Damn Life's Tuff II

When Things Look Bad, Feel Thankful You Weren't This Poor Dwarf
Originally uploaded by SeenyaRita.

Imagine if you will, the thoughts going through Od's mind in those few seconds supended in the air after realizing he's not going to land on the trampoline and looking down seeing that really big tongue!

ROTFLPMPSTC


I know it's wrong to laugh at others misfortune... but its so damn funny.

C.C.

Ira Glass? Are You kidding Me?

A recent "GET BENT" note from This American life.

A note to our streaming MP3 listeners:

You've probably noticed that you can no longer fast-forward or rewind our files. If you're using Windows Media Player or Real-Player, you can still pause as you listen; sadly, if you're using ITunes, you can't. We know that this loss of functionality isn't great – in fact, it stinks. Unfortunately, we we've been forced make some changes that protect our files from unauthorized downloads, and these changes will, at least temporarily, cause you to lose some of the features you've probably grown accustomed to. While we aren't happy with this development, contractual obligations left us no choice; unauthorized downloads were beginning to get out of hand.

Regardless, we are still absolutely committed to offer free streaming audio, and we're actively researching ways that we can again make it possible for you to grab your coffee and rewind to catch what you missed. We've also been thinking more broadly about our online audio future, and will keep you posted on new developments on our website and via our weekly email list.

Right... Liar!!!!!!!

Wake up people you've already paid for this content several times!!!!! WBEZ is a Public radio station (taxpayers paid for every brick in the joint). Ira Glass owns the copyright to T.A.L. ? my ass!!! He gets his salary, the equipment he made it on and the website he sells it on out of our pockets. (Taxes Again). As-a-matter of fact this whole Idea of privately copyrighting media made at the public trough is obscene. I wish I had the money to sue these ungrateful bastards, and force all NPR stations to opensource the content paid for by U.S. taxpayers or give our money back! Or if they think they're is there such a rabid demand for their product than compete in the open market with the rest of us (come on Ira I dare ya!). Rocketboom does it everyday, selling the same World-view.

"this whole Idea of privately copyrighting media made at the public trough is obscene."

Where does any "Public Broadcast Station" get off not giving us OUR content for free. Isn't the private monetization of public assets the very definition of corruption? If his copyright isn't illegal, (is anybody a lawyer out there?) it should be. Didn't we go through this whole looking glass situation with "Barney" and " Jim Henson's Sesame Street" using us, the public, as seed money to start their Multi-Hundreds of million (maybe billion) dollar corporations, (thanks PBS for free airtime, our copyright, our cash, so sorry) then afterwards, have the balls to pop up every three months, with their shiny teeth, crying poor, hands out demanding, "WE" dig a little deeper to pay for their broadcast, and maintenance cost to promote their private playgrounds! Good grief people one last time, "they are selling you something you've already paid for people, several times! Wake Up! 

This rant was inspired by this "boingboing" post 

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Ted Stevko (sucker) says,

TAL is bending over backwards to be nice about this, and is going MUCH farther than most NPR/PRI programs. TAL didn't send C&D letters, they asked that people not take it down, personally. How cool is that? TAL provides MP3 formats, where almost every other NPR program is in Real-Player formats. TAL has asked that you don't provide an easy way for people to grab all they can -- that's fine. Bandwidth still costs a lot, and forcing people to stream is a way of spreading out that bandwidth usage over time. If anything, we should support this move -- TAL is doing what they can, and providing amazing work for free. Be supportive of TAL, and more people will move that way.

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This is sooooo, the wrong point-of view, we all pay little bit every paycheck. It is those at "This American Life," and others like them, whom should be on there knees, thankful, they can make a living off our largesse.   

C.C.

Jimi Hendrix on Nam!

jimi_hendrix_800_600
Originally uploaded by leslie powell.

In response to a puerile anti-Vietnam question, by a Netherlands reporter, this is what *Jimi Hendrix said…

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“Did you send the Americans away when they landed in Normandy?
That was also interference, but that was concerning your own skin. The Americans are fighting in Vietnam for a completely free world, as soon as they move out, the Vietnamese will be at the mercy of the communist, for that matter the yellow danger, China, should not be underestimated. Of course war is horrible, but at present, its still the only guarantee of peace.”

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I think I just went from just an admirer to a fan.

C.C.





P.S. Damn Jimi got "it!" So much so, he put "it’ in his music, his “Star Spangled Banner,” (which was boo'd @ the time) was a *tribute supporting the troops and their mission, how innovative! I often wonder why the “Blame America first” crowd that worship his music, ...can’t get "it."






Photos originally uploaded (left to right) by toofarnorth/yllan's

*Hat tip to Bill Bennett’s featured interviews

The Art of the Non-Denial, Denial

"I would never approve the removal of 'America' or 'American' from use in our classrooms. Not on my watch." -Mike Flanagan

Yeah right Mikey, and the day after you leave?

Clearly this new educational fetish*, like diversity and internationalism before it, is designed to further rob our children of a 'clear and distinct' American history that they can be proud of, moreover fight to cultivate. What policies has Mr. Flanagan put into place to head off this "well-intentioned, but pernicious, example of political correctness?" I’m willing to bet you a dime to a donut, not one memo, not one word, has ever been sent out, just as bulwark, to his 'educated minions' against such silly but pervasive educational fashions. Will he ever put policies in writing that make it unambiguous that first, they are 'American teachers' and secondly the students they teach are (overwhelmingly) 'Americans' and the facts about their unique American history deserve to be vigorously and enthusiastically instructed? (other than his hastily scratched declaration in todays paper). Again, I'll give you any odds you want, it will never happen. It's a crime to teach otherwise than expect these students to develop into good citizens.

Bye the way he never specifically address the claim "the department's style protocol for the Michigan Education Assessment Program requires that "America" and "Americans" be expunged from our testing and grade level expectations." Does the 'style protocol' it state this or not Mr. Flanagan?

No doubt teachers will be returning from summer seminars/retreats with this "fresh new idea" about American identity. Also no doubt many of our children who already can't find our country on a map, soon will not know witch country to look for.

(Think I'm joking watch California and Massachusetts depts. of Ed. manifestos over the next year)

When will we, and our children, be able to finally 'vote with our feet' and leave such institutions that insist on indoctrinating our youth with this (and other) sick, mind-dimming world views.

School of choice now, tomorrow and forever.

C.C.

P.S. If you don't know why I'm so irate read my post below!
* See the 'Pull Quote' in the post below.