Writer's Block: What I Would Say If I Didn't Have It.

I haven't written for several days.  Sometimes I just don't have much to say.  But if I did, here is what I would say:

Islam -- With the advent of ISIS and beheadings occurring within the United States, people seem increasingly aware of the evil and violent nature of this terrible religion.  It should be banned from all western countries and its adherents deported.  If we are going to allow Islam in the USA, we might as well allow cannibalism and human sacrifice.  The last two items are no more shocking than the practices of Islam.  Related Post at Right Truth:  At War With Islam.

Obama -- His glaring incompetence has become so acute that even liberal newspapers and pundits are criticizing him.  Will this spell a Republican victory in the November midterms?  It's hard to say.  Never bet on the intelligence of the average voter.

Rush Limbaugh -- It has come to light that Media Matters and a few fascist Democrat activists have been running a scam to scare away advertisers on Limbaugh's radio program.  They are using automatic Twitter feeds to target Rush's advertisers, trying to make their suppression of alternate views seem like a grass roots movement.  Typical of the left:  they cannot win an honest debate, so try to silence or slime the opposition in any way possible.  Truly, "politics is war by other means," and the Democrats are high practitioners of the art.

California's Drought -- Here in California, we go through droughts fairly regularly.  Finally, the rain will start again and we'll get drenched.  The current drought, however, is particularly long-lasting.  Sunny California and all that.  Yes, too much sun is not a good thing.  We need the wet stuff.  If we don't get it soon, water rationing will begin.  Today the sky is blue and cloudless.  Rain damn you!

In spite of the drought, my persimmon tree is chock full of fruit.  This will be our biggest harvest yet.  Persimmon trees only produce every other year.  Last year we had around 8 persimmons.  This year it will be ten times that much.  We'll give a lot of it away.  The fruit will be ripe enough to pick around November 1st.

Rainy Day Musings: Big Band Music Class Tonight; The Glenn Miller Story

Glenn Miller, Band Leader

Rain!  In California
This morning when I went to let the dog out to do his business, I noticed the patio was all shiny.  The air smelled cool and fresh.  Then it dawned on me:  it is raining!

There isn't enough rain in this gentle precipitation to cure our drought, but it is nice to reminisce.  I love rain, passionate for all things pluvial.

Big Band Class
My second big band music class is tonight.  We will be practicing "Greensleeves" and "Pennsylvania 6-5000."  I have practiced all my songs faithfully, every day this week.  I should do okay.

"Greensleeves" is a traditional English folk song from the late 16th century.  The original lyrics are a bit strange, but new lyrics are often substituted.  The tune is also used as a Christmas song, and renamed "What Child Is This?"  I love Vince Guaraldi's version.

"Pennsylvania 6-5000" is a 1940's style telephone number, the number of the Pennsylvania Hotel in New York City, where Glenn Miller and many other bands performed.  It is a famous Glenn Miller hit song.  Hear the New Glenn Miller orchestra play it here.

The Glenn Miller Story

Glenn Miller, Officer,
U.S. Army

In 1954, James Stewart starred in the film "The Glenn Miller Story."  It's all about the life and career of Glenn Miller, trombonist, big band leader and music arranger extraordinaire.  You can watch this movie in its entirety on YouTube, for only 99 cents.  It's worth it.

During World War II, Glenn Miller was given a commission as a Captain in the U.S. Army (later promoted to Major), and applied his musical talents to army bands.  He organized his own swing band for entertaining troops at the front.  His band was scheduled to play for a Christmas radio program, broadcast from newly liberated Paris, France.  Miller decided to fly from England to France in advance of his band, to arrange quarters and other matters for the band.  On December 15, 1944, he boarded an army plane for the trip.  His plane disappeared over the English Channel in bad weather, and Miller was later listed as "missing in action."  His remains were never recovered.

Kate Davis: More Bass and Brass!

More bass and brass from the talented Kate Davis!  And when I say "brass," I'm not referring to the horn section, because there isn't any.


 

Disappointing News: American Spectator Caves To Brett Kimberlin

Apparently, the American Spectator has removed all articles and all mention of Brett Kimberlin from its website.  Kimberlin recently released the American Spectator from his absurd RICO lawsuit against numerous conservative bloggers and pundits, and so it indeed appears that the American Spectator caved.  It has acquiesced to legal extortion and lawfare, and opted for self-censorship.  This is troubling and puzzling, because it appears certain the RICO lawsuit will soon fail due to res judicata, i.e., the same charges in the RICO suit were dismissed in the state civil trial, and may not be relitigated in another forum.

I don't usually read the American Spectator, and do not have it linked in my left sidebar.  I have only read it when someone provided a link to an article of interest.  In any case, I will now avoid it like the plague.

Ken White at Popehat has more details of this story here.

Band Practice: Progress!

Last night was the first session of my Big Band class.  It went very well.

You can read about it here.

Zen and the Art of Playing Bass

My Big Band music class starts up again tomorrow.  This morning I began practicing the songs (on my string bass) that I learned in the last session.  I noticed how much easier it is to read notes this time around.  What once was torture is now an achievable task.  You do something many times over and it becomes easier to do.  Funny how that works.  I am not "there" yet, but I am further down the road.

Before I started this class, my two string basses sat in their stands, untouched, gathering dust.  No more.  Now they both get handled a lot, played, tuned, adjusted and repaired.   I am forever tweaking the setup of each one, always seeking the best playability (the "action") and sound possible.  I even ordered a well known book to teach me better how to do that:  Chuck Traeger's book, Setup And Repair of the Double Bass for Optimum Sound: A Manual for Players, Makers, And Repairers.

Mastering an instrument is similar to learning a new language.  It requires immersion, study, practice, contemplation and great patience.  Zen might help too, except that it is difficult to play bass while holding the full lotus position.  

Stick with it long enough and you may come up with something like "The Abe Train" (see video below).  The Abe Train is a jazz quartet of young musicians in their twenties.  They are from the San Francisco Bay Area and damn good.  The bass player really grooves.  Use headphones so you can hear every note of their rendition of "Autumn Leaves."

Kate Davis: an Angel With a String Bass

I just discovered this young talent tonight and became an instant fan.  As a double bass player myself (but not in her league by any means), she is truly an inspiration.

 

September 11, 2014

Today is the anniversary of the 9-11 Muslim attack on America, in which 2,996 Americans and others died.  They died because of Islam.  Islam is all about murdering non-believers.  It is a barbaric ideology that should have died with the dark ages.  Now, however, it is back in full bloom, seeking to spread its poisonous "religion" all over the globe by sheer force and terror.

While we honor and remember the 2,996 who died thirteen years ago today, we must remember what Thomas Jefferson once said, that "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."  Today we have a greatly weakened military and a President with little or no resolve to protect Americans from external threats, except to make empty speeches and blame everything on his predecessor.  Perhaps Obama will finally be motivated to use his secret weapon, the Twitter hashtag:  #warisbad, #dontdodat.

Now Obama has announced war on the Islamic State (ISIS), but it will be a war by committee.  Most other Muslim countries will be invited to participate.  The US will not put boots on the ground, but will instead supply weaponry to Muslim countries who are under attack by ISIS.  Meanwhile, Obama will make brave speeches and little else.

The main reason for Obama's "war by committee" is to diffuse blame in case the project fails, to spread responsibility among many, to protect himself from accountability.  It is the coward's way to fight a war.

ISIS will continue attacking and conquering other Muslim states, who will fold in short order.  ISIS will then appropriate all that American weaponry to continue its expansion across Arabia.

What can we do to protect ourselves?  Lacking a responsible and decisive administration, the answer is "not much."  Vote for conservatives in the November midterms, and try to hold on for two more years of Milquetoast Barack Obama.

World War II Movies for Free on YouTube

I haven't been motivated to do much for the past week or so.  I just wait until night time, then go to my table in the backyard gazebo and watch World War II movies and documentaries on my laptop.  You can see a lot of these full length films on YouTube -- just search for "World War II full movies" at YouTube.

One that I particularly enjoyed was "The Bunker," portraying Hitler's final days, from the time he entered his underground bunker to the day of his suicide in April 1945.

I have no sympathy for Hitler, but I did feel some for his staff and guards and entourage who had to cope with certain defeat, total destruction and their own deaths or imprisonment.

Chris Rock: How Not To Get Your Ass Kicked By The Police (Video, Satire)

Here is some surprisingly good common sense advice from comedian Chris Rock.