Displaying 2,431 To 2,460 Of 19,504 Comments The Weekend Music Thread-A Tribute to Neil Young All Along the Watchtower – Neil Young and Pearl Jam » Posted By AdLib On May 31, 2014 @ 9:27 am Like a Hurricane » Posted By AdLib On May 31, 2014 @ 9:25 am Hey, Hey, My, My » Posted By AdLib On May 31, 2014 @ 9:24 am Harvest Moon » Posted By AdLib On May 31, 2014 @ 9:22 am Heart of Gold » Posted By AdLib On May 31, 2014 @ 9:21 am Hey Murph, the URL you pasted included a section about “featured player” since you probably got to that video through a list or favorites link at YouTube. I just removed that section and voila! For the embedding to work, it needs to be the standard link without the “player” bit in it. » Posted By AdLib On May 31, 2014 @ 9:17 am Weekend Music Thread – Where in the World? One more shout out to your cousins from the band of the same name: Peace of Mind – Boston » Posted By AdLib On May 17, 2014 @ 9:39 am Talking about Panama… Panama – Van Halen » Posted By AdLib On May 17, 2014 @ 9:35 am Here’s one you’re probably familiar with: Land Down Under – Men At Work » Posted By AdLib On May 17, 2014 @ 9:31 am You beat me to it, scroll up for “Flying Down to Rio”! » Posted By AdLib On May 17, 2014 @ 9:27 am Katmandu – Bob Seger » Posted By AdLib On May 17, 2014 @ 9:25 am Flying Down to Rio – Fred Astaire » Posted By AdLib On May 17, 2014 @ 9:22 am Revelation Before Revolution: How The U.S. Oligarchy Can Be Taken Down Cheers, KT! Instead of describing that sensibility as Spartan, perhaps it’s best described as anti-materialistic? If people were to consider what is REALLY important, most of the items on their list would not be materialistic. Of course, having money to provide for food, a home, clothes, utilities, education, health care etc. is critical but I would argue that those things are more about the minimum requirements to live in society as opposed to raking in money. What would be at the top of most people’s lists? Family, being loved and being able to love others, being healthy, being happy and doing something worthwhile with one’s life (even if it’s primarily providing for and raising one’s children). Of course having lots of money would be among the top items on most people’s lists but the real question would be, “If you could only seek happiness from things you could buy and you couldn’t get happiness in any other way, would you truly be happy?” I think that most people could check off the majority of their Happiness List without mentioning money. One of my arguments against materialism is, consider something you bought years ago that you were excited to buy, how happy does it make you to think about owning it today? That TV, computer, cell phone, etc. that someone was thrilled to buy 3 years ago…I’m sure they appreciate using it today but it isn’t a fountain of happiness in itself. It’s just a thing. What makes us happy about materialism is sometimes the anticipation and the fantasy aspect of buying something. After it’s been bought, the fantasy is over and the reality of just owning another (hopefully) useful thing takes over. If there was a natural disaster and we lost all of the things we bought but everyone we loved and cared about was fine (including our pets of course), would we be on the fence about whether we’d be happier if it was the other way around? I like the things I have, I’m glad I have them but things are not profound. Life may be a little less comfortable or convenient without them but for the most part, our true happiness comes from the people and life around us. There’s no reason we can’t both appreciate the things we have while recognizing that neither they nor money are where our happiness comes from, material things could then be seen as secondary and expendable when it comes to whatever is best for the people in our society, our planet and our future. » Posted By AdLib On May 22, 2014 @ 6:20 am Nirek, I would chalk it up to ignorance. Many people think, “My vote doesn’t count” and “What happens in politics doesn’t affect my life” and there could not be more ignorance about these things. Everyone’s vote counts especially when one recognizes the collective nature of voting. If most people believed their vote wouldn’t matter and they didn’t vote, it would become a self-fulfilling prophecy. And those like the folks here know very well how Supreme Court decisions, government shutdowns and bad laws can directly hurt people. How do we break through that cynicism? I’m not sure but setting an example can’t hurt, being evidence of someone who cares about their community and acts upon principles could get through to some. And I do believe in calling people out on their cynicism, telling them that they have the choice to be cynical or make a difference in the world, even if it is just inspiring one person to vote or protest, they will have made a difference. Those who are motivated by conscience should band together because I do believe in the gestalt/snowball theory, the more people pool their energy into something, the more influential they become. » Posted By AdLib On May 20, 2014 @ 11:56 am NirekJunior, you’re so right about how crucial the issue of education is to a healthy democracy, it’s impossible to have one without it. No coincidence IMO as to why the Repubs happily cut taxes and funding for education…and even want to get rid of the Department of Education. The less educated the majority of Americans are, the easier to dominate and manipulate them. I do agree that it’s really up to parents to take the reins and teach their kids about being a responsible citizen as well as a responsible person. Schools have enough of a burden trying to successfully teach the basics, to rely on them to fully prepare our kids to be adults and aware of everything they need to be, is unrealistic. Parents can start when their kids are young, the kids may not fully understand it all until they’re older but they can be taught about the importance of voting, protesting and being knowledgeable about issues and what’s happening in their government. » Posted By AdLib On May 20, 2014 @ 11:44 am BTW, I don’t think the video really shows what the filmmaker is asserting. Thanks to the weakness of our societies to provide well enough for the mentally ill and homeless, the image of someone who looks homeless lying on a sidewalk and moaning is not uncommon to those in big cities and not necessarily indicative of someone with an urgent health issue. Granted, some people are cold and indifferent to a human being lying on the ground in a public place but in a society where that is not so unusual, isn’t the society conditioning people to be less compassionate? That is a trap, instead of trying to tune it out, we need to tune into all the inequities in our society and not just go on as if we’re not aware of something being wrong. Because one day, that may not be a stranger lying in the sidewalk. » Posted By AdLib On May 20, 2014 @ 11:36 am Kalima, the sense of brotherhood/sisterhood and community that you describe in Japan is very affirming. It is appealing to the best in us to challenge Americans to show that kind of support and compassion for their neighbors, near and far. I will say, after disasters, you often see the best in people. After the Northridge Quake here in LA, people were so unusually kind and generous, more concerned and selfless than I had ever seen before. I think it’s because after a disaster, we have a temporary moment of clarity when we recognize our connection to all the other people in our society whose lives are jeopardized just like ours. After 9/11, there was a unity and a togetherness that many felt, like we’re all in this together. That is natural and though it is often sidelined by daily life and the hateful division sewn deeply into our society, it can and will rise again and when it does, I wouldn’t want to be the 1%. » Posted By AdLib On May 20, 2014 @ 11:23 am Kes, I think we’ve discussed here at The Planet before, what the problem turned out to be is that Liberals/Progressives thought “the war” was over once they won on the social issues. They declared victory and partied through the ’80’s and ’90’s to celebrate. The truth is, the RW and wealthy never stopped fighting, the war is never over for them no matter how many defeats they suffer. So they simply refused to accept defeat and pushed on to defeat abortion and women’s rights, environmental protection, campaign financing regulations, economic justice, social safety nets, etc. Now we know, as Superman once said, it’s the never ending battle against evil. There is no finish line, every gain has to be fought for to be retained. And we can do all of this, by coming together. Unfortunately, it may take most Americans sinking into desperation before we come together but the current dynamics are unsustainable. » Posted By AdLib On May 20, 2014 @ 11:12 am CL, there’s another term that I think is more accurate for Cuomo and Brown types of Democrats…Sell Outs. How cynical are such Dems? And as you point out, how different are they from Repub pols who pander on social issues to their voters who then blindly vote against their best interests? I think this is the brief window where such Dems can operate successfully, a reckoning is coming because the policies they support that enrich the wealthy at the expense of the majority, will become the focal point of Dem voters and such disloyalty to the base won’t be viable. Economic injustice is a core issue for Dems and while some in NY may accept the trade off, I think Cuomo’s s going to have a much more uphill battle if he has his eyes set on the WH. What this does bring to mind is the big question about Hillary’s run for the Presidency. I can imagine there being a surprising turnaround in polling in the Dem primaries if she comes out full force as a Sell Out. Obama has many EmoProgs and Dems dissing him for being to accommodating of Wall Street and corporations, if Hillary went down the Cuomo/Brown path, all bets are off. It’s sad to hear how division has infected so many corners of society including between the Progressive faith community and Progressive activists. To see “Progressives” exhibiting and justifying a type of prejudice is so hugely disappointing. I don’t know what the key situation or event will be that breaks the reservoir of populist resentment against the wealthy minority that owns and controls way too much but it will come eventually. It could be quite a while away or sooner than we might guess but people will come together over their shared interests either by choice or necessity, maybe before but most likely once they recognize that they can no longer sustain themselves as things are and discover that their neighbors and most Americans are at the same point. Again, I see the result as a political and social movement, not a literal revolution but a righteous majority that sees they’re all in the same boat and they’re taking the wheel back from the wealthy. » Posted By AdLib On May 20, 2014 @ 11:03 am NirekJunior, your Dad has a built in campaign team right here at The Planet! And no question that his principled nature runs in the family. The next Kennedy dynasty??? 😉 » Posted By AdLib On May 20, 2014 @ 2:18 am Nirek, that is exactly the kind of thing that I think can influence those who are resistant to change. You walk the walk and can talk the talk, by being a living example of making a difference, I think it’s far more convincing to others that they can change and live what they believe too. And part of this too is engaging with other people on what matters to us, what we want to make better in life and how we allow our principles to lead our decisions. It seems that it is a minority of those who believe something that actually take action in their lives to support their beliefs, I can’t think of anything more powerful than recognizing that others are doing this, to encourage people to do the same. » Posted By AdLib On May 20, 2014 @ 12:30 am JJ, they actually said there would be 10 – 30 million protestors…they were just off by 10 – 30 million. The thing is, despite this glaring reality of their being a lunatic fringe, they are so deep in denial that they will come away from this just thinking that their 30 million fellow loonies were just lazy and stayed at home, not that they don’t exist. To be clear,their stated goal was to March on DC and physically remove our federal government from power because “we can’t wait for elections”. So these “patriots” of American Democracy wanted to physically grab Obama and his Admin and even Boehner, McConnell and the rest of Congress, and throw them out of DC, I assume, holding them captive while they installed their own unelected government of redneck wack jobs. So “patriots” to them means sedition, fighting democracy and government by tyranny. Geniuses! What a surprise only 50 showed up out of their imaginary 30 million! » Posted By AdLib On May 18, 2014 @ 4:00 am Ted Cruz Claims That Arithmetic is a Hoax jj, are you auditioning for Cruz’s Treasury Secretary when he’s elected President? 😉 » Posted By AdLib On May 28, 2014 @ 4:57 pm Monicaangela, I’m right there with you in thinking that the Ivy League elitism is a sham. When Ted Cruz and George Bush and the Wall Streeters who blew up our economy via greed and fraud, are examples of what Harvard, Princeton, etc. produce, one needs to re-evaluate one’s perception of what “geniuses” graduate from there. Granted, Obama was Harvard educated and he is brilliant as are many other grads but just because one graduates from there, it doesn’t mean they are smart If Ted Cruz was so brilliant and a great debater, why is it that he can only convince the less educated and the ideologically aligned? Despite all the recognitions he’s received, he comes off to many of us as an idiot who uses faulty and contrived arguments to support his positions…and he’s a remarkable debater? In what universe? Lastly, thanks so much for the very kind words on the post, they’re very appreciated indeed. » Posted By AdLib On May 15, 2014 @ 5:04 am Cheers, Funk! Thanks for the props! Sometimes, when it comes to the RW thought process, there’s a very thin line between parody and reality! » Posted By AdLib On May 15, 2014 @ 4:50 am Thanks Beatlex, very appreciated! » Posted By AdLib On May 15, 2014 @ 4:48 am Very funny, Kalima! Yes, the Republican Party is in a competition for who is the biggest twit. In fact, here’s a new documentary about that:
» Posted By AdLib On May 15, 2014 @ 4:45 am Exfanofariana, very cool to hear about your remarkable background! Those who are gifted on the creative side can approach math or science with the same creativity, sometimes being wrong but other times opening up possibilities that linear thinkers miss. But maybe not so much when it comes to the basic operations like adding and subtracting.. 😉 And Ted Cruz’s trouble with math doesn’t come from his being creative, he’s just a dope. The whole concept of quantum mechanics however seems to require enormous creativity and non-linear thinking so while it might be a bit of a stumbling block when accepting absolutes like addition, it is a boon to exploring the mysteries of science and truths. » Posted By AdLib On May 15, 2014 @ 4:41 am Exfanofariana, so wouldn’t Rafael be doing the right thing and following his political beliefs to strip himself and his son of American citizenship and send themselves back to Cuba? I’m all for that, Rafael, in fact, I’ll pay for the Dramamine for the boat ride back! » Posted By AdLib On May 15, 2014 @ 4:30 am Exfanofariana, thanks for this article. We have had some great posts here by SueInCa and Choicelady on the Dominionists and this is exactly what their delusions and mission is. At the same time, I think the article might be giving Cruz more credit than he deserves. Saying that Cruz delivered the conservative evangelical vote to Bush in the 2000 election seems a bit exaggerated. Not only were there many others on the Right delivering the evangelical vote, they are part of the RW Repub base anyway (they weren’t voting for Al Gore in the first place). Also, as a counterpoint to the religious schools and universities that take taxpayer money, there is a marked decline in those who self-identify as following a religion and in church attendance. I don’t think the popular momentum is towards supporting more intrusions of religious extremism and giving them greater power and wealth.. And Ted Cruz and his loon of a father can pray for oppression against all those in the world who don’t share their twisted beliefs but that won’t change the fact they’re too deluded to recognize, Ted Cruz will only have less power and influence as time goes on, he will never be President.. » Posted By AdLib On May 15, 2014 @ 4:26 amComments Posted By AdLib
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