Definition of Opinion:  A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof.

Please be respectful to others with differing opinions. 

Lester Cox

The mainstream media has done irreparable damage to America. They have now made it almost impossible to read news from any source with any degree of reliability without digging and spending a great deal of time trying to confirm what is written. And the internet is almost totally in the tank. I believe the advancement of AI will only make things a lot worse as to information desemination. Hell, AI can make the worst of enemies seem best of friends in doctored phony photos. I would be willing to place a bet that there is actually no leaker and the limited damage crap is made up by the crooked news agencies. If there is a leaker, I hope they put them on trial for treason and put them in Leavenworth for life. That should end leaking. NOW! I have a niece and nephew who have never been to NYC. I told them last night, we must go before November of this year. I think everyone on this forum understands why. WTF. I go back an listen again to Paul Harvey's: If I were the Devil broadcast. 

Jim Coats

Frank and Lester.  You know what....I'm 100% with you.

Frank Wiley

Damn, maybe reincarnation is real?  Remember Baghdad Bob?  He was the chief information officer for Saddam Husain that was reporting live on the air that Iraq was defeating the Americans while bombs were blowing up all around him as Baghdad was falling.  He may have come back as the Ayatollah who came out today and said the Iranians have beaten up the Israelis and us and barely effected their nuclear program.  On the other hand, maybe the Supreme Leader has Joe Biden disease?  Lester, I think NYC, L.A., and Chicago are all competing for the title of, "The Worst Big City in America".  How about the L.A. county representative that called out the Mexican Gangs to go after I.C.E.?  Insane!

Michael Kelly

The News Media wants to make Trump look bad at all costs, even Peace in our Country. Democrats are no better. Amazingly, Al Jazeera has better news than almost anyone other than Fox News. The newly hand picked potential leader of the democratic party in New York is as Radical as that SOB who wrote that textbook for Communists Sal Alinsky or whatever, he openly stated that he is going to give New Yorkers free Rent, Free Food,Free Free Free and make the Rich Billionaires pay for all of it. I didnt  know there were poor billionaires! Right there with him is that Barfly Trollop AOC and Bernie Sanders. I would never spend my money in New York City 

Now it is probably my Paranoia but I do Believe that some Americans hate Donald J. Trump so Much, they would help Iranian Terrorists to work internally destroy the USA. I listen to them spew their Lies about the latest Bombing of Iran, a brilliant Move, like it was a Bait and Switch at a used Car Lot. And the belligerent attitude of some of them is shocking, and at my age not much is left to get real shocked about. They most not sleep at night for all the wrong, or maybe its the right reasons. They argue and interrupt when on live TV simply because they want to talk over the Truth. Such Rude Behavior should not be tolerated in anyone. Slapping should become Standard Practice. 

I had a Courtroom Incident one time that involved opposing Counsel calling me some very Foul and Gutter Level Language, because on Cross Exam I had Elicited Truth from a Star Witness of his. He clouded up and muttered under his Breath Foul Epithets upon me that would have made Satan itself Blush, it was probably a low point in his career. He forced me to deal with it as any decent Arizonan would do. When we got back from lunch break, I fully expected the Crybaby to have run crying to some official or other, but he surprised me. The guy had the Backbone to apologize to me, and even tell me he would have handled what he did the same way I had done. It was a wake up call for him. And for Me. These Media personalities go beyond the limits of even aggressive no holds barred Reporting, and just Lie. Sad to see the Major News Media Sink so Very Low. Gutter!!!! 

Jim Coats

Glen Campbell.  Classical Gas.  Boston Pops.  Find on YouTube...watch and listen to genius.  Glen had to be one of the top 5 guitar players in the World.  It will be worth your time.

DeWitt Bacon

Jim, 15179. "BUT IT'S A DRY HEAT." lol. (Actually, this couldn't have happened in the 90s because global warming didn't begin until late 2020 when Al Gore lost the election.)

On the music. I'm with you 100%

Frank Wiley

I am no psychologist or psychiatrist but based on my limited experience with insanity people who are deranged usually don't have a chance of healing unless they get help and many, if not most get progressively worse.  Maybe that explains why people with Trump Derangement Syndrome seem to be running off the rails?

Michael Kelly

Frank Wiley

Mason Williams was the first to do "Classical Gas" which I've always enjoyed but WOW, Glen with the Boston Pops was great.  I've always thought it would be a great song for a movie Western scene where the good guys are chasing the bad guys on horseback.  My favorite Glen song is "Wichita Lineman".  I thought about what that job would be like?  In the dead of winter, after a blizzard with lines down everywhere.  Talk about cold!  I would imagine that to some of that repair work, you would have to do it without gloves?

Michael Kelly

Lester Cox

I've often wondered how a venue/bar/ would fare that featured music by Harry Chapin, Cat Stevens, Jim Croce and the other great story telling musicians. I'm also a huge fan of John Prine who we lost to covid about 4 years ago as well as Steve Goodman. Pretty hard to name the best guitarist ever, Glen Campbell is right up there and a classy guy as well. Eric Clapton would be on most peoples top ten list I think. We were in Nashville about 2 months ago and went to a show at the Grand Ole Opry. If you've never been there, do your best to make it to that venue. We saw 8 performers, 4 or which are in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Vince Gill was the top star who also is a terrific guitarist. Members of the Opry agree to perform about 28 times per year and I think they get paid a couple hundred bucks. Each performer does around 4 songs. For sure on my list to visit there again.  

Bill RIHS

Happy birthday Mr. Randall🎂👏👍🎉

Frank Wiley

Happy Birthday Bill (gear head) Randall!!

DeWitt Bacon

I have always enjoyed a wide range of music genres. My favorite has always been Country, but I also like most Jazz and some Blues. When I read others' comments on their favorite Glenn Campbell songs, I had to stop and think for a moment. He was so talented and recorded so many great songs, I found that I couldn't decide on a favorite. I find it amazing how many country songs have been rearranged for jazz and blues, and vice versa.. Music comes from the soul, not the genre.

Jim Coats

Michael Kelly

Jennifer Nettles  "Just Might (Make Me Believe)" YouTube: Etta James  "At Last"  YouTube; Leonid and Friends, "Street Player' YouTube. This is a Chicago remake by a Russian/Ukrainian Band, who all reside in Florida Now.

Jim Coats

Lester.....HARRY CHAPIN, eh?  Absolutely one of my favorites.  For me, top 10 artists because I loved his stories.  Thanks for jogging my memory.

DeWitt Bacon

Michael, Etta James  "At Last" is on my favorites list—all three great picks.

Lester, your list of great guitar players is right on. I have always favored Chet Atkins. Although he is considered 'country', his playing style was more jazz. I have tried to emulate his style and, over the years, had gotten fairly good at it. That is, before arthritis set into my fingers.

Lester Cox

Jim, I really liked all the story telling musicians, but Harry Chapin was a big favorite. Cats in the Cradle, Taxi, classics. Still love John Prine, such a great song writer. His song Hello In There hits hard on us old folks. But Croce and Cat Stevens, Arlo Guthrie, Steve Goodman, so many great talents over the years. Guess that's also why I love Country, first I can hear the words and second, they usually have a story. I did go watch Glen Campbell with the Boston pops. Great video, Glen had such a true and wonderful voice. Thanks for the tip on that one. Tip: If you have Samsung smart tv, they have a lot of free streaming channels and on their channel 1425, they show live shows from the Grand Ole Opry. And DeWitt, you are spot on about Chet Atkins, he could play like no one else. Took this a couple months ago on our visit to Nashville.

Michael Kelly

DeWitt  Chet Atkins did some work with Suzy Boggus and did a show for the White House back when the Clintons were its occupants. His Guitar work is very subtle and catches the Ear.  I also enjoy Vince Gill who has backed up many famouns bands like the Eagles, and Allman Brothers. Vince Gill has written quite a few Songs, and has a good Story about how he came up with the namd for one his Best Songs  "Down to My last Bad Habit" which he said he got from a Coffee Shop he visits for Breakfast in his hometown. I also like the Songs of Merle Haggard "Working Mam Blues" and "Today I started Loving You Again" 

Frank Wiley

How about Kenny Rogers for story songs and good voice.  For female song writers, Carol King (google her songs--she wrote numerous songs other people performed) and Dolly Parton/Kenny Rogers, "Islands in the Stream" is definitely worth a listen.  An interesting read on Google is Rolling Stones, "The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".  Their Top 5 are 5. Jeff Beck 4. Eddie Van Halen 3. Jimmy Page 2. Chuck Berry 1. Jimmy Hendrix.  In the top 25 there are guitarists from every musical genre even though I think Rolling Stone would have a definite lean towards Rock?

Frank Wiley

Mandani, the admitted socialist CLOWN the Democrats have nominated to be Mayor of NYC was on "Meet the Press" yesterday.  He came out and actually said he wanted to tax "White Neighborhoods" more than other neighborhoods to equal things out.  Crazy!

DeWitt Bacon

Michael, it's unfortunate that you weren't able to attend the reunion. I think we have a lot in common when it comes to music. Chet's style of thumb and finger picking was not new or invented by him. Several guitarists used that style. Chet only perfected it to his own style. When I said I tried to emulate his style, I only meant I learned the thumb and finger method. I know I could never learn to play like he did.

Frank, if NYC elects Mandani as their mayor, they deserve what they will get. Mandani is a clone of Bernie Sanders. When they speak of "Democratic Socialism," They mean "Communist stype democracy. "Mandani says he wants food stores to be run by the government. Sound familiar? Remember, Bernie said,  "Bread lines are a good thing."

Lester Cox

Michael, I could not agree more about Vince Gill, one of my all time favorites and seems to be just a plane old nice guy. We've seen him with the Eagles and now also at the Grand Ole Opry. Terrific musician, sings a great song, Life Without Haggard. 

Frank, I think if you google and ask who the top guitarists of all time are, you can probably find a hundred plus sites with their opinions. But on 95+ of them, the number one will be Jimi Hendrix. Kenny Rogers had a voice that could not be mistaken for anyone else. So smooth. 

Don't quite know what to say about the NYC Democratic Mayor nominee but if the world was flat, the dems are just about to go over the edge. When you think you can't get further left than Bernie, AOC and Kamala, up jumps the devil and a new standard is set. I'm always amazed at dems and their bullshit of giving stuff for FREE. The only thing in the world I can think of that might be free is air to breath. Somebody has to pay. Then their hatred of billionaires. I guess they only hate the 51 who donated to Trump. The 83 who donated to Kamala are ok. Pretty easy to see why Tillis will not run again. Who wants to live in that sewer to start with. Not that I agree with him on all his positions, but trading DC for staying home surrounded by loved ones should be an easy decision. 

Jim Coats

Thumbs waaaay up on Vince Gill and Kenny Rogers.  Two different but "pure" voices.  And, to be unashamedly redundant, I cannot help thinking about the Hotel Laguna every time I hear Hotel California.  Loved that song...and still do.  Those were the days when "at least I" was happier about the state of The States.  

Now....about the NYC Mayoral election.  IF Vivek Mamicommie gets elected, we are headed...NO...diving down the path so eloquently outlined by Paul Harvey in his "If I were the Devil" broadcast oh so many decades ago.  Look at what happened to Chicago.  They got rid of one slavering socialist and replaced her with a worse one.  Now I hear Buttigieg is out-polling Kamala for President!!  WTF?

AMERICA FIRST!!  ONE FLAG....THE STARS AND STRIPES!!  ONE LOYALTY....AND THAT IS TO THE U.S.A!!!  SUPPORT ISRAEL!!