It's amazing, and a little frightening, how much things can change in a week.
Or how much they can stay the same.
It's another beautiful Saturday in Altamonte Springs, just like it was last Saturday. Again, I have thrown open the door and thrown up the windows (actually, if you ever start throwing up windows, see a doctor) to let the slightly more humid 70 degree air in from the outside. I can tell it's more humid, as the goat skin on my bodhran is sagging a bit. Some day I will offer the whole bodhran lecture, but for now it's on to more serious things.
This week, there's news of more dead American soldiers in Iraq.
Last week, I mentioned the 10 Marines killed while on patrol there. They must have been on patrol, since CNN even provided a computer generated video showing them walking in that herky-jerky way consistant with cheap C G I.
At the time I couldn't understand how people as well trained as US Marines would forget one of the basic rules of combat tactics; spread out, so one shell doesn't get everybody.
Now we know the reason.
These guys were not on a combat mission at all.
They were at a party, celebrating the promotion of three of their fellow Marines, when somebody stepped on a mine.
To compound the tragedy, it appears the Pentagon was late in telling the families the truth about what really happened.
Now, I don't insist we know the exact location of every service man or woman in Iraq. I don't want Geraldo drawing in the dirt to show the locations of Army units in relation to Iraqi units.
I just want our government to stop treating its people like idiot children by lying to them.
That's what FOX News is for.
(And no, I'm not giving them a link.)

There is a DVD out there I wish everyone could see. Since it's at my local Borders Book Store, perhaps everyone can.
It's call OUT OF IRELAND, and it traces the history of Irish Rock and Roll from the "Showband" era of the '60's thru the borderline "Paddyism" of Riverdance.
You can follow the link, if you want to read about it.
If you do get it, pay close attention to a brief clip of the Beatles appearing in Ireland...they are being interviewed by somebody from RTE, or Irish Television, and the announcer introduces George as "a real Irishman, George Harrison".
Before he can say another word, John Lennon says emphatically "Hey, we're ALL Irish here!"
This, I think, is the missing element to all the Lennon tributes circling the globe this December 8th.
As most know, it was 25 years ago today that Lennon was shot in front of the Dakota Apartments near Central Park in New York City.
Perhaps we are tempted to imagine (no pun intended) what Lennon would have done with the last 25 years if only he were running a bit late and Mark David Chapman got bored and left...or decided to focus his attentions on one of Lennon's contemporaries.
If the shots aren't fired 25 years ago, I speculate Lennon would have grown as an artist...and become a real "pain in the arse" to alot of politicians.
Especially Maggie Thatcher.
I also believe that the "troubles" in Northern Ireland, especially the hunger strike deaths of Bobby Sands and 9 others (less than a year after Lennon's own death) would have angered him to the point of devestating creation. His own song The Luck of the Irish appears to be a hint of things to come.
So, once he settled the conflict in Ireland's 6 northern counties, he likely would have gone on to other things.
I believe he would have stayed in New York, and eventually become an American Citizen. I'm not sure what he would have thought of Reagan, and Bush 1 may not have made any impression at all. While he probably would have liked Clinton, and vice versa, I can't help but think he would have despised the current resident of the White House.
He was just a musician, but among the Irish, an ability to use the arts in a sarcastic manner is a skill to be cherished.
He knew that instinctively.
John Lennon might have become a new type of bard, or he might have spent most of his time at home, popping up as a guest on albums or singing the occasion duet with people he liked. The concept of a "Duets" album, like the one Frank Sinatra did.
boggles the mind, when you think of all the people he could sing with. He might even have considered singing with his old mates by now, perhaps as a special "millenium" thing for Dick Clark.
Yet, I can't help but think that Lennon might even be more drawn to sing with somebody like Black 47 or the Moody Blues, just to keep 'em guessing.
This past October, he would have turned 65.
I am sorry he couldn't retire on his own.

Back in October, the local Public Radio outlet, WMFE was smack in the middle of it's fundraising program when Hurrican Wilma threatened.
For those of you who aren't regular public radio listeners, the week (or more) of fundraising is a chance for the "suits" to step in front of the mic and shill for money to allegedly "keep the station on the air". It means $200 tote bags and $50 coffee mugs or a chance to see "The Capitol Steps" at the Plaza Theatre.
Now, I've never heard of a PBS station going dark for lack of funding, but to listen to these guys you'd think they were just two pledges away from becoming another Bithlo trailer park.
Their approach is something out of a cheap gangster movie.
You know the scene; a well dressed thug right out of a Damon Runyon short story, using alot of "dee's" and "doe's" but never a contraction, is telling the migrant small businessman that it would be really "unfortunate if something un-to-ward" were to happen to his push cart or pawn shop. Fortunately, "for certain financial considerations", our friendly neighborhood wiseguy will see to it that the place is protected...from people like him.
Meanwhile, back at WMFE, the pitch is much the same; "We understand how much you enjoy Morning Edition (or All Things Considered or Car Talk or Market Place), and it would be really unfortunate if something were to 'happen' to your favorite program".
I swear you can almost hear him casually drop a stack of CD's for emphasis.
While this isn't exactly illegal, their other approach ought to be.
Between the veiled threats of program cancellation, you will hear happy PBS celebrities congratulating WMFE on "40 years of serving Central Florida"...
Well, not exactly.
You see, WMFE RADIO went on the air in 1980...I know some people who were there when they threw the switch, and, based on my Catholic School math skills, I figure the station to be just 25 years old.
WMFE TV, on the other hand, really did start broadcasting in 1965. So it's the TV station that all these Public Radio people are congratulating.
I wonder if anybody has 'fessed up to Steve Inskeep or Renee Montagne.
All this aside, WMFE probably could use a dollar or two thrown their way. The are not connected to a College as so many PBS stations are. Both UCF and Rollins College have their own stations.
And, apparently we didn't take earlier threats seriously enough...it seems that this Fiona Chick just sort of disappeared from WMFE one day...
Now DAT was "really unfortunate".

Well, another weekend has slipped away...it's back to Civil Servicing to the poor and overlooked in Orlando Monday morning, and I'm just not ready.
As often happens, what I planned to do this weekend will have to wait until next.
I was going to hang last years lights over the front of the unofficial Irish-American Culteral Center of Altamonte Springs, it being December already, but life got in the way. I sorta feel bad, since, after all, nothing says "Welcome Baby Jesus" like lighting up your house like a Vegas casino.
Christmas falls on a Sunday this year...It used to be so cool when that happened when I was a kid. We had to go to Mass on both Sunday and Christmas (Mass being the Catholic service, and not the state north of Rhode Island...although, we used to do that too.) So when you could kill two birds...you get the idea. The concept of Midnight Mass threw a "spanner in the works" (as John Lennon might say), but I was willing to sit through the whole thing because of the music and the incense. You can still find Christmas Carols, but I haven't been able to find that same scent that was used in the liturgy.
I will, as a matter of heritage, put candles in my windows (even if they are the electric bulb kind).
Back in an English occupied Ireland, the custom arose of putting candles in the windows. If a Red-Coated officer would inquire what the meaning was, the obviously superstitious native would claim that it was "an invitation to the traveling Joseph and Mary to stop in, and not have to deal with a full Inn, etc".
As he turned away, probably shaking his powdered wig covered head, the Brit never realized the true meaning.
The candles were an overt invitation to any outlawed priest to come in and say the forbidden Christmas Mass under the occupiers very nose.
Thats the problem with occupying a foreign country; the natives often have you defeated before you even start.

While some people who work all week focus on that TGIF thing, I have always looked forward to Saturday mornings.
As a kid, it meant cartoons on the TV and a bowl of cereal in front of me...these days, it's CNN with the sound turned down and internet radio. This morning it's WFUV out of Fordham University, playing Irish music while I whip up a 3 egg omlet with sun-dried tomatoes, asiago cheese and garlic.
Why, yes, I do live alone. Why do you ask?
Anyhow, it's Saturday, so I woke up at around the same time I am usually due to be at work, taking great joy in the fact that I didn't have to make that half hour commute into the city. I made the coffee and opened the front door, allowing the unusually dry air to circulate through the house. It is 60 degrees here, with an expected high of 70.
On CNN, the reporter was talking about how we lost 10 more Marines this week in one massive explosion just outside Fallujah. They were reported to be based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, but now CNN is saying most of them were from the 29 palms area in Southern California.
But before we can get too far into questioning why we are losing our best and brightest in Dick and Dubyah's Excellent Adventure, that liberal media switches to a "good news" story.
The Number three Al Queada guy is dead!
Now before you run and get the really good wine and a clean tumbler, I am going to print his name. Let's try a little experment. Read the name once, then look away from your computer screen and see if you can repeat it from memory. Here goes;
ABU HAMZA RABIA
Ring any bells? Is this the guy Bush said he would bring to justice "dead or alive"? Has anyone EVER heard of the guy? Apparently his house in Pakistan just blew up. Likely one of those unmanned drone planes took him out, along with unnamed others. This is the "number three guy"...mission accomplished.
Now some of you might ask why we have Marines being blown up in Iraq, when we can just send a drone to Pakistan to kill bad guys. Well, as some right-wing media types would answer "why do you hate America?" so there!
Before I turn off CNN in disgust, I notice an earthquake has hit Southern California, just east of Los Angeles. No reports of injuries or damage, but I have a good friend there and will call as soon as I can (being mindful of the time change).
I wonder how many California Marine families were getting the word that their lives have been shattered forever...just as the earth itself began to shake.
At least here in Altamonte Springs it's a beautiful, peaceful day...I hope it is for you as well.