Disasters

Tonight on the way home, I heard about the earthquake in Pakistan. Of course, Pat Miller made it out to be worse than it was (he accidentally called it a "9.4" quake.) But then, in true end of the work-day callousness, I thought, "Serves 'em right."

Now, it was just a brief knee-jerk reaction, and I immediately felt bad about it. Serves who right? Well, maybe if you concentrated all the corrupt government officials, all the civil servants in the Taliban's back pocket, the terrorists hiding under a rock, the al-Qaida radicals brainwashing a new generation of children who'll never get the chance to be children, and the various assorted misogynists and wife-beaters who apparently get a religious "out" in Muslim nations, then just maybe you might have a group who might possibly be "served right", though that is up to God, and I'm sure if He felt so, He'd see to it.

Not my place to judge.

Did it serve the 15,000 likely dirt poor residents of Dalbandin right? They probably would have been just as happy to never have heard of the Taliban, al-Qaida, assault weapons, roadside bombs, homicide bombers, 90% of the governments they've had since Victoria was crowned Empress of India, the USA, NATO, CENTO, the UN, the IRS, or the fatwah of the week. Were they "served right?" That kind of logic tells us that the USA is the great Satan, nutcases are inspired by Rush Limbaugh, and that the definition of persecution includes having to look at "In God We Trust" on coins and licence plates and at nativity scenes on courthouse lawns. Yeah, they really deserved it.

Y'know, back about a year ago when I started this blog, I regularly featured disasters like the ones in Haiti and Chile. And not long ago, a friend asked me if I was following the great flood in Australia. Yes, I had; and I had thought about doing a post on it, but 2 thoughts stopped me. One of them involved being able to do the story justice, or cynically, fitting entertainment value. The other was, if I do one about that, what about the flood in Brazil? The volcanoes in Indonesia? The Mudslides in Guatemala? The human tragedy of Mexico's unwillingness to fight a war on drugs? The scorching heat in central and eastern Europe? When I started, I was hoping to drum up at least prayer support for those who were suffering. But then it became, is it big enough? Was it newsworthy enough? Should I just pray about this one on my own, rather than bring out the broken record again? And now, we've come to, "serves 'em right". And whether this is face, heart, or soul, it becomes #1 of the seventeen things I am currently ashamed of myself on. (And no, I haven't counted them.)

So tonight, I'll pray for the corrupt officials and dishonest civil servants, the terrorists and the children they are turning into killers, the wife-beaters, the nutcases, and especially the dirt poor residents of Dalbandin. I invite you to do the same- not because you have a list of things to be ashamed of, but because it "serves them right."

God blesses a confessor. As I got to the most intense part of this post, the guy on TV said (paraphrasing): Looking for the perfect gift for your wife/girlfriend on Valentine's day? Have yourself examined for testicular cancer." Truly broke the mood, particularly when I added, "or have her do it!" I suppose I should mark that as #18, but I'm gonna go easy on myself.

Step into my time machine week fourteen

Hey! here's a quick supplement musically. I discovered a website called besteveralbums.com where they collect greatest album lists and collate them a million ways to get you the greatest albums of all time. You can add your own, as I did. You can see mine at http://www.besteveralbums.com/thechart.php?c=2159 , and rate it if you like.



Anyhow, on to this week's trip. While we had 13 debuts this week, including one from the Chairman of the Board, ol' Blue Eyes, the only ones I recognized were: at 81, the Spinners with Games People Play; at 75, David Geddes tear-jerker Run Joey Run; and at 70, the Carpenters with Solitaire. Our big droppers were a tie between Misty at 65 and Wildfire at 68, both falling 45 spots. We'll meet our big mover in the top 40 debuts.



Our saying goodbye segment features Show Me The Way by Peter Frampton, which was not the live hit, but the studio single for Peter Frampton which died at 81 last week; and Lynyrd Skynyrd's Saturday Night Special, which peaks this week at 41. And our wayward almost-but-not-quite segment returns this week with Aerosmith's Sweet Emotion, and my second goof admission of the week. It was this song's peaking at 36 this week that allowed Dream On to be re-released after flopping at #59 it's first trip. I originally presented this as the other way around. Proving once again that one shouldn't rely on memories without research at my age.



Coming into the realm of airplay (also known as the top 40) this week were 5 songs. Inching in at 40 was Al Green's latest attempt to tweak Let's Stay Together with different lyrics, this attempt titled Oh Me Oh My (Dreams In My Arms). Our big mover rockets in from 64 to 38, a 26 spot leap for ZZ Top with Tush. Another song I didn't recognize was Harold Melvin's Bluenotes featuring Sharon Paige with Hope We Can Be Together Soon at 37, up 5. Paul Anka and Odia Coates shoot up 19 to 33 with (I Believe There's) Nothing Stronger Than Our Love, another candidate for the BJ Thomas award for unnecessarily long titles. And finally we see David Bowie (with some screechy contributions from John Lennon) move up 16 to land upstairs at 32 with Fame.



The trip through other years' top dogs is in the sevens this week. Tops on the Alternative chart of 1997 was the chronically overplayed Push by Matchbox 20; no pop this week as we ran out of Cashbox in September of 1996. 1987's top dog this week was Heart with Alone; 1977 was Bee Gee jr. Andy Gibb with I Just Want To Be Your Everything (see note on Paul Anka); 1967 proves we can't get away from Frankie Valli, as Can't Take My Eyes Off You was back on top in it's month-long battle with The Association's Windy. And in 1957, Phil and Don Everly were on top with their first hit, Bye Bye Love.

Almost forgot the running tour of my top hundred of the 70's. Helen Reddy takes 85 with No Way To Treat A Lady; the aforementioned Bluenotes at 84 with If You Don't Know Me By Now; 83 is the also aforementioned Misty; 82 is Yes with Roundabout; and 81 is Three Dog Night with the only song I know of recorded in a men's room for that special echo, Liar.

One comes into the top ten, one goes out. The dropper is Rocking Chair, which rocks on down from its peak of 10 to 17. Leading off the top 10 is Listen To What The Man Says, slipping from 6 to 10. War enters the top 10 at 9 with Why Can't We Be Friends, yes kids, the original- no Schrek here. Melissa Manchester moves up 1 to 8 with Midnight Blue; while Frankie Valli (!) stops at 7 with Swearin' To God. The Hustle slides down 3 to 6 this week; while Sir Elton Duck (tee hee) moves up 3 to 5 with yet another member of the Mythical Top Ten, Someone Saved My Life Tonight. 10cc climbs 1 to number 4 with I'm Not In Love; and the Eagles abandon their nest at the top with One Of These Nights, dropping to # 3. Bee Gees sr. move up 2 with Jive Talkin' in the runner up spot. Which gives us a new #1-our 11th in fourteen weeks- Olivia Newton-John with Please Mister Please. So lay off that B-17 till next week, everybody!

Three cheers for Sir Elton!

Those of you who know me personally will know that I have been less than kind in certain "entertaining" statements I've made over the last few years about Elton John. However, as I have joked in private, I shall apologize publicly. I was astounded, given the climate of celebrity culture, that he was a big enough man to be the featured entertainer at Rush Limbaugh's recent wedding. Then, on the heels of that mighty blow to my smart-assery, comes this tidbit via FoxNews:

Never one to back out of a performance to make a statement, music icon Elton John offered some choice words for his fellow musicians who choose to boycott Arizona over the SB 1070 immigration law.
According to the Arizona Daily Star, while performing at his sold-out concert at the Tucson Arena, he said:
"We are all very pleased to be playing in Arizona. I have read that some of the artists won't come here. They are f***wits! Let's face it: I still play in California, and as a gay man I have no legal rights whatsoever. So what's the (expletive) with these people?"
John is known for not giving into outside pressures when it comes to playing concerts in politically charged environments.
Last month, he ignored calls for a boycott of Israel, playing in Tel Aviv amid debates about an aid flotilla.
"Musicians spread love and peace, and bring people together. That's what we do," he said of artists like Elvis Costello and Santana, who canceled performances in Israel. "We don't cherry-pick our conscience."

Bravo, Sir Elton. I remember when the whole Costello thing came out, and decided against ranting because attention is all he wanted. It was cute when he was a nobody and played his guitar in the street in front of a record company's offices in order to get his first contract. But now that he's a typical brainwiped liberal pseudo-intellectual moralist who only accepted the gig in Tel Aviv so he could breach his contract in front of a group of adoring toady-reporters and look like Moses up on Sinai (sans God, though), he just looks like a spoiled worm. Thank you, Elton John, for putting the entertainment industry back into perspective.

In hindsight, I really shouldn't be so hard on Mr. Costello. After all, his "sudden attack of conscience" isn't any more fake than the "aid" in the "aid flotilla".

The picture? C'mon, how long did you think I could go...

Bits and Pisses

Lotsa little things to talk about today. First off, I'd like to thank everyone for their comments this week on the "time machine" column. And to Suzanne- I bow to you on the Partridge family thing. There is a certain song that they DO do, that I won't name to save myself any further embarrassment (A genuine Marvel Comics No-Prize to anyone who can figure out which) that I constantly confuse for no good reason with Burning Thing. A little more research would've served me well there.



Next, remember the story with Scrappy and Mr. Bunny Rabbit last week? Round to came the next day. Exact same location and circumstances. This time, Bunny follows the fence and takes a right at the bush, going through a hole under the fence. Beagle follows the fence as well, skipping the right and dashing on behind the bush. Upon figuring out that that was fruitless, he once again decided to try the ditch, oblivious to Mr. Chipmunk scurrying away on the other side. I do have to give him one credit, though, he was able to identify and notice a dead chipmunk Sunday (albeit after he walked halfway over it and backed up to see what it was). In the meantime, we have no more stopped to reflect that it has been a while since our last deer sighting when Laurie spots one standing in the trail through the fence row, watching us with more bemusement than the excitement we watched her with. So, the new animal count for the year is adjusted to 12 deer, 8 rabbit, and 2 chipmunk ( not the dead one; I remembered one I saw months back and forgot to tally).



Thirdly, Congrats to the Blackhawks on an exciting game 5 win in which they finally made Chris Pronger look less than invincible. Also, the Czech world cup win has suddenly made Czech players hot property in the KHL. Goalie Domenik Hasek ( a sure NHL hall of famer) signed on with Spartak in the biggest name news: others included former NHL star Petr Sykora travelling to Metallurg Magnitogorsk, Extraliga's leading scorer Roman Cervenka joining countryman Jaromir Jagr at Avangard Omsk, and league champion Pardubice's head coach Vaclav Sykora becoming the new assistant at SKA St. Pete. And in other KHL news, the merger of MVD and Moscow Dynamo and the booting from the league of Lada Togliatti brings in two new teams, of which I will look up more later- Budyvanik and Yurga Khanty Mansijsk.



And I couldn't live with myself without wishing a happy retirement to Helen Thomas.





The announcement came after the White House Correspondents Association decried her remarks as "indefensible" and began to consider whether Thomas should continue to have the privilege of a front-row seat in the briefing room. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs called her remarks "offensive and reprehensible" on Monday, as other former White House spokesmen called for Thomas to be fired.
The announcement Monday marked an abrupt end to a career that has spanned decades. Thomas, known as the dean of the White House press corps, has covered every president since Dwight Eisenhower. Her 90th birthday is Aug. 4.
The controversy escalated quickly over the weekend after the video surfaced online showing Thomas last month saying Jews should "get the hell out of Palestine," suggesting they go instead to Germany, Poland and the United States. The video, shot by New York Rabbi David Nesenoff, was posted on several prominent websites and prompted a swift apology from Thomas on Friday.
"I deeply regret my comments," she said in the statement, claiming they "do not reflect my heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance."



I am truly surprised that her employer didn't take into account her heart-felt beliefs before making this superannuated excuse for a journalist walk the plank. Rather than be unflattering to such a paragon of liberal ass-kissing and show a current picture, I found a slightly more flattering image:


I believe this was taken by Matthew Brady during one of the press conferences Lincoln held about the Emancipation Proclamation. I think her story had to do with transporting the freed slaves to Africa or Poland, but I could be mistaken.

Number 100

I asked the Lord this morning for an idea to make special my 100th post. The way things have gone lately, I wouldn't have been surprised if He blew me off- after all, I've done it enough to Him. Arguing with co-workers, arguing with Him, even with myself- oh, especially with myself. At church, sometimes I feel a great disconnect, caused by the distance I've travelled from Him. In recent days, He has reminded me to look in the mirror, and that the obedience I owe Him is not being delivered. Prior to the service today, He showed me a powerful lesson about how to get back where I need to be, a message enhanced by an excellent sermon by Pastor Dave today. The lesson Dave taught, which I shall not try to reprise, was on Collosians 3. The lesson I learned myself, which I shall share here, is in Psalm 51. And that lesson titled itself, what are the steps I must take to get back near where I should be.



1. From v. 3- I need to Acknowledge my faults. I need to look at my actions as others see them; in normal view, I can be oblivious. I need to recognize when I am thinking/heading toward sin, and abort course. I need to stop being self-righteous, especially in prayer.



2. From v. 8, - I need to listen for the joy and goodness that He puts into this world. So many times, especially in light of two incidents this week past that I will not mention, all I hear is the crap that man dredges up and the crap Satan feeds me all day that I chew on like a starving dog. The same God that is so awesome in the midst of the beauty of nature exists under the corrugated roofs of factories and the domed halls of legislatures, and even amidst the polished floors of pagan mosques.



3. From v. 10- I need to strive for a steadfast (i.e. stable) spirit. Not be blown so much by the winds of sin and everyday life, but to keep a constant eye toward God in what I'm doing. Pastor Dave suggested we "be excited about our work job", i.e. the prospects and opportunities and being thankful for all of it; I have been better at appreciating it this year, and it makes it so frustrating when it seems that you become perceived as an a-hole with one frustrated incident. More so when you look at number 1 above and say, well, maybe more than one...



4. From v.17- remembering that God's delight is in a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart- and that He is more than willing to set up the means to break it if you don't particularly feel like doing so.



These four things that I need to work on hold the key to not being quite so miserable. The death clock (see http://www.deathclock.com/) says I still have 1 year, seven months, and 3 days to put up with this world, so I might as well start following these pointers and get comfortable. Which puts me in mind of one more thing: Pastor Dave spoke about being in the "end times" and that wouldn't it be nice to get back to heaven and everyone agreed; I hesitated. Not because I'm not ready for this life to end; but because where Dave said it from a mindset of happy, hopeful expectation of the next life, I would have said it from bitter disillusionment over this one. When I get from one mind set to the other, I'll know I'm almost ready.





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The world cup ends in dramatic fashion with the Czech Republic breaking Russia's two year reign and 27-game win streak, 2-1. Goalie Tomas Vokoun was the star, stoning Malkin and Ovechkin on breaks, receiving some help from the post on what looked like a sure score by 40-year old Sergei Federov, and having a goal by Pavel Datsyuk waved off as coming just after the second period buzzer sounded. Datsyuk eventually did score with 35 seconds left, but Vokoun kept the door shut from there. Despite almost not making the final eight, the Czechs win their first title since 2005, their 12th overall- 6 of those as Czechoslovakia. Sweden took the bronze, topping Germany 3-1 in the consolation game.


(pictured is Czech captain Tomas Rolinek.) Congrats on a upset victory for the Czechs! and congrats to me. 100 posts are in the book.

update on yesterday's rants

Addendum and Correctum:
1. Apparently now both the boy and his little sister got their turns at the JFK mike over two days, Dec. 16-17. Of course, FAA had no problem until the recordings made their way from a ATC enthusiasts' site to the main stream. THEN it becomes a huge ordeal. Way to not quake in fear of public opinion, FAA.
Chris' take: same as yesterday.
2. Apparently I was in error in all the nasty things I said about that judge yesterday. Allow me to present Prosecuting Atty Paul J. Pfingst.

This is the gentleman who decided to give the child molester-cum-murderer a 6-year sentence in a plea deal. His reason? "the (13-year-old) victim needed to be spared further trauma". Yeah, right? She was beaten to a near-unrecognizable pulp. I tend to think that he has also the same other two reasons that Allen co. DA Karen Richards uses, to wit: A. "I/ my staff is too damn lazy to conduct an investigation that will lead to a sure conviction", and B. "Plea deals look just like convictions on my resume when I retire from the public dole and look for a cushy high-dollar job"( you can see how dear Mr. Pfingst did at Higgs, Fletcher, and Mack llp of San Diego's website. I wonder if that e-mail address listed is still open?) Many thanks to the locals who still hate his guts for steering me onto the righteous path.
Chris' take: Just cross out "Judge" and insert "prosecutor" in all pertinent spots in yesterday's post.
3. And of course, the only thing left for me to get wrong involves the coffee-and-donuts story. First, the original violation that was turned in- no doubt be a scheming competitor- was that they demonstrated a new model bbq grill a couple of weekends, with employees passing out samples of said demo, which is a no-no. It was in investigating this violation that the health dpt. found the heinous c&d scandal. It appears that you are required to have a stainless-steel three basin sink AND a full kitchen-prep area to turn on your Mr. Coffee and open a box of dunkin' donuts. Make sense to you? me, too. Of course, we would have known all this in the first place if the health dpt. official whom the reporter interviewed before the story saw print would have thought to tell the reporter about the bbq complaint which actually started it all. But, this official, apparently a former FAA rep, failed to consider the consequences of not getting ALL of your side of the story into the mix.
Chris' take: stupid is as stupid does, stupid is as stupid was.