The about a neighborhood association that was threatening a couple with a $25 a day fine for having a Christmas wreath in the shape of a peace sign on their house. Now it looks as though the SOB who came up with the idea, Bob Kearns, is having it backfire in his face.
The following is from the New York Times.
DENVER, Nov. 28 — Peace is fighting back in Pagosa Springs.
Last week, a couple were threatened with fines of $25 a day by their homeowners’ association unless they removed a four-foot wreath shaped like a peace symbol from the front of their house.
The fines have been dropped, and the three-member board of the association has resigned, according to an e-mail message sent to residents on Monday.
Two board members have disconnected their telephones, apparently to escape the waves of callers asking what the board could have been thinking, residents said. The third board member, with a working phone, did not return a call for comment.
In its original letter to the couple, Lisa Jensen and Bill Trimarco, the association said some neighbors had found the peace symbol politically “divisive.”
A board member later told a newspaper that he thought the familiar circle with angled lines was also, perhaps, a sign of the devil.
The peace symbol came to prominence in the late 1950s as the logo for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, a British antiwar group, according to the group’s Web site.
It incorporates the semaphore flag images for the letters in the group’s name, a “D” atop an “N.”
Other people have said the upright line with arms angled down, commonplace in the United States in the Vietnam War, especially, has roots in the early Christian era, representing a twisted or broken cross.
Mr.
Trimarco said he put up the wreath as a general symbol of peace on earth, not as a commentary on the Iraq war or another political statement.
In any case, there are now more peace symbols in Pagosa Springs, a town of 1,700 people 200 miles southwest of Denver, than probably ever in its history.
On Tuesday morning, 20 people marched through the center carrying peace signs and then stomped a giant peace sign in the snow perhaps 300 feet across on a soccer field, where it could be easily seen.
“There’s quite a few now in our subdivision in a show of support,” Mr. Trimarco said.
A former president of the Loma Linda community, where Mr.
Trimarco lives, said Tuesday that he had stepped in to help form an interim homeowners’ association.
The former president, Farrell C. Trask, described himself in a telephone interview as a military veteran who would fight for anyone’s right to free speech, peace symbols included.
Town Manager Mark Garcia said Pagosa Springs was building its own peace wreath, too. Mr. Garcia said it would be finished by late Tuesday and installed on a bell tower in the center of town.
Some great George W. Bush bits from "The Late Show with David Letterman".
I bring this up so people will know that I am such a huge Beatles fan that two of my children are named for Beatles. This said, I decided to take my time today and do sort of a review of the album, "Love", song-by-song.
Because - The album begins with the sounds of birds and insects from both "Across the Universe" and "Sun King", then we hear the beautiful acapella harmonies of the song "Because".
The soundscape is simply astonishing. As it ends, you hear the final note of "A Day in the Life" as it grows and mixes seamlessly with the orchestrational build-up from "A Day in the Life" and portions of "I Am the Walrus", that culminates with the ringing guitar intro from "A Hard Day's Night".
Get Back - The transition from the previous song continues with Ringo Starr's drum solo from "The End" mixed with part of the great guitar trade-offs of the same song amid the crowd noises from "Sgt.
Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". This leads to the single best mix I have ever heard on "Get Back". It is easy to tell that George Martin would have made a much better producer for "Let It Be" than Phil Spector or Paul McCartney.
As the final chorus is playing, you can hear more orchestration from "A Day in the Life" in the background. Overall, this song has never sounded more energetic.
Glass Onion - The change from "Get Back" is wonderful in its simplicity - the drum hits from "Glass Onion" lead directly to John Lennon's "Oh yeah, Oh yeah's" and "Nothing is real" lines from the song.
There are horns from "Penny Lane" and "All You Need Is Love" in addition to vocal lines from "Hello Goodbye" in the mix. The song is short but sweet. The transition to "Eleanor Rigby" are ghostly harmonies from the song.
Eleanor Rigby - We get a real stereo mix of the string quartet with no vocals for the first few measures until Paul McCartney begins the first verse. The ghostly harmonies return and blend into the beautiful acoustic guitar of "Julia".
I Am the Walrus - Over the "Julia" guitar we hear sounds and pieces from John's experimental "Revolution #9" that lead into simply the best mix of "I Am the Walrus" ever.
The song ends with sounds of a Beatles audience screaming, followed by an announcer screaming, "Here they are, the Beatles!"
I Want To Hold Your Hand - This is essentially a very cleaned up version of the original studio recording backed by the screaming audience to produce a live feel.
Drive My Car/The Word/What You're Doing - The audience screams take us into the beginning of "Drive My Car".
The cool part is the addition of the horns from "Savoy Truffle" added to the mix. Paul McCartney's guitar solo from "Taxman" is inserted over the "Drive My Car" instrumentation and leads directly into "What You're Doing" with the piano riffs from "Drive My Car" underneath. It ends with The three songs fitting together at the same time and they fit like they were meant to be together.
Gnik Nus - This is the acapella vocals of "Sun King" played backwards over Indian music from "Within You Without You". Stark in simple beauty. The Indian music continues and blends into the orchestration from "The Long and Winding Road".
Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite/I Want You (She's So Heavy)/Helter Skelter - Another song that has never sounded better in stereo. Eventually, the calliopes are augmented by Billy Preston's superb organ work, Harrison's guitar, and McCartney's bass from "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" and McCartney's "coming down fast but I'm miles above you" vocals from "Helter Skelter".
The song ends with the blowing winds from the Beatles 1967 Christmas recording. This leads directly into . .
.
Help! - No real changes on this song other than some cleaning
Blackbird/Yesterday - Paul's acoustic guitar work on "Blackbird" only serves as an introduction to "Yesterday".
Now we get to hear Paul's guitar work mixed with the string quartet on the song. It really accents the song and makes it new again to the discerning ear.
Strawberry Fields Forever - The song begins with just John and an acoustic guitar and continues to build using different versions of the song until we reach the finale which includes sounds from "Penny Lane", "In My Life", "Sgt.
Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", "Piggies", and "Hello Goodbye". An interesting take and Martin's son proves he has his father's ear in addition to his face and voice.
Within You Without You/Tomorrow Never Knows - The previous mixture goes into the sitars of "Within You Without You" behind a haunting version of Lennon singing, "Turn off your mind, relax and float down stream" from "Tomorrow Never Knows", then the driving background of Lennon's song serves as the background of Harrison singing "Within You Without You".
An odd collage of sounds from both songs break apart and interact with quick clips of "Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds".
Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds - Other than the original intro - which is missing - the song sounds very much the same until the chorus when we hear more horns from "Sgt. Pepper's" and other bits from "Tomorrow Never Knows".
Octopus' Garden - As "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" fades, it ends abruptly with a single harmony from "Because" and goes into the orchestration from "Good Night" and unused orchestration from "Piggies". The orchestration from "Good Night" continues with Ringo singing "Octopus' Garden" over the top. You can hear the underwater sounds from "Yellow Submarine".
The drum fill from "Mean Mr. Mustard" takes us into the more conventional version of "Octopus' Garden". The drumming from "Polythene Pam" hammers out under the guitar solo.
The transition to the next song is the guitar into to "Sun King".
Lady Madonna - There are the storm sounds from "Rain" and the rhythm of "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da", then Paul McCartney's drum into to "Why Don't We Do It In the Road?" leads to the comb and paper background harmonies from Lady Madonna and Brian Jones' sax work from "You Know My Name, Look Up the Number" and Paul's great piano work from "Lady Madonna".
The song is great and rocks along, especially after the guitar work from "Hey Bulldog" is played behind it along with some of Harrison's unused riffs from "Let It Be".
Revolution - The second guitar from the fast version of "Revolution" gets a lot more prominence in this version and Lennon's vocals are way out in front and dead center of the mix. Ringo's drumming has never been more driving and you can hear the answer version of vocals on the "alrights" at the end are now heard.
Unused drum and guitar tests from the "Revolution" session take us into . . .
Back in the U.S.S.
R. - The major differences are that the guitar solo is missing and Paul's vamped vocals at the end are heard for the first time.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - This is the same version of the song heard on the "Anthology" discs with a beautiful string section written especially for the "Love" album by George Martin added.
This cut includes the verse Harrison left out of the "White Album" version. The lines are, "I looked on the wings at the play you are staging, while my guitar gently weeps. As I'm sitting here doing nothing but aging, still my guitar gently weeps.
"
A Day in the Life - You can hear John setting up to record the song with just him and his guitar. He counts off the song with the words, "Sugarplum fairy, sugarplum fairy", the song quickly goes into the version we all know and love. Once again, it has been cleaned and remixed to near perfection.
Ringo's maracas are crystal clear and the stereo mix sounds wider than ever. Still amazing when you think about the fact the entire "Sgt. Pepper's" album was done on only four tracks.
You can hear the alarm clock Mal Evans sets off clearly in the left side of the mix.
Hey Jude - Another song from the "Let It Be" sessions that proves George Martin should have been producer all along. The man knew the Beatles better than any other person in the world.
And his mix of "Hey Jude" is a masterpiece. It is, of course, a lot shorter than the original and includes a nifty little acapella vocal bit in the middle of the "na-na-na-nas". The horns lead into the drum start of .
. .
Sgt.
Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) - The mix makes the song drive like never before.
All You Need Is Love - As always, the song is instantly recognizable by the opening strains of "Marseillaise" and the harmonies singing "Love, love, love". There couldn't be a more fitting ending to an album or show called "Love".
The song ends in a flourish with sounds from the songs, "Day Tripper", "Sgt. Pepper's", and "Goodnight".
At last count, there are at least 59 different songs or references from other tracks used - I will probably hear more once I listen to it in the 5.
1 surround sound version I got along with the CD.
Some people might look at this album as just another compilation and they would be wrong. Each song has been enhanced and/or changed so much that it is like listening to many of the pieces again for the first time.
There are also some Beatles purists who will not like the album. They believe that these songs should remain untouched. I disagree - with a simple caveat.
As long as it is someone like George Martin who is more respectful and protective of the catalogue than anyone who is not a Beatle. I disliked Danger Mouse's riffs on the "White Album", but this is something different. It is first and foremost, a work of art.
I have now listened to the album four times and it is quickly becoming one of my favorites.
The only requirement is registering with the site.
I don't know how long the "Global Listening Event" will last, but I loved it! Imagine the background music and rhythm section of Lennon's great "Tomorrow Never Knows" playing behind Harrison's "Within You, Without You", and you'll get the idea of how really different this album is.
You'll hear guitars, drums, horns, strings, vocals, keyboards, bass, etc. from several different sources playing in places you would never have thought possible - but it fits like a glove. There are a few songs where only a real Beatles aficionado will recognize the differences, but they abound everywhere.
Don't let the opening notes fool you, what sounds like "Julia" may be something else completely. I'll have to wait until I can really tear the album apart over the next week, but my guess is that there are bits and pieces from maybe as many as 100 different tracks on this album.
One interesting song is "Gnik Nus".
Here is a track that in all simplicity is the song, "Sun King" played backwards, yet it remains beautiful to listen to. The album goes on sale tomorrow in the United States. I highly recommend this album, not only as a huge Beatles fan, but also as someone who recognizes the tremendous amount of time Sir George Martin and his son Giles Martin put into this project.
Local Libertarian blogger, Mike Sylvester came to my defense - at least halfway.
His commentary on my assertions were:
You asked for some facts to back some of these comments up.
I will tell you my take on them.
IRAQI CIVIL WAR.
Yes there is an Iraqi civil war. In my opinion there will ALWAYS be an Iraqi civil war. I am not sure they will ever be a Democracy.
I agree with Robert on this one.
HIGH GAS PRICES. I just spent over $45 to fill up my gastank on my Camry and yes gas prices are high.
It is not Bush's fault. Bush made a bad tactical error when he lied to The American people and told us that we would pay for the Iraqi "Conflict" with oil money. Bush did lie about that.
I am actually with AWB on this one anyway. It is not Bush's fault gas prices are high. It is supply and demand.
RIOTS IN BAGHDAD. Of course there are riots in Baghdad. I think there will always be riots there.
I am with Robert on this one.
2544 US SOLDIER DEAD. This is a fact.
I am with Robert on this one.
TORTURE. War is a bad business.
If we send our soldiers into harms way we need to use MAXIMUM force and we need to ensure our soldiers are not put in harms way. I am with AWB on this one.
MURDER.
Read above comment. I am with AWB on this one. If people attack our soldiers we should kill them.
Period.
ABUSE. Read above two comments.
I am with AWB on this one.
RAPE. Read the three comments above.
I am with AWB on this one. Furthermore, our soldiers ARE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. This applies to all four comments listed above.
Our soldiers should have more rights then criminals and rapists in the US.
WIRETAPS. I want to stop terrorists.
That being said, Bush has gone too far. I want my civil liberties. I am with Robert on this one.
LIES. Unfortunately all politicians lie. Bush is no exception.
He lies. I am with Robert on this one.
So my score is 5 to 5.
I think HALF of Robert's captions are right and I disagree with 5 of them.
At the time, I asked Mike:
If the soldiers who have been charged with Rape and Murder are found guilty (remember, that in these cases, it was other soldiers who came forward that led to us finally charging these men) willassessmentassesment be 7 out of 10?Now on to my point.
In the weeks leading up to the election, gasoline prices went down and the day after the election, started going back up.
Gas prices at the station on the corner on November 7, 2006 - election day:
Gas prices on November 8, 2006:
Photos from Pam's " " blog.
In addition, soldiers have now been convicted in both the rape and murder that I was alluding to.
Hey, I'm just saying . . .
In India, a with robbery, extortion and banditry.
Under intense interrogation, the baby exercised its right not to talk, but after a few hours, the police knew something didn't smell right about the case.
In California, a completely . Does this story even need a made up punch line?
Hayhurst's statement, I feel it necessary to point out that although I believe in an honorable withdrawal from Iraq, the most important part of any plan for Iraq has to include getting our men and women out of harm's way. Say what you will about me and the war in Iraq, but never say that I had anything but the best intentions for the safety of our troops. I have always felt and still feel the best way to support our troops is to bring them home alive and well.
]Statement of Third District Congressional candidate Dr. Tom Hayhurst on the issues of keeping America safe and bringing the Iraq War to an honorable conclusion:
What Mark Souder has been trying to do for the past month is change the subject. You and I know the real subject, the main concern we all share, is Iraq.
We are concerned about our leaders' failure to fight a competent war and to keep America safe. We know the loss of life is hollow, if we don't face the facts and develop a sound plan. One hundred deaths in October alone.
Nearly 3,000 deaths in total. Our President continues to stay the course and just yesterday the Vice President proclaimed "full speed ahead" on Iraq. The only place full speed ahead on Iraq will take America is straight off the cliff to nowhere.
My opponent has spent the last month talking about illegal immigration. He wants you to forget about Iraq and how vulnerable America still is. He has lied about his own record of strong support for amnesty for illegals just to get elected.
He has no plan of his own to deal with this problem. And he has used every dirty trick in the book personally or through his party leaders to try and get you to forget their failures in Iraq and failure to secure America. But I know Hoosiers are smarter than that.
You can see through their fog of misinformation.
It is time for new leadership, for new eyes and minds and hearts with fresh and honest perspectives to deal with the crucial issues of our time. The election on November 7 is about who will best find an honorable end to this questionable war gone bad.
Who will have the courage and know-how to do it and do it right? Who will actually work to keep America safe, not just talk about it? I will do those things when I am in Congress.
Will we be the America that bloodies a country and then abandons it? Will we be the America that refuses to admit our mistakes and then fails to make them right? Will we be the America that puts politics ahead of people and the security of our great nation?
I say no, and again I say no.
In Congress, I will be a firm voice on the side of an honest assessment of Iraq followed by determined action to address the reality of this war gone bad, to find an honorable conclusion to it, and to find a resolution that leaves America safer.
I will not accept an administration that would leave America less secure for its own political gain.
My opponent is part of the team responsible for the mess we are in. You cannot expect to get new wine from an old bottle. You cannot expect to get new ideas from leaders who are more concerned about rationalizing their past mistakes than keeping America safe.
Mark Souder is part of the team that has failed America in Iraq. Mark Souder is part of the team that failed America when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit. That team told us all by their actions: If disaster befalls you, you are on your own.
I can.t and won't accept that kind of incompetence.
Now five years after 9/11 our leaders have yet to implement the wise, bipartisan recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.
America is less safe today. Our borders and our ports are still sieves, keeping us at risk and worsening illegal immigration. And the Homeland Security Department is a mess.
Mark Souder had the chance to seek the leadership of the House Homeland Security Committee. He ran away from it. He had the chance to really do something to protect northeast Indiana and America, but he chose to hide from an opportunity to lead.
He ducked and ran yet again.
Northeast Indiana needs a real leader, someone of courage, someone who stood to serve his country in the military when the opportunity came, someone unafraid to fight the difficult battles, someone who will put the people before political opportunity, someone who will be both tough and smart, someone who will keep his word. I pledge that I will be that voice for you in Congress.
Military leaders generally toed the line, although a few retired generals eventually spoke out from the safety of the sidelines, inciting criticism equally from anti-war types, who thought they should have spoken out while still in uniform, and pro-war foes, who thought the generals should have kept their critiques behind closed doors.
Army Gen. John Abizaid, chief of U.S.
Central Command, told a Senate Armed Services Committee in September: “I believe that the sectarian violence is probably as bad as I’ve seen it ...
and that if not stopped, it is possible that Iraq could move towards civil war.”
Last week, someone leaked to The New York Times a Central Command briefing slide showing an assessment that the civil conflict in Iraq now borders on “critical” and has been sliding toward “chaos” for most of the past year. The strategy in Iraq has been to train an Iraqi army and police force that could gradually take over for U.
S. troops in providing for the security of their new government and their nation.
This is a mistake. It is one thing for the majority of Americans to think Rumsfeld has failed. But when the nation’s current military leaders start to break publicly with their defense secretary, then it is clear that he is losing control of the institution he ostensibly leads.
These officers have been loyal public promoters of a war policy many privately feared would fail. They have kept their counsel private, adhering to more than two centuries of American tradition of subordination of the military to civilian authority.
Rumsfeld has lost credibility with the uniformed leadership, with the troops, with Congress and with the public at large.
His strategy has failed, and his ability to lead is compromised. And although the blame for our failures in Iraq rests with the secretary, it will be the troops who bear its brunt.
early '90s.
Since May is Race Month in Indiana, I thought I would pull it out of mothballs.
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