Slingshot Records Blog

For the moment….

I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.
-Winston Churchill

Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.
-P.J. O’Rourke, Civil Libertarian

Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.
-Frederic Bastiat, French Economist (1801-1850)

Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
-Ronald Reagan (1986)

I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.
-Will Rogers

Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you!
-Pericles (430 B.C.)

No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.
-Mark Twain (1866 )

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.
-Winston Churchill

The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.
-Mark Twain

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
-Thomas Jefferson

What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.
-Edward Langley, Artist (1928 - 1995)

Don Rickles is hilarious.

July, 2009 Nashville - Slingshot Records, home of Christian rock band REV21 and Christian pop artist David Levi, announces the signing of a song shopping agreement between Perfect Pitch Nashville and Slingshot’s publishing arm, HamFam Music, ASCAP.

Perfect Pitch Nashville has over 50 years of combined experience in the entertainment industry, and has had songs placed on CD’s by artists such as Reba McEntire, Craig Morgan, George Jones, Emmy Nominated Kassie DePaiva (”Blair Cramer” on One Life To Live), Dylan McDonald (Michael McDonald’s son), Lorrie Morgan, and Dobie Grey - who is riding high again after Uncle Kracker remake of “Drift Away.”

Slingshot Record’s affiliated songwriters and composers have won numerous songwriting awards; among them four awards from Billboard Magazine annual World Song Writing Contest - (in the Contemporary Christian and Pop categories). And, a “Song Of The Year” award from the Kansas City Christian Music Association. REV21’s producer, Alan Shacklock has received three Grammy nominations, and three multi-platinum albums, along with several gold and silver selling CD’s. This new relationship between Perfect Pitch Nashville and Slingshot Records will allow Slingshot Records emerging songwriters an avenue to share their material in the ever-expanding recording industry marketplace.

Are you excited too????

Tonight, as I watch different YouTube clips of “Saving Private Ryan” for the Umpteenth time it dawned me that I really regret not speaking with my great uncle about his service in WWII…

Seriously, there’s a small regret in my heart… I’m wish I could’ve connected with him more and learned about his youth.

My dad said he was a waist gunner on a B-24 Liberator (… I think. Because I don’t remember hearing the “Mitchell” ever mentioned… which is the B-25).

Anyway, it seems kinda glamorous to be firing a 50 Cal at an incoming 109’s (or 190’s)… Yet, as I learned later in life their bullets were larger than our 50 Calibers… So, I’m sure that made things quite serious… dangerous… well, all together terrifying!

Wait. Was he stationed in the Pacific?? Hmmm…. see… I can’t remember. So many questions come to mind.

One thing is for sure… I really doubt that he’d agree that FRANTICALLY firing a 50 Cal at incoming/racing fighter planes because your life depended on it was very glamorous.

I better count my blessings - AGAIN!

R. I. P. all US/Allied Service Personnel.

On my drive back from GA today I felt like I got “schooled by the Holy Spirit” (again). Good for Him… painful for me. Potentially, more mental/spiritual adjustments for me to make —

In the light of Prov 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding…” and, Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Am I not being an arrogant twit when I declare that a day, week, month or any time frame is “bad, or a waste of time” because I can’t find any good in it? Or, things don’t go as I think they should?

Just wondering.

In light of Christ telling us to “Pick up our cross daily and follow Him.” And, to “Be of good cheer” because He has over come the world. Not to mention Paul’s admonition in Philippians 4 to “Be anxious for nothing…”

Would it then be considered self indulgent to embrace depression and despair when things are going like we want?

Just wondering… If so, then I’ve gotta make some changes!

Anyway, when that hit me I felt like I had been schooled by the Holy Spirit.

1st Installation -

Oh… this should be a hoot… Moi comparing Liberalism and Conservatism. A comparison from my goofy (read: disfunctional) mid-American, semi-Caucasian (with non-caucasian family members), and a slightly political transformed vantage point. Wait… I’m lost… OK, I’m back.

I decree that this shall be my first major, epic, yet humorous examination from my somewhat limited scope of the massive political divide in American. Hey, BOZO… please expect me to resolve NOTHING politically. And, in my own quaint way piss off folks from all political stripes - or, maybe not… you decide. Keep that in mind, and you should enjoy some fun reading.

Personally, this blog is being written mainly to define conservatism… since no one seems to know what it is in 2009 (Powell? or Limbaugh?). Don’t get me wrong, Liberalism is a currently a little foggy too. But. most folks are fine with any definition as long as it appears opposite to “W.”

Before we begin, let me start by stating that when I think of Liberalism I think of “Freedom”… In short: Liberal = Freedom… By that definition who can argue Liberalism as a bad thing? Hey, I’ve been set free (liberated) by the Son of God… ‘tait nothin’ grander!

OK, so when I think of Conservatism I think of “Conservation”… holding onto what is tried, tested, and true… quality/value and PROVEN TO BE GOOD… By that definition who can argue that Conservatism is a bad thing?

SIDEBAR — Yikes!!! As I write this in the background I’m hearing “Ms. Conservatism”, Peggy Noonan say that (para) she thinks that the US Government works best when Liberals are in charge of one branch of government, and Conservatives are in charge of another…
ie: “checks and balance.”

Let’s test my theory - See you in Installation #2

By the way, I’ve asked Stephen Lowe to assist my efforts in the next blog. Stephen is the author of an amazing new fiction book called “Rasputin.” Stephen’s new book covers much of what I’ve mentioned above… and for the most part, resolves NOTHING (his words). Join me in hoping that he’ll be a part of this fun politically defining journey. Besides, I need a sharp mind in this endeavor.

Recently, my brother joined his 7 yr old son on field trip with some other parents/children to a farm. They were all looking at a cow when the farmer began describing (paraphrase): “This cow is an dairy cow. She gets milked twice per day. She has 4 stomachs. She weighs XX lbs.”

Just then, to everyone’s horror one of my nephews schoolmates yells “THAT’S MY KINDA LADY!!”

Sort of like this:

Pretend that I’m am the mayor of our city. And, I have told you constantly that I was 100% behind your Rood Construction business. You always donate to help my re-election. Yet, year after year my main concern is replacing current modes of transportation with a monorail system. I campaign constantly that monorails are the way of the future… environmentally clean, safer than cars, no dead rubber trees, etc…. no need for roads. Wouldn’t I be undermining your business?

Isn’t that basically what Washington is doing to the car companies/auto unions year after year??

Washington says: “The US can’t do without GM, etc.” They take union money year after year. Yet, they refusing to allow oil drilling in the US. And, by using questionable global warming info they are trying to push through Cap and Trade legislation that will tax the “bad, bad” gas powered engine into history?… Detroit’s (and the Auto Union’s) #1 product. Do the union bosses not see this? How many regulation hoops are the unions going to allow Washington to make them jump through??

And, couldn’t we have skipped the whole Auto Bailout since they have declared bankruptcy ANY FREAKING WAY??

Odd times we’re witnessing.

Ever spoke or behaved in a way that you regretted a short time later?

Ever seen something that you thought was just “too cool” and soon it turned your stomach because you knew you had to speak the truth about it?

Ever thought that you were in the precise place for your advantage and nothing happened?

Ever swore that you knew for sure the truth only to find that you were dead wrong?

Ever wrapped your arms around what you thought was your “pot of gold” only to find it was just another old, black soup pot?

Ever said to yourself “finally, my ship…” and months later it hasn’t moved?

Ever sat down to a feast that turned out to be rancid?

Ever cringed and waited for a horrible impact…

only to be engulfed by a gentle, warm flood of uncontainable blessing?

“Weeping may endure for a night. But, joy comes in the morning.”