Independence Day Playlist

I bought a great set of speakers for my mp3 player so I’m ready for the patio picnic.  A nice set of oldies, classical, and cuts  that always make me smile.  Sorry, I am so not a country music fan, so none on the list.  Here are some of the tunes I’ll be playing while celebrating our collective birthday.   Let the celebration begin.

Ray Charles-America the Beautiful

Betty and Jon-A Change is Gonna Come

U2-4th of July

Elliott Smith-Independence Day

James Taylor-On the 4th of July

Simon and Garfunkel-America

Williams-Liberty Fanfare

Sousa-Stars and Stripes Forever

Copland-Fanfare for the Common Man

Copland-Simple Gifts

Neil Diamond-America

Grand Funk Railroad-American Band

James Brown-Living in America

Tom Petty-American Girl

Fifth Dimension-Save the Country

Jimi Hendrix-Star Spangled Banner

Senator Franken

This sums it up.

Robert Reich Explains Health Insurance Politics

Robert Reich is a former Secretary of Labor, a political economist,  and currently a professer at the University of California.    He is easy to understand and lays it on the line about the current situation about health insurance and federal legislation.

Citizen involvement in politics is necessary more than every four years.  This is a critical issue for all of us.  You may not agree with Reich, but his voice is one that needs to be heard.  Contact you senators and representative and let them know how you feel.

Signs Along the Road-Oregon’s Highway 47

I’ve driven between McMinnville and Hillsboro,  Oregon many times.  Here are my favorite signs.

Not the house address I would want

If you need cats, they got 'em!

Not bad, not great, but a pretty good grocery

You just never know when you need both at the same time.

Prop 8 Challenged in Federal Court Today

For the story including a video and pdf file outlining the challenge : 

http://www.equalrightsfoundation.org

Repeal Prop 8

Repeal Prop 8.  Sign the pledge now.

A Beautiful Song for a Beautiful Day

Stephen Colbert and Schools

Charles Best  had a column today on the Huffington Post about how Stephen Colbert has been putting the spotlight on DonorsChoose.Org , an online charity (founded by Best) that allows people to support individual school projects. 

 This year Colbert  is donating his birthday.  The concept is really funny and a great way to give to those who need so much. 

If you haven’t checked out this wonderful charity, do it today. Go Stephen.  Once again I am proud to be a citizen of the Colbert Nation.

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann

One of my favorite comedies intersected with the unbelievable Congresswoman Michele Bachmann today.   Throw in a little SNL  and the Minnesota Senate race and the story just gets better and better.  Please tell me she just had Al Franken’s Stuart Smalley on her mind and really does know the difference.  I can’t wait to hear what she says next.  It will be tough to top her statements about Swine Flu.  You can follow along with the fun at Bachmann Watch or at the Minnesota Independent.

President Obama’s First 100 Days

“With the magnitude of the challenges we face right now, what we need in Washington are not more political tactics — we need more good ideas. We don’t need more point-scoring — we need more problem-solving.”    President Obama, press conference, Mar. 17, 2009

When I was very young, I always loved going to my Aunt’s house.  She had no daughters, so I was always the center of attention whenever I visited.  She also subscribed to Life Magazine.  How I loved looking at all of those wonderful photographs.  I learned so much about my nation and my world.   History and geography blended with pop culture in every issue.  I  also learned that  I wanted to be really rich when I grew up or,  at least, a movie star.

A little of that feeling showed up yesterday while flipping through Time Magazine’s behind the scene’s  photo essay on President Obama’s First 100 Days. Now I just want to be invited to ride on Air Force One.  Dinner at the White House wouldn’t be bad either.

A very balanced comparison of the Obama and Bush first hundred days appears in today’s  Christian Science Monitor’s Patchwork Nation Blog.  Worth a read.