There are millions of sports fans across the world who celebrated the retirement of Kobe Bryant yesterday.
I wasn't one of them--mostly because I'm not a big fan of rapists.
I can't say I was particularly surprised that the traditional media managed to spend an entire season lionizing Bryant without mentioning his greatest legacy in America: turning the act of slut shaming into an art. In the process womens' lives are ruined and sports stars go on being superstars making their millions instead of being sent to prison where they belong. Thanks to Bryant, Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger got away with sexually assaulting two women, Blackhawks' forward Patrick Kane got away with one, and no one's really sure how many former Florida State, and now Tampa Bay Buccaneer quarterback, Jameis Winston got away with.
Fortunately, there is still a thriving alternative media and Think Progress yesterday called into question all of the hoopla surrounding Bryant's last days in the NBA--calling out the ignorant idolatry while a guilty man goes free just because he has lots of money (well worth the read).
For those who think the women involved in these cases were merely gold diggers, I highly suggest reading the Think Progress piece--to a person, each of these women's lives were ruined and some even had to go into hiding. They are not victims once, but victims again and again because rich men can afford lawyers that get paid to destroy their reputations, lives, and families to protect sexual deviants.
As noted at the end of the article, it's highly likely that had Kobe Bryant been Kobe Bryant, janitor, or Kobe Bryant, shoe store manager, he'd be in prison.
And for those who still choose to celebrate his accomplishments, I ask you this: would you be comfortable having your wife, your mother, your sister, or your daughter in a room alone with Kobe Bryant (or Roethlisberger or Kane or Winston)?
I know I sure wouldn't.
Peace,
emaycee
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Who's cooler than cool?
Bruce Springsteen, that's who.
Springsteen this week cancelled a concert in North Carolina in response to the passage of HB2, which is a law that basically allows hateful rednecks to discriminate against anyone based on their sexual orientation or sexual identity. It was a nice big middle finger to North Carolina republicans and their hate mongering Governor, Pat McCrory, and could just be the opening that leads to a Democratic victory in North Carolina in this fall's Presidential election.
Is there any question that the rightful heir to the legacy of Woody Guthrie is Bruce Springsteen? For all the once upon a time talk about Bob Dylan (who's keeping busy these days doing Frank Sinatra covers--can you say culturally irrelevant, boys and girls?), it's Springsteen who, even though he's in his late sixties and has had an avalanche of commercial success, continues to fight the good fight for the least among us and uses his talent and fame for the betterment of all, just like Guthrie did right up until his death.
Though he's a much richer man than most of us, if there's anyone of his stature who could still be called a working class hero, it's Bruce Springsteen.
A class act if ever there was one.
Peace,
emaycee
Springsteen this week cancelled a concert in North Carolina in response to the passage of HB2, which is a law that basically allows hateful rednecks to discriminate against anyone based on their sexual orientation or sexual identity. It was a nice big middle finger to North Carolina republicans and their hate mongering Governor, Pat McCrory, and could just be the opening that leads to a Democratic victory in North Carolina in this fall's Presidential election.
Is there any question that the rightful heir to the legacy of Woody Guthrie is Bruce Springsteen? For all the once upon a time talk about Bob Dylan (who's keeping busy these days doing Frank Sinatra covers--can you say culturally irrelevant, boys and girls?), it's Springsteen who, even though he's in his late sixties and has had an avalanche of commercial success, continues to fight the good fight for the least among us and uses his talent and fame for the betterment of all, just like Guthrie did right up until his death.
Though he's a much richer man than most of us, if there's anyone of his stature who could still be called a working class hero, it's Bruce Springsteen.
A class act if ever there was one.
Peace,
emaycee
Day old bread
Aged and tired Senators John McCain of Arizona and Chuck Grassley of Iowa were in the news (yawn...) again this week. McCain made the bold claim that based on republican primary turnout they won't need Latino voters in 2016 to win elections (bullshit, but please keep believing it), and Grassley for whining that he (deservedly) might well lose in his umpteenth re-election bid this November thanks to his utter incompetence as the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committe, fiddle farting around while the Supreme Court opening left by Antonin Scalia's death remains vacant. If America wants two faces to best describe everything that's wrong with Congress, I can't think of two better ones than McCain and Grassley. McCain hasn't met an American soldier he wouldn't gladly send off to be killed in another pointless war, and Grassley has been republicans' best lap dog, following the orders of lightweights like Mitch McConnell and John Boehner for so long now that it's impossible to believe he's capable of thinking for himself.
It's hard to think of two Senators who have spent the amount of time these two have in the Senate (thirty years for McCain and thirty-six for Grassley) and have accomplished less. McCain seems to get by because he's a war hero (plenty of war heroes in America who have not sucked on the public teat for thirty years and have actually accomplished something other than getting re-elected). Grassley, on the other hand, is famed for visiting each of Iowa's ninety-nine counties each year (and this accomplishes for the American people exactly what?).
While it's unlikely, there is nothing better the voters of Arizona and Iowa could do this November than send these two into permanent retirement. Stale, indolent, and inert are not what the American people need from their representatives in Washington, and at this juncture that's pretty much all we're getting from McCain and Grassley.
Peace,
emaycee
It's hard to think of two Senators who have spent the amount of time these two have in the Senate (thirty years for McCain and thirty-six for Grassley) and have accomplished less. McCain seems to get by because he's a war hero (plenty of war heroes in America who have not sucked on the public teat for thirty years and have actually accomplished something other than getting re-elected). Grassley, on the other hand, is famed for visiting each of Iowa's ninety-nine counties each year (and this accomplishes for the American people exactly what?).
While it's unlikely, there is nothing better the voters of Arizona and Iowa could do this November than send these two into permanent retirement. Stale, indolent, and inert are not what the American people need from their representatives in Washington, and at this juncture that's pretty much all we're getting from McCain and Grassley.
Peace,
emaycee
Monday, April 11, 2016
...Or you will surely get it
While much has been made (and rightfully so) over comments made by Wisconsin republican Rep. Glenn Grothman in which he freely admits that the voter ID law passed in his state was designed to suppress Democratic votes, I was actually quite pleased with another part of his statement that for the most part has been ignored: "I think Hillary Clinton is about the weakest candidate the Democrats have ever put up."
Seriously? A former First Lady, Senator from New York, and Secretary of State? Weakest candidate ever?
God how I hope republicans as a whole embrace this notion wholeheartedly--if memory serves, her husband opened a can of whoop ass on republicans twice in Presidential elections, and she did the same twice in Senatorial election.
I'm sure a fifth ass kicking would taste just as sweet.
Peace,
emaycee
Seriously? A former First Lady, Senator from New York, and Secretary of State? Weakest candidate ever?
God how I hope republicans as a whole embrace this notion wholeheartedly--if memory serves, her husband opened a can of whoop ass on republicans twice in Presidential elections, and she did the same twice in Senatorial election.
I'm sure a fifth ass kicking would taste just as sweet.
Peace,
emaycee
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. LXVII--Warren Zevon: Werewolves of London
Even though it was far back in the dark ages of 1978, I can still remember buying the LP of Excitable Boy by Warren Zevon--it had gotten a five star review from Rolling Stone, was produced by the then critically and commercially successful Jackson Browne, and had a lineup of songs unlike any I'd ever heard. Zevon was headed for bigger and better things.
Alas, as life all too often works out, Excitable Boy would be the pinnacle of Zevon's career--while he would remain a critical success and the darling of many fellow artists, Zevon never again had either the commercial success or what could be considered a classic album (though I've always had a fondness for Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School). If nothing else, Zevon will never be forgotten because of this week's tune, "Werewolves of London," the catchiest song ever written about either London or werewolves.
This week's fun trivia fact that I'd completely forgotten: John McVie and Mick Fleetwood of, surprisingly enough, Fleetwood Mac fame played, respectively, bass and drums on "Werewolves of London." Oh, the thinks you can think!
Couple of other Warren Zevon factoids: "Werewolves of London" was sampled by Michigander Kid Rock in his dreadful song "All Summer Long." Mr. Rock, for those not familiar, is the Mitch Albom of rock stars--he makes you scratch your head wondering how he ever had any commercial success whatsoever due to a complete and total dearth of talent. And speaking of Mitch Albom, Zevon once recorded a song written by Albom called "Hit Somebody (The Hockey Song)" which is so horrid that if I was given a choice of listening to it or "We Are the World" on an endless loop for eternity, I wouldn't even bat an eye and choose "We Are the World."
What a good day--a rip of Kid Rock and two rips of Mitch Albom in the same paragraph! And we now return to our regularly scheduled Friday Night Jukebox...
Zevon's career began in the 1970s. He came out of the sometimes justly maligned Southern California rock scene, recording with and writing songs later recorded by artists such as the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, and Fleetwood Mac, though Zevon's writing often showed a much darker side than most SoCal songwriters. He would have continuous success critically for the remainder of his career, and the occasional minor hit (and did win a couple of Grammys) but never again quite reached the glory of his second album. Sadly, Zevon would battle alcoholism and obsessive compulsive disorder throughout his life, and died at the all too young age of 56 in 2003 from complications of lung cancer.
The greatest tribute to "Werewolves of London" is that a song that could quite easily have devolved into just another novelty song, didn't. In large part this is due to Zevon's songwriting--references to Lon Chaney, Trader Vic's, and beef chow mein aren't your standard fare in most pop songs, and when you throw in Zevon's dry wit ("His hair was perfect" or "I'd like to meet his tailor") you have a pop classic that never gets old. Zevon plays a jaunty piano throughout, which is supported by a fine rhythm section that keeps that music lively throughout. Zevon's vocals are in perfect sync with the subject matter--both humorous and unforgiving, and his howl during the chorus is one of those small touches that make it all the more memorable. All in all it's one of those songs that never gets old and will always make even a bad day a little bit better when you hear it. Guaranteed to bring a smile...
Lyric sheet: "Well, I saw Lon Chaney walkin' with the queen/Doin' the werewolves of London..."
Enjoy:
Peace,
emaycee
Alas, as life all too often works out, Excitable Boy would be the pinnacle of Zevon's career--while he would remain a critical success and the darling of many fellow artists, Zevon never again had either the commercial success or what could be considered a classic album (though I've always had a fondness for Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School). If nothing else, Zevon will never be forgotten because of this week's tune, "Werewolves of London," the catchiest song ever written about either London or werewolves.
This week's fun trivia fact that I'd completely forgotten: John McVie and Mick Fleetwood of, surprisingly enough, Fleetwood Mac fame played, respectively, bass and drums on "Werewolves of London." Oh, the thinks you can think!
Couple of other Warren Zevon factoids: "Werewolves of London" was sampled by Michigander Kid Rock in his dreadful song "All Summer Long." Mr. Rock, for those not familiar, is the Mitch Albom of rock stars--he makes you scratch your head wondering how he ever had any commercial success whatsoever due to a complete and total dearth of talent. And speaking of Mitch Albom, Zevon once recorded a song written by Albom called "Hit Somebody (The Hockey Song)" which is so horrid that if I was given a choice of listening to it or "We Are the World" on an endless loop for eternity, I wouldn't even bat an eye and choose "We Are the World."
What a good day--a rip of Kid Rock and two rips of Mitch Albom in the same paragraph! And we now return to our regularly scheduled Friday Night Jukebox...
Zevon's career began in the 1970s. He came out of the sometimes justly maligned Southern California rock scene, recording with and writing songs later recorded by artists such as the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, and Fleetwood Mac, though Zevon's writing often showed a much darker side than most SoCal songwriters. He would have continuous success critically for the remainder of his career, and the occasional minor hit (and did win a couple of Grammys) but never again quite reached the glory of his second album. Sadly, Zevon would battle alcoholism and obsessive compulsive disorder throughout his life, and died at the all too young age of 56 in 2003 from complications of lung cancer.
The greatest tribute to "Werewolves of London" is that a song that could quite easily have devolved into just another novelty song, didn't. In large part this is due to Zevon's songwriting--references to Lon Chaney, Trader Vic's, and beef chow mein aren't your standard fare in most pop songs, and when you throw in Zevon's dry wit ("His hair was perfect" or "I'd like to meet his tailor") you have a pop classic that never gets old. Zevon plays a jaunty piano throughout, which is supported by a fine rhythm section that keeps that music lively throughout. Zevon's vocals are in perfect sync with the subject matter--both humorous and unforgiving, and his howl during the chorus is one of those small touches that make it all the more memorable. All in all it's one of those songs that never gets old and will always make even a bad day a little bit better when you hear it. Guaranteed to bring a smile...
Lyric sheet: "Well, I saw Lon Chaney walkin' with the queen/Doin' the werewolves of London..."
Enjoy:
Peace,
emaycee
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Two down, forty-eight to go
The great state of New York has become the second state to lift its minimum wage to $15--realizing that like California before it, New Yorkers, too, wish to satisfy and keep its greatest resource, namely the citizens of the Empire State.
Once again, it cannot be overstated how important this is as well--now that most of the good factory jobs are gone for good, if we are to have an American economy that works for all of us the big gains in wages are going to have to come from where the bulk of the jobs are going to be: in the service industry. And while no one is going to compete with Bill Gates for world's richest human on $15 an hour (it comes to $31,200 per annum for a 40 hour a week position), it is a good start and at least gives American workers a living wage.
Besides, New York and California are striving to hire the best and the brightest--let the other states settle for the densest and dumbest.
Peace,
emaycee
Once again, it cannot be overstated how important this is as well--now that most of the good factory jobs are gone for good, if we are to have an American economy that works for all of us the big gains in wages are going to have to come from where the bulk of the jobs are going to be: in the service industry. And while no one is going to compete with Bill Gates for world's richest human on $15 an hour (it comes to $31,200 per annum for a 40 hour a week position), it is a good start and at least gives American workers a living wage.
Besides, New York and California are striving to hire the best and the brightest--let the other states settle for the densest and dumbest.
Peace,
emaycee
This is why the economy collapsed
A recent poll showed that 87% of banking executives think the collapse of the economy in 2008 was the fault of the poorest 50% of Americans--who combined hold 1% of America's assets. The sheer idiocy of their belief is beyond comprehension for mere mortals.
Much as we all found out in the aftermath of the Great Recession. a combination of ignorance and arrogance is lethal for the economic interests of ordinary Americans.
And it's yet another reason that one of the first priorities of either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders needs to be the break up of the Big Banks.
Peace,
emaycee
Much as we all found out in the aftermath of the Great Recession. a combination of ignorance and arrogance is lethal for the economic interests of ordinary Americans.
And it's yet another reason that one of the first priorities of either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders needs to be the break up of the Big Banks.
Peace,
emaycee
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