So today, I was waking up from a Father's Day nap, got on FB, and found that a post a friend had made, and I had commented on, had been puked all over by some left wing troll who is all about the "Trump hates immigrants" BS. In the midst of my reply, my friend pulled the post and blocked the puker. But me being me, and seeing so many others puking up the same crap- and then watching grandstanding US Senators making sure they got their pictures taken trying to get into ICE centers they had no real business in- I was ready to bust out a post burying these people...
And then I stopped. I saw too much anger, turning to hate, towards them. I said, no, no hypocrisy. God, if you want something said, you give the words.
Moments later, I got on Twitter, and found a lot of people taking care of business a lot better than I could. Here are some examples.
Democrats are hilariously dishonest and fake.
They’ve been literally subsidizing single motherhood in the black community for DECADES, but this week they’re pretending to care about putting the families of illegals back together?
FRAUDS!
Who signed the LAW separating children from their families at the border. Music playing, I'll give you a few seconds.........BillClinton! ding ding ding, a Democrat, the last time I checked.
Bill Clinton’s crime bill was responsible for the mass incarceration of black men which resulted in separating them from their families but I didn’t see the Hollyweird crowd protesting. Oh yes they were evil “Super Predators” right HillaryHypocrite Demoncrats@POTUS@CNN
Just to be clear!
If you illegally come across the U.S. Border and are dumb enough to bring your children with you? Your children will be separated from you while you receive due process!
Want to avoid this? ENTER LEGALLY!
IT'S THAT SIMPLE!
Today we go to June 15th, 1969- and we get to watch the very first episode of...
With guest stars Loretta Lynn (singing Your Squaw's On The Warpath, a #3 country hit that year) and Charley Pride (who did two old Hank Williams numbers, I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You), which he never released- and didn't RECORD until 11 years later- and Kaw-Liga, which he hit- yes- #3 with that year, falling one notch short of Hank's original).
I'd love to throw in a clip, but I am already clip heavy with THREE debuts and a song I just HAVE to share- by an act that is still doing shows according to their FB page! So let's just dial up BR-549, pull up a sit on the porch, and go!
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But before we do, I must mention that another name got added to the band in Rock and Roll Heaven. DJ Fontana, Elvis's original and long time drummer, passed on Wednesday. When you tally up the awards on the Elvis singles he played on, he should have a closet with 35 platinum and 15 gold records! DJ was 87...
So we have a busy day here, and let me kick it off with one of our three debuts- all three by acts that have M10 #1s under their belt. First, the new song from the act that USED to hold the M10's all time #1 slot. From the upcoming lp Back Roads and Abandoned Motels, the Jayhawks...
They pull in at #8 this week.
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This week, we have Herb Alpert joining us! That IS you, right?
Uh, yeah, why would you ask?
Well, last week, my .. well, never mind. You are a legend as a performer and management, producing and signing acts like the Carpenters, discovering acts from Brasil '66 and We Five to the Human League. Your head is like a rock museum...
Boy, you could take that a lot of ways! Just kidding, I appreciate it.
I was just reading how the song that got you here was never even meant to be released...
No, This Guy's In Love was just between me and my first wife... and a national TV audience that created such a demand, we had to make it a single a couple of days later! I'm really not that much of a singer...
And yet, that one is one of my all timers, and Laurie and I played one this week- Without Her- that I thought was pretty good.
Thank you, my friend.
Are you ready for the list? 20 contestants from 75 stations this week...
You bet. Let me see...so we start with Creedence Clearwater Revival and Bad Moon Rising, at #2 on the charts. Then comes the Beatles- who, like Creedence have 2 songs on the list- with The Ballad Of John And Yoko at #61, a debut. I never cared for this one much, but I see here that it is #1 in the UK this week. Tommy James and the Shondells were at #56 in their second week with Crystal Blue Persuasion. OC Smith was at #54 with Friend Lover Woman Wife. Can't say I know that one... was he the Little Green Apples guy?
The very same.
I liked that one. Next, we have the other Beatles' hit, Get Back with Billy Preston, the number one on Cashbox this week. It was #5 in England. Oliver was at #13 with Good Morning Starshine. I've never understood people who don't want to use their last names...
He wasn't using his first, either...
Oh, well. Next is the Friends Of Distinction with Grazing In The Grass at #7.
I'm surprised you guys never did that.
You know, I am too... anyway, this next one, I have no clue on...
If I Didn't Have A Dime by Ron Moody and the Centaurs. It never charted, and about the only claim to any fame I found was that member Steve Buckingham went on to make his name by producing Alicia Bridges' I Love The Nightlife.
Must be after my time... Then we have MY vote, Elvis and In The Ghetto. It was #3 here and debuting at #36 in the UK.
What, what're you looking at me for? It's one of his best, and his drummer just died! I'm leaving him alone this week...
Hmm... Paul Revere and the Raiders were at #25 with Let Me. Henry Mancini's Love Theme From Romeo and Juliet was at #4. The Spiral Starecase were at #9 with More Today Than Yesterday. The Edwin Hawkins Singers were at #8 here, #3 in England, with the gospel hit Oh Happy Day. Three Dog Night were at #11 with One. Actually, a couple of ones... Now, here it gets kind of funny, because we not only have a group charting with its second song on the list- but we have that same song by someone else! The song is Proud Mary. Creedence did it first, and it peaked in March-although it is currently #22 in England-, but a South African station got onto the list, and there you go. The other version was by a gentleman named Solomon Burke. He actually peaked last week at #49, and fell off of Cashbox this week. Now, here's a song right up my alley! Blood Sweat and Tears were at #19 with Spinning Wheel. Marvin Gaye was at #10 with Too Busy Thinkin' 'Bout My Baby. Well, here's another one I don't know... We Can't Go On This Way by Unchained Mynds...
Yeah, the only thing I learned about them is they were from LaCrosse, Wisconsin...
...and that they were at #121 this week...
Which reminds me, I have this one song I just got to share, that was right next to Unchained Mynds at #122. I saw this name, and said, I have to listen- and when I did, it was pretty good. They are the Hubbels, and I can tell that they have an active FB page, still doing gigs, and her name is Mary Ann Frazell-Woods, and she was a hottie back then, and not bad now...
And the reason I had to play this? It's called Hippy Dippy Funky Monkey Double Bubble Sitar Man...
All right, Herb, back to you!
And I have just one left. Ant that is What Does It Take (To Win Your Love) by Junior Walker and the All-Stars, at #35. And there you go!
Thank you very much, sir! As for thinning the herd, I have five songs that each got at least five votes- and the final was a three way contest, so we might just play a little "elimination round" here in a bit! But for now, choose from Get Back, In The Ghetto, Romeo and Juliet, Bad Moon, and One.
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Debut #2- landing at #7 on the M10, is actually a song from their 2015 debut lp by a band that MIGHT just also be sneaking in with a brand new song soon- if I decide I WANT an 8:59 song on the chart- and it is by the Derevolutions:
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Ready for a long way around the barn to the 6D? Here we go...
Sonny and Cher were just breaking out in '65, and a cut from their debut lp called It's Gonna Rain was performed by them as themselves in a movie called Wild On The Beach. It was their film debut, and was produced by one By Dunham. Dunham's name came up because he wrote the lyrics to the theme song from the dolphin show Flipper. And we get to Flipper...
"rrh-rrh, rrh rrk?"
No, this does NOT get you in the beauty contest.
...through co-producer Ricou Browning, who among his many credits was a rather dubious one for a movie called Mr No Legs. Nothing of note to this 1978 flick- or the next one I'm about to mention, 1969's Fireball Jungle- except for the soundtrack appearances of a rather obscure blues "shouter" named Tiny Kennedy.
That's him in Fireball Jungle. What makes his twin movie appearances so interesting was that he was a promising bluesman signed to Trumpet Records- obviously named in jest, the owner of Trumpet described him as "just big and fat"- and that in between his own pair of recording attempts, he was touring with another Tiny, this one Tiny Bradshaw. On one of their gigs, he befriended a young neophyte bluesman and taught him the right way to do things on stage- one BB King. But after 1955, he literally dropped of the face of Planet Music- with the exception of these two movies.
And this has to do with the 6D how? Glad you asked. Fireball Jungle contains, in addition to Tiny, the actual 6D victim, charting at #5 with no Panel Love- Mercy and Love (Can Make You Happy).
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Third debut-at #6, and I am expecting a long run near the top here- is new stuff by Caroline Rose:
Better on studio track, but a bit of fun watching her sing... I'll put up the album cut when she hits #1 again...
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Stat Pack time!
This was a funny week for the Hot 100 and me. The ones I knew, I knew well- but there were only 29 of 'em...
I should also mention that recent M10 song The Windmills Of Your Mind by Dusty Springfield was #29 this week..
Spinning Wheel was the big mover- a whopping 56 places from 75 to 19...
The #69 in '69 was Vikki Carr with With Pen In Hand. She was 7 weeks getting this far, and in four weeks more she would work her way up ALMOST to the top 40... and then drop, having peaked at #42.
"But, it got me a shot in the Beauty Contest..."
#101 was a pretty good job on a song I love- Angel Of The Morning- by Bettye Swann.
And, as mentioned, the Ballad Of John And Yoko- or as I said to Laurie, "AKA the pity-party of John and Yoko"- is tops in the UK.
Oh, and if you took Elvis or 3 Dog Night, you are outta there! Sorry, Herb...
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The remaining M10:
Cullen Omori gets a fifth week on the chart, falling to 10 with Four Years.
Boz Scaggs had to clear a little room too, slipping a spot to 9 with Rock And Stick.
Phantogram held place at #5 with Saturday.
The hardest battle this week for me was 4 and 5. The winnah, dropping just the two spots, are illuminatti hotties with Shape Of My Hands.
Caroline Rose may be debuting at 6, but she ain't done with her former #1, as Jeannie Becomes A Mom holds at #3 in its seventh week.
Shilpa Ray rides Shoot This Dying Horse into the #2 slot.
And that means it's a second week at the top for...
...Family Of The Year and Let Her Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And so you have three contestants left this week. In third with 12.9%, CCR.
In second with 14.3%- the Beatles...
"How did we hash THAT one up, boys?"
Which means our surprise upset winner, with 18.6%...
Thanks to a couple of links on my commentaries and a recent sermon by Dennis Miller, this particular verse was a comparative piece of cake. Or was it revelation made easier through obedience? Either way, I have a quick march to the lesson on this week's verse.
This week, we hit our second "missed me" book (Esther) and go to the wilderness of pain that is Job. For those unfamiliar: Job is a man who is righteous more than any other on earth. When God points this out to Satan, he says, "Skin for skin! Job is righteous because You bless him; remove the blessing, and he will curse you." So God lifts His protection, and Job finds himself stripped of wealth, children, and health, in that order (not to mention learning what a compassionate and supportive wife he has). So he settles into sackcloth and ashes to mourn and -ugh- scrape the boils covering his body. As he does, four "friends" (three immediate, one a bit later) come to commiserate with him. After a week of silence, one friend after the other says to him, "You must not be as righteous as you claim; confess your secret sin and God will heal you."
Problem is, there is no "secret sin", so they are wrong in their estimation of the problem. Bigger problem, Job KNOWS there is no secret sin, and as he is forced to defend himself, he begins to blame God, and complain that God should have given him a fair hearing. What then follows is 30 chapters of this back and forth, before the fourth man- young Elihu- starts to put it into perspective, then God Himself gives Job the answer that he didn't seek, but needed. And our verse is shortly after the start of the debate between Job and his buddies, with Job in the middle of complaining that he would have been better off never having been born:
Job 3:16 Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.
I chose the KJV version for this one to highlight between how the word "nephel" (untimely birth) is intended rather than how you might read it. But first, we need to understand something about Job and his self-opinion; I found it expressed in the commentaries by John Darby:
But the depths of Job's heart were not yet reached, and to do this was the purpose of God, whatever Satan's thoughts may have been. Job did not know himself, and up to this time, with all his piety, he had never been in the presence of God. How often it is the case that even throughout a long life of piety the conscience has never been really set before God! Hence peace, such peace as cannot be shaken, and real liberty, are not known as yet. There is a desire after God, there is the new nature; the attraction of His grace has been felt: nevertheless God and His love, as it really is, are not known.
It is a fact of God's nature that we know Him best through suffering; without this, Job really had a pretty house built on sand, a sprout with no depth of root. And now, to understand Job, and where God is going with him, we have to step ahead in time to learn something of Paul- which is where Dennis Miller came in.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 1Co 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
The phrase "born out of due time" we might define allegorically, since Paul didn't become an Apostle with the Twelve, but afterwards, and that's fine as far as it goes. But it is NOT the meaning of the word- the meaning is the same as the word "nephel".
And that meaning is, "the product of an early abortion".
Miller explained that in many places, by both Paul and others, he is explained as short in stature and not very impressive. And that, as such, he had at some point in the past, been insulted by calling him- basically- an "aborted fetus." (That is an insult I sadly understand; I have often used it to described exceedingly loathsome days.) These insults were apparently recycled by the Jews after his conversion, and like everything else, Paul uses it, to describe his condition before his salvation.
So Paul calls his futile life of righteousness in the Law before Christ as an aborted fetus; and Job thinks he would be better off as one because he is STILL LIVING that life of righteousness. And at this point, the commentators find another use of this word, in Ecclesiastes:
Ecc 6:3 If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.
And if you have read Ecclesiastes, you know that Solomon had come to the same conclusion as Paul- that righteousness attainable by man was vain. And like Paul, he would chase it to the logical conclusion:
Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Ecc 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
And that is where God, in the end, takes Job, with the bold verse at the end one of my favorites of all the Bible:
Job 40:6 Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Job 40:7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
Job 40:8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
Job 40:9 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
Job 40:10 Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.
Job 40:11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.
Job 40:12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
Job 40:13 Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.
Job 40:14 Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.
So in a way, Job was right; he was better off an aborted fetus, or a child stillborn, than in his current state- because he would not yet be affected with the pride which told Job God had a "responsibility" to even bother to answer him. God doesn't speak to us through our pride, but through His love. Look above at verse 8; that relying on our own righteousness is always a condemnation of God.
To understand the difference between where Job was and where he needed to be, you must CAREFULLY read what comes then at last:
Job 42:1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Job 42:2 "I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
Job 42:3 'Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
Job 42:4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.'
Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. "
Job 42:7 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
Job 42:8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.
So Job confesses to God- he finally understands that God is not a man, that he can iron out differences with. He is God- and instead of just going by what he was taught, he has SEEN God. It has become personal for him. And now he has a job- to speak for those who still think God is a set of rules and regulations. Ironically, as I was typing this, one of Laurie's relatives posted on FB: " What the use in being right, when no one will listen to you?"
The use is, being right with God, and not right with yourself. Job was saying this very thing- until he humbled himself and let GOD be right.
Boy, if I wondered what I was going to bug y'all with today, I needed go no further than FoxNews's front page to figure it out.
HEADLINE # 1 John Schneider speaks out before heading to jail: 'I'm disheartened with the system but my head's up'
Bo Duke, going to jail? Did Roscoe catch him at last? No, his 3-day incarceration is for being broke with an ex-wife.
From TMZ:
John was given a March deadline to pay up more than $150,000. The judge at the time told him he had to transfer his property to Elvira (the ex) to square things away, and he also had to resolve tax liens against the property. He didn't ... so, now, in addition to the jail time, he'll have to do 240 hours of community service.
Okay, you starred in TWO TV shows, made three incredible country lps (that I owned, thus taking care of MY share) , hit country #1 FOUR times, and now you're broke, owe alimony, and it's the SYSTEM'S fault? Well, at least we know WHERE his head is up...
HEADLINE # 2 La. woman, 20, allegedly beats man who just had brain surgery, killing him
She and two friends were being idiots, throwing bottles into the river, and the gentleman in question asked them to desist. Offended by being asked to act like human beings, and the girl in question hit him where bone had been removed to remove a brain tumor 3 weeks before.
She and the idiot on the left are booked for second degree murder; loser #3 got released on a disturbing the peace.
My instant opinion: The tumor removed from the deceased had more brain power that all three of them put together.
HEADLINE #3 Chelsea Clinton fires back at critics who compare her to 'Howdy Doody'
I almost shot right past this one. Chelsea's defense was, "I now know a bit about him, including that he stood up to bullies & believed in being kind to animals. I’m always happy to be on the side of allyship & kindness. Thanks again!"
Gee, and here I thought it was about the wooden head part...
HEADLINE # 4 CNN star slammed for 'obnoxious' grandstanding during historic summit
I bet you can't guess this was about Jim Acosta. After being the handpicked representative of the American media and using it to prove how inane and rude he can be, One can only say two things. First, CNN has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they don't care who knows how stupid they are ( a matter Acosta settled for himself long ago). Second, I bet Kim Fatty leaned over to Trump and said, "I take care of him for you for one nuke". And got it.
HEADLINE # 5 FBI agent who accidentally fired gun while dancing turns himself in, could face assault charge
Normally, I would say, "This one speaks for itself." But let's add in a quote from his unintended victim which tends to overthrow the old maxim about opposites attracting:
"We sat down at one of those picnic tables -- I heard a loud bang and I thought some idiot set off a firecracker," Reddington told ABC News' "Good Morning America" last week. "Then I looked down at my leg and see some brown residue ... I'm still thinking it's a firework ... all of a sudden from the knee down my leg became completely red. And that's when it clicked in my head, 'Oh, I've been shot.'"
HEADLINE # 6 In-N-Out temporarily closed all Texas locations due to bad buns
Which of course, reminded me of...
HEADLINE # 7
And this one is definitely "best for last" territory...
Trump shows off 'The Beast' to Kim during historic Singapore summit
In other news, Kim Fatty joins the #MeToo movement...
This might become a regular feature, as mankind continues to slide down into stupidity. Before I get to our main contestants for today, I bring you the opening act:
Yes, just one letter shy of "Shake My Head U." is Southern New Hampshire University, which recently started an ad featuring a speaker telling a graduating class, " The world we live in distributes talent evenly, but not opportunity..."
Watch me in a classical piano class and see if you think talent got evenly distributed. Sure, let's blame difference in outcome ONLY on inequality in opportunity. Bet you believe in "put enough monkeys in a room full of keyboards, and one will write Hamlet." Or better yet, evolution. Fact is, nothing got evenly distributed, not talent, not opportunity, not understanding, and not color. But, that's what you get when you differentiate northern and southern in a state that only runs from Ft Wayne to Terre Haute.
Now, the main event. In this corner:
From London's Mirror Online: Boris Johnson's 5 most explosive claims at a leaked private dinner - and why they're so unprofessional
Why were they unprofessional? Because British media hates President Trump, and they sounded so very Trump-like. What I will give you is their little inflammatory sub-headline for the quote, the actual quote, and their explanation why they deem it unprofessional.
1. Donald Trump should do Brexit
Boris said he is “increasingly admiring of Donald Trump" and "more and more convinced that there is method in his madness...Trump to negotiate Brexit , what a fantastic idea... Imagine Trump doing Brexit. He’d go in bloody hard. There’d be all sorts of breakdowns, all sorts of chaos. Everyone would think he’d gone mad. But actually you might get somewhere. It’s a very, very good thought.”
Mirror's problems: a) Boris "prefers chaos" because he admires a man who won't be bullied; b) it "inflates Trump's ego" (so sure he even cares); and c) it's" a direct attack on Theresa May". Uh, you mean like this article is a direct attack on Johnson- and Trump?
2. Brexit will trigger a meltdown and the EU is the 'enemy'
“I think Theresa is going to go into a phase where we are much more combative with Brussels. You’ve got to face the fact there may now be a meltdown. OK? I don’t want anybody to panic during the meltdown. No panic. Pro bono publico, no bloody panic. It’s going to be all right in the end.... Take the fight to the enemy - absolutely right. We need to and we will."
Mirror's problems: a) Ooh, he said 'meltdown'! He wants a meltdown! b) Ooh, he called the EU "the enemy", whatever will they think of us? How about, they'll think you won't wimp out?
3. The 'heart of Remain' Treasury is a 'quivering wreck'
"The Treasury, which is basically the heart of Remain... What they don’t want is friction at the borders. They don’t want any disruption of the economy. So they’re sacrificing all the medium and long-term gains out of fear of short-term disruption. Do you see what I'm saying? The fear of short-term disruption has become so huge in people’s minds that they’ve turned into a quivering wreck. The Project Fear is irreversible! They’re terrified of this nonsense! It’s mumbo jumbo."
Mirror's problem: "Again, it is extraordinary for a serving government minister to attack his own government like this. " Boo fricking hoo. Learned no lessons from Neville Chamberlain and Winston Churchill, did we?
4. US has asked him to dismantle Kim's nuclear missile
Oh? All by himself?
"Of course we’ve got to help the Americans do this thing…. I just talked to Mike Pompeo, my counterpart in the US State Department. What they want us to do is to use our nuclear expertise to dismantle Kim Jong-Un’s nuclear missile. That’s what he asked me to do today.”
Mirror's problem: In a stunning reversal from demanding transparency from elected officials, the Mirror thinks he should have kept this under his hat: "This kind of highly sensitive detail is an extraordinary thing to be casually revealing to activists at a private dinner." But had it been a public dinner, would you not be trying to pry such info out of him? For definition, see "hypocrisy".
5. Britain has a G7 plan to take on Russia
"[Vladimir] Putin feels a deep sense of shame that he’s leader of a country that has been so greatly reduced in its global importance... He wants to cause trouble... On Friday, Theresa May will be in Charlevoix in Canada for the G7. She will be putting forward a British plan that will have global support to set up a rapid response unit to identify Russian malfeasance… whether it’s cyber warfare, assassinations, calling it out and identifying it... One of the problems is Russia is so good at spreading violence. They’re brilliant at it. We need to identify it and call it out."
Mirror's problem: It eliminates the ability of weak-kneed underlings to obfuscate and dither over details of the plan. "But more importantly, it drives a coach and horses through the sensitive diplomacy of the G7 summit. Hundreds of officials and civil servants will be working furiously to make sure allies are told the right thing at the right time so as not to offend them. Boris' comments will have blown that." In other words, he took the top from the spinners and tossed it in the rubbish.
And the coup-de-gras on their own coffin, the Mirror gives us a bonus in which they destroy their own argument:
BONUS... China 'will try and stiff us'
"We need to engage with China diplomatically, treat China as our friend and our partner, but also recognise that they are our commercial rivals. And they will try to stiff us."
Mirror's problem: "Boris Johnson is due a visit to China and these comments don't bode well for Britain's top diplomat. Then again - if Boris is saying Britain should follow Trump's playbook, he's certainly achieved that." And Trump's playbook got us past the ridiculous fetters of "free trade" and gave us a summit with Kim Fatty in Singapore.
Martin Headline: British media exposed as shill of American left.
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And, in this corner, from Fox News:
There is a "special place in hell" for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau because of his decision to slam the U.S. in a post-G7 press conference, White House Director of Trade Policy Peter Navarro said on "Fox News Sunday."
"There's a special place in hell for any foreign leader that engages in bad faith diplomacy with President Donald J. Trump and then tries to stab him in the back on the way out the door," Navarro said. "And that's what bad faith Justin Trudeau did with that stunt press conference. That's what weak, dishonest Justin Trudeau did. And that comes right from Air Force One."
"Special place in hell"? REALLY? This isn't Trump's ego, this is someone else's messiah complex- a recent invention of the left built for Barack Obama, and now being adopted-in-floorplan by the right for Trump.
Let me be clear. Do I think Trudeau is a little snake in the grass? Yep, always have. BUT, I didn't vote for him, and he's not the boss of me.
Do I find it amusing that these world leaders cannot seem to figure out a man that doesn't bow to their conventions on how diplomacy should work? Damn straight I do. Having read the pertinent sections of Henry Kissinger's White House Years, I realize that there is a time and a place for pussyfooting around, checking cultural norms, etc. Trump would be well advised to do so with Kim Fatty ( a role I have no need or desire to, obviously). The 500th semi-annual G7 conference is NOT one of them.
But, while I am quite happy to have a President that at least respects the same God I believe in, I don't pretend that we elected him St Peter, and it is a bit concerning that he continues to find ways to surround himself with underlings who do. While I have no problem with the gist of Navarro's statement, I would sure walk Navarro out to the cameras by one ear and have him apologize for appropriating the rights to Trudeau's salvation.
Point being, being a "David" servant isn't necessarily about the beatings, either- the word "servant" in the subscript is the same as for "us"- but it is in gradually becoming MORE LIKE JESUS- something that David had mastered, despite his faults, and we can to. Pray that God shows us how to do that in the weeks and months to come.
So how do we accomplish this? Before I go into my personal plan for this, let me have Paul remind you of one thing:
Phil 3:12 It is not as though I had already attained it, nor were already perfect; but I follow after, that I may apprehend that for which Christ Jesus also apprehended me. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended it, but this one thing I do: forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Sometimes I fear that I may come off as sounding like an expert. If you were inside me this week, you'd see how far away from THAT I am. I am only trying to show you the path I am trying to take to "press toward the mark."
Okay, breast-beating done, let me get on with things. I decided for the first time in my Christian life, I am going to ask God for a personal acronym, to learn how to be a "David" servant. And here's what I am working on- the ways that David was a servant, becoming more like Christ.
S IS FOR SINCERE
David might have been the most sincere, single-minded servant of the Old Testament. You lose it in the histories, but if you go through Psalms, you see the anguish in his heart over his sin, and how earnestly he seeks God to defeat it. For me, that means I have to watch for:
-Going through the motions in prayer and obedience;
-Checking my motivations against God's will in prayer;
-Making sure what I am doing now isn't planning what I can "get away with" later.
E IS FOR EXAMINE Psalms 139:23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
See, David knew better than to trust in himself. A while back, I was discussing with KC of how the 6S programs at work could apply to our walk with God, and he made a very valuable point- GOD DOES THE AUDIT. David set only one standard for himself, and that was God's standard.
R IS FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
And once again, this is not about my "filthy rags". This is that Breastplate of Righteousness that Paul talks about, where by obedience to Christ, we take on His righteousness and He shields our hearts. I think by now you are seeing the developing theme: This is not something to be made into a sign, stuck on a wall, and say, "Remember to do these things today". It's about asking Jesus to do them in me. A while back, we talked about a verse in Wednesday Bible Study wherein the prophet told the people to stand and wait, because the battle is the Lord's. I have been trying to model that. I draw a line which I determine not to cross; then try to stand behind God and let Him do the "this far and no farther" thing that He is much better at.
V IS FOR VERTICAL
As in, the connection between you and God. Keeping the channel open all day, every day. And the one thing I have learned about that is, the more necessary it is, the harder to accomplish. God will always have His end of the channel open if you need Him. This, though, is the one thing YOU have the control on.
A IS FOR AVAILABLE
The sermon by Dennis Miller I listened to last week right after I typed out last week's post dovetailed perfectly into the post- it was on Samuel being a servant. In particular he brought out Samuel's repeated use of the word, hinneh - a word for "Here I am" so strong that it is only used a handful of times in the Old Testament- including Moses' response to God at the Burning Bush, and Abraham's when God ordered Isaac's sacrifice. It means when God calls, you drop everything. Like in the cartoons, when the King rings his bell and the servant arrives in a blur. That is the kind of "availability" God expects.
N IS FOR NEVER CONSIDERED ALTERNATIVES
The fact that I had to go fetch my prayer book to remember this one tells you all you need to know on how far I have to go. David was a vivid contrast to Saul in this one. Saul was a grown man, the anointed King of Israel, with the greatest prophet since Moses backing him up, and yet he cowered before Goliath of the Philistines; and you can tell why that is when you consider that he always referred to "the Lord YOUR God" and not the Lord OUR God. David, however, came out to the battlefield, a youth too young to be considered for war, held in contempt by his brothers, and he hits the nail right on the head:
I Sam 17:26 And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
I would like to say that this is me. A brush with Rune magic in my past tells me it is not. But it is the closest to David I get, because I can't remember a time that I didn't believe in God and Christ- though I remember plenty when I didn't UNDERSTAND Him.
T IS FOR TRUTH
David held fast to truth- it gave him perspective when God took his first child with Bathsheba. And it is the single most vital need in our world today- as the political friends of Satan treat facts as blocks to carve up, shift around, face completely backwards, to build their agenda. An agenda that excuses them from moral responsibility and allows them to call the acceptance of sin "tolerance" and holding fast to the truth "bigotry". I recently stumbled onto some of the teachings of Charles Stanley's son Andy. He tells us we need to "disconnect" from the Old Testament, because the way it puts things is keeping today's prospective converts from giving the Gospel a fair shake. When people question this theme, he shrugs it off with, "Well you need to listen to the entire series. I still believe the OT is divinely inspired; BUT..." In an article on the subject by Wesley Hill, the author goes on:
It is wearyingly predictable where all this ends up. Zeroing in on the so-called apostolic decree narrated in Acts 15, in which the Jerusalem apostles asked Gentile Christians to refrain from sexual immorality, Stanley concludes: "This was a general call to avoid immoral behavior[,] but not immoral behavior as defined by the Old Testament … [rather,] as defined by the apostle Paul. … The apostle Paul was explicit and specific about sexual immorality but he did not tie it to the Old Testament. … The old covenant, law of Moses, was not the go-to source regarding sexual behavior for the church. … The Old Testament was not the go-to source regarding any behavior for the church."
This is that same old, "If Jesus didn't directly say it, it doesn't count" argument that I see the LGBT "Christians" use over and over as an excuse for staying in their sin. I was shocked to read that someone brought up by Charles Stanley would come up with this; and disappointed when I asked Stanley's In Touch ministries to respond to this, and got nothing back. Perhaps I will ask it again the next time they send me out a letter asking for contributions. And this, my friends, is why you don't play the "I follow Paul, I follow Apollos" game.
So there you have it- and thank you for the prayers that have helped me develop it this far. Now, "take my hand" as I learn the application of it in my life.
Today is June 8th, 1968- 50 years ago. And it wasn't an especially happy anniversary. Today, one assassinated leader- Robert F Kennedy- is laid to rest, while another- Martin Luther King Jr- has his killer apprehended at Heathrow Airport in London. How did James Earl Ray get all the way into Canada, get a fake passport, spend a MONTH there, and make it all the way to the UK, from whence he was hoping to make it to Brussels? You tell me.
"It's those damn Canadians, Bobby. They're everywhere..."
And here we are on Time Machine- and as you can see in the co-ordinates, we are but 10 stops away from our 500th episode! Do I have anything planned? Heck I barely got anything planned for this week! The Musical Tardis is careening downhill today, so just hang on and we'll see if we land rightside up or not...
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And given the anniversary, and the LACK of M10 debuts this week for only the third time, let's pay a little tribute to those we lost too soon...
Today, we have the Young Rascals with us as the POTMs this week and... NARDOLE! What the crap is THIS!!!????
That's not the YOUNG Rascals- it's the LITTLE RASCALS!
Young, little, it all works out the same doesn't it?
Well, genius, why don't you start asking them how well they know these songs from 1968...
Spanky: Mister, we're from 1928... Alfalfa: Would you like me to sing you my favorite song? It's about the love of my life, Darla...
Why yes, young man... why don't you go in the other room, oh, about 50 rooms that way... Nardole, you go with him. See if he passes the "mike check." And be sure you listen to every stinkin' no... er, I mean every heavenly note he sings. Do you understand?
N: I think I'm about to... S (whispering): Mister, you know Alfalfa... isn't all that good...
Me (whispering): Ah, yes, but Nardole doesn't...yet... (wink eyes at each other).
All right then, I guess it's up to me again this week. 21 contestants from 60 charts, and yet again, three songs stood out- and one a good bit farther than the other two.
First up is Engelbert Humperdinck making a second straight appearance, with A Man Without Love. It was at #20 on Cashbox this week and #2 in the UK.
Then on a list sprinkled with all time favorites of mine, here's the biggest- Merilee Rush's Angel Of The Morning. She sits at #12 this week.
The Spiral Starecase had their first record- one that did not chart nationally- with Baby What I Mean.
Another somewhat obscure contestant is the Magic Ring with a tune called Do I Love You at #133.
Three straight fuzzy entries, with Wilmer and the Dukes- still two weeks out from their debut- with Give Me One More Chance, a song that will get to #78.
Shorty Long has the highest of the three charting versions this week of the Flip Wilson inspired Here Come The Judge. Or did they inspire Flip? Anyway, Shorty is at 72, while the Magistrates are at #76 and the Buena Vistas at #92.
The bad news- Bobby Goldsboro is at #14 here, #3 in the UK, with Honey. The good news, he only got 2 votes!
"Not a very friendly greeting, mister..."
Well, you COULD be over on Shady's blog... Anyway, next up is I Love You by People- which I didn't know I knew until I realized it was the song that sounded like the Beatles on the chorus with an added annoying lead singer... it was at #22 this week.
Gary Puckett and the Union Gap were at #61 with Lady Willpower, another all-timer for me.
And another, Four Jacks and a Jill at #11 with Master Jack.
And another- Richard Harris's McArthur Park at #3.
Tommy James and the Shondells had Mony Mony at #4 here and #48 in the UK.
And another all-timer- Simon and Garfunkel with Mrs Robinson at the tippy top.
Gene Pitney, for whom everything is an all-timer, and She's A Heartbreaker at #42.
The Animals and Sky Pilot were at #69- just missing the #68 in '68!
Aretha Franklin was #10 here and 26 in the UK with one of her rare songs I can stand- Think.
And yet another all-timer- Herb Alpert and This Guy's In Love With You at #6.
Just starting their journey up the charts, the Vogues with Turn Around, Look At Me at #105.
And one more favorite- The Irish Rovers and The Unicorn at #19.
Satchmo makes another appearance with What A Wonderful World. Despite being at #11 in the UK right now, it struggled here, peaking at #116. In February of 1988, though, it would crack the top 40 at #32- 61 years and 7 months after he first charted way back when, and 17 years after his passing.
And finally, the Ohio Express with Yummy Yummy Yummy, the CB #5.
So let me give you the three contenders and a couple of stinkers (vote-wise) and see how you do. Pick from: Think, Mrs Robinson, This Guy's In Love With You, McArthur Park, and Yummy X 3. Here in a bit, I'll let you know if you "struck stinker" or not.
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So one thing that caught my mind back then, being young and stupid at the time, was on the Blues Brothers' cover of Sam And Dave's Soul Man. In the instrumental break, they shout "Play it, Steve", which I found odd that they would cover it right down to repeating the original guitar player's name. Until last week, when I finally got the memo and learned that it is THE SAME GUY, because both the original Sam and Dave tune and the BB remake were backed by members of Booker T and the MGs- including the guitarist Steve Cropper. So while you have a chuckle at my expense, let me go on to mention Steve was also noted for a significant co-writing credit- with Wilson Pickett on the Wicked One's In The Midnight Hour.
This was the only significant hit for a Texas cover band known as the TSU Toronadoes. However, they performed one song that they should have gotten a co-write on- and didn't- as the backing band for the guys that got credit for the hit- Archie Bell and the Drells. And that means Tighten Up- with the TSU Toronadoes in the background- charting at #2, is our 6D victim. It beats out the Rascals (the Young ones, without the "young") and Beautiful Morning at #7, Hugo Montenegro's The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly Theme at #8, and Marvin and Tammi's Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing at #9 which also got no Panel love. Stingy dastards!
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Stat Pack time! (It sure goes fast without a video, don't it?)
Oh, but first- if you took McA Park or Think, you struck stinker. So sorry!
I knew 40 this week! Go Me!
I have to mention that a last week mention- Tommy Chong with Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers- are at #49 with Does Your Momma Know About Me...
Our actual #68 in '68 is veteran R&B act the Dells with Wear It On Our Face. They are best known for next year's re-release of their 50's hit Oh What A Night (and no, smarty, not, "Late December back in '63").
At 101 is a remake I may have to give a listen to later- Ray Charles covering the Beatles' Eleanor Rigby. Aw, heck, let's just listen together:
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Oh, and BTW, the UK topper was the Union Gap, this time with Young Girl, which was on the way down in the US at #33.
And, our big mover was Cliff Nobles and Co. with The Horse, galloping from 69 to 37, 32 spots.
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And now, in its entirety, the M10:
Gilbert O'Sullivan met a late charge and hung on at #10 with Where Did You Go To.
Burn It seems to be burning its tires, up one to #9 for Sunflower Bean.
Boz Scaggs is similarly hung up, moving a notch to #8 with Rock And Stick.
Eleanor Friedberger slips a pair in week #7 TO #7 with Make Me A Song.
The hardest decision of the week- Cullen Omori down 2 to #6 with Four Years.
Phantogram is up 2 to #5 with Saturday; so is Shilpa Ray to #4 with Shoot This Dead Horse.
Stubbornly retreating, Caroline Rose takes one step back to #3 with Jeannie Becomes A Mom.
And so does last week's top dog, illuminati hotties with Shape Of My Hands, to #2.
Which means the new #1- their first after 4 tries-
Family Of The Year with Let Her Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And the winner of the POTM? Well, with 15% of the vote is Mrs Robinson- she should have attended the debate...
with 20% of the vote, Yummy X3...
and the winnah, with 36.7%...
...Herb Alpert and This Guy's In Love With You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Next week, 1969- guaranteed no Bryan Adams... and there better not be any "Fat Alpert"!
A lone man looking for means of expression in a tsunami of information. Seeking truth justice and the American way in the perspective of a Nixon conservative. And the Commissioner of the free world's smallest and best fantasy football league.
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