The Walrus Speaks: November 2007

Yoko Ono---Walking On Thin Ice

by Hector Diego

Thursday, November 29, 2007

All The News That's Fit to Print

by Hector Diego

I got this story from Yahoo News--it's so damned important I figured all of you must know about it, too.

"AUSTIN, Texas - Prison-guard models showed off a new look Thursday that's bound to be a hit among their colleagues: casual, comfortable and with lots of flexibility to handle their stab-resistant protective vests.

Stuck for decades with long-sleeved gray shirts, Texas guards beginning next year will be able to choose a short-sleeve, navy blue shirt for their uniforms."

And the story went on to detail everything we must know about prison guard fashion, because that's why our Founding Fathers established a free press, right?

So where are the stories about the rapes that are happening at this very moment in American prisons? Where, I ask?

They do get reported on, once in a blue moon, and then they are forgotten, not followed up, not valued. We can't think about such things and get all the latest on Brad Pitt's love life, so it's a cost-benefit analysis, right?

We'll pay for the real news, and forget the rest while...

Some little dude is getting it up the ying-yang. And I'll bet you that Thomas Jefferson is rolling over in his grave.

It's good to be 'merican. Here's old Merle Haggard.

A Hard Day's Night

by Hector Diego

Some of you young pups think that John and Paul collaborated in their composing--and they did, a little. But for the most part, the one singing is the one who mostly wrote the song. They helped each other here and there, but it was mainly the competition that brought out the best in both.

I could haul out my Beatles' texts to prove this, but I'll just let you do that for yourself if you don't believe me.

I think John's "A Hard Day's Night" defeats Paul's "Can't Buy Me Love"--but now we are straying from facts into the realm of opinion.

Lewis and Sennett talk to Face Culture

by Jay Allbritton

A site called Face Culture spoke to Jenny Lewis and Blake Sennett of Rilo Kiley. The interviewer makes these kids real uncomfortable, but it looks like it's a real nice day wherever this interview took place.

I would embed it, but it's one of those video players that just starts right up and that makes me crazy.

Oasis Covers "I Am The Walrus"

by Hector Diego

I will admit to being an Elementary Penguin, but I would never kick Edgar Allen Poe.

So apparently, even John Lennon didn't know everything.

Hell Is A Shared Construction Project

by Hector Diego

Gillian Gibbons---British Fiend Who Dared To Name A Teddy Bear Mohammed (PBUH)

by Hector Diego

Go ahead and live a little--just haul off and give this teddy bear any religious name you like!

This is part of an ongoing conversation I have been having with the Station Agent. He has pointed out that much of the bellicosity of Islamist groups--subjecting, or trying to subject, non-Muslims to Islamic standards--has its roots in politics, not religion.

I would like to put a finer point on this observation--we cannot separate the political dimension from any aspect of human life, including religion, because one thing leads to another. But the raw sentiments of the good people of Sudan, for instance, upset because a British school teacher in their country allowed her students to name a teddy bear Mohammed (PBUH), are obviously religious. When they demand that the teacher, Gillian Gibbons, come before their court system for punishment, their actions have entered the realm of the political. But the feeling of outrage that led to her incarceration is purely religious. Had they no redress for their feelings they would have felt them anyway. No?

I feel I must defend this innocent school teacher, at the very least because she is from Liverpool!

When the British called the Hindus of India out on their (rare) instances of sati, in which a wife is burned on the funeral pyre of her husband, I believe this was something the Brits could be commended for--unless such a wife volunteered, and somehow I don't believe that's very likely. When the world--including the Islamic world--protested the burning of the Hindu woman Roop Kanwar, in the 1980's, this was the correct thing to do.

Now, the world should call out Islamic countries that whip people for allowing children to name a bear Mohammed (PBUH), or who whip a woman because she was in a car with someone she is not married to. No?

I'm not pointing out these things because I'm a Christian who supports Bush. I am a Hindu who opposes Bush. And my feelings vis a vis Bush and politics begin with religion.

Thanks for listening.

By the way, for those who don't know, PBUH means "peace be unto him", and Muslims believe that one should never say the name of Mohammed (PBUH), without also saying PBUH. I say it too, out of respect, because I feel like it, not because I'm afraid of Islamist extremists, which I am...like every decent Muslim who is not an Islamist extremist.

Those boys don't know that you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, but they don't listen to anyone.

Click below for a little ditty by a guy who seemed to delight in getting in trouble with religious people--John Lennon (PBUH).

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Maxwell's Silver Hammer

by Hector Diego

Lennon did not like this kind of song from McCartney. Oh well.

The Thermals - Returning to the Fold

by Jay Allbritton

Wheeeee! Special effects!

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Cool Hand Luke---Failure To Communicate

by Hector Diego

Well, I was rather inspired by the Station Agent's post of Big Steve and Rilo Kiley, so I must respond with Paul Newman and Johnny Cash (performing a Jimmie Rodgers classic).

I believe a country's level of civilization should be measured by the way it treats its prisoners. Cool Hand Luke is about a dude who gets drunk one night and vandalizes public property. For this great offense, he lands in a chain gang for two years--but naturally, it is almost impossible to follow all the rules, so those two years are extended...and extended...you get the idea.

Don't say it couldn't happen in your country, or to you.

Crap like what happened to Luke is happening at this very moment...

Rilo Kiley - Papillon

by Jay Allbritton

A fan put together this clip of the RK song "Papillon" from their first album. The footage is from the classic Steve McQueen film of the same name.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Can't Buy Me Love

by Hector Diego

Definitely a Paul song.

Beau Brummels---Just A Little

by Hector Diego

The Beau Brummels--imitating a Beatles photo session in this picture--were from San Francisco, and it has been said that they contributed to the San Francisco sound.

But you would have to analyze the San Francisco sound to know that. The Beau Brummels sounded more like a cross between the British invasion and American folk artists like the Kingston Trio, etc.

"Just A Little" is their biggest hit.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Thinking Allowed---Sanskrit Tradition

by Hector Diego

Thinking Allowed - Sanskrit Tradition
Uploaded by yarden

Dr. Brown will not substitute for a Hindu or Buddhist master who understands Sanskrit in a spiritual sense, but his introduction, in my opinion, is not bad.

Even a little Sanskrit is better than no Sanskrit at all.

I Want To Hold Your Hand

by Hector Diego

I'm fairly sure this is the first Beatles song I ever heard. My big sister asked me, had I heard the Beatles? Listen to this, she said, and turned the volume knob on the radio to full blast.

That's when I knew that there was a God, and the Beatles were His instruments.

Elvis---Love Me Tender

by Hector Diego

Presley's birthplace in Tupelo, Mississippi.

This is the Civil War era ballad, "Aura Lee", with different lyrics--just right for The King. It sold over a million copies before it was even released.

Ben E. King---Stand By Me

by Hector Diego

Lennon was very fond of this song.

Skeeter Davis---End Of The World

by Hector Diego

You write a better song than this one by Skeeter Davis, and I will wash your car for the rest of my life.

1963.

Chad and Jeremy---A Summer Song

by Hector Diego

Just give me great melody, and the lyrics need only be simple and true.

Del Shannon---I Go To Pieces

by Hector Diego

Peter and Gordon had a big hit with this one in 1966, but it was written by Del Shannon, a very talented composer.

Sadly, Del Shannon committed suicide in 1990. So let's offer some mantras, prayers, or simply good wishes that he is at peace, somewhere, in some form.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

She Loves You

by Hector Diego

Quite possibly one of the best songs (mostly) written by Paul McCartney. Quite possibly.

Jefferson Airplane---Coming Back To Me

by Hector Diego

If you have not heard Jefferson Airplane's 1967 album Surrealistic Pillow, you must arrange to hear it ASAP! In my opinion it is their best work, but that's just me.

I'm still very enchanted with it after all these years.

Grateful Dead----Scarlet Begonias

by Hector Diego

Once in awhile you get shown the light, in the strangest of places, if you look at it right...

Quicksilver Messenger Service---Shady Grove

by Hector Diego

Buncha freaks.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Sandpipers---Guantanamera

by Hector Diego

Jose Marti is considered one of the great writers of the Spanish language. His call for social justice in Cuba--or anywhere, anytime--still rings true. Would he consider Castro's work sufficient, if he were alive today? You tell me.

The first, second, and fourth verses below were adapted from Marti's "Versos Sencillos", while the third verse was quoted directly.

I would imagine the emotional impact is greater in Espanol. Perhaps we might say that Marti lives still.

I am a sincere man
From where the palm tree grows
And before dying I want
To share the verses of my soul.

My verse is light green
And it is flaming crimson
My verse is a wounded deer
Who seeks refuge on the mountain.

I cultivate a white rose
In July as in January
For the sincere friend
Who gives me his honest hand.

With the poor people of the earth
I want to share my good fortune
The brook of the mountains
Gives me more pleasure than the sea.

From Me To You

by Hector Diego

It's as simple as pie, and just as sweet.

Lovely Rita

by Hector Diego

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Arlo Guthrie---Alice's Restaurant

by Hector Diego

What would Thanksgiving be without Arlo Guthrie's "Alice's Restaurant"?