The story of Olajide Oluwaseun Noibi, a Nigerian who flew from New York’s JFK airport to Los Angeles’ LAX with a boarding pass that was either stolen or picked out of the garbage—and was in any case completely invalid—and nothing more than a University of Michigan ID card, is, I think, all about hypnotism. [Read more →]
The day Michael Jackson’s death was reported, Yours Truly wrote a brief note:
What can you say about the American tragedy and grim parable that the Michael Jackson story represents? I’m stumped for comment. There’s just one pointless phrase that keeps repeating and repeating in my head: “Blame it on the boogie.” It was a good tune.
And it was. It can be heard and watched via YouTube below, but beware: the special effects in this video are mind-blowing, and have never been either explained or duplicated. [Read more →]
Geert Wilders has been acquitted, by a Dutch court, of various “hate” related charges, brought against him because of his unflinchingly strong criticisms of and warnings about Islam. I think that it is a reason to be glad; Europe—or at least Holland—has given one small sign that it will not meekly commit cultural suicide by the blunt instrument of political correctness.
More on the result from Robert Spencer at Jihad Watch.
A not-to-be-missed fan review of Bob Dylan’s show in England at the “Feis” festival (is that a redundancy?) on Saturday, June 18th: it’s by Trevor Townson at Bill Pagel’s website. I laughed and I cried.
Been so long since I attended one of those day-long outdoor concert type things. But not long enough.
In fairly typical if frustrating fashion, Bob Dylan seems to have treated his gig today in Israel like any other gig, not playing any special songs (e.g. “Neighborhood Bully”) or making any big pronouncements. (I think Bob believes all his songs are special.) The most amazing thing about the set list is that it is identical to the one from his show in England a couple of days ago. When was the last time Dylan played two consecutive shows with exactly the same set list? For the record this is what he played in Ramat Gan stadium today: [Read more →]
I am not endorsing Tim Pawlenty (honest!); I continue to want to see a good competition for the Republican nomination where the best candidate wins, and at this point we don’t even know what the full range of candidates will ultimately be. However, after what happened last time, I’m concerned lest the process short-circuit itself and we end up with the wrong nominee. Conservatives ought to be smarter than to go with someone who merely seems to be the smoothest, or someone who just looks the part, or someone who has been trying so long that it just seems to be his turn. [Read more →]
Bob Dylan’s concert in Tel Aviv is scheduled for tomorrow night in Ramat Gan stadium. Today the Jerusalem Post has some quotes from two artists who are opening for Dylan: Asaf Avidan and Rickie Lee Jones. Both say nice things about Dylan and their anticipation of the show. (And, contrary to early reports, and just as I thought, Rickie Lee Jones is not scheduled to sing with Dylan and his band; although she indicates she’d be glad to do so if asked.) [Read more →]
Bob Dylan’s newest concert tour kicked off yesterday in the Emerald Isle. The set list from his show in County Cork isn’t a violent departure from recent tours, but features one song that is not heard all that often: “I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine,” from the album John Wesley Harding
There are no live versions by Bob extant on YouTube, but I did just listen to this cover version by a duo calling themselves “Two Travellers at Midnight” that I think is rather nice indeed. Nothing radical, but they’re feeling it.
It’s a remarkable song.
I dreamed I saw St. Augustine
Alive as you or me
Tearing through these quarters
In the utmost misery
With a blanket underneath his arm
And a coat of solid gold
Searching for the very souls
Whom already have been sold
…
Addendum: I neglected to note that because there was no “Blowin’ in the Wind” or “Times They Are-A-Changin’” in the set list, it must be presumed that the Irish government, like the Chinese, censored Dylan in order to prevent his fierce protest songs from igniting the fury of the masses. And again, Dylan has capitulated! What can you say? He just hasn’t been the same since ’64.
