Song of the Week: U and Dat

While watching re-runs of quality television this evening, I ran across one of the most hilarious commercials I have seen in a long while. After watching, the Pax Plena song of the week became immediately, perhaps regrettably, all too clear. See the source of my inspiration below.



Assuming you've by now stopped laughing the announcement can continue (if not, feel free to refresh and laugh more- I did). As the hip among us will infer from the commercial, the Pax Plena song of the week comes to you courtesy rapper E-40 with the generous aid of T-Pain and Kandi Girl and is called U and Dat.

Some will recall that U and Dat was the featured song of Summer 2006 where it easily topped the charts at #13 bringing E-40 his highest ranked single to date.

Interestingly, the hit is actually the second single off of E-40's latest album and his first major collaboration. T-Pain's lucid rhymes, in fact, offer a welcomed contrast to E-40's more coarse penchant for rapping. The considerable success of the song has led many to wonder what they gonna do, wit that baller? And it's true. E-40 obviously has game. What they gonna do, indeed.

So far as rap songs are concerned, this one is relatively mild in language by Warner Bros. standards. Yet, if one reads the lyrics, which follow after the jump, they almost engender sympathy for poor Don Imus whose comments are actually far more innocuous by comparison. Nevertheless, the tune is eminently qualified for a local block party or club- though one would be hard pressed to argue that they are by any standard family-friendly. Of course, when one is simply tryna get to dat monkey it's not altogether clear that they need be.



U and Dat
feat. T-Pain, Kandi Girl)

[Hook: T-Pain]
Girl, I been shaking, sticking and moving tryna to get you and that booty
Tryna get to you and that booty
Tryna get to you and that booty
Girl, I been shaking and acting a donkey tryna to get you and that monkey
Tryna to get you and that monkey
Tryna to get you and that monkey

[Verse 1: T-Pain]
Girl, he simping (Simpin)
I walk up in the club with a limpin (Limpin)
God listen, what you gonna do, with this pimpin
What you gonna do, with this pimpin
Girl, I'm a call ya (Call ya)
Later on tonight or tomorrow ('Morrow), now follow
What you gonna do, with this baller
What you gonna do, with this baller

[Verse 2: E-40]
What you gonna do when I bend the block (Bend the block)
Pull up on that ass in a brand new drop (Brand new drop)
Speakers on blast with tremendous knock ('Mendous knock)
TV's in the dash, rims just won't stop
You need to be down with a pimp like me
I aint turning down nothing but my collar, you see
I'm a leave you with my number, you should hollar at me
Cuz I'm a baller, can't nobody hustle harder than me, oooh

[Hook: T-Pain]
Girl, I been shaking, sticking and moving tryna to get you and that booty
Tryna get to you and that booty
Tryna get to you and that booty
Girl, I been shaking and acting a donkey tryna to get you and that monkey
Tryna to get you and that monkey
Tryna to get you and that monkey

[Verse 3: E-40]
Oooh, your ass is right
I aint tryna let that pass me tonight
I'ma put my bid in and tell you something slick
Whisper in your ear while I'm holding my dick
I don't mean no harm, it's the hood in me (Hood in me)
Sipping on that Renshaw Hennessy (Hennessy)
Psychedelic colors in my jewelry (Jewelry)
Suckers hella jealous cuz you digging me, oooh
Now what you gonna do mama
I'm tryna dip later on, me and you mama
Like the way that you groove and you move mama
You know the women love me, I'm the 40 Water (40 Water)
Popping my P's cuz I'm laced with game
Nathen but the Yay flowing through my vein
She wear Miss Sixty, can't fit in the Gucci
Cuz her ass big enough to sit a cup on her booty (Goodness!)

[Hook: T-Pain]
Girl, I been shaking, sticking and moving tryna to get you and that booty
Tryna get to you and that booty
Tryna get to you and that booty
Girl, I been shaking and acting a donkey tryna to get you and that monkey
Tryna to get you and that monkey
Tryna to get you and that monkey

[Verse 4: Kandi Girl]
Yeah I see you looking (Looking)
But my ass in these jeans got you shook, and (Shook, and)
I don't think you know what to do, with this gousy
What you gonna do, with this pussy
Yeah I know you want this (Want this)
Tryna chase me through the club for this good shit (Good shit)
But I don't think you can handle, this pussy
What you gonna do, with this pussy

[Verse 5: E-40]
You looking like you got that good gooshy, gooshy
Fucking round with me, I beat the brakes off that pussy
Have your ass cumming like a porn star movie
Tell your friends and I bet they all wanna do me
Hoes know me, I'm E-Fo-Oh (E-Fo-Oh)
They recognize pimping when I step in the door (Step in the door)
Higher than a satellite full of that dro (Full of that dro)
Holla at a playa when you ready to go, oooh

[Hook: T-Pain]
Girl, I been shaking, sticking and moving tryna to get you and that booty
Tryna get to you and that booty
Tryna get to you and that booty
Girl, I been shaking and acting a donkey tryna to get you and that monkey
Tryna to get you and that monkey
Tryna to get you and that monkey

DC's Eastern Market Badly Damaged in Fire

A few years ago I chanced upon the opportunity to live in Washington DC's Capitol Hill neighbor while interning in the District.

I will never forget spending a beautiful Spring Saturday in mid-April perusing the crafts of local merchants and eating what was hands down the best hamburger I've ever had in my life at Eastern Market. Located a short walk from my place on 3rd St. NE, the stroll toward the market set amid Capitol Hill's quiet neighborhoods and cobblestone sidewalks was my among my favorite memories of Washington.

Given my affinity for the old place, I was sad when news reached me here in Boston that a significant portion Eastern Market was destroyed in a fire last night. Initial reports indicate that the fire began in a nearby dumpster and quickly spread to the south portion of the building. Three-quarters of the building was destroyed.

The market had been in continuous operation since 1873.

[Link]

According to the Washington Post the structure is owned by the D.C. government so any efforts to restore it will ultimately rest their leadership. Given the behemoth that is any bureaucracy, it could be a while before the busy crowds come back and the smells of Spring return to the charred building.

For once, I'll be rooting for the bureaucracy to pull through.

Stanley Fish on FIRE and URI College Republicans Scholarship

For those readers with Times Select access, Stanley Fish makes a few remarks about the FIRE organization's efforts to combat campus speech codes. Citing the URI College Republicans "First Annual White Heterosexual Male Scholarship" (WHAM) contest, Fish notes:

There is nothing particularly interesting or edifying about this incident. One could accuse the College Republicans of bad taste and the Senate committee of overreacting and of failing to understand what the First Amendment protects...but that is more or less par for the course in such matters.

[Link]

He goes on to conclude, I have been on both sides of this divide, and at this point all I know is that it cannot be bridged.

I have a good many thoughts on the subject of first amendment rights vis a vis race based admissions policies. Many of these have already been stated on the ramparts of this blog. But in keeping with Fish's commentary, my only remark is that I find it comical how aptly Fish's description of the incident applies to the conclusion of his post.

Fish's entry is neither particularly interesting nor edifying...

Democrats Lose First Debate

According to CNN's Candy Crowley no blood was spilled among Democrats in last night's debate.

[Link]

With no winner, we are left to conclude that all Democrats lost.

It's too bad really. Most travelled there in style after raising much ado about carbon emissions and global warming. Perhaps inconsistencies like these are why Howard Dean wants to ban the press?

On Iraq, Democrats Embrace Inner Defeatist

House Democrats voted yesterday to set a surrender date for U.S. forces in Iraq. The move will no doubt prompt President Bush to deliver on his months old pledge to veto any legislation which would doom our troops to failure. He is utterly right to wield such a veto even if the move may prove politically unpopular.

Democrats have argued that their measure is aimed at egressing American troops from a civil war absent a clear strategy for success. Democrat Majority Leader Steny Hoyer remarked:

President Bush wants this Congress to simply give the stamp of approval of the request he has made. The American public, however, expect this Congress to make policy and to articulate its views.

[Link]

The Democrat conclusion makes for good fiction but solutions for Iraq become far more nettlesome when one considers reality. In briefings to lawmakers yesterday, America's lead General in Iraq David Patraeus restated what is commonsense to most leading security experts in world- America's commitment to Iraq cannot be viewed through the prism of the 2008 elections.

 

In his briefing, Patraeus remarked that the troop surge must be given adequate time to work (viz. not three months when barely 2/5s of designated troops are in place). He noted that the commitment to Iraq could well be on the order of years. He stated that it will require strength and American resolve. He reaffirmed that progress is being made (terrorists attacks have shown a marked decrease since January) and most importantly that success is achievable. Put differently- we can win this thing.

All things considered, it only makes sense that the liberal, Democrat party would not understand the good General's assessment. How could they? Democrats are politically more interested in surrender than victory. If it can be said that John Kerry flip-flopped in 2004, credit must be given to the Democrats for learning from his mistakes. Democrats these days make no platitudes toward being tough on foreign policy at all.  Cut and run has gone from campaign denigration to Democrat policy. 

In fact, Democrat Speaker Nancy Pelosi was so disinterested in victory that she opted to skip altogether the high-level Iraq briefing by General Patraeus. Democrats en masse followed suit and declined to even meet with Patraeus, but backpedaled after drawing Republican ire.

Our situation in Iraq is admittedly precarious but it is disingenuous for the Democrat party to say it supports the troops when it has questioned the judgment of their General and called their efforts a dismal failure. The point remains that Democrats are more interested in reducing the carbon footprint of the U.S. Capitol than in finding a way to win in Iraq.

Immigration Reform?

We won't get much in the way of it with a Democrat Congress but the video below underscores exactly why our border could use a good crack down.

Howard Dean: Ban Media

DNC Chairman Howard Dean has said many stupid things in the past.

But today's suggestion that banning the press will INCREASE political dialogue has to be among his stupidest.

[Link]

The above leaves me puzzled. Why would Democrats want to ban the press when the media is practically a DNC operation anyway...

Silly Democrats.

Should She Go Off to Work?

After citing a recent boon in the number of women opting for motherhood over work (her word not mine- to me rearing children is plenty of work), NYT Op-ed contributor Linda Hirshman offers an unequivocal yes and then proceeds to blame conservatives for using "negative messages" in applying "enormous" pressure on women to choose parenting over working.

She then goes on to argue that parenting adversely affects women's abilities to impact public life:

Should we care if women leave the work force? Yes, because participation in public life allows women to use their talents and to powerfully affect society. And once they leave, they usually cannot regain the income or status they had. The Center for Work-Life Policy, a research organization founded by Sylvia Ann Hewlett of Columbia, found that women lose an average of 18 percent of their earning power when they temporarily leave the work force. Women in business sectors lose 28 percent.

[Link]

After shooting down every potential solution for encouraging women to work, Hirshman's ultimate conclusion of the matter adds nothing to the discussion: working mothers, rich and poor, struggle with their competing commitments.

This is simply stating the obvious. No one has argued that there aren't choices and trade-offs in life. It would be naive to argue the contrary. Despite this conclusion, Hirshman still overlooks one of the most obvious explanations for why women opt for motherhood: it was their choice.

My own view of the matter is that women are smart enough, capable enough and bold enough to evaluate their lives' priorities and make a call that best suits their own happiness. Why doesn't Hirshman give women more credit? Her perspective seems oddly akin to reverse sexism.

In an age of pro-tolerant and pro-choice awareness, who are the Hirshmans of the world to say what women should or should not do? Why would she go to such great lengths to undermine their judgment?

The Boston Globe on Boris Yeltsin

The Boston Globe offered its tribute to former Russian President Boris Yeltsin this morning. The Globe concludes:

Putin is reviving many of the practices of the czars and Communists, but he still has far to go before he becomes another Ivan the Terrible or Stalin. That democracy persists at all in Russia is a tribute to Yeltsin's stubbornness, daring, and showmanship.

[Link]

For all of Yeltsin's failings, I can think of no finer tribute to a man who was the major thrust of Russian democracy. Pax Plena agreeing with the Boston Globe. You heard it here first.

Song of the Week: Good Directions

With 80 degree weather newly come to Boston, my mind turns toward thoughts of summer. Billy Currington's Good Directions fits the bill just fine.

The song tells the story of an improbable summer love with a mix of hot weather, pick up trucks, and turnips. It's a fun little song and just right for this time of year.

The video below is a fan created music video shot to the song and mixed. It's not a bad production for a random fan. Nice work.

Lyrics follow after the jump. Enjoy!




Good Directions

I was sittin’ there sellin’ turnips on a flatbed truck
Crunchin’ or a pork rind when she pulled up
She had to be thinkin’ “This is where the rednecks come from”
She had Hollywood written on her license plate
She was lost and lookin’ for the interstate
Needin’ directions and I was the man for the job

[Chorus]
I told her way up yonder past the caution light
There’s a little country store with an old Coke sign
You gotta stop in and ask Miss Bell for some of her sweet tea
Then a left will take you to the interstate
But a right will bring you right back here to me

I was sittin’ there thinkin’ ‘bout her pretty face
Kickin’ myself for not catchin’ her name
I threw my hat and thought, “You fool, that coulda been love”
I knew my old Ford couldn’t run her down
She probably didn’t like me anyhow
So I watched her disappear in a cloud of dust.

[Chorus]
I told her way up yonder past the caution light
There’s a little country store with an old Coke sign
You gotta stop in and ask Miss Bell for some of her sweet tea
Then a left will take you to the interstate
But a right will bring you right back here to me

Is this Georgia heat playin’ tricks on me
Or am I really seein’ what I think I see
The woman of my dreams comin’ back to me

She went way up yonder past the caution light
Don’t know why, but somethin’ felt right
When she stopped in and asked Miss Bell for some of her sweet tea
Mama gave her a big ‘ol glass and sent her right back here to me

Thank God for good directions…and turnip greens

Most 'Beautiful Bulldog' Contest

It's been a hectic few days so blogging has been kind of slow. But the story below was passed along by someone who knows well my love for cute dogs.

According to the AP, the pooch Riggs was named the Most Beautiful Bulldog at the 28th Annual Drake University Relays Beautiful Bulldog Contests in Des Moines, IA earlier this afternoon.

[Link]

One of the many things I'm looking forward to in the near future is getting my own Bulldog. But in longstanding promise to myself he will be named Winston.

*Photo courtesy of the Associated Press.

Ranking the Most Conservative Senators

It's been on the wires a couple of days now, but Human Events released its ranking of the most conservative senators in the country earlier this week.

As a proud Oklahoman and a proud conservative, I was pleased to see that Oklahoma's Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn were ranked No. 1 and No. 3 respectively. Not bad at all.

[Link]

Bomb Iran

U.S. Sen. John McCain broke into parody yesterday in response to an audience question on Iran.  In beginning his reply, the Senator asked audience members if they recalled the Beach Boys hit "Bomb Iran" and proceeded to sing its made up opening strains.   

 

Of course, the outcry was fierce and surprisingly plastered across the headlines of the Drudge Report.  When asked by reporters if the joke was insensitive, the Maverick Republican quipped:

Insensitive to what? The Iranians?

[ Link]

 

Well put.  The issue was more or less raised by the Drudge Report in its headline yesterday and should never have been such a big to do.  The headline was even more surprising since Drudge is usually less influenced by things politically correct.  It is a sad day for American indeed when we can no longer take a joke.  

Democrats Declare Defeat in Iraq

Lest any American harbor confusion about the party of defeat and retreat, Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid clarified the issue by declaring America's defeat in Iraq earlier this afternoon.

[ Link]  

Political rancor is certainly nothing new to Washington.  But I wonder if the Democrat leader feels America's defeat will weaken or embolden our enemies? 

 

It's obviously of no consequence to him or his party.    



 

Non-Churchgoers Vote Democrat

According to the latest Pew analysis of 2006 exit polls, some 67% of non-church going voters tend to vote Democrat.

[Link]

Which makes one wonder, if liberals call religious voters the "Religious Right," then might not conservatives call non-church going voters the "Secular Left" ? I smell a campaign ad here....

Anyway, be sure to check out the blurb from Pew. It makes for an interesting discussion of voter demographics.

Supreme Court Rejects Partial Birth Abortion

Admittedly, the High Court's ruling doesn't really address whether abortions should be performed but it does ban a barbaric practice.

 

In all, it's a big win for those who are Pro-Life. 

 

[Link]

Not Yet

I am not typically inclined to agree with Eugene Robinson but his op-ed in today's Washington Post is the among most sensible reactions to Monday's killings at Virginia Tech that I have read.  

[ Link]

His point, in brief, is that it is too soon to try and make sense of tragedy.  Indeed, this day will come.  But not yet.

Song of the Week: Estrellita

The Pax Plena song of the week comes to you from a somewhat different genre featuring classical composer Manuel Ponce's famous ballad Estrellita. Written in the early 20th century, Estrellita became a unique sensation quickly working its way into the lexicon of Mexican folk songs.

Originally set to Spanish lyrics, the song tells the story of a female voice who confides in her little star about the hidden love she feels for an unnamed man- a love which may ultimately carry her to the grave. Ponce takes the monologue (which could easily be viewed as a prayer of sorts), and sets it against an opening melody that quickly covers an entire octave. The resonant strains of the violin carry the line to greater heights reminding the listener of the confidence being communicated to the star solitaire.

 The melody remains at all points both tender and intense.

The song was eventually made famous among western audiences when performed by the renown violinist Jascha Heifetz in the 1939 Archie Mayo film They Shall Have Music. A clip of the Heifetz rendition can be heard below - presumably as extracted from the movie. Lyrics in Spanish and English follow. Enjoy!

Estrellita

Estrellita del lejano cielo,

que miras mi dolor,

que sabes mi sufrir.

Baja y dime

si me quiere un poco,

porque yo no puedo sin su amor vivir.

¡Tu eres estrella mi faro de amor!

Tu sabes que pronto he de morir.

Baja y dime

si me quiere un poco,

porque yo no puedo sin su amor vivir.

Estrellita

Little star of the distant sky,

you see my pain,

you know my anguish.

Come down and tell me

if he loves me a little,

because I cannot live without his love.

You are my star, my beacon of love!

You know that soon I shall die.

Come down and tell me

if he loves me a little,

because I cannot live without his love.

Update 09/22/08: This post remains one of the more popular songs of the week we've done, so I felt it needed an update.

To wit, the original video once posted above is no more. But I've also included a stunning rendition of Estrellita by violinist Joshua Bell. Enjoy!

John Piper: Don't Waste Your Life in Iraq

The above headline appeared on John Piper's blog Desiring God.

[Link]

I get Piper's point, but his PR team should seriously consider amending the title.

Update: Abraham over at Desiring God weighed in on my post yesterday offering a few well taken points of order- to wit he underscores the hope of DG that people will be encouraged by God's work in Iraq as evinced through one of our troops.

See his remarks here.

Vote for OK State Quarter

For readers and fans in the Sooner State, the Oklaoma Governor's Office has opened up its official state quarter selection for public in put.

 

See all five design finalists and cast your vote at the link below.

 

[Link]

Fred Thompson Discloses Cancer

The political headlines of late have been awash with stories of political figures, their spouses and battles with cancer. So much so that I suppose the discussion has become fairly commonplace in the media cycle. Given this, Fred Thompson's discussion of his own battle with the disease is to be expected.

[Link]

But it seems to me that we've crossed an odd threshold when we speak of a potentially fatal illness such as cancer using the same language we would use to describe income or stock options.

Buckley Endorses Stephen Smith in Dartmouth Trustee Race

I've followed the Dartmouth trustee election only sparingly.  This is certainly no indictment of my alma mater- blame it on busy days/nights at work.  Plus the occasional Everybody Loves Raymond re-run.

 

Nevertheless, I was surprised to see Bill Buckley's recent editorial on the matter in yesterday's National Review.  Underscoring exactly why the trustee election is so crucial to colleges across the country, Buckley offers a soaring endorsement of anti-establishment candidate Stephen Smith. 

 

[Link]

 

Your humble blogger is proud to have voted already-  for Stephen Smith.

Democrat Party Backs Iran's Nuclear Ambitions

Only the Democrats would propose legislation aimed at aiding Iran in its nuclear development.

Below is an excerpt from Democrat Congressman Tom Lantos as quoted in Tuesday's San Fransisco Chronicle:

"So if the Iranian president says that he is developing (nuclear material) for peaceful purposes, we are assisting him in that process," said Lantos, who anticipated the legislation could pass as early as May.

[Link]

Apparently, Democrat Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Tom Lantos are considering yet another round of shuttle diplomacy to America's enemies. Based on Lantos' remark, the duo will approach this trip as naively as the last one. But maybe this time Pelosi will spare the world her fabricated peace message from Israel? One can hope...

Consider the above yet more proof that Democrats will do anything to undermine U.S. Foreign policy. Let's hope the President has the courage to veto this mockery of legislation as soon as the ink dries.

*Photo courtesy of Tom Lantos.

Some Thoughts on Work and Life in America

Fixed between looming professional decisions and a lengthy work crunch, I have given some thought over the Easter holiday to the quality of life engendered by our modern, American workforce and the balance I hope to strike one day in my professional and personal life. Before I begin, I will offer a couple of caveats. The phenomenon I am about to describe, is not uniquely American. Most countries in Western Europe and the East have had far more generous worker laws and regulations in place since the 1950s but what I will describe can easily apply to any vibrant economy. Second, for the sake of clarification the phenomenon is not itself limited to modernity. Difficult work environments have existed from the dawn of time when first man was sentenced to till the earth and create a livelihood for himself out of nothing. What makes our particular quality of life issues so pronounced is that they are the product of modern innovation which is supposed to make life easier and not necessarily the result of workplace circumstance alone. The distinction is nuanced but important lest I be misinterpreted as saying our moment in history is dramatically different or somehow worse than any other.

What prompted my broodings late last week was an AP story which explored the impact the Blackberry is having on the American family. If I may offer a summary, the point of the article is that Blackberrys and other remote access tools have transformed the distinction between home and work- a formerly healthy demarcation which had existed many decades prior. In other words, rather than empowering workers with flexibility and convenience, they have expanded the limitations of where work can occur, tethered workers virtually to the office and extended the work day.

[Link]

So, in an era of failed synergies and six sigma the potential boon offered to employers by wireless communications has actually succeeded in a tremendous way. As a quick glance through the article indicates nearly 70% of those surveyed reported having used the devices to log-in to work while on vacation.

Unfortunately for workers, the product of such work flexibility is often stress. Over the past three decades, time spent at work has increased ten hours and nearly 1/3 of all American workers now report feeling overworked. The common emotion shared among those with families is the feeling that there is never enough time in the day for work obligations and loved ones. The effect on children is often stress of their own as they feel that they are the cause of their parents' dour moods.

[Link]

Yet for all the time spent at work, even at the expense of family, modern workers are increasingly lonely. The reasons for social isolation these days come from an array of causes associated with modern living including increased numbers of mid-life singles, the Internet as an impersonal means of connecting with other people and loneliness generally. But loneliness and stress seem unrelated to an shortage of people to get to know and more directly related to a modern life which has escaped our control. Given longer work hours and commute times, who really has the energy to socialize after a 12-14 hour day? Perhaps we have become like Brad Delp, a mass of lonely souls.

Our modern situation is not for want of trying. Entire research studies and self-help books have been dedicated to the problem of slowing our fast-paced lives down. The problem is more systemic. A recent article on happiness in Time Magazine cites one researcher who argues:

Those at work generally report that they wish they were at home...but when they're home they often feel passive, depressed or bored. "They have in mind that free time at home will make them feel better, but often it doesn't,"he says. Group activities and socializing tend to yield more joy.

[Link]

The solution put forward by the researcher is for workers to 'get control' and to stop assuming external conditions will change apart from personal investment in direct, personal action. The advice isn't bad, but the obvious obstacle is taking the routine out of life long enough to realize the world around us. It requires acknowledgement of the external. This seems intuitive to those outside the routine of work or even home, but as DC commuters were reminded this past week it can be difficult.

The Washington Post published a feature experiment in its weekend magazine which underscores the tension between routine and the ability of the external to affect it. The challenge was to see if one of the world's premier violinists, Joshua Bell, could attract a crowd in the middle of rush hour. Bell's performances easily command $1,000 an hour. He routinely plays to sold out audiences around the world. The Post even took precautions toward crowd control should things get out of hand. The result?

Not even close.

Despite playing six classical works for nearly 45 minutes, only seven people out of the rush-hour crowd bothered to stop and take in part of the performance. Nearly 30 people gave money on the run totaling roughly $32 ($20 of which came from one person). Most were so rushed they hardly gave a second glance while brushing past the one-time prodigy turned expert. The video of the performance is telling. While the article is titled "Pearls Before Breakfast," it could easily have been called "Pearls Before Swine."

[Link]

The problem commended by the Post is that our lives have become so frenetic that many centuries-old pillars of human existence are becoming obsolete. The impetus to appreciate the beauty of our surroundings is all but rendered null when iPods isolate the commuter from any audible stimuli. The home, our natural sanctuary from work, and the ability to engage others is severely damaged by new technologies which blur the lines between home and work, and longer work days which inhibit opportunities for socializing. Time Magazine hints at an inherent problem of discontent but perhaps the real culprit is our unwillingness to see what we see. It seems clear that longer work hours break down social and familial relationships, yet we are driven to work longer hours. It seems clear that we should engage the environment, community and world around us, yet we intentionally isolate ourselves from the external in our rush to work.

The drive in the United States is one toward increased productivity and competition which is essential in a global economy. An abject halt by the vast majority of workers would have dire consequences- as would imposing artificial regulations on the market to limit hours worked. But the ultimate point of the matter comes down to one of choice. The irksome point is that choice begets habits. And habits affect the course of lives. This makes early prioritization all the more crucial when embarking upon a field of study or calling. Even while the pressure to conform to a high-achieving, fast-paced American work culture is difficult to resist, the call remains ours for the choosing. It is a question which will confront younger generations quite soon. The reality presents a variation on an ancient theme:

What good is it for us to gain the world but lose our soul in the process?

Song of the Week: Ticks

The Pax Plena song of the week comes to you courtesy of country music sensation Brad Paisley and is affectionately titled Ticks.

Not a lot of depth and introspection this week. Just a great song that mixes equal portions comedy, romance and country. It's the kinda song most of the kids in Cotton County can understand. For those city slickers reading, I guarantee you'll never think of pesky ticks in quite the same way.

The link at the below takes you to a streaming version of the song via Brad Paisley's myspace page.

Just click play and enjoy!

[Link]


Ticks

Every time you take a sip
In this smoky atmosphere
You press that bottle to your lips
And I wish I was your beer
In the small there of your back
Your jeans are playing peekaboo
I'd like to see the other half of your butterfly tattoo.

Hey that gives me an idea
Let's get out of this bar
Drive out into the country
And find a place to park.

'Cause I'd like to see you out in the moonlight
I'd like to kiss you way back in the sticks
I'd like to walk you through a field of wildflowers
And I'd like to check you for ticks.

I know the perfect little path
Out in these woods I used to hunt
Don't worry babe I've got your back
And I've also got your front
Now, I'd hate to waste a night like this

I'll keep you safe you wait and see
The only thing allowed to crawl all over you when we get there is me.

You know every guy in here tonight
Would like to take you home
But I've got way more class than them
Babe that ain't what I want.

'Cause I'd like to see you out in the moonlight
I'd like to kiss you way back in the sticks
I'd like to walk you through a field of wildflowers
And I'd like to check you for ticks.

You never know where one might be
There's lots of place that are hard to reach
I gotcha.

I'd like to see you out in the moonlight
I'd like to kiss you baby way back in the sticks
I'd like to walk you through a field of wildflowers
And I'd like to check you for ticks.

Oh, I'd sure like to check you for ticks...

*Photo courtesy of PictureCorrect.com

Blood for Oil?

Not so much according to CNN's Money magazine.

Early oil contracts out of Iraq are overwhelmingly going to companies based in China, India and Southeast Asia instead of the United States.

[Link]

But don't look for the facts to stop protesters- the heard mindset and blood for oil theme are too politically opportune to be abandoned now.

Liberal Hypocrisy Over Imus Remarks

Have you heard about the scandal embroiling liberal radio show host Don Imus? Probably not- a liberal media protects its own.

Last week, before 70 million listeners Imus called the Rutgers women's basketball team a bunch of "nappy-headed hos" during his Wednesday morning show.

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The comment is disgusting and the black community is justifiably upset with his remarks. What's surprising, however, is not that Imus is under fire. It's that he hasn't been fired already. Let's pretend the comments came from, say, Rush Limbaugh. Would the outcry be any different?

The probability is obvious. Rush has already been fired once for making far more innocuous remarks.

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Funny how the howls from the left for Imus's resignation have been conspicuously absent.

Cold Easter of 2007

So much for global warming.

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O'Reilly v. Geraldo on Immigration

Any slight affinity I had for Bill O'Reilly just plummeted on the basis of the video below.

The problem with O'Reilly is not his point of view, it's his attitude of infallibility and on this issue he couldn't be more wrong.

I support a more secure border as much as the next conservative. But it remains to be seen how Mr. O'Reilly intends to round up some 20 Million illegal aliens and ship them out of the U.S. The logic of numbers simply isn't on his side.

But see and decide for yourself...

Pelosi's Peace Faux Pas

Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, bless her bleeding heart, seems to have lost her political marbles by embarking upon an unauthorized Middle East peace initiative. 

 

Only hours after having declared to Syria Israel's intent to enter into peace negotiations, Pelosi was admonished by Israeli PM Ehud Olmert who basically stated that Pelosi had not the authority to deliver pizza to Syria let alone platitudes toward peace on Israel's behalf.

 

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Pelosi's helping of crow was aptly washed down by an excoriating op-ed in the Washington Post.  The WaPo called Pelosi's grand visions of peace "ludicrous" saying:

 

Two weeks ago Ms. Pelosi rammed legislation through the House of Representatives that would strip Mr. Bush of his authority as commander in chief to manage troop movements in Iraq. Now she is attempting to introduce a new Middle East policy that directly conflicts with that of the president. We have found much to criticize in Mr. Bush's military strategy and regional diplomacy. But Ms. Pelosi's attempt to establish a shadow presidency is not only counterproductive, it is foolish.

 

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Pretty strong words for the Washington Post.  For a second, I mistook it for the National Review. 

 

Let us hope Pelosi learns from her failure what every 8th grade civics student should by now know- Congress is not the Executive Branch of Government.

Pelosi's Popularity Soars with Syrians

Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was greeted warmly today by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and his terrorist regime.

When pressed on the issue of Syria's ties to terrorist organizations, Pelosi said: 
 

"Of course the role of Syria in Iraq, the role of Syria supporting Hamas and Hezbollah, the role of Syria in so many respects -- we think there could be a vast improvement...we think it's a good idea to establish the facts, to hopefully build some confidence between us. We have no illusions, but we have great hope."

 

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The basis on which Ms. Pelosi's hope is founded seems about as stable as the situation in Iraq.  I have often heard of bleeding-hearted, liberal idealists but Pelosi's hope in Syria of all states borders on faith in a government which aided in fomenting much of the violence currently plaguing the Middle East today. 

 

On the other hand, given that Democrats are bent on undermining our mission in Iraq generally, it only makes sense for them to align with our enemies in the region.

China Unveils Moon Rover

The Chinese government unveiled its new moon rover (shown at right) at the Shanghai Aerospace Engineering Institute today.

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The unveiling was quite the show until the lego wheels fell off and the gold foil tore.

*Photo courtesy of Reuters.

Song of the Week: Kissing a Fool

Perhaps it's the rainy weather here in Boston, but this week's song of the week continues a succession of mellow songs performed by dynamic artists. The Pax Plena song of the weeks comes to you direct from modern crooner Michael Bublé and is titled Kissing a Fool.

One of the most redeeming qualities about the song is its smokey, lounge quality feel. Written by George Michael in the late 80s, the song takes listeners back to the dive bars and cramped stages of the Jazz age complete with soaring lyrics and sparse percussion. One can almost see tuxedo-clad men with a glass of scotch listening in on a summer's evening.

The opening strains in the Bublé version, begin with a lead bass intro which is joined almost immediately in whisper by vocals. Bublé's voice, however, is quick to showcase exactly why he is every bit the crooner he purports to be. Rest assured, in this song, the quietest sounds never become a bore. Bublé's range is disparate, covering everything from the delicate lines preceding the opening chorus to the vibrant peak near the final repetition. Through its unique blend of instruments, trumpet, piano, and percussion most prominently, the score ably presents Bublé's voice by striking a nice balance between accompaniment and instrumental musicality.

The song itself traverses a wide range of emotions from hope, to despair and ultimately toward faith in faith. But its theme is fairly well contained- love sought, love lost and the personal introspection which invariably follows. The central idea seems to be the inability of lovers to commit and specifically in the inability of one to withstand outside pressures for want of mutual matters of the heart.

The video below plays the song in its entirety. If you can over look the silly video on which someone has decided to affix the song, you'll find the performance most enjoyable. Lyrics follow.



Kissing A Fool


You are far
When I could have been your star
You listened to people
Who scared you to death
And from my heart
Strange that you were strong enough
To even make a start
But you'll never find
Peace of mind
Till you listen to your heart

People
You can never change the way the feel
Better let them do just what they will
For they will
If you let them
Steal your heart from you
People
Will always make a lover feel the fool
But you knew I loved you
We could have shown them all
We should have seen love through

Fooled me with the tears in your eyes
Covered me with kisses and lies
So bye
But please don't take my heart

You are far
I'm never gonna be your star
I'll pick up the pieces
And mend my heart
Strange that I was wrong enough
To think you'd love me too
You must have been were kissing a fool
You must have been kissing a fool

But remember this
Every other kiss
That you'll ever give
Long as we both live
When you need the hand of another man
One you really can surrender with
I will wait for you
Like I always do
There's something there
That can't compare with any other

You are far
When I could have been your star
You listened to people
Who scared you to death
And from my heart
Strange that I was wrong enough
To think you'd love me too
You must have been kissing a fool
You must have been kissing a fool

You must have been kissing a fool

The 40% Rule

Pew released two intriguing survey results the past few of days which I submit for your consideration. Last Thursday, Pew found that some 39% of Americans say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who is a Christian.

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Today, Pew has announced that some 41% of Americans completely endorse "old fashioned" values.

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The optimist in me wonders if there's any statistical correlation. The pessimist in me says no way. Here's what the pragmatist in me says:

It's good that a sizable portion of the population views Christianity as an asset and not a liability. It's also encouraging that 41% of Americans endorse old fashioned values. But what exactly is the definition of Christian and exactly which values do we consider to be old fashioned?

Consider also the inherent hypocrisy of the numbers. The vast majorities of the 39 and 41% of people who endorse Christian candidates and old fashioned values respectively, have also had premarital sex. An extraneous matter but for the fact that it is a decidedly, un-Christian and non-old fashioned value held by a majority of people who affirm the opposite.

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In turn, my conclusion is the following: the numbers appear to be positive but the will for positive appearances can often lead to misleading numbers.

Mike Huckabee on Hardball

As any regular can tell from the button at right, I'm a strong supporter of former Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee.

Huckabee was recently featured on Hardball with Chris Matthews. The video can be accessed through the link below (Requires Windows Media player).

Toward the end of the interview, Huckabee takes on grace and faith while speaking to emergent social issues such as the environment, poverty and health. It's another great interview and his points on grace & the law are well taken for any Evangelical. Enjoy!

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Gmail Paper?

While checking e-mail not long ago, I ran across this disturbing new service offered by Google called Gmail Paper.

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As you can see from the link above, the tech giant Google is offering to print and deliver all of your e-mails for free.

A service with no discernible profit spare advertising.

Is this ever a good idea?

Some Thoughts on Spring

Spring has finally come to the Northeast. Down in Washington the Cherry Blossom Festival is well under way treating thousands to their gorgeous full blooms in this annual rite.

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As temps reach into the 60s here in Boston and people begin emerge from their winter dens, I am reminded of the book of Ecclesiastes which describes life as one giant vacillation. The philosopher (reputedly Solomon) writes:

A man may beget a hundred children, and live many years; but however many are the days of his years, if he does not enjoy life's good things, or has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

Ecclesiastes 6.3-5

This passage captures in pithy irony the overlooked cycle of life's Spring which is mortality ensconced within our daily grind. Despite this inevitability, the philosopher gets at the point Spring presents: life is one constant change and our ability to find pleasure and joy within it depends utterly upon our recognition of this point. Our riches and age do us no service if we miss out on enjoying life's "good things" as they are unfurled in our lives.

This seems obvious. Perhaps even intuitive. But between the daily schlep from home to work, and between the bustle of meeting friends and making plans, so often life continues apace with us never actually taking the time to enjoy life's good things. In some ways, Spring reminds us that life can resume; that we can witness the birth of new life all around us and enjoy the change that is our own essence.

As I have written before, so much of life in my early twenties has been exactly about this type of change. Indeed, many more changes still loom for me over the course of the next few weeks and months. On a personal level, I have said good-bye to friends and more than friends who were once bulwarks of my life here. Professionally, there have been numerous, unexpected shifts which revealed that the largest blessings are the ones we least expect. On a broader level, I have learned through forge that sometimes questions are left unanswered altogether. Spring reminds us that this matters little. Our enjoyment of life comes not from the answers themselves but in recognizing good things when they happen.

Least I seem overly hedonistic, John Piper recently offered a few disjointed, yet similar thoughts upon the passing of his father. He lists some 15 things he learned from his Dad including the following:

3. Happiness is not found by looking for it. You stumble over happiness on the road to duty.

My, my, my. How was John Piper born from this? I would never say this. The main reason is that the Bible commands us to pursue our joy repeatedly. "Rejoice in the Lord, and again I say rejoice." "Delight yourself in the Lord." I think what he meant was: 1) Joy is always in something. Joy itself is not the something. So we seek joy in Christ. Not just joy in general. 2) When duty is hard and we do not feel joy in doing it, we should still do it, and pray that in the doing it the joy would be given. But what we need to make plain is that duty cannot be contrasted with joy, because joy is a biblical duty.

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I think Piper's message is a variation on the theme of Spring we've been discussing. The search for joy itself is an aberration of what we are actually called to do. The goal is not to look for joy. This search is indefinite and without any obvious focus. Instead, Piper affirms Ecclesiastes by arguing that joy is found through seeking God specifically, and through our pursuit of God as a process.

The result of this course is the rejuvenation of life itself- our soul's new eternal Spring.