Thursday, February 24, 2011

The More Things Change.............

In the 1958-59 school year, the Kingston Trio appeared at the University of Arkansas and sang "They're Rioting In Africa (The Merry Minuet)", by Sheldon Harnick. Who could have guessed that it would still be relevant 53 years later?

"They're rioting in Africa
They're starving in Spain
There's hurricanes in Florida
And Texas needs rain.

The whole world is festering
With unhappy souls
The French hate the Germans,
The Germans hate the Poles

Italians hate Yugoslavs
South Africans hate the Dutch
And I don't like anybody very much.

But, we can be grateful
and thankful and proud
That man's been endowed
With a mushroom-shaped cloud

And, we know for certain
That some happy day
Someone will set the spark off
And we will all be blown away.

They're rioting in Africa
There's strife in Iran
What nature doesn't do to us
Will be done by our fellow man."

-----

Scott Walker - The Tea Party's Mad Hatter


Unions are under siege. Governor Walker of Wisconsin wants to take away their collective bargaining rights under the guise of helping make up a $3+ Billion budget deficit of his own making. The deficit ballooned because of the tax breaks he gave to big corporations who donated big money to his campaign.

The teachers agreed to all the fiancial cuts Gov. Walker asked for, but he decided that wasn't enough.

What he really wants is to break the backs of unions and then run for President.

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You Are Getting Sle-e-e-e-e-py

General William Caldwell wanted to use Psychological Operations (Psy Ops) to convince members of Congress and the Senate and other military officials to send more troops to Afghanistan.

Lt. Col. Michael Holmes went public with the plan in an article in Rolling Stone Magazine. He had disagreed with Gen. Caldwell, and decided to blow the whistle.

Now, Gen. Caldwell has asked for $2 Billion more for his training operations. If he gets it, should we assume Congress and the Senate have been collectively hypnotized?

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Stop The Presses!

I read in our state paper that the Arkansas Legislature has actually passed a bill that will help Arkansans. It raises the property tax exemption on used (ahem, previously owned vehicles) from $2500 to $5000.

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Brush Up On Your Drinking Songs

Since my county voted to go "wet", there have been several applications for beer and wine licenses for on premises sales, as well as a few applications for package stores, including Walmart.

Now, the Chamber of Commerce has applied for a beer and wine license for beer gardens at specific events in city parks. This would be for various festivals and other outdoor events presumably sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.

I'll drink to that!

Stay tuned.

7 comments:

Kay Dennison said...

Hmmmmm Scott Walker is definitely a damn fool. So is our gov here in Ohio but at least he's keeping his mouth shut.

Drinking songs? hmmmm

Sing "Glorious! Glorious!"
One keg of beer for the four of us!
Singin' "Glory be to God that there ain't no more of us!
'Cause one of could drink it all ourself -- damn near!"

Sorry -- all of a sudden I was back at Phi Delt parties! LOL

Big John said...

Drinking songs. You will be able to sing your national anthem ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner ...and sound like that young lady who made such a mess of it at that big football game recently.

NitWit1 said...

Love the ditty at the top of your blog.

Husband was in your nearby town and picked up a newspaper about the temporary liquor/beer licensing. We have had a few events do that around here.

I am with a Police Aux. that did that but sales were flat. I thought it ironic a Police Aux would sell alcoholic beverages and likely create business for themselves. I voted against us doing it, although I had no objection to other groups doing.

Sometimes image is everything.

Anonymous said...

I listened to the Kingston Trio in the early 60's when my mom played them. I don't remember this one, but it is quite spooky that it is still so relevant. Thanks for pointing it out.

Cazzie!!! said...

I love coming here to read the news, much better than seeing it on the idiot box (aka Television, LOL)

Darlene said...

Arkansas has gone 'wet'? I never thought I would live to see the day. My, even the Bible belt is changing.

No government is as crazy as Arizona's is now. The bible thumpers in our state legislature have passed (or are trying to pass) a slew of stupid anti-immigration laws that are unconstitutional. Never mind that our schools are failing, the economy is in shambles or jobs are desperately needed; they are spending time on trying to beat Utah in making the Glock our state gun. Duh! Please do remember that it was used to shoot Gabby Giffords.

Looking to the Stars said...

Love the song! Wow, how things haven't changed.

having booze for sale everywhere will increase profits. I'll drink to that (lol)

My mother was BIG into hypontizing, won't share all the terrible things that can be done with that crap. I've known that the gov't was into this a loooong time ago. The more I learn, the creepier the gov't gets.

take care