>Been off line for a few days, just mass-deleted 3000+ emails from 
>lists, including this one, that appeared to offer unfounded instant 
>analysis of complex topics relating to disaster recovery (which, by 
>the way is what I do for a living from a computer infrastructure 
>standpoint - hence, why I have been a bit busy), global warming, 
>Idiot Bush, wonderful Bush, awful looters, sad looters, and so on.
>
>While i just skimmed the surface, the emails across the 40+ groups 
>of radically-different topics (electronics being a large part) I 
>s*bscribe to, there was an amazing self-similarity in the thread 
>headers and the few I read.  And none of them talked about anything 
>concrete anyone of the writers or respondents had done to help the 
>immediate victims.
>
>I take my second break in 4 days to read a little personal email 
>after working round the clock to set up a consortium of corporate 
>donors, a trustee to allocate the funds based on need and oversight, 
>and a large donor matching program across a significant industry.  I 
>went to give some blood but I was borderline anemic.  I don't want 
>to hear one word of political hyperbole from any person who is not 
>busting their ass to help people first.  Get off the pot and help 
>somebody RIGHT THIS SECOND. yeah - YOU.  We'll have years to chit 
>chat and second guess.
>
>So I take a breather and hope for some news on Chilton, or a 
>perspective on New Orleans as a musical influence, and I 
>find:  blah, blah, blah....
>
>Do we have any moderator(s)?  When I joined this list, it was one of 
>the finest run on-topic and friendly (and sometimes nasty, but 
>on-topic nasty) communities.  It is still well ahead of most, but 
>really are we going to become a political discussion group?
>
>If so, most of you will regret my participation.  I am a ruthless 
>and savage defender of my beliefs and daunting opponent of every one 
>who is so moronic as not to recognize the divine correctness of all 
>of my opinions on everything on earth.
>
>To bring it on-topic, saw The Raspberries on a VH1 Classic hour 
>special the last weekend.  Nice interviews, and some songs from the 
>recent shows, including a rousing Tonight and Go All the Way from a 
>show that had House Of Blues on the banner behind them.
>
>My first break from cruel reality this week was Brian Wilson & Band 
>performing SMiLE at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, CA (yup, 
>Berkeley; don't get me started on their politics...).  Imagine a 
>beautiful night, stars, the bridge and Marina in the distance, the 
>campus clock tower and a replica of a Greek outdoor theater with 
>perfect acoustics.
>
>Brian was more animated and involved than I have ever seen him 
>before.  The band was its own perfect self.  They have altered and 
>tweaked a few portions of SMiLE, very nice.  They also played Break 
>Away, Marcella, and an incredible version of the title tune from Pet 
>Sounds.  They performed a new gospel tune, very well-arranged, as 
>the intro to Love & Mercy.  The song used most of the chord pattern 
>from the verse section of He Come Down.  They also blasted out a 
>rousing send-up of Little St. Nick from the new Christmas album 
>coming out in October on Arista.
>
>And the pre-show tunes on the PA included Australia by The Kinks, 
>New York's a Lonely Town, and Forever by Roy Wood.
>
>A great night in a great place hearing great music.  I believe 
>Halliburton ran the ticket concession....