DudeAsInCool

Kerry's speech was a homerun. *** Kerry's Acceptance: 'We Have It in Our Power to Change the World Again' Published: July 29, 2004 ollowing is Senator John Kerry's speech accepting the Democratic presidential nomination last night in Boston, as recorded by The New York Times: I'm John Kerry and I'm reporting for duty. We are here tonight because we love our country. We're proud of what America is and what it can become. My fellow Americans, we're here tonight united in one purpose: to make America stronger at home and respected in the world. A great American novelist wrote that you can't go home again. He could not have imagined this evening. Tonight, I am home. Home where my public life began and those who made it possible live. Home where our nation's history was written in blood, idealism and hope. Home where my parents showed me the values of family, faith and country. Thank you. Thank you, all of you, for a welcome home I will never forget. I wish my parents could share this moment. They went to their rest in the last few years. But their example, their inspiration, their gift of open eyes, and open mind, and endless heart, and world that doesn't have an end are bigger and more lasting than any words. I was born, as some of you saw in the film, in Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Colorado, when my dad was a pilot in World War II. Now, I'm not one to read into things, but guess which wing of the hospital the maternity ward was in? I'm not kidding. I was born in the West Wing. My mother was the rock of our family as so many mothers are. She stayed up late to help me with my homework. She sat by my bed when I was sick. She answered the questions of a child who, like all children, found the world full of wonders and mysteries. She was my den mother when I was a Cub Scout and she was so proud of her 50-year pin as a Girl Scout leader. She gave me her passion for the environment. She taught me to see trees as the cathedrals of nature. And by the power of her example, she showed me that we can and must complete the march towards full equality for all women in the United States of America. My dad did the things that a boy remembers. He gave me my first model airplane, my first baseball mitt, my first bicycle. He also taught me that we are here for something bigger than ourselves. He lived out the responsibilities and sacrifices of the greatest generation to whom we owe so much. And when I was a young man, he was in the State Department, stationed in Berlin when it and the world were divided between democracy and communism. I have unforgettable memories of being a kid mesmerized by the British, French and American troops, each of them guarding their own part of the city - and Russians standing guard on that stark line separating East from West. On one occasion, I rode my bike into Soviet East Berlin. And when I proudly told my dad, he promptly grounded me. But what I learned has stayed with me for a lifetime. I saw how different life was on different sides of the same city. I saw the fear in the eyes of people who were not free. I saw the gratitude of people towards the United States for all that we had done. I felt goose bumps as I got off a military train and I heard the Army band strike up "Stars and Stripes Forever." I learned what it meant to be America at our best. I learned the pride of our freedom. And I am determined now to restore that pride to all who look to America. Mine were "greatest generation" parents. And as I thank them, we all join together to thank a whole generation for making America strong, for winning World War II, winning the cold war, and for the great gift of service which brought America 50 years of peace and prosperity. My parents inspired me to serve. And when I was in high school, a junior, John Kennedy called my generation to service. It was the beginning of a great journey - a time to march for civil rights, for voting rights, for the environment, for women, for peace. We believed we could change the world. And you know what? We did. But we're not finished. The journey isn't complete. The march isn't over. The promise isn't perfected. Tonight, we're setting out again. And together, we're going to write the next great chapter of America's story. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/29/politics...TEXT-KERRY.html

Kerry's daughters were quite eloquent and delivered strong personal stories about their father's dedication to them and to this country. The bio film and lineup of veterans and Max Cleeland were quite impressive - they did a good portray of Kerry and showed that he is a man who walks his talk.

I certainly agree, Koop, and it appears that Matthews may be off base on his thesis argument. More to the pt, even if he is right, what does that have to do with now? It makes you wonder what Matthew's beef with Sharpton is really about...

Wooohooo. Happy Birthday, man! :psychofun: :jammintwo: :jammin: :scratchin: :strumma: :Here's to you: :dancin: :frog: :frog: :frog:

lol or her 'pay day'

Gen Wesley Clarke delivered a rousing speech supporting John Kerry, suggesting he had both the experience and integrity to restore unity in this country and with the rest of the world. Pundits felt that this speech spoke to Middle America like no other.

For more information, go to the website Sunraymusic.com

:reallymad:

68.0% sexually pure (32.0% sexually corrupt); Uniqueness Factoris 31%

Huh? This writer is absolutely out of his mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What an idiot..

Edwards, Hailing Kerry, Says 'Hope Is on the Way' By ROBIN TONER and KATHARINE Q. SEELYE Published: July 29, 2004 OSTON, July 28 - Senator John Edwards, summoning all his skills as a trial lawyer and a populist, made an impassioned case for Senator John Kerry on Wednesday, hailing him as a battle-tested veteran ready to be commander in chief and a man who could restore economic hope and opportunity. "Hope is on the way," Mr. Edwards declared to a cheering Democratic National Convention. The heart of Mr. Edwards's speech was the theme he sounded throughout his primary campaign, that "we still live in a country where there are two different Americas," one for people who "are set for life," the other for "most Americans who live from paycheck to paycheck." He proudly recounted his own rise as the son of a millworker, paying tribute to his emotional parents in the convention hall, and made the case for a return to Democratic economic and domestic policies to "build one America." But Mr. Edwards, who will officially become the Democratic nominee for vice president on Thursday, also tried to make a simple but politically crucial point: that Mr. Kerry, criticized by Republicans as too risky and untested to be a wartime president, is made of sterner stuff, with strong values that he demonstrated even as a young Swift boat commander in Vietnam. [Man in the News, Page P8.] After Mr. Edwards spoke, the convention delegates proceeded through the traditional roll call of states to nominate Mr. Kerry, each state officially delivering its votes even though the nominee has been known for months. Delegates in Ohio, an important swing state, got the honor of putting Mr. Kerry over the top, with the declaration that the nominee would, in an echo of President Bill Clinton's phrase, serve "the middle-class Ohioans that get up every day, work hard and play by the rules." In a soaring tribute, Mr. Edwards said that Mr. Kerry's crewmates 35 years ago "saw up close what he's made of." He added: "They saw him reach down and pull one of his men to safety and save his life. They saw him in the heat of battle; they saw him decide in an instant to turn his boat around, drive it straight through an enemy position and chase down the enemy to save his crew. "Decisive. Strong. Is this not what we need in a commander in chief?" Rarely was the impact of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the war with Iraq more apparent on American politics, as Democrats rolled out a series of testimonials from leaders in the military establishment, comrades of Mr. Kerry from Vietnam and a chorus of elected officials. The testimony was aimed at what many consider Mr. Kerry's principal vulnerability in his fiercely competitive race with President Bush: that voters still tend to trust Mr. Bush more to keep them safe, according to polls. Mr. Edwards assured the nation that a Kerry administration would pursue terrorists. "You cannot run," Mr. Edwards said of terrorists. "You cannot hide. We will destroy you." Gen. John M. Shalikashvili, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, now retired, and one of a dozen retired top military officials who have endorsed Mr. Kerry, declared, "I stand here as an old soldier and a new Democrat." The general said that he believed in Mr. Kerry, and particularly believed that "no one will be more resolute in defending America nor in pursuing terrorists than John Kerry." In one of the evening's several implicit references to Mr. Bush's lack of combat experience, General Shalikashvili said of Mr. Kerry, "He knows from experience a commander's responsibility to his troops." When he finished, most of Mr. Kerry's leading military supporters appeared on stage in a striking tableau. Mr. Edwards's speech, while focused in part on Mr. Kerry, was also an effort to introduce himself to the American public after a meteoric six-year political rise: from successful trial lawyer to senator to one of his party's stars. He returned to the sunny populism of his unsuccessful primary campaign, even while accusing the Republicans of "doing all they can to take this campaign for the highest office in the land down the lowest possible road." He implored voters to reject what he called the "tired, old, hateful, negative politics of the past" and instead embrace the hope that he and Mr. Kerry offered. Again and again, he returned to the refrain "hope is on the way." And the Democratic delegates, who revel in economic populism as part of their party's proudest traditions, chanted along. More: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/29/politics...n.final.html?hp

:good job:

I agree. He gave a rousing speech that brought the house down. Interestingly enough, the anchors at MSNBC said it would alienate the marginal 10 percent who are critical to the election - I disagree.

I thought we ran Method's underwear thong the other day

Cable Companies Profit From Demand for High-Speed Internet By KEN BELSON Published: July 28, 2004 Cable companies, which have been weighed down for years by heavy investments and sagging subscriber growth, are starting to turn the corner. Comcast Corporation, the nation's biggest cable operator, said today that it earned $262 million in the second quarter, after losing $22 million in the same period last year, thanks to an increase in the number of customers signing up for high-speed Internet and digital video services. Comcast, based in Philadelphia, also said it would double its share buy-back program. Comcast's showing, combined with stronger sales growth reported today by Time Warner Cable, the second largest cable company, are a sign that the cable industry has started to reap the benefits from its spending and building binge started in the 1990's. The industry spent about $85 billion combined to upgrade its networks so they could offer high definition television, broadband Internet connections and telephone service. That construction is largely complete, so the companies have been introducing new products and ramping up marketing efforts to recoup their investments. You can read the full article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/28/business...28CND-CABL.html

You're bad :rotfl:

Wednesday Night appears to be military night, a continuous theme here, reminding everyone of John Kerry's military record. Here is how it's starting to shape up: The carefully scripted nominating convention was devoting much of today's events to national security issues. Gen. John M. Shalikashvili, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and one of the dozen generals and admirals to back Mr. Kerry, is to speak tonight. So, too, is Mr. Kerry's running mate, Senator John Edwards.

I forget to mention Ron Reagan Jr's speech last night on Stem Cell Research, something which the Bush administration opposes. Here is an overview from MSNBC.com: Reagan, who is a commentator for MSNBC, made an unusual appearance that he stressed “should not, must not, have anything to do with partisanship.” “I am here tonight to talk about the issue of research into what may be the greatest medical breakthrough in our or in any lifetime: the use of embryonic stem cells,” Reagan said. Reagan called for greater support for stem-cell research, which the Bush administration has sharply restricted. He argued that expanded research could help find a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, which slowly killed his father. Reagan — acknowledging that “a few of you may be surprised to see someone with my last name showing up to speak at a Democratic convention” — told delegates that such research could yield promising treatments that could “cure a wide range of fatal and debilitating illnesses: Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, lymphoma, spinal cord injuries and much more.” ****

In this week's Wednesday Morning Download column at Salon.com, musician and critic Thomas Bartlett recommends two legal MP3 blogs, and offer some free downloads from National, Faithless, Macha, the Black Keys, and an obsure band from the 70s, Johnson, Hawkins, Tatum & DurrHere. Here are some excerpts from his column: MP3 Blogs "My favorite of all the MP3 blogs is Lacunae, maintained by the excellent music critic Douglas Wolk. He posts songs from his collection of 7-inch records from the '80s and '90s, always getting permission from the original artist. The range of music he's drawing from is relatively small, but it's obscure stuff that I'd never encounter otherwise, and Wolk's comments on the tracks are always interesting and entertaining.....Largehearted Boy is a wonderful resource in the search for free music online. I'm amazed by the amount of free music this guy tracks down every day, and while not all of it is worth hearing, this Web site is a great way to start exploring. Free Dowloads "Wasp Nest," the National, from "Cherry Tree" EP This song is built around a beautiful, harmonically static guitar part, simplicity itself aside from a subtle but crucial anticipation of the beat, which gives a disjointed, fragmentary feel, never allowing any momentum to build up..... I heard this song for the first time a little more than a week ago, and I've been listening to it obsessively ever since, finding it more powerfully moving on each repeat play. The rest of the National's "Cherry Tree," released on the excellent Brassland label, is just as good, some of the best stuff I've heard this year. Free Download: "Wasp Nest" "Mass Destruction," Faithless, from "No Roots" It's been noted many times that the war in which we are embroiled has lacked for memorable or, more to the point, popular protest songs. There's nothing quite that inflammatory in Faithless' "Mass Destruction," but it does contain a measured, logical and humane response to the current global crisis -- set, happily, to a propulsive, radio-friendly beat. The song has already been a hit in the U.K., and if you close your eyes and pretend that Clear Channel doesn't exist, you can almost imagine its being a hit here as well. "Smash & Grab," Macha, from "Forget Tomorrow" Most of the reviews I've read of Athens, Ga.-based Macha's upcoming "Forget Tomorrow" have been of the "I liked their old stuff better" variety. Never having heard the band's other records, I had no expectations for this one and found it enjoyable, if not particularly unusual. "The Lengths," Black Keys, from "Rubber Factory" The guitar sound on the Black Keys' upcoming "Rubber Factory" is spectacular: a filthy, seething keen that's always, ominously, just on the edge of feeding back. Despite my distinct aversion to blues-rock of the "Yeah man, this f---ing rocks so hard!" variety, it's hard not to appreciate the visceral energy of this music and to admit that maybe it does kind of f---ing rock so hard, man. "You Can't Blame Me," Johnson, Hawkins, Tatum & Durr, from "Eccentric Soul: The Capsoul Label" This song was recorded in 1971 for Capsoul, a small label based in Columbus, Ohio, by the awkwardly named Johnson, Hawkins, Tatum & Durr. (Capsoul's owner, Bill Moss, apparently thought it would roll off the tongue like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.) "You Can't Blame Me" was a regional hit, but soon after soon after its release the band split up, the label folded, and it was just another out-of-print 45, of interest only to collectors. That's unfortunate, because this is a spectacular song, of searing intensity. Luckily we're able to hear this song now, thanks to a beautifully packaged compilation of 19 Capsoul singles by the Numero Group, my vote for the most exciting new label of the year. You can read Bartlett's full review and download the free songs at Salon.com after viewing a short ad for NARAL on women's rights: http://www.salon.com/ent/music/review/wmd/...logs/index.html

Philharmonic Tests a Stage Thrust Into the Audience By ROBIN POGREBIN Published: July 28, 2004 In the continuing quest for an Avery Fisher Hall with better acoustics, the New York Philharmonic and Lincoln Center are experimenting with a stage that would put the orchestra in the center of the auditorium surrounded by seats. After its merger with Carnegie Hall fell through last year, the Philharmonic decided to pursue a major overhaul of Avery Fisher Hall in the existing structure. Building the stage out could simplify the renovation, allowing the Philharmonic to reduce its fund-raising burden and avoid being displaced during construction. "It is a promising experiment," said Reynold Levy, president of Lincoln Center. "We have been working together to think through the best configuration." http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/28/arts/mus...U8xx4cHdCNlf6Bg

Here's a random review at Amazon, from Spectre316: Am I the only person out there that really thinks this album is amazing and one of the best TMBG albums? Come on, people! The Spine is loads better than Mink Car, their rather disappointing last album (not counting the children-only project No!). Mink Car itself isn't really bad at all; it's just when you compare Mink Car track by track to their other releases, it sort of falls apart. The Spine is like a gift from the heavens for me. Although somewhat short, it's only about five minutes shorter than any of their other albums (well, except for John Henry). And besides, for the scant amount of time you get, you get many amazing songs. Probably their most cohesive album, The Spine is ripe with brilliant ideas, inventive instrumentation, interesting (and, unlike most of Mink Car, catchy) songwriting, flawless production (not overproduced nor underproduced), and hooks big enough to catch Willy the killer whale (lame joke, I know). It's fun to listen to, fun to sing along to, fun to dance to, fun to do anything to. I'm confounded on why it's been getting so many negative notices from varying websites. For me, the only somewhat lackluster song is Prevenge. Other than that... well, I'm in love. Easily their best release since the also underrated Factory Showroom. *** You can listen to free samples here at the band's site: http://www.theymightbegiants.com/

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Two Pepper Sprayed Over Phone Call At Fla. Movie Pair Arrested At Theater July 27, 2004 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- A college student who took a cell phone call from her mother in a movie theater was pepper sprayed by an officer and charged with disorderly conduct, along with her boyfriend. http://www.local6.com/news/3581522/detail.html

#*&$*$(&$&&$ Greeks! j/k

Im gonna try and check this out...