SO YOU LIKE EVERY KIND OF MUSIC BUT…
And now for a word (or 2) about AMERICAN COUNTRY & WESTERN MUSIC. For some reason, this year, when chatting back and forth about favorite kinds of music—a delightful subject, no doubt—I’ve been a part of a few too many conversations that go something like this: Everyone is pretty much agreeing that we like lots of different kinds of music from all around the world. Then somebody inevitably says—with a totally straight face, “Yeah, my taste is really eclectic; I like every kind of music . . . except Country & Western!”
I’m thinking: what is WRONG with you? Maybe you just haven’t taken the time to really LISTEN to a great country artist like George Jones (or, if you prefer, Merle Haggard) singing Liz Anderson’s wry classic, “(From Now On) All My Friends Are Gonna Be Strangers.” Are you into lyrics? You know, like, Bob Dylan’s? (Yeah, who isn’t?) Well, dig this line:
“From now on all my friends are gonna be strangers
I’m all through ever trusting anyone.
The only thing I can count on now is my fingers…”
And how about that goose-bumps-inducing guitar line, the top end fiddle, the voice and plaintive phrasing of “The Possum”?! C’mon now. “Somebody did somebody wrong songs” ROCK! They’re indigenous American colloquial poetry. And that’s a mouthful, son. So…GET OVER IT! Here, have a listen: George Jones: (From Now On) All My Friends Are Gonna Be Strangers
http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/g/george_jones/#share
August 22, 2012 at 1:23 am | Robbie's Rants | No comment
THE MITTBUBBLE
Regarding that empty thought bubble floating above Mitt’s head. It isn’t that Mitt doesn’t have any thoughts. He just isn’t thinking about us. Mitt has millions, (possibly billions) stashed in offshore, non-taxable bank accounts. So, of course, Mitt’s first thought is that giving massive tax breaks to the wealthiest people, and corporations in the US is the way to kick start the US economy. (The US government has been doing that for decades. How’s it worked out for us so far?) Mitt is also very concerned about health, education and welfare. THEIRS.
I guess I had just been holding my fire until I saw the whites of their eyes. OK, I can see a pair of white eyes right now. Mitt Romney’s. And speaking of white, isn’t Mitt the whitest Presidential candidate you’ve ever seen in your life? If he is nothing else, make no mistake about it: Mitt is THE WHITE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.
Not that it’s a bad thing. I’m just thinking of the other guy: The half-white candidate. So many of my political friends are disappointed in Obama. Honestly, what were they thinking? That he isn’t a politician? That he was channeling their political agenda when–way back in the day–he became editor in chief of the Harvard Law Review, and he appointed 3 conservative classmates to the board to keep it “balanced”? Hmmm, that couldn’t have been a foreshadowing of his true political M.O. No, of course not!
There was a moment when President Obama had the CEO’s of the major financial institutions in America (BIG BANKS) out behind the woodshed, shaking in their boots. He COULD HAVE laid a 2×4 on their collective greedy butts, even spanked them all the way back to the regulations of the Roosevelt Administration. President Obama even had the power to sit all 6′ 8″ of Paul Volcker right on top of them to keep them where they belonged. In the banking business, not running gambling casinos.
He didn’t do it! (Not in his character.) But even so, he’s still a way better representative of 99% of the people in the US than all the Republicans in so-called elected office—combined!
As for OBAMACARE, MEDICARE and who really cares about the health of non-uber-wealthy citizens of this great country of ours: The other day, while I was co-paying $9 for my fistful of geriatric meds, my local “mom & pop” pharmacist, Bob, asked me a great question: “When in the whole history of the US, have Americans ever wanted to be older than they are, (and are literally counting the days until they turn 65), so they can qualify for MEDICARE?”
The answer: “NOW!”
And why would they do that? BECAUSE MEDICARE ACTUALLY WORKS! Not to mention that all other health care “providers,” make their “client-members”—that would be us—pay them monthly, in advance, whether or not we ever make use of their “services.” Essentially forcing regular American citizens to bet against our own health for as long as we live. I’m sorry—that’s OBSCENE! (Actually, it’s criminal.)
Ahhhh, this is just my opinion…
August 20, 2012 at 12:17 am | Robbie's Rants | No comment
