Monday, August 16, 2004
No Laughing Matter
America OnLine and ABC news ran a story today along with a poll about the sense of humor of the presidential candidates. What I found interesting was the general tone of the humor. Observe...
George Bush On the Vice President
"I admit it, Dick Cheney is not the prettiest candidate in the race. I didn't pick him because of his looks."
John Kerry On His Ticket
"We've got better vision. We've got better ideas... And we've got better hair."
George Bush On the Weapons Hunt
"Those weapons of mass destruction have got to be somewhere... nope, no weapons over there... maybe under here?'' at a press dinner.
John Kerry On the Temperature
[It's so cold it's] "almost enough to want to hug Dick Cheney to get warm."
George Bush On Politics
"You and I are in the same business,'' to a man who sells air for a living.
John Kerry On His Political Future
"Will you do me a favor, help me get a better plane to sleep on come next November?" to a crowd.
George Bush On Himself
"[Arnold Schwarzenegger and I] both married above ourselves, we both have trouble with the English language, we both have big biceps -- well, two out of three aren't bad."
John Kerry On His Wife
"You'd be amazed how many places I've gone and people say to me, 'If she were running for president, I'd vote for her.' But she isn't -- let me remind you."
George Bush When in Vegas
"My wife was back here recently.... She said something along the lines, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. I was interested in hearing her say that."
John Kerry When in Vegas
"We have to get this economy moving, because there is nothing worse than an unemployed flying Elvis."
Notice, all of the President's line, with the exception of one, were genuinely funny. I wasn't amused by the one about weapons of mass destruction simply because it's vexing that we haven't found enough evidence to shut up the left, as if that were possible.
Compare those jokes to Kerry's. Some of Kerry's are just stupid and the only one that could be funny, regarding Tuh-Ray-Zuh, isn't funny because of the kind of person I believe her to be. The rest are only funny in a mean-spirited way, the way tearing the legs off a bug might be funny to some. ¶ Monday, August 16, 2004 2 comments
George Bush On the Vice President
"I admit it, Dick Cheney is not the prettiest candidate in the race. I didn't pick him because of his looks."
John Kerry On His Ticket
"We've got better vision. We've got better ideas... And we've got better hair."
George Bush On the Weapons Hunt
"Those weapons of mass destruction have got to be somewhere... nope, no weapons over there... maybe under here?'' at a press dinner.
John Kerry On the Temperature
[It's so cold it's] "almost enough to want to hug Dick Cheney to get warm."
George Bush On Politics
"You and I are in the same business,'' to a man who sells air for a living.
John Kerry On His Political Future
"Will you do me a favor, help me get a better plane to sleep on come next November?" to a crowd.
George Bush On Himself
"[Arnold Schwarzenegger and I] both married above ourselves, we both have trouble with the English language, we both have big biceps -- well, two out of three aren't bad."
John Kerry On His Wife
"You'd be amazed how many places I've gone and people say to me, 'If she were running for president, I'd vote for her.' But she isn't -- let me remind you."
George Bush When in Vegas
"My wife was back here recently.... She said something along the lines, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. I was interested in hearing her say that."
John Kerry When in Vegas
"We have to get this economy moving, because there is nothing worse than an unemployed flying Elvis."
Notice, all of the President's line, with the exception of one, were genuinely funny. I wasn't amused by the one about weapons of mass destruction simply because it's vexing that we haven't found enough evidence to shut up the left, as if that were possible.
Compare those jokes to Kerry's. Some of Kerry's are just stupid and the only one that could be funny, regarding Tuh-Ray-Zuh, isn't funny because of the kind of person I believe her to be. The rest are only funny in a mean-spirited way, the way tearing the legs off a bug might be funny to some. ¶ Monday, August 16, 2004 2 comments
Saturday, August 14, 2004
An American Hero of Another Generation
Julia Child died peacefully in her sleep yesterday (Friday) morning, just two days shy of her 92nd birthday. Okay, I'm sure a lot of you kids are going, "Julia who?" Mrs. Child, the Queen of Cooking, was a fixture of my childhood. Through her TV show, "The French Chef" she made America believe that anyone could cook elegant, gourmet meals, and she showed us how to do it.
"With a kitchen towel tucked into her apron and that distinctive, often-parodied voice, Mrs. Child -- who stood nearly 6 feet, 2 inches tall -- came across more like everyone's quirky but beloved aunt on her long-running TV show, "The French Chef."
Though she denied a long- circulated myth that she once dropped a chicken, picked it up and continued cooking on the air, she did confess, in a 1989 interview with the New York Times, to flipping a potato pancake in the air and missing it in the pan.
"Remember, you are alone in the kitchen and no one can see you," she quipped to the camera.
"She made it OK to say, 'You know what, this is fancy French food, but if you drop a pot roast on the floor . . . who cares, it's not the end of the world."
Many do not know of the other and more noble reason that America should honor and mourn this iconic lady. You see, when World War II began Julia McWilliams was not a chef. She was an American, and she signed up with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the predecessor of our CIA.
"Though Julia would later say, modestly, "I was just a file clerk," she had a high security clearance for her work, ... (and) ... tracked sensitive documents, dispatches, and espionage/sabotage. A colleague in Air Force Intelligence stated that Julia "was privy to every top secret ... which required a person of unquestioned loyalty, of rock-solid integrity, of unblemished lifestyle, of keen intelligence."
A culinary giant and a patriotic OSS file clerk, Julia made the case for living life to its fullest. She has left the world a richer place than she found it, and we are poorer for her leaving it. For that she deserves a tear and a salute.
Military Officer Magazine
USA Today
Washington Post
Seattle Times
¶ Saturday, August 14, 2004 1 comments
"With a kitchen towel tucked into her apron and that distinctive, often-parodied voice, Mrs. Child -- who stood nearly 6 feet, 2 inches tall -- came across more like everyone's quirky but beloved aunt on her long-running TV show, "The French Chef."
Though she denied a long- circulated myth that she once dropped a chicken, picked it up and continued cooking on the air, she did confess, in a 1989 interview with the New York Times, to flipping a potato pancake in the air and missing it in the pan.
"Remember, you are alone in the kitchen and no one can see you," she quipped to the camera.
"She made it OK to say, 'You know what, this is fancy French food, but if you drop a pot roast on the floor . . . who cares, it's not the end of the world."
Many do not know of the other and more noble reason that America should honor and mourn this iconic lady. You see, when World War II began Julia McWilliams was not a chef. She was an American, and she signed up with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the predecessor of our CIA.
"Though Julia would later say, modestly, "I was just a file clerk," she had a high security clearance for her work, ... (and) ... tracked sensitive documents, dispatches, and espionage/sabotage. A colleague in Air Force Intelligence stated that Julia "was privy to every top secret ... which required a person of unquestioned loyalty, of rock-solid integrity, of unblemished lifestyle, of keen intelligence."
A culinary giant and a patriotic OSS file clerk, Julia made the case for living life to its fullest. She has left the world a richer place than she found it, and we are poorer for her leaving it. For that she deserves a tear and a salute.
Military Officer Magazine
USA Today
Washington Post
Seattle Times
¶ Saturday, August 14, 2004 1 comments
Some Good News for Bush
Strategy Memo: Inter-Convention Strategic Update
As John Kerry wraps up his cross-country post-convention tour today, several new national polls shed light on the impact his campaign's efforts have had on the race.
1. A majority of Americans approve of President Bush's job performance. President Bush's job approval in the Gallup poll is now at 51%, while his disapproval is at 46%, a net increase of 6 points since the beginning of August. His 51% approval is now almost identical to President Clinton's 52% in August 1996 and President Reagan's 54% in August 1984.
As USA Today noted, "no president who has been at or above 50% at this point in an election year has lost."
2. After spending over $100 million in media, selecting a running mate, and holding a national convention, John Kerry has either stayed the same or lost ground on key presidential attributes
The Kerry campaign's main goal at the convention was to present John Kerry to the American people as a strong and decisive leader.
"But we could do very important things [at the convention], particularly convince people that he would be a strong commander-in-chief" -- Tad Devine, Kerry Campaign Senior Advisor, Inside Politics, 8/3/2004
The latest poll from the Pew Research Center shows that despite Kerry's convention fewer voters think that John Kerry is a strong leader and more voters think that he changes his mind too much.
4. Voters have increasingly favorable opinions of President Bush. The recent Pew survey also reported that 58% of voters now have a favorable opinion of President Bush, a net increase of 12 points since June, and the same as it was in May 2000. Since John Kerry locked up the Democratic nomination, President Bush's favorability has risen from a net +9 to a net +19, while John Kerry's favorability has fallen from a net +30 to a net +20.
5. John Kerry's support continues to be the most negative in recent history, while President Bush's continues to be the most positive. Just 42% of Kerry's supporters say their vote is "for" Kerry, while 51% say that it is "against" President Bush. Conversely, 76% of President Bush's supporters say that their vote is "for" him, while 18% say that it "against" Kerry. John Kerry's support continues to be the most negative of any presidential candidate since Pew began asking the question in 1988. ¶ Saturday, August 14, 2004 1 comments
As John Kerry wraps up his cross-country post-convention tour today, several new national polls shed light on the impact his campaign's efforts have had on the race.
1. A majority of Americans approve of President Bush's job performance. President Bush's job approval in the Gallup poll is now at 51%, while his disapproval is at 46%, a net increase of 6 points since the beginning of August. His 51% approval is now almost identical to President Clinton's 52% in August 1996 and President Reagan's 54% in August 1984.
As USA Today noted, "no president who has been at or above 50% at this point in an election year has lost."
2. After spending over $100 million in media, selecting a running mate, and holding a national convention, John Kerry has either stayed the same or lost ground on key presidential attributes
The Kerry campaign's main goal at the convention was to present John Kerry to the American people as a strong and decisive leader.
"But we could do very important things [at the convention], particularly convince people that he would be a strong commander-in-chief" -- Tad Devine, Kerry Campaign Senior Advisor, Inside Politics, 8/3/2004
The latest poll from the Pew Research Center shows that despite Kerry's convention fewer voters think that John Kerry is a strong leader and more voters think that he changes his mind too much.
4. Voters have increasingly favorable opinions of President Bush. The recent Pew survey also reported that 58% of voters now have a favorable opinion of President Bush, a net increase of 12 points since June, and the same as it was in May 2000. Since John Kerry locked up the Democratic nomination, President Bush's favorability has risen from a net +9 to a net +19, while John Kerry's favorability has fallen from a net +30 to a net +20.
5. John Kerry's support continues to be the most negative in recent history, while President Bush's continues to be the most positive. Just 42% of Kerry's supporters say their vote is "for" Kerry, while 51% say that it is "against" President Bush. Conversely, 76% of President Bush's supporters say that their vote is "for" him, while 18% say that it "against" Kerry. John Kerry's support continues to be the most negative of any presidential candidate since Pew began asking the question in 1988. ¶ Saturday, August 14, 2004 1 comments
The Majority Are Minorities (or some such silliness)
Okay, this just struck me as really nutty. While reading the paper this morning I saw the following quote under the story Judge blocks anti–gay marriage amendment on Louisiana ballot. The story is a short one relating how a judge has blocked a vote on an amendment to the state constitution that would ban marriages between homosexuals. His rational was the election date, Sept 18, is not a "statewide election date" as required by the La. constitution. Except that it is because it's the date of the statewide primary. But regardless, here's the quote by John Rawls, lead attorney for some individuals and the group Forum for Equality, who oppose the amendment.
"All Louisianians fall into one minority or another. The constitution is there to protect minorities from the majority."
What?!?! If we ALL "fall into one minority or another" then who is this majority we need protecting from? If we ALL "fall into one minority or another" how can there be any majority? I submit that the "majority" that Louisianians, and Americans, need protection from is the liberal, politically correct, anti-religion, anti-morals, anti-American left. That's who's eroding the bedrock of America and our constitutions. That's who's tearing down what the real majority believe in and want protected ¶ Saturday, August 14, 2004 0 comments
"All Louisianians fall into one minority or another. The constitution is there to protect minorities from the majority."
What?!?! If we ALL "fall into one minority or another" then who is this majority we need protecting from? If we ALL "fall into one minority or another" how can there be any majority? I submit that the "majority" that Louisianians, and Americans, need protection from is the liberal, politically correct, anti-religion, anti-morals, anti-American left. That's who's eroding the bedrock of America and our constitutions. That's who's tearing down what the real majority believe in and want protected ¶ Saturday, August 14, 2004 0 comments
Friday, August 13, 2004
Thanks to Frank J.
Hey, Frank J. at IMAO has posted my comment about being in the military. Click here and scroll down a bit. One of the good things about the blogosphere is being recognized and appreciated by smart people.
By the way, Frank and I were both in Vegas last month during DEFCON, but didn't manage to hook up. Too bad, we could have gone monkey hunting. (You may have to be a regular reader of IMAO to get that one.) ¶ Friday, August 13, 2004 1 comments
By the way, Frank and I were both in Vegas last month during DEFCON, but didn't manage to hook up. Too bad, we could have gone monkey hunting. (You may have to be a regular reader of IMAO to get that one.) ¶ Friday, August 13, 2004 1 comments
Saturday, August 07, 2004
Kerry's Own Words Condemn Him
Want to see John Kerry flip-flop on himself? If you have a speed connection go here and watch 12 minutes of clips of and about Kerry. If you don't have high speed internet then follow the link to the script of the video and just read it. Show it to anyone you know who's considering voting for Kerry.
Whether you agree with President Bush or not, you cannot deny he has at least been consistent. Kerry can not lay claim to such honesty. ¶ Saturday, August 07, 2004 1 comments
Whether you agree with President Bush or not, you cannot deny he has at least been consistent. Kerry can not lay claim to such honesty. ¶ Saturday, August 07, 2004 1 comments
Thursday, August 05, 2004
More from the Good Guys
Dennis Franz (on Iraq): "I think we're doing the right thing. They are defending our country. Thank God that we have people in this world that are willing to do it." (By the way, Franz is a veteran of Vietnam, with 8 more months in country than Kerry, so he's one of the few celebrities qualified to speak on this issue.)
Rob Lowe: " "Listen, my feeling is this, I love this country ... whatever side of the issue you're on, ... I think you gotta support those amazing men and women who are over there about to execute whatever we do, and I think the best way you can do that is to get behind the most visible embodiment of them, and that's the Commander-in-Chief."
Vince Vaughn (on England): "I'd say one in three conversations wound up the same way, basically that 'America is the devil.' So I'd ask folks to think about the Marshall Plan a bit and get back to me."
Dennis Miller: "The Nazi signs have got to stop. If you're in a peace march and the guy next to you has a sign saying that 'Bush is Hitler,' forget the peace thing for a second and beat his a--, because he is not Hitler."
Fred Thompson: "With all the criticism of our President's policy on Iraq lately, Americans might ask what should we do with the inevitable prospect of nuclear weapons in the hands of a murderous and aggressive enemy? Can we afford to appease Saddam, kick the can down the road? Thank goodness we have a President with the courage to protect our country. And when people ask what has Saddam done to us, I ask what had the 9-11 hijackers done to us before 9-11?"
Bruce Willis: "I could make another 10 or 20 movies about guys in the armed forces. When they go away, they don't know if they're coming back. They should be paid a hundred grand each, every one of them." ¶ Thursday, August 05, 2004 0 comments
Rob Lowe: " "Listen, my feeling is this, I love this country ... whatever side of the issue you're on, ... I think you gotta support those amazing men and women who are over there about to execute whatever we do, and I think the best way you can do that is to get behind the most visible embodiment of them, and that's the Commander-in-Chief."
Vince Vaughn (on England): "I'd say one in three conversations wound up the same way, basically that 'America is the devil.' So I'd ask folks to think about the Marshall Plan a bit and get back to me."
Dennis Miller: "The Nazi signs have got to stop. If you're in a peace march and the guy next to you has a sign saying that 'Bush is Hitler,' forget the peace thing for a second and beat his a--, because he is not Hitler."
Fred Thompson: "With all the criticism of our President's policy on Iraq lately, Americans might ask what should we do with the inevitable prospect of nuclear weapons in the hands of a murderous and aggressive enemy? Can we afford to appease Saddam, kick the can down the road? Thank goodness we have a President with the courage to protect our country. And when people ask what has Saddam done to us, I ask what had the 9-11 hijackers done to us before 9-11?"
Bruce Willis: "I could make another 10 or 20 movies about guys in the armed forces. When they go away, they don't know if they're coming back. They should be paid a hundred grand each, every one of them." ¶ Thursday, August 05, 2004 0 comments
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
Now a Word from The Good Guys
Okay, since I gave space to the liberal idiots it's time to hear from our side.
Ted Nugent: "We have less than four months until Election Day. Our primary objective is to turn out as many votes as humanly possible for George W. Bush. We also need to play a major role in assuring Republican control of both Houses of Congress. The old adage, "every vote counts," has never been more true than in this election season. We know that it will be close, so we must make the Bush/Cheney 2004 race a resounding VICTORY."
Stephen Baldwin: "I don't care if I ever shoot a movie again, because the day I accepted Jesus into my life I was blessed. Now, I don't want to tell you who you should vote for in November. But make sure it's for the one who has the most faith. Now, more than ever, we need someone in the White House who is being led by God."
Charlie Daniels: "I hate to see our nation torn apart by an election, but putting aside the nastiness, I think that the differences between the two candidates are clearer this time than at any time I can remember. One candidate is anti-abortion, one candidate is pro-abortion. One candidate thinks that much of the international affairs of America should be approved by the United Nations, the other candidate doesn’t. One candidate stands for higher taxes, the other candidate stands for lower taxes. One candidate comes off as a globalist, the other doesn’t. One candidate has socialist leanings, the other doesn’t. One candidate believes in big government, the other doesn’t. One candidate wears his religious beliefs on his sleeve, the other doesn’t. One candidate believes in American sovereignty the other one favors a global village. So America is faced with a real choice this time around. It all depends on what kind of world we want to live in and leave to our children."
Shannen Doherty: "I loved (Rumsfeld), I enjoyed meeting him a lot...I'm a Republican...I'm a big supporter of President Bush...our troops are over there, we gotta be supportive."
Rick Schroder: "(Bush is) a fantastic guy, let me tell you that. I told him I wanted to help him get re-elected."
Dennis Miller: "I've grown very fond of (Bush). I think he's handled himself amazingly with some of the most brutal cards that history's ever dealt anybody...I'm proud that he's my President...I'm a huge fan of the President's." ¶ Wednesday, August 04, 2004 0 comments
Ted Nugent: "We have less than four months until Election Day. Our primary objective is to turn out as many votes as humanly possible for George W. Bush. We also need to play a major role in assuring Republican control of both Houses of Congress. The old adage, "every vote counts," has never been more true than in this election season. We know that it will be close, so we must make the Bush/Cheney 2004 race a resounding VICTORY."
Stephen Baldwin: "I don't care if I ever shoot a movie again, because the day I accepted Jesus into my life I was blessed. Now, I don't want to tell you who you should vote for in November. But make sure it's for the one who has the most faith. Now, more than ever, we need someone in the White House who is being led by God."
Charlie Daniels: "I hate to see our nation torn apart by an election, but putting aside the nastiness, I think that the differences between the two candidates are clearer this time than at any time I can remember. One candidate is anti-abortion, one candidate is pro-abortion. One candidate thinks that much of the international affairs of America should be approved by the United Nations, the other candidate doesn’t. One candidate stands for higher taxes, the other candidate stands for lower taxes. One candidate comes off as a globalist, the other doesn’t. One candidate has socialist leanings, the other doesn’t. One candidate believes in big government, the other doesn’t. One candidate wears his religious beliefs on his sleeve, the other doesn’t. One candidate believes in American sovereignty the other one favors a global village. So America is faced with a real choice this time around. It all depends on what kind of world we want to live in and leave to our children."
Shannen Doherty: "I loved (Rumsfeld), I enjoyed meeting him a lot...I'm a Republican...I'm a big supporter of President Bush...our troops are over there, we gotta be supportive."
Rick Schroder: "(Bush is) a fantastic guy, let me tell you that. I told him I wanted to help him get re-elected."
Dennis Miller: "I've grown very fond of (Bush). I think he's handled himself amazingly with some of the most brutal cards that history's ever dealt anybody...I'm proud that he's my President...I'm a huge fan of the President's." ¶ Wednesday, August 04, 2004 0 comments
Vote for Change
Well, they're at it again. The liberal elite of the entertainment world have again deluded themselves into believing that the real America cares what they think. You'd think after Alec Baldwin and the Dixie Chicks they'd realize we're not looking to them for guidance. What am I on about? The "Vote for Change" Tour. It seems a bunch of has-beens who haven't made any music worth listening to in years have decided that John Kerry can't win this race on the issues. (And he can't!) So they think we're going to listen to them. Here's a list of some of the artists appearing on the "hate Bush" tour.
Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M., Dave Matthews Band, Jurassic 5, Dixie Chicks, Death Cab for Cutie, James Taylor, Ben Harper, My Morning Jacket, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, John Fogerty, Keb' Mo', Bright Eyes, John Mellencamp, Babyface.
Okay, like I said, the groups on this list I have heard of haven't made good music since the 80's, except the Dixie Chicks (who I liked before they decided to share their politics) so you may have gathered one reason I'm writing about this is it's so darn easy.
¶ Wednesday, August 04, 2004 0 comments
Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M., Dave Matthews Band, Jurassic 5, Dixie Chicks, Death Cab for Cutie, James Taylor, Ben Harper, My Morning Jacket, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, John Fogerty, Keb' Mo', Bright Eyes, John Mellencamp, Babyface.
Okay, like I said, the groups on this list I have heard of haven't made good music since the 80's, except the Dixie Chicks (who I liked before they decided to share their politics) so you may have gathered one reason I'm writing about this is it's so darn easy.
¶ Wednesday, August 04, 2004 0 comments
America's Heroes - 3 August 2004
Please go to the following links and read about some real heroes.
Heroes of Fallujah Lance Corporal Aaron C. Austin - A Texas Marine
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 ¶ Wednesday, August 04, 2004 0 comments
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 ¶ Wednesday, August 04, 2004 0 comments
Monday, August 02, 2004
DVD Aid - It's All About the Eighties!
Time to "Feed the World" again!
Please forgive me as I digress from politics (my wife says I'm too obsessed with that anyway) and rave about something completely different. My other obsession, 80's music!
If you were born before July 13, 1985 then you probably remember the greatest musical event of our generation, Live Aid. The all-star concert was conceived and organized by Bob Geldof (Boomtown Rats) and Midge Ure (Ultravox) as a "global jukebox" to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. The main venues were JFK Stadium in Philly and Wembley Stadium in London, with performances in Moscow, Belgrade and other cities around the world. Phil Collins even performed at both concerts, flying across the Atlantic on the Concorde. It was a veritable "Who's Who" of music, especially 80's music: Duran Duran, Howard Jones, U2, The Beach Boys, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Madonna, Elton John, Wham!, and dozens of other artists. It was a lot like Woodstock but bigger, better, and with not nearly as many hallucinogens.
1.5 billion people watched that day, but I had three problems. We didn't have cable, we didn't have a VCR, and I had to work. I was reduced to listening to parts of it on the radio. Of course, you could try to buy copies on eBay. The only problems with that are the quality probably stinks and it is, of course, illegal. In fact, Geldof has successfully prosecuted a lot of pirates selling bootlegs.
Well, fret no more, 80's fans! After almost 20 years Bob Geldof has persuaded all the performers to agree to a DVD release. Warner Vision International has won the bidding and on Nov. 1st will release a four disc set containing 10 hours of performances, a documentary called "Food, Trucks & Rock 'n' Roll" and other gems. The footage is being remastered from the original tapes. By the way, it was initially hoped that Live Aid would raise about $1.5 million, but the grand total came to over $245 million. The DVD sales will only add to the good work Live Aid will continue to do.
Here are some links to read more about Live Aid and the DVD. All I can say is, "Awesome!"
World IQ - Live Aid The Unofficial Live Aid Site Warner DVD News
¶ Monday, August 02, 2004 0 comments
Please forgive me as I digress from politics (my wife says I'm too obsessed with that anyway) and rave about something completely different. My other obsession, 80's music!
If you were born before July 13, 1985 then you probably remember the greatest musical event of our generation, Live Aid. The all-star concert was conceived and organized by Bob Geldof (Boomtown Rats) and Midge Ure (Ultravox) as a "global jukebox" to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. The main venues were JFK Stadium in Philly and Wembley Stadium in London, with performances in Moscow, Belgrade and other cities around the world. Phil Collins even performed at both concerts, flying across the Atlantic on the Concorde. It was a veritable "Who's Who" of music, especially 80's music: Duran Duran, Howard Jones, U2, The Beach Boys, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Madonna, Elton John, Wham!, and dozens of other artists. It was a lot like Woodstock but bigger, better, and with not nearly as many hallucinogens.
1.5 billion people watched that day, but I had three problems. We didn't have cable, we didn't have a VCR, and I had to work. I was reduced to listening to parts of it on the radio. Of course, you could try to buy copies on eBay. The only problems with that are the quality probably stinks and it is, of course, illegal. In fact, Geldof has successfully prosecuted a lot of pirates selling bootlegs.
Well, fret no more, 80's fans! After almost 20 years Bob Geldof has persuaded all the performers to agree to a DVD release. Warner Vision International has won the bidding and on Nov. 1st will release a four disc set containing 10 hours of performances, a documentary called "Food, Trucks & Rock 'n' Roll" and other gems. The footage is being remastered from the original tapes. By the way, it was initially hoped that Live Aid would raise about $1.5 million, but the grand total came to over $245 million. The DVD sales will only add to the good work Live Aid will continue to do.
Here are some links to read more about Live Aid and the DVD. All I can say is, "Awesome!"
