the truly helpless

Sarah McLachlan Silent Night

Clarence & Jer: Perfect Together!

God, I miss this...

Waiting For a Miracle
Jerry Garcia Band w/ Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band
1989 or 1990

Clueless Prez

Barack has no deaf-ense for a tin ear

By MICHAEL GOODWIN
Last Updated: 7:38 AM, December 17, 2009
Posted: 5:11 AM, December 16, 2009

Of all the surprises of President Obama's first year, the biggest is his continuing tin ear for the mood of the country. He often appears clueless about what Americans want.

Almost from the moment he stepped into the Oval Office, the man who smashed the Clinton machine and won an electoral landslide over John McCain seemed to lose his touch with the people who put him there.

Some days, many days, he doesn't look like he cares that big chunks of the country, left, right and center, are giving up on him.

Voters by a large margin have said for months they don't want the health-care overhaul he's pushing, so he pushes harder. They want less spending and debt, so he doubles down on pork, bailouts, handouts and taxes.

They thought he would deliver bipartisanship, and he gives his hard-left allies the keys to the kingdom.

They worry about terrorism, so he wants to close Gitmo and move the worst of the worst to the homeland. With Ground Zero still a mess, he gives the 9/11 plotters civilian trials in New York.

His approval ratings are speeding downhill and some 60 percent say the country is on the wrong track. He responds by giving himself a "good solid B-plus" for his first year.

And he says Wall Street bankers "don't get it."

It comes as no surprise, of course, that our young president has a very, very high opinion of himself. But it is nonetheless shocking he remains so brazenly self-righteous in the face of growing public discontent.

A damn-the-torpedoes style of leadership would be welcome if he were an optimist brandishing an inclusive, sunny-side up vision. He's not. He's too often testy, churlish and downright whiny.

His vision is little more than a string of gauzy utopian platitudes glued together with fear, as when he told fellow Dems yesterday that the flawed health-bill represented "the last chance" for reform.

The last chance? Forever?

His charge that bankers have an obligation "to help rebuild the economy" by making more and presumably riskier loans boggles the mind. Low standards are the hair of the dog that led to liar loans and other housing disasters. By all means, let's do it again.

When something goes wrong, it's not his fault. "Fat-cat bankers," "greedy" insurance companies, doctors who do amputations just for the money, special interests, the media -- the media! -- have all taken their turns being blamed for what he hasn't fixed.

The buck doesn't stop on his desk!

If all other scapegoats fail, there's always George W. Bush. Pressed during last Sunday's "60 Minutes" interview on his decision to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, Obama shared his pain and slandered Bush -- all to distinguish his troop surge from his predecessor's.

"One of the mistakes that was made over the last eight years is for us to have a triumphant sense about war," Obama said. "There was a tendency to say, 'We can go in. We can kick some tail. This is some glorious exercise.' When, in fact, this is a tough business."

So even when he reaches the same conclusion as Bush, pursues the same enemy, relies on the same commanders and the same Defense secretary, it's different.

Why? Because he says so.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/barack_has_no_deaf_ense_for_tin_eKCniIScOV2j2e0bi8yWTK

Peace Through War

Warmonger? George W. Bush Part 2?

Or is he intelligent enough to know that sometimes
peace is achieved through war?

Afghanistan needs the U.S.

Terrorist scum are NOT civilian criminals

9/11 Families for a Safe & Strong America

9/11 Never Forget Coalition

Dock Ellis & The LSD No-No

Something Good For A Change

While it's not the most important issue America has to face, maybe lowering childhood obesity is something that President Obama can accomplish. There are very serious threats our government has to deal with day in and day out, but if Obama has the time to give more attention to this, that would make me a happy camper. Maybe something good can come from his presidency. Maybe.

starring: NFL stars Drew Brees, Troy Palamalu, DeMarcus Ware for United We Serve

Philly Jerry (sort of)

I absolutely cannot believe I have not listened to anything Jerry in approximately two months. That's just a wild guess -- could be longer. No GD, no JGB, no Jerry & Merl, no Garcia-Grisman, nothing. Spells like this have occurred in the past and each time I come back, I wanna kick myself because it's simply the best dang music in the world! Why'd I stop then? Not really my choice, in a way. This music brings joy and while I want that in my life, joy overall just ain't happenin'. Music's not gonna bring the true happyness that's wanted. So why bother?!

Why'm I listening today then? Not sure. Just am.

Jerry Garcia Band November 25, 1977 Tower Theatre Upper Darby, Pennsylvania

early show

How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
Catfish John
Sitting In Limbo
Simple Twist Of Fate
That's What Love Will Make You Do
Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Mystery Train
Mission In The Rain

Sound quality is a bit off-putting at first but it gets a little better and I was able to get used to it just fine. There is some channel fluctuation here and there in most songs but it's not terribly annoying.

Halfway thru the opening How Sweet It Is we get to hear Jerry hit his stride, followed by an impressive solo from Keith on piano. John steps it up on bass and then it's back to Jer again. Mmm. Turn this UP!

At some point in Catfish John, the quality takes a turn for the even better. Jerry's geetar and Keith's piano and Buzz's drums and Donna & Maria's background vocals begin to come in much clearer.

Sitting In Limbo is mighty delectable. Donna and Maria sing so beautifully and what a great jam this tune has. Man, they slide into such a great groove, exiting on the other side to the crowd totally loving it.

After a flawless Simple Twist Of Fate, my favorite part comes in That's What Love Will Make You Do. Another jam here that is purely and perfectly in such a sweet groove. Jerry's on cruise control. The whole band is completely on. Unfortunately there's a tape flip near the end. It doesn't cut the jam but it minorly spoils the tune. Eh, just keep on smilin' through it and fahgetaboutit 'cause that is some great, great playin'.

A fine show the Philly area fans were treated to. Yup, fine indeedy.

P.S. no late show. I don't have it. Maybe next year.

As of Nov 25, '09, Garcia stuff is still not at the LMA

Download The Show Here Source: shnid=16837 Audio Quality: Lineage: Unknown Aud-» Cassette?-» CD Part 1 - JGB 11/25/77 early show ♦ 11/25/77 early show JGB - Part 2

mp3 320 kbps not a SBD + setlist (no lossless FLAC) 11-25-77 aka 11/25/77 aka 77-11-25 Tower Theater, close to Philadelphia

Scum of the Earth

Scott Fenstermaker = Traitor Dooshbag.

FOTD

mayhaps one o' these days i'll be in the mood for posting some actual downloadable music... right now (and for quite awhile, i guess) i'm just not feelin' it.

Dig this...

dirty smelly hippies

Charlotte - Fall Tour '89

Still Smokin'

Carlos Santana on the debut of Lopez Tonight (with George Lopez) 11/9/09

Unify

david crosby, stephen stills, graham nash, chippin' away berlin wall germany

Dig this

part 1


-part 2-

Savior to the Rescue!

Don't wanna be treated this old way

On Tuesday, the Empire State Building was lit up in honor of the Grateful Dead... on Wednesday Bob & Phil were in town for a fundraiser... and they played a little ditty that you might recognize...

playing with a band called Wigjam

ouch. unfortunately the sound cuts out a few times but it comes back


They also played this...


That's kinda odd...
it was a Grateful Dead event but they played no true Grateful Dead songs.
Still looks pretty cool for those who were there.

Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad by Bob Weir Phil Lesh Wigjam
fundraiser for the New York Historical Society

America's Safety Should Be #1

ESB in "Tie Dye"

Last night (October 19) the Empire State Building (that's in NYC, yo) was lit up in honor of the Grateful Dead? (Better than being lit up to honor Communist China.)

It appears Phil & Bob will be in town mañana for a New-York Historical Society Fundraiser and in "March 2010, the New-York Historical Society will present the first large-scale exhibition of materials from the Grateful Dead Archive."

Here's a link for more info.

image borrowed from and copyright ccho on Flickr

Funny Mulder