"Ring of Fire" - Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash (1932-2003)
-----------
"Ring of Fire"

Love is a burning thing
And it makes a fiery ring
Bound by wild desire
I fell into a ring of fire.

I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down,down,down
And the flames went higher
And it burns,burns,burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire.

I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down,down,down
And the flames went higher
And it burns,burns,burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire.

The taste of love is sweet
When hearts like ours meet
I fell for you like a child
Oh, but the fire went wild.

I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down,down,down
And the flames went higher
And it burns,burns,burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire.

I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down,down,down
And the flames went higher
And it burns,burns,burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire.

And it burns,burns,burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire
The ring of fire
The ring of fire.  

Man of the House - by Anonymous

(Click on comic strip to magnify)

Man of the House
-----------------
The husband had just finished reading a new book, 'YOU Can Be the MAN Of YOUR HOUSE'.

He stormed into the kitchen and walked directly up to his wife. Pointing a finger in her face, he said sternly, "From now on, YOU need to know that I AM the MAN of this house, and my word is law! You will prepare me a gourmet meal tonight, and when I'm finished eating my meal, you will serve me a sumptuous dessert afterward. Then, after dinner, you are going to go upstairs with me, and we will have the sex that I want. After that, you are going to draw me my bath so I can relax. You will wash my back and towel me dry and bring me my robe. Then you will massage my feet and hands. Then after that's done, guess who's going to dress me and comb my hair?"

His wife replied, "The funeral director would be my guess."

Un Conte Fantastique

(*)
Un conte fantastique, rien d'autre ...


__________________________________________________________

(*) caricature de Fernandel

Wisdom of Bertrand Russell - by TPO

Bertrand Russell
(1872-1970)
-------
On the Personal:

Drunkenness is temporary suicide.

It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly.

To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness.

I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong.

If there were in the world today any large number of people who desired their own happiness more than they desired the unhappiness of others, we could have a paradise in a few years.

Next to enjoying ourselves, the next greatest pleasure consists in preventing others from enjoying themselves, or, more generally, in the acquisition of power.

Of all forms of caution, caution in love is perhaps the most fatal to true happiness.

Man is a credulous animal, and must believe something; in the absence of good grounds for belief, he will be satisfied with bad ones.

The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.


On Politics and Empty Ideals:

Democracy is the process by which people choose the man who'll get the blame.

In America everybody is of the opinion that he has no social superiors, since all men are equal, but he does not admit that he has no social inferiors, for, from the time of Jefferson onward, the doctrine that all men are equal applies only upwards, not downwards.

Liberty is the right to do what I like; license, the right to do what you like.

To acquire immunity to eloquence is of the utmost importance to the citizens of a democracy

Religions, which condemn the pleasures of sense, drive men to seek the pleasures of power. Throughout history power has been the vice of the ascetic.

Freedom in general may be defined as the absence of obstacles to the realization of desires.

Patriots always talk of dying for their country and never of killing for their country.

Patriotism is the willingness to kill and be killed for trivial reasons.

War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

The megalomaniac differs from the narcissist by the fact that he wishes to be powerful rather than charming, and seeks to be feared rather than loved. To this type belong many lunatics and most of the great men of history.

The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd.


On Philosophy and Science (Knowledge):

Science is what you know, philosophy is what you don't know.

Men are born ignorant, not stupid. They are made stupid by education.

Dogmatism and skepticism are both, in a sense, absolute philosophies; one is certain of knowing, the other of not knowing. What philosophy should dissipate is certainty, whether of knowledge or ignorance.

We are faced with the paradoxical fact that education has become one of the chief obstacles to intelligence and freedom of thought.

The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.


On Fear:

Neither a man nor a crowd nor a nation can be trusted to act humanely or to think sanely under the influence of a great fear.

One should respect public opinion insofar as is necessary to avoid starvation and keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny.

Why is propaganda so much more successful when it stirs up hatred than when it tries to stir up friendly feeling?

Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd.

Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty.

To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead.

To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.

Last Wishes - by TPO

Last Wishes --------
by TPO

In Greece, there is a cliff on one side of Mt. Olympus, residence to the old mythical gods. It is said that the precipice of the cliff has a unique, magical power. It seems that whatever is the last word uttered before jumping off the cliff becomes a final dying wish and is granted immediately and abundantly.

One day, three friends made the brave trek to Olympus and approached the legendary cliff.

The first guy, who was also the bravest, screamed, "Money!!!"and jumped off the cliff. He kept screaming as he fell and landed on a huge mountain of money.

The second friend heard whoops of delight from down below and got very excited. He took a long running start, picked up speed and jumped off screaming, "BABES!!!!". He landed in the midst of a sea of countless, beautiful women.

Then, the third friend gets very worked up. He takes an even longer running start and runs as fast as he can. But he's so excited that he's only going 15 mph and running out of breath. When he comes to the edge of the cliff, he trips on a rock. As he is hurtling down, he panics and blurts out, "Oh shit!"

Pascagoula Revival - by TPO

Roger Miller (1936 - 1992)
---------
"Mississippi Squirrel Revival"

"Somebody's Mother" - by Mary Dow Brine

(**) Somebody's Mother
by  Mary Dow Brine
-----------------  The woman was old and ragged and gray
And bent with the chill of the Winter's day.
The street was wet with a recent snow
And the woman's feet were aged and slow.
She stood at the crossing and waited long,
Alone, uncared for, amid the throng
Of human beings who passed her by
Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye.
Down the street with laughter and shout,
Glad in the freedom of 'school let out,'
Came the boys like a flock of sheep,
Hailing the snow piled white and deep.
Past the woman so old and gray
Hastened the children on their way.
Nor offered a helping hand to her—
So meek, so timid, afraid to stir
Lest the carriage wheels or the horses' feet
Should crowd her down in the slippery street.
At last came one of the merry troop,
The gayest lad of all the group;
He paused beside her and whispered low,
"I'll help you cross, if you wish to go."
Her aged hand on his strong young arm
She placed, and so, without hurt or harm,
He guided the trembling feet along,
Proud that his own were firm and strong.
Then back again to his friends he went,
His young heart happy and well content.
"She's somebody's mother, boys, you know,
For all she's aged and poor and slow,
And I hope some fellow will lend a hand
To help my mother, you understand,
If ever she's poor and old and grey,
And her own dear boy is far away."
"Somebody's mother" bowed low her head
In her home that night, and the prayer she said
Was, "God be kind to the noble boy,
Who is somebody's son, and pride and joy!"


__________________________________________________________
(**) Painting: "An Old Woman" by Cézanne

"Buffalo Gals" - by The Dale Warland Singers

"Buffalo Gals"
-------
The Dale Warland Singers
/////
Buffalo gals, won't you come out tonight,
Won't you come out tonight, won't you
come out tonight?
Buffalo gals, won't you come out tonight
And dance by the light of the moon?

Will you, won't you, will you, won't you,
come out tonight,
Will you come out tonight, won't you come out tonight?
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you come out
tonight,
And dance by the light of the moon?

As I was lumberin' down the street,
Down the street, down the street,
A pretty gal I chanced to meet,
Oh, she was fein to view!

Oh, I danced with a dolly with a hole in her stockin',
And her knees kep' a-knockin',
and her heels kep' a-rockin,
Oh, I danced with a dolly with a hole in her stockin',
And we danced by the light of the moon.

I stopped her an' I had some talk,
Had some talk, had some talk,
But her foot covered up the whole sidewalk,
And left no room for me!

Oh, I danced with a dolly with a hole in her stockin',
And her knees kep' a-knockin',
and her heels kep' a-rockin,
Oh, I danced with a dolly with a hole in her stockin',
And we danced by the light of the moon.

She's the purtiest gal I ever seen in my life,
Seen in my life, seen in my life,
An' I wish to the Lord that she was my wife,
An' we would part no more.

Oh buffalo gals, won't you come out tonight,
Won't you come out tonight, won't you
come out tonight?
Oh, buffalo gals, won't you come out tonight
And dance by the light of the moon?

Will you, won't you, will you, won't you,
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you come out
And dance by the light of the moon?

By the light of the moon!  

No Regrets - by TPO

W B Yeats (1865 - 1939)
----------
"Spilt Milk"


    WE that have done and thought,  That have thought and done,   Must ramble, and thin out   Like milk spilt on a stone.                          

"Are You Mine?" - Loretta Lynn & Ernest Tubb

"Are You Mine?"
--------
Loretta Lynn and Ernest Tubb
||
Are you mine all life through
Will you kiss me when I'm blue
Will you whisper I love you
And make all my dreams come true
Will you share the good and bad
Bring me joy when I am sad
Tell me darling  Are you mine and only mine

Are you mine, yes I am
All the time, yes I am
Mine alone, yes sir-ree
All my own, all your own
No one else will ever do
I'll be yours and I'll be true
  Don't worry dear,  Have no fear cause I'm yours

Are you mine, tell me dear
Will I always have you near
Will the love light always shine
In your heart just like in mine
Will you give as well as take
Keep the vows that you will make
Tell me darling  Are you mine and only mine

Are you mine, yes I am
All the time ,oh yes I am
Mine alone, you know me I'm ...
All my own, absolutely
No one else will ever do
I'll be yours and I'll be true
  Don't worry dear,  Have no fear cause I'm yours

Are you mine rich or poor
Tell me darling are you sure
Will you whisper yes I do
And forever love me true
Will you honor and obey
Will you promise not to stray
Tell me darling  Are you mine and only mine

Are you mine, yes I am
All the time, yes I am
Mine alone, yes sir-ree
All my own, all your own
No one else will ever do
I'll be yours and I'll be true 
Don't worry dear,  Have no fear cause I'm yours
Don't worry dear,  Have no fear cause I'm yours!
 
 
 

"Colbert Spoofs Pawlenty" (*) - by TPO

The Colbert Report
Tags: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

___________________________________________________________
(*)source: Kaeti Hinck (MinnPost.com)

"Poor Boy" - Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley (1935-1977)
-------
"Poor Boy"
[They call me poor boy, poor boy, poor boy
But I ain't lonesome and I ain't blue
'Cause I could never be a poor boy
As long as I've got a darling like you.] ...Refrain...

Ain't got a crust, ain't got a cent
Can't buy a jug, can't pay the rent
I got a heart full of dreams
And a lot of memories
And that's enough for me

{Refrain}

Can't buy a house, can't buy a lot
Ain't got a bean, I ain't got a pot
But what I got is a heart full of
Love and memories
And that's enough for me

{Refrain}

Don't have a pig, don't have a cow
I don't have a horse to pull a plow
But what I got is a heart full of
Love and memories
And that's enough for me

{Refrain}  

Responding to Don Shelby - by TPO (aka JJ Sefton)

Responding to Don Shelby's, "Why I worry about China"
(in MinnPost.com)
--------
J J Sefton (also known as TPO) had the following comment(s) on Mr. Shelby's article ....

Zounds, where to begin?!

As a naturalized American, I may be able to offer a different perspective on this highly-charged topic that is constantly on everybody's mind.

Many years ago, as a child growing up in Ethiopia, I was learning to read English in school from a book called,"The Green Primer." The first story was titled, "Alladin and the Lamp." It began thus: Once upon a time, there was a wizard. He lived in China. He came to Africa to look for a lamp ....

Fast forward to today. Now, as I see them, the Chinese have always been very industrious, and goal-oriented. They are a tenacious nation that deserve a lot of respect because they understand what "accommodation" means. They accommodate religion to politics, and politics to economics, economics to techonology and science, etc., etc.

Napoleon once said of China, "Let her sleep, for when she wakes, she will shake the world." Well, China has awoken, and she is shaking the world! In the few years since China has been a major world economic player, the Chinese have been to Africa and they have done a lot more good than bad.

The United States has been lazy, lethargic, and short-sighted for the last thirty years at least. American economic concentration has been in the financial world where patriotism, conscience, or any semblance of integrity are left at the door. Manufacturing, innovations, and energy conservancy have been disregarded. We've been shipping jobs abroad. Right after 9/11/01, suddenly there was a mad need for U.S. flag lapel pins. Only thing, almost all of them were made in China ... go figure!

And as far as the U of M and its research efforts go, its discoveries will never guarantee American supremacy for long. Perhaps, it would be better to work alongside your rival, share knowledge, and look to the long-run benefits of cooperation rather than suspicion and perhaps greed.

Ending Poverty in Minnesota - Minnesota Senate

Ending Poverty in Minnesota
---------
by TPO

It is very heartening to see that the Minnesota Senate is serious on this topic.

A good man, Sen. Michael Jungbauer (R - East Bethel), is heading up a "task force" with a vision. They're getting down to the nitty-gritty at the Capitol.

Keep on plugging, Minnesota!

"Connais-tu le pays?" - Magdalena Kožená

Magdalena Kožená (1973 - )
-----------
"Connais-tu le pays?" - Mignon's aria from Mignon
Connais-tu le pays où fleurit l'oranger?
Le pays des fruits d'or et des roses vermeilles,
Où la brise est plus douce et l'oiseau plus léger,
Où dans toute saison butinent les abeilles,
Où rayonne et sourit, comme un bienfait de Dieu,
Un éternel printemps sous un ciel toujours bleu!
Hélas! Que ne puis-je te suivre
Vers ce rivage heureux d'où le sort m'exila!

C'est là! C'est là que je voudrais vivre,
Aimer, aimer et mourir!

C'est là que je voudrais vivre,
C'est là! Oui, c'est là.

Connais-tu la maison où l'on m'attend là-bas?
La salle aux lambris d'or, où des hommes de marbre
M'appellent dans la nuit en me tendant les bras?
Et la cour où l'on danse à l'ombre d'un grand arbre?
Et le lac transparent où glissent sur les eaux
Mille bateaux légers pariels à des oiseaux!
Hélas! Que ne puis-je te suivre
Vers ce pays lointain d'où le sort m'exila!

C'est là! C'est là que je voudrais vivre,
Aimer, aimer et mourir!

C'est là que je voudrais vivre,
C'est là! Oui, c'est là!