The bands self-made video for “Believe in Me…”

Photo by Vince Alongi

The Fourth of July celebrates our declaration of independence from the former British Empire 232 years ago. It’s a good day to read the actual text and doing so, reflect on its relevance today.

While it’s true we’re independent of the government then ruled by George III, how much independence do we have today when we are spied on by the government of George II? Read the document and the charges in it. As you do, think about how many of them apply to the current King George.

“But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security.”

Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

What has the world come to when the Sox are in NY for a long holiday weekend tilt with the Yanks and the story is the Tampa Bay Devil Rays have the best record in baseball? Honestly, I haven’t been paying much attention, but here’s what I know:

• Last night with the Sox up 4-1 in the 7th, I thought, “at least the Sox will win one of these three.” Tampa then plated 6 on the way to a 7-6 sweep win.
• The Sox deep pitching should win them another Division, and take them far in the playoffs. It remains to be seen what they do before the trade deadline. They could use bullpen help, but the health of the Big Papi will determine priorities.
• The Yanks are old and tired. Even Alex Rodriguez in his prime is tired, but apparently his fatigue is from staying out late at Madonna’s place.
• Manny Ramirez threw a sixty-something Travel Secretary to the ground after the guy couldn’t score 16 tix on short notice. The fact this act of violence doesn’t get this jerk suspended is a reflection of our win at all cost society and is a disgrace.
• Letting Johnny Damon sign with the Pinstripes was a good move.
• Yankee youngsters Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano need to step up. Both are below .250.
• My pal Dave is all worked up over his Cubbies, but I think we know how that will turn out.
• The other “Boss” in NY/NJ, George Steinbrenner plans to attend the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium. He’s always been a favorite pi?ata for Sox fans, but under his leadership, the Yanks won 6 World Championships and became the most valuable sports franchise on the planet.

Thirty three years ago tonight, I got my cheekbone broken blocking home plate. Dude was out.

50 songs to make you dance and this isn’t on the list?

Last night the audience stood and cheered Dana Carvey as his stand-up routine ended. It didn’t look like anyone was leaving, but the credits rolled over them and I wondered, “Do stand-up comics do encores?”

That got me thinking of encores in pop/rock music and how cliché they’ve become. I cannot think of a show I’ve attended without an encore. And while the requisite two or three bonus tracks may not be on the set list, my guess is most are pre-determined. Yeah, there’s the occasional audible called at the line of scrimmage, but most “encores” are textbook; maybe one deep catalog dive and a couple fan favorites. Of course Sloan’s show in Cambridge a couple weeks back included requests and audience members singing, but that’s Sloan…

Back in the seventies when I began frequenting the old Boston Garden for shows, fans really built up the noise and illuminated their desires with thousands of tiny flames, but today fans mail in their applause and fire laws prohibit any flashes of want. Lighters have become cell phones and most encores these days are expected, pre-measured formula. In the history of modern music, Elvis stands out for not doing them. When the King did the last song of a set, it was over, hence the post title.

Have you ever been to a show that didn’t have an encore?

“Earthstorm” is one of those sci-fi dregs that is so bad you can’t take your eyes off it, and I had to see if the asteroid wounded moon was going to crack in half. I had to! Sadly, good sense lurking somewhere deep in the Frontal Lobes of my cerebral cortex um, acted for me and put my ass to sleep.

The Movie Mark website succinctly summarizes the films lack of quality, “Folks, the movie’s so bad that NASA wouldn’t even let them use their name, thus, we have the American Space Institute (ASI). Houston, however, wasn’t so lucky in protecting its name.”

Anyway, I noted there was one of those Baldwin dudes brooding through the film with a ridiculous hair thing hanging down his forehead that looked like Makeup adjusted to exacting dimensions for every take. I mean, the space helmet comes off and it’s still there… Whatever. He was so bad and his dialogue delivery so monotone, I actually said out loud, “Wow, this Baldwin brother sucks.” Now, talking to myself aside, Stephen Baldwin is one awful actor.

You may be wondering, “how did you know the sucky Baldwin was Stephen?” Good question. Today I was reading the HuffPo (that’s what we left wing nuts call it), and one of the stories was, “Stephen Baldwin On Fox News: If Obama Wins, I’ll Leave The Country.” As righty host Laura Igraham tried to shut his rant down, he finished with a flourish, spouting, “Why do they keep saying that four more years of McCain is four more years of Bush? That’s the most stupidist thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”

I just knew.

Get Rhythm… When You Get The Blues

Comedian George Carlin died last Sunday, and I’m certain he’s not “up there smiling down on us.” Carlin’s genius was using his mastery of verbal and body language to paint vivid images live, right in front of us. Sure, he made us laugh, but more importantly, his sarcasm, his “bitter derision and irony” made us think…

Baseball and Football

Religion

Education and the American Dream

I am hoping Barack Obama really does advance bi-partisanship by appointing Republicans to his Cabinet. In fact, the plump prospect of Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel (R) as VP would be a huge step forward and would also sink the Republican’s “National Security” argument against Senator Obama and the McBush campaign with it.

How about someone from the Green Party for Secretary of the Interior? Then again, that may be too extreme. There’s got to be some balance between environmentalism and commerce, and I’m not schooled enough on the Green to tell you if they’re a compromising lot. You get my point though, right? Helping to promote minor political parties to our national discussion would broaden the debate for long-term solutions and strengthen our Union. For example, Ron Paul is really a Libertarian with an “R” next to his name, and he is dismissed as a crackpot by the Neocon right, but isn’t there a place in an Obama administration for this voice of reason?

OK, that’s it. Yeah, I threw some cash at Barack Obama because I believed he represented “true change,” but now he’s buckling to Dubya on the FISA thing and immunity for big telecoms that are spying on you… They don’t have to spy on me because I give them everything here, but that’s another story… Anyway, I’m withdrawing my support for the Big O and endorsing… ME for President!

God bless you and god bless the United States of America!