STORIES OF THE DAY (4-30-2010)

AM STORY LINKS

Obama's birth certificate not needed: Arizona Republicans defend merits of measure but won't force vote. (Arizona Daily Star)
Immigration law scaled back: In deciding whom to stop, police may not factor in race, ethnicity or national origin. (Arizona Daily Star)
A top adviser to President Barack Obama says that no new oil drilling would be authorized until authorities learn what caused the explosion of the rig Deepwater Horizon. (The Times-Picayune)


NOON STORY LINKS

Five Mississippi counties have been declared federal disaster areas, giving residents and businesses in those areas access to federal assistance programs. (Clarion-Ledger)
Russia wants right to prosecute parents who abuse adopted Russian kids. Without New Agreement, they threatens to end adoptions to U.S. (ABC News)
The U.S. economy kept growing in the first three months of this year, according to a government report . (CNN Money)


EVENING & LATE NIGHT STORY LINKS

These links will not appear today. Have a great weekend!

STORIES OF THE DAY (4-29-2010)

AM STORY LINKS

Cape Wind OK’d in a first for the nation. Opponents vow lawsuit to continue nine-year battle. (Boston Globe)
Facebook Group 'Praying' For President Obama's Death Passes 1 Million Members. (Huffington Post)
Oil spill five times as large as earlier thought
Another leak has been found near the site where a drilling rig sank last week. (Los Angeles Time)

Bonus: Interactive presentation on burning spilled oil. (Los Angeles Time)


NOON STORY LINKS

US government sends skimmers, booms, other gear to help contain Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (Sun Sentinel)
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown fights to salvage his campaign after 'bigot' blunder. (Times Of London)
The Carbonator- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's master plan to make climate change go hasta la vista. (Mother Jones)


EVENING STORY LINKS

The president has conducted his first known interview for the vacant Supreme Court seat. (New York Magazine)
Despite more than $1 billion spent to protect public transit, U.S. subway systems are only now starting to address threats. (Center For Public Integrity)
Three decades into the personal-computer revolution; how all the freedom created chaos. (Newsweek)


LATE NIGHT STORY LINKS

Global warming can give you kidney stones and a whole bunch of other ailments—and therein lies a major problem for the health insurance industry. (Mother Jones)
Louisiana Oil Spill Gets Worse: New Leak Increases Estimated Spill By Five Times. (Huffington Post)
Navy submarines officially go coed; Silent Service tradition of walking around in underwear ends. (New York Daily News)

THURSDAY NIGHT PHOTO FEATURE

The focus on this week's photo album is the Gulf of Mexico rig explosion and oil spill.

STORIES OF THE DAY (4-28-2010)

AM STORY LINKS

Paris to Atlanta flight diverted to Bangor; Passenger detained after claiming to have explosives. (Bangor Daily News)
"LiveFreePA" fund-raiser and candidates' forum in Lancaster County (PA) offers attendees the chance to "fire a few rounds". (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, and Henry Rollins question Arizona immigration law. (The Daily Caller)


NOON STORY LINKS

At the first meeting of the bipartisan commission to tackle the federal deficit Tuesday, nothing was taken 'off the table'. (Christian Science Monitor)
A teacher wielding a knife breaks into a primary school in southern China and stabs 15 students and a teacher. (MSNBC)
China is stripped of a bronze medal from the 2000 Sydney Olympics for fielding an underage female gymnast, US awarded medal. (NPR)

BONUS! The New York Post weighs in on the language used at the Goldman Sachs congressional hearing:




EVENING STORY LINKS

Charlie Crist has told major donors he'll abandon the August primary and run for U.S. Senate as an independent. (Tallahassee Democrat)
“Government Sachs,” as the well-connected Goldman Sachs is known, is called to account by the actual government (Maureen Dowd). (New York Times)
As Coast Guard burn of oil slick begins, BP official blames Gulf explosion on oil rig owner. (CNN)



LATE NIGHT STORY LINKS

The scientific consensus on geoengineering — a manipulation of the environment to counteract climate change — has come a long way in the past few years. (Washington Independent)
Republicans in the Senate have dropped their objection to a debate on the most significant reforms to financial regulations since the 1930s (BBC News)
Obama v. Constitution: Your Friends at GOP.com Did Some Spring Cleaning. (Vanity Fair)

WEDNESDAY NIGHT FUNNIES

Every Wednesday you can find my favorite political cartoons of the week. This week the focus is on the Arizona immigration law.

STORIES OF THE DAY (4-27-2010)

AM STORY LINKS

Arizona's draconian new immigration law is an abomination -- racist, arbitrary, oppressive, mean-spirited, unjust. (Real Clear Politics)
President Obama's strategy gets personal, singling out adversaries for scorn in speeches, interviews, asides, etc. (Politico)
Industry & government scramble to contain the expanding slick from oil rig explosion in Gulf of Mexico. (Times-Picayune)


NOON STORY LINKS

Islamist Death Threats Aren’t a Cartoon Joke; people may well wonder why there have been no arrests. (New York Times)
The only man to admit shooting Malcolm X has been freed on parole, 45 years after he helped assassinate the civil rights leader. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Facebook is winning the race to create the broadest sharing platform and unlock the social web's holy grail. (Forbes)


EVENING STORY LINKS

The National Institutes of Health will announce Tuesday that four additional lines of human embryonic stem cells are now eligible for federal funding. (Washington Post)
Sarah Palin is already president of right-wing America—and it’s a position with a very big salary. (New York Magazine)
Federal officials have evacuated portions of three Massey Energy coal mines in West Virginia in the past month after surprise inspection. (Charleston Daily Mail)


LATE NIGHT STORY LINKS

The Coast Guard is considering burning off some of the oil spewed from the Gulf oil rig. (Tallahassee Democrat)
Conan O'Brien will be on "60 Minutes" this weekend with his first post-"Tonight Show" interview. (Chicago Tribune)
Goldman Sachs Hearing: How Many Times Did Michigan Senator Carl Levin Say 'Sh**ty Deal'? (CNBC)

Bonus: Goldman Sach's Shi**y Day

FANTASTIC FOUR

Tuesday is CD suggestion night. Each week I will suggest 4 CDs (hence Fantastic Four). The CD doesn't have to be new - it just has to be good. Here are this week's picks:


Peter Wolf - Midnight Souvenirs: Wolf continues to mature in his post-J. Geils life (for fans, the band will be touring this summer). On his latest effort, Wolf offers up some of the tastiest, mature Rock 'n' Roll I have ever heard.

Favorites: The entire CD - do yourself a favor and give this a listen.




Zac Brown Band - Foundation: This isn't a new CD, but I just discovered it. Think Jimmy Buffet meets Brad Paisley. A really fun country set.

Favorites: Chicken Fried, Toes.




Jimi Hendrix - Valley Of Neptune: Forty years after his death, Jimi goes top ten. It's amazing that Jimi is charting this high. No surprises when it comes to the sound, which is incredible.

Favorites: Stone Free, Fire and Sunshine of Your Love.




Jimmy Buffet - Buffet Hotel: Again, not new, but new to me. The set on this CD is classic Buffet. Virtually no filler.

Favorites: Nobody From Nowhere, Summerzcool, A Lot To Drink About.

STORIES OF THE DAY (4-26-2010)

AM STORY LINKS

Teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are expected in Mississippi today to survey the areas hit by tornadoes. (Clarion-Ledger)
FDA may approve groundbreaking vaccine; uses body's immune system to fight prostate cancer. (Seattle Times)
West Virginians wary of President Obama's coal policies are pleased with his visit for the miner memorial service. (Charleston Daily Mail)

BONUS: Text of President Obama's speech honoring miners.


NOON STORY LINKS

Playboy, Tiffany Foundation & Aileen Getty donate money to save Hollywood sign from developers. (Los Angles Times)
Republicans fighting with Democrats to keep Wall Street negotiations behind closed doors. (Huffington Post)
The Dark Lord is back. Will resentment-ridden ex-Vice President Dick Cheney help Republicans? (Politics Daily)


EVENING STORY LINKS

Hysterical nativism: Arizona, a conservative border state is at risk of becoming a police state. (The Economist)
Financial Reform vote falls short; GOP delays far-reaching Democratic bill to strengthen oversight of Wall Street. (Huffington Post)
Starting Thursday, a new rule allows passengers to get off a plane stuck on a tarmac for 3 hours. (Commercial Appeal)

Financial Reform Extra!!!
Financial Reform Doesn't Get Cloture: What that Means. (Newsweek)
William Greider: Breaking the Banks. (The Nation)
Poll: Most back stricter financial reform, advantage Obama. (Washington Post)
Bank Reform: Open Debate, Then Amend to Battle Big Banks. (The Nation)
Financial Reform’s Big Unknowns: Will the financial regulatory bill prevent another panic? (Newsweek)


LATE NIGHT STORY LINKS

Yankees get presidential treatment during White House visit (Story, Video, Photos). (New York Post)
Doctors still unsure of the cause of Bret Michaels hemorrhage; they find bleeding at the base of his brain stem. (FOX News)
Hertz Global Holdings reaches an agreement to buy Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group. (SmartMoney)

CAN YOU SAY REPUBLICANT?

So, they did it again. The Republican party once again stands in the way of forward progress. Today, they voted against moving Financial Reform legislation forward. We've seen this before with health care and I am sure we will see it again with virtually everything the Democrats and President Obama attempt to do. Why?

First, it seems to me that the Republicans thought they could scare everyone into thinking the world would end once health care reform passed. Well, it's been weeks and I'm still standing. As I said all along, the bill was not perfect, but it's the best health care bill that's ever been. And, the bill that amends and builds on this bill will then become the best. Immediately after the reform legislation was passed, we heard calls for repeal. But, just a few short weeks later, some Republicans are taking credit for parts of the legislation. I guess your the party of "hell no' until your constituents say, "hell yes!"

Second, the Republicans were initially against Financial Reform. I guess someone got to them and explained that the stance was like cheering for a burglar. So, then you started seeing GOP leaders on news shows talking about the fact that they were now in favor of reform. But, then Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) makes a trip to Wall Street and comes back to lead a charge against reform. Can you say "Flip-Flop?"

Finally, the party seems to have blundered in Arizona where the Republican governor approved an immigration bill which would allow police to compel you to prove you are a citizen. Since there is a large Latino population in the state, opposition groups feel that this will lead to racial profiling. But, John McCain seems to be for the new law even though he has stated that he is not sure that it is legal. Lindsey Graham, Senator from South Carolina, seems to be for the law as well. But his stance is confusing. About a month ago he told President Obama that he needed to become more active in regard to immigration reform. This week when the President came out against the Arizona legislation, Senator Graham has stated that this is not the time for the President to pursue immigration legislation. I'm not sure what you would call this other than trying to have your cake and eat it too.

Inconsistency in politics is not exactly a new concept. However, the fact that it is now a daily occurrence totally disgusts me. I was not a big fan of Ronald Reagan, but I always knew where he stood (and that he stood for something). Today's GOP seems to be for one thing - and one thing only - the failure of Barack Obama's presidency. To reach that goal, they are becoming Republicants, not Republicans. For those who support the party, it must be totally confusing. What does your party stand for? At this point, the answer seems to be nothing. And, like the old saying goes, "you have to stand for something or you'll fall for anything."

STORIES OF THE DAY (4-23-2010)

AM STORY LINKS

Republicans step up criticism of the SEC following reports that senior agency staffers spent hours surfing porn sites. (Miami Herald)
If the past is any indication, Iceland will bring forth stronger and more dangerous eruptions than Eyjafjallajokull. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
The Weekend Begins: I'll drink to that! Fifty Beers to Try Right Now (Slide Show). (GQ)


NOON STORY LINKS

President Obama calls Arizona immigration law “misguided” and said it could violate civil rights. (Arizona Daily Star)
NCAA announces that the NCAA tournament field will expand to 68 teams next season. (Washington Post)
Kure Beach, North Carolina (aka, Mayberry with a beach), vacationers, leave your thongs at home. (Arizona Daily Star)


EVENING STORY LINKS

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signs a bill that requires police in her state to determine whether a person is in the United States legally. (CNN)
John McCain's campaign manager says the GOP should shy away from the closed-mindedness that his former running mate represents. (Newsweek)
How the nation's biggest banks are ripping off American cities with the same predatory deals that brought down Greece. (Rolling Stone)


FRIDAY LATE ABSURDITIES

Author Questions Whether Sarah Palin Was Born in America; She May Be of African-Arab Descent. (Lying Dog News)
Waterloo parents arrested after baby chokes on bag of marijuana. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)
Ex-worker at sex shop claims he lost promotion over not being gay. (Sacramento Bee)


HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!! Check back on Monday, or if there is breaking news...

REASONS TO BELIEVE

It was an interesting week. We had air traffic issues caused by a volcano in Iceland, followed by an oil rig sinking in the Gulf of Mexico and the President speaking at Cooper Union in New York City about financial industry reform. There was the usual political bickering, terrorist bombings and the killing of al-Qaeda leaders in Iraq, and the Yankees turned their first triple-play in forty years. But, tonight I want to forget all of that and focus on some good feeling stories.

This week we learned that a German shepherd in Anchorage, Alaska, lead police back to a fire on his owners property. The dog, Buddy, responded to his owner, Ben Heinrichs, telling him, "we need help." The Alaska State Troopers presented Buddy with an engraved silver-plated bowl for his efforts.

Thumbs up to SpongeBob Square Pants. A 12-year-old Long Island girl saved her best friend's life by performing the Heimlich maneuver on her. The girl, Miriam Starobin, said she learned to maneuver by watching SpongeBob. "It was like a flash right in my eyes. I saw in my head Squidward with his clarinet lodged in his throat and then SpongeBob does the Heimlich maneuver and the clarinet comes flying out of his mouth," she said.

Finally, all-around good-guy, former University of Florida quarterback, Tim Tebow, spent the last few months hearing that he would probably not be selected in the first round of the NFL. There were even one or two predictions having him picked as late as round three. It seems the experts failed to ask the Denver Broncos how they felt about Tebow's abilities. They liked him well enough to make him the 25th pick in the draft.

After a long week full of name calling, bickering, tragedy and mixed economic news, it's nice to have a few things that make you feel that there's still hope for this world. That hope reminds me of a line from an old Bruce Springsteen song, "Reason To Believe":

Struck me kinda funny seemed kind of funny sir to me,
How at the end of every hard earned day people find some reason to believe.

Have a great weekend!

STORIES OF THE DAY (4-22-2010)

AM STORY LINKS

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) defends her controversial “gangster government” criticism of Democrats. (The Hill)
57 problem U.S. coal mines have been hit with surprise inspections aimed at preventing another explosion. (Charleston Daily Mail)
Earth Day turns 40: An animated tribute (Story & Video). (Yahoo!)


NOON STORY LINKS

President Obama castigates a financial industry that he says has too often forgotten the ordinary Americans. (Wall Street Journal)
Educators urge parents to take their kids to school, not to work, and sidestep annual event. (The Forum Of Fargo-Moorhead)
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell admonishes Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger in letter outlining punishment. (Yahoo!)

EXTRA! EXTRA! EXTRA!
Transcript of President Obama Speech. (Wall Street Journal)


EVENING STORY LINKS

Rescue crews continued scouring the Gulf of Mexico for 11 missing workers even as the rig sinks. (Houston Chronicle)
Facebook wants to make the Web more social, and in the process increase the information you're willing to share. (Time)
A victim of Father Murphy, a priest accused of molesting as many as 200 deaf boys, files a lawsuit naming the Holy See, Pope Benedict XVI & other top Vatican officials as defendants. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)


LATE NIGHT STORY LINKS

3D TV: very cool, very expensive, socially limited. (Houston Chronicle)
A Spanish hospital says it has performed the world's first complete face transplant. (New York Post)
After all the doubt Tim Tebow turns out to be a first-round NFL draft pick after all - #25 by the Denver Broncos. (The Gainesville Sun)

AN EARTH DAY THOUGHT & A SONG

I know it's going to seem that I'm Sarah Palin bashing again tonight, but the sinking of the oil rig in the Gulf Of Mexico made me think of Palin saying just a few weeks ago that we didn't need to fully examine off shore drilling. She wants us to "Drill, Baby, Drill." While I know no matter how much we plan, there can always be a disaster, but I would still like to proceed with caution. So tonight I would like to say to the half term Governor from Alaska, "Think, Dumb Ass, Think." Unless you think what happened today is no big deal.

Rather than get into a long essay tonight, I thought I would offer one of my favorite energy songs, "Power". It was written by John Hall (who is now a congressman from New York), who with his band Orleans, brought you "Still The One" and "Dance With Me."

Here's a video of John and some famous friends performing the song. The lyrics appear below. Please remember that while today is Earth Day, everyday is respect the earth day.





POWER
(John and Johanna Hall)

Just give me the warm power of the sun.
Give me the steady flow of a waterfall.
Give me the spirit of living things as they return to clay.
Just give me the restless power of the wind.
Give me the comforting glow of a wood fire;
But please take all of your atomic poison power away.

Everybody needs some power, I'm told,
To shield them from the darkness and the cold.
Some may see a way to take control when it's bought and sold.

I know that lives are at stake:
Yours and mine and our descendants in time.
There's so much to gain, so much to lose,
Every one of us has to choose.

Just give me the warm power of the sun.
Give me the steady flow of a waterfall.
Give me the spirit of living things as they return to clay.
Just give me the restless power of the wind.
Give me the comforting glow of a wood fire;
But please take all of your atomic poison power away.

We are only now beginning to see
How delicate the balance of nature can be.
The limits of her ways have been defined
And we've crossed that line.

Some don't even care or know that we'll pay,
But we have seen the face of death in our day.
There's so little time to change our ways.
If only we together can say:

Just give me the warm power of the sun.
Give me the steady flow of a waterfall.
Give me the spirit of living things as they return to clay.
Just give me the restless power of the wind.
Give me the comforting glow of a wood fire;
But please take all of your atomic poison power away.

STORIES OF THE DAY (4-21-2010)

AM STORY LINKS

Pope Benedict promises that the Catholic Church would take action to confront the clerical sex abuse scandal. (New York Times)
The FBI & IRS have launched a criminal investigation into the GOP of Florida's issuing of credit cards to elected officials and staff. (The Hill)
Arizona: Protesters attend rally to demand that Gov. Jan Brewer veto a far-reaching bill designed to combat illegal immigration. (Arizona Daily Star)


NOON STORY LINKS

12 are missing after blast in Gulf of Mexico. (Houston Chronicle) Gulf Blast Update (The Times-Picayune)
President Obama said Wednesday that he has no "litmus" test on abortion for potential nominees. (The Hill)
If Crist runs as independent, all the long-held political assumptions about America's biggest battleground state are out the window. (St. Petersburg Times)


EVENING STORY LINKS

U.S. Coast Guard says that 11 oil workers still missing after rig explosion, contrary to a report by a local government official. (MSNBC)
Arizona 'Birther Bill' would require President Obama to produce birth certificate to appear on ballot. (NPR)
Within 48 hours, the GOP line on financial regulatory reform went from "filibuster" to "we're very close to a deal." (Talking Points Memo)


LATE NIGHT STORY LINKS

Due to disruptions caused by the volcanic eruption, use of Facebook and Twitter mushrooms. (Al Jazeera)
Tea Party: Uninformed Leading the Angry (Story & Video). (The Nation)
Each day, some 2,000 Indians visit the new restaurant in Bangalore - Taco Bell. (Global Post)

THE "CHANGE THINGY" IS DOING WELL

On my way home this evening, I saw a Barack Obama "Change we can believe in" bumper sticker and I had to smile. Why? Because, recently, in one of her Tea Party event speeches, the two year Governor of Alaska (who resigned her position), Sarah Palin, had the audacity to question how that "change thingy" was working out for us. Well, Sarah, a lot better than you would want us to believe. Clearly, you hope that the President will quit trying, which is certainly something you have some experience doing.

First, after eight years of a President who had alienated us from the rest of the world, to the point where we had the lowest standing in the history of our country, we are now once again respected by the world. I am pretty sure that the reason for the change is that the world once again can trust us and knows exactly where we stand. We have a President that challenges the world to change, not one that threatens with invasion. You get respect by being a partner that you can trust, not by trying to put fear in the hearts of others. This is certainly foreign policy change that we can believe in.

Second, we are in the midst of an economic turnaround. Whether you want to blame the economic down turn on poor policies of the previous administration, fighting two wars, or George W. Bush being asleep at the wheel, Barack Obama inherited one lousy economy. Yes, he spent, but those moves seem to be having a positive impact. The Dow is up, GM has repaid it's loan, and the general consensus is that the recession is over. We all may not be feeling the good times yet, but we should in the next six to twelve months. So, we have economic change we can believe in.

Third, domestic policy initiatives will have a positive impact for decades to come. While my conservative friends have an issue with health care reform, it is virtually the same legislation that the Republican front runner for 2012, Mitt Romney, passed as Governor of Massachusetts. Admittedly, the bill is not perfect (I firmly believe in single-payor), but it's a start that's been overdue for a century. Now, the President has started an initiative to enact legislation to overhaul regulations and policies in the financial industry. This should prevent future issues with sub-prime mortgage investment vehicles and possibly some of the ridiculous compensation policies for investment bankers. While the jury is out, the fact that we are even addressing these topics, as well as energy policy, make the domestic initiatives of this administration change we can believe in.

Is Barack Obama the greatest president in the history of the United States. Only time and historians will tell. But, the fact that he has the audacity to confront issues of the present day and is attempting to enact change, arguable is making him the best person for the job at this time. So, Sarah, while you are "reloading", taking a stance of "hell no", hosting an interview show where you don't do the interviews, and staring in a "reality" TV show, America is moving forward with real change that will make us great again and change I STILL FIRMLY BELIEVE IN!

STORIES OF THE DAY (4-20-2010)

AM STORY LINKS

A limited number of flights have taken off in northern Europe after five days of inactivity. (BBC News)
Dilemma as Texas Says Gays Can't Get Divorce - protecting the "traditional definition of marriage" means doing the same for divorce. (FOX News)
VIDEO: Markos "Daily Kos" Moulitsas accuses ‘tea baggers’ of using exterminationist rhetoric. (The Daily Caller)


NOON STORY LINKS

As part of a comprehensive energy policy, nuclear power making comeback. (Omaha World-Herald)
Somali pirates hijacked 3 Thai fishing vessels more than 1,200 miles off the Somali coast. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Space shuttle Discovery lands at Kennedy Space Center
The space shuttle landing ends a 15-day mission. (Orlando Sentinel)


EVENING STORY LINKS

Colorado Rockies president, Kelli McGregor, 48, found dead in Salt Lake hotel. (FOX Sports)
Don't be fooled into seeing the Tea Party as anything but a right wing reactionary movement. (The Nation)
Apple reports a 90% gain in 2nd-quarter profit as demand increased for iPhone & Macintosh personal computer. (Bloomberg)


LATE NIGHT STORY LINKS

Lindsey Graham Gay? Conservative Group ALIPAC Demands South Carolina Republican Senator 'Admit Homosexuality'. (Huffington Post)
Arlington National Cemetery graves cover former black city, "Freedman's Village", built on land confiscated from Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
Gun Victims Take on Lawmakers Over Failure to Close Gun Show Loophole, despite Columbine and Virginia Tech tragedies. (Washington Independent)

A CALL TO BILL

It's a Tuesday evening in late April 2010. There's a gentle rain falling outside. I just came back from visiting my mom who came home from the hospital yesterday, after knee replacement surgery last week. As I sit here trying to write this essay, I find myself thinking that this would be a perfect night to call my brother.

Unfortunately, that's not possible since he passed away four years ago. But, typically I would call him on a night like this since there is nothing "big" going on - just a bunch of small things that would probably trigger a four hour cross-country conversation (he lived in Los Angeles). It always amazed me how we could stretch nothing into so many hours. And, on frequent occasions I would call back within five minutes because there was something I forgot to say or some part of our conversation that I found a need to expand on. And, another 45 minutes to an hour would pass.

Tonight I think we would have spoken about the volcanic ash in the skies over Europe, the FDA call for salt reduction for the food industry, the Tea Party and the bastards at Goldman Sachs. Oh, yeah, Goldman Sachs would have been a big part of the conversation. They had been in previous conversations along with the entire financial industry, since my days as a stockbroker. Even when I was part of the industry I was critical of the games some firms (now called banks?) played. The changes from the Reagan years triggered the downhill spiral. And the mention of Reagan would have taken the conversation to another level.

Eventually we would have gotten to the topic of music. I think he would have been intrigued by the project I am currently working on - building a jukebox on a computer. I would have told him about the new Jimi Hendrix and the new Peter Wolf CDs (get them). I also would have mentioned the new Bruce Springsteen video coming out in June. Finally, we would have touched on the Rolling Stones expanded version of Exile On Mainstreet, which will be released this year. Even though he loved the Stones, I can hear him say, "if there are pennies left on the streets of America, the Stones will be releasing material and touring."

As you can probably tell, I loved my brother and miss him constantly. I have decided that when I don't have a specific topic to write about I will write about a conversation with him and call these essays "A Call To Bill". I checked when I started writing this evening and I found that tomorrow will mark four years since we laid him to rest. In so many ways, my life will never be the same. It was like the end of the innocence. And, certainly the end of my calls to Bill.

STORIES OF THE DAY (4-19-2010)

AM STORY LINKS

Royal Navy to rescue Britons stranded due to volcanic ash. (Times Of London)
North Carolina First party forming to punish Dems who voted anti-Health Care Reform. (Washington Post)
Britain/Germany also affected by the SEC alleged fraudulent activities of Goldman Sachs. (Washington Post)


NOON STORY LINKS

Though volcanic ash lingers, European airports begin reopening. (Los Angeles Times)
Terry Savage: If Goldman Sachs is guilty these greedy pigs deserve every fine and loss of stock value. (Chicago Sun-Times)
Robert Cheruiyot and Teyba Erkesso win Boston Marathon. Cheruiyot is second with that name to win. (The Boston Globe)


EVENING STORY LINKS

Dow gains as Goldman Sachs - and much of the banking sector - turn positive. (CNBC)
U.S. and Iraqi forces killed the two top al-Qaida figures in the country. (Detroit Free Press)
Roger Goodell: Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger violated the NFL's personal-conduct policy. (New York Post)



LATE NIGHT STORY LINKS

White Hot-Energy: Magnesium power could solve world’s energy needs for 300,000 years. (The Economist)
U.S. Senator Carl Levin (Democrat-Michigan): Another ‘Big Shoe to Drop' on Goldman. (Newsweek)
Bill Clinton connects dots between the pre-Oklahoma City rhetoric and recent angry language. (Newsweek)

OKLAHOMA CITY, PATRIOT DAY & GUNS?

A memorial service was held on the grounds of what was Murrah Building in Oklahoma City, where a national memorial now sits. In Boston and other cities, events are being held to commemorate the battles of Lexington and Concord, which started the colonies fight for independence from rule of the British Empire.

Unfortunately, some militia groups have chosen to make this day a day of protest concerning the second amendment right to bear arms. Don't misunderstand; while I do not personally feel the need to possess weapons, I respect an individual’s right to protect their own home or to hunt. My only argument with gun rights activists is why someone would need an automatic weapon for either protection or hunting. Also, I haven’t heard of any legislation to repeal the second amendment, so why is it necessary to choose such a solemn day to attempt to advance a cause like gun ownership.

My problem with today’s protests, like the one in Alexandria, Virginia, is that the protestors are being allowed to bring their weapons. This to me seems unnecessary, unless you are trying to intimidate someone by trying to threaten them with the potential use of the weapon. Also, bringing weapons to a protest would seemingly raise the already high tensions any protest brings to the police officers assigned to the event. It's funny that these armed protestors seem to be backed by the same people who practically called it treason if you spoke negatively about the Bush/Cheney administration.

For the sake of the country, this lunacy needs to stop. If it doesn't, someone is going to get killed. And, when that happens, authorities will have no choice but to crack down on these events and pass anti-gun legislation, all of which will only serve to further increase tensions. We all should fight for the rights we feel we have under the constitution and when necessary, we should do our best to persuade others to agree with our position. But, we should never seek to intimidate others to give us those rights. And while today's protests are providing a high profile for gun rights activists, the only sure way to preserve or gain rights is to get to the ballot box on Election Day. That's where your voice truly gets heard and changes truly happen.

END OF THE BIG BUKOWSKI II

Today's post marks the end of The Big Bukowski II blog. I am retiring the blog title since I no longer want to compete with The Big Bukowski blog, dedicated to my late brother. But, as with many endings, it also marks the beginning of a new blog. While the address will not change, the content will. Starting tomorrow, The Bukowski Report will appear at this address. The report will feature a daily essay and links to some stories I find interesting. It will be companion to BukowskiReport on Twitter. The old content will remain for historical purposes.