Friday Frank, RNC 2012 Edition: When the Lie's So Big

As I have said more times than I can count, Frank Zappa was not only a musical genius, he was also a gifted political analyst--one who accurately predicted, back in the 1980's, that America would go down the path toward a Fascist Theocracy. Given the ramping-up of anti-women legislation, the shockingly violent and fascistic crack-downs on free speech (i.e. peaceful Occupy protesters), and the sheer volume of empty, nationalistic rhetoric we've been hearing--rhetoric so laden with racist dogwhistles it makes the head spin--one can only shake one's head in sad agreement with Frank. I'm fresh out of suggestions.

That said, it is Friday, and as I always try to do, I'll look on the bright side of life and wish everyone Bon Weekend. I mean it.

(Below, the lyrics to When the Lie's So Big. Goosebumps included free of charge.)

When the Lie's So Big

They got lies so big
They don't make a noise
They tell 'em so well
Like a secret disease
That makes you go numb

With a big ol' lie
And a flag and a pie
And a mom and a bible
Most folks are just liable
To buy any line
Any place, any time

When the lie's so big
As in Robertson's case,
(That sinister face
Behind all the Jesus hurrah)

Could result in the end
To a worrisome trend
In which every American
Not "born again"
Could be punished in cruel and unusual ways
By this treacherous cretin
Who tells everyone
That he's Jesus' best friend

When the lie's so big
And the fog gets so thick
And the facts disappear
The Republican Trick
Can be played out again
People, please tell me when
We'll be rid of these men?

Just who do they really
Suppose that they are?
And how did they manage to travel as far
As they seem to have come?
Were we really that dumb?

People, wake up
Figure it out
Religious fanatics
Around and about
The Court House, The State House,
The Congress, The White House

Criminal saints
With a "Heavenly Mission" --
A nation enraptured
By pure superstition

When the lie's so big
And the fog gets so thick
And the facts disappear
The Republican Trick
Can be played out again
People, please tell me when
We'll be rid of these men!

I'm a guest on Nicole Sandler's Radio or Not show

I was a guest on Nicole Sandler's Radio Or Not this morning, discussing the TSA and a variety of Civil Liberties and health concerns about which my colleagues and I at TSA News have written.

I come on at around the :30 minute mark.

(Thank you for having me on, Nicole!)

If you're on Twitter, you can follow Nicole: @nicolesandler

And my Twitter handle is of course @litbrit

(Almost) Friday Frank: Barcelona, 1988--THE WHOLE SHOW

Oh my goodness, what a treat, what a lovely way to wind down the first week of the school year, what a trip down memory lane, what a pleasure it is to have Maestro Zappa's music pour out of my laptop as the rain falls and the steam rises this evening. *HUGE sigh*
This is obviously quite long. If you're in a hurry, scoot to the 21.00 mark and watch one of Frank's transcendent guitar solos.
Even if you only speak a little Spanish, you'll probably be able to understand the reporter's introduction: she's speaking a variant of Castillian dialect, which goes at a slower pace!
Wishing you an early Bon Weekend.
XXX D.

Well! Anything interesting happen while I was away?

PhotoArt via the fabulous BlueGal

Just kidding.

You People, sheesh.

I'm back in St. Petersburg, now that school has begun.

I've been all over Twitter this summer--what, you're not following @litbrit? You're missing out, ahem--and keeping up with the increasingly nasty-toned presidential campaigns in between runs to the office-supply store for three-ring-binders and new thumb-drives (they really need to invent a thumb-drive that can withstand repeated washings and dryings, don't you think?) and bouts of remedial gardening (note to self: find some decent galoshes and get a pedicure before the next PTA meeting).

As for Mitt Romney's Vice Presidential pick, Paul Ryan, I must thank my dear friend David Ferguson for sharing Charles Pierce's apt descriptor, on which I can't improve in the slightest:

The zombie-eyed granny-starver from Wisconsin.

So how was your summer?  Come on, make me jealous. It can't have been worse than being stuck in the staggering swamp heat of west Florida, weeping at televised scenes of England's green glory during the Olympics, and cleaning up after small dogs, big boys, and a disdainful 24lb "house panther" who's finally deigning to purr for me at the ripe old age of seven.

Roll on autumn...