Beyond our Borders

Jerry Bergonzi At The Press Room

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:12:13 -0500

Tonight I went to the Press Room in Portsmouth to see a quartet led by saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi. Accompanying him were Phil Grenedier on trumpet, Bruce Gertz on bass and Brooke Sofferman on drums.

Back In The Game

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:26:10 -0500

I knew that I had been away from writing for sometime but I was absolutely amazed to see that it has been well over a year since my last posting. In my defense, the last entry coincided with my starting a new job. With that job I have had the opportunity to travel around the country and spend a 2 week vacation in Iberia. My co-workers and I have weathered an unprecedented storm of demand for the product that we create and we are currently training a whole new generation of workers to keep up with demand. That being said, I am eager to get back to writing. I shall begin with what is perhaps my favorite subject: Jazz.

Summing Up The Season

Sat, 25 Nov 2006 11:16:58 -0500

When I was small I believed in santa claus
Though I knew it was my dad
And I would hang up my stocking at christmas
Open my presents and Id be glad

Gun Rights and the 9th Amendment

Sun, 12 Nov 2006 14:50:51 -0500

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
-Second Amendment to the US Constitution.

“The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”
-Ninth Amendment to the US Constitution.

-Source: National Archives and Records Administration – www.archives.gov

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It is more than likely that the 2nd Amendment will be much discussed in the upcoming 110th Congress. It is a favorite topic of the Democratic Party. As are all of the Constitution’s amendments, not to mention the Constitution itself, the 2nd Amendment is ambiguous. Numerous readings bring no clarity as to the specific intention of the founding fathers. It is only through an understanding of the founders’ intentions that one can begin to interpret this or any clause in the present day.

Ginsberg

Fri, 10 Nov 2006 01:08:29 -0500

Detroit has built a million automobiles of rubber trees and phantoms
but I walk, I walk, and the Orient walks with me, and all Africa walks
and sooner or later North America will walk

...

I am not interested in preventing Asia from being Asia
and the governments of Russia and Asia will rise and fall but Asia and
Russia will not fall
the government of America also will fall but how can America fall
I doubt if anyone will ever fall anymore except governments
fortunately all the governments will fall
the only ones which won't fall are the good ones
and the good ones don't yet exist.

- Excerpts from Allen Ginsberg's "Death To Van Gogh's Ear!" 1958

So Much For the Polls

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 01:06:54 -0500

I am glad that my analysis of the NY times/CBS poll was wrong. I am glad that we have a new party to run our Legislative branch. I am glad that I am now represented by a new person in the House. I am glad about a lot of things but my scepticism leads me to believe that I had best not get used to it.

Donkey Stampede

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 00:58:36 -0500

I saw this cartoon on Tuesday. It seemed so fitting then as it does now.

Hudna

Fri, 03 Nov 2006 13:21:25 -0500

A spokesman for the Palestinian's ruling party, Hamas, calls for a long period of peaceful, non-violent co-exixtense.

Pause For Peace

So Much For A Change In Congress

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 01:04:33 -0500

The latest NY Times/CBS Poll is out and there are some disturbing numbers in it. For the most part, it is straightforward and bland. Nobody approves of the President. Most everybody believes that the country is headed in the wrong direction and everybody hates the members of Congress. Except for their own. Wait, what? That’s right, the only person that people want to remain in office is the only one that they can vote for. Here are the two pairs of questions that bare this out:

Fantasy Sports For Those Who Hate Sports

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 11:26:53 -0500

Fantasy Politics

All That We Must Do Is

Tue, 05 Sep 2006 01:05:58 -0500

There appears to be a hole in today's intellectual effort to bring about a better world. One would be hard pressed to list five alleged scholars, philosophers or literati who are pointing in the direction of improving human life. There is much being said about what went wrong in the past. A critique of current affairs knows no shortage of authors. Even the art of predicting a future more desolate and depressing than the life currently being led by the Earth's six billion people grows by leaps and bounds every year. Where, though, are those people who can show the way to a brighter day? They are very much in need now.

Fare Thee Well Crocodile Hunter

Mon, 04 Sep 2006 17:38:00 -0500

It seems especially tragic to lose an icon whose love of life is as overwhelming as Steve Irwin’s was.

Death of Steve Irwin

Dawn

Sat, 02 Sep 2006 17:06:02 -0500

At a mere 81 pages, Elie Wiesel’s second book in the Night trilogy is surprisingly captivating. It tells the story of a young Jewish survivor of the Holocaust who moves to Palestine and joins the Zionist movement to free Palestine of the English and build a Jewish nation. What may be most surprising to readers consumed by today’s fears is the method that the Jews use to send the British home: terrorism.

Much To Be Done By All

Thu, 17 Aug 2006 00:33:49 -0500

Although I often rail against Western, specifically US, foreign policy blunders and how they shape the current quagmire in the Middle East, the Muslim world has an equal part to play in bringing about an end to violence there. I am always encouraged to see Muslims, especially Muslim Arabs, echoing that sentiment as is done here in this NY Times op-ed piece.

Muslim Myopia

Branford By The Lake

Sun, 13 Aug 2006 15:35:26 -0500

Jeff “Tain” Watts is a monster. The GF is tired of hearing me say that but it’s true. The man is incredible. Who is this monster you ask? He is the drummer for Branford Marsalis’ quartet. We had the opportunity to see this group Friday night at the Great Waters Summer Music Festival in Wolfeboro. Two subjects need be addressed here. First, the amazing band that is the Branford Marsalis Quartet and second, the behavior of New Hampshire Jazz audiences.