The Lonebull Lounge

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2011-02-13T16:57:00.000-05:00

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2011-02-13T16:53:00.001-05:00

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Waiting For the Other Shoe To Drop

2011-01-18T11:44:00.002-05:00

The title of my post is not a sly reference to Rex Ryan's alleged foot fetish but a state of being for a life long Jet fan. As Sunday's tilt with the Pittsburgh Steelers gets closer, I can't help but think about the near misses I've witnessed in my lifetime. Mark Gastineau's foolish roughing the passer penalty in the 1986 playoffs against the Browns, The Jets losing a 10-0 halftime lead to the Broncos in the 1999 playoffs and the 1982 AFC Championship Game loss to the Dolphins, featuring 3 interceptions by A.J. Duhe, are just some of the lowlights in my life in the world of Jet fandom.

As a Yankee fan who has indulged in a decent amount of Red Sox bashing, I can honestly say that I know what it felt like to be a fan of "The Sawx" before 2004. The constant lure of "maybe this year it'll be different" always leading to major disappointment was ever present. As child, cynicism and years of bitterness were never a factor. I really believed Richard Todd or Matt Robinson would lead us to the Super Bowl. I really believed Joe Namath had another miracle season in him. Dreams of a child. As I grew older and the losing piled up, I grew resigned to expect the worst. Although the Jets blocked a punt at the start of the 3rd quarter of the 1999 Bronco playoff game, I knew Elway would find a way to beat us. In the world of Gang Green, the outcome was always going to be lousy. I just knew it. I felt it coming. It almost made me want to call a helpline and tell them I'm in a dysfunctional relationship with my football team and I don't know how to get out.

Why is this year so different? Why am I more confident than ever? Even though Rex Ryan had me drinking the Kool-Aid from day one, I'm still a little skeptical. Up until this season, watching the Jets was like a child watching a horror movie with his hands covering his eyes. Today, I watch with my hands still covering my eyes, but now I peek through my fingers. In pessimistic Jet land, that's what we call hope & progress.

Retro Clip of the Week: Tom Jones & Janis Joplin

2010-08-27T12:25:00.004-04:00

My paternal grandmother was one of the sweetest, kindest and most reserved people on earth. One of the few things she got excited about was The Tom Jones Show. I would watch it with her whenever I was at her house because I loved watching any kind of music show back then. I remember seeing this clip because it was Tom singing with this wild looking woman I had never heard of before. My hippie Aunt Renee told me that the woman's name is Janis Joplin. Later down the road she played the Pearl album for me. When I got older, I made sure Janis had permanent place in my record collection. Enjoy the clip.

Technical Difficulties & False Starts

2010-07-23T10:24:00.003-04:00

After several months of utter chaos, lack of spare time, agonizing design decisions and technical difficulties, I can proudly say that The Lonebull Lounge is back in business. New posts will be coming shortly. This time I mean it.

My City Was Gone...and so am I

2009-03-13T14:12:00.005-04:00

I was stunned and amazed
My childhood memories
Saw this world past
Like the wind thorugh the trees
Ay! Oh! Where did you go, Ohio?

-"My City Was Gone" by The Pretenders

I haven't posted anything for the last month and a half because my life has been, for lack of a better term, insane. My wife and I have decided to leave New York City and move upstate to Beacon, NY. Little by little, the number of reasons have increased but near the top of the list is my wife getting to spend more time with our daughter. The sacrifice is that I'll still be commuting five days a week but we'll have more space, a back yard, a man cave for me and a more affordable life.

Five years ago leaving Brooklyn was not even an option on the table. I grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and I have so many great memories of being a city kid. Sadly, though, the New York I once loved is no more. The Pretenders song My City Was Gone has been playing in my head for the past 5-10 years. CBGB's, in the words of my friend Brian, is now a f@cking John Varvatos. This is emblematic of the slowly eroding soul of a once cool city. Mayor Rudy 9/11 sold us out to Disney, Bruce Ratner and every scumbag developer he could shake his slimy hands with. My NY is barely recognizable. The Lincoln Center Tower Records where I once worked in my early 20's is gone. Just a memory. My Yankees even scammed themselves a new ballpark. My city is gone. Every store front is the same and Starbuck's is burning coffee every five blocks. Developers are cramming ugly assed condos into every nook and cranny and destroying a once beautiful landscape in the process. Mom & pop stores are no more. They've been replaced by these boutique-like shops that overcharge you because their overhead is so enormous.

I love clean streets as much as the next guy, but Mayor Rudy 'I had no idea I was marrying my second cousin' Giuliani watered down the city so much that it has now become a vacation spot overrun by Red Staters in tacky sweaters. They're the same folks who hate NY the other 51 weeks that they're not here gathering up knick knacks to bring back the land of bibles and guns. Even my neighborhood of Park Slope has changed. What was once a peaceful lesbian enclave is now how home to bankers & lawyers and their families. Don't get me wrong, I'm not "hatin'" on the bankers & lawyers (although some do deserve our scorn and derision). It's just that Park Slope is now home to mostly the haves and have mores. My wife and I could never sell and buy in present day Park Slope. We, like many others, have been either priced out or on the verge of it. There are many families in this economic meltdown that are faced with a very crucial decision. Do we stay and eek out our existence or do we take advantage of a down market, cash out and leave? We chose to leave.

After my daughter was born, I entered the world of play dates, playgrounds and meeting other adults who share the common bond of raising toddlers. I've met some really awesome people in my daughter's play group and I will miss everyone who has been a part of it. There is also a part of me that is looking forward to this wonderful journey my family is taking. What I will not miss is the "Lord of the Flies", "Dog Eat Dog" atmosphere that surrounds enrolling a child into pre-K. For you non New York folks, parents basically have to camp out as if they were waiting to get Yankee playoff tickets just to get a slot in certain schools. This is pre-K we're talking about. Insanity.

I don't know what awaits us in Beacon, but I think I can get used to the slower pace. I'll always have fond memories of my misspent youth in the city. Seeing Living Colour at CBGB's. Seeing The Police in a sold out Shea Stadium. Hearing a loud roar in streets when the Knicks were kicking ass in the 1994 playoffs. Watching the Tyson-Douglas fight in my local bar and seeing everyone turn on Tyson. These are my favorite NYC moments, but the one that sticks out for me is watching Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five pull up in a van, haul out their equipment and play an impromptu set in a playground on 103rd Street & Amsterdam. My friends and I were playing softball and we just stopped the game, stared in awe and asked each other "Is this really happening?".

The move to Beacon is bittersweet. I'll miss my friends and most of all my sisters-in-law and my nephew. I'll miss the city, but the NY I really miss vanished a long time ago.

Retro Clip of the Week: James Brown on The Ed Sullivan Show

2009-01-23T15:22:00.003-05:00

This clip is from May 1, 1966. For those of us old enough to remember, The Ed Sullivan Show was TV's top variety show from the late 1950's up until its end in 1971. It was a great showcase for the top musical acts of the day as well as soul singers who really had no other showcase until Soul Train came along in 1970. This is Exhibit A in the list of reasons why James Brown is The Godfather of Soul. Tight band, sharp outfits and the world's greatest dance moves.

1/20/09

2009-01-20T14:07:00.004-05:00

Words escape me. I cannot not fully explain the extreme pride and joy I feel at this very moment. It's a moment which I had rendered impossible a long time ago. It's a moment that had been lumped in with such events as sighting Haley's Comet, watching the Jets win a Super Bowl and a self-reflective George Bush apologizing to the universe. A Black man was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States today and all I could think of was the loved ones that have passed away and could not share this moment with me. I'm not big on the afterlife, therefore I cannot mentally take the required leap of faith and presume they're watching. This was big for me.

From Election Day until now i've been trying to process Barack Obama being elected president. I keep thinking of my past and how a notion such as a Black president would be and probably was laughed at 40 years ago. From the vicious things said about Hank Aaron in my 5th grade class to hearing my 5th grade classmates wishing death to Muhammad Ali to being called 'nigger' everyday by Jay Breyfogle & John Christie (That's right, I'm calling your names out!) in 6th grade, I got the sense early on that if people didn't like the idea of a black home run king or a fearless black heavyweight champ, then I better add president to the list of things not available to black people. I'm thrilled the universe has wiped away that notion. There's so much to say and I can't quite articulate my feelings very well right now. I'm just happy my daughter will grow up in world a lot different than the one her parents did. Hope and fulfillment of those hopes are truly awesome when witnessed up close. Here's to a better world than the one we woke up to yesterday.

Retro Clip of the Week: Elvis Presley on The Milton Berle Show June 5 1956

2009-01-02T20:41:00.005-05:00

I've decided to tweek the retro video format just a little. Instead of limiting it to just music videos, I'm going include great and memorable TV appearances. This week's clip is one of Elvis Presley's first appearances on the TV machine. This made Ed Sullivan agree to have him on his but I'm pretty sure Ed said "Okay boys, shoot the perverted hillbilly from the neck up". If listen to crowd reaction, you'll notice that no one is quite sure how to react. Okay, the adults weren't sure how to react. If you show this clip to anyone born after the launch of MTV, they will laugh at you if you tell them that Elvis was considered obscene and had to be shot from the waist up. TV standards have come a long way. Just look at what passes for entertainment on MTV today.

Happy New Year!!

2008-12-31T12:14:00.002-05:00

I just want to wish everyone out there a safe, happy and prosperous new year. The Lonebull Lounge will return on Friday.

Retro Video of the Week: Tommy Seebach Band- Apache

2008-12-19T19:24:00.004-05:00

I have no words for this video. Actually, I have a few. The seventies were out of control. Dear god, these guys thought they were cool. Is it me or does the keyboard player look like Doug Henning the magician? A better known version of this song was done by The Incredible Bongo Band. That version is arguably one of the most sampled songs in music history. Every old school DJ has used it. Here are both versions. The crazy one is first.

Retro Video of the Week: Bing Crosby & David Bowie-Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy

2008-12-12T14:10:00.004-05:00

This clip from 1977 unofficially started the ridiculous "Duets" trend in which a crooner is paired with a contemporary artist. It's one of the most awkward pairings I've ever seen, but it works. Bing Crosby had no idea who the hell David Bowie was but Bowie was secretly a big fan of his. After the taping, Bing said that he thought Bowie was a clean cut kid who read his lines well. Crosby died a month after the September taping.

David Bowie |MTV Music

Retro Video of the Week: Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas

2008-12-05T15:08:00.004-05:00

This low budget video is chock full of mullets and bad teeth. Bob Geldof's project started the aid for Africa movement in the music industry. Although We Are The World is better known, this song is my preference between the two, mainly because I felt it was coming from a more genuine place. I remember seeing an interview with Lionel Richie during the recording of the USA For Africa single. One of his quotes was "I heard about the Band Aid song and I said to myself that America can't be outdone". Nice sentiment Lionel. That immediately put me off.

Anyway, music geeks like me can name about 90% of the mostly British artists in the video. The list includes Bananarama, Duran Duran, Boy George, Bono, Sting Paul Weller of The Jam, Paul Young, Heaven 17 and Spandau Ballet to name a few. The only Americans in the video were Kool and The Gang and Jody Whatley.

Lost Sneak preview

2008-12-03T16:00:00.001-05:00

Okay Lost fans, here's a trailer for the upcoming season of Lost.

Redbone-Come And Get Your Love

2008-11-26T15:15:00.001-05:00

Redbone was the 1st Native american pop group to have a song in the Top 40. I remember watching this on The Midnight Special, which aired on Fridays after Johnny Carson.

Okay, This Is The Last Time I Mention "She Who Shall Not Be Named".

2008-11-25T18:27:00.004-05:00

Run-on sentences, dropping the letter 'g' from words that end in 'g', Joe Six Pack, hockey moms. Yes, Sarah, you brought all of those things into our living rooms via the old TV machine. You gave and gave and gave and the thanks you got was the one you most deserved. A one way ticket to oblivion. I promise not to mention you again Sarah, so please stay away from the good people of the lower 48 and take that inbred fake plummer with you. By the way, LET the door hit you in the ass on the way out. Enjoy the clip from Jon Stewart.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

The Daily Show's Best Sarah Palin Moments

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

Retro Video of the Week: Blondie-Rapture

2008-11-21T10:30:00.002-05:00

Just think, five years before this video Blondie was quasi-punk band playing at CBGB's. The reactions to this song varied from "Wow, this is pretty cool" to "she's not really trying to rap is she". Keep an eye out for Fab Five Freddy (long before Yo! MTV Raps) in the middle of the video.

Blondie |MTV Music

TV's Longest Running Drama: The Clintons

2008-11-20T15:18:00.005-05:00

Last night on The Rachel Maddow Show there was a segment on the vetting of Hillary Clinton for the Secretary of State position in Barack Obama's cabinet. The focus of the story was Hillary's indecision, leaks from the transition team and Bill's financial disclosure. When I finally went bed, I felt like I was suffering from Clinton overload. It was all too familiar. I woke up thinking it was 1994. I expected to be thinner, working at a shitty job, tired from partying and clueless about what life had in store for me. Luckily, my very awake and vocal daughter snapped me out of it. Despite coming to the realization that it is indeed 2008, I'm not thinner (well, my hair is), I like my job, I'm married and not as clueless as I was 14 years ago, I still had The Clinton shakes. Don't get me wrong. I was a HUGE supporter of Bill & Hill, but their pathological need for drama has finally worn on me. Don't get me started on their nutjob supporters.

The "should I or shouldn't I" dance is Hillary at her most Diva-ist. Can anyone tell me why Bill feels the need to 'lawyer up' and negotiate terms of disclosure of his financial records? Also, why do we know all of this? LEAKS! The Obama team ran an exemplary campaign in which there were no leaks. Now that The Clintons are thrown into the mix, Team Obama is leaking more than a public toilet.

Hillary say 'yes' and Bill, disclose. Tell the truth, please. Let's move on. Oh, Hillary, should you say yes and survive the nomination process, remember that part of your job description is to serve at the pleasure of the President. You work for him. Your minions work for him. Bill, when Hillary is out of town, feel free to do the Tom Cruise Risky Business dance in your spacious Chappaqua living room. Sell stuff on eBay, develop a green thumb, watch TRL. Just stay out of trouble.

Retro Video of the Week: Prince-1999

2008-11-14T14:09:00.003-05:00

A year before I saw this video, my only memory of Prince was an appearance on Saturday Night Live in which he wore only a raincoat and a speedo. This is the title track from one of his most underrated albums. This is pre- Wendy & Lisa and a year and a half before Purple Rain.

Prince |MTV Music

Say goodbye to ridiculing The President of the United States

2008-11-12T00:23:00.002-05:00

Yes, at times it was funny. Very funny. Play time is over. Americans have gotten to used to the fact that the POTUS (President of the United States) is a buffoon. A clown. Ted Baxter. Bozo the Clown. Krusty the Clown. Wait, I take that back. Krusty got his passport at 18. POTUS-Elect Obama has a sense of humor, but will not allow himself to be a walking punchline complete with soundbites as evidence to his complete and utter ignorance and/or stupidity. Let's have one last laugh at the man who calls himself President of the United States.

Brand New Day

2008-11-07T14:55:00.003-05:00

There are moments in our lives which cause us to pause and say "Is this really happening"? Not in a Flava Flav/Brigitte Nielsen making out on The Surreal Life way, but in a way that makes you swell with pride. As my wife and I sat and watched the election returns, my habit of waiting for the other shoe to drop slowly crept into my consciousness. After the 2000 & 2004 elections, I no longer trusted the process. I've never really trusted Americans over 40 to overlook those subtle prejudices that were constantly reinforced in their childhood by their parents and grandparents. I long ago realized that it was going take more than liberals and progressives to elect Barack Obama president. It was going take Red Staters to buck tradition and vote in their best interest for a change. They were going to have to look past the Jeremiah Wright smears. They were going to have to say "Are you fucking kidding me?" when the 'Obama is a socialist' meme gets repeated. They were going to have to think for themselves. Up to this point, Americans have not shown me the capacity to do this.

After a couple of glasses of wine, my fears were somewhat pushed aside. The states were all going to Obama, but somehow I was still thinking something bad was going to happen. As the clock struck 11pm, I heard Keith Olbermann say the words 'We can confirm that Barack Obama will be the 44th President of the United States'. I sat there stunned as tears flowed down my wife's cheek. America had finally awoken from an eight year coma. As this reality sunk in, I heard cheers throughout my neighborhood. Loud cheers. The only times I heard cheering like that was 1986 when the Mets won the World Series, whenever the Knicks won in the 1994 playoffs and when the Yankees won the Series in 1998.

My tears were tears of relief. The game had suddenly changed. Obama's election is man on the moon, MLK's I Have A Dream speech life changing. I literally feel like a tremendous weight has been lifted off my shoulders. The world is kinder place today. I feel as though I can give the world the benefit of the doubt without feeling like someone is about to pick my pocket. A no longer silent majority shouted to the world 'ENOUGH'! For the first time in a long time, the stewardship of the US is in the hands of a responsible adult and not an out of touch closet racist (Ronald Reagan), an ineffective cuckhold (George H.W. Bush), an overly ambitious & recklessly libidinous genius (Bill Clinton) or a culturally unaware simpleton with severe daddy issues (Dubya). It feels good to be an American today.

Retro Video of the Week: Peter Gabriel-Sledgehammer

2008-11-07T14:38:00.003-05:00

When I first heard this song I immediately loved it, plus I had no idea it was Peter Gabriel. When I saw the video, I was once again blown away. Being a Gumby fan, I definitely appreciated the claymation and how can you go wrong with two dancing chickens?

Peter Gabriel |MTV Music

Win or lose, tears will be shed.

2008-11-04T13:16:00.003-05:00

We're finally here. Election Day. After months and months of witnessing John McCain sell his soul and Barack Obama looking more and more presidential, we can finally put this election season to bed. I witnessed my wife being moved to tears after she finished voting. It amazes me how emotionally charged this contest has been. Even though this election will be historic regardless of who wins, I never expected such a high level of enthusiasm on both sides of aisle.

This is a day that I NEVER thought I would live to see. Yes, there have been black men and women who have run for president, but none like Obama. When Jesse Jackson ran, I was proud, but deep down I knew there was not a chance in hell he would get the Democratic Party's nomination. When Al Sharpton ran, I said "Al, are you f#@king kidding me"? This time is different. Barack Obama IS the face of the 21st century. He represents a broader, more inclusive future who's roots are not deeply entrenched in the Civil Rights Movement or black churches.

When the progressive left threw a hissy fit over Obama's vote for the FISA bill, he did not back down. He stated that just because we're on the same team, that doesn't mean we can't disagree. Backbone. The man has a spine. His strength has given me hope that dignity will once again be restored to the office of the president. I'm proud to have cast my vote for him. I am overjoyed that I can tell my daughter that she can be ANYTHING she wants to be and have it actually be true. I plan on staying up late and watching the results because I want to watch history being made. I want to see the future shift. I want America to move forward. I want to see what my daughter's future might look like. I want all Americans to get proper health care. I want Roe vs. Wade to remain intact. I want religion out of my government. I want the Republican Party to be taken out of the hands of religious zealots and those who choose to demonize anyone who doesn't agree with them. I want to see a day when it doesn't matter that a candidate for president is a person of color or a woman. I simply want better than what we have now. If Obama is elected, I think we'll be one step closer to those dreams.

Retro Video of The Week: Talking Heads-Once In A Lifetime

2008-10-31T15:21:00.000-04:00

This was one of the first videos I saw on MTV when it first started in 1981. Every once in a while I still do the arm thing and shout "Same as it ever was".

Talking Heads |MTV Music

Wassup 2008

2008-10-24T19:34:00.003-04:00

When the Wassup Budweiser commercials first aired were funny as hell but, the joke wore off fast thanks to every jackass repeating it at every party, bar and social outing. The 2008 version is golden.

Huh?

2008-10-24T18:39:00.002-04:00

The owner of this sign also is the owner of the Confederate flag in the background. Uh...I got nothing!

A word from Opie Taylor & Richie Cunningham

2008-10-23T19:03:00.004-04:00

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

On his last legs.

2008-10-16T17:09:00.003-04:00

After throwing the kitchen sink, the stove, a pile of bricks and whatever else he could get his hands on, John Sidney McCain's run for the White House may very well fall short. Last night's debate told you all you need to know about the two candidates. While Obama looked presidential, McCain just looked angry. Pissed. Full of disdain. He came off looking like Fredo Corleone spewing that he was passed over. It must drive him crazy that his runs for the White House have fallen short. When he sees a junior Senator captivate voters the way Obama has, it has to gnaw at him. This was supposed to be his turn. He was supposed to be facing Hillary Clinton and her baggage. So we now find him having the mother of all hissy fits and striping away whatever goodwill he has garnered throughout the years. At this point most sensible voters would not even trust him to vacuum their rug let along run the country. My pessimism has almost disappeared. While I still have one eye on the other shoe that's just waiting to drop, I'm enjoying Barack Obama's rise in just about every poll. This much is guaranteed; history will be made in about twenty days.

Donna Brazile speaks truth to power

2008-10-09T16:55:00.001-04:00

Compare Donna Brazile to the women in the previous post. I'll let the clip speak for itself.

I'm Afraid of Americans

2008-10-09T16:26:00.001-04:00

If this does not scare the beejesus out of you, you may be in a coma. Here's more YouTube gold from the McCain-Palin crowd.

The United States of Lowered Expectations

2008-10-01T19:51:00.002-04:00

Sarah, are you ready for your close up? I know many of us out there are expecting tomorrow night's debate between Biden and Palin to be a breeze for the Senator but I no longer feel optimistic. This country has spent the last 8 years being dumbed down to the point that we are no longer outraged when someone completely unqualified to be vice president or president is presented to us as "authentic" or "one of us". As a black man, the "one of us" factor has already been taken care of in this election.

The bar is so low at this point that currently resides underground. Sarah Barracuda could blow snot rockets out of her nose and give Joe Biden the finger and we'll find someone who'll say "She's got spunk, doesn't she". As horribly as she's done in her interviews (we won't include The Sean Hannity Twinkie Munch), she has perfected the act of the non-answer answer. She's Bush in lipstick and a big bouffant. The day I thought I'd never get to see may be a day I'll never see because America is in a self-induced coma. Check back with me on Friday. Today, I'm just not feeling it.

Chris Rock talks Clinton & Palin

2008-09-23T15:20:00.002-04:00

Chris Rock is STILL the funniest man on the planet. Check out this clip from last night's Letterman.

A little whine with your conservative cheese

2008-09-23T12:48:00.005-04:00

There's an article at weeklystandard.com that just drove me insane . Sometimes I torture myself by reading conservative websites. Apparently, writer/director David Zucker (Airplane, Naked Gun) has a new movie coming out called An American Carol. The plot is centered around a fictional version of Michael Moore, who in the film is called Michael Malone. In the movie, Malone calls for eliminating July 4th as a holiday. As I read more of the conservative drivel, I was compelled to find out more about the film. By the time I was done, my ears were smoking and my head was about to explode. During my search I found out that most of the actors in this film are Republicans who are dissatisfied with left-leaning Hollywood. This stellar (sarcasm) list includes Jon Voight, Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper, James Woods and that master thespian Robert Davi.

The actors main complaint is that they are shunned by the Hollywood community because their politics lean right. Davi even went as far as saying he cannot get work because he is a Republican. I guess it never occurred to him the he just...sucks. I have no problem with their politics not being the same as mine but I draw the line when these actors endorse someone like George Bush or give full throated approval of Sarah Palin and then demonize Obama as dangerous. As Zucker puts it "I'm scared to death of Obama". If he had any guts he would just say "the black guy ain't gettin' my vote. God knows what he might do to make us unsafe." Do you mean like lying us into war, overextending the military and deregulating Wall Street to the point of financially ruining the country?

Zucker is a self described 9/11 Republican who got religion when he thought the world was ending. He unashamedly accuses Democrats & liberals of not knowing how to win the war on terror. Yeah, I feel much safer with this bunch in charge. Can I have more of the same please? I'm just a stupid peace loving liberal with no sense of what it takes to rid the world of terrorism.

Check out the trailer for the movie, read the article and prepare to say "Are you fucking serious?".

If O'Reilly likes it, it must really suck. Wait, of course he likes it. He has a cameo in it.

Oh dear, we're doomed! NOT!

2008-09-16T15:35:00.007-04:00

The events of the last month has made a lot of folks want to run around like Dr Smith and screamed "Oh dear, we're doomed". While I agree that we, as a nation, are spiritually, financially, & morally sinking in quicksand, I strangely feel optimistic about the future. Yes, the country just loves Sarah Palin despite the fact that just about everything has said up to this point has been lies. It's okay, voters will wake up. Everybody's favorite maverick John Melanoma, oops, I'm mean John McCain has destroyed whatever was left of his reputation, yet he remains tied or ahead of Obama in various polls. It's okay. Order will be restored to the universe. Right? My wife thinks I'm insane but I refuse to be one of those liberals or progressives who are having a collective hissy because they think Obama's not fighting back hard enough. I can't afford to be pessimistic. None of us can. Just watch this clip of McCain. He's about ready to snap and Obama remains calm.

The Day Marvin Gaye Made Middle America Lose Their Mind

2008-08-20T18:23:00.003-04:00

The 1983 NBA All-Star Game was not a heavily anticipated event. In was broadcast in the middle of the day on CBS and I can guarantee no one anticipated that the singing of the National Anthem would outshine the actual game itself. Marvin Gaye, who at the time was in the midst of an amazing comeback with his single Sexual Healing, sang the anthem in front of a capacity crowd at The Los Angeles Forum.

I was visiting my grandmother in the hospital that day and I broke away from the family to watch some of the game in the visitors lounge. As Marvin sang the first verse, I was wondering what song it was. As the song went on, I had this smile on my face that would not go away. It was one of the most moving things I ever heard. Even Western Conference Coach Pat Reilly was bobbing his head. I had never heard a crowd clap in unison to The Star Spangled Banner. It was riveting. Naturally, the fallout was great. So-called purists and patriots were outraged that Marvin Gaye would “desecrate” the National Anthem. I even heard comments like “why do ‘they’ have to do that?”. ‘They’. It drives me crazy when people pull out the ‘they card’.

Jimi Hendrix and Jose Feliciano received similar criticisms for their versions of the Anthem, but not as much hate and vitriol as Marvin. When asked if he thought his version of the Anthem was vulgar, Hendrix replied, “Nah man, I thought it was beautiful”. That’s how I feel about Marvin Gaye’s version. It was beautiful. Click on the Look and Listen tab to see the full version.