Colin McEnroe Binned By WTIC

Liberal gadfly, columnists and WTIC talk radio talking head Colin McEnroe was binned by WTIC. In somewhat related news WTIC center right talk show host Jim Vicevich had his show expanded by an hour.
I wonder if the rocket scientists over at the Hartford Courant can figure out why their ad revenues and circulation are so abysmal and do the same sort of thing?

Boxing Vs. MMA

I'm watching a re-run of the Calzaghe Vs. Jones fight on HBO, this was supposed to have been a good fight, but I can't watch it. Apparently I have been ruined by watching MMA.
Calzaghe keeps taunting Jones by dropping his hands and dancing in front of him. Try that with a light heavyweight in MMA with their minimal gloves and you will wake up in the dressing room or an ambulance, or you might get kicked in the face, taken down and mounted.
I wonder if boxing is loosing market share to the various MMA afficions? It should be. This is what happens in the UFC when you approach your oppenent with your hands down:

The Best Commercial Ever?

NOT SAFE FOR WORK. But absolutely much, much better than moldy old music videos. It's a shame Denmark has such horrible winters. Enjoy.
Shamelessly lifted from Insty.

Bleg

Please, no more questionable music for a few months, PLEASE!

Michael Roe & Mark Harmon - Don't, This Way

The guitar on this is so achingly beautiful.

Imagine
All those years together
As a blackbird with no song to sing
Imagine
Throwing it to the air
But it falls from broken wings

Don't leave this way, so many words unsaid
Don't lie this way, stretched straight from
Feet to head

Imagine
The sky is pouring down
On the back of all those years
Imagine
That bird helpless on the ground
Shot down by all those tears

Don't leave this way, so many words unsaid
Don't lie this way, stretched straight from
Feet to head
Don't look this way, closed eyes, unmoving lips
Don't feel this way, cold hands and fingertips

Mike Roe again (with Mark Harmon)

Michael Roe & Mark Harmon - Denomination Blues

Denomination Blues (That's All)

Some people preaching
They do very well
They take all your money
And you can go to hell
And that's all... that's all
When you could have Jesus
And that's all

You can go to your college
You can go to your school
If you ain't got Jesus
You're just an educated fool
And that's all... that's all
You gotta have Jesus now
And that's all

If you pardon me sir
You ain't doin' too well
You spend your whole life sinning
And you're going to hell
And that's all
But that ain't all
Cuz you could have Jesus now
And that's all

It's good to stand together
It's bad to stand apart
The only ones going to heaven
Are the pure in heart
And that's all... that's all
You better get Jesus now
And that's all

Jesus is coming back on the dividing day
Taking in the sheep
Turning the goats away
That'll be all now
That'll be all
You better take Jesus now
And that's all

Phil Keaggy with Glass Harp

Glass Harp JB's Kent, Ohio Jam


This guy can play with anybody.

Son House - John The Revelator

Larry Norman does a cover of this song but his voice isn't nearly as good as this.

another Christian singer songwriter

Bruce Cockburn live "The End Of All Rivers" (an instrumental)



A total freaking lefty but one of my all-time favorites.

same dude with a haircut

and without the band does a more traditional version with more of the lyrics from Zeppelin's version.

Mike Roe - Nobody's Fault but Mine

wish the sound was better on this video

Nobody's Fault But Mine - the 77's



The 77s do a LOT of Christian stuff. This song has been sung with different lyrics by different artists. This version is obviously a cover of Led Zeppelin's:

Nobody's fault but mine
It's nobody's fault but mine
Try to save my soul tonight
Oh, it's nobody's fault but mine

Devil he told me to roll
Devil he told me to roll roll roll roll
How to roll the log tonight
Nobody's fault but mine

Brother he showed me the gong
Brother he showed me the ding dong ding dong
How to kick that gong to life
Oh, it's nobody's fault but mine

Got a monkey on my back
M-M-Monkey on my back back back back
Gonna change my ways tonight
Nobody's fault but mine

I will get down rollin' tonight
N-N-N-Nobody's fault but mine.

Otis Redding and the Dead have also done covers.

Blind Willie Johnson is credited with writing it. Here are the lyrics from his 1927 recording:

Nobody's fault but mine
Nobody's fault but mine
If I don't read my soul be lost

I have a Bible in my home
I have a Bible in my home
If I don't read my soul be lost

My father taught me how to read
My father taught me how to read
If I don't read my soul be lost
Nobody's fault but mine

Lord, Lord
Nobody's fault but mine
If I don't read my soul be lost

I have a Bible in my house
I have a Bible in my house
If I don't read my soul be lost

Mother, she taught me how to read
Mother, she taught me how to read
If I don't read my soul be lost
Nobody's fault but mine

Lord, Lord
Nobody's fault but mine
If I don't read my soul be lost

My sister she taught me how to read
My sister she taught me how to read
If I don't read my soul be lost
Nobody's fault but mine

Lord, Lord
Nobody's fault but mine
If I don't read my soul be lost

My opinion: the 77s should have done Zeppelin's version with more of Blind Willie's lyrics. (They use some of his lyrics. I just would have liked it better if they had use more of them.)

(link)

re: Larry Norman

from Wikipedia:

Following tours by the first wave of punk musicians in the British Isles in the mid-1970s, the post-punk band U2 was formed in Dublin, Ireland. Active simultaneously in the local punk music scene and the "Shalom Fellowship," some members of U2 eventually became "fans" of Larry Norman's music.[15] Both artists performed, making unannounced appearances, at the U.K.'s Greenbelt Festival in 1981.[21]

Charles Thompson IV discovered Larry Norman's music at age 13 after moving to California and seeing him in concert. Thompson said of Norman during this period: "I don't think Larry Norman was necessarily respected by religious people... he had more of a rebellious rock'n'roll kind of an image." "I dressed like him, I looked like him, he was my total idol."[22] While at college in Massachusetts, Thompson adopted the stage name Black Francis, and formed The Pixies along with Joey Santiago, Kim Deal, and David Lovering. According to Kim Deal, the title of the Pixies' 1987 EP "Come On Pilgrim", as well as a similar line from the song "Levitate Me," derive from a Norman catchphrase used during live performances. In the 1987 recording and subsequent performances of the Pixies song "Levitate Me," lead singer Black Francis shouts "Come on Pilgrim, you know He loves you!" while imitating Larry Norman's accent. [23]

link

Larry Norman

On Zaphod's recommendation I youtubed Larry Norman, what do you think?
I probably won't run out and buy his Cd's anytime soon, but I kind of like it. Much, much more than Bebo Norman. Why?

Happy Kwanzaa!

Or not, whatever.

Baby Please Don't Go Muddy Waters Bottleneck Stella Guitar

more Bebo Norman...

Sometimes when I'm all alone
I don't know if I can
Take another breath
Some say home is where the heart is
Tell me where my home is
'Cause i'm scared to death

Falling from the rooftop
Crashing like a raindrop
Can you make my heart stop
Shaking like a leaf
Standing at the floodgate
Steady as an earthquake
Can you hear my heart break
Tearing at the seams

I am drifting in the deep end
Holding on to your hand
Is all that saves me now
Life can treat you like a beggar
You hold me together
But I don't know how

Falling from the rooftop
Crashing like a raindrop
Can you make my heart stop
Shaking like a leaf
Standing at the floodgate
Steady as an earthquake
Can you hear my heart break
Tearing at the seams

Some say home is where the heart is
And my heart is in your hands
You are all I need

Rising from the ashes
Lifting from the madness
Now you see my heart is
Deep enough to dream
Heal me from the deathblow
Lead and I will follow
Now you feel my heart glow
Mending at the seams

Bebo Norman: "I Will Lift My Eyes"

Not precisely a Christmas song but it still fits.

Utter Nonense

Learn from your green superiors:

39-year-old Chameides -- nicknamed "Sustainable Dave" -- recycles his garbage or else stores it in his basement. He says he wants to show that it is possible to dramatically reduce his family's consumption habits.
And he can show astounding results. Rather than the 1,600 pounds of trash the average American family produces each year, Chameides, his wife and two daughters have amassed
only 32 pounds over the last 12 months.

Great, what to do with all that garbage you have their in California?

Ironically, even Chameides's rubbish will not go to waste. In January, his refuse will be sent to the Trash Museum of Connecticut to be exhibited.

I see. Garbage makes a three thousand mile trip. Green weenies get all self congratulatory, everybody wins.

President Elect Obama To Use Lincoln's Bible at Inauguration

"President-elect Obama is deeply honored that the Library of Congress has made the Lincoln Bible available for use during his swearing-in," said Presidential Inaugural Committee Executive Director Emmett Beliveau. "The President-elect is committed to holding an Inauguration that celebrates America's unity, and the use of this historic Bible will provide a powerful
connection to our common past and common heritage."

I must admit I find this rather cool for at least two reasons. First, I bet Honest Abe is looking down and pleased that an African American has been elected President, which makes me wonder if he'd be surprised that it took this long or that it happened at all. Secondly, if President Elect Obama wants to emulate someone, he could do much worse than Lincoln. Let's hope he surprises us all.

O Magnum Mysterium!

One of my favorite Christmas hymns, which I was privileged to present publicly (as a poor tenor in a decent choir) several times, many years ago.

The text reads:

O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-born Lord,
lying in a manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear
Christ the Lord.
Alleluia!

Here is the music (turn it up, as it begins softly):



Hat tip for link, N. Peters over at First Things.