Hammer Mill Days

I can play any instrument. Piano, bass, six string guitar, five string guitar - I broke a g-string yesterday (note that I didn't say I could play them well ) - kazoo, contra-bass kazoo ... I think that's about it. That's all the instruments there are, right? Actually, I'm not super good at any of those instruments. If I were, then I would be insufferable or famous or something; perhaps both. Or neither. Well, that covers all of the possibilities. I don't like leaving things to chance. (And I don't mean Chance the gardener.) Thing is, I like playing instruments, even if I do it, well ... badly. So even though I've never been what I would describe as a punk musician, I do share that piece of the punk ethos - technical skill on your axe is not paramount. So if you see me strumming an acoustic guitar, don't look for a pick; I basically use thumb and forefinger. Piano? Just thumbs. Gotta move fast to make that work. Many instrumentalists leave distincti...

There's a lot to say about the Republican's craven plan to push through a massive tax plan in a matter of days. I needn't point out that the final bill is likely to be a cobbled together mess, one that we'll be struggling with for many years to come if it ever finds its way to Trump's signing hand. Nor do I need to repeat the obvious fact that this is a tremendous giveaway to the richest Americans, to corporations, and to the GOP's donor base, one that demonstrates the degree to which the Republicans' supposed concern over budget deficits is just another ploy. What I find most infuriating about this legislation is that it is being proffered at a time when its chief beneficiaries - the richest of the rich - are doing just fine, thank you very much, and corporate America is sailing from strength to strength. The last thing they need is more money in their pockets. This is also a time when our armed forces are deployed in conflicts all around the world. Trump...