R.I.P. my Fellow Miriam

Miriam Makeba was a South African singer and critic of Apartheid. Her music was in the style of African folk and her support of the oppressed never wavered, even when she was banned from her homeland in 1960. She died yesterday in Rome after performing at a concert to benefit those who oppose the mafia. She was 76. Goodbye Miriam, i am proud to have shared a name with you.

Gay Marriage & the Bible

So i've been thinking about gay marriage ever since the American election. i find i take issue with the passing of Proposition 8 in California and the reasons for the objections to gay equality in America. i was raised a Catholic and i can say i don't appreciate these objectors hiding behind the Bible as their defence for their stance. the Bible is a big book. the statement of gay relationships to be an abomination is only one small part of this book.
and so i've been wondering... there are other parts of the Bible that these homophobes could have just as easily as glommed on to. what about the parts of the Bible that prohibit eating pork and say that all males must be circumcised. only Jewish people do these things religiously; so does that mean the rest of us are going to hell?
also, i don't remember Jesus hating on anyone. Jesus hung with the lepers and hookers; people society spat on or forgot.
i think these people who claim to be acting on behalf of the Lord should answer one question, who proclaimed you the saviors of all our souls?

Cool Word of the Day

Phalanx. Usually used to describe military troops, arranged for maximum defense, but can also mean a group of people united with a common goal. Another definition is the bones of the fingers and toes.  

The Dave Clark Five

The Dave Clark Five burst onto the music scene as part of the British Invasion in the early 1960's. Dave Clark was drummer and principle songwriter. The group broke up in 1970 due to in-fighting and the changing music scene. Despite being very popular, many have all but forgotten the DC5.

Chuck Baris & The Gong Show

The Gong Show was a 1970's variety show, but would now be known as a "reality" show. Chuck Baris was the host. The premise was that acts of dubious merit would perform before a panel of celebrity judges who were given 20 seconds before they could end an act's performance by hitting a large gong, known as "gonging". if an act survived without being gonged, the judges rated their performance on a scale of one to ten. the show sometimes got away with provocative acts, including the one in this video.

Chuck Baris later wrote an autobiography, which was made into a movie, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, in which he claimed to be a CIA spy while he was the host of The Gong Show. Sounds like he went a little crazy, no?

Shouldn't "What About Love" Have a Question Mark at the End of It?

I will admit, I love a good power ballad. "What About Love" is the quintessential power ballad. here it is, for your viewing pleasure.

It's the Wonder of Nature, Baby

after doing a crazy & lethal sweep over Haiti and Cuba, Hurricane Ike hit Texas early this morning and flooded most of Galveston. here are some photos of Ike's wrath.