The blogs are a buzz over Stephen Colbert!

Why? Why was Stephen Colbert asked to speak at this dinner? Let's back up a bit. Washington DC, The White House Press Core Dinner, Stephen Colbert begins to take aim at everyone in the room. Pres. Bush is squirming in his seat while the audience is sort of laughing. The white house presses are sort of laughing because Stephen Colbert’s jokes are cutting too close to the bone. Being called a coward but using funnier words is funny and painful. If you know me you know I am interested in awkwardness. You guys have got to see this. Here it is.

How will you remember Bill Clinton?

I will remember him for his intimate relationship with Monika. The cigars and the lies will be foremost in my mind. But I wonder, he must have done something else. He was in office for eight years. Will none of his policy decisions be remembered? What was he like as a president. Was he weak because he didn't preempt 9/11?
My second reaction to the question of "what do I remember about Bill Clinton?", is I remember Pres. Clinton being an engaging speaker. I also remember, he was a self made man. He came up from a lower class home.
Why am I wondering this, You might ask? Well I just heard him speak at an awards dinner. Bill Clinton speaks at the Louis E. Martin Great American Award His speech is basically about regular people doing good. He feels that one of the powers of Democracy is the freedom it allows people to organize and problem solve. He puts responsibility in our hands. Because of technology we can see a problem and do something about it. A huge percentage of donations for Katrina were donated through the internet.
The point is we can have problems with the Bush administration. We could have had problems with the Clinton administration, but we have the power to do good. We can do something. I don't mean this to sound us verses them, Red verses blue. I think we can agree on a problem and work together to fix it. Because we have this power we should demand of our self to be involved.

Republicans or Democrats, who is the happiest?

The title is a bit miss leading. What I really meant was conservatives or Liberals not Republicans or Democrats. I just heard an interview with author, Jonathan Haidt. In December his book The Happiness Hypothesis. It is a historical look at happiness in the worlds cultures. The interviewer askes the question "Who is happier, conservatives or Liberals? Dr. Haidt responds quick and sure to the question. His research overwhelmingly reveals happiness to be on the side of right, the conservative side. This revelation comes in the early part of the interview. You can hear it here. He defines happiness and explains what it means to religious people and not religious people. His information is very scientific not self helpy.

More of the Band

Okay, just a quick one. The band has a bit more footage on line now. If you want to waist your time go here.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xVCcvielzds&search=midwife%20crisis

Spring Mix 2006

Some of you have received a mix CD from me. This is a mix to bring spring. Do a rain dance to this mix. Even better yet, do a sun dance while this mix is getting you ready for work.
The mix is a compilation of songs I have taken from MP3 blogs. I think the songs have a spring celebration feel to them. I have handed some out and I have a few left. Oh, and friends that already have the mix, feel free to share it with toughs you might be in contact with that might want this mix. Here is the track listing:

Song = Artist

1 The price of winter = The Amazing Pilots
2 Jen, Nothing Matters To Me = Irving
3 Oh Mandy = Spinto band
4 Conventional Lullabies = Young And Sexy
5 In Anticipation of Your Suicide = Bedroom Walls
6 Didn't I = Darondo
7 Don't Save Me = Marit Larsen
8 Push The Button = Sugababes
9 Dans Le Club = TTC
10 Que Onda Guero (Team Shi Latino 96.3 Remix) = The Mae-Shi
11 Chewing Gum = Hey Willpower
12 Hot Boyz = Dear Nora & Casiotone For The Painfully Alone
13 Woman - mstrkrft remix = Wolfmother
14 The_terrace = Linus Loves
15 Where else is there ? (thin white duke mix) = Royksopp
16 In My Arms = Mylo
17 Time to Pretend = MGMT

The origin of my last name

Bagni di Lucca is the name of the town my family is from. Just looking at the picture, I feel myself starting to brim with oily pride. Andrea and I will be visiting there in July. Our trip will be one part getting back to my roots and one part Rick Steves. I have grown up with stories of Italy and the food. My father loved to cook many Italian dishes. Leon (my father) would tell us stories about the Italian deli his father owned in Pasadena CA. His description of the sandwiches he made for himself with the many options he had behind the deli glass made our mouth water. Leon would sneer at the subway commercials on TV and start into a tale of Fresh bread and imported meats and cheese. I remember all us kids identified so much with our Italian roots that my mother had to start her own PR campaign. She started reminding us we had the power of tartans and haggis on our side. I have visited Jolly ol' England three times. And it is truly wonderful. It is magical. Visiting my Welsh family could be one of my favorite moments in my life. I have never been to Italy. So things evened out. I am so looking forward to get to know my people on the other side. Here is a link to a government page in the little town of my family.