All Things Michael Miles

Last night John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers played at Mayne Stage in Chicago. At 77, he can still bring down the house. Here he is playing “Chicago Line”, an old tune just released on his last album.

It has been a pretty exciting week for those who follow the news, and I’ve noticed considerable glee within the liberal blogosphere: Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation has finally crossed a line that has raised the ire of the British government, audiences on both sides of the Atlantic, and prompted an investigation by the Department of Justice.

The fallout has begun. Murdoch has dropped his bid for BSkyB, and as of today Rebekah Brooks and Les Hinton have resigned. A number of former editors have been arrested, and pundits are now stating that James Murdoch – Rupert’s heir apparent – may be in jeopardy. All of which makes for an entertaining week, but there’s a buried lede in this story.

The phone hacking scandal is old news in Britain. No one seemed to care when allegations surfaced that the Royal Family and some celebrities’ phones had been compromised. And Brooks had even testified in front of Parliament that News International bribed police officers for cell phone numbers. Just another tabloid story, the audience saw this as crusading journalism protecting the common man. It was anything but. When those same journalists used that validated tactic on 7/7 and kidnap victims, the repugnance of the behavior became all too clear. In fact, News Corporation had violated the public’s trust years earlier; the public simply ignored it to satisfy their own vices.

The real indictment in the News Corporation phone hacking scandal is of their audience, who rewarded Murdoch and his management team for the repeated violation and exploitation of innocent lives. It is a brilliant demonstration of how corporate power is allowed to subvert the democratic process, in this case by a corporation representing itself as a protector of that process. It is a shocking wake-up call for modern society to stem the control of amoral corporations over institutions which have traditionally protected civil discourse and political participation. Now that we are all informed, the choice is clear.

Oh joy, I discovered the Merriam-Webster “Ask the Editor” videos on YouTube. So, to celebrate the occasion I’m posting one of the most important: why it is acceptable to end a sentence in a preposition. Ms. Brewster will provide the fun narrative.

Just fabulous…

A friend of mine who practices Constitutional law sent me a link the other day to a Radley Balko post (on Reason.com) highlighting Senator Orrin Hatch’s recent effort to compel the Department of Justice to spend more money investigating adult pornography.

I immediately returned the favor by informing him that Utah – Hatch’s home state – is the greatest per-capita consumer of pornography in the United States (please note that Sarah Palin’s Alaska is close behind.) That’s just awesome.

At a time when Hatch’s party wants to defund programs that protect our air and water, provide consumer protections and retrain workers for new job sectors, Senator Hatch and 100 other legislators want more money devoted to prosecuting people engaged in entertainment.

Who knows why this is so vital to our national interest? Maybe the good Senator feels that, since much of the trouble is in his home state, the prosecutions will act as a “stimulus.” More likely they will be deflationary.

Here’s a bit of pop culture for you, and a rare musical interlude. If you’ve read William Burroughs’ Naked Lunch, then you know that Steely Dan was the name of a dildo:

Mary is strapping on a rubber penis. “Steely Dan III from Yokohama,” she says, caressing the shaft.
“What happened to Steely Dan I?”
“He was torn in two by a bull dyke. She could cave in a lead pipe.”
“And Steely Dan II?”
“Chewed to bits by a famished canidru in the Upper Baboonsasshole. And don’t say ‘wheeeeeeee!’ this time.”

Walter Becker and Donald Fagen introduced the character in a song entitled “Soul Ram” (I think you see where this is heading), which appeared on a collection of tracks named The Early Years. It’s all pre-Steely Dan, and really wonderful. Back in the early 1980s, I discovered a vinyl copy in a miscellaneous bin. So, for your enjoyment, today’s interlude is “Soul Ram.”

Nothing is better than Benny Goodman. Except Benny Goodman with Gene Krupa.

I love Chicago. Big city; totally accessible.

Today was pretty simple, but a great experience. I took the El downtown to attend the solidarity rally at Daley Plaza, and stopped by Rick Bayless’ XOCO for a really awesome Cochinita Pibil torta. Just lovely, and the habañero salsa was genuinely spicy. My only available camera was my smartphone, but here is a sample of what you can expect if you come to eat:

Afterwards, I proceeded to Daley Plaza, where people had gathered to show support for Wisconsin public union members. A number of speakers were there, including Senator Dick Durbin. There were lots of good signs, and I shot a few seconds of video. What was really cool, though, is that after a few minutes a bunch of pro-choice protesters showed up, and the crowds started to mix and feed off of each other. It was really exciting to see such a diverse mix of folks who shared a common vision for the future; an inclusive vision that allows for economic and social mobility, and rejects the notion of inherent class separation.

We like to throw around the word “freedom”, but what good is that if there is economic oppression?

Rally at Daley Plaza, Chicago, February 26, 2011 (#1)

Rally at Daley Plaza, Chicago, February 26, 2011 (#2)

UPDATE (3/4/2011): Great news! Turbo was adopted this week. He’s finally going to get the forever home he deserves.

Alright, everybody. It’s time to find Turbo a home. He is a sweet, energetic, middle-aged dog that has been in foster care far too long. I met him last summer (2010) and he couldn’t have been more loving and gregarious. This boy deserves better than what he has been handed.

He doesn’t like cats, but that happens once in awhile. My late dog Honey Pie didn’t like other cats or dogs, but she was awesome in a roomful of people, and worked the sidewalk café circuit with aplomb. Turbo needs someone who loves the outdoors – maybe a jogger – but who doesn’t feel compelled to stand around the dog park.

Chicagoland Bully Breed Rescue is handling the foster care and adoption; you can find out more on their website (they handled the adoption of our pittie, Garbo.) We would have loved him ourselves but already had a cat in our home.

Let’s get this guy a forever home! Link to this page and tell all your friends. Use the Share button below to send this to your social network. Someone out there would be perfect for him.

It gets cold in Chicago, and the harbors freeze. That’s not so good if you enjoy sailing. While it helps to long for April 1st, when the boats will start to return to their slips, attending a boat show in January helps a lot. Yesterday my friend Michael and I went to Strictly Sail at Navy Pier – where among other cool things – Beneteau’s new First 30 made its Chicago debut. Perfect for getting one’s mind off of gray skies and old snow.

Beneteau has always done a fabulous job of walking the line between performance and comfort, and the second generation of the First 30 is no different. Designed by famed naval architecture firm Juan Yacht Design, the First 30 retains the distinctive Beneteau profile while incorporating substantial racing improvements, like a bulb keel, a new tiller design linked to dual rudders, and specially designed mast and sails to maximize power (no backstay on this baby.)

I’m not going to get into a review of the boat, since I haven’t sailed one and – I’m sad to think – I surely won’t have the opportunity for quite a while. Needless to say, from the photos, it’s easy to see the relative comfort built into the cabin. This is definitely not a J/30, which makes cocktail hour at the end of the day a bit more comfortable (now you know what kind of sailor I am.) But in the right hands, the boat is not going to provide any handicap on the water. So for any of you out there who feel compelled to reward me with lavish gifts, this is definitely the big daddy.

Of course, there was more: three yachts from the Beneteau series – a 37, 40 and 50 – all stunning and outfitted to the nines. The 50 actually comes with the Dock & Go system, a new 360 degree, joystick-controlled trolling motor that requires almost no skill to professionally maneuver your yacht. Perfect for the bond trader that doesn’t know how to sail.

Other highlights included a new J/111 – the latest in a series of impressive racing boats, a beautiful one-class daysailer from C.W. Hood (which was just voted Boat of the Year), and lots of cool gear (I totally fell in love with these really lightweight water shoes from Zeko footwear.) Not a bad way to spend a few hours.

Now it’s just a matter of getting through the next eight weeks, until the boat yards come to life and the harbors start to fill again. I’ve joined a crew that will be running in the Chicago-Mac race this summer, so stayed tuned for news and updates. It promises to be a really fun time.