From the Hero Board by Input.Jack, posted by permission:
I keep hearing people getting mad at each other because person A didnt use the "correct" holiday greeting for person B's religious beliefs.
As a public service, I present to you how it SHOULD work:
Vondy, Prodigy Duck, and I are all walking down the street, when we happen to converge on an intersection at the same time. Its the holiday season, and all three of us are in a pretty good mood.
"Merry Christmas!" I say, with a smile and a wave.
Vondy nods and smiles, and says "Happy Hannukha!"
ProdigyDuck waves at us both and adds "Joyous Festivus!"
And we all go on our way, having shared our good cheer with one another, and basking in the goodwill of our fellow human beans.
Here's how its NOT supposed to work:
I approach another corner, where I see someone I dont know, but Im still in a good mood, so I wave and say "Merry Christmas!"
"I DONT CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS YOU ARROGANT PUSHY OBNOXIIOUS RELIGIOUS FANATIC!" Stranger Bob screams. "I CANT BELIEVE YOUD TRY TO PUSH YOUR RELIGION ON ME LIKE THAT!" *Hits me with a brick*.
Once I wake up, I stagger to my feet, make sure the bleeding has stopped, and try to remember which way "home" is.
As I approach another corner, I see someone who smiles and waves. Not wishing to offend (or take another brick to the head) I say the more neutral "Happy Holidays!"
"OMG ITS SUPPOSED TO BE MERRY CHRISTMAS! YOURE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY MY RELIGION!" she screams, pelting me with rocks as I run off into the darkness.
As I huddle in the shadows, I wonder what the heck happened. When did people suddenly start expecting everyone ELSE to somehow be telepathic, and know -exactly- what flavor of holiday they celebrate?
When did people start taking offense at other people trying to NOT be offensive, and using a more neutral expression?
For that matter, when did people start assuming that freedom OF religion means freedom FROM other peoples' religions? I thought that tolerance and understanding were what this country was supposed to be all about!
As I ponder all of these things, I am lifted from my reverie (and possible concussion) by a gentle voice and helpful hand, from a kind man who helps me get to my feet.
"Thank you" I say.
He asks, "What happened?"
I explain how my day has gone, and he looks concerned and sympathetic.
"What holiday is this for you?" I inquire.
"I am Muslim, so it is nearing Eid ul-Adha, this year."
"Well, happy Eid ul-Adha to you, then." I say.
"And merry Christmas to you." he replies. I thank him again for his help, and we part ways, both smiling.
Now, in the above examples, who was truly in the spirit of the holidays, and who wasnt?
Bottom line: If someone expresses a friendly greeting and hopes that you have hapy holidays, I hope you all will do them the courtesy of understanding that they mean well, and try not to overreact because they werent telepathic and omniscient and didnt know the -exact- brand of holiday you prefer. Just accept the happy greeting in the spirit its been given and reply in kind, and spread a little goodwill
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Splurging today
From the Music Memiors
Top 5 reasons you splurge on a purchase of music.
This one should be interesting.. I had to think about this one. I think of splurge as at least 3 or more CDs at the same time (I don't buy digital music much).
1) - New Artist. I have a quirky taste in music, which crosses many genres, as any long term reader of this blog knows. When I find an artist/group I really like I really get into them.. because it doesn't happen that often. When it does, I'll buy one album, and if that is a hit, I'll go get the rest of the stuff from them. This happened recently with Brad Paisley - I got his 5th album, loved it, then bought the rest.
2) - New Genre / exploring a genre. Similar to above, I find a new style of music I like and just go nuts getting single albums from bands to survey the genre. I did this with Europowermetal (I likely have 50 CDs of that stuff now), Modern Progressive Rock in 1999/2000. Neoswing. And most recently Goth/Metal (and/or Beauty and the Beast) bands. I'm getting the urge to do something similar with country music of the last 15 years, something I never really listened to, but really like now. I sense a lot of greatest hits collections in my future.
3) - Freaking out the store clerk - Yeah this one is silly, but I do it occasionally. I have money I have earmarked for music, because I want some new music dang it! But no real idea what stuff I want, so I'll go to the CD shop and get 5 or 8 CDs (usually used) that span as many genres. I remember one time I picked up some that had Janet Jackson, k d lang, some fusion Jazz, and a heavy metal cd. The clerk asked if I wanted any of them gift wrapped. :)
4) - The wife likes it. I tend to control the music in the house. If we hear something the wife enjoys, I tend to get it in a hurry to add it to the collection so she has more options she likes.
5) - Rock Band. This is my primary digital music purchases. And it isn't as much splurging and a steady money drain. I've got between 2 to 8 songs a week for nearly 9 months. I have over 150 songs downloaded for the game. It can get expensive. But I love it.
Top 5 reasons you splurge on a purchase of music.
This one should be interesting.. I had to think about this one. I think of splurge as at least 3 or more CDs at the same time (I don't buy digital music much).
1) - New Artist. I have a quirky taste in music, which crosses many genres, as any long term reader of this blog knows. When I find an artist/group I really like I really get into them.. because it doesn't happen that often. When it does, I'll buy one album, and if that is a hit, I'll go get the rest of the stuff from them. This happened recently with Brad Paisley - I got his 5th album, loved it, then bought the rest.
2) - New Genre / exploring a genre. Similar to above, I find a new style of music I like and just go nuts getting single albums from bands to survey the genre. I did this with Europowermetal (I likely have 50 CDs of that stuff now), Modern Progressive Rock in 1999/2000. Neoswing. And most recently Goth/Metal (and/or Beauty and the Beast) bands. I'm getting the urge to do something similar with country music of the last 15 years, something I never really listened to, but really like now. I sense a lot of greatest hits collections in my future.
3) - Freaking out the store clerk - Yeah this one is silly, but I do it occasionally. I have money I have earmarked for music, because I want some new music dang it! But no real idea what stuff I want, so I'll go to the CD shop and get 5 or 8 CDs (usually used) that span as many genres. I remember one time I picked up some that had Janet Jackson, k d lang, some fusion Jazz, and a heavy metal cd. The clerk asked if I wanted any of them gift wrapped. :)
4) - The wife likes it. I tend to control the music in the house. If we hear something the wife enjoys, I tend to get it in a hurry to add it to the collection so she has more options she likes.
5) - Rock Band. This is my primary digital music purchases. And it isn't as much splurging and a steady money drain. I've got between 2 to 8 songs a week for nearly 9 months. I have over 150 songs downloaded for the game. It can get expensive. But I love it.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Tuesday Tunes
The Meme Mistress is going to a concert tonight, so that's going to be our theme this week.
If money were no object, what band would you see in concert?
Two come to mind - Queen with Paul Rogders or Gary Numan. It would be really expensive because they tend not to tour the US.
Where were the closest seats you've ever had for a show (that was non-general admission)?
First row dress circle. Might not seem close, but it was at a Billy Joel concert, and he always puts his piano the same place on the stage. We could see his fingers on the keys.
Alternately - about 8th row back in a small ampitheater. I was less than 50 ft from from the stage. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
What type of venue do you prefer to see a show?
Small ampitheater. Intimate setting. The kind of place my wife works.
The Meme Mistress is going to a concert tonight, so that's going to be our theme this week.
If money were no object, what band would you see in concert?
Two come to mind - Queen with Paul Rogders or Gary Numan. It would be really expensive because they tend not to tour the US.
Where were the closest seats you've ever had for a show (that was non-general admission)?
First row dress circle. Might not seem close, but it was at a Billy Joel concert, and he always puts his piano the same place on the stage. We could see his fingers on the keys.
Alternately - about 8th row back in a small ampitheater. I was less than 50 ft from from the stage. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
What type of venue do you prefer to see a show?
Small ampitheater. Intimate setting. The kind of place my wife works.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Obama Throwing his weight around
Obama made some comments on 60 minutes, and here is a presidential stand I can get behind. :)
From Here
Some people are already whining that this is ignoring important stuff. Well so what. I don't know of a college sports fan that hasn't been unhappy about the bowl system. Here is a president (Elect) who listens to what the common man really feels is important.
It may be trivial, but to be honest, when was the last time that a president did something that may be trivial but was on the mind of much of the American people. So I never really thought I'd say this but "Go Obama!".
From Here
President-elect Barack Obama pledges to throw his "weight around" to push for the creation of a college football playoff system on Sunday's night's 60 Minutes.
During Obama's interview with CBS's Steve Kroft (7 p.m. ET), he'll propose an eight-team playoff system to determine college football's national champion.
“Eight teams. That would be three rounds to determine a national champion. It would add three extra weeks to the season. You could trim back on the regular season. I don't know any serious fan of college football who has disagreed with me on this,” Obama tells Kroft. “So, I'm going to throw my weight around a little bit. I think it's the right thing to do.”
Obama adds a playoff system is the only fair way to decide the college football championship. “If you've got a bunch of teams who play throughout the season, and many of them have one loss or two losses, there's no clear decisive winner…We should be creating a playoff system,” he tells Kroft.
Some people are already whining that this is ignoring important stuff. Well so what. I don't know of a college sports fan that hasn't been unhappy about the bowl system. Here is a president (Elect) who listens to what the common man really feels is important.
It may be trivial, but to be honest, when was the last time that a president did something that may be trivial but was on the mind of much of the American people. So I never really thought I'd say this but "Go Obama!".
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Thoughts of the Nautical
More Word Association from the Music Memiors:
Ocean: Songs of the Ocean by Star One (a project group of Arjen Anthony Lucassen, the dude that is Ayreon)
River: River of Dreams by Billy Joel
Sea: Captain / Closer to Home by Grand Funk Railroad
Sailor: Son of a Son of a Sailor by Jimmy Buffett
Ship: Wooden Ships by CSNY
Wave: Katrina and the Waves
Sand: Sandrider by Star One (see Ocean above)
Sail: Sail Away by Styx
Navy: In the Navy by the Village people
Deep: Deep Purple
Ocean: Songs of the Ocean by Star One (a project group of Arjen Anthony Lucassen, the dude that is Ayreon)
River: River of Dreams by Billy Joel
Sea: Captain / Closer to Home by Grand Funk Railroad
Sailor: Son of a Son of a Sailor by Jimmy Buffett
Ship: Wooden Ships by CSNY
Wave: Katrina and the Waves
Sand: Sandrider by Star One (see Ocean above)
Sail: Sail Away by Styx
Navy: In the Navy by the Village people
Deep: Deep Purple
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Country
Top 5 on Friday from the Music Memoirs
Top 5 "Country" or "Alt-Country" songs
Walkin' After Midnight - Patsy Cline.
No list of country songs is complete without Patsy in it.
The Last Cowboy Song - The Highwaymen
The outlaw country supergroup - Johnny Cash, Kris Kristopherson, Willie Nelson & Waylon Jennings. Like Patsy, no country list is complete without Johnny Cash.
Number - Cross Canadian Ragweed.
Alt country at it's finest, and the song that introduced me to the genre, and the band.
Rolling (The Ballad of Big and Rich)- Big and Rich
Upbeat, energetic, and has a rap (thanks to Cowboy Troy) - I love the music mafia trying to break down barriers of genre.
I Believe in You - Don Williams
One of the best balladeers in country.
This is a toughie to keep to five, I want to mention Antsy McClain, Mickey and the Motorcars, Brad Paisley (man can that guy play guitar), Oak Ridge Boys, Statlers, Loretta Lynne ect ect ect..
Top 5 "Country" or "Alt-Country" songs
Walkin' After Midnight - Patsy Cline.
No list of country songs is complete without Patsy in it.
The Last Cowboy Song - The Highwaymen
The outlaw country supergroup - Johnny Cash, Kris Kristopherson, Willie Nelson & Waylon Jennings. Like Patsy, no country list is complete without Johnny Cash.
Number - Cross Canadian Ragweed.
Alt country at it's finest, and the song that introduced me to the genre, and the band.
Rolling (The Ballad of Big and Rich)- Big and Rich
Upbeat, energetic, and has a rap (thanks to Cowboy Troy) - I love the music mafia trying to break down barriers of genre.
I Believe in You - Don Williams
One of the best balladeers in country.
This is a toughie to keep to five, I want to mention Antsy McClain, Mickey and the Motorcars, Brad Paisley (man can that guy play guitar), Oak Ridge Boys, Statlers, Loretta Lynne ect ect ect..
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Tuesday word associations
Tuesday tunage
It's association time again :
Relax: by Frankie goes to Hollywood
Politics: Two Tribes - Also by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Negative: Photograph - Nickleback (as in a photo negative)
Amused: Antsy McClain and the Trailer Park Troubadours
Relief: I believe in You - Don Williams (I have no idea why)
Alone: One is the loneliest number - Three Dog Night
Party: Partyman - Prince
End: This is the End - Shaw/Blades
Sick: Down with the Sickness - Disturbed (played it in Rock Band Recently)
Voice: Queen (most specifically Freddie Mercury)
It's association time again :
Relax: by Frankie goes to Hollywood
Politics: Two Tribes - Also by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Negative: Photograph - Nickleback (as in a photo negative)
Amused: Antsy McClain and the Trailer Park Troubadours
Relief: I believe in You - Don Williams (I have no idea why)
Alone: One is the loneliest number - Three Dog Night
Party: Partyman - Prince
End: This is the End - Shaw/Blades
Sick: Down with the Sickness - Disturbed (played it in Rock Band Recently)
Voice: Queen (most specifically Freddie Mercury)