Top 10 Classics

Since I am on the topic of music tonight, here is the next on the Top 10 list:

5) The Beatles, Abbey Road – A tough choice but gets the nod over Sgt. Pepper because of the songwriting – particularly George Harrison’s contributions, Something and Here Comes The Sun – as well as the phenominal production and the band’s devotion to crafting a great album despite the fact that they were obviously going in opposite directions. This ability to create despite (or because of?) extreme personal and musical differences illustrates what consummate professionals the Beatles were. (And no I didn’t forget the White album, which I find flawed).

Black Sabbath redux

I listened to this last night for the first time in a while and with fresh ears - it certainly reaffirmed my endorsement. Ozzie's vocals are downright malevolent; every metal singer since has tried to duplicate the intensity. I don't know if the lyrics of Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away" were copied in N.I.B. on purpose or by accident, but either way it is brilliant. I think that future Valimar reunions might need to revisit this album.

Tax and Kill

Today the House voted to approve the National Energy Tax (laughably known as "Cap and Trade", which sounds a lot more harmless). Did you know that:

- YOUR electric and gas bills can be expected to go up by at least $100 per month;

- We will lose, by most estimates, over 2,000,000 jobs over the next 10 years. The bill itself has over 50 pages detailing how to deal with these job losses;

- This is the largest tax bill in American history, yet a 300 page amendment was inserted last night, less than 24 hours before the vote, adding complexity to an already 1.200 page bill that few if any of these representatives had actually read;

- It will create another massive Federal bureaucracy;

- Energy companies are already saying that they will not be able to continue to produce energy domestically and we will need to rely more than ever on foreign energy sources, which is an economic and National Security disaster;

- Energy and manufacturing companies will move their operations to countries like Brazil, India, and China, who have no interest or intention whatsoever in complying with this legislation;

- Electrical power generation creates four times as much pollution in Brazil as it does in the U.S.;

- Many of the Democrats who voted against this bill waited until the issue was decided, purely so they could go to their constituents and plead that they opposed it - many of their votes would have been different if the outcome was uncertain.

This legislation is an unmitigated disaster; I sincerely wish that those who support it would get beyond the blather of the mainstream media and actually do some homework. This will result in higher energy costs, higher unemployment, and another migration of manufacturing jobs to a friendlier country.

Sanford's folly

Since I am always happy to excoriate idiots on the left like Barbara Boxer and Nancy Pelosi, I welcome this opportunity to project a "fair and balanced" outlook by calling out SC Gov. Mark Sanford - head of the Republican Governor's Association, no less. To call this guy a moron would be to insult morons everywhere; I think that it is safe to say that his Presidential aspirations are toast and his political future is in dire straights. These sanctimonious hypocrites who campaign on morals and family values and the Bible piss me off just as bad - probably worse, in fact - as they do those who oppose them - and no, I have not forgotten about the actions of Louisiana Senator David Vitter, who we campaigned for in 2004. If you're gonna talk the talk, you gotta walk the walk. IDIOTS!!

The next Top 10 Classic

OK, now that I've vented, here is my next Top 10 Essential Classic Album:

6) Black Sabbath – I really love the first four albums by these guys, but the self-titled debut is the one you need to have if you want to get to the essence of the music. This album is also important because it basically launched a new genre – this is truly the birth of heavy metal. The material presented had been performed live and the band was tight going into the studio, and it shows. Ozzie’s (billed as Ossie at the time) vocals are raw and powerful; the lyrical content is dark; the bass and drums of Geezer Butler and Bill Ward – who I always thought were underrated as a rhythm section – are powerful, and Tony Iommi displays the beginning of his mastery of the hard rock riff. N.I.B. and The Wizard are standards; the entire album is strong and will leave you catching your breath and wanting more. Also the cover art is very cool.

Unreal

For those who don't watch Fox News or listen to talk radio, and therefore have probably not heard about Barbara Boxer's disgusting patronization of a Brigadier General, here is a link to the clip on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeY2fI8Z6Pc&feature=related

The malignant narcicism and blatant disrespect and disdain for our military this woman exhibits are astounding. I guess it never occured to her that General is also a title deserving of respect and that this man had to work a lot harder and suffer a lot more than she can comprehend in what passes for a brain to earn it. The General was showing military courtesy, and this... - I won't use the term here - verbally slapped him down. Again, the incredible arrogance, narcicism, and disdain for our military epitomize what is wrong with our Congress. How did this idiot ever get elected dog catcher, let alone Senator? Oh yeah, she's from California... 'nuff said.

The Telecaster that put the Tele in Tele_Man

It was brought to my attention that it was ironic for the Tele_Man to be pictured in his profile holding a Les Paul, so here is a pic of the Tele getting a workout at Oscar & The Blues Cat's Open Mike Blues Jam last October.