Other Recent Articles
Banks do Business with Predatory Lenders
I was in my bank the other day to roll over my wife’s 401k, and I was browsing all of their literature while I waited for the financial advisor. I don’t usually pay any attention to all of the stuff along the wall because I already have all of the banking junk that I need […]
12Aug2008 | bryan | Comments Off on Banks do Business with Predatory Lenders | Continued
McCain Drives Religious Wedge to Promote War
John McCain is driving a deeper wedge of religious animosity to promote his own version of Cowboy Diplomacy. In a speech this morning on the conflict between Russian and Georgia McCain was quick to note that Georgia is a country that has embraced Christianity. Does this religious embrace, by itself, justify their defense. No, an […]
12Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on McCain Drives Religious Wedge to Promote War | Continued
Bee Gees Music Videos
I really like these folks. This music dates me for sure – but I believe the songs are relevant yet today. If you are not a fan of the Bee Gees just skip on to our next post. Words: [wp_youtube]dn9cHegvcFI[/wp_youtube] To Love Somebody: [wp_youtube]ykU8iSKkJR0[/wp_youtube] How Deep is Your Love: [wp_youtube]mCj0F0o9u-8[/wp_youtube] You Should Be Dancing – […]
11Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Bee Gees Music Videos | Continued
George Bush Started a Joke (Bee Gees Video)
Does anyone think for a minute that George W.l Bush will ever realize the tragedy of his Presidency? He smiles and cavorts around the world, giving profound speeches while sternly looking into the camera. Does he not realize that everyone in the world is laughing at him? Barack Obama was received in foreign lands as […]
11Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on George Bush Started a Joke (Bee Gees Video) | Continued
The Bird’s Nest – Cradle of the Future? (Video)
China has given the world a demonstration of their claim on the future. The opening ceremonies of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics are unrivaled – and will remain unrivaled for generations. The grandeur of the Chinese coming out party was a delicate mix of technology and humanity. At the center of the spectacle was “The […]
10Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on The Bird’s Nest – Cradle of the Future? (Video) | Continued
Andy Williams – memorable songs (Videos)
Andy Williams captured me at my eighth grade graduation dance. I danced with Jerri to the Williams rendition of “Moon River.” I remember thinking that life could not get any better – and as it turns out – it did not. All of that aside, Andy Williams came into the lives of millions over the […]
9Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Andy Williams – memorable songs (Videos) | Continued
Who’s On First, Abbott and Costello video
Talking movies have been around for less than 100 years. The pioneers of comedy set the stage, if you will, for generations to follow. Abbott and Costello perfected the art of a straight man with a buffoonish clown. Their act “Who’s On First” is a classic that never wears out. Bud Abbott and Lou Costello […]
9Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Who’s On First, Abbott and Costello video | Continued
NBC Fails the Olympic Opening Ceremony
NBC has completely failed in their presentation of the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing China. A masterfully choreographed 2,008 drummers, rhythmically moving in unison, were to cast a staggering effect of art in motion. NBC thinks they are at an NFL game and demonstrated how many cameras they have on the floor […]
9Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on NBC Fails the Olympic Opening Ceremony | Continued
John Edwards – Craig, Clinton, Delay
So John Edwards has admitted that he had an extra marital affair. Is this important? Possibly. The admission will definitely affect his box seats at the Democratic Convention. But is this event any different, more or less important than other travesties of silliness by other public figures. John Edwards ran for President but failed to […]
9Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on John Edwards – Craig, Clinton, Delay | Continued
Eve of Destruction
Growing old does not mean growing smart. People like to say, “It took me a long time to realize that my parents were right.” The suggestion is older people are always smarter – always right. That has not been my experience. I am one who is considered ‘older.’ Some think I am pretty smart – […]
8Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Eve of Destruction | Continued
Where have all the flowers gone (Video)
We in America find ourselves engaged in another war – a war contrived by a self serving White House. Illegitimate intelligence on an incident in the Gulf of Tonkin in Vietnam provided the impetus for the President to justify expanding our military presence in Southeast Asia. The same song is being sung by our current […]
8Aug2008 | Ohg Rea Tone | Comments Off on Where have all the flowers gone (Video) | Continued
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
Barack, Public Funding, and My Backyard
Barack Obama this week rejected public fundung for his campaign according to the Los Angeles Times. This seems like a big deal, I know, and a lot of good government analysts are saying that it is a mistake and that it could be a strong point for McCain in the gneral election It is not […]
20Jun2008 | bryan | Comments Off on Barack, Public Funding, and My Backyard | 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
intimate anonymity in the electronic age
If you are reading this article, then it is no surprise to you that our electronic culture is changing faster than we can measure and our connectedness boasts the largest geographical and numerical network in history. The phenomenon of our communication age is a child of several technologies that all dramatically shaped our culture, and […]
2Jun2008 | bryan | Comments Off on intimate anonymity in the electronic age | 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
Procrastination Posting
Timing is everything in blogging. Well, not everything. Content is a key element, but secondary to timing. It is important, though… content… but you have to wait for the right content to come along, or it just isn’t worth the effort. I never post anything early in the morning. It comes off as too zealous. […]
12May2008 | bryan | 2 comments | 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
What Makes A Pirate A Pirate?
I don’t have cable, and I don’t want it. It’s too expensive, I don’t like the hassle that I get from them, and I havean internet connection, so I can pretty much get whatever shows I want without the commercials, and whatever I can’t find online I just rent and plug it into the DVD […]
29Apr2008 | bryan | Comments Off on What Makes A Pirate A Pirate? | 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
Christianity Is Not a Religion
At a motivational seminar that I attended last week, I noticed that a lot of the motivational speaking crowd are Christian speakers. Many of them, in fact, have started mega churches for mega rich parishioners in mega cities (that crowd doesn’t do small scale stuff). Many of the pastors of large churches, actually, would fall […]
25Apr2008 | bryan | 1 comment | 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
Jon Stewart: The Fiber in Your Media Diet
There are some things that we, as a culture, cannot do without. Oil. Television. Wal-Mart. Cell Phones. Media Punditry. In order for these things to exist, we have to continually evaluate them and to find ways of curbing our dependence on them. Otherwise, we become slaves to our devices. Oil, for instance, needs investigation into […]
17Apr2008 | bryan | Comments Off on Jon Stewart: The Fiber in Your Media Diet | Continued
smoking bans: a look at freedom, liberty and autonomy
There is an understanding in our free society that we can exercise our personal autonomy as long as we do not interfere with the rights and liberties of others. The true nature of government is to build and maitain infrastructure and to make and enforce laws that protect the rights and liberties of the people. […]
16Apr2008 | bryan | 2 comments | 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