Thomas Jefferson and Banking Institutions

'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.'

Thomas Jefferson 1802

The Supreme Court and The Election

Supreme Court Vacancies Likely in Next Four Years

One issue that has been totally absent from the campaign is the Supreme Court. Five of the justices are 70 or more. Justice Stevens is 88 and unlikely to want to serve 4 more years. Justice Ginsberg had cancer and was operated on for it. Justice Souter is known to want to retire and return to New Hampshire. These are three of the most liberal justices on the court. If all three retire and are replaced by Obama, the court will retain its even split between liberals and conservatives for many years to come. If all three are replaced by McCain, the conservatives will have a clear majority and surely reverse Roe v. Wade and many other decisions that conservatives think are wrong. It is amazing that the court has gotten so little attention.

electoral-vote.com

Bundling

Bundling was the traditional practice of wrapping one person in a bed accompanied by another, usually as a part of courting behavior. The tradition is thought to have originated either in the Netherlands or in the British Isles and later became common in Colonial America^[1], especially in Pennsylvania Dutch Country. The aim was to allow intimacy without sexual intercourse.

Traditionally, participants were adolescents, with a boy staying at the residence of a girl. They were given separate blankets by the girl's parents and expected to talk to one another through the night. The practice was limited to the winter and sometimes the use of a bundling board, placed between the boy and girl, ensured that no sexual conduct would take place. More often, this rule was merely implicit, and was not always honored. In Colonial America, for instance, there are known instances of bundling leading to premarital pregnancies^{[citation needed]}.

The use of bundling boards allowed an expedient use of the practice of bundling in the early United States, where, in the case of a scarcity of beds, travellers were occasionally permitted to bundle with locals. This seemingly strange practice allowed extra money to be made by renting out half a bed. Hotels rented rooms for the night, shared by many occupants, and sharing a bed entailed an additional fee.

As late as the mid 19th century, there are indications that bundling was still practiced in New England, although its popularity was waning. The court case of Graham vs. Smith, argued before Judge Edmunds in the Orange Circuit Court of New York State in 1846, concerned the seduction of a 19-year-old woman; testimony in the case established that bundling was a common practice in certain rural social circles at the time. By the 20th century, bundling as a practice seems to have died out almost everywhere, with only isolated references to it occurring in Amish Pennsylvania.^[2]

Anachronisms

An odd placement of bundling boards was aboard the airline BCPA, British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines, Australia's first trans-Pacific airline, flying Douglas DC-6B sleeper Pullman style equipment over the long haul from Sydney, Australia to Vancouver, Canada via San Francisco across the Pacific Ocean in the early 1950s.

An article in the Dec. 12, 1969 issue of Time Magazine referred to a tongue-in-cheek effort to revive bundling by a so-called "Society to Bring Back Bundling."

source: wiki

Pallin: What is it that a VP does?

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/08/29/sarah-palin-july-2008-i-dont-even-know-what-the-vice-president-does/

wow. worst. pick. ever.

It's No Suprise the Type of Son She Raised

Former First Lady Barbara Bush said of the war in Iraq: "Why should we hear about body bags and deaths? It's not relevant. So why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that?"

thanks, snopes.com

McCain's Words

"Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly?
Because her father is Janet Reno."

14 Characteristics of Fascism - Just Brilliant.

Political scientist Dr. Lawrence Britt recently wrote an article about fascism ("Fascism Anyone?," Free Inquiry, Spring 2003, page 20). Studying the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile), Dr. Britt found they all had 14 elements in common. He calls these the identifying characteristics of fascism. The excerpt is in accordance with the magazine's policy.

The 14 characteristics are:

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

4. Supremacy of the Military
Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

5. Rampant Sexism
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.

6. Controlled Mass Media
Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

7. Obsession with National Security
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

9. Corporate Power is Protected
The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

10. Labor Power is Suppressed
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed .

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment
Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

14. Fraudulent Elections
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

wish i could be there.

Greg Graffin to Be Honored for Lifetime Achievement in Atheism, Punk Rock, and Science

Bad Religion's Greg Graffin to Be Honored for Lifetime Achievement in Atheism, Punk Rock, and Science

"Cultural Humanism" Awardee is Seminal Punk Singer, Earned Ivy-League PhD in Evolution

CAMBRIDGE, MA - Harvard University's prominent community of atheists and agnostics is poised to honor a rock star and scientist whom they argue is an ideal role model for the nation's millions of non-religious youth.

The Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard has gained considerable national attention in the past year for its unique approach to building a culture and community for the non-religious, and this April 26 it will give its highest honor, the "Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism," to a unique figure: Dr. Greg Graffin, frontman of the influential punk rock band Bad Religion. Graffin, whose "day job" since 1980 has been recording and extensive worldwide touring with a band boasting such hits as "How Could Hell be Any Worse" and "American Jesus," earned his PhD in Zoology at Cornell and is a member of the UCLA's Faculty in Biology, teaching Life Sciences courses covering Darwin and natural selection. Graffin will give an acoustic performance after accepting the award.

"I always put education high on my list of priorities because I thought, Wouldn't it be neat if you can have a singer of your favorite band who also has something more to offer than looking cool - which I don't - or dressing cool - which I don't;" Graffin said. "Those are the things that I try to inspire young people to do, whether it is in the lecture hall or on stage on the Warped Tour."

But Bad Religion, considered among the most influential modern punk bands, has been known for inspiring young people towards a particular set of ideas: those of atheism and Humanism. Graffin's lyrics make plain his passionate disbelief in God. Yet the Harvard Humanists cite his faith in the ability of music and science to improve the world as making the singer unique.

"Graffin is proof positive that atheists can be great ethical role models: young people idolize rock stars, and what more could you want from one than his lifelong dedication to science, education, and Humanism?" said Greg Epstein, Humanist Chaplain of Harvard University.

The award, intended to honor a Humanist or atheist having made a lasting impact on US culture, was presented last year to renowned novelist Sir Salman Rushdie before a sold-out audience of 1100 that Rushdie likened to a celebration of "Atheistmas," and will once again be conferred at Harvard's Memorial Church, the official University Chapel. Graffin was selected for this year's award by the Harvard Secular Society, an undergraduate student group affiliated with the Humanist Chaplaincy. The event is co-sponsored by Newbury Comics, Harvard Book Store, & the Cambridge Forum.

Date: Saturday, April 26, 2008
Time: 8:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: The Memorial Church, Harvard
Get tickets at the Harvard Box Office! $5 students, $10 public.

For information about Greg Graffin and Bad Religion, visit:
http://www.badreligion.com

For information about the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard, visit:
http://harvardhumanist.org.

Not into Politics?

The Iraq War has cost the average American family of 4 $16,500 so far with no end in sight. Single person? that's $4,125 so far. What I'd do with it:

1) buy health insurance
2) pay for gas
3) fix my car
4) save it to pay back tuition
5) go to benihanas.

kdc6794 - 14 years on

and to infinity, i'll repeat the same ole refrain...
i was raised by kurt cobain.

(A Different) Mr. Brett's Genius Penis

i have a friend who is a tax lawyer, enjoys football, gadgets and the occasional tasty microbrew. his penis weighs 7.82 oz and is an undetermined length.

i am indeed homosexual.

mr. brett's genius letter from god

I'm sorry about the sun
How could I know that you would burn?
And I'm sorry about the moon
How could I know that you'd disapprove?

And I'll never make the same mistake
The next time I create the universe
I'll make sure we communicate at length
Oh yeah

But until then, better off dead
A smile on the lips and a hole in the head
Better off dead, yeah better than this
Take it away, 'cause there's nothing to miss

I'm sorry about the world
How could I know you'd take it so bad?

And I'll never make the same mistake
So if you're looking for a patsy
Why not try the entire human race
Just to play it safe

But until then, better off dead
A smile on the lips and a hole in the head
Better off dead, yeah better than this
Take it away, 'cause there's nothing to miss

Better off dead, yeah better off dead
Why don't you try pushing daisies instead?
Better off dead, yeah better off dead
A smile on the lips and a hole in the head

And I'll never make the same mistake,
The next time I create the universe
I'll make sure you participate
Oh yeah

And I'll never make the same mistake
The next time I create the universe
I'll make sure you participate
Just in case

http://www.last.fm/music/Bad+Religion/_/Better+Off+Dead

odd awkward awesome rare pop culture moment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq1lrVBLnBY

the closest i've ever come to public service

in 2004 i successfully campaigned to restore vanilla caramel fudge to the ben and jerry's lineup after it had been taken off the market. the letter:

“Vermont’s Finest”
Grassroots Politics and New York Bodegas


Vermont’s finest taught me the lesson of grassroots politics this past week. And Howard Dean can still only look on from afar, tongue wagging. No, my lesson was not handed down by the Governor of the (nickname for Vermont) state and former Democratic presidential candidate, rather I learned from a source with a sweetness most politicians can only dream of.
Last winter, like many hard-working, fairly poor New Yorkers, I had little salvation from the bitter conditions outside. Yes, amidst the snow, the freezing rain, the garbage, the rats, the stress, the subway, etc, my only solace was the thought of walking into a warm apartment, shedding my many layers and basking in the promise of what awaited me in my freezer: The sweet serum of Ben & Jerry’s Vanilla Caramel Fudge. Ah, yes, the Vermont treasure, the golden goose of all ice creams, a king among royalty, the classy roost. The greatest ice cream flavor in all the land. Every bite a succinct apportionment of the tremendous troika. First there’s the ample base of smooth vanilla ice cream made from only the finest natural ingredients. Then there’s the perfect fusion of silky fudge ribbons and spiraling caramel, always soft, always perfectly blended. Unparalleled.
Then one day after making the trek to the office in seven-degree weather I check my inbox and find an email from my brother with a link to the Ben & Jerry’s site. Ice cream being the last thing on my mind after feeling my marrow gently solidify for ten blocks, I close the email. Later in the day, bored at work, I click on the email again. But this time I realize it’s not just a link to the B & J site. It keeps staring at me: benandjerrys.com/graveyard. I panic. I know what it means. The end is near. Our run is up. As I click on the link I still have hope that it’s all a joke and that “graveyard” means something else. The page downloads at what feels like a file a minute. But then there it is with little fanfare, mixed among the other outcasts, VCF had been moved to the “Dearly Departed Flavors” list and would no longer be made.
For a few weeks, I coped. I tried to put it out of my mind, partaking in various other treats, pastries, cakes and even Ben & Jerry’s B-level caramel concoction “Karamel Sutra”. It wasn’t the same. The fudge chips were too large and rigid, the blend was all wrong, the ice creams were overly rich, among other problems.
Dejected, I decided I needed to take action. I called Ben and Jerry’s headquarters in Vermont and spoke with a nice hippie named Lisa. I explained my plight and she understood. She told me it was her favorite flavor too! Though Lisa sympathized, she explained that she only had so much influence. She did suggest however, that if I get as many other VCF loving friends as possible to call, that could help my cause. By the time the week was out seven friends had called to voice their concern. She sent us all some free coupons, a personalized letter suggesting similar flavors and a promise that she would put the word in.
Several months go by and nothing happens.
Then one day last summer I receive a letter explaining that because of a tremendous public outcry for VCF, it was being reinstated and will be pulled from the “Dearly Departed Flavors” list. It was back! I felt very excited. That night, in celebration, I went out and bought some Haagen Dazs vanilla, some hot fudge and some caramel syrup. Lisa said to give it some time before the real stuff would appear at my local grocer.
I waited patiently for eight months, every now and then poking my head into various bodegas hoping it would be there. Occasionally I would think it was, but to no avail. It would always be a Vanilla Heath Bar Crunch (they both have the same font and lettering style).
On March 13, 2004, one of the coldest nights of the year, I wandered into the deli/grocery on the southwest corner of 47th Street and 9th Avenue to escape the frigid air. It was warm inside, the heat blasting. In the store window, a now Kelly green “Dean for President” sticker. The hunter was gone. In the store freezer, a full shipment of Ben & Jerry’s Vanilla Caramel Fudge. “$3.95 each,” the clerk said. I would’ve paid anything.

Energy Independence

is homeland security.

Fascinating Article - very well done.

The Founding Fathers Were Not Christians

by Steven Morris, in Free Inquiry

"The Christian right is trying to rewrite the history of the United States as part of its campaign to force its religion on others. They try to depict the founding fathers as pious Christians who wanted the United States to be a Christian nation, with laws that favored Christians and Christianity.

This is patently untrue. The early presidents and patriots were generally Deists or Unitarians, believing in some form of impersonal Providence but rejecting the divinity of Jesus and the absurdities of the Old and New testaments.

Thomas Paine was a pamphleteer whose manifestos encouraged the faltering spirits of the country and aided materially in winning the war of Independence:
I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of...Each of those churches accuse the other of unbelief; and for my own part, I disbelieve them all."
From:
The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine, pp. 8,9 (Republished 1984, Prometheus Books, Buffalo, NY)

George Washington, the first president of the United States, never declared himself a Christian according to contemporary reports or in any of his voluminous correspondence. Washington Championed the cause of freedom from religious intolerance and compulsion. When John Murray (a universalist who denied the existence of heII) was invited to become an army chaplain, the other chaplains petitioned Washington for his dismissal. Instead, Washington gave him the appointment. On his deathbed, Washinton uttered no words of a religious nature and did not call for a clergyman to be in attendance.
From:
George Washington and Religion by Paul F. Boller Jr., pp. 16, 87, 88, 108, 113, 121, 127 (1963, Southern Methodist University Press, Dallas, TX)

John Adams, the country's second president, was drawn to the study of law but faced pressure from his father to become a clergyman. He wrote that he found among the lawyers 'noble and gallant achievments" but among the clergy, the "pretended sanctity of some absolute dunces". Late in life he wrote: "Twenty times in the course of my late reading, have I been upon the point of breaking out, "This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it!"

It was during Adam's administration that the Senate ratified the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which states in Article XI that "the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion."
From:
The Character of John Adams by Peter Shaw, pp. 17 (1976, North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC) Quoting a letter by JA to Charles Cushing Oct 19, 1756, and John Adams, A Biography in his Own Words, edited by James Peabody, p. 403 (1973, Newsweek, New York NY) Quoting letter by JA to Jefferson April 19, 1817, and in reference to the treaty, Thomas Jefferson, Passionate Pilgrim by Alf Mapp Jr., pp. 311 (1991, Madison Books, Lanham, MD) quoting letter by TJ to Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse, June, 1814.

Thomas Jefferson, third president and author of the Declaration of Independence, said:"I trust that there is not a young man now living in the United States who will not die a Unitarian." He referred to the Revelation of St. John as "the ravings of a maniac" and wrote:
The Christian priesthood, finding the doctrines of Christ levelled to every understanding and too plain to need explanation, saw, in the mysticisms of Plato, materials with which they might build up an artificial system which might, from its indistinctness, admit everlasting controversy, give employment for their order, and introduce it to profit, power, and pre-eminence. The doctrines which flowed from the lips of Jesus himself are within the comprehension of a child; but thousands of volumes have not yet explained the Platonisms engrafted on them: and for this obvious reason that nonsense can never be explained."
From:
Thomas Jefferson, an Intimate History by Fawn M. Brodie, p. 453 (1974, W.W) Norton and Co. Inc. New York, NY) Quoting a letter by TJ to Alexander Smyth Jan 17, 1825, and Thomas Jefferson, Passionate Pilgrim by Alf Mapp Jr., pp. 246 (1991, Madison Books, Lanham, MD) quoting letter by TJ to John Adams, July 5, 1814.

James Madison, fourth president and father of the Constitution, was not religious in any conventional sense. "Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise."
"During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less in all places, pride and indolence in the Clergy, ignorance and servility in the laity, in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution."
From:
The Madisons by Virginia Moore, P. 43 (1979, McGraw-Hill Co. New York, NY) quoting a letter by JM to William Bradford April 1, 1774, and James Madison, A Biography in his Own Words, edited by Joseph Gardner, p. 93, (1974, Newsweek, New York, NY) Quoting Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments by JM, June 1785.

Ethan Allen, whose capture of Fort Ticonderoga while commanding the Green Mountain Boys helped inspire Congress and the country to pursue the War of Independence, said, "That Jesus Christ was not God is evidence from his own words." In the same book, Allen noted that he was generally "denominated a Deist, the reality of which I never disputed, being conscious that I am no Christian." When Allen married Fanny Buchanan, he stopped his own wedding ceremony when the judge asked him if he promised "to live with Fanny Buchanan agreeable to the laws of God." Allen refused to answer until the judge agreed that the God referred to was the God of Nature, and the laws those "written in the great book of nature."
From:
Religion of the American Enlightenment by G. Adolph Koch, p. 40 (1968, Thomas Crowell Co., New York, NY.) quoting preface and p. 352 of Reason, the Only Oracle of Man and A Sense of History compiled by American Heritage Press Inc., p. 103 (1985, American Heritage Press, Inc., New York, NY.)

Benjamin Franklin, delegate to the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, said:
As to Jesus of Nazareth, my Opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the System of Morals and his Religion...has received various corrupting Changes, and I have, with most of the present dissenters in England, some doubts as to his Divinity; tho' it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the Truth with less trouble." He died a month later, and historians consider him, like so many great Americans of his time, to be a Deist, not a Christian.
From:
Benjamin Franklin, A Biography in his Own Words, edited by Thomas Fleming, p. 404, (1972, Newsweek, New York, NY) quoting letter by BF to Exra Stiles March 9, 1970.

---

The words "In God We Trust" were not consistently on all U.S. currency until 1956, during the McCarthy Hysteria.

The Treaty of Tripoli, passed by the U.S. Senate in 1797, read in part: "The government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion." The treaty was written during the Washington administration, and sent to the Senate during the Adams administration. It was read aloud to the Senate, and each Senator received a printed copy. This was the 339th time that a recorded vote was required by the Senate, but only the third time a vote was unanimous (the next time was to honor George Washington). There is no record of any debate or dissension on the treaty. It was reprinted in full in three newspapers - two in Philadelphia, one in New York City. There is no record of public outcry or complaint in subsequent editions of the papers.

Bill O'Reilly Continues His Invaluable Contribution to Our Political Discourse

here's the latest gem from the genius:

O'Reilly: "I don't want to go on a lynching party against Michelle Obama unless there's evidence, hard facts, that say this is how the woman really feels"

Summary: In a discussion of recent comments made by Michelle Obama, Bill O'Reilly took a call from a listener who stated that, according to "a friend who had knowledge of her," Obama " 'is a very angry,' her word was 'militant woman.' " O'Reilly later stated: "I don't want to go on a lynching party against Michelle Obama unless there's evidence, hard facts, that say this is how the woman really feels. If that's how she really feels -- that America is a bad country or a flawed nation, whatever -- then that's legit. We'll track it down."

http://mediamatters.org/items/200802200001

what a wonderful contribution to our country he provides - hatemongering, clouding of the truth, and phoniness - the three pillars of modern conservativism.

There is something so sad about this blog.

the sheer unimportance of it is staggering.

History Detectives

Great show to fall asleep to on PBS. Premise is someone has an obscure artifact having to do with American history. The "detective" then traces down its origin and its meaning in American history. Very well done show and sets a great tone. Plus, I don't know about you (who?) but I always feel more pure when I watch PBS. It's almost as if I don't feel as bad for watching TV because it's educational. Good show. As a side note, I just enjoy the overall unhyped tone of PBS. The low budget, perpetually nighttime feel of the channel is perfect for bedtime, though its stimualting nature can keep you awake. I'm purposefully not injecting irony and cynicism into this entry as I've got to vary up the format of the blog.

There is nothing funny about the above paragraph. (odd guy always has to have a self-aware, self-effacing comment at the end of each entry. why? just write the entry and be comfortable with it. o well.)

Oil and Energy Companies Using Kids to Appear Less Heathen-Like

have you noticed this trend? i'm talking about chevron, sempra energy, "the oil and gas industry," and several others stooping to new lows glazing over their price gouging and mammoth pillaging of the pocketbooks of american consumers, using kids to convey their "commitment to the future, to green energy, to innovation." Oh, it's a kid and she's discussing clean energy and an uplifiting future in a cute voice, this company must be doing nothing but great things for our country! the message is simple, innocent faces - innocent company. let's face it folks, they're dinosaurs who are bad for all of us - please don't fall for their attempt to lull us into complacency about the energy crisis. Using kids in one's ad is usually a sign of a guilty conscience, a compensation for some sort of sinister activity going on behind the scenes. Groupthink at its near pinnacle.

Another Great Quote from an Unknown 21st Century Poet

this quote definitely defined my mentality in 2000. unfortunately dubya brought me from the far left to the left-middle to salvage sanity. but i think this quote is just as relevant today, though perhaps with what's at stake we don't have the luxury of thinking this way anymore.

"Karl Marx once quipped that Religion is the opiate of the masses, in this country it's the Democrat/Republican Debate that serves that purpose."

Gay Civil Rights and the Federal Marriage Amendment

I can't top this Lou Dobbs quote:
"Traditional marriage is threatened more by financial crises perpetuated by Bush administration economic policy than by gay marriage."

this not interesting to anyone.

To the Pathetically Desperate Conservative Talk Show Hosts

you all sound the same: "barack has no substance." if you take the time to view his website you'll see he has an extremely detailed plan for each issue. the reality is he uses his speeches to inspire, not to discuss the minutia of his programs. simply because he doesn't use his speech to discuss issues does not mean he doesn't have a plan. try again. i know he's hard to pick apart; i realize you guys dont have much. let me help you out.
a) high school cocaine use- lame.
b) his islamic past - disproven.
c) middle name Hussein - you're gunna have to have more than that.
d) he's too young - now you're reaching.

good luck in november trying to discredit a man so inspiring and intelligent that he makes ronald reagan look like dubya.

Super Bowl Prediction

highly wrought bombast will temporarily mask the emptiness for about six hours.

1988

friday is the twentieth anniversary of the unveiling of the second coolest sneakers ever released.
the air jordan iii!

SD vs. NY - Comparison to Follow

the tension is palpable.

Cool Site to Find Out Instantly if You're Registered

https://votepoke.org/

A Better Link for that For Squirrels Tune

my profile doesn't work if you're not a "friend". here's a link to a fan for squirrels myspace page.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=18310505

The Laughing Heir's 2008 Democratic Nomination Endorsement

we all (i) know the political world is restless in wait to see who thelaughingheir will endorse. after wavering a bit, my decision was solidified last night after watching obama's victory speech in south carolina. it rivals his iowa speech and one of the greatest speeches in modern political history, his barn burner at the 2004 democratic national convention. the guy can inspire. i will say, i'm easily inspired by political speeches - john kerry moved me greatly with his 2004 democratic national convention speech. i actually think he was earnest and i felt bad for him that the souless attack dogs had been sicking him for months. but i digress. if you get a chance to watch barack's south carolina victory speech, check it out. it seems at this point the gap in authenticity is larger than i thought. i think clinton is sincere, but i think her ambition is her dominating trait. i think obama's dominating trait is his desire to help people. so without further fanfare, the laughing heir's 2008 presidential endorsement is.............................................................

Mitt Romney. eerrr..

Barack Hussein Obama (as you can see i'm not too adept at building suspense, usually when you're planning a big announcement you don't mention the guy's name five times before. perhaps this is why i'm a tax lawyer and not a writer anymore.)


it's now certifiable: the laughingheir.blogspot.com is officially a blame america first, failure voting, liberal rag with communist and al jazera ties.

i just realized

almost this whole blog is about music. oh well. no one gives a shit but me anyway.

For Squirrels - A Mighty KC

holy crap. i heard a song last night that was the most minor of alternative hits in 1995. oddly, and probably only in my own estimation, minor mid 90s hits are the best music ever created. this song is absolutely incredible. it's even more incredible given the surrounding circumstances of the band who created it. the song is the "for squirrels" and the song is "a mighty kc," written about a rock star that committed suicide the previous year. in 1995 as the song was gaining air play the tire on the band's tour bus blew out and the half the band including the songwriter of this absolute gem, named Jack Vigliatura IV perished in the crash. unbelievably sad and poignant story, especially after listening to this amazing song. possibly, it's even more stirring for me because i'm always over-nostalgic about those years, say 1994-1996. they defined my life and i think the most amazing, melodic and emotional music was written in those years. give this song a shot. those were were alternative obsessive mid 90s geeks may vageuly remember it. just gorgeous and so sad. a perfect swan song to k. cobain.

i have it playing on my myspace because i can't even find it on soulseek.

myspace.com/fuckthespotlight

"Life's Work"

Wouldn't it be nice to be a person who can say, with any credibility, the phrase "my life's work"? Only a certain type of guy/gal can pull this one off. Hopefully I'll have a life's work.

Corporations

Somtimes I find it fascinating how weak I am. I sit here, reading about allocating risk among agents and owners in corporations, and know with zero doubt that this is a waste of precious life and yet I do nothing about it. I know that if I am absurdly lucky I'll have 45 years left on the earth, and I know that I'm not exaclty a believer in the afterlife and yet I am content wasting any amount of time reading this material. It's truly startling how, while not happy about it, I'm somehow content spending valuable minutes doing such work. Why am I not throwing caution to the wind, moving to another country, meeting random folks, experiencing different cultures, studying astronomy and the history of the world, and documenting all my experiences along the way? We're given one life in my opinion, how the hell am I content to waste it away in a library studying a topic I have no interest in. Studying a topic that I firmly know is a waste of MY life (disclaimer: it can be perfectly valuable for those who truly want to spend their lives engrossed in such topics). It's kind of odd that I grew up to be a person who would lack the bravado to live his life the way he should. I don't think it's too late though. Perhaps I'll blend practicality and haste and finish school, then live the life that's only existed in my mind. I'm largely a hypocrite when I self righteously position myself as the guy who thinks this is all bullshit and we should all inject meaning in our lives aligned with the precise experiences we want. All that's true, but I haven't proven to be the guy that acts on it. Seriously what the fuck.

Prussian Blue

have you heard about these girls? they're 15 year old twins who formed a musical duo and release records with a "white nationalist" mode. their mother has home schooled them since their birth in 1992. the faces on these kids in the videos below say it all. behind the aryan lyrics, the sadness in their eyes almost conveys, "is this what life is? sadess, hatred, anger?" the third link is them talking about their affinity for hitler on good morning america. I can't blame them YET, but i would like to pluck their mother down on the 7 Train in queens and see how open and "proud" she is then.

What's also unfortunate is that these girls are pretty talented. If by some miracle they were able to get away from their parents and learn about the world for themselves perhaps they could write some really worthwhile music. As stated above they have a sad quality to their voices and the minor key of the progressions compliments well. Sadness is just anger turned inward. And sadness can be a real attribute in music; it's really a shame their mom has taken it upon herself to waste their lives before they even had a chance. Even though they'd have me killed, I hope they get that chance.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJGj7FwEuJY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wViubDpJojw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFF7hVlqUeA&feature=related

The Wrong Trousers

I really recommend this young group. They're from an island. It's called Coronado and it lies right next to the city of San Diego, CA. They have an acoustic/indie/folk type sound, relatively unique and also do some cool, offbeat covers of well known songs.
http://www.myspace.com/thewrongtrousers

Poem

It's not my fault you creaked your neck when you looked up from giving The Man a blowjob. I don't see how it's on my shoulders that the sight of His secretary spiking the coffee caused you such a stir. When he had you on all fours under his deck did you not smell the finish? Were you not pining for his attention since you were twelve when you were first popped?
Oh you set the stage and now you want to be set free? Please.
Rest assured there'll be kickbacks in the form of sassafras and Shakespeare and scorn and porkbarrel.
But don't come blaming me for your snooping around. You were wet behind the ears when I met you and your hearing suffers just barely during orgasm.
Listen...you have the calf strength but it disappears as you fucking ascend as his able hand blocks my view.
You've arrived.
A relative garnish on an occasionally proud record.
You're a leg, four legs, fourseen.
Forlorn. Glazed over look in your eyes.
Sexy.
Utter my verse and repeat until fade:
You saw the company dime on the floor and you stuck it inside you just like everyting else and now it's yours and his to share. I'm sure you got a good look at it first. How did it smell and what was it's circumference?
In ten years they'll need you at the U.S. mint, and they'll dig you out.

Screaming Trees

When I type on this blog I feel like I'm standing in a forest screaming and there's no one for miles around. It's very therapeutic, but also kind of sad.

Relevance

who asked about 1987 anyway?

earthiness in 1987

check out the joe cocker video for unchain my heart. it says alot about mainstream culture for a particular time when this is its representation of earthy rock and roll.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr-XlnZalWQ
there were however, several prolific efforts in indie music in 1987. indie music has a good year every year.

• The Smiths- "Strangeways, Here We Come"

  
• 
  

  The Pixies- "Come On Pilgrim"

  
• Depeche Mode- "Music for the Masses"

  
• Dinosaur Jr.- "You're Living All Over Me"

• 
  

  

  Sonic Youth- "Sister"

  
• 
  

  R.E.M.- "Document"

  
• The Jesus & Mary Chain- "Darklands"

  
• 
  
• Big Black- "Songs About Fucking"
  
• Echo & the Bunnymen- "Echo & the Bunnymen"
  

"Yollette, Tessa, Iman...Come on Girls."

Remember the trend beginning in the early 80s when every white rock band added three black girls standing in a line with microphones as back up singers? police, U2, etc all fell victim to this dreadful trend that succeeded in sapping the energy out of once lively tunes turning them into some pop/new wave/gospel hybrid that just did not work. listen to the 1983 show on the police live double disc for a perfect example.

disclaimer: i debated inserting a caveat that i can enjoy the musings and works of black women (i.e. this has nothing to do with race), just not in this setting. Perhaps if used more properly instead of to get some new agey/world view point across, it would've worked. we get it sting and bono you're at one with africa. it turns out i have absolutely no business mocking bono on this (but god do i hate U2) because he really has become at one with africa. nevertheless, the music still blows.

On a Plane

so nothin since the initial flurry of posts. school began and i have a sore throat. anywayz, here's a request for good listening. prog rock is completely back (has been for a while curdling under the radar, but appears poised for a full throttle, everything sounds like bowie and ELO hybrid type explosion). no better song to kick it off than Air Traffic Control by San Diego band Louis XIV. (apologies to muse). Here's a link to where you can listen to it.
http://www.purevolume.com/louisxiv