Rambling Rhoads

Friday, June 5, 2020

How The Police See Issues Of Race And Policing

Interesting summary of various surveys and other research

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-the-police-see-issues-of-race-and-policing/

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Some words of wisdom from our 44th President

https://medium.com/@BarackObama/how-to-make-this-moment-the-turning-point-for-real-change-9fa209806067

Including, but not limited to:

[T]he waves of protests across the country represent a genuine and legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police practices and the broader criminal justice system in the United States. The overwhelming majority of participants have been peaceful, courageous, responsible, and inspiring. They deserve our respect and support, not condemnation — something that police in cities like Camden and Flint have commendably understood.

…

I’ve heard some suggest that the recurrent problem of racial bias in our criminal justice system proves that only protests and direct action can bring about change, and that voting and participation in electoral politics is a waste of time. I couldn’t disagree more. The point of protest is to raise public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice, and to make the powers that be uncomfortable; in fact, throughout American history, it’s often only been in response to protests and civil disobedience that the political system has even paid attention to marginalized communities. But eventually, aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices — and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands.

Saturday, May 30, 2020

Shuffle #134 (May 30, 2020)

Exodus – Bob Marley & The Wailers

Working My Way Back To You – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

It’s All Right – The Impressions

Uptight (Everything’s Alright) – Stevie Wonder

Wishing You Were Here – Chicago

Simple Twist Of Fate – Bob Dylan

Ventura Highway – America

I’m Gonna Make You Love Me – The Jayhawks

Friday, May 29, 2020

Lyric Of The Day #16 (May 29, 2020)

Two musical metaphors I’ve always found interesting (and I love both videos):

I guess he's an Xbox and I'm more Atari

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKxodgpyGec

You're The Great One, I'm Marty McSorley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkamonwD2yM

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Lyric Of The Day #15 (May 27, 2020)

Oh, the dashboard melted

But we still have the radio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=penvn9VL32Y

At least the most important part is still functioning …

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Lyric Of The Day #14 (May 23, 2020)

Sweet talking guy, talking sweet kinda lies

Don't you believe in him, if you do he'll make you cry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpFotOi3hDs

Of course, all characters portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual national officeholders is intended or should be inferred.

Shuffle #133 (May 23, 2020)

Don’t Ask Me Why – Billy Joel

Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing – Chris Isaak

Southern Man – Neil Young

Stoney End – Laura Nyro

Long May You Run – The Stills-Young Band

Rocket Man – Elton John

The Usual Thing – Marshall Crenshaw

Personal Jesus – Depeche Mode

The Gentle Rain – George Benson

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Notable Quote #10

“There is no act, no crime, no petty deceit which he would not commit, and which would not be at once represented on the lips of those about him as a great deed.”

From Tolstoy’s War And Peace, by way of a column in this morning’s Washington Post.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/i-finished-war-and-peace--and-now-im-over-pandemic-self-improvement/2020/05/19/28ca2384-99e9-11ea-a282-386f56d579e6_story.html

Note – Tolstoy was referring to Napoleon.