Matt Taibbi is G-O-D

 In another brilliant expose on the state of the Union, Matt Taibbi in his most recent article Rolling Stone Magazine gives John Madden a run for his commentator-money with his play-by-play description of the 'Restoring American Financial Stability Act' that was recently weaving it's way through Washington. 

 

Wall Street's War by Matt Taibbi

 Opening in the early months of May when the legislation was heading toward the finish line, Taibbi is astonished to discover the bill contains aggressive measures to rein in Wall Street's rodeoesque wild west show.  As Washington barrel races toward the finish line, Taibbi not only learns a lesson that schools Schoolhouse rock (well duh, we always knew the little song was too simplistic and overly optimistic, but it still did more to teach the route a bill has to take that is more educational and no less optimistic than most  civics classes) but reveals the real problem in Washington- which is that a SMALL(say, three of four) number of (corrupt) men hold all the power over whether a bill or amendment will even get a vote, let alone pass and the representation we all assume we're getting when we vote for our representatives in the Senate and the House is virtually nonexistent.  This article along with the blog entry he wrote in response to reader reaction and as a follow-up to what has happened since writing his article are a must read and a reference point for everything we see (or think we see) going on in politics today. CHEERS MATT! 

http://www.rollingstone.com:80/politics/news/;kw=[36899,157778]


See his blog at:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/taibbiblog/;kw=[blog,58584]

In Times such as these...

The political landscape coupled with the bleak news on the environmental front leaves me cold. I wonder and worry at the future that faces my children and their children (if they have children which I pray they don't) An evening in front of the telly watching that show that I mention occasionally here and blog about at http://keywesttv.tumblr.com/ with a glass of champagne and some chocolate generally brings my piece of the world back into perspective-- or at least allows me to hide from the ugliness for a while.

When I was a child, books did that for me and I try to review the good ones I read here as well. When I was in high school and college, I discovered that theater held a similar magic for me. I could transport myself into another world and obliviate the pain and ugliness that surrounded me. I was also a music major in college and music became an ever increasing escape for me as I practiced and honed my instrument. Hours in a tiny practice room were spent hooting-- emitting an admittedly horrible sound that I was told would eventually enable me to reproduce the lovely songs of a nightingale. I don't know if I ever reached that Zen phase of a songster, but I still find myself melting to certain vocalists.

To that end, I recommend Claire Tchaikowski. With a vocal quality that floats amidst the clouds, she offers songs that balm the soul and carry it skyward. Virtually unknown amidst the teenybopper sameness on American radio, she offers the listener some of the qualities one might have expected from a vocalist-- such as range and tone quality. You can watch her video and hear one of her lovely songs on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/clairetchaikowski