Everybody's Got to Fight to be Free: A Tribute to Tom Petty  

I originally published this in 2006. Seems fitting to republish it now:

So it's my birthday today and I can say whatever I want. I've decided to use my blog space for a little Tribute to Tom Petty. You might say I'm doing a little "Free-Fallin'."

Why Tom Petty all of a sudden, you ask? His music was playing while I was enjoying a free meal courtesy of Austin Grill, which sends me a coupon for my birthday every year, God bless 'em, and I was thinking about how much I love Tom Petty and his music.

Did I mention how much I love Tom Petty?
OK, now let me tell you why. First of all, the music's damn good. Great from-the-gut guitar riffs and fine, singable melodies that I have belted out solo on many a highway. Good old-fashioned rock-and-roll. The lyrics are straightforward, no-nonsense, straight from the heart, great stories, no frills, honest, lots of hard-won wisdom. Some people say he's ugly but I always thought he was the coolest.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the first Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers album, according to Billboard. Here are some other good reasons to love Tom Petty. And here is his official Web site.

"You don't have to live like a refugee." Happy Birthday To Me. Goodnight, Tom, wherever you are, and thanks for the music.

Jay, Glad You're Back

Bottom line: Jay Leno makes me laugh harder and more often than Conan or David. I feel bad for Conan but I know it's not Jay's fault. It was Jay's show in the first place and Conan was the one who took it from him, not the other way around. I don't blame Conan either; he was just following his own dream the same way Jay did years ago. If I had to blame anyone, it would be NBC management for trying to fix something that wasn't broken.

And who are all these misguided trolls out there dissing Jay? Did Conan's people hire a PR firm to spread disinformation, like the opposition research department of a political campaign? I sure hope not. I don't dislike Conan and I'd like to think he and his peeps are above that sort of thing. Or are they just suckered in by all the pro-CoCo propaganda being floated around, and they don't want to be confused by the facts? People should at least get the story straight. Number one: there are a lot of people who are happy to see Jay back. There's not some mass anti-Jay movement. Don't be ridiculous; most people don't even take this whole flap that seriously and have better things to do with their time than fret about What Jay Did to Conan. They'll flip on their TVs and laugh at his jokes. Anyone who's been paying any attention will blame NBC management for the whole fiasco. The facts have been known for years; Jay admitted many times that he didn't want to leave the Tonight Show. Jay doesn't owe Conan ANYTHING, certainly not the Tonight Show. Things that (should) make you go "hmmmm..."

Well Done, Randy Pausch

I knew the late Randy Pausch (of "The Last Lecture" fame) in high school, and to make a long story short, he was accurate when he said during a TV interview that he used to bother the girls. I had to think that I was among those he recalled bothering. It was jaw-dropping to discover the kid I remembered all grown up and inspiring millions. He became such a fine person and it taught me a lesson about how much someone can grow. I'm glad to see that his legacy will live on, and one day his kids will enjoy and benefit from the treasure trove of wisdom and inspiration he intentionally left for them.

Senator Al Franken

It's a great day for Minnesota and the country. I think with the passage of time, more people will see what I've seen: that Al Franken is a true public servant and a fine human being, and will prove to be an asset to his state and our nation. He is cut from Paul Wellstone cloth. He'll be on several committees, including Judiciary, Health, Indian, and Aging. Click here for a video of his victory speech. Here's a link to his 2006 movie Web site. I saw it in downtown DC (terrific movie) and Franken made a personal appearance. The movie follows him around on his senatorial campaign.

Where Have I Been?

I'm sure my reader wants to know where I've been. Well, my mother died in December and I've pretty much dropped off the face of the earth for a while. Hope to return to some semblance of normalcy and bloggerhood one of these days.

Election Map

Check out this election map from MSNBC. It'll show how the states are doing.

Joe the Plumber: Is He For Real?

Is it my imagination, or does the whole Joe the Plumber phenomenon from last night's debate seem awfully rehearsed? I heard a clip of Joe the Plumber on the radio this morning and it suddenly dawned on me: he could be a Republican planted to do what he did, not just a spontaneous passer-by like he is being portrayed. I'm just asking. It's awfully convenient, isn't it, that he happens to have a tax problem and can't buy the plumbing business he wants to buy, and somehow that is Obama's fault, right when McCain's campaign has obviously decided to focus on that issue, and that he confronted Obama right before the debate. Very conveniently timed. He might really be a plumber but he might also be a Republican strategy. I know Obama is ahead and shouldn't involve himself in this petty garbage that the McCain campaign keeps throwing out because they have nothing better, but I think the Democrats should quietly investigate what his real connections are. If you had to pick a "Joe Six-Pack" from central casting, you couldn't do a better job.

And Our Man Joe, the quintessential angry white man, conveniently played the race card so the Republican candidate doesn't have to soil his honorable hands: he said Obama is "almost as good as Sammy Davis, Jr." Ha ha ha, very funny. Not. I think they're getting worried that we might be forgetting Obama is black so they thought we needed a reminder, if John Lewis and the Reverend Wright didn't do the trick, along with Fox News's clever little article about Colin Powell dancing hip-hop in London somehow being a sign that Colin is going for Obama.

I haven't heard anyone else suggest that Joe the Plumber could be FAKE but I got a powerful gut feeling that he could be, just from hearing his lines on the radio. John McCain somehow had this guy's full name on the tip of his tongue and spent a good part of the debate talking directly to him, as strategists and pundits had recommended the candidates do in general terms (along the lines of "he should talk directly to the white guy who is worried about his job," etc.)

Things that make you go "hmmmmmm..."

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