E. Michael Harrington

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HARVEY BROOKS

I'VE JUST DISCOVERED Harvey Brooks' website and video blog. I learned a lot as a young kid from Harvey Brooks, bass player/musician extraordinaire, who played on so many of my favorite records. (I felt like using an ancient term - "records." It seems as old as "britches" or "Lusitania" or "Titanic.")

Harvey played on The Doors' "Soft Parade" (I worshiped at the feet of all the Doors' albums and especially loved the Doors' experimentation with that album - it came out at a time when I was learning how to write for orchestra and big band), Miles Davis "Bitches Brew," Bob Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited," Super Session's "Super Session" (Al Kooper, Mike Bloomfield, Stephen Stills), was a member of the Electric Flag, produced Quicksilver Messenger Service, and did much more. What a hell of a life - to be involved in such historic stuff and to play that well. And then for me came the great pleasure of being able to hear and watch Harvey recount details of those recordings.... Fantastic! I highly recommend visiting his site and re-hearing/re-studying/re-playing along with these albums.

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The SARAH PALIN

I LOOK FORWARD TO the release of PROVOCATIVE PHOTOS of the woman who will likely become Vice President, i.e., the beauty queen who paraded around for the enjoyment of so many men (isn't that the primary part of being a beauty contestant?). If they aren't provocative enough, I'm sure a little Photoshop will happen, not to mention YouTube! I am, of course, referring to Governor Sarah Palin.

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THE WAY HE LOOKS AT HER! As we say in France, "ooh la LA!"

I WAS EMBARRASSED TO SEE THE WAY Sen. John McCain was looking at Gov. Palin after he introduced her. His eyes focused on her backside, especially at the areas lower then her shoulders - south of the waist, actually. He reminded me of the junior high school boy at the beginning of the film, THIS IS SPINAL TAP, who stares at the blond groupie who is being interviewed about Spinal Tap. (She's the one who says, "The guys in the band.. you become like one with the music..." and a few other Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison-like gems. In SPINAL TAP, the boy is licking his lips and being a quieter version of Beavis. At least John McCain, yesterday, did not lick his lips.)

I THINK CINDY McCAIN will spend more time than ever on the campaign trail, and will always situate herself between her very old husband and the SECOND BEAUTY QUEEN in McCain's life. (If I had the time, I'd check out YouTube for a clip of this.)

Thank God for politics. I still don't need to ever go to a comedy club!

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Posted by EMH at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

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LIKE MOST PEOPLE, I WATCHED BARACK OBAMA'S fantastic acceptance speech last night - excellent speech in terms of content and delivery. Obama would be a fantastic president if only he could get elected. But in a country that is this racist, I don't expect him to be elected. After all, the country voted for G. W. Bush twice (any voting irregularities or cheating aside, both elections were, ashamedly, close).

McCain needed to pick someone younger than he. That narrowed down his choice to a mere 260 million U. S. citizens. He also badly needed to get the press and the public to stop talking about Obama and his brilliance, and the Democratic Convention events as soon as possible. By choosing a woman (who votes like a right wing man), he has succeeded.

John McCain is showing just how daring and maverick he can be, and also just how desperate the Republicans are right now with their blandness and severely wounded Republican brand. Governor SARAH PALIN of Alaska is his beauty queen/NRA member choice to be Vice President. She is a woman who falls in line with men who believe abortion should never be a woman's choice.

I think one of the Republicans' lines now will be: "Governor SARAH PALIN - if you don't like the fact that Obama did not pick Hillary Clinton, then vote for John "Women Cannot Be Allowed To Choose For Themselves" McCain."

"John McCain: He Tells Offensive Jokes, But Some Of His Best Friends Are Women."

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Referring to Governor Sarah Palin:

"Anyone's who had five children, has had a woman's experience." Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX-R) on CNN, 10:40 AM, Friday, August 29, 2008.

With Republicans like her, the viewing public should have a Republican convention filled with (unintentional) laughs. Archie Bunker or George Walker Bush couldn't have uttered a funnier one. Someday I hope to be able to write lines as clever.

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Two predictions:

1. Hurricane Gustav will not help the Republicans and their convention next week (oil rigs, oil, New Orleans, insensitivity to the poor and the environment, etc.). Those who prayed for God to rain on Obama's outdoor speech may have their prayers answered in a different way.

2. The price of gas will drop below $3/gallon in the next 6 weeks. It is so important for The Powers to keep the White House Republican that the price will drop this much in order to take away one of the most important issues for Democrats. I expect the price of gas to be $6/gallon 9 months from now.

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I GET TO OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT today and buy more shelves at Ikea. My New Jersey roots are getting deeper.

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But I need to still ponder the fact that "Anyone's who had five children has had a woman's experience."

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Posted by EMH at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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THE INITIAL PART OF THE MOVE IS OVER! I am in my great apartment surrounded by great neighbors, one who wants to give me lots of food she cooks (YEA!), and all of them asking what they can do to help me out. I actually got be helpful by helping a guy start his car (my Acura's battery was the hero in this scene).

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I was interviewed on CNN Radio on Friday about John McCain's campaign using the music of Jackson Browne without permission. The interview was aired nationally and internationally later that day and Saturday.

The phone rang as I was carrying boxes into my apartment. I was stressed, dirty and impatient and did not want the phone to ring as it is usually one of many moving companies wanting my business. I had to ask the woman to repeat what she had said as I could not hear her. After I found out that it was CNN Radio and not CBN Radio or Nationwide Movers or ServileMagic or MayITakeAllOfYourMoney.com. MyLateNigerianHusbandWantsYouToBeRich.com or something else, I decided to be myself and be polite, submissive and rant-ful and answer her questions and let her record the interview. I've heard that I did not sound stupid (actually, a few friends and strangers sent their good reviews).

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I'm in Boston this week to play tour guide to my friends who are visiting, see family and friends and take care of fun matters.

More later......

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Posted by EMH at 09:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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MY UBER-EMOTIONAL RUN KEEPS ON RUNNIN' as we get ready to down some coffee, attach my car to its dolly and attach the whole thing to the Penske truck. If things go right, we end up in Harrisburg, PA at a hotel and then to the Firehouse Restaurant, or that other one I like a lot (by then I'll remember its name).

Yesterday, the 16 ft. truck got packed completely as did my car. It is very difficult to leave here - surprisingly or not it was very hard to leave my house and neighborhood. Of course it is has been difficult to leave friends here as well.

From now until maybe Friday, I'll be as primitive as can be without Internet. Cablevision is scheduled to come to my place between 11AM - 2 PM on Friday. Hopefully we'll be there before they are.

Now it's time for a road/I-40/I-81 road adventures. Annuit Coeptis.....

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Posted by EMH at 08:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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I WENT TO MY FIRST EVER LOW COUNTRY BOIL last night. (My friends described the low country boil as a New England clambake without the clams. We had shrimp, sausage, potatoes and corn - fantastic as hell!) Some dear friends threw a going away party for me. I count my blessings to have such great friends here. They make leaving Nashville difficult. Fortunately, I know how to get back to BNA and own a beautiful house with new everything.

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I've got to bring my fancy original art, and valuable framed things to storage today, along with a large number of boxes. We are scheduled to drive to Harrisburg, PA on Thursday and then to Pompton Lakes, NJ the next morning. Hopefully that trip will go well. Hopefully I'll be able to get the utilities turned on be able to sail, cruise, hike, jog and meander through the Inter-Nets very soon after arriving. I also expect to buy my first large screen TV on Friday.

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I am almost through giving away most of the things I own. I'm very happy that some of my most valued things have ended up with friends who will value and be able to use them. Someday I might move back to owning a lot of stuff but for now I want the scaled down simple (10 Terrabyte) lifestyle.

Time for Mass.....

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Posted by EMH at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)