What Fresh Hell - Christman 2010

I just happened to catch this on you tube.  I am a fan of John Prine, he is a candidate for canonization, to this writer.
We all know this C&W tune.  All Ya'll might have but, I did not know, that John (ahem) Mr Prine is the actual one who helped Steve Goodman write it.  This is a nice Christmas present for The Theater. 

God Bless true Seers, and true believers. 
Well, Obviously.
(all puns and hidden jokes are to be overlooked while seeking presents)

BTW.  The sound sucks, but hey you had to be there.  That's why they sell tickets to live concerts.
the management.

Nuff Said.

What Fresh Hell - Misogyny

Misogyny

We all know what it means.

Misandry

Spell Check does not even recognize the word.

When wars are fought

Is Misogyny or Misandry leading the charge?

I Do Not Know. You Tell Me.

This is a long post. 
Way Too Long.
But the Guy Has A Point.
'nuff said:

Photo of the Moment 11/26/10 Revisited

I went to the book store this morning. 
Did not find the book I was looking for, but I did find this on  my way out. 
I sorta picked up the pace on my way to the car. 
But god, that taunting bitch said,

'You ain't got a hair on your ass if you don't take that photograph, Boy'

‘Nuff Said, It is Logical, Captain.

Envious

Political discourse is envious

Ineffable

The level of political discourse is ineffable.

Ineffaceable

The net result of political discourse is ineffaceable.

Inevitable

The outcome of political discourse is inevitable.

In-viable

By nature political discourse is in-viable.

Therefore, Captain,

the enviable, inevitable, ineffaceable, ineffable is in-viable.

‘Nuff Said.

Obfuscation

Dick Cheney’s entire political life as been, in my opinion, a continuous string of obscenities, with the final chapter being played out, as we watch.

List of obscenities

a)     Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, the son of a federal soil conservation agent.

b)     Appointed a congressional fellow in 1968.

c)      Assistant to Donald Rumsfeld in various positions in the Nixon and Ford administrations.

d)     1975–77, President Ford’s chief of staff.

e)     1979–89, House of Representatives, a staunch, pragmatic conservative Republican from Wyoming.

f)       As minority whip, he actively supported President Ronald Reagan’s defense buildup and aid to the Nicaraguan Contras.

g)     Served as vice chairman of the committee investigating the Iran-Contra scandal during the presidency of Ronald Reagan.

h)     President G. H. W. Bush, appointed Cheney secretary of defense after the Senate rejected John Tower. Cheney had no military service, having obtained deferments during the Vietnam War.

i)        Worked in the oil industry as a top executive for the Halliburton Company before his return to government in 2000

j)        In 2000 he was elected vice president on the Republican ticket with G. W. Bush.

k)      2003, Halliburton received a major contract to help rebuild Iraq after the U.S. invasion there.

I must now confess to my own obscene thoughts.  As I view the current photos of Cheney, I feel a great sense of joy. 

This must be obscene, by its very definition.

Upon reflection I believe the word is Schadenfreude.

What Fresh Hell - Richard Nixon

I miss him now.

Tricky Dickie, that is. 

I never thought I would say that in this life time.

But up against the ‘ol Ranger, Bush Whack and the Son of Bush Whack, hell, the old boy seems positively generous.

Here are a few of his quotes:

"The word politics causes some people lots of trouble. Let us be very clear - politics is not a dirty word."

"I would have made a good pope."

"Any culture which can put a man on the Moon is capable of gathering all the nations of the earth in peace, justice and concord."

"One reason we found the Chinese appeared to be so agreeable to deal with was their total lack of conceit or arrogance."

"The people's right to change what does not work is one of the greatest principles of our system of government."

"If being a liberal means federalizing everything, then I'm no liberal. If being a conservative means turning back the clock; denying problems that exist, then I'm no conservative."

"This office is a sacred trust and I am determined to be worthy of that trust."

"When the President does it that means that it is not illegal."

"Government enterprise is the most inefficient and costly way of producing jobs."

"I brought myself down. I impeached myself by resigning."

"I am not a crook."

Under Eisenhower the income tax for the highest bracket was 91%.

The tax rate under Nixon was 70% for the highest bracket and you did not come under 39% until you made less than $28,000 as a couple or $14,000 individually

President - Highest Tax Bracket:

Eisenhower 91%

Kennedy 91%

Johnson 70%

Nixon 70%

Ford 70%

Carter 70%

Reagan 80% to 28%

Bush, G.H.W. 31%

Clinton 39.6%

Bush, G.W. 35%

1952 – 2010

58 years of liberal left leaning progressive leadership that is destroying this country and handing it to the rich.  

Why in the world does the conservative leadership want to change?  If the liberals had not been in control the rich would still be paying a 91% tax rate.

The working man just might be better off with the conservatives leading the charge for a few years.

Beats me.  Facts are so messy.

'Nuff Said - Sonny Boy Williamson

Not a political statement?

What Fresh Hell - Hayes Carll

 Just made me laugh.



WE''VE BEEN DATIN' SINCE HIGH SCHOOL
WE NEVER ONCE LEFT THIS TOWN
WE USE TO GO OUT ON THE WEEKENDS
AND WE'D DRINK 'TIL WE DROWNED
BUT NOW SHE'S ACTING FUNNY AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND
I THINK THAT SHE'S FOUND HER SOME OTHER MAN

SHE LEFT ME FOR JESUS AND THAT JUST AIN'T FAIR
SHE SAYS THAT HE'S PERFECT, HOW COULD I COMPARE
SHE SAYS I SHOULD FIND HIM AND I'LL KNOW PEACE AT LAST
IF I EVER FIND JESUS I'M KICKIN' HIS ASS

 SHE SHOWED ME A PICTURE
ALL I COULD DO WAS STARE
AT THAT FREAK IN HIS SANDALS
WITH HIS LONG PRETTY HAIR
THEY MUST THINK THAT I'M STUPID
OR I DONT HAVE A CLUE
I'LL BET HES A COMMIE
OR EVER WORSE YET A JEW

SHE'S GIVEN UP WHISKEY
AND AH TAKIN UP WINE
WHILE SHE PRAYS FOR HIS TROUBLES
SHE'S FORGOT ABOUT MINE
I'M A GONNA GET EVEN
I CAN'T HANDLE THE SHAME
WHY LAST TIME WE MADE LOVE
SHE EVEN CALLED OUT HIS NAME

IT COULDA BEEN CARLOS OR EVEN BILLY ORTEZ
BUT IF I EVER FIND JESUS
HE'S GONNA WISH HE WAS DEAD
AMEN

What Fresh Hell - Pledge ca 2010

Ok, OK.  I'm sitting at my computer minding my own socialist business and this piece of writing comes into my e-world from the hate mongers out there.  Now, I believe in go along to get along, but now, even that is coming under attack.  Seems like no one is safe from having to hate someone, ya know, like the Christians you have lived around all your life.  They now seems to want you to go and pound on a bible on the street corners, and pray out loud and crap like that.  Like the Sadducees:

The Sadducees (Hebrew: צדוקים‎ Tzedukim) were a group or a sect of Jews opposed to the Pharisees (Hebrew: פרושים‎ — from which today's Rabbinical Jews are descended) that were active in the Land of Israel during the Second Temple period, starting from approximately the second century BCE. They are believed to have ceased to exist sometime after the destruction of Herod's Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE, but it has been speculated that modern Karaites may be descended from the Sadducees.

You See??

Or maybe it was the Pharisees I'm thinkin' 'bout, I forget, anyway this is what I got in Email and at the bottom is an expanded version of my reply.

Only 31 words --- Think about it? Isn't life strange? I never met one Veteran who enlisted to fight for Socialism, 86% will send this on.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA , AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!

If Muslims can pray on Madison Avenue, why are Christians banned from praying in public and erecting religious displays on their holy days? I was asked to send this on if I agree, or delete if I don't. It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a problem in having 'In God! We Trust' on our?money and having 'God' in the Pledge of Allegiance. I believe it's time we stand up for what we believe! If you agree, pass this on, ( I did) if not, delete.


(By the way that is WAY more than 31 words) So! Now, right there at the end is what got to me.  See I GET IT!!!.  I'm mean I can blow past 86% of Americans believe in God, and let slide, ergo we all want to have God on the money, and stuck in the pledge, ca 1952, after I had learned the damn thing for school morning crap with a bible reading that I had just heard for 4 hours on Sunday and 1 hour on Wed. night. and now to have to add 'UNDER GOD', yeah right.  Jesus get it right the first time. but i digress. 
Why do i only have two choices? Believe like them or delete it. Hoop and Holler like us or shut the fuck up.
No there must be a write-in blank line.  So I made one up.

Let's see what the famous dead guy they all pray to said. to wit:
Matthew 6:6
KJV
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

New American Standard Bible (ca 1995)
"But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
 
God' Word (ca 1996)
When you pray, go to your room and close the door. Pray privately to your Father who is with you. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.

The first 8 Verses of Matthew 6
New American Standard Bible (ca 1995)
1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

2 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
3 “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
8 “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Verse 6 from the RGB (revised Glenn Beck version).
But you, when you pray, put on a bullet proof vest,
Stand on the mall, with snipers in high places behind you
gather throngs of people around you
pray in a loud voice with a teletron
and god who seeth in secret
will send a flock of geese openly.

I think the loud prayors are winning. 
Someone should contact the famous dead guy and let him know what is going on in his name. 
Hey I could be wrong. 
Could be He's pissed off too.

(ahem) note to all intilli women out there, please don't blame the messenger about the Him,He Father thing.
OK, ok, I'm going to hell, but just what if, I mean just for grins, ya know and giggles, God had sent Her only begotten Daughter.
Would the world be any different?

Jeeezzz my Knezzzzz. Election 2010

The state of Republicans in the state of Florida, ca. 2010.

“My brain is still good and so are my teeth.

I voted Republican but don’t ask me the issues.”

Edna Alexander, 105 years old.

Edna was in the local newspaper today.  You can look it up.

What Fresh Hell - Cisco Kid

Vote

or not

You too can bring back the good days...

Pre- Bush Wackers

Pre-Hillary and what's his name.

Pre -Bush Wack one (1) (W.H)

Pre - The Ol' Ranger

Pre - Jimmy

Pre- Jerry

Post - Tricky Dickie.

Bring them back alive.

What Fresh Hell - Mr. Manilow

Ok, Ok, All Right. YOu are all right, correct, not wrong.

I am the big loser, you win.

All ya'll win! (see last post)

All your seasick sailors, they are rowing home

All your reindeer armies, are all going home

The lover who just walked out your door

Has taken al here blankets from the floor

The carpet, too, is moving under you

And it's all over now, Bayb Blue.

But I can change.

I can give up the Gloom and Doom.

I don’t live in Detroit, Baghdad, and Juarez.

I live in South Florida, warm, balmy, cool breeze, just too cool for school.

Think I’ll begin to listen to Barry-I-use-to-write-the-songs-MadLow.

Think I'll vote for Ricky Scott, and Marko Rubio.

Hell might even, back the Tea Party and pray for Sarah, ex-wife of Abraham to become the next prez of these united states.

Yeah Buddy.

What Fresh Hell - Mr. Morrison

Some days it is all just to weary.

Alls we have to do is get the queers out of the army.

And War will end.

What Fresh Hell - a very model

Some things are just too much to not pass on.

What Fresh Hell - Blame JadedJ

Ok, Ok, I know the drumming thing is worn thin but... I hate when that word follows a true statement... I was just remarking to some past comments that I had overlooked in my thrill of seeing Dylan live again and found this juewell (sic) of a thought. Or so I thought at the time, we will see about that. JadedJ gave the post a link to Krupa and Cozy Cole in a drum set. I think we all agree that Krupa is la crème de la crème...but, there it is again...put Cozy Cole up against Benny Goodman and this is what you get.
The photo are gratuitous. I just like my camera work.
Here is Benny's version, and a photo.
(the cartoon in the middle is the site i ripped off)






Now the Drummers get off the porch and begin to howl.
One Cool Cat. Cozy Cole with Topsy part 2
You be the Judge.

What Fresh Hell, Bob Dylan

It all started back in high school, when a chum told me about a guy named Bob Dylan. (die lan to him). I got ‘the freewheelin’ Bob Dylan’ and was knocked out’! Well time passes and we both go off to THE University of Florida, Dylan is all over the radio and I now have ‘Bob Dylan’, ‘the times they are a-Changin’, Another Side of Bob Dylan’ well you get the picture, all of the albums up to ‘Self Portrait’ (married with kids)

Fast Forward to this week. (48 years later)

I email a buddy that I’m going to hear Dylan on the spur of the moment. Ya Know, friendship stuff and like that there.

This is what I get back.

{He Wrote Me}

second, minute, whatthefuk. I sent you an email yesterday, fully aware that you were going to see the boss,,,er, no, dillion...wait...how the hell did they get DILL ON out of DYLAn???? tHE English language is full of blow out baby shit...even Gallahger knew that. Now I realize you do not know what blow out baby shit is, as it has been one hellofa long time since you had to deal with baby shit...but I can tell you, it ain't pretty, nor...fragrant. Blow out baby shit is when they shit so much in one "sesssion" that it all just blows the hell out of the diaper...everyfuckingwhere (OH, are you reading this during dinner? Good). I once heard SillyAnn tell someone that you/one never smell your own baby's crap. I am here to tell you SHE IS FULL OF SHIT.

Back to the email of yesteryore. I knew you would not respond last night, but now I want to know whyyyyyyyyyy, Y you are iggggggnoring it today? You think that weak phone call took care of it and you wouldn't have to deal with the jaded one again today, is that it? WELL excuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse the fuck me.

YOU

WERE

WRONG...

as rain!

Mr. Huggies

[I wrote Him]

Jeszzzzeee My Kneezzzzzzzzeeeeesssss

I must apologize for being wrong.

If you would [fucking] be so [fucking] kind

As to [fucking] let me [fucking] know

Just what [thefuck] it was that I [fucking] did that I was

Soooooooooooooooooooooo [fffFF

[Fucking] wrong

A[fuckin]bout!

It would make my [fucking] APOLoGY more

[Fucking] meaning [fuckin] full.

And heart [fuckin’] Felt!

[fucking] Fuck [fucking] you.

Punch.

On another note; Dylan was just what I hoped for.

I bought a Tea Shirt that I’m sure was made in China.

Dylan is wearing a white hat. Is that cool or What??

Look at that fat hollow body being played by the lead guitarist.

[He wrote Me]

Man....THAT IS ONE FUCKING COOL ASS PHOTOGRAPH! NO SHIT.

[I wrote Him]

Thanks, I took it with that little pretend camera I have. As I was walking up to the entry door, with the contraband in my pocket I hear a guy saying “if you have a camera please take it back to your car. Now! You know, like real cops do.

{I saw Dylan here 5 years ago with Meryl Haggard as the ‘warm up act’. Meryl Haggard walks on to the stage and takes it. Holds it. Picks it up and turns it around, looks closely and gently sets it back down, turns and walks off. (Leaving you standing there like a man who’s dog just died)}

Anyway this guy is sayin’ “Photos are not allowed tonight.” (last time I had to put the Nikon back in my car, what a pain) But this time as I made my preparations. I thought of your story about the blogger and the nice camera. Seems like that guy was a hobbyist with a nice camera in an art museum (we were going into an art museum that day with me carrying my nice camera.) He gets into a pissing match with the ‘security’. They are giving him shit (maybe blow-out class) about being allow to take photographs in the museum. There are people all over using cell phones to make pictures. The cops seemed to have become involved and he (the photographer) has to leave, sans photographs. (the cell phones stayed to take pictures of the ejection.)

So it must be the difference between ‘photographs’ and ‘pictures’. I was cool. I had, in my pocket, a 10 meg, waterproof to 10 meters, point and shoot camera, used for snapshot pictures. Walked right in sat right down and enjoyed the show.

Had to chuckle out loud when I got an ok photo of Mr. Dylan.

I may have another one. I am fooling with them now.

P

I like all the black and the spots of light. Don’t know why?

[He wrote Me]

ALRIGHT! My man! Yes!

The fuckers just don't get it.

They do not get...ART.

They only think about dollars.

Love this story.

[I am now writing to you the reader]

This picture is for the post. I had to move to another seat.

The acoustics, like sucked, man! I mean like, Liked, so, really sucked.

Like it was, like, the worst hole in like the universe, man.

There were not more than 4000 people there. Bob Dylan is one of the best bargains in live concerts

See those specs of light that look like bleach spatter spots in the black?

Cell Phones, taking pics, and flicks, posting them on the net.!

Hey wait a minute, that's me?

Not too far from the live sound of the show.

Fresh Druming Hell! What? 10/4/10

This is a suggestion from the walking man.
It was on my list, I just did not know if I should post again on this. Looks like I am.
This clip was recorded in Hollywood Hotel and film with Ronnie Reagan as a bit part. The first time Krupa let loose on this was at Carnegie Hall 1938, after the band was done. Benny Goodman had signaled the band, they all stopped playing, Krupa keeping on wailin'. Goodman could not say a thing, finally the pianist Jess Stacy began to noodle 'round and lead into a equal remarkable solo and finally Goodman follows their lead and brought in the entire band.
Knocked Out.
The recording of that night was done because of one man's passion. It sat on a shelf for years.

Fresh Druming Hell! What? 10/3/10

See the first comment. Nothing get's by JadedJ.

This is the cat's meow.

This clip is from intelliwench. This guy is focused.

What Fresh Drumming Hell 10/3/10

This might be the end of this series. Or not?






I doubt if I can find another 'best' drum solo in the world, soon.
Excuse me that is; "OF" the world.
Maybe I need to take a tape recorder to the Drum Circle.
Say? I could put the camera on [movie] nah, the sound sucks.

Oh yeah,
Know what Ginger Baker and Coffee have in common???
They both suck without Cream.

Drum Circle High Hat 10/2/10

Drum Circle 10-1-10

Siesta Key Drum Circle
This happens every Sunday evening one hour before sunset.
Rain or shine.

This clip has a crackle in middle of it. just the recording.

What Fresh Hell? 9/30

N' Sink.

What the Hell? Mystery Train

Ok now that we have our spelling and philosophy lessons covered,

let’s put joking aside and return to the lesson of Art.

In this case, the Art of Photography and Music developed in the soup of notes torn from word butchers pages.

Part of the Art lesson is another photograph from the Drum Circle.

Part of the Art

Of the lesson

Is hearing the craft of Scotty Moore,

With Eric Clapton, rhythm and vocals.

It all becomes a train.
It takes a lot to laugh.

What Fresh Hell? Drum Circle 9/26/10

Juxtaposition.

One can not place any to things in proximity without changing the meaning of both.
I said that.

Drumming with Lights after the rain began.

The song is offered up to Mother Earth on this the Solstice of 2010.

Serendipity 92510

Don't know what to do with this, little bit of Serendipity.

What Fresh Hell - Friedrich

"After coming into contact with a religious man I always feel I must wash my hands."

Nuff Said.

What Fresh Hell, Boogie Woogie

Nuff of that Beckola, let's crank up the Rock-ol-a.

This is a ad for learning piano by Dr. John.
I wonder how many of his students are out there.
I should think Steven Foster would have signed up.
I must say if this does not make you want to get up and dance like a blessed saint, well, guess, I won't be seein' you in church, any time soon.

I remained silent:

When the Tea Party came for the progressives,I remained silent;
I was not a progressive.

When they locked up the muslims,I remained silent;
I was not a muslim.

When they came for the mexicans,I did not speak out;
I was not a mexican.

When they came for the working poor,I remained silent;
I wasn't poor.

When they came for me,there was no one left to speak out.


With deepest respect for Martin Niemöller.

What? A Fresh Thought? Hell it is time!

Watching this woman speak last evening gave me a feeling of hope for America.

She is the real deal.

What Fresh Hell - Glenn Beck

Lewis Black is a man that is able to make us laugh at the absurd in life.

What Fresh Hell? A Mosque?

The following is taken from today’s opinion page of a local newspaper.

Does it strike anyone, other than me, as odd, misdirected and contradictory?

Maybe I'm just overwhelmed.

The Mosque

The Obama administration has sued Arizona to stop an immigration bill that the people (Arizona Legislature) overwhelmingly approved; it has sued the state of California to overturn a marriage law that Californians overwhelmingly approved. It rammed through a health-care bill that Americans overwhelmingly rejected.

Now, despite the people’s overwhelming objections, the president supports the construction of an Islamic mosque next to the hallowed national site of Ground Zero, the very symbol of anti-American Islamic terrorism.

Yes, the mosque has the legal right to build near Ground Zero.
But it flies in the face of the most basic teaching of humankind:

When the Pharisees asked Jesus what is the greatest commandment, he replied:

”Love the Lord your God with all your heart

and with all your soul and with all your mind.

This is the first and greatest commandment.

And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Contrary to what the New York imam says, the mosque near Ground Zero is not showing neighborly love. It is an outward thrust of spite.

In Lovin' Memory of Jerry Garcia 2010

What Fresh Hell, Dirty Money

Why am I not surprised by this information?

Ok, ok, it's a set up. I was shocked, shocked that congress was pandering to oil.

ShoCKED!!

Dirty Energy Money

http://dirtyenergymoney.com/

http://dirtyenergymoney.com/index.php

Published by Andy Rowell

on July 22nd, 2010

Latest News:

75 Per Cent of Oil Lobbyists Worked for Government

http://priceofoil.org/2010/07/22/75-per-cent-of-oil-lobbyists-worked-for-government/

Talking to people about the Deepwater Horizon, often a response has been “how can something like that happen in the US.”

Exactly that question is being forensically picked over by lawyers and Congressional investigators and the answers are increasingly looking unpalatable.

But one thing for sure it could not happen without the raw power of big oil. As we have found out with the MMS, too often the regulators were compromised.

And then there is the elephant in the room of modern day politics: the revolving door.

The incessant and constant movement of people from government to industry or to the lobbying industry working on its behalf that is synonymous with “K” Street.

The wheel never stops spinning. And remember the old adage – it’s not what you know it’s who you know.

We have known for a long time that Big Oil, like the Gun lobby – holds power in Washington.

We know that the oil industry is one of the biggest donors to our politicians. Indeed, there is a great section on this website where you can track oil indusrty money.

OK, the industry’s star has waned slightly since the Obama Administration came into power.

But the revolving door is spinning as lively as ever. What we didn’t know is just how many industry lobbyists used to work in government.

So good on the Washington Post that reveals this morning that a staggering “three of every four oil and gas lobbyists worked for federal government.”

And even for the sometimes sleazy standards of Capital Hill this is excessive. According to the paper this is “a proportion that far exceeds the usual revolving-door standards on Capitol Hill”.

In comparison, the Center for Responsive Politics calculates that fewer than one in three registered lobbyists in 2009 had revolving-door connections — less than half the oil industry rate found by The Post.

The paper’s key findings include some staggering statistics:

With more than 600 registered lobbyists, the industry has among the biggest and most powerful contingents in Washington;

All told, more than 430 industry lobbyists once had jobs in the legislative or executive branches;

Key lobbying hires include 18 former members of Congress and dozens of former presidential appointees. Fifteen of these are from the oil-producing states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma or Kansas;

The industry employs two former directors of the Minerals Management Service, with over a dozen former MMS employees now working for the oil industry generally;

BP and other companies involved in the Gulf of Mexico disaster employ as lobbyists more than three dozen former lawmakers, congressional staffers and bureaucrats;

BP alone has hired at least 31 internal and external lobbyists with government experience;

The American Petroleum Institute employs 48 lobbyists with previous federal experience;

The party affiliation of lobbyists is fairly evenly divided. About 55 percent of the revolving-door lobbyists with clear partisan affiliations have worked for Republicans;

But the Democrats are well represented too, including Tony Podesta, whose lobbying firm represents BP and Sunoco. He has co-hosted at least five fundraisers for Democratic candidates this year, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

Is Washington prepared to do anything about this? Well the topic will be a focus of a congressional hearing today chaired by Rep Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.).

One of his former aides, Jesse McCollum, signed on as a BP lobbyist two weeks after the Deepwater Horizon explosion.

So there you go. He knows about the problem first-hand.

Even the legislator looking into the revolving door post Deepwater has lost staff to the company responsible for Deepwater..

How ironic…

What Fresh Internet Hell

Everybody's humpin' Google's payoff from Verizon so I thought I'd give it a go.
Got this in email over the internet.
Go figure.

I Might start using http://www.bing.com/ more often.


Dear Friend,

Google's motto is "Don't be evil," but Google is about to cut a deal with Verizon that would end the Internet as we know it.

According to a front-page New York Times story, the deal would allow"Verizon to speed some online content to Internet users more quickly if the content's creators are willing to pay for the privilege."

It would create fast Internet lanes for the largest corporations and slowlanes for the rest of us.

I just signed a petition telling Google, "Don't be evil." I hope you will,too.

With massive amounts of public pressure, we can stop this deal. Have a look and take action at the link below.


http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/google_verizon/?r_by=10371-2455012-p6Tgcyx&rc=mailto2