An Unexpected Musical Treat

30 years ago, when I was in 8th grade, me and my friend Eggs went to see Crosby and Nash in Deutschland. They were quite good so when I got the chance to see them again last night at the Grand Opera House, I jumped at the chance. They still impress me.

Jeff (Barclay) Murphy Now a PMP®

Did you know that I took the Project Management certification exam from the Project Management Institute (PMI) in May--and passed? I am now a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a senior-level project manager. The Project Management Institute (PMI) is the world's leading not-for-profit association for the project management profession.

So there.

Ever since I updated my online resumes with this information, I have headhunters calling me. Sweet.

Cruisin' Time

So me and my new bride are finally going to take our honeymoon cruise to Bermuda since I was too sick to go after our wedding last September. I suppose I should be buying some nice piece of bling for my wife, although traditionally it's paper. I wonder if photo printer paper counts?

Free Interactive Calendars Rock

I am enjoying being able to use an interactive calendar for my trailer visitors, blocking out special events, and band bookings--and anyone can write to it! I find, since it's free, it does not always work (says it's busy), but a click of the refresh button and it comes right back. We'll see how the "Trailer Park All Stars" enjoy using it.

My Own Buddy Guy 'Review'

While Ryan had it mostly right, I had to post my own take on the Buddy Guy show at Philly's Kimmel Center.

Much to Learn from Both Sides

I understand my right from left. I know there are "sides" to the aisle. I lean one way but I can understand both sides. That does not mean, after hearing the arguments, that I am always persuaded.

Everyone seems to have a point to make, but it's the debate that informs both sides in and of most any issue. This is what informs and enlightens a democracy. Too bad too many people think they are too old to learn.

Whenever I hear a heated conservative espousing a viewpoint, it's amazing how passionate yet stubborn they can be. But they have their views, they are sticking to them, and detractors can go spit. I admire that. In fact, it's my family motto: "My life. I live it. I love it. Criticism be damned." It's close-minded but shows strength of conviction. It's a shame to live in a world of absolutes, though, being so inflexible that you are unable to admit you might be wrong.

This idea that liberals somehow prefer to concern themselves with the happiness of the many over the conservative's obsession with individual rights strikes me as a good idea and a place to start since both views have their merits. Equating majority rule with mob rule as they do is, however, a faulty comparison.

Let's talk about rights. Individual rights. The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution--the right hates it when you call it "the Bill of Rights"--guarantees some rights, at least in theory. (Ask Imus about the Freedom of Speech thing.) People talk about extra rights, rights to privacy, states rights. Is there a right to be wrong? People seem to think so, especially conspiracy theorists and holocaust revisionists. But these are not matters of opinion, so I suppose you have a right to display your ignorance. In the free market of ideas, you may find detractors, but stick to your guns! If you prefer your own worldview, fine, but please don't pass a viewpoint off as fact.

Do smokers have rights? It seems not, when the tide against tobacco was legitimized by lawsuits and studies showing its harmful effects. But is there such a thing? What are smokers' rights? Ha! They never had any, so the privilege to smoke is being curbed. Conservatives hate smokers, but doesn't that go against their indiviual rights argument? Or can they admit that the actions of a few should not infringe on the rights of the majority?

Put out that cigarette, pariah! Do you like being a Phillip Morris tool? Smokers stink! Well, I prefer smoke over someone's rambling invective and lame justifications for war (remember Hans Blix? Hmmm... he said the WMDs were not there, but no one remembers that, evidently). I will fight for something I believe in, so I hope our boys do, too. They thought we were done. Were not the poor Iraqis liberated years ago, remember? The mission was accomplished, no?

Quit smoking and give that money you save to the war effort if you care so deeply about it. Is that deductible? I don't think behavior can be legislated but that doesn't stop either legislative side from doing it. Remember Prohibition? Nice experiment there, experimenters.

Before you tell me about how all democrats want to do is take your rights away, read the PATRIOT Act (yes it actually stands for something). You think the Bill of Rights is offensive? Neocons are quick to say that the Constitution does not provide for privacy rights, so the government, like your employer, has every right to listen in on your conversations.

We better find the common ground and fast before the experiment backfires on our ass. Doing what is right for the most amount of people usually makes sense. One of the biggest minorities around is rich people and they are targets to be sure. The price of financial success is an unfair tax rate, maintains the right--they earned that money (just in admittedly disproportionate amounts--who can justify the obscene amounts provided corporate CEOs of failing companies?)! They are the lucky few who know how to manipulate the system to a farcical degree. Their taxes are relatively low when compared to other countries. And talk about special rights and "buying" votes--this minority has more sway and say than any other. I don't feel sorry for these entrepreneurs that turn nothing into big business, then screw up and get caught in their own accounting lies. They don't know what prison is.

Business competition is healthy, but when is enough money enough? The answer in the U.S. today: never. More profits, better returns. The free market, in both ideas and goods/services, may not be sustainable if we don't learn from the best thinkers of our times, despite their political affiliations.