We All Shine On

In tribute to John Lennon (and I will resist Yoko Ono snark for the occasion)…

RIP Arthur Penn

In tribute to a legendary film director (here), I give you the end of “Bonnie and Clyde” from 1967, with Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Dub Taylor and Michael J. Pollard, among others (about 20 seconds of hell begins at about 4:35 or so – consider yourself warned).

A “Condi Comeback” With The “Queen Of Soul”?

This tells us that Aretha Franklin will be performing at the Mann Center for Performing Arts in these parts next Tuesday July 27th, with musical accompaniment provided by former Bushco Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (as the story tells us, Rice is an accomplished classical pianist).

With that in mind, I wondered if Dr. Rice would care to take a shot at a certain timeless hit from the show’s headliner (here). And if she did, I have a feeling that it would go something like this…

Think (think) think (think) think (think)
think (think) think (think) think (think)

You better think (think) think, or you just might see me once again
Yeah, think – I might lead a 2012 White House win

Let’s go back, let’s go back, let’s go way on way back when
You didn’t even know me, I couldn’t have been too much more than 10 (‘bout 11)
A classmate bombed to death made me know the racists were insane
But after I was a doctor, I still shared their politics all the same

You better think (think) think, or you just might see me once again
Yeah, think – I might lead a 2012 White House win

It’s be freedom (freedom), freedom (freedom), freedom, yeah freedom
Freedom (freedom), freedom (freedom), freedom, ooh freedom (that’s what I call it)

There ain’t nothing you could ask I could answer you but I won’t (on Iraq)
About Iran – put me in charge and pre-emptive war would be back

You better think (think) think, or you just might see me once again
Yeah, think – I might lead a 2012 White House win

Bolton says I’m no hard liner, playin’ games for a fight
He should chill, that PNAC fool – the world’s wrong, and I know I’m right

You better think (think) think, or you just might see me once again
Yeah, think – I might lead a 2012 White House win

Let’s “nation build,” give one more try
One more 9/11, and then let those warheads fly

Ooooh yeah, say goodbye to me (and goodbye to you)

(To the bone for deepness, to the bone for deepness, to the bone for deepness, think about it)

You had better stop and think before you think, think!!

I hope Former Madame Secretary sticks to her career in music and holding down cushy jobs at conservative-friendly think tanks, as opposed to entering public life once more (and I’ll “stick to my day job” also:-).

Baby, Won’t You Drive My (Jingoistic) Car

I don’t know what steams me more about this ad – the ridiculous rip off of “Ashokan Farewell” from Ken Burns’ “The Civil War,” or the fact that these vehicles are manufactured in Brampton, Ontario (which happens to be in Canada).

Trying To Set Off Peaceful Fireworks

Like many of you I’m sure, last night I watched the Fourth of July program with The Boston Pops. Our military was featured prominently, which is as it should be. Also featured prominently was a certain Toby Keith, who, according to the program, has given about 900 or so performances overseas for our troops. That is commendable.

However, it is one thing to be put in harm’s way on a daily basis, but it is quite another to travel overseas for a performance with a minimal likelihood that you’re going to get your ass shot off in combat (and let’s not forget that, while he did not serve himself, Keith glorified Dubya’s Not So Excellent Adventure in Iraq and criticized The Dixie Chicks for speaking against it, an act for which, to my knowledge, Keith has never apologized).

In my opinion, the program ended up overstepping the line between paying tribute to our military and jingoistic glorification of the fact that they are presently involved in two shooting wars (right up to the “U-S-A, U-S-A” chant right out of the Repug playbook when Keith was interviewed with our soldiers). An appropriately absurd moment that capped off the proceedings occurred when host Craig Ferguson, who looked like he’d been bounced from a bar, said to the camera “Did you see that?” after the fireworks show ended (no genius, I was busy counting the hairs standing up on the back of my neck when Keith saluted after performing “An American Soldier,” wondering why that should be OK when a real-life member of our military, John Kerry, was vilified for doing the same thing at the Democratic National Convention six years earlier).

Anyway, as I pondered all of this, I came across this video from echidne at Eschaton, and I think it’s appropriate to put it up here for the holiday (the DFH, opposing point of view if you will that was sorely lacking last night – maybe I wouldn’t be so critical if they hadn’t paid so much attention to the rah-rah stuff at the expense of, say, stories like this one).

Helpful Hints for Fun On the Fourth

Hey, who says this blog doesn’t perform a public service (h/t HuffPo – only a joke, only a joke…)

A Kink “Kicks It”

RIP Pete Quaife (here)…

“Love And Kisses” From BP

Somehow I don’t think ’60s pop star Skeeter Davis had anything like the Gulf disaster in mind when she sang this song.

Oh, how I’d like to see Tony Hayward stuck head first into a relief well (here and here are reasons).

Update 6/12/10: And maybe I shouldn’t give Chicago fans credit since their team just beat us in the NHL finals, but kudos to them for protesting the “BP Crosstown Cup” here.

This Just In: BP Top Kill Fail

I’ve got an idea (not original, I know); let’s start plugging the hole with BP executives, starting with Tony Hayward (here).

RIP Lena Horne (1917-2010)

A true legend in show business and a classy lady…