dan collier

Vanity Fair has an article about Bob Dylan’s XM radio show. The article is basically a list of themes, one-liners, and other Bob-isms. The comments contain additional noteworthy on-air Bob.

I particularly like the following:

What do you do if you miss your mother in law? – reload and try again.

(Puss o kram, Vivi, my dear svärmor)

Lipstick traces on cigarettes can get you in trouble or remind you of the wonders of the night before.

I once had a friend who said liquor will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no liquor.

I leave you with the words of Benjamin Franklin. “He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money.” Thank you, Ben. Peace out.

Jeff Jacoby, a Boston Globe op-ed columnist whose articles I read only when I’m prepared to disagree with nearly every opinion expressed, wrote an excellent opinion piece in today’s Globe titled “A son’s familiar journey“. Like the author, I’m the father of an eleven year old and I thought he captured pride and frustration very well. After enjoying the article, true to form, I questioned Jacoby’s conclusions.

I’m also proud of my 5 year old son, who drew these picture I have to show off.

(more…)

The 2008 Pulitzer Prizes have been announced. Of note, the article in the Washington Post about violin virtuoso Joshua Bell busking in the Washington D.C. Metro station was very good, and won the award for Feature Writing. The Washington Post also won the International Reporting award for a disturbing series about modern day mercenaries. This article about Blackwater USA was part of the series.

Bob Dylan was given a Special Citation.

And among the winning Editorial Cartoons, was this:

I posted about last year’s Pulitzer Prize winners here.

will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas wrote and produced the yes we can song after being inspired by Barack Obama’s speech the night he finished second in New Hampshire. Jesse Dylan, Bob Dylan’s oldest son, directed the video. will.i.am also wrote what amounts to liner notes explaining his rationale for the song:

[....]
no one on this planet is truly experienced to handle the obstacles we face today…
Terror, fear, lies, agendas, politics, money, all the above…
It’s all scary…

Martin Luther King didn’t have experience to lead…
Kennedy didn’t have experience to lead…
Susan B. Anthony…
Nelson Mandella…
Rosa Parks…
Gandhi…
Anne Frank…
and everyone else who has had a hand in molding the freedoms we have and take for granted today…

no one truly has experience to deal with the world today…

they just need “desire, strength, courage ability, and passion” to change…
and to stand for something even when people say it’s not possible…

America would not be here “today” if we didn’t stand and fight for
change “yesterday”…
Everything we have as a “people” is because of the “people” who fought for
change…
and whoever is the President has to realize we have a lot of changing to do

I’m not trying to convince people to see things how i do…
I produced this song to share my new found inspiration and how I’ve been moved…
I hope this song will make you feel…
love…
and think…
and be inspired just like the speech inspired me…

that’s all…

I’m running out the door on my way to Jackson Hole, Wyoming for five days. If you have any ideas for what to do there, send me an email or leave a comment. Before I leave, I wanted to post the following link that I think everyone should read.

Ramak Fazel’s Amerika profiled in the New York Times – Ramak Fazel is an Iranian born, American raised US citizen that attempted to visit the capitol of all 50 states. Midway through his travels, he noticed he was on a watch list. Who keeps the list, why he was on it, and how one gets off are all unclear.

As someone that has enjoyed the freedom to sleep in a van in many WalMart parking lots in quite a few state capitols and even more remote stretches of American highway, I find the entire story of what is happening to Fazel to be very important. The question that prompted Fazel’s trip seems more uncertain than ever: What does it mean to be American?