And, yes, Olbermann too.

In an extraordinary interview on Friday night, Bill Moyers taught us all a lesson on how to have a dialogue with those whose political views contrast sharply with our own.  Extraordinary not necessarily in terms of subject matter or memorability, but rather, in term… Read full post »

Garment Industry Joke

A garment worker was walking back from her lunch break to her job sewing in a factory in the garment district.

From out of a doorway jumps a man wearing nothing but a raincoat.  He steps in the front of the woman, throws open his coat, and exposes… Read full post »

Although it happened forty-some years ago, I think it's time to do it again! A tip of the hat to my brother-in-law, Bill, for sending me  a link to this video of Los Shakers. 

This is the kind of thing that sets my heart aflutter so, naturally, I had… Read full post »

This seems to be the summer of our discontent here on Open Salon.  There is a groundswell of opposition to the selection process used by the Editors in designating the Editor's Picks and the cover spots.  Many people believe that there is no selection process at all, and that there is… Read full post »

You'll have to pardon me, but I'm positively reeling right now.  

Just for the hell of it, I did a Google search using two phrases from my wayward youth, and what I found has me in a state of shock.

But I have to give you a little background first.… Read full post »

Since Taylor Swift has been in the news so much this week, I decided that I should figure out exactly who she is.  I had heard the name, of course, but I think I was probably one of the half dozen or so people in the U.S. who had never actually heard any of… Read full post »

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, my husband and I spent several years navigating the rather surreal world of infertility.  Tubes were checked, sperm were counted, hormone levels were graphed, ovulation tester sticks were peed upon, and drugs were taken, both orally and b… Read full post »

Some comments were made on Saturn Smith's live blog post of Obama's speech last night that made me realize something:  there are people out there who have a very basic misunderstanding of the term "nonprofit".

So, what does it mean when an organization or business is "nonprofit"?

Put quite simpl… Read full post »

A new poll shows that, by an overwhelming majority, President Obama is disappointed in the American people. When asked, "Do you approve or disapprove of the job the American people are doing?", the survey respondent replied in the negative.

Complete Poll Results:

1)  Do you approve or disap… Read full post »

Sonny Landreth, Louisiana native and one of the best slide guitar players on the planet, teamed up with Mark Knopfler for "Blue Tarp Blues",  a strong statement about the incompetence and greed that were the hallmarks of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

This isn't much of a video, b… Read full post »

For Min - Chariots&… Read full post »

Growing up in Cleveland in the 70's, radio station WMMS ("The Home of the Buzzard"), 100.7 on the FM dial, was a big part of our lives.  It was what was known as a "progressive" radio station, one that played AOR, or "album-oriented rock".  Put simply, if you listened to 'MMS, you… Read full post »

I just read that Les Paul has died.  Between the electric guitar and multitrack recording, I don't guess we'd have rock and roll without him.

From AP:

I'm thinking about turning in mine.  After all, she did have a Palin bumper sticker on her car during the 2008 campaign, and her cannas keep coming up in my yard.  Plus, I think the White House is giving away toaster ovens this month!

If you haven't heard about it already, I'm… Read full post »

When asked about protesters at local town hall meetings, Nancy Pelosi said the following:

"I think they’re Astroturf… You be the judge. "They’re carrying swastikas and symbols like that to a town meeting on healthcare."

So, nowhere did she call protesters Nazis.

What she said is th… Read full post »

While watching the first disc of the second season of Mad Men, I got very excited when I saw that scene where Don Draper comes home and pours himself a drink.  You know, the scene that happens several times an episode?

"Oh my God!", I exclaimed.  "I have those glasses!"

… Read full post »

My husband, Jim, aside from being incredibly talented, and an all-around, stand-up kind of guy, often surprises me with stories about the people he meets in his photographic jaunts around the city.  He'll head out on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, favorite camera in hand, taking pictu… Read full post »

It has saddened me to read the accusations and counter-accusations that have been lodged here on OS in recent days.  I'm not going to link to any particular blog, and I'm not going to comment on what I may think about this situation because, ultimately, what I think doesn't matter in… Read full post »

Many people go to Paris in April.

But when your husband tells you that his dream for his 50th birthday is to go to Paris to shoot with his Leica, and his birthday happens to be at the end of November, that's when you go to Paris.

Although this was the… Read full post »

I recently wrote a blog about why I think Christian rock and heavy metal are cynical.  I got a lot of interesting, thoughtful comments, and I figured I was done with the subject for awhile - I had said all I wanted to say.

Then I watched the second episode of… Read full post »

Summer has arrived and the 4th of July holiday will be here soon!  Summer holidays are often when blood supplies run critically low.  If you could spend an hour to save a life, would you do it?

It is estimated that 38% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood,… Read full post »

Today, I finally went through with it.  I switched my phone service to another carrier.  It's not that I wasn't perfectly happy with the service I was getting from my old provider - I just wanted to save some money and bundle my phone service with my internet and cable TV.… Read full post »

The impulse to create music is as old as humanity itself.  Human beings have always needed to express themselves through rhythm, melody and harmony, using both voices and instruments.  Different cultures have widely varying tonal scales, melodic patterns, harmonic combinations and inst… Read full post »