Silverchair “Anthem for the Year 2000

By Darlene Mitchell March 26, 2021 March 26, 2021 Gun Control, Gun Issues, Jukebox Choice, Music, Social Issues, Videos

Silverchair “Anthem for the Year 2000”

Silverchair “Anthem for the year 2000

Silverchair were three school mates that came together and rose to international stardom in 1995. They were all 15 years old when they recorded their first album, Frogstomp, was a pleasant mix of Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Like all groups over the years their sound has morphed. Their debut album topped the Australian charts and broke the Top Ten in America, making them the first Australian group since INXS to have significant success in the States. T. K. McNeil suggested today’s Calamity Jukebox Choice of the Day, Silverchair doing “Anthem for the year 2000” and as usual he got a “hell, yeah!” response from me and the parakeet. T. K. wanted readers to know that this song was written and recorded in response to a political movement in the 1990’s in Australia. “In the late 90 a far-right party was running on repealing the gun laws. These were the gun laws instituted after the Port Arthur Massacre. Lyrics are below. Enjoy! DSM

**The Port Arthur massacre of 28–29 April 1996 was a mass shooting in which 35 people were killed and 23 wounded in Port Arthur, Tasmania. The murderer, Martin Bryant, pleaded guilty and was given 35 life sentences without possibility of parole. Wikipedia

Anthem for the Year 2000

by Silverchair

We are the youth

We’ll take your fascism away
We are the youth
Apologize for another day
We are the youth
The politicians are so sure
We are the youth
And we are knocking on death’s door

Never knew we were living in a world
With a mind that could be so sure
Never knew we were living in a world
With a mind that could be so small
Never knew we were living in a world
And the world is an open court
Maybe we don’t wanna live in a world
Where our innocence is so short

We’ll make it up to you
In the year 2000 with

We’ll make it up to you
In the year 2000
Build it up for you
In the year 2000
Make up to you
In the year 2000
Build it up for you
In the year 2000 with you

Never knew we were living in a world
With a world that could be so sure
Never knew we were living in a world
With a mind that could be so small
Never knew we were living in a world
And the world is an open court
Maybe we don’t wanna live in a world
Where no one even cares at all

We’ll make it up to you
In the year 2000
Build it up for you
In the year 2000
Make it hard for you
In the year 2000

Build it up for you
In the year 2000
Make it hard for you
In the year 2000
Build it up for you
In the year 2000 with you

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Daniel Johns

Anthem for the Year 2000 lyrics © Sony Music Australia

Reading The Fine Print Before You Sign

By Darlene Mitchell March 25, 2021 March 25, 2021 Contracts, Digital Freedom, Privacy & Personal Information, Science & Technology

Reading The Fine Print Before You Sign

READING THE FINE PRINT:

17 Phrases To Understand Before You Sign

By D. S. Mitchell

Red Flags

Most consumer contracts and service agreements contain a lot of legaleeze. Best selling author Bob Sullivan warns consumers to read the fine print. Red flags should go up when you see any of the following common phrases in a contract you are about to sign.

1.) “Free” We all know nothing is free. You have probably heard the expression, “if you aren’t paying for the product-then you are the product.” The meaning of course is that your personal information is probably being sold to advertisers. OR, maybe it is free now, but you may be committing to pay later. WHICH, takes us to:

2.) “Free Trial” You often see phrases like this one, “Free 30 day trial.” (We won’t charge your card until the end of the trial period.) Do you really expect to remember to cancel on the 29th day? Corporations have spent millions of dollars to learn that the average consumer will not cancel before the end of the 30 day period.

3.) “Reduced Price for Six Months” This one falls in the same category as ‘introductory price offer’ and ‘free trial’ scam. $59.00 a month for six months may sound great in January, but if it is going up to $150.00 in June is it actually a good deal? You are the only one that can decide that. And again, will you remember to cancel before July 1st if you decide that the high monthly price after the six month period isn’t worth it?

David Shadrick “Let’s Get Vaccinated”

By Darlene Mitchell March 22, 2021 March 22, 2021 Calamity Video Casts, Coronavirus COVID-19, David Shadrick, Disease, Health Care, Medical, Vaccinations

David Shadrick “Let’s Get Vaccinated”

Since Joe Biden’s inauguration the federal government has put 100,000,000 COVID-19 vaccines in arms of Americans. Some people don’t want to get it because Trump has been publicly “anti-vaccer.” But now even this last week the fat orange one told his people to go get the vaccine, after it came out that Melania and Donald got their vaccines, a couple months ago in secret. Well as usual Donald is a day late and a dollar short. Let’s stay focused folks, let’s don’t break ranks now, we are so close to having this Pandemic behind us. Do the patriot thing, wear a mask and get vaccinated, it’s the American thing to do!

https://www.calamitypolitics.com/2019/01/02/value-of-vaccinations/

“Vancouver Rocks” Brighten Vancouver

By Darlene Mitchell March 20, 2021 March 20, 2021 Arts & Entertainment, Humor

Vancouver Rocks leaves all these wonderful rocks around my neighborhood. These are just a few of the ones I have found. What fun. Check if your town has a “rock” club, they have popped up around the country. I love each and every one of them. Thanks for the smiles, Vancouver Rocks. DSM

Medicare: Choosing The Right Plan

By Darlene Mitchell March 20, 2021 March 21, 2021 Health Care, Medicare, Senior & Elderly Issues

Medicare: Choosing The Right Plan

Medicare is one of the most transformative laws in U.S. history

Medicare: Choosing The Right Plan

by D. S. Mitchell

AARP Contribution

I am convinced one of the best publications for a senior citizen is AARP magazine. This little newspaper is a gem. A year ago Dena Burns wrote an article on how to be a smart consumer when it comes to Medicare benefits. I thought her observations were worth passing on.

Important Calendar Events

I can’ t stress this enough. When it comes to signing up for Medicare, time matters. So, sign up on time to avoid hassles and higher monthly premiums. The initial enrollment time is called the IEP, unless you have health insurance through your job or your spouse’s. The IEP spans 7 months; the month a beneficiary turns 65 and the 3 months before and after that birthday. Missing the IEP can cost you, for the rest of your life. Here’s how it works for parts A, B, and D.

Part A: This is the hospitalization portion of the program and covers hospital stays and short term nursing facilities. If you miss your deadline you will have no coverage until you enroll.
Part B: This portion of the program covers doctor services, outpatient and preventive care along with some covered medical supplies. If you miss your enrollment deadline your premium will increase by 10 percent for every 12 months you are overdue in signing up. As an example, if you sign up 2 years late you will pay an estimated $6,500 more in monthly premiums over the next 20 years.
Part D: Part D helps pay for prescription medications. In this case, if you miss your IEP your monthly premium will increase by 1% each month you remain unenrolled. In 2019 the average monthly premium was $31.83. As an example, if you delay for 24 months to enroll, you will pay an additional $8.00 per month for your coverage for life. (* I personally have a story regarding Part D. I was hit with the additional 1% when I filed nearly 2 years late for Part D. In my case it was my employers fault and when I appealed the decision and it’s penalty I won the appeal because my employer had failed to provide the information to me, although they had provided all the enrollment information on Parts A and B.*) So, remember, in some cases you can appeal the ruling and win, but it is easier to do it right to start with.
Once you are enrolled it is important to make a note each year that between October 15 and December 7 you can legally switch coverage for the upcoming year.

The Old Testament Is Not A Christian Book

By Darlene Mitchell March 18, 2021 March 18, 2021 Censorship, Christianity, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of the Press, Jesus Christ, Opinion

The Old Testament Is Not Christian Book

OPINION:

The Old Testament Is Not A Christian Book

By I.B. Freely

God Hates You

There seems to be a particular reputation which Christians have gotten over the last few decades. One that has lead several disaffected youth to “go atheist.” Nothing wrong with being atheist if that is what you want, but going against “The Rules” because they are there is just another kind of conformity. Particularly considering that anyone who would claim to be Christian and then judge, let alone hate, anyone for “religious reasons” are doing it wrong.

Thou Shalt Not

Christian Conservatives can quote the Old Testament chapter and verse all they like, a bit ironic considering their general attitude to our Jewish friends, but it won’t make a lot of difference. Not least because, stay with me here, THE OLD TESTAMENT IS NOT A CHRISTIAN BOOK! Forgive me the shouting but few things bend my wand like so-called “Christians” who don’t seem to realize that the Old Testament (otherwise known as the Torah), was mostly the Bible as background for Jesus. It is part of the Christian story but not the main plot. Including that bit in Exodus, 22:18 to be exact, about not suffering a witch to live.

Cool Guy Christ

Jesus was nothing but clear on his opinion when it came to accepting others. Unafraid to sit with outsiders he made friends and disciples of the dregs of society at the time. Lepers, both social and literal, accepted by him. Jesus making friends and even disciples of prostitutes and tax collectors. He is mostly known for driving money changers from the temple but that was a special case.

Choice Quotes

Some of J-man’s most famous and memorable quotes are on this theme. “Judge not lest ye be judged” could not be any clearer. The “treat thy neighbor as they self” also seems pretty cut and dry. Apparently the judgmental and pious among us are just as open to the same sort of treatment. Otherwise they would be massive hypocrites. The clearest indication of what Jesus really meant, particularly for those who take the bit about being made in God’s image to mean they are literally God, is the bit about stones.

Sticks & Stones

The clearest indication that the rules had changed between Testaments is “let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” Stoning was a popular mode of punishment before the arrival of Christ, used for “infractions against the lord” from adultery to working on the Sabbath and mixing fabrics. What Jesus was helpfully pointing out is none of us are perfect. So if you are going to punish someone for their sins, you’d better make darn sure you don’t have any yourself. The general idea being that judgement properly lies with God. As does vengeance as it turns out. The full quote on which the phrase vengeance is based is “vengeance is mine, saith the Lord.” Judgement, punishment and vengeance are not for humans to take. At least for those who call themselves Christians.

Wise Words

Someone who laid things out in a cogent, and funny, way was Frank Zappa. In reaction to the attempts by the Christian Republicans at the Parent’s Music Resource Center to label records they didn’t like, Zappa opted to apply his own warning sticker to his 1985 album Frank Zappa Meets the Mother of Prevention:

“WARNING GUARANTEE: This album contains material which a truly free society would neither fear nor suppress. In some socially retarded areas, religious fanatics and ultra-conservative political organizations violate your First Amendment Rights by attempting to censor rock & roll albums. We feel that this is Un-Constitutional and Un-American. As an alternative to these government-supported programs (designed to keep you docile and ignorant). Barking Pumpkin is pleased to provide stimulating digital audio entertainment for those of you who have outgrown the ordinary.

The language and concepts contained herein are GUARANTEED NOT TO CAUSE ETERNAL TORMENT IN THE PLACE WHERE THE GUY WITH THE HORNS AND POINTED STIK CONDUCTS HIS BUSINESS.

This guarantee is as real as the threat of the video fundamentalists who use attacks on rock music in their attempt to transform America into a nation of check-mailing nincompoops (in the name of Jesus Christ). If there is a hell, its fires wait for them, not us.”

The Loudest Voices

That’s it. Don’t let religious fundamentalists take away the right of free speech (guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution) in the name of Jesus, when those folks keep proving they are taking their message from the wrong book.

https://www.calamitypolitics.com/category/more-topics/brexit/

Tom MacDonald “No Lives Matter”

By Darlene Mitchell March 17, 2021 March 17, 2021 Jukebox Choice, Music, Videos

Tom MacDonald “No Lives Matter”

Jukebox Choice of the Day is Tom MacDonald singing “No Lives Matter.” So today, again, T.K. McNeil won the vote. Here is his Calamity News and Politics music interlude. LOL. Enjoy. DSM. Lyrics below.

No Lives Matter

Tom MacDonald

Hip Hop died, it’s full of guys who cannot even rap (facts)

Media dividing us by colors, white or black (facts)
If you believe in Jesus, these days Christians get attacked (facts)
If you don’t hate police then everybody thinks you’re wack

And everything’s so connected
Black Lives Matter got so aggressive
White folks who agree can’t support the message
Both sides go to war ’cause they don’t respect it
Our social climate from the global tension
Turned to total violence and a whole depression
We could unify and then all go against them
But we let ’em divide us with votes and elections

the music we bump
All about shooting guns and doing drugs
(Ay, whoa) the things that we want
Are promoted subliminally through the songs like
You need a fast car, you need designer clothes
You need a rap star
To tell you to start popping pills
Hit the blunt and go live at the club ’til you’re broke

It’s all controlled by the elites
Pull fake news all over our screens
Convincing the right to go fight with the left
And distract from the fact it’s each other we need, uh
Divided by race and religion
Segregated into teams, uh
You’re a white supremacists
If you’re not, I guess you ANTIFA

Screaming from the rooftops, beatdown, battered
Turned us on each other, now no lives matter
If we do what the news wants, blood gon’ splatter
Turn us on each other ’til no lives matter

Freedom’s dead, if you have an opinion, take it back (facts)
People hate the president, if you don’t then you trash (facts)
Indoctrinate the nation using news and mainstream rap (facts)
The government abuses us, it’s all part of the plan (facts)

And it’s so confusing
Black Lives Matter is a valuable movement
But All Lives Matter ain’t racist or stupid
It’s non-black humans who don’t feel included
All colors fall under laws that govern
The whole country and we all suffer
We’re all broke and nobody recovers
Until we accept that we’re all brothers

the music we make
All about big booties and getting paid
(Ay, whoa) we watch the news
And it fills up our brains
With violence, and riots, and race
Like this is a race war, you need to hate more
Get what you came for
You need some songs about Xanax and violence
So you can escape more

What a vicious cycle we gotta break away from
They control the culture, they control the paper
They’re indoctrinating a whole generation
‘Til the patriots start to hate the nation

The music we love make us dumb and addicted
The news that we watch is brainwashing the children
The virus is riots and racist conditions
Ain’t problems, they’re symptoms of life in this system

Screaming from the rooftops, beatdown, battered
Turned us on each other, now no lives matter
If we do what the news wants, blood gon’ splatter
Turn us on each other ’til no lives matter

The music will make you dumb
The media makes you hate
And they control ’em both
There ain’t no escape
They put the world is a state of chaos
Economy crashing and massive layoffs
Black against white or it’s left versus right
Divide and conquer and control is the payoff

Screaming from the rooftops, beatdown, battered
Turned us on each other, now no lives matter
If we do what the news wants, blood gon’ splatter
Turn us on each other ’til no lives matter

Source: Musixmatch

U.S. Presidents and Cultural Amnesia

By Darlene Mitchell March 17, 2021 March 17, 2021 Opinion

OPINION: U. S. Presidents and Cultural Amnesia

OPINION: U.S. Presidents and Cultural Amnesia

By Trevor K. McNeil

Uncertain Legacy

We are all judged by our actions, intention meaning little in terms of social discourse. Rightly or wrongly, the measure of a life tends to be in what is done and not what it means. Presidents are no different. Where then, will Trump end up on the scale of U.S. political importance? Currently, the pathetic and deposed Caesar, is hiding out in one of his private properties. It is reasonable to believe that things are very much over for Trump, in terms of ever holding political office again, though not in terms of his political legacy.

A Year Is A Long-TIme

With all the time and concern dedicated to politics, it can be easy to forget how fleeting it all is. The cardinal issues of today, tomorrow’s old news, particularly with a two term limit. The old administration forgotten almost as soon as the new one is sworn in. Much as how things go from wartime to post-war before the ink is dry on the peace treaty. This can make the facts, at least the facts of the time, difficult to come by, except possibly for those who remember it. Though even that can be hit and miss, since all memories are formed by our own biases.

Thomas Benjamin Wild “Well, This Is Shit”

By Darlene Mitchell March 15, 2021 March 15, 2021 Jukebox Choice, Music, Videos

Thomas Benjamin Wild “Well, This Is Shit”

Thomas Benjamin Wild “Well This Is Shit”

I’m not sure how you feel, but everyone here at Calamity Politics pretty much shares the same sentiment as Thomas Benjamin Wild, Esq. Some of us show it in unexpected rages, others by isolation, others by denial, others by thoughts of self-harm. Hopefully, if Joe is right we should be able to celebrate the 4th of July with friends and family, until then, “Well This Is Shit.” This is a serious matter. If you are feeling suicidal call for help. The National Suicide Hotline: 800-273-8255.

Motorhead “Ace Of Spades”

By Darlene Mitchell March 14, 2021 March 14, 2021 Demonstrations and Protests, Jukebox Choice, Music, Videos

Motorhead “Ace Of Spades”

Well, here’s another one of T.K.’s Jukebox Choice(s) of the Day. Motorhead with “Ace Of Spades” got three thumbs up here in the office. You will find the lyrics below. Enjoy! DSM