Transient Scribe

Carson - RIP

I may have been one of Johnny Carson's younger fans when he finally hung it up back in 1992.  At the end, it seemed like Jay Leno was filling in as guest host more often than not.  In the old days, people tuned in for Carson.  The guests were always secondary. Today, the guests are bigger than the host.   That is why booking agents are practically killing each other to get that all important Jessica Simpson appearance.  Times have changed for sure.  Carson was the friend you looked forward to hearing from every night.   His bombing a joke was funnier than most comedians nailing a punch line. 

Comedian Larry Miller appeared over a dozen times on the Tonight Show...here are his funny thoughts and a great story.

Cameron Indoor Arena - Duke vs. Maryland

I had the privilege of attending the Duke vs. Maryland  basketball game in Durham, North Carolina last Thursday.  What a great atmosphere for college athletics.   My friend and I pulled into the wooded campus about 5 PM, parked and cruised around the campus until the 9 PM tip off.   Yes, the game started at 9 PM EST.  This due to the international audience I assume.  Dickie V. and Mike Patrick called the game.  Not to sound too much like Dickie V., but Cameron Indoor is a "special" place.  I have watched college games all over the country and without a doubt Duke U. is the best for watching a game in person.  A close second is the Palestra in Philadelphia.  First, the Arena is pretty small and makes for an up close and intimate experience.   Second, the students surround the court.  Alumni, Professors and Duke lackeys are in the higher seats.  To be honest, the worst seat in Cameron is still fantastic due to the size of the building.   Third, the Band is off the charts awesome..."Devil with a Blue Dress" and the Blues Brothers theme music leading up to the tip off makes for a incredible crescendo.  Fourth, the Duke students waiting outside in line for hours is a spectacle in itself.  There must have been 100 tents in the area know as "Krzyzewskiville".  This is where students sleep to be first in line for the game.   Our seats were directly across from the visiting teams bench and one row from the end of the student section.  So we where about 20 feet from the court.  The actual stars of the show where the coaches, Gary Williams and of course Mike Krzyzewski.  Both walked out onto the court minutes before the tip-off to boos and cheers.   I see why Duke never loses at Cameron...they foul the crap out of opponents and don't get called for it.   Slumping Maryland pulled out a great win vs. the undefeated Blue Devils on the road.  J.J. Reddick made circus 3pters for most of the first half, but could not carry Duke to victory alone.  After the game, we walked down on the court, took pictures and hung out for awhile.   I hope to get back here again some day...it is something any true college hoop fan should try and do.

How to read a column - Safire

Columnist William Safire is retiring after a long and distinguished career.  I wish he would have published his advice to readers years ago.   Most of his list rings true after reflection. 

Colbert King gets it right!!!

Liberal columnist Colbert King hammers Barbara Boxer on her recent conduct at the Senate Confirmation hearings for Condi Rice.   He points out the fact many have know for some time now...if a minority nominee or candidate such as Rice does not toe the line politically...they will be attacked or impugned with calls of "Uncle Tom" or "Aunt Jemima" (as in Rice's case) or worse.   It is low ball tactics...and the sign of desperate people not ready to except change or tolerance toward other opinions.   

Washington Post hires Guy in PJ's

OK, he might not blog in his pajama's, but he is blogging from the Death Star known as the Washington Post.   Instapundit linked to him this morning. 

Not sure what to make of the Post allowing this guy server space to blog.   Blogs are mostly biased, op-ed rants- how is this different from their regular reporting?  OK, that was a cheap shot- but not that far off. 

On a personal note, I had received the Post dead tree version for about 6 months until this morning...I guess they realized I was not paying for it and they were probably throwing it the wrong driveway.  Doh!  Reading it everyday, I see how even GOPers can really start to question or dislike this Administration, Congress and anyone associated with the Republican Party.  It is a hit parade on every policy, political choice and effort by the GOP, forget about Op-Eds and the Editorial Board.   Seriously, it is like reading the enemies play book everyday.

Clinton swinging to Right

My God!  The second term had not even began and Hillary is on the March for God and those red state voters!  Please don't tell me she is not running for President.   You got to love it...she is pulling a 180 degree policy turn and releasing it the day of the inauguration.   Frankly, most insiders or political hacks know her husband did this routine and more just to get elected back in Arkansas.  Remember the defeated young former Governor joining the church choir and singing directly behind the pastor in camera's view to the televised Arkansas audience every Sunday?  That is called free media. You don't hear much about that one when they are calling Red State or GOP voters religious zealots.

Republicans pay heed to history..or else

Paul Gigot's column today lays out a path for the Party in Power to follow.    He reminds readers of the situation in 1992.   Newly elected Bill Clinton had majorities in the House and Senate...and within less than two years he was nearly a figurehead President and fighting for relevancy.  Gigot explains what happened and how President Bush and the GOP can avoid this same fate.

Gigot bite below..

If they think they can walk away from his agenda in the name of their own incumbent self-preservation, they might want to recall why they were able to win the majority back in 1994. Democrats ran the entire government then, but liberals told the upstart president from Arkansas that the welfare reform he'd run on was a non-starter. The campaign reform they'd all promised for years? Also no way. Their (much larger) majority proceeded to split apart over guns, health care and taxes. It could happen to Republicans too.

Boxer Unhinged

Please get out of her way.  That is all I could think when I watch Senator Barbara Boxer start to speak.  She is a one woman wrecking crew and she will stop at nothing to defame and defile herself again and again. 

At least, that is the way I see it. 

Every statement she makes rings of a person wholly out of sync with political and most importantly electoral realities.   Her conduct at the formal Senate Confirmation of the electoral vote and yesterday's harried attacks on Secretary of State nominee Condi Rice appear cheap and cynically motivated.   All the symptoms of a person going thru a nervous breakdown.

As I say, get out of her way and let her go. 

Link

Dylan's New Book

I did not understand Bob Dylan or his music for many years.    I simply did not get it...or him.  I was young and ignorant...I actually saw him perform in Honolulu many years ago - sitting way in the back at the Honolulu Shell- and did not see what the big deal was all about.  Many years later, a good friend of mine suggested I take a listen to a few tapes of Dylan.  I think he was tired of me griping about his love for Robert Zimmerman aka Dylan.  Well, I agreed and man I was glad I did...because I am now a Bob Dylan fan. 

I don't have a full grasp of all of his phases and career re-inventions but I really learned to love his writing, phrasing and music.   I listened to "Infidels" and "Slow Train Coming" albums and loved them.  His music and persona are much different from my assumptions from afar.  This is also proven in his most recent work- "Chronicles".

I just completed "Chronicles" and found it a good read.  Long time fans will probably have mixed emotions on this tome.    Apparently, it is the first of many to come about his life and music.  It is not a traditional autobiography - Dylan jumps all over the place in time and subject, but worth reading if you are a fan.  Great history of "the village' back in the 50's and 60's...and his trying to make it some how.   Dylan opens up about his personal life and songwriting vaguely but just enough for the reader to understand.