Daily Ramblings:
You Win Again ...11/18/2004 10:17:56 am
So, Like A Rolling Stone is the greatest song of all time, according to Rolling Stone magazine via their committee of artists and other music biz types.
I admit to being surprised - I really thought they were going to go for Disease Of Conceit.
And that line of thinking reminds me of the time when Dylan commented on the songs of his that Amnesty International chose to use to close out their mega-big-star-benefit shows in the late 80s.
In Upper Darby, PA, on Oct. 14th, 1988, Dylan is quoted as saying from the stage (in a rap he repeated several more times during that tour):
"Thank you! There's this Amnesty Tour going on right now. Last year they also had an Amnesty Tour. I was really honored when they used a song, a Bob Dylan song, to close the Amnesty show last year, the song 'I Shall Be Released'. We're gonna play that later. This year, they, to my surprise, they chose another song called 'Chimes Of Freedom' to close this year's show. I'm hopin' next year they might choose this song!" (before playing In The Garden).
...11/17/2004 04:24:07 pm
This is what you get for re-electing Bush, you dumb hicks! Where have all the species gone!?
Umm, oh ...
The report found that threatened species are often concentrated in areas that are poor and densely populated, such as much of Asia and Africa.
Not in the USA, where Bushitler poisons the water and chops down the trees and strip mines the landscape in an insatiable lust for money and oil?
Someone must be missing something.
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No Time To Think ...11/17/2004 01:23:54 pm
And pertinent to the current so-called controversy regarding the Marine shooting an Islamofascist thug in Fallujah, is this very to-the-point post by someone who has some relevant experience. It's being linked around a lot and deservedly so.
One thing I'd add, speaking as someone who has no experience, but someone who cares about what words mean: the poster already ably defends the Marines on the grounds that this is a situation where "there's no paddy wagon rolling around Fallujah picking up 'prisoners' and offering them a hot cup a joe, falafel, and a blanket."
However, with all the lazy references in the media to this thug being a "prisoner," or insinuating that the Marines should have set about making him a prisoner, I've seen not one shred of evidence that the thug in question even indicated his willingness to surrender in any way. Later on the same videotape, another wounded thug does just that - indicates that he is giving up and means no harm. He does not get shot. Surrendering is something of a prerequisite to becoming a prisoner of war, is it not?
Again, I have no experience in these matters, but I'm a human being, and I know that if I were surrounded by heavily armed enemy soldiers and I in fact desired to surrender (rather than be killed) I would use whatever scrap of strength I had left to indicate that fact to them. On the other hand, if I wanted to bide my time and grab an opportunity to do the enemy some harm, I would play dead.
The Marine in question (who had been shot in the face the previous day) should not only be exonerated, but should be decorated. And as infuriating as the current media yapping is, Right Wing Bob predicts exactly that ultimate result.
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May Your Song Always Be Sung ...11/17/2004 10:52:43 am
At various times during this young century, including during early 2002 (when the war on terror was little more than 3 months old), Bob Dylan has performed the following song. It's a song credited to Roy Acuff, which has been recorded by (amongst others) the Louvin Brothers, Kitty Wells, and Ralph Stanley.
Searching For A Soldier's Grave
You ask me stranger why I made this journey
Why cross 3 thousand miles of rolling waves
Like many others my loved one's killed in action
So I'm here, I'm searching for his grave
Somewhere among these many thousands
Of Americans who died true and brave
That's where I know I'll find him resting
So I'm here, I'm searching for his grave
Beside each cross mark here all around me
I'll lean down and gladly pray a prayer
For all of their loved ones
Back home across the ocean
Whose heart like mine is buried over here
Somewhere among these many thousands
Of Americans who died true and brave
That's where I know I'll find him resting
So I'm here, I'm searching for his grave
Interestingly, and sickeningly, even the mere occasional live performance of a song with such sentiments was too much to take for some listeners.
May God bless the U.S. Marines, and all who serve in this country's military, and all who have served.
Addendum: visitor Lorenzo points to a tangible way to show support to the Marines in particular: Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund
One More Weekend ...11/14/2004 10:32:12 pm
Along with the announcement of Dylan's forthcoming appearance at the inaugural, could there be another Christmas present coming, from down home in Waziristan? Probably not; we've heard this kind of thing from the Pakistanis before. But you never know. Would make a nice double whammy.
I hate to keep plugging this guy, but Iowahawk has something of a seismic nutshell paradigmatic piece of writing right here that shouldn't be missed.
Those Boulder High School kids have gotten away with performing "Masters Of War" without being arrested by the Secret Service. A few nights in Guantanamo might have done them a world of good, but since Right Wing Bob didn't exactly have his politics all together at that age either, maybe it's better to leave them alone. I have to say that song is one where I always think Bob could have expressed himself more clearly. He obviously thinks so himself, since it's one where he's felt compelled on several occasions to go on the record as to what it's about. As in USA Today in 2001, where he said that it "is supposed to be a pacifistic song against war. It's not an anti-war song. It's speaking against what Eisenhower was calling a military industrial complex as he was making his exit from the presidency." Dylan isn't remotely dumb - he knows that when he sings that song today at concerts some of his audience continues to look at it as a simple anti-war song - but it's something that is just ingrained in him. That is, he trusts his songs to live on their own, even when they're misinterpreted.
Iran and EU have agreed on security issues. That should sure make everyone feel a lot better. I'm torn between wanting to see this as a Khaddafy-esque capitulation in the face of 4 more years of Dubya, or seeing it as just a sly side-step in anticipation of being able to sneak in enough shenanigans to succeed in making a bomb anyway. OK, I'm not that torn: it's the latter.
You told yourself a lie; that's alright mama, I told myself one too
Going, Going, Gone ...11/11/2004 09:05:23 pm
This LGF post is probably the most succinct summation of Arafat's legacy, with its link to a timeline of Yasser's crimes, and another link to a partial list of his victims.
With the above info in mind, I wonder if Jimmy Carter is thinking back to the 2/21/70 bombing of Swissair Flight 330 (killing 47 people) when he calls Arafat "a powerful human symbol and forceful advocate" who gave "indispensable leadership to a revolutionary movement." Or maybe it's the attack on the Israeli schoolbus on 5/8/70 (killing nine children and 3 teachers) that brings a tear of admiration to Jimbo's eye. Or maybe it's the more recent examples of forceful advocacy that Jimmy so wants to celebrate. One wonders what kind of eulogy the peanut farmer will be giving to Osama Bin Laden when his ticket finally gets punched.
Oh, but I forgot, Carter and Arafat are after all both alumni of the Nobel Peace program. Naturally they would think alike. And all the peace loving folk at the UN are hailing the dead terrorist and "calling for continued international efforts to realize Arafat's dream of a Palestinian state living peacefully with Israel." Hmmm, I must have missed that particular "I have a dream" speech.
China Daily pulls no punches and waxes quite poetic.
He has gone quietly but forever, with his long cherished wishes unfulfilled.
...
His life was full of legend. Throughout his life, the veteran Palestinian leader miraculously survived several assassination attempts plotted by Israeli intelligence agencies, several plane and car accidents, and a serious stroke.
...
Now Arafat is gone and so is the symbol of peace and independence for Palestinians.Doesn't leave much doubt as to where they stand on who the bad guys are, does it?
Just remember: death is not the end ...11/09/2004 10:06:15 am
The wonders of modern medicine allow us to experience one of the more remarkably orchestrated deaths in history. For someone who has caused the deaths of so many innocents and inspired so many monsters in his wake, it is perhaps some small semblance of justice that the timing of his own death is being cynically manipulated by his soulless money grubbing wife and his own would-be successors.
This is the kind of love you've truly earned, Yasser.
.
The Dirt Of Gossip...11/08/2004 04:07:06 pm
An Indian news service reports that Dylan is threatening to sue some people:
[Hollywood News]: London, Nov. 8 : Veteran singer Bob Dylan has threatened to sue the makers of the movie 'Factory Girl' which is reportedly based on the life of heiress Edie Sedgwick who allegedly had an affair with Dylan in the early 60's.
According to the Daily Mail, the movie starring Sienna Miller depicts the love triangle between Edie Sedgwick, Dylan and artist Andy Warhol in 1965. Dylan is portrayed as intent on rescuing Edie from the decadence of Warhol's New York studio.
"I have no clue where they got this story," the aide said. "Not only did they not obtain Bob Dylan's approval but we were totally unaware of the existence of the project. I do not see how this film can ever get made," a source close to Dylan was quoted as saying.I don't have any comment on this. I just like to pip Expecting Rain when I can.
Original text copyright © 2004 by RightWingBob.com
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