Where’s the Outrage?

I read the following in E.L Doctorow’s novel World’s Fair, which is an account of growing up in New York City in years just before American entrance into W.W. II —

” …Major Bowes’ Original Amateur Hour, a radio program. Aspiring musicians were contestants on the program, and if they were no good, Major Bowes would ( bang a gong) to stop their performance. It made you laugh even though it could not have been funny to whoever it was who might have been rehearsing for weeks to be heard on the radio and hoping to win a professional contract from the appearance.”

While this is from a novel, the show did in fact exist.

This is pretty much the same as The Gong Show that ran in the late 70s. I enjoyed The Gong Show as a kid but today I’m sure I would find it very mean just as I find many so-called reality shows. However, I might still watch The Gong Show because it was absurd. I think I would watch it but not admit that I do.

I’m sure plenty of people knew The Gong Show was an imitation of another show. But I never knew.

Here is what is says in the Bible: “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.”

Here is a link to the Major Bowes’ Amateur Hour.

Here is information about Edward Bowes.

Here is information about The Gong Show.

Here is information about Gong Show host Chuck Barris.

Here is a review of World’s Fair.

Tags: Books, General by Texas Liberal
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There has been yet another Friday afternoon dustup in this political campaign. Barack Obama was speaking in San Francisco last week (yes, last week– it took this long for somebody to find the video). He was entering a question about why some Pennsylvania voters are finding it hard to get behind his campaign. As usual, Obama gave a very thoughtful answer:

“But the truth is, is that, our challenge is to get people persuaded that we can make progress when there’s not evidence of that in their daily lives. You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”

Hillary Clinton, because her campaign is desperate, and John McCain, because he’s a Republican, have both jumped on this statement. They make accusations of Obama being an elitist (McCain may be the richest man in the Senate and Clinton made over $109 million in the last seven years. And THEY are calling Obama elitist? That’s rich…pun intended). Further accusations toward Obama of not respecting gunowners or religious God-fearing people have been recklessly thrown out. (more…)

 

 Obama defends the latest: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Election 2008, Religion by ecthompson
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I first heard these guys on the soundtrack of Mask. I love their infectious zoot suit style.

Here’s Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

 

 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Pin Stripe: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Music by ecthompson
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Well, it is about time that Jon Stewart took on Fox. Jon Oliver presents the Meter is is Running.

Tags: The Daily Show by ecthompson
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Every now and then you have to do something nice for your mother. My mother watches The View and Oprah. She very much believes in the new power of women. She pointed me to Senator Barack Obama on The View.

Here’s the part that killed Senator John McCain (who was also on The View this week) and Senator Hillary Clinton. Obama is simply a likeable guy. He isn’t stiff or wooden like Kerry or Gore. As a result, it is hard to paint him as an elitist like those others are trying to do. He talks openly about race and Reverend Wright.

 

 Barack Obama on the View: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tags: Election 2008, Media, Race by ecthompson
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Phil Donahue has co-produced a new movie called “Body of War.” He talks about his movie on the Morning Joe newscast.

(Bill Moyers has a great interview with Donahue as well).

Tags: Iraq, Media by ecthompson
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I’m back in town and my blog is back up and running. We’ve experienced power outages and server malfunctions.

In my recent travels (not on American Airlines), I’ve had ‘airport craziness.’  I just want to know if it’s possible for two successive flights to actually leave on time and arrive on time in the United States. I’m just asking…

Congress sees what’s going on and yet they do nothing. Travel is clearly getting worse, not better, yet we see no significant legislation to help travelers.

Tags: Congress, Domestic Issues by ecthompson
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