More Mr. Rogers for the Soul

A great article in National Review about Mr. Rogers.

It does a good job of explaining why the man was so valuable to children.

Damned Supersonic Passenger Aircraft

Perhaps it would be best if we didn't let Concordes fly around anymore.

Maybe it's time to retire the droop-nosed bastards and find something else to ride in.

Just a thought.

Goodbye, Mr. Rogers

I woke up today to find that Mr. Rogers had passed away. I, in all seriousness, felt a strong sense of loss.

When I was just a kid, I remember absolutely loving that guy. He gave the world a calm, soothing voice to counter the frenetic, loud confusion that marks most kid-oriented TV. I'll miss him.

Normally I'd knock back a few shots in memory of the recently deceased, but that just doesn't seem quite appropriate in this instance.

New Lanois CD

April 22 will be a very special day. Daniel Lanois, the producer behind some of the most beautiful music of the last two decades is releasing his third solo CD, Shine. Bono and Emmylou Harris will both be making appearances. If his previous CDs are any indication, this is going to be music of lasting, almost religious, beauty. You all need to check it out, both for your benefit and to support the idea of smaller, more artistically honest music. Not every CD released needs to be another blockbuster, but that's a lesson that seems incredibly hard for the big music houses to learn.

And, while you're lusting for the new CD, you should head over to Amazon and order up For the Beauty of Wynona and Acadie. You won't be disappointed.

Read more about the new release here

Teachers in Maine Harrassing Children

Read this. Right now.

It pisses me off that teachers would use their positions to indoctrinate children like this. Don't like the idea of going to war with Iraq? That's fine--I support your right to dissent. But to harrass the children of members of the military, to tell them that their parents (these men and women who put themselves in harms way for our benefit) is beyond pathetic. To tell a child that his father or mother is doing something wrong by doing their duty?

I'm usually pretty laid back. I'm a nice guy. If that happened to my child, I would hunt the teacher down and fuck them up. I know that's the wrong response. Truly, I do. I just don't really care. Some behavior needs to be punished by more than a little reprimand with a wink and a pat on the back from another fucking administrator who thinks that the job of the school is to create another little politically correct (read: socialist liberal) automoton to parrot the party fucking line.

Bullshit. The job of the school is to help children learn the lessons that they will need to have to survive in a world that is nothing like the sheltered halls of academia.

Tell your children, regardless of your politics, that the men and women of the military are brave, honorable souls who are willing to face danger to do their duty. Even if you don't agree with that duty, even if you think Bush and Blair are misguided as hell, that is in no way a reflection on those service members. Then, after you've done that, go bitch slap any teacher who would be crass enough to put their personal politics ahead of the well-being of the children in their care.

Defending the Elder Bush

Now, I'm about as supportive of our current President as anyone you know. I think that he has vision rivaling that of other great modern US Presidents, the will to carry out difficult objectives, and more intelligence than many seem to believe. I also happen to think he is a courageous, ethical man who occupies the Oval Office during very trying times.

I like the guy. A lot.

But I just can't agree with his take on his father's decision not to carry Dessert Storm through to an overthrow of Saddam Hussein. The policy of Bush Sr. was tremendously short-sighted. Not on the level of Clinton's allowing Bin Laden to escape our grasp on more than one occasion, but short-sighted nonetheless.

That said, I completely understand the urge to defend his father. I also know that, as Presidents go, Bush Sr. had nothing even coming close to the vision and conviction that his son has. We love ya, Mr. President. We understand. But you're wrong, sir, and don't make the same mistakes that your father did. The cost is just too high.

Damned Supersonic Passenger Aircraft

Perhaps it would be best if we didn't let Concordes fly around anymore.

Maybe it's time to retire the droop-nosed bastards and find something else to ride in.

Just a thought.

A little late to the Grammy party, but...

Why in God's name did the Queens of the Stone Age not win? I would've given my best friend's left nut to see them up there accepting an award! Especially since I have to hear that song on the radio so damned often. It would've made the incredible over-exposure all worthwhile.

Damn the luck.

When, oh when, will the world recognize the genius that is Mark Lanegan?