Archive for Ohg Rea Tone
Ohg Rea Tone is all or nothing. He is educated and opinionated, more clever than smart, sarcastic and forthright. He writes intuitively - often disregarding rules of composition. Comment on his posts - he will likely respond with characteristic humor or genuine empathy. He is the real-deal.
Joan Baez – “It ain’t me babe” (Video)
I was a huge fan of Joan Baez in the 1960’s. But I did not really understand her music or her message. I thought I did – I was one of those adolescents who believed he had a total grasp on the rights and wrongs of life – but I was sadly mistaken. I am […]
8Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Joan Baez – “It ain’t me babe” (Video) | Continued
Learning about Smoking Meat
This has been a good summer for my patio. A friend gave me an old smoker – one of those stand up models with a water/drip pan. But hey, I never smoked a piece of meat in my life. I have smoked other things, but they could easily fit in my shirt pocket. So I […]
5Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Learning about Smoking Meat | Continued
Tim Russert Dies
Shocking news. Tim Russert, the journalist of NBC and MSNBC fame has died of an apparent heart attack. This writer has not been kind to Mr. Russert. We did not appreciate his managing of political debates. But that does not diminish our shock at the sudden and unexpected death of Mr. Russert. Mr. Russert was […]
14Jun2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Tim Russert Dies | Continued
John Cusack – Serendipity of War
Well now, John Cusack is up in arms. Cusack is that actor who used to make the chic flicks that even the men enjoyed watching. My favorite is ‘Serendipity.” But I like his latest work also. Check this out: [wp_youtube]NQgJl9d5KCQ[/wp_youtube] My first take was wondering what had gotten into John Cusack. I had never seen […]
13Jun2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on John Cusack – Serendipity of War | Continued
Learning by example – the example of Jesus
Son, Your entry into the Christian Ministry has been a source of great pride and joy for me. Even given that you choose a wacky upstart like the United Methodist, or whatever you call it. There is a mild attempt at humor in the last sentence – but as with other effective editorial humor we […]
4Jun2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Learning by example – the example of Jesus | Continued
Imperialist History of the Presidency
Rarely has any President seen himself as being imperialistic. But Imperialism best defines the actions of past administrations. Rarely have we seen ourselves as “The Evil Empire.” But we should examine the facts. [wp_youtube]L8ZTTsiJupo[/wp_youtube] Alexander Hamilton, while not a President, was a founding father of this country. Hamilton advocated a strong military, and particularly a […]
30May2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Imperialist History of the Presidency | Continued
Self Image of Presidential Candidates
Theodore Roosevelt knew he was the best man for the job. He knew it in his heart and soul. H. W. Brands wrote “T. R. The Last Romantic.” While reviewing the 1904 election Brands writes candidly about Roosevelt,: “Like most great men, and like many who fancy themselves great, Roosevelt convinced himself that his own […]
30May2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Self Image of Presidential Candidates | Continued
Art, Craft, Capitalism, and Pirating
Pirates! Who are they? Johnny Depp has redefined the genre with Captain Jack Sparrow. This portrayal is entertaining for sure – but not necessarily accurate. Pirating is about selfish intentional plunder, it is about seeking out treasure possessed by others and taking possession of the treasure by any means possible. The modern entertainment industry has […]
7May2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Art, Craft, Capitalism, and Pirating | Continued
Pacino – Scent of a Tango
I was channel surfing last evening when I happened on the ‘Dances with the Stars” program. The contestants were dancing a tango – so I stopped to watch. Not bad, I thought – but they seemed to be overdoing a wonderful and exotic dance. Unlike Al Pacino in “Scent of a Woman.” One of the […]
7May2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Pacino – Scent of a Tango | Continued
Ann Coulter – a study in journalism
One of our readers recommended that I read some Ann Coulter. Not one to dismiss our readers outright, I found this intriguing documentary by SuperNews. The depth of study is reflected in the Ann Coulter-like bibliography. Ms. Coulter thinks of herself as a professional journalist – and who in the mainstream media today has the […]
2May2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
My Stimulus Check Stimulates Me
Here is what I am going to do. Plain and simple. I am going to spend my gov’ment stimulus check to help the economy. I have a whole list of things that I am gonna do. Here it is. Right off, I am going to pay my car insurance for a year – then I […]
27Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on My Stimulus Check Stimulates Me | Continued
Media Pendulum Swings Right
The phenomenon of the American Media is in full swing. The mass of opportunity is driven by the gravitational pull of pollsters. With the inertia growing, it seems improbable that we will see any shift to professional journalism in the near future. The throttle is open for the pendulum to swing far right. The value […]
26Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Media Pendulum Swings Right | Continued
Copycatery – By Steven Colbert
There is no one like Steven Colbert to pound an issue home. The Colbert Report hosted both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama last week. Clinton had inked the deal before Obama – so – imagine this, The Clinton campaign is accusing Obama of being a copycat. We are reaching for new lows in this Presidential […]
24Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Copycatery – By Steven Colbert | Continued
Marines’ Hymn
I am an amateur piano player – I play late at night, and just for myself. I am told that I have a ‘swing style’ – but I don’t know what that means. One of the first songs that I learned on a piano was the Marines’ Hymn. This inspiring march music is relatively easy […]
24Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Marines’ Hymn | Continued
Obama, Clinton, ABC debate, 4-16-2008
6:40 PM: Here we go again. These debates are tiring – but very necessary. There are undecided voters out there who want information. They want to make a good decision – they know that bad decisions in the past two Presidential Elections have proved disastrous for our country and for the world. Clinton has been […]
17Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
esprit de corps and elitism
When people suffer anxiety and fear, whether from physical insecurity, economic strife, or terrorism, they form what Robert Muchembled calls social solidarities. These systems of survival come in a variety of forms. Many folks form loose confraternities around causes: Global Warming, Abortion, Guns, Political Parties, Civil Rights, Feminism, Gay-Lesbian Rights, and even around faith based […]
16Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 3 comments | Continued
Meet the Reverend, Fred Phelps
The ‘Reverend’ Fred Phelps is an example of religion gone haywire. He is a man much like Osama Bin Laden, using a legitimate faith to justify his hate. But is he really so unusual in America? Christianity is blasphemed by people who use that brand of faith as justification for separating and dividing people. The […]
15Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Pope in America
Bill Maher is on a role in this video. Maher directly takes the Pope and the Catholic Church to task. Referring to Pope Benedict as John Paul’s Dick Cheney, Maher hits this nail right on the head. The value of comedic interpretation of current events is never more evident than it is in this monologue […]
15Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Pope in America | Continued
Addiction Humor
So what is funny about getting drunk or high on drugs? Just about everything – if you are observing someone else. These two comedians, Robin Williams and Bill Cosby, are very funny because they are so accurate in their depictions of people on drugs. We laugh because we recognize ourselves and others in their comedy […]
15Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Addiction Humor | Continued
Does President Bush Drink?
I don’t know what to think. This video is on youtube. Has it been doctored? Slowed down? Check for yourself: [wp_youtube]lHSiqQpg7Uc[/wp_youtube]
15Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Does President Bush Drink? | Continued
Robin Williams on Golf
Caution to readers – this Robin Williams is hilarious – but he uses strong language to punctuate his message. Williams pulls every trick out of his big bag of humor to make this work. He is animated, uses slang, stresses ethnic accent, and adds to the humor by throwing in a drunk Scotsman. This is […]
15Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Robin Williams on Golf | Continued
Fox News – Bush’s Last Lap
Fox News has become the embarrassment of professional journalism. Ranking beneath bloggers in factual reporting and fair commentary, the only success of Fox has been to lower the bar of media expectations. Fortunately for all Americans, we can depend on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Intelligent reporting that is clearly unbiased may seem boring […]
12Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Fox News – Bush’s Last Lap | Continued
My Nephew Joe in Iowa
The guy in this video walks and talks and looks like my nephew Joe who lives in Iowa. [wp_youtube]PkGDrV_2ehI[/wp_youtube]
11Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Ring of Fire – and Walk the Line Videos
Johnny Cash sings “Ring of Fire” 1963 [wp_youtube]gRlj5vjp3Ko[/wp_youtube] Here is Joaquin Pheonix with his impersonation of Johnny Cash “Ring of Fire, along with a moving moment from the movie ‘Walk the Line.’ [wp_youtube]fMdoyh4NjSE[/wp_youtube] And here are more of the songs from ‘Walk the Line’ [wp_youtube]b9qTCP-tZms[/wp_youtube] And here is Johnny Cash singing ‘I Walk The Line’ […]
11Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Obama, More Perfect Union speech
[wp_youtube]pWe7wTVbLUU[/wp_youtube]
11Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Obama, More Perfect Union speech | Continued
Robin Williams on American Idol, 4/2008
One has to listen closely and quickly to catch all of the humor offered by Robin Williams. Every time I seen this great talent I try to imagine anyone else in the role and I find there is no one to compare with Robin Williams.. Enjoy.
11Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
The Conundrum of Humanity and Religion
One great irony of the human experience is the conflict between religion and science. The ‘human experience’ is essentially the act of awareness. The act of awareness allows us to explore our universe, to ask why and how, to speak in metaphor and allegory. But the human experience is also primal, seeking first to survive. […]
10Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The Conundrum of Humanity and Religion | Continued
New Al Gore video on climate change
Al Gore says this better than I.
8Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Iraq in Context – April 8, 2008
I am listening at this moment to the Senate hearings featuring testimony by General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker. These are impressive men who are in a tough spot. They believe in their mission. They testify that their work is not only effective but also necessary to improving American security. But this: Even if what they […]
8Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Narrative lives of McCain, Obama, McBride
Each of us is a product of our environment. We do not know the secrets of epigenetic study – that mystery of our DNA that is shaped by influence of nurture. So we are left to speak in terms of biography. Biography is termed ‘narrative history.’ Narrative, by it’s nature is anecdotal. Written about famous […]
4Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Narrative lives of McCain, Obama, McBride | Continued
Diplomatic Gutter Balls
There were two major news developments in the past few days. The President of the United States was in Europe on a diplomatic mission and a Senator from Illinois was bowling in Pennsylvania. Can you guess which received the most media attention? BUCHAREST, Romania — President Bush suffered a painful diplomatic setback Wednesday when NATO […]
3Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
The Obama Mystique
MSNBC’s David Gregory is doing well on his new program. What is inside the Obama mystique, he asks: His panel answers:
3Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The Obama Mystique | Continued
Al Gore in Obama Administration
What role might Al Gore play in the upcoming Barack Obama Presidential Administration. Here is a good discussion on MSNBC:
3Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Al Gore in Obama Administration | Continued
Obama on Hardball, 4-2-2008
Barack Obama is the guest on Hardball’s College tour. I’ll give some summary comments. Matthews: “How do we know you are tough enough?” Omaba: “…I am leading in a contest with a very powerful political Clinton machine – I think I have proved I am tough…” Matthews, “Can you ignore public opinion to do the […]
3Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
“Take a Listen to this”
The mainstream media is driving me nuts. People who work in journalism, even bloggers, have some duty to try to use proper grammar. I make mistakes – because I am not an authority on proper English. Was I supposed to capitalize English? The point is that I try to ask myself questions of propriety. I […]
2Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Olberman on WalMart, O’Reilly, and Dobson
Keith Olberman is at his best on his own show. He falters when paired with a co-host on political programs – but his sense of humor, his intellect, and his willingness to confront immorality shines when he is on his own. Here is Olberman taking it to WalMart.
2Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Olberman on WalMart, O’Reilly, and Dobson | Continued
Urban Gardening
My neighborhood is called ‘midtown.’ There is the north side, south side, east side – and midtown. Midtown is composed of homes a little over 100 years old. The lots are generally about 75 feet wide and about 150 feet deep. We have alleys. None of the homes are ‘ranch style.’ And the garages were […]
2Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Thirty Years – Grief does not end
Son, I have five brothers, four living. My younger brother David was killed in a motorcycle accident thirty years ago this week. Thirty years. And I still think of him. David was probably the most witty and clever of the bunch. Even as a young child he had the most developed sense of humor. Most […]
1Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Obama with Ann Curry, 4-2008
Two people that I admire and respect, Ann Curry and Barack Obama. Both of these folks have disarming personalities – but Obama is careful. Curry asks if he is just being courteous or polite or something, Obama quickly qualifies his position. The cat and mouse game is subtle and these are two masters.
1Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Anecdote – Stoking Flames of Conversation
The Fireside often presents reason in the form of anecdote. We are not alone. Anecdotes are the parables of modern discourse. They are not scientific, not products of statistical analysis. Anecdotes offer insight by personalizing issues. Anecdotes are used to wrench the gut, to appeal to the human emotion, to define issues in terms of […]
1Apr2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Anecdote – Stoking Flames of Conversation | Continued
Obama’s Big Oil Ad
I only took two courses in Economics in college – so I am no authority. But my 9 year old grandson understands the value of a nickel, some economic concepts are just plain old common sense. Barack Obama has a new television advertisement challenging the profits of Big Oil. My notion is that the advertisement […]
29Mar2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Obama’s Big Oil Ad | Continued
Does God need Government Welfare?
I may not write well, but I know how to read. And I like to read the Washington Post section On Faith. The advent of evangelicals calling for a return to the moral values of the founding fathers is to be commended. I completely agree. Steve Waldman is “co-founder, CEO, and Editor-in-Chief of Beliefnet.com, and […]
28Mar2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Does God need Government Welfare? | Continued
This Time – The Tide is Turning
This time, this election, we must bridge the chasm of race, gender, politics – liberal and conservative, religion – fundamental, evangelical, literal, figurative, Christian or Islam. Real leadership is nuanced. It is not black and white. It is not rooted in the winning and losing mentality of pure capitalism. I believe it was Henry Ford […]
27Mar2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 2 comments | Continued
Woody Allen parodies Hillary
Woody Allen may be the best writer of parody – probably better than Jon Stewart or Steven Colbert. In this clip he is struggling with understanding lost love. The desperation of compromise, of willingness to assume any posture, struck me as quite similar to the methods of the Hillary Clinton campaign. Senator Clinton cannot believe […]
21Mar2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Rev. Wright’s Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
Here we go again. An angry man, whether justified or not, pokes a stick in the eye of the object of his anger. Then he wonders why the object of his anger does not like him. Barack Obama says, let us have a healthy dialogue. Well, get the stick out of my eye and maybe […]
20Mar2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Rev. Wright’s Self-Fulfilling Prophecy | Continued
Political Bracketology by Pundits
We are coming out of the political semi-finals. The Old Man beat the Evangelical. Now the Old man is poised to face off with the winner of the Black Man versus White Woman contest. Are these useful characterizations? Personally, I don’t think so. But if we listen to the 24/7 cable news channels we […]
20Mar2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Political Bracketology by Pundits | Continued
A Personal Experience with Prejudice
The winter of 1963-64 was a rough one. I was in the eighth grade. John F. Kennedy had just been assassinated. My school was becoming integrated (the authorities sent one African American boy to our school and called it good enough). It was code (sic) outside. And my teachers did not like me. (At least, […]
20Mar2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Obama’s Speech on Race, Video and Text
Thanks to the Huffington Post for distributing this profound message. [wp_youtube]pWe7wTVbLUU[/wp_youtube] “We the people, in order to form a more perfect union.” Two hundred and twenty one years ago, in a hall that still stands across the street, a group of men gathered and, with these simple words, launched America’s improbable experiment in democracy. Farmers […]
20Mar2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Obama’s Speech on Race, Video and Text | Continued
Big Oil holds Delta hostage
The oil industry is holding all of us hostage. Delta Air Lines is a recent example. The Associated Press reports Delta is offering ‘…voluntary severance payouts to roughly 30,000 employees…’ Delta hopes to cut 2,000 jobs. Why? Let’s define a scenario that makes our math easier to understand. For the sake of argument, let’s say […]
19Mar2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | 1 comment | Continued
Defending Islam, defining faith
Sally Quinn serves the world community by offering intelligent insight with The Washington Post’s ‘On Faith.’ In this video she interviews Salman Ahmad. There is a great observation about the difference in defending a faith and defining a faith. There are many Christians who could learn from the Islamic experience.
16Mar2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Defending Islam, defining faith | Continued