Walt's Blog of Music, Politics, & Life

2009-03-23T12:42:00.002-05:00

I saw this on one of the political blogs that I keep track of, and HAD to spread it around. Funny stuff!!!

2009-02-10T13:00:00.003-05:00

I see that the Metropolitan Opera has scheduled an opera by Shostakovich this next season. It's a satirical opera called "The Nose." More about the opera can be found here...

I think "The Nose" is an inspired pick!

2009-01-20T09:50:00.004-05:00

Wow, it's been a long time!

Anyway, I'm TOTALLY psyched for the Inauguration today. As I write this, "W" only has another 2 hours left as Preznit. We will get our 44th President, a skinny black guy with a funny name. I'm planning on watching the Inauguration on TV, which I can't recall ever being motivated enough to do before. This one, however, will be historic, something I want to be able to tell my grandkids about some day. It got me thinking about moments in history that I've witnessed on the TV, and I think the pending Inauguration of Barack Obama ranks right up there with these other moments of televised history...

The Beatles on Ed Sullivan
Neal Armstrong stepping onto the Moon
9/11

Anyway, that's my own personal list of history that I've witnessed on the flickering screen. Anybody else got ones to share?

2008-04-11T12:06:00.004-05:00

What is it with right-wing morons? I regularly read and post to a politics blog run by the local newspaper. Whenever I make a post that these troglodytes don't agree with, instead of rebutting it with actual facts (admittedly hard to do, since most of my posts are already fact-based), they go right into personal attacks. Copyright violation accusations, starved for human interaction, and on & on. The worst of all, is when they say I stink at playing the trombone. Low blow. (Ha ha, I made a trombone pun!)

Well for all of you moronic, FauxNews watching, pro-war cheerleading sheeple, I have only this to say- "Fuck you." It's a free country, with actual right of free speech guaranteed by our Constitution. If you don't like what I have to say, try to use the few remaining brain cells you have left functioning, and come up with an actual coherent fucking argument. If you can't do that, why don't YOU guys go move to France, or something. You know, the old "Love it , or leave it" line. I actually don't believe in that last bit. Instead, just don't read my stuff. Or, read it, say to yourself "Geez, I don't agree with that." and just let it go.

BTW, I post under the name WaltTrombone, and supply a link to my website. I'm not the one hiding behind an anonymous pseudonym, trashing other people's posts in between surfing the net for free porn sites, eating Cheetos, and wondering whether you should make a truck payment or an alimony payment.

Keep it up with the personal insults, and I'll give it right back. Just so long as you realize that, in a battle of the minds, you are hopelessly unarmed. Think you can keep up with me, go ahead the comments, as always are open. Unlike, for instance, on the blog put out by the pro-war Republican candidate fr Congress in the district where I live. I'm sure he doesn't even dare open comments up, because the stuff he spouts is about as ill-informed and out of touch with reality as it gets. Keeps spouting off about war and bravery, but he can't get up the nerve to solicit comments from the very people he wants to represent. Here's news for ya- If you can't be bothered to listen to ALL the people in the district, you don't fucking deserve to be their Congressman.

You think I'm a vulgar pottymouth? Too fucking bad.

2008-03-03T15:33:00.000-05:00

Proof that the surge is working in Iraq!!!

Why just this past Sunday, a well known head of state came to Baghdad on a 2 day visit that was announced long before his arrival. He travelled in a normal limousine, not a heavily armored vehicle. Instead of staying in the heavily fortified Green Zone, he stayed in one of Saddam's former palaces, and met openly with Iraq's President Talibani at the first official state reception of a foreign leader in Iraq.

Why, who could this paragon of confidence in the surge be? Could it be our own Commander-in-Chief, George W., who has led us to this shining moment?

Actually, it's the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, also known as President I'm-mad-in-the-head. WTF? So, we need to stay in Iraq to make things safe, only they're not safe for Americans, just Iranians?

Way to go, W!

2008-02-01T16:05:00.000-05:00

This is gonna be great!

Just in the last few days, when it seems like John McCain will be the anointed candidate of the GOP, it seems that he doesn't appeal to some of the right's minions. Michelle Malkin and Ann Coulter have each said that they would rather vote for Hillary Clinton than McCain. Rush Limbaugh says this signals the demise of the Republican Party. The National Review staff is in a tizzy.

It seems that they think that McCain is not conservative enough. They don't like that he doesn't want to deport all the brown people that are here cutting our lawns, working at McDonalds, processing our meats and produce. How far towards Joe McCarthy do you have to be to please these bloviating harpies?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of McCain. There was a time, back before the 2000 election, when I really respected him, and could have even voted for him. Then, Karl Rove and his evil minions started push polling in the SC primary, calling up potential voters, and asking them loaded "survey" questions. Ones that suggested that he had an illegitimate black child and that his wife was an addict. I don't know about you, but I would have totally went after anyone who smeared my family like that. Instead, he ends up endorsing Bush, and later embraces him publicly. Now, McCain is little more than Bush without the mispronunciations, total policy suckup to W. Some TV commentators recently characterized McCain's platform as "less jobs, more war."

So, anyway, sit tight and fasten your seatbelt, it's gonna be a bumpy ride for the GOP. (Not that I'm complaining...)

Pass the popcorn, please...

Schadenfreude, anyone?

2007-11-16T10:07:00.000-05:00

Long time, no blog!

So, anyway, I am a published arranger now! My arrangement of Christmas tunes for tuba quartet is now being published by Cimarron Press. Yay!

One thing about it that is stuck in my craw...

It started out with the name Tuba Christmas Medley, which was my working title for it. A few weeks after the release, my publisher gets a letter from the Harvey Phillips Foundation, the folks that run the TubaChristmas events. I'm not a big fan of these, mostly because there are too many non-tuba players who show up at these things carrying a tuba that they have never played before. Add in the HS kids who only know how to blat. OK, so it's not my thing, but it's cool that the tuba gets some exposure. It's not like I HAVE to do them. I'm usually lucky enough to be WORKING the days that the local ones are held. I sure as heck ain't gonna turn down work for a freebie.

So, Harvey, or somebody in his inner circle, gets lawyered up, and sends Cimarron a letter alleging Trademark infringement, because we dared to use the word tuba in front of the word Christmas. Cimarron and I contend no infringement, since Harvey owns the trademark on TUBACHRISTMAS (That's just how it's listed on the register of trademarks, BTW.), said trademark to be used for "entertainment, namely organizing festivals featuring musical performances." (A direct quote from the tm registration.)

So, how does the title of a musical selection infringe or deny Harvey's events? So, anyway, because it would be more money than it's worth to fight them on this, the title of the piece is now "Christmas Medley for Tubas."

Speaking of money...

I once played at a Goldman Band concert with a tuba ensemble, in honor of Harvey Phillips. After the performance, I went up to Harvey and thanked him for everything he had done to promote the tuba. (I'm getting to the money part, patience...)

I take it back, no more thanks for Harvey, because, with this petty little incident, it all becomes clear to me now. Harvey is only interested in promoting Harvey, and any notice for the tuba is merely secondary.

2007-06-23T20:06:00.000-05:00

Ok, so, like, my 13 year old daughter, like, went on a date yesterday? And, like, the young lad is, like, super-polite, and keeps calling me, like, "Sir?" Like, I was just so, like, blown away! (The young lad in question is 17, so he's going to have to do a lot more than call me Sir to get on my good side anyway.)

But, dude, if you really want to, like, get on her Dad's good side, like, don't wear a Hooters t-shirt. I'm just sayin'...

2007-01-25T11:45:00.000-05:00

OK, I wrote last week about someone on the GOP side looking to adjourn and cut out of work early. Well, this week it happened again, but on WEDNESDAY! See the vote details here...
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/house/1/votes/55/

So, does anyone know- "Who's the lazy mofo who keeps bringing up these motions?" That way, we can toss their slacker ass out in the next House elections...

2007-01-21T21:14:00.000-05:00

So Hillary's in the race? Good for her! I was sorta hoping that she would choose NOT to run, but only because I know all the nastiness that's on it's way. I guess she's a big girl, and is ready for it. Go Hillary/Obama '08!!!

2007-01-19T15:26:00.000-05:00

I found an interesting little quote from Founding Father James Madison. Hmmm, this doesn't sound TOO much like, let me go out on a limb here...the Bush Administration?

"If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy."

James Madison, author of the BILL OF RIGHTS (some of us still remember those rights!), 4th President of the US. One of my new heroes...

2007-01-18T21:56:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I know, it's been a while! Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a good holiday season.

I just had a good laugh looking at John Hall's voting record. (BTW, congrats to Congressman Hall for beating Runaway Sue Kelly, our former rep!) Some background as to my amusement... The old GOP-controlled Congress got very used to their old work schedule, wherein they basically only met from Tuesday to Thursday. A 3 day work week???!!! How do I get one of them jobs? Anyway, just before lunchtime today (a Thursday,) someone, probably a Republican, made a motion to adjourn. Obviously looking to leave work early, head home, do some fishing, or whatever... When put to a vote, that motion was shot down pretty much along party lines. No- 233, Yes- 184. Sorry boys, Speaker Pelosi (I LIKE the sound of that!) said you should expect to work Monday-Friday just like the rest of us, and by gum, that's what you're gonna do!

In other news, I'm back playing in the Iona College Pep Band. The music is as fun as ever, but the team is, how to put this diplomatically, lacking in the experience necessary to put a complete game together. Their record now stands at 0-17, having just tonight lost to Canisius, 72-65 in OT. Their free throw percentage is around a miserable 30-40%, and they have too many turnovers. Last years team went to the NCAAs, but 4 out of 5 starters graduated, and this years team has had some injuries and academics sideline key players. If they could get the free throws happening, that alone would make up most of the margins they've been losing by.

That's all for now! I'll try to post a bit more often, stay tuned, and feel free to drop me a note to nag me if I let too much time go by!

2006-11-04T20:31:00.000-05:00

Recently, Sue Kelly made an actual public appearance, at the dedication of the new control tower at Stewart "International" Airport. (International is merely a grandiose wish, as no international flights currently fly into or out of Stewart.) Standing next to Sue in this Times Herald-Record photo is Mr. Charles (Chuck) Seliga, President and COO of Stewart Airport. Sue touts on her website that she pushed through federal funds for several projects at Stewart. Mr. Seliga, according to FEC records, gave Sue $1000 in November 2003, and lo and behold, Sue announces in July 2004 that she has gotten $1 million towards improvements at Stewart.

Since then, Mr. Seliga has given more money to Sue, $500 in August 2005, $500 in May 2006, and $500 in August 2006, for a grand total of $2500 to Sue. Mr. Seliga has also given $1000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee, back in May 2005. Coincidentally, ( or not?) Sue has been touting the millions of OUR dollars that she has directed into infrastructure improvements (the tower, access road, runway improvements) at Stewart.

What's the beef, you may ask? Don't you want the flying public to be safe, or have a pleasant flying experience? Well, yes I do, but consider this fact- Every other airport in the US is owned or run by some facet of local/state government, but NOT Stewart. That's right, Stewart is the ONLY privately owned passenger airport in the US. So, essentially, our tax dollars are going to improve a private corporation's facility, and hence, it's bottom line. Whose bottom line, you may ask? National Express Group PLC, of England, is the parent company currently holding the lease at Stewart. Apparently, their bottom line isn't good enough, because they are currently looking to unload Stewart. So far, no takers. So, our money goes into what is essentially a dead horse, to help sweeten the deal for any prospective buyer. Kinda like those shows on HGTV, where they fix up a home to make it more sellable. Not so sweet a deal, considering that very few flights go to or from Stewart, practically no direct flights to anywhere folks might want to go. Sue probably doesn't ever use Stewart herself, since there are no direct flights from Stewart to Washington DC that I could find.

From the Times Herald-Record, Feb. 9, 2006-
"There's a new control tower that's almost done and terminal renovations going on behind the scenes. A new hotel will be built on the airport approach road and airport operator National Express says more projects like that may be in the pipeline. And airport officials are trying to get federal funds to build an international terminal, to enable foreign charter flights to come and go.

Yes, there's a lot going on our local airport these days, and it's moving Stewart in the right direction, said marketing director Tanya Vanasse.

"I think we'll have a lot of accomplishments this year," she said. "I think we'll move ourselves forward quite a long way from where we are now."

Now, if they can just get some of those pesky airlines to set up shop here ...

Airport officials say they're working on it, doggedly, but that the airline industry is in a tough spot right now and few carriers are expanding."

The tower, approach road (Drury Lane), and other renovations have already been paid for, and Stewart is looking for more federal handouts for an international terminal, for passengers that the airlines will NOT be bringing here? Public sentiment is also against the type of expansion that Sue is pushing for, since we here in the 19th don't want a replica of LaGuardia or JFK here in the Hudson Valley. Nor do we want the increase in noise, pollution, and traffic that such an airport expansion would bring. I think I can speak for most Hudson Valley residents in saying that , if we wanted to live in Queens near LaGuardia, we'd be living in Queens! (Nothing against Queens, I like visiting friends there. Just not rural enough for my taste...) An airport that, remember this, is privately owned.

Mr. Seliga seems to have gotten a good deal for Stewart. $3500, in return for millions of our dollars. From what I can tell, Mr. Seliga does not seem to be otherwise motivated to contribute to the political process at all, because, other than his contributions to Sue and the NRCC, he has not made any other donations to any other candidates, according to the FEC. Quid pro quo? Just a coincidence? Two more days to decide if Sue REALLY is looking out for us. I decided long ago...

2006-09-09T20:12:00.000-05:00

A quote to make your day...

“For us to get American military personnel involved in a civil war inside Iraq would literally be a quagmire”
Dick Cheney, in 1991.

So, Dick, and I mean that in so many senses of the word dick, how's that working out for you? Ready to take that Stay the Course crap and shove it? What a fucking putz...

2006-08-22T21:08:00.000-05:00

My oldest daughter, Rebecca, had us in stitches at the dinner table tonight. She told us "Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. Then, if they don't like what you say, you're a mile away from them, and you have some new shoes."

Priceless pearls of wisdom from the tweens...

2006-08-19T15:06:00.000-05:00

Just found this site, I must say that I agree 100%. Not that I'm against anyone expressing their own support of the troops, it's just that saying it doesn't make it so. Get off your butt and actually DO something. I've sent goodie bags to Iraq, written emails to troops, supported the troops by trying to get them home (the best way to support them, IMHO!), and I've volunteered playing Taps at veteran's funerals. What have you done besides put a magnet on your car, then go about your daily life?

2006-07-18T10:46:00.000-05:00

"Regime change in Iraq would bring about a number of benefits for the region. …Extremists in the region would have to rethink their strategy of jihad. Moderates throughout the region would take heart, and our ability to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process would be enhanced."— Vice President Dick Cheney, Aug. 26, 2002

So, Dick, how's that working out? Asshole...

(Thanks to subgenius.com for the pic...)

2006-06-27T10:22:00.000-05:00

So, Rush Limbaugh got caught with some Viagra in his luggage that was not prescribed for him. A plethora of things pop into my mind...

1- Who would want to have sex with Rush? Ewww, I'm feeling queasy...
2- Rush likes to preach a strict moral code on behalf of the GOP, but sex outside marriage is OK?
3- Didn't he learn from getting busted for his oxycontin use?
4- I hope this is considered a violation of his plea bargain, and they send him off to the clink.

,,,and my favorite image, one totally at odds with the manly image Rush likes to portray...

5- Rush needs help getting it up! ROTFLMAO!!!!!

2006-06-23T11:07:00.000-05:00

So, just to let all know that I did NOT get arrested while playing at the Merchant Marine Academy graduation! Bush was the feaured speaker, in case you hadn't heard or guessed. Same old song & dance, Iraq, terror, freedom, Iran, blah, blah, blah... One graduate, an underacheiver, like the C-in-C, gave W a big bear hug after getting his diploma. The kid took 6 years to get through a 4 year program, I'd have been delirious myself at graduation. I would have refused to shake his hand, if it were me in his place, though. It's really hard to play the tuba while biting your tongue, did you know that? I had toyed with the idea of turning the gig down, but the $$$ were more in line with a Halliburton contract. I can be bought, or at least rented. If I had turned down the job, nobody would have cared anyway. You've got to choose your battles, and getting paid is always a better alternative to sitting home for free. (especially in Bush's economy...)

One interesting thing I noticed this morning... One common spelling for W is Dubya, as you may know. Ever notice that your spell-checker wants to correct Dubya to Dubai? Coincidence? Perhaps not...

One last Bush bash for today, courtesy of Comedy Central's Joke of the Day...

One day George W. went out to dinner with a Jewish friend. The friend recommended a kosher place nearby.
They arrived and Dubya's friend ordered them both the house specialty: matzo ball soup. The waiter brought the bowls and George looked at the soup suspiciously, but his friend urged him to try at least one taste. So he took a bite of matzo ball and slurped some soup and clearly liked it.

After Dubya was finished he said, "Mmm mmm, that was good! But tell me, do you Jewish folks eat other parts of the matzo, or just the balls?"

2006-06-15T10:12:00.000-05:00

Busy weekend for music coming up! Friday night, the Bensen-Scott Big Band is doing a wedding. Saturday finds me hopping a bus up to Queensbury, NY (near Lake George, about 2.5 hrs. one way) for the Hudson Valley Volunteer Firemen's Parade. That one is with the always fun Tappan Zee Bridgemen, and we're actually marching in the parade twice! On Father's Day, Sunday, I won't be sitting by the pool, drinking beer, but playing euphonium in the Bronx with the Lehman College Community Band.

But wait, there's more! Monday morning, at the ungodly hour of 6:30, I have to be at the US Merchant Marine Academy graduation. It's an early start because of security procedures for a certain mucky-muck. One whose name has been mentioned here many times before... I won't mention his name, because I don't want to be strip-searched when I get there. It'll be a pain enough getting through security with a tuba, I'm sure. Also hard to play the tuba whilst biting one's tongue. I promised my wife I wouldn't do anything to get arrested.

More details next time...

2006-05-30T09:19:00.000-05:00

I saw this on EvilBible.com, and had to share...

Top Ten Signs You're a Fundamentalist Christian

10 - You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours.

9 - You feel insulted and "dehumanized" when scientists say that people evolved from other life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt.

8 - You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem believing in a Triune God.

7 - Your face turns purple when you hear of the "atrocities" attributed to Allah, but you don't even flinch when hearing about how God/Jehovah slaughtered all the babies of Egypt in "Exodus" and ordered the elimination of entire ethnic groups in "Joshua" including women, children, and trees!

6 - You laugh at Hindu beliefs that deify humans, and Greek claims about gods sleeping with women, but you have no problem believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god who got killed, came back to life and then ascended into the sky.

5 - You are willing to spend your life looking for little loopholes in the scientifically established age of Earth (few billion years), but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by Bronze Age tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing that Earth is a few generations old.

4 - You believe that the entire population of this planet with the exception of those who share your beliefs -- though excluding those in all rival sects - will spend Eternity in an infinite Hell of Suffering. And yet consider your religion the most "tolerant" and "loving."

3 - While modern science, history, geology, biology, and physics have failed to convince you otherwise, some idiot rolling around on the floor speaking in "tongues" may be all the evidence you need to "prove" Christianity.

2 - You define 0.01% as a "high success rate" when it comes to answered prayers. You consider that to be evidence that prayer works. And you think that the remaining 99.99% FAILURE was simply the will of God.

1 - You actually know a lot less than many atheists and agnostics do about the Bible, Christianity, and church history - but still call yourself a Christian.

2006-05-26T13:43:00.000-05:00

I just thought this was a great picture!!! (I have no idea WHO it is, don't ask!)

2006-05-25T13:51:00.000-05:00

Don't get me started...

2006-05-14T09:40:00.000-05:00

Quote of the Day

Here was today's Quote from my Mac's Desktop Widget...

"First and last, what is demanded of genius is love of truth."
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I guess that explains the vast intellect and the lies...

2006-05-11T11:54:00.000-05:00

Jazz Band gig coming up!

I'll be performing (playing lead) with the Wednesday Night Big Band on Wed., May 17, @ New Rochelle HS. The band is part of the Adult Education courses offered in New Rochelle. The HS Big Band will be opening up the concert at 7:30, we'll be going on around 8:15. Admission is the ever-popular FREE. Come on by and say hello, if you're in the neighborhood. Email me if you need directions...

The players are not famous (including me), and come from all walks of life. There are retired surgeons, dentists, schoolteachers, artists, and guys with current day gigs like teachers, accountants, lawyers. It aint Woody Herman's Herd, but we can hold our own, and it's a fun bunch to hang out with every Wednesday night!