BAGHDAD, IRAQ—On almost every corner in Iraq's capital city, carolers are singing, trees are being trimmed, and shoppers are rushing home with their packages—all under the watchful eye of U.S. troops dedicated to bringing the magic of Christmas to Iraq by force.

I was just pondering what a year it's been for musician deaths. Sad and depressing.

Johnny Cunningham
Warren Zevon
Johnny Cash
Elliott Smith

Not to mention Robert Palmer, Barry White, June Carter Cash, and even Maurice Gibb.

Then there was Mr. Rogers, Katharine Hepburn, David Brinkley, Bob Hope ...

Can we have a better 2004, please?

So I came back from an otherwise enjoyable SoCal vacation (too much money spent at Ikea, but it's all good) to some sad news.

Johnny Cunningham died on Monday night.

Who's Johnny Cunningham? Well, he was perhaps the greatest Scottish fiddler of modern times as well as a producer, composer, writer, etc. If all of that weren't enough, and even if he weren't all of those other things, he was an incredibly warm and friendly person as well as one of the funniest personalities I've ever had the privelege of witnessing on-stage and meeting.

He was also something of a friend of our family's. On every swing through town, he'd call my mom and, when possible, they and/or my sister and/or (very rarely) me would get together for the day or for a dinner.

The New York Times link above is a good summation of his life and career, and notably borrows liberally from an article my mom wrote for the magazine Dirty Linen some years ago after a lengthy interview she conducted with him.

His viewing and wake were well attended, and if this page is any indication, there are thousands upon thousands of others whose lives were touched just as deeply.

He may have been young (only 46), but in his time he made an impressive impact on music and the world around him. The world was richer for his presence and is poorer for his passing.

So yeah, this seems like a laudable goal.

So I'll say it loud and say it proud, perhaps as much as once a day. George W. Bush is a miserable failure. A miserable failure is he.

Well, this was unexpected.


Thom: Design Doctor


Which Member from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy is your type?
brought to you by Quizilla

So I just learned, by reading about some little campaign AmEx and the National Parks Service have going on to raise money to reopen it, that the Statue of Liberty is closed.

Yeah. I'm familiar with the Patriot Act. In so many ways, yet again, the Statue is a symbol of our nation.

Grumble grumble.