Today I officially announce my endorsement of Barack Obama for President of the United States of America. I thank you, John Edwards, for your passionate campaign. I will never forget you, and I will never forget the way you won me over after my rather strong distate of you in 2004. Fare thee well John, and I lookm forward to your having a prominent role in the Obama administration.
But, now, I am fully behind Barack. Listen closely, and you'll hear the throngs chanting "Yes We Can!" I will be one of those many. I will be on of the people looking forward to a less partisan future in which we can finally and proudly recapture our identity as Americans. I will do what I can to make sure we continue building our bridge into the 21st century rather than turning around and building a bridge back into the 20th century.
Obama 2008!!!!!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Best of 2007
I made these Cd's back in December, but I didn't want to publish the track list until people listened to them. Some of you will still be receiving the dics, so don't worry if you don't have them yet.
This year there was too much music that I wanted to include, so I decided to expand to a double disc set. This was the fifth anniversary of the "Best of **** Xmas Mix," so it seemed fitting to make the fifth something extra special.
Without further adieu, my best of 2007:
Best of 2007 Volume 1, X-Mas Mix
1. The Rosebuds – Get Up Get Out
2. Peter, Bjorn & John – Young Folks
3. The Polyphonic Spree – Section 22 [Running Away]
4. Arcade Fire – Keep the Car Running
5. Rufus Wainwright – You Go to My Head
6. Brandi Carlile – Have You Ever?
7. Teddy Thompson – Change of Heart
8. A Fine Frenzy – The Minnow and the Trout
9. Tori Amos – Velvet Revolution
10. Radiohead - Videotape
11. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Please Read the Letter
12. Brandi Carlile - Turpentine
13. Patty Griffin – No Bad News
14. Rufus Wainwright – Between My Legs
15. Kanye West – Flashing Lights
16. Lily Allen – Knock ‘em Out
17. Kaiser Chiefs – Ruby
18. Mika – Love Today (Acoustic)
19. Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova – Falling Slowly
20. Ann Wilson, Rufus Wainwright & Shawn Colvin – A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall
21. Melissa Etheridge – All We Can Really Do
Best of 2007 Volume 2, New Year’s Mix
1. Prince – Planet Earth
2. Melissa Etheridge – Message to Myself
3. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Stick With Me Baby
4. Of Montreal – Sink the Seine
5. Kanye West - Homecoming
6. Britney Spears – Toy Soldier
7. Goldfrapp – Ride A White Horse
8. Fujiya & Miyagi – Ankle Injuries
9. Radiohead – Faust Arp
10. Tori Amos – Digital Ghost
11. Neko Case – A Widow’s Toast
12. Rufus Wainwright - Slideshow
13. A Fine Frenzy – Come On, Come Out
14. Bright Eyes – Soul Singer in a Session Band
15. Kaiser Chiefs – The Angry Mob
16. Tori Amos – Secret Spell
17. Amy Winehouse (with Ghostface Killah) – You Know I’m No Good
18. The Polyphonic Spree – Section 32 [The Championship]
19. Amos Lee – Night Train
20. Teddy Thompson – Don’t Ask Me to be Friends
21. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)
This year there was too much music that I wanted to include, so I decided to expand to a double disc set. This was the fifth anniversary of the "Best of **** Xmas Mix," so it seemed fitting to make the fifth something extra special.
Without further adieu, my best of 2007:
Best of 2007 Volume 1, X-Mas Mix
1. The Rosebuds – Get Up Get Out
2. Peter, Bjorn & John – Young Folks
3. The Polyphonic Spree – Section 22 [Running Away]
4. Arcade Fire – Keep the Car Running
5. Rufus Wainwright – You Go to My Head
6. Brandi Carlile – Have You Ever?
7. Teddy Thompson – Change of Heart
8. A Fine Frenzy – The Minnow and the Trout
9. Tori Amos – Velvet Revolution
10. Radiohead - Videotape
11. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Please Read the Letter
12. Brandi Carlile - Turpentine
13. Patty Griffin – No Bad News
14. Rufus Wainwright – Between My Legs
15. Kanye West – Flashing Lights
16. Lily Allen – Knock ‘em Out
17. Kaiser Chiefs – Ruby
18. Mika – Love Today (Acoustic)
19. Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova – Falling Slowly
20. Ann Wilson, Rufus Wainwright & Shawn Colvin – A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall
21. Melissa Etheridge – All We Can Really Do
Best of 2007 Volume 2, New Year’s Mix
1. Prince – Planet Earth
2. Melissa Etheridge – Message to Myself
3. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Stick With Me Baby
4. Of Montreal – Sink the Seine
5. Kanye West - Homecoming
6. Britney Spears – Toy Soldier
7. Goldfrapp – Ride A White Horse
8. Fujiya & Miyagi – Ankle Injuries
9. Radiohead – Faust Arp
10. Tori Amos – Digital Ghost
11. Neko Case – A Widow’s Toast
12. Rufus Wainwright - Slideshow
13. A Fine Frenzy – Come On, Come Out
14. Bright Eyes – Soul Singer in a Session Band
15. Kaiser Chiefs – The Angry Mob
16. Tori Amos – Secret Spell
17. Amy Winehouse (with Ghostface Killah) – You Know I’m No Good
18. The Polyphonic Spree – Section 32 [The Championship]
19. Amos Lee – Night Train
20. Teddy Thompson – Don’t Ask Me to be Friends
21. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)
Yes We Can!
This is an incredible victory speech from Obama in South Carolina. It literally gave me chills. Best line--"this campaign is about the past versus the future" or something like that. "About the same old tactics, the same old division, the same old drama that passes for politics versus something new." The Clintons are truly disgusting. Bill, apparently, earned his name, Slick Willy, for a reason. What a repulsive, narcissistic human being.
Oh, and if you watch attentively, you'll see that Obama has co-opted a large portion of John Edwards's message. This is a good thing, I guess...gives props to John and makes Obama much more palatable for Edwards people. But isn't it ironic that the black guy is co-opting the white guy's message--white people are the ones who are supposed to co-opt black culture!! hah.
Oh, and if you watch attentively, you'll see that Obama has co-opted a large portion of John Edwards's message. This is a good thing, I guess...gives props to John and makes Obama much more palatable for Edwards people. But isn't it ironic that the black guy is co-opting the white guy's message--white people are the ones who are supposed to co-opt black culture!! hah.
Friday, January 25, 2008
I just discovered a Congressional Fellowship that, I think, was created just for me!
One of the great things about becoming a psychologist is that the opportunities are limitless. I've been considering many options for after that time when I--god willing--graduate. I've looked at the Army, the FBI, the CIA, I've examined job opportunities in business, and I've cultivated many connections in various areas of professional psychology.
Having discovered this fellowship, however, I think I've found the perfect thing! What if I stay where I am as a post-doc and then as an employee? I can get the clinic to become one of those federally approved sites that pays off your loans while you work there, and then I can use my numerous years of HIV/AIDS experience to go to DC and work in Congress! Perhaps this congressional post can be a springboard into other political appointments or policy work.
Check it out:
http://www.apa.org/ppo/fellows/bailey_flyer_08-09.pdf
One of the great things about becoming a psychologist is that the opportunities are limitless. I've been considering many options for after that time when I--god willing--graduate. I've looked at the Army, the FBI, the CIA, I've examined job opportunities in business, and I've cultivated many connections in various areas of professional psychology.
Having discovered this fellowship, however, I think I've found the perfect thing! What if I stay where I am as a post-doc and then as an employee? I can get the clinic to become one of those federally approved sites that pays off your loans while you work there, and then I can use my numerous years of HIV/AIDS experience to go to DC and work in Congress! Perhaps this congressional post can be a springboard into other political appointments or policy work.
Check it out:
http://www.apa.org/ppo/fellows/bailey_flyer_08-09.pdf
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
RIP
Brad Renfro's death is so incredibly upsetting. I literally cried. He was my first. He was my age. He was also one of my favorite actors--he played so beautifully in Sleepers, Bully, Ghost World, Apt Pupil, The Client, and countless others. It hits really hard.
Monday, January 7, 2008
New Hampshire Predictions
I was pretty close in Iowa. Let's see how I do in New Hampshire:
1. Obama
2. Clinton
3. Edwards
Edwards and Clinton will be alot closer than many expect.
1. McCain
2. Romney
3. Huckabee
I do think Romney still has a chance, and I was very tempted to predict that he'll win, but I think McCain holds on by a nose.
I'm still standing by my Obama and Huckabee predictions, for now. I am wavering a little on Huckabee, but I'll have to see how the next few states turn out.
1. Obama
2. Clinton
3. Edwards
Edwards and Clinton will be alot closer than many expect.
1. McCain
2. Romney
3. Huckabee
I do think Romney still has a chance, and I was very tempted to predict that he'll win, but I think McCain holds on by a nose.
I'm still standing by my Obama and Huckabee predictions, for now. I am wavering a little on Huckabee, but I'll have to see how the next few states turn out.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Democrats
This focus group from last night's New Hampshire debate is very telling. I recognize, of course, that it is a Fox focus group, so only God knows if it is actually composed of real people, but some of the comments about Hillary are really great encapsulations of the horribleness of her performance and of her campaign for presidency. There are some great quotes, but the last line, "I want to hear what she has to say, but she deafens my own ears," hits my feelings exactly. When she started yelling at John, I felt my viscera boil. I couldn't even listen to her. I was made so uncomfortable by her defensive tantrum--it was as if she was saying, "how dare you motherfuckers get in my way. I am entitled to this and I have 35 years of change backing me up. You peons don't even deserve to be on the same stage as me." It was utterly disgusting.
So I think the whole change debate was very interesting, and I think Barack and John really missed some opportunities to put the finals nails in Hillary's coffin. She doesn't get what change really means. Change means moving beyond 51 percent majorities or 45 percent pluralities. Change means fighting for all Americans, not just for Americans in your party. Change means neutering right wing talk radio. Change means changing the nature of the debate.
John and Barack both appeal to people outside of the party label. Barack is talking to everyone. He is courting independents and republicans. He is bringing new people into this. He is respectful of different opinions. He understands the conservative temperament. John is fighting for the middle class. He doesn't care if you are a deocrat, a republican, or someone who really doesn't care about politics at all. He cares about people's abilities to work, to be healthy, to have job security, to get what you deserve, and to not have your interests crippled by the interests of large corporate monsters. He changes the debate totally.
Hillary may talk about change, but her idea of change does not change the nature of the debate at all. She galvanizes talk radio. She galvanizes the opposition. She would receive no more than 49% of the vote. John and Barack could both get 60 or more percent. Hillary's Iowa concession speech exemplified exactly what her problem is. First, standing behind her were Bill, Madeleine Albright, Vilsack, Wes Clark, and others***. These are great people! But, they are all veterans of the same old debate, the same old arguments, the same old temperament. In the content of her speech, Hillary said that she wanted to appeal to Democrats, Independents, and "even some Republicans who have seen the light."
Why does she see it necessary to insult an entire class of people? Why can't she try, instead, to appeal to all Republicans by highlighting the common HUMAN concerns that we all face? Republicans are not different from Democrats at their core--they are humans with the same basic needs. Their philosophies may be different, but a true CHANGE AGENT would try to unify the country, and change the nature of the divisiveness of the our politics. John and Barack both do this. Barack explicitly appeals to Republicans, and he does not feel the need to call insult them by saying they've "seen the light."
I loved the way John and Barack teamed up on Hillary, and John was incredibly effective when he pointed out Hillary's being part of the status quo that tries to stop true agents of change. He could have gone further by pointing out these things: talk radio, vast right wing conspiracy, "seen the light" republicans, corporate donors, scandals, fox news, and so on.
We all know who the true agents of change are, and at times I felt like they were engaged in a love fest last night. I guarantee that Obama wins New Hampshire. I hope John finishes second. If they can topple Hillary and get her out of this thing, then we can see a real debate between the two true change agents, and I look forward to seeing John and Barack battle each other.
Watch the love fest and John's brilliance here:
*** In contrast, behind John you saw carpenters, union workers, his father who worked in the mill, and a bunch of regular people. Behind Barack, you saw a massive crowd of young people, of idealists, and of diversity. The differences between the three crowds and the nature of the people the candidates chose to highlight really highlighted the differences between the candidates.
So I think the whole change debate was very interesting, and I think Barack and John really missed some opportunities to put the finals nails in Hillary's coffin. She doesn't get what change really means. Change means moving beyond 51 percent majorities or 45 percent pluralities. Change means fighting for all Americans, not just for Americans in your party. Change means neutering right wing talk radio. Change means changing the nature of the debate.
John and Barack both appeal to people outside of the party label. Barack is talking to everyone. He is courting independents and republicans. He is bringing new people into this. He is respectful of different opinions. He understands the conservative temperament. John is fighting for the middle class. He doesn't care if you are a deocrat, a republican, or someone who really doesn't care about politics at all. He cares about people's abilities to work, to be healthy, to have job security, to get what you deserve, and to not have your interests crippled by the interests of large corporate monsters. He changes the debate totally.
Hillary may talk about change, but her idea of change does not change the nature of the debate at all. She galvanizes talk radio. She galvanizes the opposition. She would receive no more than 49% of the vote. John and Barack could both get 60 or more percent. Hillary's Iowa concession speech exemplified exactly what her problem is. First, standing behind her were Bill, Madeleine Albright, Vilsack, Wes Clark, and others***. These are great people! But, they are all veterans of the same old debate, the same old arguments, the same old temperament. In the content of her speech, Hillary said that she wanted to appeal to Democrats, Independents, and "even some Republicans who have seen the light."
Why does she see it necessary to insult an entire class of people? Why can't she try, instead, to appeal to all Republicans by highlighting the common HUMAN concerns that we all face? Republicans are not different from Democrats at their core--they are humans with the same basic needs. Their philosophies may be different, but a true CHANGE AGENT would try to unify the country, and change the nature of the divisiveness of the our politics. John and Barack both do this. Barack explicitly appeals to Republicans, and he does not feel the need to call insult them by saying they've "seen the light."
I loved the way John and Barack teamed up on Hillary, and John was incredibly effective when he pointed out Hillary's being part of the status quo that tries to stop true agents of change. He could have gone further by pointing out these things: talk radio, vast right wing conspiracy, "seen the light" republicans, corporate donors, scandals, fox news, and so on.
We all know who the true agents of change are, and at times I felt like they were engaged in a love fest last night. I guarantee that Obama wins New Hampshire. I hope John finishes second. If they can topple Hillary and get her out of this thing, then we can see a real debate between the two true change agents, and I look forward to seeing John and Barack battle each other.
Watch the love fest and John's brilliance here:
*** In contrast, behind John you saw carpenters, union workers, his father who worked in the mill, and a bunch of regular people. Behind Barack, you saw a massive crowd of young people, of idealists, and of diversity. The differences between the three crowds and the nature of the people the candidates chose to highlight really highlighted the differences between the candidates.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Updated list of live performances I have witnessed
Alicia Keys - Live8
Amanda - Saratoga Equine Center, Saratoga, NY
Amber – Penns Landing, Philadelphia, PA
A-Teens – Saratoga Equine Center, Saratoga, NY
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones – Lasall Gymnasium, Williams College
Belle and Sebastian – Calvin Theatre, Northhampton, MA
Black Eyed Peas – Fleetcenter, Boston, MA
Black Eyed Peas - Live8
Blessid Union of Souls – Pleasure Island, Orlando, Florida
Bon Jovi - Live8
Brandi Carlile – Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PA
Brandi Carlile – Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA
Britney Spears – MCI Center, Washington DC
Brooke Allison - Saratoga Equine Center, Saratoga, NY
Cher –MCI Center, Washington DC
Cher – Pepsi Arena, Albany, NY
Christina Aguilera – Foxboro Stadium, Massachusetts, MLS Cup
Christina Aguilera – Fleetcenter, Boston, MA
Coldplay - Tweeter Center, Camden, NJ
Cyndi Lauper – MCI Center Washington DC
Cyndi Lauper - Penns Landing, Philadelphia, PA
Dave Matthews Band - Live8
Def Leppard - Live8
Destiny's Child - Live8
Dolly Parton - Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA
Eric Underwood – 8 times?
A Fine Frenzy – Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA
A Fine Frenzy – Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA
Jars of Clay - Live8
JayZ - Live8
Jethro Tull - Tanglewood, Lenox, MA
Josh Groban - Live8
Jurassic Five – Lasall Gymnasium, Williams College
Justin Timberlake – Fleetcenter, Boston, MA
Kaiser Chiefs - Live8
Kanye West - Live8
Keith Urban - Live8
Kiki & Herb – Williamstown, MA
Linkin Park - Live8
Lucy Wainwright Roche – Grand Opera House, Wilmington, DE
Madonna – Fleetcenter, Boston, MA (Drowned World)
Madonna - Worcester Spectrum, Worcester, MA (Reinvention)
Madonna – Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA (Confessions)
Maroon 5 - Live8
Naughty By Nature – Lasall Gymnasium, Williams College
Neko Case – Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA
OK Go! – Calvin Theatre, Northhampton, MA
Paulina Rubio – RFK Stadium, Washington DC, MLS All Star Game
Prince - Fleetcenter, Boston, MA
Rasputina – Calvin Theatre, Northhampton, MA
Rilo Kiley - Tweeter Center, Camden, NJ
Rob Thomas - Live8
Robby Baier – La Cocina, Pittsfield, MA
Rufus Wainwright – Pearl Street Night Club, Northhampton, MA
Rufus Wainwright – Apple Store, San Francisco, CA
Rufus Wainwright – Calvin Theatre, Northhampton, MA
Rufus Wainwright – Borders Books, Bryn Mawr, PA
Rufus Wainwright – Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA
Rufus Wainwright – Grand Opera House, Wilmington, DE
Rufus Wainwright – State Theatre, New Brunswick, NJ
Sara McLachlan - Live8
Shakira – Plaza de Toros, Madrid, Spain
Shawn Colvin – Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PA
Son Volt - Philadelphia Folk Festival
Stevie Wonder - Live8
The Strokes – Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA
Suzanne Vega – Iron Horse, Northhampton, MA
Teddy Thompson - Pearl Street, Northhampton, MA
The Josh Joplin Group - Saratoga Equine Center, Saratoga, NY
Toby Keith - Live8
Will Smith - Live8
Amanda - Saratoga Equine Center, Saratoga, NY
Amber – Penns Landing, Philadelphia, PA
A-Teens – Saratoga Equine Center, Saratoga, NY
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones – Lasall Gymnasium, Williams College
Belle and Sebastian – Calvin Theatre, Northhampton, MA
Black Eyed Peas – Fleetcenter, Boston, MA
Black Eyed Peas - Live8
Blessid Union of Souls – Pleasure Island, Orlando, Florida
Bon Jovi - Live8
Brandi Carlile – Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PA
Brandi Carlile – Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA
Britney Spears – MCI Center, Washington DC
Brooke Allison - Saratoga Equine Center, Saratoga, NY
Cher –MCI Center, Washington DC
Cher – Pepsi Arena, Albany, NY
Christina Aguilera – Foxboro Stadium, Massachusetts, MLS Cup
Christina Aguilera – Fleetcenter, Boston, MA
Coldplay - Tweeter Center, Camden, NJ
Cyndi Lauper – MCI Center Washington DC
Cyndi Lauper - Penns Landing, Philadelphia, PA
Dave Matthews Band - Live8
Def Leppard - Live8
Destiny's Child - Live8
Dolly Parton - Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA
Eric Underwood – 8 times?
A Fine Frenzy – Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA
A Fine Frenzy – Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA
Jars of Clay - Live8
JayZ - Live8
Jethro Tull - Tanglewood, Lenox, MA
Josh Groban - Live8
Jurassic Five – Lasall Gymnasium, Williams College
Justin Timberlake – Fleetcenter, Boston, MA
Kaiser Chiefs - Live8
Kanye West - Live8
Keith Urban - Live8
Kiki & Herb – Williamstown, MA
Linkin Park - Live8
Lucy Wainwright Roche – Grand Opera House, Wilmington, DE
Madonna – Fleetcenter, Boston, MA (Drowned World)
Madonna - Worcester Spectrum, Worcester, MA (Reinvention)
Madonna – Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA (Confessions)
Maroon 5 - Live8
Naughty By Nature – Lasall Gymnasium, Williams College
Neko Case – Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA
OK Go! – Calvin Theatre, Northhampton, MA
Paulina Rubio – RFK Stadium, Washington DC, MLS All Star Game
Prince - Fleetcenter, Boston, MA
Rasputina – Calvin Theatre, Northhampton, MA
Rilo Kiley - Tweeter Center, Camden, NJ
Rob Thomas - Live8
Robby Baier – La Cocina, Pittsfield, MA
Rufus Wainwright – Pearl Street Night Club, Northhampton, MA
Rufus Wainwright – Apple Store, San Francisco, CA
Rufus Wainwright – Calvin Theatre, Northhampton, MA
Rufus Wainwright – Borders Books, Bryn Mawr, PA
Rufus Wainwright – Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA
Rufus Wainwright – Grand Opera House, Wilmington, DE
Rufus Wainwright – State Theatre, New Brunswick, NJ
Sara McLachlan - Live8
Shakira – Plaza de Toros, Madrid, Spain
Shawn Colvin – Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PA
Son Volt - Philadelphia Folk Festival
Stevie Wonder - Live8
The Strokes – Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA
Suzanne Vega – Iron Horse, Northhampton, MA
Teddy Thompson - Pearl Street, Northhampton, MA
The Josh Joplin Group - Saratoga Equine Center, Saratoga, NY
Toby Keith - Live8
Will Smith - Live8
Friday, January 4, 2008
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