29 August 2008

The Year of the Rat

That's what 2008 is in the Chinese zodiac -- the Year of the Rat. Encouraging , isn't it?

Being the first sign of the Chinese zodiac, rats are leaders, pioneers and conquerors. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. Rat people are endowed with great leadership skills and are the most highly organized, meticulous, and systematic of the twelve signs. Intelligent and cunning at the same time, rats are highly ambitious and strong-willed people who are keen and unapologetic promoters of their own agendas, which often include money and power. They are energetic and versatile and can usually find their way around obstacles, and adapt to various environments easily. A rat's natural charm and sharp demeanor make it an appealing friend for almost anyone, but rats are usually highly exclusive and selective when choosing friends and so often have only a few very close friends whom they trust.

Behind the smiles and charm, rats can be terribly obstinate and controlling, insisting on having things their way no matter what the cost. These people tend to have immense control of their emotions, which they may use as a tool to manipulate and exploit others, both emotionally and mentally. Rats are masters of mind games and can be very dangerous, calculative and downright cruel if the need arises. Quick-tempered and aggressive, they will not think twice about exacting revenge on those that hurt them in any way. Rats need to learn to relax sometimes, as they can be quite obsessed with detail, intolerant and strict, demanding order, obedience, and perfection.

Source: Wikepedia

I have a deep down bad feeling. Watching the Democratic Convention on its final night – I hate to admit it, but the Nuremberg rallies of 1934 were flashing before my eyes. Charismatics scare me, be they religious or political. Mostly, charismatic leaders bring us to grief, whether it's Hitler, Napoleon, Lenin, Mohamed or even Jesus. I'm a Christian, but looking at it objectively, Jesus brought a world of pain to himself and those who followed after him. Barak Obama is not a celebrity. He's not a "rock star." He's a charismatic, and it scares me.

There's a part of me that likes him, and there's a part of me that is proud of my country that the promise of "all men are created equal" is embodied in the young black man accepting the nomination of the Democratic Party for the presidency of the United States. I disagree with almost all of his positions, but still, that's kind of cool. I lived through the civil rights movement in the Old South, and I deeply believe that no one should face hatred and discrimination because of the pigment of their skin or because their last name sounds strange. So, I am pound of America, and of citizen Obama for what he has been able to accomplish in his life. But, he worries me. I see 80,000 people jammed into Mile High Stadium to pay homage to the new messiah, and it worries me.

I feel the swing of history's great pendulum. I have felt it before. I felt it when it swung from Johnson to Nixon. I felt it when it swung from Carter to Reagan. I felt it when it swung from Bush to Clinton, and I'm feeling it again.

What do the Republicans have to offer as a counter? A septuagenarian fighter jock that they don't even like. And what do the Republicans have to run on? Eight years of questionable leadership, fiscal irresponsibility, an ailing economy, two wars, one of which appears to be based on a mistake. I feel the great swing of the pendulum.

I don't like charismatics.

Yes, Barak, this is a defining moment, and yes, you are riding the crest of that wave. And yes, most likely, you will be our next president. That doesn't mean that what is happening tonight in Mile High Stadium is healthy.

But I have to hand it to you -- it was a hell of a show. The trouble is that I don't like charismatics. I don't like altars built to false gods. I don't like Nazi soldiers lined up as far as the eye can see. I don't like Waterloo. I don't like Calvary. I don’t like Red Square. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. I don't need to do that again.

I go out under the night sky. I sit with one of my dogs and think about the Year of the Rat. "This is your pilot speaking. Fasten your seat belts. We're heading into some turbulence."

The Year of the RatSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

19 August 2008

Johnny, in addition to be an actor and sideshow performer, was a painter, and worked on automobiles.

My apologies again, I have no source.
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Vampira the crowd pleaser.

Please forgive me if this came from anyone else's posts or threads... I again have these things, and I have no recollection of the author, or of their origin. Apologies to all.
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14 August 2008

Help Me With This...



If anyone can help, I have no idea how I got this, or who the image belongs to.
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12 August 2008

"The Hillbillies Had Moved In Next Door."



This has stolen my heart. From: Big Happy Funhouse

"All was fine and wonderful in the world of QSL cards until the CB craze hit the nation. Then the QSL cards got a little weird. You see, ham radio operators look upon their hobby as a craft. You need a federal license to be a ham radio operator. The CBers were looked down upon by the hams as illegal heathens who were defiling the airwaves. The hillbillies had moved in next door.

Many of the CBers were old ham operators. the QSL cards started popping up not only for ham radio users but also for the CB crowd. Most of the ham QSL cards are pretty straight laced. Think of them as the republican guy who manicures his lawn on his knees. The CB QSL cards (which I mostly collect) are like a big trailer park decorated with plastic flamingos, tiki torches and 1978 El Caminos. You'll see outhouses, mobile homes, sexual innuendo and all sorts of insanity on the CB version of the QSL cards."
"The Hillbillies Had Moved In Next Door."SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

11 August 2008

Oh Well...

Walmart is up a total of 30%, with two increases withn a month, Ebay up 40% in a month.
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"The Voice Of Our Best Bad Thoughts"


Isaac Hayes died yesterday near Memphis, Tn. He was 65.

I know this sounds pretentious. I was really young, but white dudes really didn't have much going on in the way of hero qualities at the time. AM radio was an incredible thing back then, and I left mine on ALL night long for years. I was too young when Dylan first came along, so I didn't get my head around him until I was older. Just bad timing. Soul, Funk, and R&B was the rule of the day on the little clock radio. The other area in my head was occupied by the Woody, Hank, and all of the other country, bluegrass, and classical records that my father kept bringing home. My sis started turning me on to great stuff a little later when she started buying vinyl in earnest. OMG, then came 8-Tracks...
Read about Isaac, at Time.com

Oh Lord, I just found this:
via: Third Phaze.com I'm hustling off to listen to the Sammy Davis Jr. version

01. Ray Conniff - Theme From Shaft
02. Hollyridge Strings - Theme From Shaft
03. Decimo - Theme From Shaft
04. Alan Hawkshaw & His Orchestra - Theme From Shaft
05. Joe Bataan - Theme From Shaft
06. Prophets Of Soul - Theme From Shaft
07. Sammy Davis Jr - John Shaft
08. Eddy And The Soul Band - Theme From Shaft
09. Birds N Brass - Theme From Shaft
10. The Chosen Few - Shaft
11. Bernard Purdie - Theme From Shaft
12. Isaac Hayes - Shaft II
13. Jimmy Mcgriff - The Theme From Shaft
14. Maynard Ferguson - Theme From Shaft
15. The Ventures - Theme From Shaft

Get it: here.
"The Voice Of Our Best Bad Thoughts"SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

10 August 2008

Elliott, You Are The Bomb

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1950 ©E. Erwitt

I went to look at some of Elliott's dog pictures, and of course, as is the case with a body of work that spans 6 decades, there is always a new treasure to be found.
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09 August 2008

A knock At The Door

Two friends that arrived yesterday in the mail.

I'm really happy today.
A knock At The DoorSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

06 August 2008



All Sharpie, All The Time. I make a Pointed effort to view her stuff regularly.
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