Check out the songs: Spinning Compass (iTunes) or Rebel Side of Heaven (iTunes).

Free Daytrotter Session Tracks.

 (Image links to Amazon MP3)

Happy Thanksgiving and don’t knock me over on Black Friday.

1. Give A Little Love - Rilo Kiley
2. Give Me What I Want - The Donnas
3. Never Give Up - Melissa Ferrick
4. American Girl - Tom Petty
5. Got to Give it Up - Marvin Gaye
6. The Gift that Keeps Giving - Supper Furry Animals
7. Can’t Give Up - Sebadoh
8. Rainy Day Parade - Jill Sobule
9. America - Throwing Muses
10. We’re An American Band - Yo La Tengo
11. If I Could Give You More - Harry Connick
12. American Car - Mike Doughty
13. Pilgrim - Josh Rouse
14. Do Miss America - Ryan Adams
15. American Crawl - Dave Garza
16. Rose Parade - Elliott Smith
17. American Terrorist - Lupe Fiasco
18. Indian Summer - Chris Whitley
19. Don’t Give Up - Peter Gabriel
20. Parade - Lucious Jackson

Robert Urich was Spenser - he said before his untimely death that it was his favorite role. I read all of the books, and as I read them, it was as if the role was written for him. When the show was cancelled (in part due to the high cost of filming on scene in Boston - part of the show’s character), he went on a tour to try and revive it. There were 3 post cancellation movies that were good, but by then, it was gone.

Then there was Hawk, played with a fevered heat by Avery Brooks - he wasn’t a bad guy, but he certainly wasn’t good. To this day I want a six series BMW like Hawk drove and to look as good in sunglasses and a shaved head. And even though he was a thug, he was a smart guy and was principled.

What Parker did was take the stereotype, and turn it on it’s head. The P.I. that quoted poetry, kicked ass, solved the mystery, and made it home in time to cook dinner for his girl. If only I could literally kick ass.

I’m not sure if the show would hold up to watching it some 20 years later. Some shows are better left to the memory (as I found out with Magnum).

I’ll have to let you know - I can’t own the DVDs, but AOL Video does have Spenser for Hire on demand. Let’s hope I don’t ruin the memory.

Quite the opposite. Everything seems to pale in comparison. Everything seems to be less important. I only half joke about 2012 - but I can wait.

One thing I haven’t done is formally thank all the guest bloggers for participating. I truly believe it helped. It was our own little piece. I am happy we had a chance to make A Rubber Door more of a community; less me talking at everyone, and more talking with people.

I’ve thought about changing this blog to arubberdoor.com and making it a group blog, but I realize how much of a commitment that would be, and at least with my blog if it’s silent I have no one to blame but myself. That said, I will make it a normal practice to invite others to write here. And maybe some will decide to slum it here.

Thanks to (in order of appearance):

• Howard - The Web Pen Blog
• Grace
• Radiocynic
• Howard Hall -  
• Jack
• Joey - the 49 Percenter
• Cynicsgirl - The Suburban Masquerade
• Merujo - Church of the Big Sky
• Kristen - Abbondanza!
• Michael Penn

Ladies and Gentlemen, there lies the fate of the big three U.S. automakers: Chrysler, Ford, and GM; and I say let them die.

The CEOs of the big three along with their potential partner in crime, the head of the United Auto Workers union, showed up to beg the U.S. government for more money. It didn’t go well. Due to years of mismanagement, greed, arrogance, these automakers are no competition to the likes of Honda and Toyota. Add that to the fat cat contracts the UAW backed them into signing, they can’t do anything about it.

Congress should turn them away and tell them to figure it out on their own. If they can’t, then it’s capitalist darwinism. Everyone knows the arguments as to why they shouldn’t get any help - building more and more SUVs while Toyota was building hybrids. Fighting against increased fuel standards. Building cars with laughable quality. In short, they’ve made poor business decision after poor business decision. But that isn’t the reason they shouldn’t get help. The government was at least complicit in their failure by bowing to the pressure of lobbyist, and not leading. No the reason they don’t deserve help is that they haven’t changed, therefore any money we give them is good money after bad.

Why do I say they haven’t improved?

Fuel Efficiency

Toyota is prepping their third generation of the Prius, sells a hybrid Highlander, along with subcompacts like the Yaris and Scion XD.  Honda has the Civic Hybrid, a hydrogen car, and a lineup of cars known for their fuel efficiency. The americans are rushing to catch up. Ford: one hybrid car, the Ford Escape SUV (with it’s Toyota engine) and another on the way.  GM are all giant SUVs like the Cadillac Escalade or mild hybrids (which means they get slightly better mileage than a regular car). Chrysler? They barely have a fuel efficient car, much less a hybrid.  Their first two hybrids will be the mega-SUVs the Durango and the Aspen.

Quality

American cars get a bad rap - I drive a Mercury Milan, a Ford product that gets great reviews for quality, that said, the good cars are few and far between. Case in point, the Dodge Avenger - built to take advantage of consumer’s penchant for retro styling, it looks great. It also has been recalled 6 times in it’s first year.  And it’s equipment isn’t any better - a sporty looking car that comes with drum brakes? Buying this car is a waste of money. And while American cars are better, it’s faulty praise due to the history of American cars (look up the Ford Pinto).

It’s time the federal government take the training wheels off of the bike. We need to let these companies compete without on even ground, and if they can’t, then they fail. Continuing to prop them up after they make bad business decisions only guarantees that they will continue to make bad business decisions. I believe that these companies can become relevant again, but they need to get smaller, faster, and smarter. This won’t happen with the safety net they now have.

Here’s Throwing Muses most known song “Bright Yellow Gun”. (I cringe about the “Bright Yellow Gun” t-shirt I often wore to work). Kristin Hersh is doing her snake charmer dance proud here.

Throwing Muses is touring again and will be at The World Cafe Live Tuesday, March 10, 2009.

How amazing? It nearly brought me to tears again, that’s how amazing. Now I get to look at it with a new eye. A comment I left in response to another person’s comment, seemed to sum up my feelings. Here is that comment (edited a bit to make sense contextually).

I just watched “the speech” one more time. And I was struck by the following passages:

“In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let’s resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.

Let’s remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.

Those are values that we all share. And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.

As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.

And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.”

And this:

“But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years — block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.”

It is this very attitude that sold me on President Obama way back in January. The singular thought that if we as Democrats were able to win the White House, that it was our obligation to remember that as President, you are not the leader of the red states or blue states, but the United States (I know - his words).

The feeling of irrelevancy that the Bush administration forced me into, was the worst effect of his Presidency. So bad that I don’t wish it on Republicans. Assigning the status of irrelevant to half the country, is not good for us as a nation, and is among the many reasons we find ourselves in the situation we’re in.

With all that - Obama has so many hopes riding on his Presidency. He has lesser room for failure than any President has every had. But he has something else no other President since JFK can claim - he’s captured the imagination of people that have never felt part of anything ever before. It’s that passion that he must take advantage of if we are to succeed at this stated mission.

Click here if you would like to comment

Change.gov: The Office of the President-elect

Yesterday I volunteered and it allowed me to see people passionately go about their civic duty. It was satisfying to see so many people look past our candidates race and his Muslim sounding last name, to make an inspired choice. A choice that is all about fixing what’s wrong than it is about keeping things the same. It shows that this country is ready for the woman, muslim, jewish, hispanic, asian, or other candidate. It is the example that we all needed to show what is possible.

I have no doubt that there will be times that President Obama will disappoint me. It will be those times that I remember that he is there because he has the daunting responsibility of ruling to a divided country, but that it was this divided country that made him President. It was this very point that made me an Obama supporter - that after eight years of a administration that ignored half of the country, it was time to have a President that respected all opinions, regardless of whether or not he agreed.

Here’s some election information. Be prepared to wait - I’ve heard first hand of some long waits especially in swing states. Going midday, if you can, is recommended but if you can’t, bring something to pass the time, your iPod, a book, a newspaper, etc.  If the weather is poor in your area, then bring an umbrella or wear a poncho.

As Michael Penn stated in song “The line is long but worth the ride”.

———————

Election 2008 Voting Information

Today, November 4th, is Election Day! Remember to vote—not just for Barack Obama, but for Congressional, state, and local candidates as well.

Where and when do I vote?

Find your polling place, voting times, and other important information by checking out these sites and the hotline below. These resources are good, but not perfect. To be doubly sure, you can also contact your local elections office.

• Obama’s VoteForChange site: voteforchange.com
• League of Women Voters’ site: vote411.org/pollfinder.php
• Obama’s voter hotline: 877-US4-OBAMA (877-874-6226)

What should I do before I go?

• After you’ve entered your address on either Vote For Change or Vote411, read the voting instructions and special rules for your state.
• Voting ID laws vary from state to state, but if you have ID, bring it.
• Check out all the voting myths and misinformation to look out for: http://truth.voteforchange.com/

What if something goes wrong?

• Not on the voter list? Make sure you’re at the right polling place, then demand a provisional ballot.
• If you’re voting on an electronic machine with a paper record, verify that the record is accurate.
• Need legal help? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE.
• If you encounter a problem, try to videotape the situation and submit it to VideoTheVote.org

Want to do more?

• Text all of your friends: “Vote Obama today! Pass it on!”
• Volunteer at your local Obama office. Find an office here or here.

Now, everybody go vote!!!

Michael and I have talked all through this election - all the way back to the very early primary days and here we are a day before we finally get to have our voice. You have one more day to make a difference - call your friends - volunteer to make calls - write something on your blog. Any or all of the above will help put an end to 8 years of mediocrity and start to recover from the damage done to our economy, our world standing, and the fabric of this country: the citizens of this great country.

When you get into the booth tomorrow - pull the lever for Barack Obama and Joe Biden and as Michael states: “Get in on the landslide”

———————-

the-count-of-pennsylvania (right click and "Save As" to save an MP3 to your computer)

The Count of Pennsylvania

by Michael Penn

The Count of Pennsylvania never left the commonwealth
he loiters in the alley like a shadow of his former self
cast against the brick and mortar
through smoke from pipes and stacks
one more for the listmakers
a statistician’s artifact
a victim of amphetamines,
of cogs and things that let off steam
a market for a cold machine that left him in-between
the customers and soldiers you divide
but it’s rising up, a high tide
stretching out so far and wide
the line is long but worth the ride
so get in on the landslide
get in on the landslide

—————
Michael Penn’s best of can be found here: Palms & Runes, Tarot And Tea: A Michael Penn Collection
—————-
Links to the rest of the Not Spencer 2008 campaign series can be found here.

——————————–

It has been a long road through this Presidential Election season. There are many ways to slice and dice the positions of the candidates, but the socialism controversy exposes a fundamental difference between the two:  As a society, are we to act as our brother’s keeper, or is it every man for himself?

McCain’s latest ads say a vote for him is a vote for “keeping what is [mine].”  That’s the attitude that got us into this mess.  Looking out for number one is the reason so many Americans have no healthcare coverage, owe money on predatory loans, and can’t make enough money to keep their families afloat.  The free market ways of McCain and Bush and their cronies have been a proven disaster. 

When McCain raises the specter of socialism while lying about tax increases you can supposedly expect under an Obama administration, he’s stoking people’s fear of a welfare state.  Most people in this country aren’t looking for a handout, though.  They’re just looking for a fair shake. 

Right now, the system is set up to enrich people at the top, and destroy the middle class.  Too many people need to work multiple jobs to make ends meet these days.  It didn’t used to be that way.  The promise of America, the dream of working hard and saving money and achieving something, if not for you then for your kids, seems to be dying.  There are no opportunities to get ahead.  And even when the big wigs fail, they fail up to bigger positions, larger bonuses, and government bailouts that they use to enrich themselves further.

McCain’s tax ideas once again trust corporate America and the free market system to take care of those deemed worthy.  This is no way to move forward. 

For the average person, this basically boils down to a tax debate.  I’ve never been a big fan of taxes.  If you had asked me ten years ago, I would have said that I shouldn’t have to pay them.  After all, I wasn’t putting kids through school or using social programs.  Why put in for someone else’s benefit?

As I have gotten older with more responsibilities, I’m starting to appreciate the importance of taxes and the role they play in allowing our society to continue functioning.  They pave roads, build schools, help take care of the elderly, pay cops, and basically maintain the fabric of civilization.  So fairly assessed taxes, when used for the right reasons, make America work.

The biggest lesson of the last eight years is that you can’t entrust the well-being of citizens to a misplaced faith in corporate responsibility.  This is the folly of McCain’s economic policy.  Now that we are starting to see the full extent of the tax fraud that is perpetrated by those in Washington who would spend our taxes on unnecessary wars, building bridges to nowhere, and bailing out corrupt robber barons, I’m more convinced than ever that the taxes themselves are not evil.  The real evil is that so few of those funds end up helping citizens in meaningful ways.   

We need to shore up the institutions that built this country and support our families. I don’t think it’s too much to ask to pay a fair amount of taxes based on your income.  Those who are successful should not be penalized, but they should put in their fair share.  And all of our monies should be spent in ways that provide opportunities for all citizens to lay claim to their piece of the American dream. 

Barack Obama’s tax plan and domestic policy outlook is the only option for the middle class to have any hope of making progress.  By cutting taxes for people under the $250,000 mark and investing that money in the infrastructure of our nation, the well-being of its people, the education of our youth, and the development of a responsible energy economy, we will regain our position as a global leader and innovator. 

“What’s mine is mine” may be a fundamental Republican mantra, but it’s no way to build thriving communities.  I believe in the concept of the greater good.  I believe in good public schools and easy access to higher education.  I believe in providing some sort of assistance for people who are having a hard time.  I believe in hope and the power of those much maligned community organizers.

I’m voting for Barack Obama on November 4^th.  And if you really care about this country’s future, you will too.

Kristen is a recovering Republican from the McCainiac’s home state of Arizona.   Her guilty pleasure is singing “Raising McCain” ironically while sending money to Obama.