Is Bill a Blogger?

If blogging was meant to be a way to widely communicate your innermost thoughts and/or comment on the state of the world's affairs...then we can now welcome Bill Clinton to our midst. No, it's not a full-fledged blog with lots of navel gazing and descriptions of life with Hillary, but it's a start -- it's a diary he's keeping during his current trip to Africa. Clearly, the continent plays a very big part in his life since the White House (and in between medical problems). You can follow his intinerary and check out his diary entries.

Clearly he's got an editor for this, based on his recent biography's length and his amazingly long speeches, so be sure to stop by and check it out. But...wouldn't you love it if he kept a real blog, with real thoughts? That would be a helluva read.


Bill in Africa

Olbermann Rocks!

Read his take on the White House trying to change the subject. Good on you, Keith.

Good Ideas...Keep 'Em Coming!

The best thing to do when the Repugs control every branch of government and you have nothin' left to lose? Create your own shadow government. Why not? At my house, we've had countless dinnertime conversations thinking up various rationales, most of which border on the absurdist (shades of Abbie Hoffman and trying to elevate the Pentagon). But, now it appears that this idea is appealing (in a much more serious tone) to Congressional Democrats who are picking up on this idea to more closely examine Treason-gate.

Along these same lines -- and in a very serious and thoughtful vein -- another group of very serious folks known as the National Security Advisory Group (NSAG), is issuing their own report on WMD proliferation. Who says Democrats don't have ideas? Who says we can't govern? Who says we are weak on defense/national security issues Bah! Gimme a break.

Posted today on the Senate's website, is
"Worst Weapons in Worst Hands: US Inaction on the Nuclear terror Threat Since 9/11, and a Path of Action." NSAG consists of government and military luminaries including former Defense Secretary William J. Perry (Chair), Former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, Graham T. Allison, Samuel R. Berger, Ashton B. Carter, Wesley K. Clark, Thomas E. Donilon, Michele A. Flournoy, John D. Podesta, Susan E. Rice, John M. Shalikashvili, Wendy R. Sherman,Elizabeth D. Sherwood-Randall, James B. Steinberg.

It begins:

"The gravest threat facing Americans today is a terrorist detonating a nuclear bomb in one of our cities. The National Security Advisory Group (NSAG) judges that the Bush administration is taking insufficient actions to counter this threat.

If this catastrophe were to occur, what would we wish we had done to prevent
it? Why are those actions not being taken today?"

Great questions for America to ponder as we wait for the inevitable attack. (Everyone have their duct tape?)

Meanwhile, we spend billions on a war that seemingly has no end, cut veteran's benefits, give tax cuts to people who don't need 'em, and have treasonous sycophants in the White House using the CIA for political purposes.

Damn them. Damn them to hell.

Americans are getting smarter by the minute, eh?

Watergate redux.

Shades of Watergate? Hmmmmm?

Today, Frank Rich of the New York Times takes a wider view of the Rove problem at the White House. He begins with familiar words from the infamous spokesperson of the Nixon era, Ron Ziegler, and takes it further from there.

Everyone's blogging about this story and it's hard to say anything new or profound, but if you're interested in the story, you should stick with a few important blogs: Daily Kos, TPM Cafe, Talkleft and perhaps even The Huffington Post. Just when I thought that the story was going to perhaps take a lesser place in the news cycles this week, Matt Cooper comes out with a report of his grand jury testimony (but you have to pay to read about it or buy this week's Time Magazine).

Things are getting curiouser and curiouser. Stay tuned and keep your fingers crossed that the bad karma being espoused by the Chimp's cohort in crime is finally coming back to haunt them.

In Papi We Trust

Good News/Bad News [for the country]

My sentiments exactly

Chimpy Falling Flat: No One Trusts Him....Imagine!

Latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll shows that Chimpy is losing the Midas touch. Or perhaps, people are recognizing that the Emperor really has no clothes. Keep it coming, folks!

Because It's Time

Spider vs. Bee: A Mid-Summer Tale

A week or so ago, we noticed a mini-war of sorts right in the front porch window boxes. As you can see from the picture below, a very unusual albino spider has captured a regular 'ole bumblebee and has it in a lockdown. When we notice such natural warriors in action, it makes one realize that we homo sapiens (am I allowed to call us that?) are not the only aggressors on any day of the week.

A few hours after taking the picture, there was no sign of either insect. Where did they go? My poetic other half had this more thoughtful photo caption, combining recent human wars with the Bug War of Shrewsbury:

"In my dreams of summer John Kerry [the spider], combat tested
and tough on terrorist attackers, takes the sting out of the weaker and
ill-witted opponent George Bush [the bee]. Maybe it's just the heat - or
the humidity, but the bloom will soon leave the Rove my friends."

From his pc to God's ear.

Oh, Lordy, It's Getting Hot in D.C.!

Here's a transcript of today's press update from the White House Press Secretary. Hold on to your hats, folks! The MSM is finally awake, and here's the relevant portion:

Q: Does the president stand by his pledge to fire anyone involved in a leak of the name of a CIA operative?

MCCLELLAN: I appreciate your question. I think your question is being asked related to some reports that are in reference to an ongoing criminal investigation. The criminal investigation that you reference is something that continues at this point.

And as I’ve previously stated, while that investigation is ongoing, the White House is not going to comment on it.

The president directed the White House to cooperate fully with the investigation. And as part of cooperating fully with the investigation, we made a decision that we weren’t going to comment on it while it is ongoing.

Q: I actually wasn’t talking about any investigation. But in June of 2004, the president said that he would fire anybody who was involved in this leak to the press about information. I just wanted to know: Is that still his position?

MCCLELLAN: Yes, but this question is coming up in the context of this ongoing investigation, and that’s why I said that our policy continues to be that we’re not going to get into commenting on an ongoing criminal investigation from this podium.

The prosecutors overseeing the investigation had expressed a preference to us that one way to help the investigation is not to be commenting on it from this podium....

Q: Scott, if I could point out: Contradictory to that statement, on September 29th of 2003, while the investigation was ongoing, you clearly commented on it. You were the first one to have said that if anybody from the White House was involved, they would be fired. And then, on June 10th of 2004, at Sea Island Plantation, in the midst of this investigation, when the president made his comments that, yes, he would fire anybody from the White House who was involved. So why have you commented on this during the process of the investigation in the past, but now you’ve suddenly drawn a curtain around it under the statement of, 'We’re not going to comment on an ongoing investigation'?

MCCLELLAN: Again, John, I appreciate the question. I know you want to get to the bottom of this. No one wants to get to the bottom of it more than the president of the United States. And I think the way to be most helpful is to not get into commenting on it while it is an ongoing investigation. And that’s something that the people overseeing the investigation have expressed a preference that we follow.

And that’s why we’re continuing to follow that approach and that policy. Now, I remember very well what was previously said. And, at some point, I will be glad to talk about it, but not until after the investigation is complete.

Q: So could I just ask: When did you change your mind to say that it was OK to comment during the course of an investigation before, but now it’s not?

MCCLELLAN: Well, I think maybe you missed what I was saying in reference to Terry’s question at the beginning. There came a point, when the investigation got under way, when those overseeing the investigation asked that it would be — or said that it would be their preference that we not get into discussing it while it is ongoing.
I think that’s the way to be most helpful to help them advance the investigation and get to the bottom of it.

Get your own bumper sticker at www.carryabigsticker.com!

I Love My Congressman

We're lucky to live in a Congressional district with a representative whose priorities are very often exactly what I would choose. Came across this link tonight, which discusses a letter sent to the White House by members of Congress requesting that Karl Rove explain his role in the Valerie Plame outing(see his picture below...a dream sequence if there ever was one). I was pleased to see that one of the 17 signers was our guy. Thanks, Jim!

We Can Dream, Can't We??

Tired of the Friggin' Car Magnets?

Yes! Have I got a site for you. Here's a couple of the bumper stickers they have on sale:

Waiting for the Other Shoe to Fall

As we all await the outcome of the investigation into the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame...let us all be reminded of what White House Spokes-Blowhard Scott McClellan had to say back in 2003.

Most important comment: "And the White House is committed -- at the direction of the President, the White House is committed to cooperating fully and doing everything we can to assist the career officials get to the bottom of this. It is a very serious matter."

And this editorial from "Editor and Publisher" from a former colleague of Rove's, entitled: Save the First Amendment--from Karl Rove.

Halfway Through: A Positive Spin

Here's a comparison of Red Sox 2005 vs. Red Sox 2004, remembering, of course, that the Sox won the World Series (all together now!) for the first time in 86 years. For those of us who are sweating through the recent pitching woes, this will put this season in perspective:


Mid-term grades are in.

Clearly, pitching is the big need, but the rest of the grades ain't bad. Keep the faith, folks.

Rick Santorum's "It Takes a Family"

Speaking of abominations, ladies, take a gander at Rick Santorum's new book. Here are some excerpts:

"In far too many families with young children, both parents are working, when, if they really took an honest look at the budget, they might confess that both of them really don’t need to, or at least may not need to work as much as they do… And for some parents, the purported need to provide things for their children simply provides a convenient rationalization for pursuing a gratifying career outside the home." (It Takes a Family, 94)

"Many women have told me, and surveys have shown, that they find it easier, more “professionally” gratifying, and certainly more socially affirming, to work outside the home than to give up their careers to take care of their children. Think about that for a moment…Here, we can thank the influence of radical feminism, one of the core philosophies of the village elders." (It Takes a Family, 95)

"The notion that college education is a cost-effective way to help poor, low-skill, unmarried mothers with high school diplomas or GEDs move up the economic ladder is just wrong." (It Takes a Family, 138)

What a dope.

Putting Experience To Work for A Good Cause

Former campaign workers for Dean and Clarke are using their experience to help Americans understand what an abomination Wal-Mart is. Good way to spend some time in between elections, no?

Read all about it here.

5 Star Music

Interesting list...Rolling Stone's list of the albums they've rated 5-stars. The list is organized with the most recent at the top:

2004; ALBUM: The Very Best of Jackson Browne; ARTIST: Jackson Browne
2004; ALBUM: Goodbye, Babylon; ARTIST: Various Artists
2003; ALBUM: Elephant; ARTIST: The White Stripes
2002; ALBUM: The Rising; ARTIST: Bruce Springsteen
2002; ALBUM: Sea Change; ARTIST: Beck
2002; ALBUM: Forty Licks; ARTIST: Rolling Stones
2002; ALBUM: Essential Leonard Cohen; ARTIST: Leonard Cohen
2001; ALBUM: Love and Theft; ARTIST: Bob Dylan
2001; ALBUM: Goddess in the Doorway; ARTIST: Mick Jagger
1992; ALBUM: Slanted & Enchanted; ARTIST: Pavement
1992; ALBUM: Automatic for the People; ARTIST: R.E.M.
1991; ALBUM: Metallica; ARTIST: Metallica
1989; ALBUM: Freedom; ARTIST: Neil Young
1989; ALBUM: Doolittle; ARTIST: Pixies
1988; ALBUM: Straight Outta Compton; ARTIST: N.W.A.
1988; ALBUM: Daydream Nation; ARTIST: Sonic Youth
1987; ALBUM: Tunnel of Love; ARTIST: Bruce Springsteen
1987; ALBUM: The Joshua Tree; ARTIST: U2
1987; ALBUM: Sign 'O' the Times; ARTIST: Prince
1987; ALBUM: Document; ARTIST: R.E.M.
1987; ALBUM: Appetite for Destruction; ARTIST: Guns N' Roses
1986; ALBUM: The Queen is Dead; ARTIST: The Smiths
1986; ALBUM: Raising Hell; ARTIST: Run-D.M.C.
1986; ALBUM: Master of Puppets; ARTIST: Metallica
1986; ALBUM: Graceland; ARTIST: Paul Simon
1985; ALBUM: Rain Dogs; ARTIST: Tom Waits
1985; ALBUM: Essential Clash; ARTIST: The Clash
1984; ALBUM: Diamond Life; ARTIST: Sade
1984; ALBUM: Born in the U.S.A.; ARTIST: Bruce Springsteen
1983; ALBUM: The Final Cut; ARTIST: Pink Floyd
1982; ALBUM: Tug Of War; ARTIST: Paul McCartney
1982; ALBUM: The Message; ARTIST: Grandmaster Flash
1982; ALBUM: The Blue Mask; ARTIST: Lou Reed
1982; ALBUM: Original Musiquarium I; ARTIST: Stevie Wonder
1982; ALBUM: It's Hard; ARTIST: The Who
1981; ALBUM: Tattoo You; ARTIST: The Rolling Stones
1981; ALBUM: Pirates; ARTIST: Rickie Lee Jones
1980; ALBUM: Zenyatta Mondatta; ARTIST: The Police
1980; ALBUM: Sandinista!; ARTIST: The Clash
1980; ALBUM: Remain in Light; ARTIST: Talking Heads
1979; ALBUM: The B-52's; ARTIST: The B-52's
1979; ALBUM: Off the Wall; ARTIST: Michael Jackson
1979; ALBUM: Look Sharp!; ARTIST: Joe Jackson
1979; ALBUM: London Calling; ARTIST: The Clash
1979; ALBUM: Damn the Torpedoes; ARTIST: Tom Petty & the Heartbeakers
1978; ALBUM: More Songs About Buildings and Food; ARTIST: Talking Heads
1978; ALBUM: Darkness on the Edge of Town; ARTIST: Bruce Springsteen
1978; ALBUM: Comes a Time; ARTIST: Neil Young
1977; ALBUM: Trans-Europe Express; ARTIST: Kraftwerk
1977; ALBUM: The Clash; ARTIST: Clash
1977; ALBUM: Slowhand; ARTIST: Eric Clapton
1977; ALBUM: Running on Empty; ARTIST: Jackson Browne
1977; ALBUM: Rumours; ARTIST: Fleetwood Mac
1977; ALBUM: Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols; ARTIST: The Sex Pistols
1977; ALBUM: My Aim Is True; ARTIST: Elvis Costello
1977; ALBUM: Marquee Moon; ARTIST: Television
1977; ALBUM: Low; ARTIST: David Bowie
1977; ALBUM: Aja; ARTIST: Steely Dan
1976; ALBUM: Songs in the Key of Life; ARTIST: Stevie Wonder
1975; ALBUM: Wish You Were Here; ARTIST: Pink Floyd
1975; ALBUM: The Essential Sly & the Family Stone; ARTIST: Sly & the Family Stone
1975; ALBUM: The Basement Tapes; ARTIST: Bob Dylan & the Band
1975; ALBUM: Siren; ARTIST: Roxy Music
1975; ALBUM: Red Headed Stranger; ARTIST: Willie Nelson
1975; ALBUM: Horses; ARTIST: Patti Smith
1975; ALBUM: Chocolate City; ARTIST: Parliament
1975; ALBUM: Born to Run; ARTIST: Bruce Springsteen
1975; ALBUM: Blood on the Tracks; ARTIST: Bob Dylan
1974; ALBUM: I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight; ARTIST: Richard & Linda Thompson
1974; ALBUM: Good Old Boys; ARTIST: Randy Newman
1974; ALBUM: Court & Spark; ARTIST: Joni Mitchell
1974; ALBUM: 461 Ocean Boulevard; ARTIST: Eric Clapton
1973; ALBUM: Houses Of The Holy; ARTIST: Led Zeppelin
1973; ALBUM: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road; ARTIST: Elton John
1973; ALBUM: Funky Kingston/In the Dark; ARTIST: Toots & the Maytals
1973; ALBUM: Dark Side of the Moon; ARTIST: Pink Floyd
1973; ALBUM: Countdown To Ecstasy; ARTIST: Steely Dan
1973; ALBUM: Catch A Fire; ARTIST: Bob Marley & The Wailers
1972; ALBUM: Talking Book; ARTIST: Stevie Wonder
1972; ALBUM: I'm Still in Love With You; ARTIST: Al Green
1972; ALBUM: Exile on Main Street; ARTIST: Rolling Stones
1972-1979; ALBUM: The Very Best of the Eagles; ARTIST: The Eagles
1971; ALBUM: Who's Next; ARTIST: Who
1971; ALBUM: The Allman Brothers at Fillmore East; ARTIST: Allman Brothers
1971; ALBUM: Let's Stay Together; ARTIST: Al Green
1971; ALBUM: Hunky Dory; ARTIST: David Bowie
1971; ALBUM: Every Picture Tells a Story; ARTIST: Rod Stewart
1971; ALBUM: Blue; ARTIST: Joni Mitchell
1971-1979; ALBUM: Anthology; ARTIST: Al Green
1970; ALBUM: Workingman's Dead; ARTIST: The Grateful Dead
1970; ALBUM: Sweet Baby James; ARTIST: James Taylor
1970; ALBUM: Plastic Ono Band; ARTIST: John Lennon
1970; ALBUM: Live at Leeds; ARTIST: Who
1970; ALBUM: Gets Next to You; ARTIST: Al Green
1970; ALBUM: Bridge Over Troubled Water; ARTIST: Simon & Garfunkel
1970; ALBUM: American Beauty; ARTIST: The Grateful Dead
1970; ALBUM: After The Gold Rush; ARTIST: Neil Young
1969; ALBUM: VU; ARTIST: The Velvet Underground
1969; ALBUM: Tommy; ARTIST: The Who
1969; ALBUM: The Band; ARTIST: The Band
1969; ALBUM: Let It Bleed; ARTIST: Rolling Stones
1969; ALBUM: Led Zeppelin 1st; ARTIST: Led Zeppelin
1969; ALBUM: Green River; ARTIST: Creedence Clearwater Revival
1969; ALBUM: From Elvis in Memphis; ARTIST: Elvis Presley
1969; ALBUM: Abbey Road; ARTIST: The Beatles
1968; ALBUM: Music from Big Pink; ARTIST: The Band
1968; ALBUM: Beggars Banquet; ARTIST: Rolling Stones
1968; ALBUM: Astral Weeks; ARTIST: Van Morrison
1967; ALBUM: The Velvet Underground & Nico; ARTIST: The Velvet Underground
1967; ALBUM: The Doors; ARTIST: The Doors
1967; ALBUM: Something Else by the Kinks; ARTIST: The Kinks
1967; ALBUM: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band; ARTIST: The Beatles
1967; ALBUM: Moby Grape; ARTIST: Moby Grape
1967; ALBUM: John Wesley Harding; ARTIST: Bob Dylan
1967; ALBUM: Axis; ARTIST: Jimi Hendrix
1967; ALBUM: Are You Experienced?; ARTIST: Jimi Hendrix Experience
1967-1970; ALBUM: Sly & the Family Stone - Greatest Hits; ARTIST: Sly & Family Stone
1966; ALBUM: Pet Sounds; ARTIST: The Beach Boys
1966; ALBUM: Otis Blue; ARTIST: Otis Redding
1965; ALBUM: A Love Supreme; ARTIST: John Coltrane
1965-1994; ALBUM: 30 Years of Maximum R & B; ARTIST: Who
1965-1970; ALBUM: Peel Slowly and See; ARTIST: The Velvet Underground
1965-1968; ALBUM: Nuggets; ARTIST: Various Artists
1964; ALBUM: Live at the Star Club, Hamburg; ARTIST: Jerry Lee Lewis
1964-1966; ALBUM: The Best of the Animals; ARTIST: Animals
1963; ALBUM: With the Beatles; ARTIST: The Beatles
1963; ALBUM: Please Please Me; ARTIST: The Beatles
1963; ALBUM: Live at the Apollo; ARTIST: James Brown
1963; ALBUM: Chuck Berry/More Chuck Berry; ARTIST: Chuck Berry
1963-1988; ALBUM: Crossroads; ARTIST: Eric Clapton
1962-1988; ALBUM: Best of Broadside 1962-1988; ARTIST: Various Artists
1962-1966; ALBUM: The Best of the Ronettes; ARTIST: The Ronettes
1961; ALBUM: Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy/Art Forms of Dimensions Tomorrow; ARTIST: Sun Ra
1961-1985; ALBUM: Good Vibrations; ARTIST: The Beach Boys
1961-1985; ALBUM: Biograph; ARTIST: Bob Dylan
1961-1971; ALBUM: Deliver; ARTIST: The Marvelettes
1960s; ALBUM: Rare Live & Classic; ARTIST: Joan Baez
1960-1969; ALBUM: From Nashville To Memphis; ARTIST: Elvis Presley
1960-1967; ALBUM: Otis! The Definitive Otis Redding; ARTIST: Otis Redding
1957-1959; ALBUM: Cadence Classics; ARTIST: The Everly Brothers
1956; ALBUM: We Travel the Spaceways/Bad and Beautiful; ARTIST: Sun Ra
1956; ALBUM: Super-Sonic Jazz; ARTIST: Sun Ra
1956-1984; ALBUM: Star Time; ARTIST: James Brown
1956-1977; ALBUM: ELV1S 30 #1 Hits; ARTIST: Elvis Presley
1955-1973; ALBUM: 3-CD Chess Boxed Set; ARTIST: Chuck Berry
1948-1958; ALBUM: 20th Century Masters; ARTIST: Muddy Waters
1933-1958; ALBUM: Billie Holiday; ARTIST: Billie Holiday
1925-1928; ALBUM: The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings; ARTIST: Louis Armstrong

Is It Rove?

The doo-doo is about to hit the fan on this one, I surmise...

'nuff said.

Joke Time (And We Do Need It)

An Israeli doctor said, "Medicine in my country is so advanced, we can take a kidney out of one person, put it in another and have him looking for work in six weeks."

A German doctor said "That's nothing! In Germany, we can take a lung out of one person, put it in another and have him looking for work in four weeks."

A Russian doctor said, "In my country, medicine is so advanced, we can take half a heart from one person, put it in another and have them both looking for work in two weeks."

The American doctor, not to be outdone, said "Hah! We can take an asshole out of Texas, put him in the White House and half the country will be looking for work the next day."

Here we go, SCOTUS, Here we go

For those of you who feel the need to take action...This from DailyKos today:

Whatever happens with the Supreme Court nomination battle that is about to ensue, it's going to happen fast. Here are some things you can do right now:

• If you have a cell phone, sign up for People at the American Way's Mass Immediate Response site. This way, you'll be able to receive text message action items instantly as events break. (If you signed up during the nuclear option fight, you'll need to re-sign up.)
  
  
• Also sign up with the Save the Court, another PFAW website devoted specifically to this issue.
  
  
• Recruit friends and family members to the cause.
  
  
• Write to the President, telling him he should choose a consensus candidate to replace O'Connor.
  
  
• Contact your Senators to tell them the same thing.

Honest to God, I don't know if I can stand the shitstorm this is going to kick up. I hope the ignorant people who voted for Bush are happy now.

Top 10 Rejected Titles for Saddam's New Novel

10. The Da Vinci Goat.

9. Of Lice and Men.

8. I'm Okay, You're Uday.

7. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sand.

6. Inspectors Turn up no Evidence that Herbie was Ever Fully Loaded.

5. Mahmoud Potter and the Goblet of Hummus.

4. Kuwaiting for Godot.

3. Along Came a Spider Hole.

2. Sunnis are from Mars, Shiites are from Venus, Americans are Infidel Pig Dogs.

1. The Brotherhood of the Traveling Underpants

"Late Show With David Letterman," 6/27/05

Who Says This Ain't No Vietnam?

Read Lyndon Johnson's own words from 1965. They are eerily familiar.

Heard this Song Today

I was on the treadmill tonight, listening to my zen jukebox, and these lyrics came floating through the earbuds:

They say that patriotism is the last refuge
To which a scoundrel clings.
Steal a little and they throw you in jail,
Steal a lot and they make you king.

How true, how true.


Infidels, 1983.

A Liberal Soldier's Response to Krazy Karl

It's one thing for me to be pissed off about Karl Rove's statement about liberals. It's quite another when the response comes from a liberal soldier who VOLUNTEERED to serve, unlike most of the Chickenhawks in the Administration. Here's the link to the whole blog post, but here's the most important paragraph:

"Also, and I'm not going to harp on this. Who does Karl Rove think he is? Where does he get of saying that liberals wanted to be soft on terrorists. I'm a liberal, and I joined the army. I'd like him to fly into Mosul, come find me, and tell me that to my face. I want him to say "liberals didn't want to fight bin Laden" to my face. Then I want him to sit on shift with me. After that he can clean the bathroom for me. Then he can go out on mission with some of my friends and possibly get shot at. Then he can tell me again how much I want to give terrorists therapy."

Good God.

The New McCarthyism

Tom Oliphant in today's WaPo, with the most important paragraph here:

"Rove's instantly famous speech last week to the New York State Conservative Party should be read in light of this history [of McCarthyism] and not be written off as a cheap, one-time partisan attack. On the contrary, the address by Rove, President Bush's most important adviser, provides the outlines of a sophisticated strategy aimed at making liberals and Democrats all look soft on terrorism.

You said it, Tom.

Larry David Cracks Me Up

If you read nothing else on this (or any other) blog, please check this out. It's rather scary and hysterically funny. Being inside the subconscious of Larry David, or as he says "The Roving Thoughts of a Liberal Insomniac" is a trip worth taking.

Favorite lines: "...The problem is fruit is so inconsistent. When you get a good one, it’s all luck. Fruit is like blackjack. The casino wins most of the time. But at least the casino’s not fixed. I trust the slot machines in Vegas more than the voting machines in Ohio. Even sleazy casino owners in Vegas have more credibility than this bunch…I have to stop killing insects in front of the kids. Am I setting a bad example?..."

Enjoy.


Larry David=George Costanza

Let's Try Not to Get Too Giddy, ok?

So, how happy are you, Jason? 6-0 on the road trip...not bad.

Responding to Krazy Karl

Over the past several days, there has been considerable uproar over Rove's comments about the liberal response to 9/11. While I wonder whether these remarks were carefully calculated to trap us liberals somehow (paranoia strikes deep!), I believe one of the only people who is qualified to respond is Kristen Breitweiser, one of the widows of 9/11 who helped spearhead the forming of the 9/11 Commission. Here's her take on the matter.

Sox in First Place

Last night was the perfect night for Sox fans. Sox beat the Phillies 8-0 on superior pitching (Wakefield throws a 2-hitter, Embree has scoreless 9th); old friend Pedro Martinez beats the Yankees! and the Atlanta Braves beat the Orioles. As of 10 pm Eastern time yesterday, Sox ahead by .5 games in the American League East. Wahooo, baby!

Young GOoPers Support War; Refuse to Fight In It

Congratulations to Knight-Ridder news service for writing this story...Apparently Young Republicans are more than willing to send other people to a war, but do not want to sign up themselves. Ahhh, the hypocrisy is mind-boggling.

The Return of the Freeway Blogger

Sad, and true. Visit the Freeway Blogger here.

You Need to Vote...Again

Help ensure that the goobers of the world at AOL don't name Ronald Reagan the greatest American (rather than Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington or Benjamin Franklin). My vote? Lincoln's the one. Go here and vote. I thank you.

Intellectual Insecurity (part deux)

More on the Chimp and the Ph.D.

hmmmmmm?

Ortizzle and Friends Heat Up

Here we go, Red Sox, here we go (clap, clap)! Only 1 game out of first!

Two Americas (continued)

So, when's the last time you heard someone talk about a need for an increase in the minimum wage? If it's been a while, check out the work John Edwards is doing. IMHO, it's one of the most important issues of our day. Increasingly, social safety nets are becoming more and more strained and we need to be vigilent in protecting those in society who aren't as lucky as ourselves.


John Edwards during the campaign

OK, It's Just Too Damn Easy

Easy, that is, to find abysmal stories about the wackos in the White House. I've said for a while that I am convinced that the Christo-Fascist Zombie Brigade (as they say on Morning Sedition) is over-reaching in their unending arrogance. Here's another story for you to enjoy.

No Comment

But thought you might be interested in the way Bush treats members of his Cabinet.


Yeah, I would pretend like I didn't know him, too.

I Took it as a Challenge!

Tonight, my sister asked me why I hadn't written more lately about the Chimp. To rectify that seeming omission, I give you the latest polls from USA Today. Ha. Note that the disapproval rating is more than 50% now. Couldn't happen to a nicer mammal.


His Chimpiness.

One Monkey Don't Stop the Show

For SMG and RWS.

Want a Funny Read?

Check out this blog, by a Canadian woman known as "Creampuff," and her blog is "Creampuff Revolution." Enjoy!

There's a New Blog in Town

Called "TPM Cafe," this new blog is an offshoot of Josh Marshall's "Talking Points Memo." Each week there's a guest blogger -- this week it's Bernie Sanders, Vemont's Independent Representative. His first post ends like this (and it's a doozie):

"The Administration's demand that we unnecessarily sacrifice our liberty in the name of security is fundamentally anti-democratic and, frankly speaking, un-American. Other examples (and I'll list just a few because I know this post is getting long) of Bush's efforts to transform American institutions include attempts to consolidate the media into the hands of fewer and fewer large corporations, the erosion of Congressional checks over the President's ability to wage war unilaterally, the vicious and seemingly unrelenting assault on the independence of the American judiciary, and the elimination of any Senate power over the choice of either executive or judicial nominees.

The fights over all these issues are too often portrayed merely as partisan brinksmanship. But the truth is that these are fights over the very essence of our Constitutional democracy. Any other portrayal trivializes the importance of these values and institutions that are the underpinnings of our society.

The political stakes in America have never been higher. If we lose, if the grass roots of America don't speak out, if we do not turn back the radical Bush Administration, we will for the first time in our nation's history see the next generation both less free and less economical prosperous than we are. What an incredible challenge we face. That is why I think it is so important for all of us to be involved in the political process and why I'm so glad to be communicating with you through TPMCafe today. I know I've touched on a lot of topics in a short space but my hope is to spark some interesting and informative exchanges. So pull up a chair to the Table for One and let's get started."

Read the rest here.

In the Good Ole' Summertime

I could be succumbing to my natural optimism (which some people could call unrealistic), but I'm starting to see some chinks in the armor in the Chimp's administration (even from fellow GOoPers).

He's increasingly becoming a lame duck as people are already gearing up for the 2006 Congressional races...and, of course, there's the Downing Street Memo, which is actually starting to get coverage in the MSM. And, last but not least, the Senate has again rejected Bolton as UN Ambassador.

It's too bad that the weather's so good because there's a lot going on in the political world, but it will have to wait.

Hard Time?

Well, the CEO of Tyco is found guilty. Hard to believe that Mr. $6000-shower-curtain Man will be showering with a crowd soon. As they say, don't bend over to pick up the soap, dude.

"Kozlowski, 58, was found guilty of conspiracy, fraud and falsifying business records.

The jury found Swartz, 44, guilty of grand larceny, securities fraud and eight of nine counts of falsifying business records."

I hope this gives some of the Tyco employees a level of satisfaction.

Jeb Bush is a Real Asshole

Here's the evidence. He just can't let Terry Schiavo rest in peace.

Sox-Reds Playing Tonight

Growing up in Cincinnati, I came of age watching the Big Red Machine (Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, and my personal favorite Tony Perez). I was one of the only people in New England in 1975 who was rooting for the Reds when they played the Sox in the World Series (another 30 year milestone, yikes!). Had I known then what I know now about Red Sox Nation's long-suffering need for a World Series win, I would have changed my tune...after all the Reds had won several championships (can't resist the tweak).

However, tonight, I'm enjoying watching the game at Fenway Park, which pairs these two classic teams in interleague play, but I'm definitely an American League fan these days! Regardless, there's an interesting story about a former Reds player and announcer Joe Nuxhall, who began pitching in the big leagues at the age of 15+ years old. Thought you baseball fans might be interested in checking it out. (Oh God, Don Gullett, of the Big Red Machine, is the pitching coach for the Reds. Could he really be that old?)


Big Red Machine, circa 1976

Happy Birthday, Dad

Always miss Pop at this time of year...he would have been 79 today. (Oh, and happy father's day, too!)

We're Having a Heat Wave...

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

The First of Many Hillary Posts

Go Hillary!

By the way, I think she knows the definition of dissembling.


The next President?

A perfect day for baseball yesterday....over 90 degrees, sunshine and a win by the Sox 6-3 over the Angels.

Ted Turner & Perverts

CNN should cover international news and the environment, not the "pervert of the day," network founder Ted Turner said Wednesday as the first 24-hour news network turned 25.

Read the rest of the story.

Nomination Watch Begins

The National Women's Law Center has launched a blog to keep an eye on all the potential upcoming judicial nominations. Here's a bit of today's post:

"As we told you last week, the deal that averted the nuclear option encourages the President to consult with Senators of both parties before naming judicial nominees:

We believe that, under Article II, Section 2, of the United States Constitution, the word "advice" speaks to consultation between the Senate and the president with regard to the use of the president's power to make nominations. We encourage the executive branch of government to consult with members of the Senate, both Democratic and Republican, prior to submitting a judicial nomination to the Senate for consideration.

Such a return to the early practices of our government may well serve to reduce the rancor that unfortunately accompanies the advice and consent process in the Senate."
Nice start.

More on the Press Conference Today

Yes! David Corn's comments on the presser today:

"It's no surprise that Bush bobs, weaves and misleads. The real disappointment is that the hound dogs of the press corps do not challenge him when he does so. They sit there well-behaved, wait to be called upon, and rarely think of tossing aside their prepared questions and asking, "With all due respect, Mr. President, you didn't answer the question on the leftover embryos. Can you please tell us specifically what should be done with them. Or do you have no idea whatsoever?" Bush can tap-dance his way through a press conference because his not-so-grand inquisitors do nothing to change the tune."

Dissembling

At his press conference today, the Chimp accused Amnesty International of "disassembling..." in its report about human rights. He even went so far as to define it as "not telling the truth." Suprisingly, he doesn't know that disassembling means to take something apart. The Dope actually meant dissembling, but since he doesn't recognize lying anyway, why should I be surprised?

A small point. But worth noting. I can't help myself.

Big Time Secret Revealed

The revelation of Deep Throat's identity today reminds us of the great need for a similar patriot in the current nutfarm in Washington. Just when those of us of a certain age thought that Tricky Dick was the epitome of evil, and Ronald Reagan was the most dangerous man to have his finger on the nuclear button, we have the idiot currently in the White House,who has made dirty tricks the standard for conducting business.

However, there is a certain hope as the Washington Post speculates that the Chimp has wasted any political capital that he [thought he] had back in November (jeez, can it only be 6 months ago?).

Sheesh. Ya Think?

Well, the American people are finally waking up. Took 'em long enough...and who knows how long it will last, but check this out. Apparently, 6 of 10 Americans believe Bush does not share their priorities.

I guess not...since most of us are not liars, cheaters and right wing zealots who are willing to rape the environment, cut the social insurance net out from under senior citizens or send children to die in a war that was instigated for no apparent reason (and then cuts veterans benefits and financial assistance for their families stateside.)

Erica Jong Nails It

Sometimes news stories just sort of float past and you have an odd feeling about them but you either get distracted or (as is the case for me most of the time) you have to not listen too closely for fear of blowing a gasket? Well, that was the case with the Laura Bush in the Middle East story. It had occurred to me that it was unusual for her to be traveling alone, but there was something else that bothered me and Erica Jong has nailed it.

"Now that Laura Bush is back from the Middle East and can take off her black scarf, it's time to ask why she is promoting freedom for women in the Middle East when the rights of American women are being systemically eroded by her husband's initiatives. Is it the same reason why her husband promotes democracy abroad while the Patriot Act and the suspension of the Geneva Convention dilute democracy at home?"

What a Freakin' Liar!

From Editor & Publisher:

"NEW YORK-At a White House press briefing Monday, Press Secretary Scott McClellan, pressed by reporters and with Afghan President Karzai in disagreement, retreated on claims that Newsweek's retracted story on Koran abuse cost lives in Afghanistan.

He also claimed that he had never said it did, even though a check of transcripts disputes that. On May 16, for example, he said, "people have lost their lives." On May 17, he said, "People did lose their lives," and, "People lost their lives" due to the Newsweek report."

Click the link above to read the transcript. Shame on him.

Newsweek, Bad. Lying about Tilman? That's OK.

This makes my blood boil. It's like we're living in an alternate universe, where wrong is right, up is down. While we're all distracted by the freakin' fillibuster, this may be what we really should be talking about.

Pulling the Trigger/New Poll

Well, well, well, we've come to the Night Before the Nuclear Option. Somehow I think they'll come to a compromise in the Senate...they usually do. But, I have to say that part of me is dying to see the business of the Senate just come to a screeching halt, which will result in showing us how little they really do anyway.

But, for we progessives, this new poll should help us all keep our chins up...

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?"

Approve 46% (50%)
Disapprove 50% (45%)

"... the economy?"

Approve 40% (43%)
Disapprove 58% (53%)

"... the situation in Iraq?"

Approve 40% (42%)
Disapprove 56% (55%)

"... Social Security?"

Approve 33% (35%)
Disapprove 59% (58%)

Ha! Let's see what tomorrow brings!

UPDATE: Well, no sooner had I finished this post, but the announcement of a deal in the Senate became public. Ahhh, compromise...we need some more of that. (Although both sides will claim victory, it seems to me that the far right conservative faction has to feel like their wings were clipped--just a tad--by the moderate middle of the GOP: McCain, Warner, Snow, DeWine, Collins. Good to see that some Repugs have brains.)

Sarcasm Central...

From the ETv website:

"Israeli researchers have discovered the region of the brain responsible for understanding sarcasm. If that region of the brain is not functioning properly, the researchers found that subjects could only understand the literal meaning of another person's words. The results of the study were published in the May issue of the journal 'Neuropsychology.'

The study's co-author, Simone Shamay-Tsoory of the University of Haifa, told 'Forbes,' 'People with prefrontal brain damage suffer from difficulties in understanding other people's mental states, and they lack empathy. Therefore, they can't understand what the speaker really is talking about, and get only the literal meaning.' "

So, that's what's wrong with GWB. And I'm not just being sarcastic either.

Time Flies

Thirty years since Patti Smith's album "Horses" was first issued. 30 years. That means it has been 30 years since I was in college. Yikes.

And it's nearly 30 years since a bunch of friends shared a house by Lake Metacomet in Belchertown -- and we had a male roommate who looked just like Patti Smith. His first name was Chris, but I'm having trouble remembering his last name. Yes, that means it has been 30 years! These are people I never expected to forget.

But back to Patti...I came across an article today saying that she will be performing the album "Horses" in its entirety (in sequence) at an upcoming festival in England. I have a feeling the concert I went to at the Orpheum in December 1976 probably would have been similar to this concert. Funny, this I remember.

Here's a great article, starting with the usual Patti adoration:

Patti Smith today looks as striking as the 28-year-old instant icon who defiantly out-stared the viewer from the cover of Horses. With her strong nose and thin, rangy frame, she's still androgynous, but her appearance, 30 years on, now has something of a 'ragged glory' aura.

But the article ends with pure Patti, and some of the best middle-aged musings I've heard in a while:

Of the Horses recreation, Smith says, 'I wanted to do it while I'm still physically able to execute it with full heart and voice. 'I had nicer hair back then, but my voice is actually stronger now! I'm 58 years old, but I haven't lost anything, 'cos I've learnt to take good care of myself. I want to be around a really long time. I want to be a thorn in the side of everything as long as possible.'

If you know Patti's music, you must read the article.

Starbucks...McDonalds....Starbucks....McDonalds?

Which is it?

Believe it or not, the picture below is from a publicity shot of a McDonald's in Illinois. While I might be more inclined to actually go into one of these restaurants, why should I when most everything I might want is at Starbucks?

God only knows who Starbucks ripped off to get their interior design. Is anything original anymore?

Stem Cells and Stupidity

From Think Progress...I can't resist passing this one along. The stupidity, the hypocrisy is truly mind-boggling, but what else is new?

The Culture of Life? Yeah, right.

Getting Smarter About This Stuff (I hope)

The conference I attended in NYC on content syndication (via blogging/RSS feeds...and more) ended up benefitting both my work life and my alternative universe (aka this blog). So lately, most of my on-computer time lately has been spent reading other bloggers, especially some of the experienced folks who made presentations at the conference. The results so far? I've added an RSS feed here, as well as a new site meter.

On the less visible side, I've learned about some of the sites (like Technorati and SubPub) where you can find out who may be linking to you and perhaps what others are saying about your work (and you). It's actually incredible to begin to contemplate just how many people are doing this kind of thing -- for busines or pleasure. I will add some of the learnings here in a post next week, as well as links to some of the very interesting blogs that I think a lot of you will enjoy.

Just wanted to explain why there's been not much heft to the recent posts. I hope the end result will be a better, more interesting and user-friendly blog.

AND, of course, there will be more comments about the political doings in DC...which are mind-boggling per usual. (BTW, one of the most interesting presentations at the conference were from folks on the Dean campaign -- and Markos of "DailyKos" fame. Very interesting discussion on their experiences during the last election cycle.)

Later, folks.

the Marriott Marquis Lobby (from 18th floor)..crazy elevators, eh?

Well, this too is not a bad view. I hope I'll be able to sleep with this guy staring at me.

Not a bad view...from my hotel room on the 18th floor....

I Love NY

In NYC for a two-day conference, and staying in the heart of Times Square. It's amazing how quickly one gets into the rhythm of this city...you start walking with that vacant square with no eye contact with anyone, brushing shoulders with people who don't quite cross the street fast enough and avoiding the locals trying to burn the out-of-towners on every other street corner. Aaaaah, I love NY!

A new sign in South Dakota...makes a lot of sense, eh?

The Ladies Beading and Socialist Society

The People's Republic of Cambridge was the site of the first-ever meeting of the International Ladies Beading and Socialist Society. As always, Comrade Grout provided the food and hospitality; soon-to-be attorney Batal assured everyone that no laws were being broken -- and we hope she won't report us to authorities anyway; "Ms. Green Jeans" Melia delivered horticultural tips while slicing the asparagus in precise 53.2 centimeter sections. Associate members Christine and Joanne wondered how they stumbled into a meeting with this bunch of wack-o left-wingers, while Junior Auxilliary Member Jenni earned even more extra credit for her art class...bringing her grade point average up to an astounding 10.5 -- setting the all-time record for freshwomen at Cambridge Rindge and Latin.

All in all, a great time for everyone, with Entertainment Committee Chair (aka Beckperson) delivering the beading equipment and documenting the event as shown below:



OK, which one is the mother and which one is the daughter?

Chris is hoping to get a new title!

I think Joanne's done this before!

Jenni made some beautiful necklaces!

Hey Rita, you have outdone yourself!

Julie's creation!

Is Chris asleep?

Too much wine? Nahhh

Hard at work....

We Won't be Foulked Again

Well done, Mr. Varitek.

Best Bumper Sticker Seen in California

But wait, is that a bullet hole next to it? Sheesh.

Write Your Own Caption, Part Deux

Well, I thought the other picture was interesting, but this one tops it, by far! These are kindergarten children in North Korea taking target practice. Have no idea where this came from.

Just Too Damn Easy

OK, write your own caption. Enjoy!

I Love James Wolcott

Here's his latest diatribe against the Chimp, from which I have excerpted the following. He is responding to a CNN reporter saying the administration owes Tony Blair, so perhaps they would work on global warming, something near and dear to the British PM's heart:

Like his party and the rightwing media that pimps for it (about which voice of sanity Molly Ivins has more to say), Dubya places religion over science, refuses to acknowledge that global warming even exists as a planetary peril, and has never shown the slightest interest in conservation, mass transport, or anything else that might prevent the paving over of every inch of countryside. He would plant oil rigs in Arlington Cemetery and shovel straight through the bones of dead soldiers if reserves were discovered beneath the rows of white crosses, and chainsaw the last tree in the rainforest out of pure spite.

I would give a lot to be able to write like Mr. Wolcott, who is now a writer at Vanity Fair. If you haven't read his blog, shame on you.

Indeed.

The Nuclear Option

A lot has been made of the coming fight in the Senate over potential (and current) judicial nominees. For those of you who don't live in places like Massachusetts and California, it may be time to get in touch with your senator to let them know you're paying attention to their votes. There must be hope for Ohio, with Senator Voinovich getting his recent attack of conscience over John Bolton.

Here's a message from Ted Kennedy for inspiration. Here's a link to the Senate directory to make life easy for you. Can't say I never gave you any help, now can you? Good luck!

FOXBlocker: An Idea Whose Time Has Come

Saw this article the other day and wanted to share with all the rest of you non-fans of Fox:

Hunting for Fox: Device blacks out network's news
By Mark Jurkowitz, Globe Staff | April 14, 2005

It started when Joshua Montgomery and Sam Kimery went to a showing last summer of ''Outfoxed" in Tulsa, Okla. Liberal filmmaker Robert Greenwald's unflattering portrait of the Fox News Channel as a conservative propaganda outlet stirred them to action.

''Josh and I decided in the first 15 minutes of the show that we kind of have to do something," says Kimery, a 44-year-old technical writer who runs a small electronics company. ''It was very obvious that there was something very wrong with calling [what Fox does] news."

Adds Montgomery, a 27-year-old aerospace engineer: ''The problem is they really misrepresent themselves as 'Fair and Balanced.' "

So the partners created a strategy and a company. And if their product with the catchy name -- the FOXBlocker -- hasn't exactly become a household word, it has inspired a small group of activists opposing Fox News Channel to launch a unique boycott that may end up causing headaches for some cable operators.

The operation began by selling the FOXBlocker -- a metal device about the size of a C battery that screws into the back of the TV set and that can filter out the Fox News Channel -- for $8.95. Montgomery says he and Kimery managed to move about 100 of the items by the end of last month. But selling the device for that sum was a flawed business model.

''When you factor in labor," he says, ''we're literally losing money hand over fist."

So the anti-Fox brigades are trying a different tactic. About a year ago, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association announced that a number of cable companies would offer channel-blocking equipment free of charge to any customer who does not possess that capability.

Now the FOXBlocker website exhorts supporters to ask their cable company to come to their home to install a device to keep out the Fox News Channel.

The campaign was unveiled this month, Montgomery says, and more than 700 people participated in the first week. He figures that each trip to install a filter costs the cable company about $50 in parts and labor.

Brian Dietz, a spokesman for the cable association, says the new FOXBlocker strategy adheres to the letter -- if not exactly the spirit -- of the cable industry offer. He says the decision to offer free blocking was ''launched over concerns about indecent content on television," not to respond to complaints about news programming.

Dietz says that many cable users have the technology to block channels through their cable box. But he acknowledges that operators are technically obligated to respond to those who are asking for the Fox filter.

''The purpose of the initiative is to help families control unwanted programming from entering the home," he says. ''And the cable industry is not making judgments about the channels."

Irena Briganti, a spokeswoman for the Fox News Channel, says the FOXBlockers are having no impact. ''Clearly it's not working out, given that our ratings are skyrocketing," she says. (Blah, blah, blah)

According to Nielsen Media Research viewing numbers for the first quarter of 2005, the Fox News Channel is dominating the cable news wars in both prime-time and total day ratings, almost doubling the average audience of second-place CNN.

At the same time, the outlet continues to generate journalistic criticism. A recent study by the nonpartisan Washington-based Project for Excellence in Journalism concluded that when it came to cable news, ''Fox was measurably more one-sided than the other networks and Fox journalists were more opinionated on the air."

The survey said that 68 percent of the Fox News Channel stories analyzed included ''personal opinions" from Fox reporters.

The Fox News Channel has also been a frequent target for liberal media critics. But one such organization, while expressing sympathy toward the FOXBlockers, has some qualms with the unorthodox strategy.

''It's the response of people who are righteously annoyed by Fox's false advertising and who are unable to see their views regularly presented on cable TV," says Steve Rendall, senior analyst for the liberal watchdog group Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting, based in New York. ''Do we endorse FOXBlocker? No, because we would like to see more diversity in cable broadcasting. We think viewers benefit from opinions they don't believe in."

HA Couldn't happen to a nicer network. (All emphases mine.)

Putting Kids First

Anyone want to co-sponsor John Kerry's Kids First legislation? Here's the link -- go for it.

Don't Look Now

But the Yankees truly suck.

This calls for a return of Slappy McBluelips:

OK, It's Desert Island Time

As a middle-aged woman's fancy turns to springtime, we look for some new ways to get you lurkers out there involved in this very blog.

Here's the age-old scenario...you find yourself on a desert island with a malfunctioning iPod (or other newfangled) jukebox, but you have a supply of never-ending batteries. So, what 10 "albums" would you want to have available to you? Here's mine (in no particular order):

1. Blue, Joni Mitchell
2. The Grass is Blue, Dolly Parton
3. Diva, Annie Lennox
4. Rythmn of the Saints, Paul Simon
5. Lonely Runs Both Ways, Alison Krauss and Union Station
6. Red Dirt Girl, Emmylou Harris
7. Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, Lucinda Williams
8. Live in New York City, Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band
9. The Revolution Starts Now, Steve Earle
10.Bruised Orange, John Prine

Honorable Mentions (I know this is cheating, but how can you pass these classics up?):
Horses, Patti Smith
Blood on the Tracks, Bob Dylan
Goin' Back to New Orleans, Dr John
Time (the Revelator), Gillian Welch
Moondance, Van Morrison
Any Miles Davis recordings -- I'm not enough of a jazz expert to choose one, but I suppose "Kind of Blue" would work, eh?

What is your list? Care to share?