lost highway

More Paul Ryan analysis: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/20/opinion/krugman-an-unserious-man.html?_r=1&smid=fb-share From the article: "The answer, basically, is a triumph of style over substance. Over the longer term, the Ryan plan would end Medicare as we know it — and in Washington, “fiscal responsibility” is often equated with willingness to slash Medicare and Social Security, even if the purported savings would be used to cut taxes on the rich rather than to reduce deficits. Also, self-proclaimed centrists are always looking for conservatives they can praise to showcase their cen

I don't think anyone on here said that, and if I came off that way I certainly explained myself poorly. I was reaching towards something a little more nuanced than that, but it might be above my verbal skills. I totally agree with this. Both sides of the two party coin have shrunk the conversation considerably. I feel that the right wing has especially mislead people in making promises about abortion that they can't keep. It would be better to talk about real problems that can/ need to be solved.

I'm not trying to be ironic... there's an individual liberty vs power of rhetoric thing going on. A Westboro Baptist member can lace his boots in the morning to Elton John. That is a right. We are all free to tell the person there's something they "don't get". You are also free to believe that Mitt Romney has the ability to make the country better, you express that in your vote. I will try and explain why it's a bad idea, because strong rhetoric and critical thinking are essential components of the Democratic process. I guess what I'm saying is people shouldn't act wounded about someon

Well, as your post indicates you are comfortable with hearing someone sing their politics, but not speak them. As for what people can and can't enjoy, it is narrow minded and silly to tell people what their capable of appreciating. But it might also be narrow minded in extreme cases (like Paul Ryan listening to Rage Against the Machine) for someone to be a "fan" of something without really taking in its central message. If I listen to Dead Prez I'm going to hear some extreme politics, some of which I don't agree with. It would be goofy if I said I liked Dead Prez just cause it had a good

Extremely well stated. I have read several books that indicated that McCartney was often the most sociable, easy going, and least pretentious Beatle. I don't know how that should change the way I look at his music, but it kind of does. McCartney seems to have a desire to make music primarily for people to enjoy. There is a folksy kind of humanism in that attitude.

What did Lennon once call a certain thread of McCartney songs, was it "Granny music"?

That's curious. That song is in my top ten all time beatles list.

I like this one much better than the song from the video.

Here's a controversial opinion. Sgt Pepper is there most historically noteworthy album, but by no means their best. If you look at a run of songs like Fixing a Hole, She's Leaving Home, and Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite to another mid-album run like She Said, She Said, Good Day Sunshine, And Your Bird Can Sing..... I don't know. Pepper seems to be a great achievement in concept, orchestration, studio wizardry and innovative pop music escapism. Nonetheless, I'll take Abbey Road, Revolver, or the White Album over it for songwriting any day. Lennon was a little short on ideas around

Yeah I didn't realize how blatantly partisan these laws are. State House Republican, Leader Mike Turzai actually had the balls to brag about it. Pretty shameful stuff. You're right. I should propose we tax the PAC and SUPERPACs.

We should make a new campaign finance law. If lobbyists and corporations wish to donate to a candidate, 30% of their donation is taxed and allocated to the government. If we have a political system that generates billions of dollars for obnoxious attack ads there should be a way to channel some of that into something productive.

I have listened to 'Listening to the Wind That Blows' more than any other song on the newly unearthed stuff. That's a little piece of magic right there.

Bump for release in a handful of days.

Yes! Glass Onion is a lesser Lennon song. Half of the song lyrics are just references to other Beatles songs.

Also interesting about that article is that the GDP has never really dropped, except from 2008 to 2009 in the height of the recession, but it jumped up to a record high in 2010.

I think being a sociopath could be relevant to someone's ability to adequately serve in public office. Which isn't to say one person's take is psychological fact, but not quite ad hominem either. Maybe if she had insulted his wardrobe, or his breath.

It get's dodgy because Ringo was never supposed to be a proper songwriter, Revolution #9 is more a sound collage than song, and George only got a song or two an album. He was also a late bloomer. Paul has written some of the most enduring pop music ever. He seems to have slightly more material in the second half of their career. He also seems to be the easiest target.

Wow, Paul is taking a beating here.

There's an implicit irony in extolling the virtues of apathy. I could try and psychoanalyze it, but that would be rude.

Those guys have written some good songs. I'm not a huge fan, and I haven't heard all of it but one thing always struck me about that band: In all the pictures/promotional stuff I see of them they're holding a million accordions, zithers, autoharps, hammer dulcimers and fluglehorns, while wearing Victorian formal wear. Then when you listen to them they sound fairly traditional. They pretty much play out of the rock playbook (a healthy dose of dark new wave in their sound). Not a bad thing, but it seems a little contrived.

Yeah the Beatles. The best loved, most talked about band in rock music that reached the zenith of popular appeal and critical praise. They're in every 'Top Album' list. Their catalog is amazingly solid. So what are the Beatles songs you dislike. (Of course the minute anyone dismisses a song, someone else will chime in and say 'WHAAAT? I love that tune! Which is exactly why discussing the Beatles is still interesting; most people know them, most people like them, and everyone finds their own little spin.) I'll start: 'The Long and Winding Road'- Paul at his worst: sentimental, drippy

Mr. Heartbreak you have argued my perspective in a way that is more articulate and less offensive than I did. Well said.

Another relevant graphic:

Somehow you took my parody as an attack on you. It was not. You are obviously not an idiot. I was merely critiquing a cavalier attitude towards spending in this country that flies in the face of progress. Admittedly it had a straw man element to it, but in my defense I wrote it early in the morning. Here is a look at discretionary spending in the U.S. Federal Budget for 2011. Now, I don't believe this covers Social Security, because it should be non-discretionary. It does paint an interesting picture of what we can do if we move some money around:

What did he do now?