We need to take the public discussion away from the angry right.

Rules of engagement in political discourse-
1. Always tell the truth- even difficult truths.
2. If you call someone a 'liar' show evidence of the lie. Your word is not enough,
3. Insist on data when the other side uses words like 'lie.'
4. Admit that if you resort to labeling and name calling- of persons or ideas- y...ou have already lost. Do everyone a favor and stop talking.
5. Opinion is not evidence. To say: "x lies because I do not believe him" is not evidence.
Feel free to add to this list. I will update it as Face Book people post there.

lighten up

seriously

Random Ten

And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind- Neil Diamond
He is Dangerous- Jesus Christ Superstar
Rich Man's Spiritual- Gordon Lightfoot
Under Pressure- Queen
Broad Old Woman- Neil Diamond
Island Girl- Elton John
For Lovin' Me- Peter Paul and Mary
For Lovin' Me- Gordon Lightfoot (weird)
Shattered- Rolling Stones
Shock to the System- Billy Idol

Random Ten Songs

Turn Down the Lights- Neil Diamond
I Was Only Joking- Rod Stewart
For the Love of it All- Peter Paul and Mary
Lovely Ladies- Les Miserables
September Morn- Neil Diamond
Elijah's Song- Neil Diamond
Mr Bigot- Peter, Paul and Mary
You're My Best Friend- Queen
Christ, you Know I love You- Simon Jesus Christ Superstar
(Keep Feeling) Fascination- Human League

Random 10 Songs

It's Raining- Peter Paul and Mary
Thank the Lord for the Nighttime- Neil Diamond
Let me be there- Olivia Newton John
Lies- Rolling Stones
Changes - Gordon Lightfoot
Leavin' on a Jet Plane- John Denver
I am the Lion- Neil Diamond
Suite from Hush- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
New York State of Mind- Billy Joel
The Show Must Go On- Pink Floyd

Did Adam Lambert Kill American Idol?

Almost everyone agrees that this season of American Idol sucks. The contestants lack any real personality. Some are so bad that Simon Cowell has toned down most of his harsh criticism because it is almost unnecessary.

But, here's the thing. Has anyone had the displeasure of watching "American Idol Rewind." This is a repackaged version of previous seasons of Idol. They can be fun, but they remind us too of how unslick some of these people were in the earliest episodes of the show. Some of it is downright embarrassing to watch. Remember Justin Guarini and the way he would always smile and wink at the camera, or Constantine- what's his name- and the way he would mug and pout. And I remember vividly how much I hated the earliest performances of Clay Aiken.

Maybe we need to back up and take in the current competition in light of these bozos. Instead, we expect to get wowed every week.

I blame Adam Lambert. Now, as I say that, we need to realize that Adam Lambert happened as a result of a change in the way the show was produced. He was really only a symptom of the show being less and less of an amateur competition.

I think it is more back to its roots now, and I think that the move was probably right. However, they did a terrible job about letting us in on the secret.

So, I will try the show again next week. But before i do, I will spend the weekend lowering my expectations of the remaining lot.

Random Music

Tennessee Moon- Neil Diamond
The Last Thing on My Mind- Peter, Paul and Mary
Pretty Amazing Grace- Neil Diamond
This Jesus Must Die- Jesus Christ Superstar
The Show Must Go On- Queen
Suddenly- Olivia Newton John
Hot Legs- Rod Stewart
Glory Roads- Neil Diamond
May I - Gordon Lightfoot
I Can't Tell You Why- Eagles

Music random picks

Back in LA- Neil Diamond
The Long Run- Eagles
Too Many Clues in This Room- Gordon Lightfoot
Dancing With Myself- Billy Idol
Kathy's Song- Simon and Garfunkel
Shame- Neil Diamond
Who wants to live forever- Queen
Let Me Be There- Olivia Newton John
Second Hand News- Fleetwood Mac
Look Down- Les Miserables

It's been a long time since I have done this-

play your music device on random and list the first ten songs to play- title and artist- no cheating:

1 All revved up with no place to go/ Meatloaf
2 Those Shoes/ Eagles
3 Evermore/ Neil Diamond
4 Something Very Special/ Gordon Lightfoot
5 Greenwood/ Peter Paul and Mary
6 Dog eats Dog/ Les Misrables
7 Acapulco/ Neil Diamond
8 You're in My Heart/ Rod Stewart
9 I'm Glad you're here with me Tonight/ Neil Diamond
10 The Great Mandala/ Peter Paul and Mary

Thank you Mr Olbermann !!

This link to Keith Olbermann's special comment for February 24, 2010 reminds us of what is at the heart of the Health Care debate. His story moved me to tears. As one who has been in his position before and likely will be again I thank him. My prayers go out to Keith and his father tonight.

Scars

Pull back the veil and see the scars,
Weaknesses, flaws and warts
Broken promises, empty hearts.
Imperfect perceptions-too many deceptions
Stone cold smiles that try to please,
Can’t know the heart is not at ease.
Darkness and pain cannot be shared-
Don’t show the world the boy who’s scared.

Draw the curtain from that pain-
Let it go, what can remain?
Who cares to know that inner self,
That wounded boy, that damaged elf.
Hide the scars they cannot see.
Show only what they want to see
Stone cold hearts care not for pain
The scars of loneliness remain.

Scrape and clean, paint, buff and shine,
And flaws remain, sparks from frayed wire
Alone, cold and naked by the fire
Touch and burn- know the pain
Endure the flame, heart’s secret deep.
Try to pray but only weep-
How did these scars get so deep?
Throw away what others keep.

Draw the curtain, shine the light-
Stars so bright in darkest night
Unknown places-Sacred spaces
Hope’s renewed- shoes removed
Fears unbound- on holy ground-
Take the risk- let that bird fly
See what’s in the beholder’s eye.

Moondance

Sunlight fades as each day ends,
Earth curves and turns, each ray gently bends.
Concealing beauty of passing day,
Saint and sinner come out to play.

The glimmer of Silver Moon greets the Sun,
forever apart, together one.
This permanent dance of pleasure and pain
instills in each heart a bitter refrain.
Dancers get numb with pleasures of night-
nothing revealed in pale moonlight.
In dark of night, hidden pleasures show
there are such things that day cannot know.

Lonely ones mindless in the noise-
move through the night, choosing their toys.
Bound together, forever apart,
dulling the pain of lover’s hearts.
The dance goes on under glint of the moon.
False comfort, false pleasure, false safety and soon
day will return with glaring new light
but never reveal what goes on in the night.

And lost in the dance the lonely will find
pleasures unreal to numb the mind
Some truths it seems cannot be said
when light, warmth and joy seem so dead.
There’s comfort in darkness, no one can see
each lonely heart that longs to be
united forever in a dance of true love,
no longer apart embraced from above.

In the dawn of the day the pale moon wanes,
taking away all of nights pains.
They dance together these bodies of light.
Neither one judges what’s wrong or what’s right.
And first rays signal light of new day
the cost of the dance each one must pay.

Beauty revealed, the dance ends too soon.
Night becomes morning as Sun waves goodbye to the Moon.

Lonely Lady

The lonely one sits by her window each day
She looks out to the street at each passing her way.
She longs to connect with the world outside.
She remembers the day when she was a new bride.
Her cats are gathered at her feet and they stare.
Knowing she will feed then if they seem to care.

The strangers go by with lives of their own.
Her face is quite wrinkled, kids call her a crone.
They don’t understand the source of her pain
She longs for the husband who said he’d remain
Faithful and loving and kind and strong
But he went off to war and was gone for too long.

He promised to return and give her a son.
He couldn’t have known the kid had a gun.
She never believed that the war fought was just
She hardened her heart and learned not to trust
She sits alone looking out her window each day
Longing for kindness from any who passes her way.

Too many times she has prayed for death’s dark embrace.
She looks out again for a friendly new face.
Will anyone know if she ceases to be?
She feels a pain she thinks all can see.
The world goes by, each stranger moves on.
And only her cats would know she was gone.

The world is strange and I guess it is true
That each of us needs to see through
The masks of the lonely that hide such pain
Where broken hearts and hurt remain
For only a smile can brighten a day
Let’s keep the lonely from going away.

Yeah, don't worry about it pal!

So I am walking through the store, and there is this guy- looks to be about 24 or 25.

He had an Adam Lambert hair cut. He wore the obscenely tight jeans that look God-awful and uncomfortable.

He had on mascara.

His lips were black and his fingernails were painted this blue that does not occur in nature.

He had a thick black studded leather belt that was over-sized and hanging slanted over his barely existing hip.

One might have imagined him to be getting ready to take the stage with his non- existent band.

His hands flailed in the air above his head when he spoke.

He wore a t-shirt with a pink triangle on it. It boldly proclaimed: Please do not assume that I am straight!!!

I may have made many assumptions about this guy. The one he was worried about was low on my list.

Conservatives are just plain wrong!

The linked story demonstrates a growing- but still weak- economy.  After only one year in office, the Obama administration and policies have demonstrated economic success.  After the worst and longest economic downturn since the great depression we have now seen 2 quarters of growth.

The most notable piece of the puzzle is that government spending has not kept pace with the rest of the country and has slowed economic growth.  Federal spending has increased but local governments have cut spending.

With a domestic spending freeze, expiration of the Bush tax breaks for the rich and even modest economic growth,  there is reason to be modestly optimistic  about whether or not we will be 'better off'  after four years.

That being said- Guantanamo, health care reform,  bringing home our troops-  these are the things on which liberals will base their continuing support for the president.

There is reason to be nervous that Obama's favorable numbers are lingering at low points that are equivalent to "W" high points  (excluding ridiculous post attack numbers).   Liberals actually consider whether or not someone does what they say they will do.  It would be so much easier if, like conservatives,  we based our support for the president on the letter behind his name.

How Can We Help Haiti

Catholic Relief Services is the single most direct was to give funds to for this tragedy.  They are highly reputable and have the highest percentage of contributions go directly to the relief effort.  The title bar is a link.  

Bailey likes the new camera!

or the new camera likes Bailey.

I'll do it Right This Time

When I began I had no doubt.
I set the pace, the world was mine.
I learned to think the world was colder
I wanted an ear and got a shoulder.
I did my best with each new test
I tried to do it right each time.

Year's go by and now there's doubt.
Too many times I’d tried and failed.
No one cared, promises broken.
I held my tongue when I should have spoken
Dreams were lost-unmeasured cost.
I didn't care to do it right this time.

I sometimes took the easy way.
Life and love that have been wasted
I took the prize, I grabbed my token.
I held my tongue when I should have spoken
Friends were lost- too great a cost
But now, I’ll do it right this time.

When I began I had no doubt.
I set the pace, the world was mine.
But through the years I just grew colder
I’ll take that big chip off my shoulder.
I'll do my best with each new test
And so, I’ll do it right this time.

I’ll do it right this time.
It’s all on the line
I’ll take that chance,
I’ll try again.
No more regrets as time goes by
I’ll give my all and let it fly.
I know … I’ll do it right this time.

Reuben

Reuben was a friend of mine…


At first glance he looked so weak,
Shaking with fear and future bleak.
Caged in, closed off, trembling, alone.
His pain so great, he’d sit and groan.

He was so weak he could barely stand.
In gentle love I gave my hand.
Slowly, closer, he checked me out.
Filled with fear and racked with doubt.

In time he would grow strong again,
And he would love me, my dear friend.
I held him close, embraced his pain.
I took him in from cold and rain.

He had known such pain and loss,
Neglected, starved and temper-tossed.
We fit together like hand in glove.
In my arms he knew true love.

He learned to sing along with me
He believed in happy endings he.
Our years together were filled with joy.
He learned to dance my happy boy.

His coat was thick when fully grown.
When he was good he got a bone.
The leash was his most favorite treat.
The joy of that could not be beat.

Then came the end as I knew it would.
He knew exactly where he stood.
I held him when at last he died.
Recalling his life, I laughed and cried.

in the dark of night

You speak to me in the dark of night.
Your soft voice quakes in pale light.
I'm stirred to wake its you I see.
But could we ever lovers be.

What's it like to be held so dear?
By one whose love I've grown to fear.
To risk it all to see love's gains
I wish to act but fear remains.

You speak to me in the dark of night.
Your soft voice quakes in pale light.
It was your touch stirred me to wake.
The dark of night begins to break.

And that embrace I'd long thought gone
Enfolds me now and greets the dawn.
Is this love this night attains
or something else when fear remains.

You speak to me in the dark of night.
Your soft voice quakes in pale light.
I'm stirred to wake its you I see.
But we could never lovers be.

Dreams

Within my grasp not long ago
A simpler time, nothing to show
Dreams may come , Dreams may grow.
Take the chance, let yourself go.

Alone at night, thoughts fill my head.
So many times, things left unsaid.
The night is dark, cold is the bed.
The coming dawn fills me with dread

People come and people go.
Too few really ever know,
Feelings that we never show.
Our passions set our hearts aglow.

Will things be clear In the light of day?
Unspoken feelings fade away.
We’ll play it safe and never stray
So we dream what we never say.

On this Cold Night...

There is a family on this cold night who is missing their mother who died this past weekend.

A husband missing his wife.  Children trying to figure out how life will go on.  Perhaps the oldest daughter is recognizing a fraction of the loneliness her father feels.

There is a family on this cold night trying to imagine what the future will look like while they gaze upon the ashes that were the family business.

There is a couple on this cold night greiving the loss of an unborn child.

There is a family on this cold night wondering how they will put food on their table.

And I sit here on this cold night with a full belly, staring at a fully decorated Christmas tree that looks a bit tired this late in the season, a dog resting with his head on my shoulder,  more comfortable than I probably deserve to be. 

Am I richly blessed?  Or does that feeling come from comparison to the others who feel more fully the cold and loneliness of this night?

I am richly blessed. 
And richly blessed is the family who grieves the loss of their mother and wife who loved them so much. 
And richly blessed is the family whose business was the center of a community for forty years. 
And richly blessed is the couple who grieves the loss of their unborn child.
And richly blessed is the family who knows hunger this night but can compare it to the feeling of being full.

I am richly blessed this cold night.  I feel the cold through them. 

I grieve with them.  I pray for them.  I give thanks for them.

What Did Bush Do For Us?

This article explains well what happens when the guy drving the bus is asleep at the wheel.  I am sure there are people who came out of the decade well off, and maybe even better off than they were ten years ago.  They would be a clear exception.

Now,  the bad guys will point out that the decade began and ended with Dems holding the White House.  That is the kind of misdirection they like.  But read the article linked here and remember who was in charge.

Christmas 2009!!  Excellent.