . .Because his allegiance is to Mecca , to which he turns in prayer five times a day.

Hmmm....I seem to remember that people said the same thing about Catholics years ago, that their allegiance was to Rome. Which is as much bushwah as this is

Socially - no. . . . Because his allegiance to Islam forbids him to make friends with Christians or Jews..

ROTFLMAO This is ludicrous on the face of it. Just sheer bigotry and lunacy. But, don't let that stop you from sounding like a fool.

Politically - no. . . . Because he must submit to the mullahs (spiritual leaders), who teach annihilation
of Israel and destruction of America, the great Satan.

Um...that would be extremist clerics only, and not all Muslim clerics are Mullahs. Somebody's ignorance is showing big time here. Islam clerics are also called Iman's (such as the one who lead the congregation where the alleged Fort Hood shooter spoke to for guidance)

Look people, it would not take any longer than 15-20 minutes to read a little bit about Islam to get a much better understanding of it than this idiot has...

Domestically - no. . . . Because he is instructed to marry four women and beat and scourge his wife
when she disobeys him (Quran 4:34).

AMuslim man has the choice of having up to four wives. Why any man would want more than one is beyond me...and it appears that even amongst Muslims there is a great debate as to what that particular passage actually means.

Oh, and then there are these pesky truths from the Bible;

"You will be eager for your husband and he will rule over you" -Genesis 3:16

"Wives be subservient to your husbands" -Ephesians 5:22

Truth can be such a buzzkill....

Intellectually - no. . . . Because he cannot accept the American Constitution since it is based on Biblical
principles, and he believes the Bible to be corrupt.

I dunno what history book this whacko has been reading, but the Constitution is not based on strict Biblical Principles. This is a fiction.
I mean, is it Biblical to count "all other Persons" as three-fifths of a person? Thanks be to G*d for the 14th Amendment...

Philosophically - no. . . . Because Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran do not allow freedom of religion and
expression. Democracy and Islam cannot co-exist. Every Muslim government is either dictatorial or autocratic.

Jordan is a Constitutional Monarchy, and Parliment can veto the Kind. Egypt is a democracy.

Next!

Spiritually - no. . . . Because when we declare "one nation under God," the Christian's God is loving and kind,
while Allah is NEVER referred to as Heavenly father, nor is he ever called love in The Quran's 99 excellent names.

Tell that to the victims who died in wars fought in the name of G*d. How much love and mercy did they show to non-believers?

And doesn't that same Pledge of Allegiance speak of "Liberty and Justice for All?" All seems to mean to me more than just 'Good Americans'

They obviously cannot be both "good" Muslims and good Americans.

* * * Call it what you wish; it's still the truth.

Un, no it's not. It's racist bullshit, heavily laced with lies and deceit. Take your Klan pillowcase off, fool.

* * * You had better believe it.

Thanks, I'll pass. Truth is stronger than bullshit fiction like this.

* * * The more who understand this, the better it will be for our country and our future. The religious war is bigger
than we know or understand.

That's right. It's Us Agin Them...and the Them is different from Us, so we must DEFEAT them...

Feh. Idiots...

Passing 30,000

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:53:36 GMT

I have passed the 30,000 word plateau. Today I am sitting at 32,000 and change. Roughly 128 printed pages, but only 80-some if it appeared in a paperback book. This little statistic, more than anything else, is very depressing to me. I've been sweating, straining, and forging ahead on this story, feeling like it was a novel...only to find out that this is roughly a novella...

And in looking things over, I can see why. I have focused so much on the main characters, that there is nothing else. Just the plot points and very focused character development. Throw away characters have nothing more than names, stage entrances and exits. Most don't even have dialogue. In fact, it seems there is a dearth of dialogue in places...lots of prose. I struggle with writing compelling dialogue. At least to my mind, I do.

Anyway, here's an excerpt

It was the following week that the cards started arriving. A trickle at first, then a torrent. Cards and letters from people she didn’t know, had never heard of were sending her cards of condolence, and letters of sympathy. One person, she forgot who, had sent a small folder with a family tree in it, denoting her place in the family.

On her father’s side, that is.

Which really struck her harder than she ever thought it would. For all the anger over the years directed at her father, she never really considered “that side” of her family as her family. They were nameless, faceless and out of sight. For all she knew, she could have stood in line behind them at the K-Mart on the south end of town. She didn’t think it likely, because from what she knew and had been confirmed in the deluge of Hallmark angst, was that nobody from The Bastard’s side of the family lived anywhere near Rollins. Except for his wife (widow?), that is. They all lived out of state, which is someplace she had never been. Except for the one Christmas holiday The Bastard had taken her to visit her Grandparents (Grandpa Kelley and Grammie Marsha) in Pennsylvania, she hadn’t left the state.
She got a card from them, of course. And her Aunt Trish who she hadn’t seen in years. She was the one who tried contacting her through MySpace, and she blew off. She regretted that, but was too ashamed to try and do anything about it. There were more cards and letters from family, and from other people who knew her father. It all got to be a bit much for her.

It also made her wonder, for just a moment, why she didn’t get anything like this from her family when she got the news. No card, nothing. Just the news, and a hug and some words about how he won’t be around to bother her anymore.

True, she said she hated getting the cards and letters from him that he sent sporadically, but all of them, unread though they may be, were all carefully stored in a photo box she’d bought at Wal-Mart for it years ago. She took it down and opened it up when she got the news, looking at the envelopes. She arranged them all in chronological order, according to post mark. Funny, she hadn’t noticed that he’d sent a few from Rollins. She wondered if he mailed them from the post office downtown or from a curbside mailbox.

Oh well, onward is the driving force of NaNoWriMo. Write crap if you must, but write. I think I'm going to tuck some in-between chapters in and see what happens...

Flail and Fall short...

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:45:46 GMT

Between goofing off, football, goofing off and being easily distracted, my writing goal for the weekend was missed.

I really wanted to hit the 30,000 plateau by the end of my writing time yesterday, but it didn't happen. I only managed to get to 29,300 some and was just too tired to go any more. Mine eyes were gritty with weariness, bones were tired...and that was probably from the fab dinner Elaine fixed.

I have a soft spot for Jenny-O Turkey Roasts. I mean, for all I know they make them from stuff they sweep off the floor. I know not and care less. Anyhow, every so often one of those bad boys sounds good. With mashed potatoes and green beans. Yum!

I have a mystery turkey meat sammich for lunch today and maybe, I'll get to my writing goal.