Radio Should Be Free

Was a time not too long ago
I spent the day with XM radio
Tuned it in on the internet
Streamed it for hours
No charge, no rent.

Then came the day
Free XM went away
Now I tune in Launchpad
To keep me company
Radio should be free.

"Black Friday" they call today, the Friday after Thanksgiving and so called because traditionally, its the day when retailers break into the black for the first time of the year.

Pictures of people standing in line in front of WalMart awaiting its 6:00 AM opening to glom onto the "great deals" they think are inside. I did my part stopping in at the local Ace Hardware store. I found a cordless Dremel for $19.99, a 1 quart crotchpot for $1.98, an electric nut chopper for $1.98, 30 AA batteries for $4.98, a 16' tape measure for $.99, and a 41 piece ratchet set for $4.99. Holy moly! Christmas shopping is complete! Hope my honey likes the chopper and crotchpot I got her.

I received the following in my e-mail today. I recall hearing something about it in the news and presume most of it is factual.

===============================================

You may recall, the Aladdin Casino in Las Vegas "threw out" Linda Ronstadt for her anti American stance while performing recently. This caused Michael Moore, Director of Fahrenheit 9/11, to send a strong letter of complaint to the President of the Aladdin.

Here is his letter, and the reply from Mr. Timmins.

Response to Michael Moore's, "Open Letter to Bill Timmins, President Aladdin Casino and Hotel"

As you most likely know, Michael Moore posted the following letter:

After the letter, you will find the response...

PLEASE READ MR. TIMMINS RESPONSE. IT IS EXCELLENT.

KUDOS TO MR. TIMMINS!

--------------------------

Bill Timmins President Aladdin Casino and Hotel Las Vegas, NV

July 20, 2004

Dear Mr. Timmins:

I understand from the news reports I've read that, after Linda Ronstadt, one of America's greatest singers, dedicated a song to me from your stage on Saturday night, you instructed your security guards to remove her from the Aladdin, which they did.

What country do you live in? Last time I checked, Las Vegas is still in the United States. And in the United States, we have something called "The First Amendment." This constitutional right gives everyone here the right to say whatever they want to say. All Americans hold this right as sacred. Many of our young people put on a uniform and risk their lives to defend it. My film is all about asking the questions that should have been asked before those brave soldiers were sent into harms way.

For you to throw Linda Ronstadt off the premises because she dared to say a few words in support of me and my film, is simply stupid and Un-American. Frankly, I have never heard of such a thing happening. I read that you wouldn't even let her go back up to her room at your hotel! Are you crazy? For crying out loud, it was a song DEDICATION! To "Desperado!" Every American loves that song! Sure, some people didn't like the dedication, and that's their right.

But neither they nor you have the right to remove her from your building when all she did was exercise her AMERICAN right to speak her mind. Of all the things that go on in Las Vegas, this is what creates the need for serious action? What about the other half of the crowd at the Aladdin who, according to the Las Vegas Sun, cheered her when she made her remarks?

Did you throw them out, too?

I think you owe Ms. Ronstadt an apology. And I have an idea how you can make it up to her -- and to the millions of Americans you have offended. Invite her back and I'll join her in singing "America the Beautiful" on your stage.

Then I will show "Fahrenheit 9/11" free of charge to all your guests and anyone else in Las Vegas who wants to see it.

Mr. Timmins, as the song "Desperado" says -- "Come to your senses!" How can you refuse this offer? I await your reply.

Yours, Michael Moore Director, "Fahrenheit 9/11"

===============================================

Response

===============================================

July 21, 2004

Attention: Michael Moore,

In response to your letter dated July 20, 2004: You are correct that I had security remove Linda Ronstadt from Aladdin Casino and Hotel where the fun never ends and everybody wins.

How very interesting to learn you are such a fan of Ms. Ronstadt. You questioned where I live and surprisingly knew Las Vegas is in the United States. You should visit it sometime. There are thousands of wonderful 'All You Can Eat' buffets.

There are also a lot of casinos who's owners don't **** around. I am aware of the First Amendment and you have the right to talk about your hatred of America but once you are on my property and you are upsetting my guests, you will quickly learn about my rights.

I can't remember if it was Jesus or George W. Bush that said, "Freedom is a two-way street." Ms. Ronstadt learned this long before I had her thrown out of my casino. You question my actions? If you come onto my property and upset my guests, you will receive the same, if not worse, treatment than Ms. Ronstadt received. I am sure your mere presence would upset my guests.

You claim your film, "... is all about asking the questions that should have been asked before those brave soldiers were sent into harms way." I think your film does nothing but aid the enemy and hurt our troops. You have betrayed our troops, our leader and America. I have no respect for you or your vision of what America should be.

I paid Ms. Ronstadt to entertain my guests, not divide them. The half that did not leave probably thought the verse you mentioned, "Why don't you come to your senses" was addressed to you. Maybe she should have dedicated her song, 'You're No Good' to you. I would have asked her back, had she done that.

Regarding your request for me to apologize to her, have you and her on my stage singing anything about this Country and then playing your piece of **** film is ludicrous!

One of my workers is currently throwing away every complaint letter from brainless followers of you, claiming they will never visit my Casino. I could not be more pleased to know my casino and hotel will always be void of the kind of people who support you. Meanwhile, my hotel has been quickly booked solid for the rest of the year with true Americans who love this Country and support our efforts overseas.

They will see a framed copy of your letter and my response in the lobby to ensure they begin their experience with a laugh.

Sincerely,

Bill Timmins President Aladdin Casino and Hotel Las Vegas, NV

108 degrees
too hot for me
a movie matinee
with my sweetie.

A life is only brief
In the eternal scheme of things
So what comes next
Is the important stuff

How we live each day
Determines what comes next
And what we do
Is who we are

Live a lot
Burn the candle at both ends
For life is short
And memories are not

Summer fog
Got me down
Need some sun
To bring me around

Summer sun
Too damn hot
90's and hundreds
For me are not

Gimme my fog
Let me freeze once more
My skin is burned
I can't take anymore

The long dreaded call
Came late last night
Papa has departed
This earthly life

The light long lit
Has finally gone out
No more to sing
No longer to shout

The torch passes on
To me his namesake
One son to one son
Next to my one son too

From Henry and Robert from the 1600's
To Elliott and his father, Robert Davids,
To me in the 21st century
What a long and tangled web of history we make

Rest in peace my father
And we too will soon be passing
From this life to the next
From history to eternity

Holiday Weekend

Memorial Day on the California Delta...
A nice intro to summer - warm and breezy.
Ski boats booming out the latest tunes as they head for fast water.
Good times are soon to be had as they race down Indian Slough
Toward Skiers Beach to hang after a few runs.

Boards and vibes
Make you realize
Summer is here!

Breakfast In New York

Hotel Charges $1,000 for Omelet


May 17, 7:55 AM (ET)


NEW YORK (AP) - It's not made of gold - just eggs, lobster, caviar and a few trimmings. But an omelet on the menu of a swanky Manhattan hotel will set you back $1,000, plus tip.

"I couldn't believe it was the price when I first saw '1,000' on the menu. I thought it was the calorie count," Virginia Marnell, a customer at Norma's restaurant in Le Parker Meridien hotel on West 57th Street, told the Daily News for Monday editions.

The omelet, which debuted May 5 and is billed as the "Zillion Dollar Frittata," has six eggs, a lobster and - here's the kicker - 10 ounces of sevruga caviar. The restaurant pays $65 an ounce for the caviar, according to Norma's general manager, Steven Pipes.

"Since we knew it was going to be a very expensive dish, we decided to have some fun with it," Pipes told the News. "It's not just a gimmick, though. It tastes good."

Beside the omelet's entry in the menu is the following message: "Norma dares you to expense this."

No one has ordered it yet.

A "budget" version of the omelet, containing only one ounce of caviar, sells for $100.

Sleepy Sunday Morning

Listening to XM Radio sampler on-line while surfing the news - NY & LA Times, SF Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News - much about the mistreatement of prisoners in Iraq, Guantanamo Bay and Afghanistan. The hunt is on for a scalp... Rumsfeld's being the favorite. I am sure some high level heads will roll. It's too visible and shocking now.

As I sit comfortably surrounded by the warmth of new age music at my computer with the world at my fingertips, I realize how out of touch we are from "the real world", the world of fanatical Muslims and Palestinians, al Queda and other terrorist groups. Millions facing starvation in Sudan as Arab Muslims try to eliminate anything black. The world is a terrible place for many people; a hell on earth. We westerners live like kings, princes, potentates.

The religious writers had it correct that there is a place "hell". They were wrong about where it is and how you get there. It isn't after you die. It is here and it is now. Perhaps our reason for being here on earth as spiritual beings is to alleviate the suffering of those living in hell. Each one of us lucky ones saving one other person from their living hell would create heaven on earth. Am I a dreamer or just a simpleton, moron, idiot, imbecile?

Barking at the moon and other natural wonders - eclipses, lightning and heavy surf after a storm come to mind - are a wonderful release. They seem like innate behaviors harkening back to our beginning as primordial beings just dry after crawling out of the swampy stew of life celebrating life and being alive.

For me, languaging is a lot like that; painting pictures with words.

I blog
therefore
I am

Great article appeared in the Washington Post today about the effects of illegal immigration on California. Los Angeles beginning to look a lot like Mexico City. People buying $350,000. homes and renting them out to illegals who make the payments by sleeping in shifts packed 20-30 per home. Discarding garbage, rubbish and unwanted detritus on the streets and alleys, just like they do back home in Juarez or Guadalajara where there is no public sanitation or garbage pickup. Overwhelming healthcare and schools and free public services. Hollowing out the middle class which is fleeing in droves including blacks. What'll be left are the working class and the wealthy.

Who supports illegal immigration? There is a very heavy cost. And you and I are paying it.

I have no patience for incompetence or incompetents.
Don't waste my time with speculations you masquerade as facts.
If you suck me in via technology, make sure it works.
I guess it doesn't matter when you're making $10 or 20 bucks an hour.
But it sure as shit matters when your time is worth $100, $500, $1,000 or more.
Waste my time wisely or you won't get any.

Everything is alive, even rocks.
Everything is connected.
Everything here now
Will be here for eternity.
We are eternal souls.

From Ananova March 26, 2004:

Top doc backs picking your nose and eating it

Picking your nose and eating it is one of the best ways to stay healthy, according to a top Austrian doctor.

Innsbruck-based lung specialist Prof Dr Friedrich Bischinger said people who pick their noses with their fingers were healthy, happier and probably better in tune with their bodies.

He says society should adopt a new approach to nose-picking and encourage children to take it up.

Dr Bischinger said: "With the finger you can get to places you just can't reach with a handkerchief, keeping your nose far cleaner.

"And eating the dry remains of what you pull out is a great way of strengthening the body's immune system.

"Medically it makes great sense and is a perfectly natural thing to do. In terms of the immune system the nose is a filter in which a great deal of bacteria are collected, and when this mixture arrives in the intestines it works just like a medicine.

"Modern medicine is constantly trying to do the same thing through far more complicated methods, people who pick their nose and eat it get a natural boost to their immune system for free."

He pointed out that children happily pick their noses, yet by the time they have become adults they have stopped under pressure from a society that has branded it disgusting and anti social.

He said: "I would recommend a new approach where children are encouraged to pick their nose. It is a completely natural response and medically a good idea as well."

And he pointed out that if anyone was really worried about what their neighbour was thinking, they could still enjoy picking their nose in private if they still wanted to get the benefits it offered.

MIKE ROWE SOFT

An article appeared in today's Seattle Times reporting
that a 17 year old Vancouver, B.C. geek named his
web-site sort of after himself - Mike Rowe Soft.
Microsoft offered him $10.00 to transfer the website
name to them but are now threatening to sue him
after he held out for $1,000.00. Big business is blind. (and arrogant!)

Compaq X09 Update

After hours too numerous to mention, I finally have
my new Compaq X09 computer running nicely. Most of the programs and websites I like are now loaded
on it. The sound card finally is pounding out tunes
out of all four speakers and subwoofer - awesome!

Now I need to learn how to use the video features
(nVidia Geoforce video card) for movie creation and
editing. Lots to learn, new games to play and time
to waste!

Wednesday

Is it me or is Chinese food better reheated than when freshly cooked? We had take-out Chinese for dinner last night and tonight is leftover time. Yum, yum!

I am starting to become concerned with the spending deficit the government is running up and the trade deficit we Americans are causing via our consumer purchases. Neither bodes well for the dollar or our economy. And a jobless recovery due to outsourcing of jobs to parts of the world paying laborers less isn't going to help.

What happens when nothing is Made in America and the dollar is too weak to buy anything made elsewhere? Who do we blame? I think I'll retire.