My two favorite Christmas songs as a child were The Chipmunk Song and Little Drummer Boy. Both seemed to represent the magic and wonder of the Christmas season for me. Santa and Jesus. An old man and a baby boy. Midnight mass and a tree decorated with lights and tinsel. A Christmas star high on top of the tree and a Christmas star high in the midnight sky. Christmas gifts for me and birthday gifts for baby Jesus. Christmas gifts given by me and birthday gifts given by three wise men. Reindeer and the lamb of God.
I can hardly stand the wait, oh Christmas don't be late.
Since this will be my last post until after New Year's Day I've decided to share both songs with you today.
The Little Drummer Boy
From the last five minutes of Bass and Rankin's animated television special The Little Drummer Boy (1968).
The Chipmunk Song
From The Alvin Show (1961)
A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
Forgiveness
Ike Turner is back in the news through his last wife Jeanette Turner. Ike's widow says that she thinks Tina Turner should forgive Ike for the things he did to her while they were married. She is quoted as say, "I'm not defending what he did. I'm not saying he didn't do what he did when he was with Tina or me- but he was a human being."
Oprah Winfrey once said that forgiveness is letting go of the hope that the past can be changed. Sounds like Tina Turner has done that so I don't think she owes her ex-husband, a man she had not seen in 35 years, anything more.
Oprah Winfrey once said that forgiveness is letting go of the hope that the past can be changed. Sounds like Tina Turner has done that so I don't think she owes her ex-husband, a man she had not seen in 35 years, anything more.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Sure, I've slapped Tina...
There have been times when I punched her to the ground without thinking. But I never beat her.
-Ike Turner
Ike Turner died yesterday and it got me thinking. How do you separate the bad from the good in people? Turner was a Rock and Roll legend, a drug addict, an alcoholic, a womanizer, a man who abused his wife. And, as the above quote shows, totally clueless.
New York Times obituary here.
New York Times article from 2001, Has Ike Turner Moved Beyond His Past? Yes and No.
-Ike Turner
Ike Turner died yesterday and it got me thinking. How do you separate the bad from the good in people? Turner was a Rock and Roll legend, a drug addict, an alcoholic, a womanizer, a man who abused his wife. And, as the above quote shows, totally clueless.
New York Times obituary here.
New York Times article from 2001, Has Ike Turner Moved Beyond His Past? Yes and No.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
The Ice Cometh
We have had snow the last three days which means I've shoveled the walks three times. Fortunately we did not get the freezing rain that caused ice storms to the east of us. But now with the sun, low temperatures, and wet walkways I am battling ice. The sun is melting the snow off the porch roof creating a thin slab of ice on the porch concrete and the steps leading up to it. The sun is also melting the snow piled up on either side of the sidewalks creating the same thin slabs of ice.
This afternoon I got a flat shovel and broke up and removed most of the ice. I then sprinkled Paw Safe deicer on what ice I could not remove. Normally I do not have this problem as the sun warms the sidewalks up enough to evaporate any melting snow but the wind is keeping the temps low enough that the sidewalks stay wet and then freeze. I would rather have two feet of snow than an eighth-of-an-inch of ice on the porch and sidewalks. What I find scary about the whole thing is that you cannot tell if the sidewalk is just wet or if what you are about to step on is ice.
This afternoon I got a flat shovel and broke up and removed most of the ice. I then sprinkled Paw Safe deicer on what ice I could not remove. Normally I do not have this problem as the sun warms the sidewalks up enough to evaporate any melting snow but the wind is keeping the temps low enough that the sidewalks stay wet and then freeze. I would rather have two feet of snow than an eighth-of-an-inch of ice on the porch and sidewalks. What I find scary about the whole thing is that you cannot tell if the sidewalk is just wet or if what you are about to step on is ice.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
We Have Become The People We Snicker At
Today the CO-OP is having a Christmas party and we are bringing our dogs so they can have their photo taken with Santa.
It gets worse.
Next year that photo will be on our Christmas card.
It gets worse.
Next year that photo will be on our Christmas card.
Monday, December 10, 2007
"I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year’s fashions"
-Lillian Hellman before the House Un-American Activities Committee.
I have been made uneasy by the fact that the mainstream press still has not reported on H.R. 1955/S. 1959 a.k.a, "The Thought Crime Bill." Is it because they do not see the formation of a commission (i.e. a committee) which will be given the power to "hold hearings and sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer such oaths as the Commission considers advisable to carry out its duties" as a threat to innocent American citizens?
Well, people, let me tell you the story of another government committee, The House Committee on Un-American Activities, who was also give the same power. The HCUA was formed in 1934 to investigate how Nazi propaganda was getting into the country and being disseminated. In 1938 the focus of the Committee changed to German-Americans suspected of being involved with the Nazis and the Klu Klux Klan. By 1945 the Committee had changed focus again and decided to go after members of the Communist Party who they believed held positions of influence in the government and/or other sections of American society.
In their zeal to destroy the Communist Party in the United States* the Committee trampled on the rights of American citizens. They allowed unsubstantiated testimony to be presented, they disallowed the accused their rights under the Constitution to not self-incriminate themselves or to confront the person who was making the accusations against them. Guilt by association was the order of the day. What began as an investigation quickly turned into a nationwide purge of anyone proven to be a Communist, suspected of being a Communist, or suspected of having leftist/liberal and what the powers that be thought were communistic ideas.
In 1947 Attorney General Tom Clark released his list of 90 Totalitarian, Fascist, Communist, Subversive, and Other Organizations. He prefaced his list with the words, ""It is entirely possible that many persons belonging to such organizations may be loyal to the United States. Guilt by association has never been one of the principles of American jurisprudence."** Except in times of fear. Membership in any of the organizations listed would without a doubt cost you your job, your friends, and/or marriage.
I've just finished reading Betsy Blair's, autobiography, The Memory Of All That. Betsy Blair is an actor and in her book she writes about being blacklisted for her political beliefs during this time in American history. Ten years after being put on the list a friend at CBS took her card out of the CBS Blacklisted files and tore it up. On this card, the following reasons were given as to why she would not be allowed to work on any CBS program:
1. Friend of Oona Chaplin.
(Wife of Charlie Chaplin who had also been blacklisted.)
2. Spoke about Red Channels at the Actor's Lab.
3. Met Paul Robeson at London airport.
4. Spoke at a reunion of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade.
Note how two of the reasons for her being blacklisted by CBS involve her voicing her opinions. The other two have to do with who she had been seen with; guilt by association. All accusations true, none earth shattering nor illegal but thought incriminating enough at the time to keep CBS from hiring her.
Almost sixty years ago the devil had this country by the throat. People were being persecuted, hounded, spied on, and jailed for their political beliefs; all in the name of government security. Lets not start down that path again.
Edward R. Morrow said during this time period, "A nation of sheep begets a government of wolves." And we know who wolves prey on. Let your Congressional Representatives know you think this bill is a bad idea. Let everyone know.
*Seen as a threat to both our country and our way of life, the Communist Party was feared and hated by America. Sound familiar?
**Time magazine article, Dec. 15, 1947.
I have been made uneasy by the fact that the mainstream press still has not reported on H.R. 1955/S. 1959 a.k.a, "The Thought Crime Bill." Is it because they do not see the formation of a commission (i.e. a committee) which will be given the power to "hold hearings and sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer such oaths as the Commission considers advisable to carry out its duties" as a threat to innocent American citizens?
Well, people, let me tell you the story of another government committee, The House Committee on Un-American Activities, who was also give the same power. The HCUA was formed in 1934 to investigate how Nazi propaganda was getting into the country and being disseminated. In 1938 the focus of the Committee changed to German-Americans suspected of being involved with the Nazis and the Klu Klux Klan. By 1945 the Committee had changed focus again and decided to go after members of the Communist Party who they believed held positions of influence in the government and/or other sections of American society.
In their zeal to destroy the Communist Party in the United States* the Committee trampled on the rights of American citizens. They allowed unsubstantiated testimony to be presented, they disallowed the accused their rights under the Constitution to not self-incriminate themselves or to confront the person who was making the accusations against them. Guilt by association was the order of the day. What began as an investigation quickly turned into a nationwide purge of anyone proven to be a Communist, suspected of being a Communist, or suspected of having leftist/liberal and what the powers that be thought were communistic ideas.
In 1947 Attorney General Tom Clark released his list of 90 Totalitarian, Fascist, Communist, Subversive, and Other Organizations. He prefaced his list with the words, ""It is entirely possible that many persons belonging to such organizations may be loyal to the United States. Guilt by association has never been one of the principles of American jurisprudence."** Except in times of fear. Membership in any of the organizations listed would without a doubt cost you your job, your friends, and/or marriage.
I've just finished reading Betsy Blair's, autobiography, The Memory Of All That. Betsy Blair is an actor and in her book she writes about being blacklisted for her political beliefs during this time in American history. Ten years after being put on the list a friend at CBS took her card out of the CBS Blacklisted files and tore it up. On this card, the following reasons were given as to why she would not be allowed to work on any CBS program:
1. Friend of Oona Chaplin.
(Wife of Charlie Chaplin who had also been blacklisted.)
2. Spoke about Red Channels at the Actor's Lab.
3. Met Paul Robeson at London airport.
4. Spoke at a reunion of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade.
Note how two of the reasons for her being blacklisted by CBS involve her voicing her opinions. The other two have to do with who she had been seen with; guilt by association. All accusations true, none earth shattering nor illegal but thought incriminating enough at the time to keep CBS from hiring her.
Almost sixty years ago the devil had this country by the throat. People were being persecuted, hounded, spied on, and jailed for their political beliefs; all in the name of government security. Lets not start down that path again.
Edward R. Morrow said during this time period, "A nation of sheep begets a government of wolves." And we know who wolves prey on. Let your Congressional Representatives know you think this bill is a bad idea. Let everyone know.
*Seen as a threat to both our country and our way of life, the Communist Party was feared and hated by America. Sound familiar?
**Time magazine article, Dec. 15, 1947.
Friday, December 07, 2007
From The Land Of Sky Blue Waters
-Hamm's, the beer refreshing.
Yes, a cartoon bear selling beer. I am surprised I am not an alcoholic since these beer commercials were my favorite cartoons for quite some time when I was little. Anytime I heard those drums start playing I would stop what I was doing and race to the TV set.
Today I found out that the bear actually has a name. His name is Sascha. How's that for a bit of trivia?
(Got the idea for this post from Blue Witch's Friday Question this week. )
Yes, a cartoon bear selling beer. I am surprised I am not an alcoholic since these beer commercials were my favorite cartoons for quite some time when I was little. Anytime I heard those drums start playing I would stop what I was doing and race to the TV set.
Today I found out that the bear actually has a name. His name is Sascha. How's that for a bit of trivia?
(Got the idea for this post from Blue Witch's Friday Question this week. )
Thursday, December 06, 2007
And It Happens Again
Another teenager goes on a rampage. This government tried to promote the idea that Iran is a danger to us because it has nuclear weapons. That turns out to be untrue. The Senate and House are trying to pass a bill that is aimed at the "homegrown terrorist." A bogeyman that has no basis in truth. This government see enemies everywhere except the ones standing right in front of them.
The enemy is the social and cultural problems that create the monsters, teenage boys and middle-age men, who think the way to solve their problems is to take a gun and go out and murder innocent strangers. How many people must die before we, and it will take all of us, do something to stop this?
The enemy is the social and cultural problems that create the monsters, teenage boys and middle-age men, who think the way to solve their problems is to take a gun and go out and murder innocent strangers. How many people must die before we, and it will take all of us, do something to stop this?
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Home Is The Hunter
-A.E. Housman
And a successful hunter at that. Dogs need a job and depending on the breed that job can be pulling sleds, herding sheep and cattle, racing, or hunting for a variety of things. Duke's job is hunting birds and sometimes that can be a little rough on the body. Duke just got back from hunting in this photo and is still dressed in his hunting gear. He is wearing a orange beeper collar (which lets my husband know were he is in heavy brush), an orange chest protector (because he is a hard charging little guy), and dog booties (to protect his paws from goat heads and other types of stickers and burrs). Under the dog booties his paws are wrapped in vet tape and then the tops of the booties are wrapped with duct tape to keep stickers and other debris from getting inside the booties.
As you can also see, Duke is showing my husband that the pheasant really belongs to him.
And a successful hunter at that. Dogs need a job and depending on the breed that job can be pulling sleds, herding sheep and cattle, racing, or hunting for a variety of things. Duke's job is hunting birds and sometimes that can be a little rough on the body. Duke just got back from hunting in this photo and is still dressed in his hunting gear. He is wearing a orange beeper collar (which lets my husband know were he is in heavy brush), an orange chest protector (because he is a hard charging little guy), and dog booties (to protect his paws from goat heads and other types of stickers and burrs). Under the dog booties his paws are wrapped in vet tape and then the tops of the booties are wrapped with duct tape to keep stickers and other debris from getting inside the booties.
As you can also see, Duke is showing my husband that the pheasant really belongs to him.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Beautiful Girls
Beautiful girl, you’re a lovely picture
Beautiful girl, you’re a gorgeous mixture
Of all that lies, under the big blue skies
-Beautiful Girl (sung by Bing Crosby on this video), written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown.
My husband was sent this women film stars though out the years montage found at glumbert.com. Kind of mesmerizing.
Beautiful girl, you’re a gorgeous mixture
Of all that lies, under the big blue skies
-Beautiful Girl (sung by Bing Crosby on this video), written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown.
My husband was sent this women film stars though out the years montage found at glumbert.com. Kind of mesmerizing.
Monday, December 03, 2007
The Tiger Show
A few Sundays ago I happened to be traveling to Denver in the afternoon and caught a bit of the The Tiger Show on KRDZ, 1440 on the AM dial, out of Wray, Colorado. Loved, loved, loved it. It reminded me of the stuff I used to listen to when I was a kid in Denver tuned into Jay Mack on "95 Fabulous KIMN."
Not only has The Tiger Show brought back the 60's deejay sound, it has brought back the music from the 1950's-early sixties. This show is a breath of fresh air, playing songs that I have not heard in a long time or ones I've never heard before. Some of the songs on yesterday's show included: Honey Don't, Carl Perkins; Tell Me Why, The Rob-Roys; Doing The Mess Around, Big Joe Turner ; Flip, Flop, Bop, Floyd Cramer; My Baby Left Me, both Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup and Elvis versions; and I'm Looking For A Woman, Bo Diddley. Lots of great music from some of the great early rock and roll performers.
The Tiger Show is on Sunday afternoons from 1:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. (MST). You can listen to the live webcast every Sunday afternoon on the KRDZ's website if you don't live in the KRDZ broadcast area-which I am sure most of you don't. It's worth tuning into if you can.
Not only has The Tiger Show brought back the 60's deejay sound, it has brought back the music from the 1950's-early sixties. This show is a breath of fresh air, playing songs that I have not heard in a long time or ones I've never heard before. Some of the songs on yesterday's show included: Honey Don't, Carl Perkins; Tell Me Why, The Rob-Roys; Doing The Mess Around, Big Joe Turner ; Flip, Flop, Bop, Floyd Cramer; My Baby Left Me, both Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup and Elvis versions; and I'm Looking For A Woman, Bo Diddley. Lots of great music from some of the great early rock and roll performers.
The Tiger Show is on Sunday afternoons from 1:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. (MST). You can listen to the live webcast every Sunday afternoon on the KRDZ's website if you don't live in the KRDZ broadcast area-which I am sure most of you don't. It's worth tuning into if you can.
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