Category: Dick Jacobsen

Music Moves Me
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Music Moves Me

 

Someone asked me the other day if I liked music. “I love music”, I answered. Why do you love music? “Because it moves me”, I said. The answer just came out of the blue, but for some reason, I knew my answer was true, but even I needed to know why. When I got home I went to my Youtube List, and started to listen to the music that I love.

So what moves me here. 1) The audience’s clammor for the three striking singers as they walked in. 2) Almost from the first chord my eyes started to tear up, and my mouth formed a smile. 3) The audience kissing and hugging eachother, smiling, crying, one person openly sobbing. 4) The spontaneous participation of the audience ranging from 5 years to 80+ years. 5) Rieu’s stimulating violin. 6) The presentation of the notes by the young women, filling their lungs and pressing the notes to higher and higher harmoneous perfection. 7) The lyrics.

And why does this move me? 1.) The adulation of a crowd who revere these two men as much as I do, numbering enough to fill Shea Stadium in New York. 2) I dare anyone to listen to this and not move their body and grin til it hurts. 3) the deafening roar of appreciation from the crowd.

OK. Turn your volume up to listen to this marvelous aria.

There is a purity to this voice that is very hard to describe, but each time I hear “Nessun Dorma” from Turandot I sob like a baby. I have since my mother introduced me to it as a boy, along with “Oh Mimi” from La Boheme, “The Flower Duet”, from Lakmé and many more.

Music Moves Me.

Cowboys and Indians
Posted on by Dick Posted in Dick Jacobsen, Make America Great Again, Writing
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Cowboys and Indians

Growing up I was very aware of Cowboys and Indians. My pals and I would play for hours and hours in the fields next door, or in the backyard, or in our livingroom makeshift tepees. I was infatuated with Tom Mix, Hoppy, Roy and Gene. Mom dropped me off at the theater on Saturday, gave me two-bits, with which I saw two full length shoot-em-ups, ten cartoons and had enough left over for popcorn and a coke. For me, the history of America started there.
In High School I remember learning about the Aztecs, the Incas and the Mayas, but I always thought of them as foreigners, not American’s. For me the Native History of America started with the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock. I remember, during Thanksgiving Holiday, seeing Indians pictured at the Pilgrims Table, but I never really wondered where they came from.
Stumbling through life I recall hearing stories of early Indians like the Iroquois Tribes (Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida and Mohawks). I was born a New Yorker so “Far above Cayuga’s Waters”, Oneida Watches, and the “Last of the Mohicans” had meaning to me. I faintly remember the Seminoles, because they were billed as the good guys from Florida. The famous Apache Chieftan Cochise (Jeff Chandler) was chased by every oater leading man of the 40s, but I just figured he arrived about the same time Hoppy did. Well silly me.
Not until two weeks ago; at age 80 (blissfully ignorant but inquisitive), when NPR aired “Native Americans”, did the real story begin to unravel. Up jumps Cahokia and it;s collection of tribes, who appeared in the Mississippi area around AD 700. Three hundred years later Cahokia was at its Golden Age (pictured above) and by 1600 it faded away. I don’t remember any of this being taught in gradeschool. For these folks to have amassed in the region in AD 700, they had to have come from somewhere. Scientists and Anthropologists seem to think that the Bering Straits were finally habitable enough for Human migration from Siberia around 12,600 years ago, some postulate that humans came to North America 125,000 years ago.
The Facts seem to allow that the Indians were definitely here before Hoppy. They flourished at Cahokia with staggering scientific knowledge of the Sun, Moon and Stars, taught settlers the meaning of democracy, developed Maise (Corn) as a staple, and built ceremonial mounds 10 stories (100 Feet) high. There were one heck of a lot of Native Americans here before Custer went on his killing sprees.
I have no idea how I, or anyone else, could have graduated from High School without knowing something about our Native American Ancestors.
I am going to dig deeper into this. I really dislike being stupid.

Kindness
Posted on by Dick Posted in #ItsTimeForAction, Dick Jacobsen, Writing
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Kindness

Kindness

Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Friendly is defined as being pleasant. Generous is defined as showing a readiness to give more of something, as money or time, than is strictly necessary or expected. Considerate is defined as being careful not to cause inconvenience or hurt to others.
When you look at the photograph above, the young man is certainly exibiting kindness; he is definitely giving more of himself than expected; and he is being careful not to inconvenience or harm the handicapped lady yet he is certainly being being inconvenienced and experiencing unpleasantness by getting wet or possibly ill.
So do we have a dilema? Is the definition of kindness above a complete one?
If we look harder at the picture we might see that the young man has a smile and a look of satisfaction on his face, the onlookers are thinking what a nice young man he is, and the lady has a thankful look. Maybe minutes later a shop owner runs out with a towel for the young man, or a barista brings him a cup of warm coffee, or several others come out and open the car door and assist the lady into her car, or a policeman pulls up and stops traffic.
I have been afforded kindness, and each time the experience has etched itself into my memory and stitched itself into the fabric of my human experience.
I think a better definition of kindness might be; “the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate; to your own inconvenience and possible harm; knowing the action has made you, the person to whom you have extended the kindness, and the world in general, become better for your efforts.”
Extend kindness. If you have recieved kindness, cherish it.
Posted on by Dick Posted in Dick Jacobsen, Rants and Opinions, Weekend fare, Writing
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Elections and Money

The Media, Democrats, fringe left podcasters, and all nutjobs in general accuse the Republicans of being the Fat Cats, the Wealthy and the Greedy Businessmen. Take a look at this.

The top diagram shows the sources of wealth in the United States, and the diagram on the bottom shows the Blue locations that voted for Clinton in the 2016 Election. ANY QUESTIONS? Please wake up America and check your facts.

Posted on by Dick Posted in #ItsTimeForAction, Dick Jacobsen, Rants and Opinions, Writing
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Rule The Roost POTUS

All  of the News Media (except FOX ) treat our President; rudely, disrespectfully and deceiptfully, and in return they expect to run rampant in White House news conferences. They treat Sarah Huckabee appallingly and demean the purpose of a news conference. They all think that this is their personal venue and they can perform as they please. This is disgraceful, and is robbing the American people of a clear source of information delivered by our President. At one point President Trump was so exasperated, he left the dais pacing and seething and I thought he was going to deck the CNN jerk, but he took deep breaths and returned to his task. This is the reaction of a frustrated man, not the tyrant the media paints him to be. I watched the entire episode yesterday, wishing I could see more, but fully understanding why he is reluctant to participate. It was crystal clear to me that the prime time media was there to derail the President, not to hear his news. Mr. President, I have the answer for you.

Rules and Regulations for POTUS News Conferences.

Rule 1: Not a sound may be uttered by the press without being recognized by the President, i.e., no talking with your neighbors, no handraising and yelling “Mr. President” like unruley school children having to go #2, and no unsolicited interruptions.
Rule 2: When you are recognized by the President; you will stand; receive the microphone; ask one, one part, question, without diatribe; return the microphone and sit down; remaining quiet until your question is answered. He may ask you to clarify. You will stand and answer his request and sit down again, remaining quiet.
The President will answer your question, and move on to the next person he decides to recognize.
Rule 3: If you break Rule 1 or 2, you will be told to leave the conference. If you stubbornly fail to leave you will be forcefully removed, and your press conference permits revoked….forever.

Mr.President, please get control of these idiots calling themselves journalists, they don’t report what you say anyway. I want to hear what you have to say from your mouth, in your words. I see how the media twists your words and misrepresents you intentions so blatently, and I am tired of it. They are using their freedom of speech to deny yours.

 

A Genuinely Good Guy
Posted on by Dick Posted in Dick Jacobsen, Writing
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A Genuinely Good Guy

Kris Kristofferson

A genuinely good guy came to Redding a week or so back. He had called someone in Redding to ask, “If I pay for my own transportation, and my own Hotel and Food, and perform for free, could I come to Redding and do a concert, with all the proceeds going to the victims of the Carr Fire?” Apparently this phonecall was made on the 27th of July, 2018, the day after the Carr Fire hit Redding and devowered 230,000 Acres, destroyed over 1,000 homes and took the lives of 8 people. Some great people including Ben Haggard (Merle Haggard’s talented son) and The Strangers (Merle’s Band), got behind Kris’s offer and turned out for a night of nostalgia and good music.

I’m not a concert kind of guy, but I had to go, given my connections to Kris. Kris and I went to the same High School, San Mateo High. Kris was Class of ’53 and I was Class of ’56. I don’t remember Kris from High School. Kris’s sister, Karen Kristofferson, on the other hand, was in my class and I knew her well, in fact I was madly in love with her  (She had no idea), as were 75% of the males in San Mateo High School Class of ’56.

Karen Kristofferson(Middle Row, Far Right)

As I sat and listened to “Me And Bobby McGee”, “Lovin Her Was Easier”, “Help Me Make It Through The Night”, “Sunday Mornin Comin Down”, “Darby’s Castle”. “For The Good Times”, and many more; I thought about High School, Karen, my buddies, the ups and downs. Kris is a mornful sort of singer who sings mornful songs, but for some reason the whole epiode was cathartic, leaving me pleased with my past. I’m glad I went.

 

 

 

Genetic Genealogy – Its a Good Thing
Posted on by Dick Posted in Dick Jacobsen, Learning, Writing
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Genetic Genealogy – Its a Good Thing

“Most Likely Family Tree”

Genetic genealogy is the use of DNA testing in combination with traditional genealogical methods to infer relationships between individuals and find ancestors. Genetic genealogy involves the use of genealogical DNA testing to determine the level and type of the genetic relationship between individuals.

Rapekit DNA Provider

The Golden State Killer is a serial killer, rapist, and burglar who committed at least 13 murders, more than 50 rapes, and over 100 burglaries in California from 1974 to 1986. This dirtbag terrorized California, namely the Bay Area, for ten years and then slipped off under a rock for 32 years leaving 50 women, at least 13 families, and 100 households hanging without justice. The Cops had his DNA, but the creeps DNA wasn’t in the data banks. Why? Because he was a Cop and knew how to avoid detection.

OJ offs his wife and the term DNA enters our lives. Then Ancestry.com, 23andMe, etal, show up and everyone gets itnerested in their DNA history. I spat into the tube for 23andMe and lo and behold I learned, much of which I already knew or suspected, that I was descendant from the Neanderthals, and their descendants The Vikings, and their descendants The Danish and the Irish. A pretty murky bunch of ancestors, I will admit, but we all can’t descend from Kings, can we Kanut. I have friends who have gone further with Ancestry.com who have found family dating back for centuries.

One of the people that got really into this stuff figured out a way to use Genetics (23andMe) and Genealogy (Ancestry.com) to figure out who the “most likely person” may be from a DNA sample that is not in the various databases. What that means is she searched for folks with similar DNA as the dirtbag’s, then tracked those folks DNA data by building a “Most Likely Family Tree”, and then studying that family tree to find the “most likely dirtbag”.

“Most Likely Dirtbag”

She then gave the information to the Cops, and they then got a new, sample of the “most likely dirtbag’s DNA”, and ‘Voila’ his DNA matched the original rapekit sample DNA to one in a gazillion. GOTCHA DIRTBAG!!!!! Sadly the story doesn’t end here, however. Enter the ACLU.

OMG, cries the ACLU, you have not only invaded the dirtbag’s privacy, but the privacy of the rest of is entire freeking family tree. It is of no importance that you caught a dirtbag of the worst and slimiest ilk, you have invaded his privacy. Let’s see now. The Genetic Genealogist started with rapekit DNA, utilized various databases, willing provided by millions of law abiding people. Then she bonehard studied all the data to come up with the “most likely dirtbag”, and then used his (the dirtbags) newly attained DNA to catch him. ACLU, if that is an invasion of privacy, sign me up. I’m ready to be invaded. This is no more an invasion of privacy than wandering through an old cemetery looking for names.

Google invades my privacy. Genetic Genealogy makes my life better and safer. ACLU, do something useful, go after Google.

 

Posted on by Dick Posted in #ItsTimeForAction, Dick Jacobsen, Rants and Opinions, Writing
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What Is The Mueller Investigation?

In 2016 we witnessed an election being won by hard work, guile, bluster in the truest American Spirit. Little Marco, Lyin Ted, Cheating Hillary, Low Energy Jeb, “Lock Her Up”, Billy Bush, Basket of Deplorables, Stormy, you name it, we heard it. One of the wildest rollercoaster rides I have every witnessed in my 59 voting years. At the end, the Dems rent a Glass Ceilinged Arena through which to launch their shoe-in candidate; and the Reps hunkered down in their election eve headquarters not believing they could win. As I sat and watched the returns I couldn’t help remembering Donald Trump flying into our little rural town of Redding, CA Airport, just days before the election, where he stood exhausted at a podium with an “Elect Trump/Pence” sign precariously hanging ready to fall off, telling us he spoke from his heart and ‘notes on the back of an envelope’. I said to myself. This guy is a worker, he’s rich but not an elitist, he is doing everything he can to win. Then on November 8, 2016 it is heard, throughout the land, “Donald Trump Wins”. And he won it fair and square.

On May 17, 2019, five months after inauguration the Mueller Investigation begins to investigate Russian Meddling in the elections. The Clinton Machine then begins a hue and cry accusing the President. Strock, Paige, Comey, McCabe instantly become household names. Flynn and Manafort are indited and convicted of everything but meddling. Heads fall, but none of them have the Trump coif. We are 19 month and some $20 Million into this fiasco and Mueller announces that there will be no findings made until after the mid-term elections. Why? Why wait?

When I have had enough of political shenanigans I go “putter”. I go to my man cave, out in my tractor shed, and build bird houses. To keep me company I listen to the EIB (Excellence in Broadcasting) Network and try to make sense of it all. Yesterday Rush was discussing what he thinks the Mueller tactics might mean, and had much to say, as you might expect.
1.) One theory is – The Special Counsel, in all is rightousness (the quality of being morally right or justifiable), must never do anything that could be interpreted as “interfering in elections“. Rush said there might even be a law or rule that demands that. That doesn’t pass the sniff test for me, because the Mueller Investigation is nothing but interfering with elections. It was all established and fed by the Democratic/Clinton machines with one thing in mind and one thing only, sink Presidnet Trump.
2.) Theory 2 – Mueller isn’t finished yet. He is still waiting for something to surface that will smear President Trump and give rise to impeachment. Makes sense.
3.) Theory 3 – Mueller and company hasn’t earned enough money yet. Mueller (as distinguished jurist) and Comey (FBI Director, etc.) have been a tag team for years setting each other up with lucrative jobs earning each other millions of dollars each. The gravy train hasn’t arrived at the station yet. Holds water.
4.) Theroy 4 – There isn’t enough information yet for anyone to write a book.Could be, but I doubt it.
5.) Theory 5 – It might make; a) Mueller look bad; b) the DOJ look bad; c) the Clintons look bad; d) the entire Democratic Party look bad; e) All of the above. Now somehow that rings true to me assuming Mueller has the balls to tell the truth. What do you think?

Why President Trump hasn’t fired the whole damn bunch, baffles me. The whole thing is a farce and a hoax and a huge waste of taxpayer’s hard earned cash. The people of America have not benefitted one iota. Why do we have to continually have to suffer this foolishness?

 

Posted on by Dick Posted in Dick Jacobsen, Rants and Opinions, Writing
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Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered Am I

I am at a crossroad. I am being told that a man that I admire intellectually; since grade school, has strived to become a Supreme Court Judge, but along the way has had a few stumbles like partying and drinking to excess regularly, womanizing, running drug rings and sex slave cults.  I have a woman with a PhD in Educational Psychology, telling me she was sexually compromised (nearly raped) by a man when she was in college and at age 51 has still not come to grips with it. I have scientists (and non-scientists) telling me that man, is singlehandedly causing global warming and the earths demise. I have people telling me the Holocaust didn’t happen. Recently I had a friend, whom I love and admire, tell me that the “President’s Alarm” is a Big Brother ploy to infiltrate our daily lives and spy on our cell phone activity. I have heard speech after speech telling me Socialism is good/bad for me. I have heard, as I am sure everyone has, especially at election time that Candidates are Saints/Devils. What am I to believe? (Keeping in mind here that I am 80 years old, with a tad of historical background.)

When I am perplexed, bewildered, unclear, or confused, I make an effort to gather facts, data and historical information to shed light on the my quandary.
1.) When it comes to election palaver the thing I am guided by is a saying by Mark Twain, or Will Rogers. “Remember that after all the slurs, slings and arrows have been hurled before election day, you are charged with voting for and living with one of the creeps.” Or something to that effect. Get it?
2.) Is Socialism good/bad. I am the first generation son of Danish Immigrants who left Denmark in search of a better life. I will say no more, except, Socialism is not good for Americans.
3.) My wife and I were recently evacuated from our home due to the devistating Carr Fire in Redding California. Phone Calls from friends and finally a Red Alert on my cell phone from CalFire convinced me that I had best clear out. I was evacuated for 10 days, the fire literally licked at my front door, but all was saved, most importantly my wife’s life and those of my pets. I think the “President’s Alarm” is a good thing.
4.) Nearly 25,000,000 (Twenty Five Million) people died as a direct result of World War Two. Around 6,000,000 humans, 25% of the total were of Jewish descent. People of Jewish descent equaled less than 1/10 of 1% of the World Population at that time. That, to me is a pretty good indication that the Jews were singled out for horrific deaths and that the Holocaust really did happen. There is also the glaring fact that I lived through that period of world history and was well aware of what was going on.
5.) The Earth is 4,543,000,000 (4.53 Billion, with a B, years old). Humans have inhabited earth for 200,000 (Two hundred thousand years or .0044%). History has recorded human activity for 6,000 years (6 thousand or 0.000132%). Those 200,000 year olds were of a primative sort, and probably had little effect on warming. The Industrial Revolution started in mid-1700’s, but it wasn’t until the mid-1800’s that the world started belching steam and smoke. We are now in the early 2ooo’s, 180 years later, (or 0.000004% of Earth’s age). I have a very hard time believing that man, in that period of time, as come to comprehend the earths climate cycles, although we do understand (I think) that Ice Ages occur every 100,000 years, and Saharan Cycles occur every 20,000 years. Obviously there is more to this topic than this paragraph, but this is enough to make me thank the President for standing up to the Paris Accord money pit.
6.) I remember “petting parties” in the 50’s, when I was in highschool, when both boys and girls got together, consentually, had to sneak alcohol, smeared lipstick all over each others faces, smudged (caused something to become messily smeared by rubbing it), and knotted up the angora on our girlfriends sweaters and then, with hormones raging, went home and took a cold shower. I’m sure the vast majority of us, boys and girls alike, were there for the experience. Some of us had good experiences (thanks Doreen, to this day I remember your pink softness and sweet smell), others not so good. The 80’s were another 30 years in the making, fully absorbing the “Lovin 60’s and Swingin 70’s” and I’m sure that alcohol was more prevalent, knowledge was vaster and expectations were higher. The desire for experience was just as powerful in the 80’s, I am confident of that fact. I’m sure the 80’s experiences were good and not so good, as well. Enough said.
7.)  It is hard for me to understand how a person who has strived to be a Supreme Court Judge all his life also found time to be passed out drunk on regular occasions, a serial rapist and a drug lord. (Ted Bundy does come to mind, but he didn’t serve 28 years in public service, mostly as a Judge. Serial raping seems like something you would do earlier in life, but certainly not in highschool or while on the bench.) I also have a hard time convicting someone when there is no corroborating evidence that a crime was committed.

I guess, when you look at it, I’m not as confused as I thought.

 

Posted on by Dick Posted in #ItsTimeForAction, Dick Jacobsen, Rants and Opinions, Writing
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Really, Ranking Member? REALLY?

Can I no longer believe my eyes and ears? Can I no longer trust anything people say? Am I the only one seeing and listening? Please help me, I am drowning in a sea of uncertainty and disbelief? GLUG, GLug, Glug, glug, glu, gl, g. bloop.

1.) The Ranking Member said she received “The Letter” from Dr. Ford “in July”. For accuracies sake lets say July 15.
2.) “The Letter” is leaked six weeks later (say September 1)
3.) Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh go through a three week “living hell”, death threats, slander and libel, name calling, pure character assassination and utter distruction of their personal personal reputaions.
4.) On September 27 and 28, Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh testify before the “Senate Judiciary Committee”. (The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, informally the Senate Judiciary Committee, is a standing committee of 21 U.S. Senators whose role is to oversee the Department of Justice, consider executive nominations, and review pending legislation.) Their task on the 27th and 28th was to report to the Senate that they did or didn’t recommend Judge Kavanaugh to become a Supreme Court Judge.

The world watched the entire fiasco play out on televisions “gavel to gavel coverage”, and when all was said and done, the Committee in all their indecisive wisdom chose to delay everything for one more week. Democrats smiled and hugged eachother, Republicans shook their heads and Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh just shook at the thought of another 7days of death threats and character assassination.

What really should have happened?
1.) The Ranking Member should have received the letter on July 15th, read the letter immediately contacted Dr. Ford.
2.) The Ranking Member should have asked Dr. Ford if she had any corroborating evidence.
3.) When the answer was no, the Ranking Member should have thanked Dr. Ford for her doing her civic duty, that she, the Ranking Member, could not drag Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh through the mud with unsubstantiated accusations.
4.) If Dr. Ford insisted she wanted to go ahead, the Ranking Member should have informed the Chair of what she had immediately (July 16th) and asked for an Investigation into the matter, BEHIND CLOSD DOORS. The American people and especially the Creepy Porn Lawyer should never have known about this.

None of the following 9 weeks should have happened, unless of course it was the Ranking Members intention to smear Judge Kavanaugh and derail the Committee process. Even if Judge Kavanaugh is guilty of a High School indescretion that occured 36 years ago, he does not deserve to have his entire life nullified. I am appalled Ranking Member. You have made a mockery of the “Rule of Law”. You have lied, leaked and cheated the American People out of a highly qualified Supreme Court Justice Candidate. The Ranking Member needs to be severed from the body. The Ranking Member has just become the Rankest Member.  Mr. Flake certainly is.