The Dark Stuff

Keith Olbermann - The Last Man Standing

posted by Dave Splash

Every time I get pissed off at the media for their utter cluelessness, their biases, their elitism, their refusal to acknowledge error, I am glad that Keith Olbermann is still a member of it. He is the only sane man left in the media. Thankfully, he has a forum to express exactly how angry and utterly disgusted by George W. Bush and his administration so many millions of Americans have become. Tonight's special comment will go down in history. Any network (MSNBC) that would allow Keith to say what needed to be said here can't be all bad.

Labels: Bush, Keith Olbermann

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 Comments: 2

Jury Duty?

posted by Dave Splash

So, this week I got called for jury duty - federal jury duty no less. I've never served on a jury, and had always been intrigued by the idea. But now that I am a working adult, I realize what a tremendous hassle it can be to miss work and to be compensated a mere $40/day.

Well, I showed up this morning at 7:30 am, and after all the orientation stuff, I was called to be a potential juror. Obviously, I did not get picked or I would not be writing about this. The case was a drug case involving some trucker who had a bunch of weed in his truck and was traveling across the country. I guess he got busted here in Nebraska.

I found myself having something of a conflict, but wasn't sure if I should speak up while being questioned by the judge and the attorneys during jury selection. For example, I think marijuana should be legal. So, in a sense, I don't care how much weed the guy had, he should be able to have as much as he wants. I opted not to say anything about this because I felt I could still be objective since I didn't really know the facts of the case. Then the questions turned to prior experience with law enforcement. A number of potential jurors had friends or family members who were cops or who had worked in law enforcement. No biggie. Then, they asked about negative experiences with the police.

Now, I know that incidents when the police busted up a party in high school does not really qualify as a "negative experience" with the police. But, what about being falsely arrested when you're 27? It's a long story, but suffice to say, it was a case of mistaken identity and I was released after a few hours. Still, I had to pay to un-impound my car, and I was handcuffed for a number of hours. So, the experience did leave some negative after effects. I decided to mention the incident when questioned during jury selection; and I'm pretty sure that even though I said I did not hold a grudge against the cops, that the incident was enough to get me booted off. Oh well...

I may still have to report next week for a different case, so I am not totally off the hook.

Labels: jury duty, Misc

Monday, May 12, 2008 Comments: 3

Five Myths About Being "Pro Israel"

posted by Dave Splash

A friend of mine who lives in Israel forwarded me this article from the Washington Post. Though he and I disagree somewhat on Israeli politics, I agree with this article and sent it to a number of my Jewish friends.

Five Myths About Being "Pro-Israel"
By Jeremy Ben-Ami
Washington Post

Six decades ago, my father fought alongside Menachem Begin for Israel's independence. If you'd have told him back then that politicians in the world's last superpower would be jockeying today to see who can be more "pro-Israel," he would have laughed at you. Grateful as I am for decades of U.S. friendship to Israel, I have to wonder, as the state my father helped found turns 60, just who is defining what it means to be pro-Israel in the United States these days.

Some purported keepers of that flame claim that supporting Israel means reflexively supporting every Israeli action and implacably opposing every Israeli foe -- adopting the talking points of neoconservatives and the most right-wing elements of the American Jewish and Christian Zionist communities. Criticize or question Israeli behavior and you're labeled "anti-Israel," or worse. But unquestioning encouragement for short-sighted Israeli policies such as expanding Jewish settlements in the West Bank isn't real friendship. (Would a true friend not only let you drive home drunk but offer you their Porsche and a shot of tequila for the road?) Israel needs real friends, not enablers. And forging a healthy friendship with Israel requires bursting some myths about what it means to be pro-Israel.
1. American Jews choose to back candidates largely on the basis of their stance on Israel.

This urban legend has somehow become a tenet of American Politics 101, which is why politicians work so hard to earn the pro-Israel label in the first place. But it's a self-serving fable, cultivated by a tiny minority of politically conservative American Jews who actually are single-issue voters. Most Jewish voters make their political choices the way other Americans do: based on their views on the full spectrum of domestic and foreign policy issues.

Moreover, the American Jewish community still has a markedly progressive bent. Exit polls suggest that nearly 80 percent of Jewish Americans voted for John F. Kerry over George W. Bush in 2004; some 70 percent of them were opposed to the Iraq war in 2005, according to the American Jewish Committee; and polls show that most American Jews say they favor a more balanced U.S. Middle East policy that's aimed at achieving peace.

2. To be strong on Israel, you have to be harsh to the Palestinians.

Wrong, and counterproductive to boot. One popular way for members of Congress to earn their pro-Israel stripes is to come down as hard as possible on the Palestinians, by using economic and diplomatic pressure or giving the Israelis a freer hand for military strikes. That may satisfy some primal urge to lash out at Israel's foes, but it does Israel more harm than good.

As Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has argued, Israel's survival depends on offering the Palestinians a more hopeful future built on political sovereignty and economic development. As long as Palestinians despair of a decent and dignified life, Israel will be at war. And as long as the only channel for the Palestinians' ingenuity is building better rockets, not even the Great Wall of China will protect Israel's cities from their wrath. Helping the Palestinians achieve a viable, prosperous state is one of the most pro-Israel things an American politician can do.

3. The Rev. John Hagee and his fellow Christian Zionists are good for the Jews.

Hardly. Are Israel and American Jewry really so desperate that we must cozy up to people whose messianic dreams entail having us all killed or converted to Christianity? Hagee, the founder of Christians United for Israel, and his ilk believe that Israel dare not cede any territory in the quest for peace, claiming that the Bible promised all of the holy land to the Jews. In other words, Christian Zionists look at the trade-offs that Israel must make to achieve peace -- and hope to thwart them. Then again, peace is not what these folks have in mind; they hope that Israel will seek to permanently expand its borders, thereby goading the Arabs into a war that will become the catalyst for Armageddon and the second coming of Christ. Do your ambitions for Israel extend beyond turning it into the fuel for the fire of the "End of Days"? Then Hagee and company are not -- repeat, not -- your friends.

4. Talking peace with your enemies demonstrates weakness.

You don't need an advanced degree in international relations to recognize that pursuing peace only with people you like is pointless. Most Israelis know this; a recent poll in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz found that two-thirds of Israelis favor cease-fire negotiations between their government and Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement that controls the Gaza Strip, exactly because Hamas is such a bitter foe. But in Washington, we self-righteously refuse to engage -- even indirectly -- with Hamas, Iran or Syria.

Hamas won the most recent Palestinian national elections in a landslide. Do we seriously think that it can be erased from the political landscape simply by assassinations and sanctions? Precisely because Hamas and Iran represent the most worrisome strategic challenges to Israel, responsible friends of Israel who'd like to see it live in security for its next 60 years should be engaging with them to search for alternatives to war.

5. George W. Bush is the best friend Israel has ever had.

Not even close. The president has acted as Israel's exclusive corner man when he should have been refereeing the fight. That choice weakened Israel's long-term security.

Israel needs U.S. help to maintain its military edge over its foes, but it also needs the United States to contain Arab-Israeli crises and broker peace. Israel's existing peace pacts owe much to Washington's ability to bridge the mistrust among parties in the Middle East. So when the United States abandons the role of effective broker and acts only as Israel's amen choir, as it has throughout Bush's tenure, the United States dims Israel's prospects of winning security through diplomacy. The best gift that Israel's friends here could give this gallant, embattled democracy on its milestone birthday would be returning the United States to its leading role in active diplomacy to end the conflicts in the Middle East -- and help a secure, thriving Israel find a permanent, accepted home among the community of nations.

Labels: Israel

Thursday, May 08, 2008 Comments: 2

Cindy McCain Is Hiding Something

posted by Dave Splash

I think it's high time for an investigation of that recipe-stealing, bleached blonde appendage on John W. McCain's arm, his wife Cindy. The woman is a multi-millionaire who inherited a beer distributorship, she makes much more money than John W., yet unlike everyone else running for president (and their spouses), Cindy refuses to release her tax returns. She even said on The Today Show that if she became First Lady, she still wouldn't release them.

How interesting and how hypocritical of Mr. straight talk. What could possibly be the reason for the spouse of a presidential candidate to refuse, outright, to release her tax returns? The possibilities are endless. Questionable deductions? No charitable donations? Making money through less than honest means? Making money from corporations that are regulated by committees that were chaired by her husband? Who knows. Isn't that what the media is for?

I wonder what the justification will be for why the "liberal media" won't investigate.

Labels: 2008 election, John McCain

Thursday, May 08, 2008 Comments: 0

Lost Season 2 in the Can

posted by Dave Splash

In case you were curious, I have just blazed through season 2 of Lost. I'm watching this show at breakneck speed, but for me, that is the way to go. No waiting until next week to see what happens - you just hit the button to start the next episode.

Since I'm still two years behind the rest of the world on this show, there is no point discussing all of the crazy revelations that came out during this season. I did want to point out what a shame it was that they introduced and killed off Cynthia Watros (Libby) and Michelle Rodriguez (Ana-Lucia) in just one season. I kinda liked the Libby character and wanted to see more of her backstory.

Oh well, one to Season 3. Disc one should be arriving tomorrow!!

Labels: Lost, television

Thursday, May 08, 2008 Comments: 1

For Shame

posted by Dave Splash

Apparently none of you out there took my advice to go out and see American Music Club last night at Waiting Room. There were maybe 30 people there. It was really sad.

It was especially sad to see in a town (Omaha) that was musically put on the map by smart, dark, challenging singer/songwriters (a la Bright Eyes), that no one turned out to see one of the best in the business. The band was obviously upset and played a very brief 35 minute set. It was great while it lasted, but I doubt if AMC or Mark Eitzel will ever be back in town.

Labels: American Music Club, Omaha

Thursday, May 08, 2008 Comments: 0

American Music Club TONIGHT at Waiting Room

posted by Dave Splash

One of the best bands in late 80s/early 90s alternative music, American Music Club, is back and playing tonight at Waiting Room. They took a nearly 10 year break from 1994-2003 and band leader, Mark Eitzel, had an impressive solo career. Eitzel decided to reform the band and signed with Merge Records (Spoon, Arcade Fire).

The band's two "reunion" albums are amazing, and add to the band's strong legacy. The newest, The Golden Age, was released a few months ago. You can listen to some of the songs on the band's MySpace page.

Opening the show are The Third Men and Brad Hoshaw. Tickets are $10 and will be available at the door. Give this show a chance, you won't be disappointed.

Labels: American Music Club, Concerts, Omaha

Wednesday, May 07, 2008 Comments: 1

It's Too Bad This Doesn't Work

posted by Dave Splash

Once again, thank you George Bush and the Republican Party for failing to have an energy policy other than "Invade Middle East country." Crude oil hit $117 per barrel, and gas is hovering around $3.75/gallon in my city.

If there were no other reasons NOT to vote Republican this Fall, this would be enough. But, of course, energy is not the only thing the GOP has completely fucked up. When do the smart people get to return to power?

Labels: Alternative Energy, Bush, Republican

Monday, May 05, 2008 Comments: 1

Ace Frehley - May 9 Whiskey Roadhouse

posted by Dave Splash

Ace Frehley is playing a solo show this Friday night at Whiskey Roadhouse in Council Bluffs, IA. The former KISS guitarist is in the midst of his first solo tour since the mid 90s when he re-joined KISS. He left KISS again (or was fired depending on who is telling the story) in 2001.

Ace was recently interviewed by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and he says that he is sort of embarrassed by the current version of KISS.

He has the most uncool laugh you'll ever hear. It's a bit like a high-pitched hyena cackle, but with a New Yorker's nasal accent mixed in. Every Kiss fan shuddered the first time they heard it.

That laugh, though, is one of the reasons Ace Frehley always was the coolest member of Kiss. The band's original guitarist never seemed to take the band as seriously as his pompous, mouthy bandmates. Of course, Frehley was often too wasted to take much of anything seriously during Kiss' heyday, but as he said in a phone interview last week, "For me, rock 'n' roll should always be fun."

Clean and sober for 19 months now, Frehley quit Kiss once again in 2001 after a five-year "reunion/farewell" outing and said he's having a new kind of fun on his first solo tour in 13 years, which brings him to First Avenue on Thursday. He's also releasing a solo album later this year.

These ventures follow recent TV appearances on VH1's "Rock Honors" and "Rock and Roll Celebrity Poker Tournament" as well as -- most surprising/charming of all -- a fireworks-filled Dunkin' Donuts ad directed by "Scrubs" star Zach Braff.

Although he's clearly not making Kiss-sized money as a solo artist, Frehley believes he's getting the last laugh over his former bandmates.

Q Do you think it's a fair tradeoff doing a solo tour? That is, you don't have to put the makeup on, but you also don't get to play as big a venue.

A I don't even think about the makeup. I took the makeup off in 2001, and I really don't plan to put it back on. As far as the smaller audiences, usually the smaller places have better acoustics and you're closer to the people, more intimate. A lot of times that can be a lot more fun. I'm used to playing arenas with a pit and security guards between the band and fans; there's always that distance. The places I play now, people can touch me. As long as they don't get too intimate, you know? [Laughs/cackles.]

Q It's been well over a decade since you did a solo tour. How are things different now?

A For me, things are definitely better because I'm clean and sober now. That puts a different twist on everything. It's great to wake up without a hangover and not remembering what you did the night before. Life just seems to be getting better all the time.

Q Was it harder to stay sober when you toured with Kiss?

A Not really. If I was having a good time and everybody was doing the right thing, I might've stayed. It just turned into the same nonsense that led to me leaving in '82. It all started happening again. For me, rock 'n' roll should always be fun. That's the reason I got into the business. When it's not fun anymore, it's time to move on.

I just had to leave because it wasn't fun anymore and I wanted to move on with my solo career, which I left on the back burner when I rejoined the group in '96. It was time. It was billed as the farewell tour, and then the reunion tour. They're still doing shows in Europe now. That wasn't the whole concept of the way it was presented to me when I jumped on board again.

Q How do you feel about them touring with [former roadie] Tommy Thayer in your place, with the same makeup?

A I really don't think about it [laughs], or I'd rather not think about it. I have no control over that. The fans don't seem too happy, though. What Kiss is doing right now reminds me of like what some great fighters have done in the past when they come out of retirement, when they should have just rolled up the towel. That's the way it seems to me now. It's getting embarrassing.

Q What can we expect to hear on your new album?

A There are some good heavy rockers, some instrumentals, some midtempo stuff. It's the classic Ace Frehley sound and writing. I think everybody is going to ultimately be pleasantly surprised. I can't believe it's been like 15 years since I put out a studio album. Where the hell did time go [laughs]?

Q Every Kiss fan knows your 1978 solo album was the best of the four members'. Did you have something to prove then, and do you have anything similar to prove now?

A I always felt like I had something to prove when I was a member of Kiss because we were all so competitive. Those four solo albums speak for themselves.

I don't think I have anything to prove now, because I'm some kind of legend, I guess. All I need to do now is kind of reinforce that. Positive reinforcement, you know [laughs]? I think my new CD is going to do that.

Q Your most genius song in my mind, and many fans' minds, is "Rocket Ride," with rock's best sexual innuendos outside of AC/DC. What do you remember about recording it?

A I wrote that with our tour manager, Sean Delaney, who passed away a few years ago. We were all whacked out of our minds when we were doing that [laughs]. I actually had a recording setup in my attic at the time, and it was hot as hell, the air-conditioning wasn't working. It was just an entirely crazy recording session. Things aren't crazy like that anymore these days, fortunately.

Q Your recent Dunkin' Donuts commercial reinforced how you don't take yourself too seriously, or at least your Kiss persona. Was that the point?

A I've never taken anything I've done too seriously, and when people take it too seriously I just tell them to calm down. Like the Stones said, it's only rock 'n' roll. This isn't, you know, the Spanish Inquisition [laughs]. That's another thing about Kiss. Sometimes those guys take the whole [expletive] deal too [expletive] seriously.

Like I said earlier, I got involved with rock 'n' roll because it's fun. It's not really work to me. When I'm having fun, at the end of the day I say, "Wow, I'm having a great time. I can't believe I'm getting paid to do this." That's the way it should be. When you're on tour you should be having a great time. That's what it's all about. For some reason with Kiss, it stopped being that.

Labels: Ace Frehley, KISS

Monday, May 05, 2008 Comments: 2

Thank You, Phil

posted by Dave Splash

Phil Collins has announced his retirement from music. We are all a little better off now.

Labels: Music

Monday, April 28, 2008 Comments: 0

Nebraska Dems 2nd Dist. Update

posted by Dave Splash

So I watched the debate the other night between the two Democrats vying for the nomination for the 2nd Congressional District seat. Let me say, off the bat, that it was one of the most poorly run debates I have ever seen. It was on public access TV, which is hardly known for high production value. But aside from a few times where the camera was set onto the wrong candidate, that was hardly the problem. The real problem was the moderators.

The moderators consisted of the public access show's host, the head of the local chapter of NAACP, and a man billed as a "community activist." The debate had no discernible format or structure, and seemed to focus entirely on North Omaha's local issues. It didn't seem to register with the questioners that this was not a debate for a seat on the City Council. Members of Congress should be aware of local concerns and issues, but the bottom line is that they are running to be our federal representative. I would have liked to hear more questions about the war in Iraq, federal tax policy, the economy...you know, something relevant.

To the extent that I got anything out of the debate, I guess I found Richard Carter more impressive than Jim Esch. Carter is an Iraq and Afghanistan War veteran with further experience in business. He seems like the kind of Democrat that could win in Nebraska. I guess my problem with Esch is just that he didn't win in '06. That was a change election, Lee Terry was weak, and Esch ran a Republican-lite style campaign. He should have won.

In a year with a presidential election at the top of the ballot, I think it will be harder for the Dem to win this time around in a state like Nebraska. Straight ticket voting is more prevalent in presidential years. For 2008, we will need a stronger candidate - one that will do more to distinguish himself from his opponent, and one that will take the fight to the Republicans. Esch didn't do that in 2006.

That said, no matter who wins the Democratic nomination on May 13, they will get my vote. I want the House to have the highest possible margin for the Dems. I just wish the debate would not have been such an amateur hour.

Labels: 2008 election, Democrat, Nebraska Politics

Friday, April 25, 2008 Comments: 0