Bailouts Without Disclosure Is Criminal

By Allen Bacon, Editor, The Daily Bosco

I am still seething over a news report this morning that the banks that benefited from the recent Multi-billion Taxpayer Bailout are not disclosing how the money is being spent. There is apparently a loophole that allows them to get away with this horrendous breach of public trust.

Excuse me? What alternative Universe do these criminals live on where they can take our hard earned money....billions of it...and not tell us how they are spending it? How does a bailout happen without a law saying you must disclose where the money is going?

Have they ever heard of an annual report? We, the taxpayers, are the stockholders now...they're playing with our money. They need to disclose. They need to spend some of the billions on ethics classes and workshops.

Equally disturbing to me is another report that 1.6 billion is going toward Executive salaries.

In most businesses if you're the manager and your company loses money and market share...you would be out on the street looking for another job. These guys and gals get rewarded handsomely with six and seven figure salaries and perks up the wazoo like corporate jets, lavish parties etc on our dime.

You know, I remember when I applied for my mortgage loan. I was put through the most strict of background checks. The bank wanted to know every detail about me and if I was worthy to get their money.

Why didn't we do the same thing with the banking industry before we gave them our money. At least tell us how you're spending our money.

60 Minutes Screens The TSA

Are the hassles passengers endure at airport security checkpoints really making them safer? The Transportation Security Administration says they are, but a security adviser who has advised them says those measures are "security theater." Lesley Stahl reports on tonight's 60 Minutes on CBS Television. Karen Sughrue is the producer.

Also on tonight's show: Ivory is selling for nearly $1,000 a tusk, causing more elephants to be slaughtered and more orphaned babies in need of special care provided by an elephant orphanage in Kenya. Bob Simon reports. Michael Gavshon is the producer.

And finally tonight on the show. Former Hollywood action star-turned California governor Arnold Swartzeneger may be facing his most formidable foe in a $40 billion state budget gap caused by the economic decline. Scott Pelley reports. Henry Schuster is the producer.

See 60 Minutes across America on your local CBS affiliate. You can also link and listen to the audio portion via Bosco Radio: News and Information starting at 7 PM PST/10 PM EST. The link is in our sidebar.

The Lion In Winter On Radio

Acclaimed actress Kathlee Chalfant is Eleanor of Aquitaine in tonight's radio adaptation of James Goldman's A Lion In Winter

Back stabbing, spying, double crossing, and rampant infidelity - a typical family Christmas. Typical, that is, for the Plantagenets. James Goldman's brilliant historical drama A Lion In Winter pits King Henry II of England against the strong-willed Eleanor of Aquitaine as they battle over which of their sons will inherit the Crown.

A Lion In Winter will be the featured play tonight on The Play's The Thing. The radio adaptation stars Alfred Molina and Kathleen Chalfant. The show will also include an interview with Dr. Scott Waugh, Professor of History at the University of California, Los Angeles .

L.A. Theatre Works is proud of their award-winning, critically-acclaimed radio theatre series, The Play's The Thing. Listeners across the country are discovering radio drama that is contemporary, edgy and significant. "The Play's The Thing" is heard on public radio stations throughout the United States, on XM Satellite Radio, and internationally on Voice of America and other English language broadcasters. And you can listen online every Saturday night at www.kpcc.org or link through Bosco Radio: Nostalgia and Entertainment at 8 PM PST and again at 10 PM PST.

A Lion In Winter has been archived and can be heard on www.kpcc.org

Arne Duncan, Education Reformer?

Opposing groups of educators sent two, competing manifestos to Barack Obama during his campaign. His pick for Secretary of Education signed on with both factions. Today, on the To the Point radio program, will Arne Duncan be an agent of change or a supporter of the status quo? Can he oversee real reform and also keep teachers unions happy?

Listen in daily and join the discussion to To the Point via your favorite public radio station or Bosco Radio: News and Information at 12 PM PST/3 PM EST. It's in the sidebar.

The Lowdown On Boz Scaggs

Speak Low
Boz Scaggs
Four Scoops of Bosco
Reviewed by Allen Bacon, Editor, The Daily Bosco

One thing you can say for Boz Scaggs is that he is not afraid to tackle different genres of music. From singing rock/blues with the Steve Miller Band to his solo pop hits like "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle", he is always exploring and evolving.

So now at the age of 62, it would seem to be a logical progression to venture into the world of jazz standards.

His new jazz album Speak Low is the second jazz album he has put out in this decade and it's another good one as he gives beautiful and wonderful vocal renditions of such standards as Nancy Wilson's "Save Your Love for Me" or Kurt Weill's composition "Speak Low". This album is comprised of twelve classic songs by such composers as Rodgers & Hart, Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer and others.

In addition to the great use of vibes, piano, bass and strings on this album, the real star is Boz Scaggs wonderful vocals. The balance of his voice along side the instrumentation is impeccable.

The opening tune, “Invitation,” sets the tone for the rest of the album. The use of a bass clarinet and vibes coexist perfectly with Scaggs vocals. And sometimes you forget how great of a guitarist Scaggs is too. This is highlighted in the album as well.

Other highlights include Scaggs singing with the saxophone on “Save Your Love For Me,” the vibe bridge of “Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me” and the bass/piano combo on “I Wish I Knew".

The only thing for me, and this is true with other artists...Linda Rondstadt comes to mind...The jazz stylings are great and he does a great job with this genre but I want to hear at least one more album like Silk Degrees or even an album of Rock and Soul standards as when Scaggs was recorded on the 80's Rock and Soul Review album.

Snow Patrol To The Rescue

Snow Patrol
A Hundred Million Suns
Geffen Records
Four Scoops of Bosco
Reviewed by Allen Bacon, Editor, The Daily Bosco

I recently heard two of the guys from Snow Patrol in a stripped-down, acoustic live setting. You can not really appreciate the craftsmanship and talent of this group until you hear them in the raw.

I really like the new album, A Hundred Million Suns, their fourth, which was released last month but it tends to skew toward the overproduced. Snow Patrol is the best thing to come out of Scotland since, well kilts and bagpipes, but like kilts and bagpipes they can be overdone sometimes.

No new ground is broken here...their powerpop approach is all very similar to their three other successful records. And you hear a lot of U2, Kings of Leon, Beck, and Coldplay influences in their music. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. But if you're looking for original...not so fast.

That doesn't stop me from playing the dickens out of at least three songs. If There's A Rocket Tie Me To It not only has the greatest title for a song, but it rocks. Take Back The City is a great air-guitar song too. I had to make sure I kept my hands on the steering wheel on that one. And the emo-ballad Crack The Shutters is destined for Rock Classic status.

Great lyrics by Gary Lightbody and great musicianship by the entire band. But next time I would really like to see them put out a live unplugged album...then the rest of the world can appreciate how great these guys are even without all the slick production techniques.

The Bosco rating systems is based on a ranking of 1 to 5...5 being best.

How Will History Judge President Bush?

Recent reports say the Bush Administration bungled Iraq's reconstruction and that harsh interrogation techniques were approved at the very top. Karl Rove is in charge of positive spin. Today, on the To the Point radio program, will history be kinder to the outgoing president than current official—and public—opinion?

Join host Warren Olney as he discusses this topic with newsmakers and his audience. To The Point can be heard daily at www.kcrw.com and across the nation on public radio stations. Link live via Bosco Radio: News and Information at 12 noon PST/3 PM EST. The link is in the sidebar.

Also, today, over on Bosco Radio: Music listen in as Mercury Rev joins host Jason Bentley and performs live on Morning Becomes Eclectic. Also in the sidebar starting at 9 AM PST/12 Noon EST.

Road To Mecca On "The Play's The Thing"

Athol Fugard's (above) play gets the treatment on The Play's The Thing. Road to Mecca is now archived and can be heard at www.kpcc.org

Athol Fugard's "Road To Mecca" is the featured play this week on The Play's The Thing. This radio version of the play stars Julie Harris, Amy Irving, and Harris Yulin.

When her husband dies, aging Miss Helen begins to fill her home in the remote South African bush with strange sculptures made from beer cans and old headlights. A local clergyman and a young woman visitor try to decide whether Miss Helen's peculiar art is an outpouring of creativity or an outbreak of madness.

This is an incandescent drama by South Africa's most celebrated playwright.

The Play's The Thing can be heard every Saturday night on various Public Radio Stations across America. It features audio versions of new and upcoming plays by new playwrites as well as established plays featuring some of today's best actors and actresses. Or link via Bosco Radio: Nostalgia and Entertainment Channel beginning at 8 PM. The play is repeated at 10 PM. The link is in the sidebar.

Road to Mecca is now archived at www.kpcc.org

Just Call It The Talk Show Network

By Allen Bacon, Editor, The Daily Bosco

In case you haven't heard, NBC has a new name...it's the Talk Show Network. All Talk Shows..all the time, beginning next year.

Let's see...with Jay Leno moving to the 10 PM slot...that makes 4 straight hours of talk with Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, and Carson Daley. Factor in the Today Show, the Evening News, and local news and you don't have much time for original programming.

Having a talk/variety show in the 10 PM slot is not a novel idea by the way. That was the original time slot for the Tonight Show back in the day and in some parts of the midwest the show is the lead-in to the news because the farmers need to get to bed early.

But in this day and age of the DVR and programming on the internet, who really cares what time the show comes on anymore. You record it and save it when you want to watch.

The real reason that NBC is doing this though is because they do not want Jay Leno bolting to another network. If he ended up at ABC or FOX, that would not be a good thing because he holds his own against Letterman and he would definitely do better with Joe and Joan Average against the much edgier and hipper O'Brien who is taking over the Tonight Show.

Of course, if any of the major four could convince John Stewart to bring his Daily Show or a variation of it to one of their networks all bets would be off. He would absolutely clean up.

You know the thing I can't figure out about NBC? They have some great shows on their USA Cable Network which would do great on regular TV. Put original episodes of Monk or Psych on and they would do well I'm pretty sure.

Let's Just Legalize Happiness

By Allen Bacon, Editor, The Daily Bosco

Yesterday was the "Day Without A Gay" Day. I'm not sure how successful this was. For one thing, the organizers didn't have enough time...in my opinion..to gain enough momentum to have the ultimate success.

I know this because most of the people I come into contact with didn't even realize that it was "Day Without A Gay" Day.

But I'll tell you one thing...it did provoke some dialogue. I for instance learned that there are still a lot of people...people I thought were tolerant...who don't care for the gay community. One guy told me when I brought up the event to him..."Day Without A Gay? How about a month without a gay or a lifetime without a Gay?" Needless to say, somebody just got dropped off my Christmas card list.

This whole event was of course in response to California voters overturning same-sex marriage in the state.

As much as we pat ourselves on the back for being "progressive" enough to elect an African-American President, we still have a long ways to go when it comes to basic human rights. We still have a long way to go to becoming a tolerant society.

That's what it boils down to. Really.

Even if you don't agree with the right to same-sex marriage, next time when there is a similar initiative on a ballot...try substituting something that's near and dear to you. Are you in an inter-racial marriage? Try subbing that in and ask yourself is it right? Are you a single parent? Try subbing in your rights as a single parent and imagine somebody taking away those rights. Try subbing in your rights to practice religion the way you want. Well, you get the point.

The reality is, we need to protect everybody's human rights. The next initiative could be aimed at you.

And, I have a proposal for a day. I'll call it "Day without a Decent Human Being Day". We need to be reminded how important everybody is to each other.

Longwave on Morning Eclectic Today

Longwave will perform songs from and talk about their new album Secrets are Sinister on the Morning Becomes Eclectic radio program with Jason Bentley.

Listen to the premiere radio program for new music and new music groups each weekday beginning at 9 AM PST/ 12 noon EST in Los Angeles on KCRW 89.9 FM or link to KCRW.com through the Bosco Radio: Music Channel in the sidebar.

MURS For President

Hip Hop Rapper MURS, aka Nick Carter, will perform live and chat with host Jason Bentley on the Morning Becomes Eclectic Radio Program today. MURS will be performing music from his new album MURS for President.

MURS released his first single in 1993, taken from a self-released album by his first group, 3 Melancholy Gypsies (aka 3MG).The group became friends with Mystik Journeymen, and joined them in the Living Legends collective in 1996.

MURS appeared as a rapper on more than 20 records, EPs, and singles over a seven-year period, both on releases by 3MG and Living Legends. His debut solo album, The End of the Beginning, was released in the spring of 2003. He also worked with anticon. rapper Slug under the name Felt, taking a more experimental approach. A second solo album, Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition, was produced by 9th Wonder.

Taking a more thoughtful approach to rap, the album prompted Andy Gill of The Independent to say "eschewing bogus glamour for emotional realism, Murs manages to say more about the corrosive cancer of hip-hop's gun culture than all the thousands of column inches lavished on 50 Cent's bullet wounds". The track "Walk Like a Man" from that album inspired a film of the same name in which Murs starred along with Damien Wigfall. After another solo album with 9th Wonder, Murray's Revenge, in 2006, Murs signed a contract with Warner Bros., his debut album for the label being Murs for President. This was preceded by Sweet Lord which was given away free to fans.

He has collaborated with many artists including will.i.am, James Blunt, Shock G, Humpty Hump of Digital Underground, Slug, Whole Wheat Bread, Snoop Dogg, El-P, Aesop Rock, RJD2, Hieroglyphics, Little Brother & 9th Wonder, E-40, John Cena, Mr. Lif, Jean Grae, Freestyle Fellowship, DJ Z-Trip, Chingo Bling, Shing02, The Game, Supreeme, The Stiletto Formal. He also appeared on L.A. metal band Terror's album Always The Hard Way (2006).

Aside from music, MURS is a host of Current TV.

Listen live to Morning Becomes Eclectic via www.kcrw.com, KCRW-FM 89.9 in the Los Angeles area or link via Bosco Radio: Music. The show, highlighting new music and new artists, starts each weekday at 9:00 AM PST/12 Noon EST.

This show has been archived.

"Cadillac" CD: Nothing Beats The Original

Cadillac Records Soundtrack
Beyonce Knowles, Jeffrey Wright,
Mos Def, Little Walter, and other
Various Artists
Columbia Records
Four Scoops of Bosco

Best of Chess: Original Versions
of Songs In Cadillac Records
Etta James, Muddy Waters,
Chuck Berry and other Various Artists
Chess Records
Five Scoops of Bosco

By Allen Bacon, Editor, The Daily Bosco

Memphis had Stax Records...Detroit had Motown, but when it came to music with sheer raw energy, grit, sexuality, and emotion...music ahead of the curve for it's day...none was better than the legendary Chess Records from Chicago. From the 1940's until the late 1960's no sweeter sounds were captured on vinyl than the music that came from the studios of the Chess Brothers.

Fortunately, thanks to Executive Producer Beyonce Knowles and her Biopic "Cadillac Records" we get to stroll down memory lane and a whole new generation will be introduced to this wonderful music.

While the movie takes some creative liberties and plays with the truth...even leaving out one of the Chess Brothers...the music lives on with two wonderful Cd's and there can be no fudging of the truth here. The first is mainly covers of the original music that is used in the movie.

Beyonce Knowles does her best to emulate Etta James on such tunes as "At Last" and "I'd Rather Go Blind" but there is only one Etta James and as talented as Beyonce is (and she really does does a formable job here) she does not breathe the same rarefied air as James.

The real surprise here is how well actor Jeffrey Wright does Muddy Waters. Listen to tunes like Blues Standards "I'm A Man" and "I'm Your Hootchie Cootchie Man" and see if you don't agree. Think of Jamie Fox in "Ray" or Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon in "Walk The Line". Jeffrey Wright is right there as an actor that also sings his role.

But the most fun is listening to Mos Def interpreting Chuck Berry. I found myself listening again and again to rock and roll classics "No Particular Place To Go", "Nadine", and "Maybelline".

There are some original songs on this album. But they really do not stand up to the classic music covers and should not be on this two album set. The exception may be "Let's Take A Walk" by Raphael Saadiq which best captures the sound of the Chess sound and attitude.

Of course, I found myself gravitating more toward the companion album put out simultaneously by Chess Records which has all the original versions of the songs by Etta James, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, and more.

Nothing Beats the real article.

The Bosco rating system is based on a value of 1 to 5...5 being best.

The Four Weismen Enjoy The Holidays

By Allen Bacon, Editor, The Daily Bosco

One thing I have to say about my neighbor Steve Weisman …well there are two things….he loves Christmas and he get’s a little crazy at this time of the year. First of all, the sheer fact that we live on Bedford Drive (You know, like “It’s A Wonderful Life” Bedford ) indicates how far he takes this obsession with Christmas. In other words, I don’t think that it is a coincidence that he lives on Bedford Drive. And I doubt it is a coincidence his name is Weisman (as in Wiseman)

Steve, his two children and lovely wife start decorating their home for Christmas in the summer. Ok, it just seems that way. Actually he starts on December 26. Steve is always looking for deals on Christmas decorations. He hits the Estate Sale and garage sale circuit pretty good looking for the perfect Christmas decorations for his yard. His yard at Christmas is like the Who’s Who of Christmas Ornaments. You name it, he’s got it. Except for those inflatable Homer Simpsons and Santa Claus and Frosty the Snow men….Steve doesn’t go in for the inflatables apparently.

Which leads me to digress a little bit…When you are doing a Christmas presentation on your front lawn…and this is just a suggestion… go with either the religious motif or the “fun” motif. This is what I don’t want to see on any lawn in America…Jesus in a manger, the three Wisemen, A cross on top of your house AND a 20 foot inflatable Grinch in a Santa Outfit. You either have to go one way or another. Steve primarily understands this…he goes for the fun in Christmas primarily. Steve could go religious…he’s a devoted Lutheran and he sends his two kids to wonderful Lutheran schools but he decided to go the fun route.

So a survey of Steve’s lawn will find a penguin in a tophat, lit candy cains, and my personal favorite a working Ferris wheel full of winter creatures like penguins or maybe it’s a big mouse dressed like a penguin… I’m not sure, a train on the roof, assorted lit reindeers, snowmen, and American Flag draped over his fence. 4 large Evergreens covered with lights…well you get the idea.

Steve single-handily keeps the White Cotton bunting industry going. The local fabric store in Fullerton here sees him coming and they know that they will meet their profit margin for the year. He rolls yards of that stuff onto his yard so that it looks like snow and he basically sacrifices his lawn for the Christmas display. Nothing can grow after he puts all that bunting down.

Steve isn’t the only one on my street that gets into the Christmas spirit on Bedford Drive. In fact it’s like peer pressure to not only have a Christmas display…You have to give 100%. Effort. You have to bring your “A” game when you are doing Christmas decorations on Bedford Drive. Last year I startled everybody on my street. They thought I had converted to Judaism, which would have been cool with my neighbors, because they are cool and embrace religious diversity, but that would also have meant I would have been the only one on the block without Christmas decorations.

It was a series of events that made it appear I had in fact become one of the Chosen. First of all, I accidentally bought Hanakuh wrap from Steve’s daughter Stephanie for the school. I meant to buy the snowman ensemble but somehow I marked the code for the Hanakuh wrap on the order sheet. It’s beautiful in silver and blue metallic, but not Christmassy. Then, the former owner of my home, Jay, left me boxes of old colorful Christmas lights. One thing about me is that I like the white Icicle lights and simple elegance of the aforementioned so I don’t use the color lights. So, I went to Steve and simply said, “I won’t be needing these anymore” and he gave me a concerned “Come back to the flock” look.

The third thing that happened was that I could not make Steve’s annual Neighborhood Holiday bash at his home due to another commitment which totally looked like I was snubbing my Christian breatheren. And to top everything else, since I was gone for most of December last year…I literally didn’t put up any ornaments until December 24. But on December 24 everybody knew I was still a Christian….a lazy, procrastinating Christian mind you…but one still the same.

Steve always jokes that he is plugging into my power grid to help light his amazing
Christmas display. At first, I thought he was joking until I noticed a heavy spike of activity on my Edison bill in December. But I figured it was for a good cause..

So I wish all of my neighbors (and everybody else for that matter) a wonderful and safe Holiday season. And if you notice a spike in your electric bill this month, just think of Steve Weisman and realize that some youngster is probably visiting Bedford Drive right now with his parents and staring with awe at the Weisman’s beautiful and wonderful Christmas decorations.

Michael Feinstein On Prairie Home Companion

Legendary cabaret singer, pianist, and musical anthropologist Michael Feinstein will be the special guest and perform live on today's Prairie Home Companion radio program. The show will originate live this Saturday from The Town Hall in New York City.

Also scheduled to be on the program: Metropolitan Opera Tenor Raúl Melo, and jazz vocalist Inga Swearingen. As most weeks The Royal Academy of Radio Actors; Tim Russell, Sue Scott, and Fred Newman, The Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, and The News from Lake Wobegon.

Listen live across American on your favorite Public Radio Station on Saturday. Link live to the show via Bosco Radio Nostalgia and Entertainment beginning at 3 PM PST/6 PM EST in the sidebar. Listen to a replay Sunday at 12 Noon PST on Bosco Radio.

The Big Three's Second Act

The Big Three CEO's last performance in Washington could only be called a lemon. Can they sweeten it up this time? Today, on the To the Point radio program, without corporate jets and big salaries, will their new plans persuade Congress to come up with billions of dollars? Will the Auto Workers help ease the pain?

Listen to To the Point, a daily news talk show on the top issues of the day hosted by news veteran Warren Olney across the nation on many public radio stations or via www.kcrw.com or link to the show via Bosco Radio News and Information starting at 12 noon PST/3 PM EST.

The show on the Auto makers has been archived and is at www.kcrw.com

Congress to Consider Automakers Proposals

By John Crawley and John Poirier, Reuters

All options were on the table on Wednesday as congressional committees scrutinized automakers' restructuring plans ahead of make-or-break hearings starting today on the Detroit 3's urgent appeal for $34 billion in taxpayer-guaranteed loans.

Lawmakers, especially in the Senate, appear to have little patience for political wrangling over whether to extend taxpayer funds to an industry with what they see as a questionable future.

"What is the strategy moving forward?" Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., asked in an appearance on CNBC. Menendez is on the Senate Banking Committee, which today will be the first of two panels to question the CEOs of General Motors (GM), Ford Motor (F) and Chrysler.

Menendez said all options remain on the table — including government-financed "prepackaged bankruptcies" — as automakers briefed staffs of the banking panel and House Financial Services Committee, which will question the CEOs on Friday.

"I continue to look at that as a potential option," Menendez said. Democratic leaders, the companies and the UAW have sought to dampen any talk of Congress possibly facilitating a bankruptcy court restructuring.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Tuesday that bankruptcy was out of the question.
Pelosi guessed the Detroit 3 likely will get some form of loan package or other aid from Congress or the Bush administration due to the potential for broad economic consequences if they fail.

But Menendez and other lawmakers have said Alan Mulally of Ford, Rick Wagoner of GM and Bob Nardelli of Chrysler must make a convincing case about their distress and prospects for recovery. The issue of supporting one or more prepackaged bankruptcies — a process in which restructuring terms are settled ahead of any court filing, is expected to come up at hearings.

Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, one Republican who's been open to compromise on aid, has said the mood "candidly isn't supportive" of a bailout and "there's a skepticism about their ability to formulate plans to survive."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said a Democratic plan to tap the Wall Street rescue fund to save U.S. automakers does not have the votes to pass.

The Senate plans to take up bailout legislation on Monday. House Democratic leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland also hopes his chamber will act next week. In Chicago, President-elect Barack Obama said that the automakers have put forward a "more serious" restructuring proposal to Congress, but withheld judgment until after the hearings.

Obama Names Foreign Policy Team

President-elect Barack Obama named his foreign policy team earlier this week in record time. For those keeping score at home, here's a rundown of his picks so far:

Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton was born on October 26, 1947. She is the junior United States Senator from New York and President-elect Barack Obama's nominee for United States Secretary of State. Her post requires Senate confirmation. She was a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2008 presidential election. She is married to President Bill Clinton -- the 42nd president of the United States, serving as first lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001. At his press conference announcing the pick, the President-elect said, "She possesses an extraordinary intelligence and toughness, and a remarkable work ethic. ... She is an American of tremendous stature who will have my complete confidence, who knows many of the world's leaders, who will command respect in every capital and who will clearly have the ability to advance our interests around the world."

Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense Robert Michael Gates was born on September 25, 1943. He is currently serving as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense in George W. Bush's cabinet. He took office on December 18, 2006 replacing Donald Rumsfeld. Gates served for 26 years in the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council, and under President George H. W. Bush as Director of Central Intelligence. Before he joined the CIA, he served with the United States Air Force. In a 2007 profile written by former National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski, Gates was named one of the year's most influential people by Time magazine. If confirmed, Gates will be one of only a handful of people to hold a Cabinet-level position under two Presidents of different parties.

Eric Holder, Attorney General Eric Himpton Holder, Jr. was born January 21, 1951. He is a former Superior Court Judge in Washington, D.C., a United States Attorney and Deputy Attorney General of the United States. He was one of three members of Obama's vice-presidential selection committee. If confirmed, he will be the first African-American Attorney General of the United States. Holder is married to Sharon Malone, an obstetrician; the couple has three children. He represented the NFL during its dog fighting investigation against Michael Vick.

Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano was born November 29, 1957. She was first elected Governor of Arizona in 2002, and re-elected in 2006. Napolitano was chair of two state governors' associations and named by Time as one of the top five governors in 2005. In 1991, while a partner with the private Phoenix law firm Lewis and Roca LLP, Napolitano served as Anita Hill's attorney during the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings. She was appointed by President Bill Clinton as United States Attorney for Arizona. She spoke at the 2000 Democratic National Convention just three weeks after having a mastectomy.

James Jones, National Security Advisor General James Logan Jones, Jr. was born December 19, 1943. He is the former Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and the Commander of the United States European Command and served as the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps. Jones retired from the United States Marine Corps in February of 2007 after 40 years of service. In 2007, Jones served as Chairman of the Congressional Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq, which investigated the capabilities of the Iraqi police and armed forces. In November 2007, he was appointed by the Secretary of State as special envoy for Middle East Security. Jones, who is 6'4", played forward on the Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team.

Susan Rice, Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Elizabeth Rice was born November 17, 1964. She is an American foreign policy expert. Rice served on the National Security Council and as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs during Clinton's second term. Rice served in the Clinton administration in various capacities: at the National Security Council from 1993 to 1997; as Director for International Organizations and Peacekeeping from 1993 to 1995; and as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs from 1995 to 1997. In 1997, she became Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, serving in that capacity until Clinton left office. Rice married ABC News producer Ian Cameron in 1992; they had met as undergraduates at Stanford and they have two children. She once said when she graduated from Stanford and shook the university president's hand, he said, "I know who you are."

Timothy F. Geithner, US Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Franz Geithner (pronounced Gaytner) was born August 18, 1961. He is the ninth president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. In that role he also serves as Vice Chairman of the Federal Open Market Committee. In March 2008, he arranged the rescue and sale of Bear Stearns and later, in the same year, he played a pivotal role in both the decision to bail out AIG as well as the government decision not to save Lehman Brothers from bankruptcy. He married his Dartmouth classmate Carole M. Sonnenfeld in 1985, with whom he has two children. In his spare time he fly fishes, plays tennis and surfs

Obama is exoected to name former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle as Health and Human Services Secretary and New Mexico Governor and former presidential candidate Bill Richardson as Commerce Secretary.

Source: Moms.com

School of Seven Bells on MBE Today

The School of Seven Bells melding psychedelic sound with futuristic beats will perform and be the in studio guest of Jason Bentley on the Morning Becomes Eclecticradio program this morning.

School of Seven Bells is a new band formed by Benjamin Curtis of Secret Machines. He left Secret Machines in early 2007 to concentrate on the new band solely. The band's current lineup includes twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza, formerly of On! Air! Library!.

Curtis and the Deheza sisters met when both were opening on an Interpol tour.The band is named after the School of the Seven Bells, a legendary pickpocket training academy.

School of Seven Bells' debut album, Alpinisms, was released by Ghostly International in the U.S. on October 28, 2008. It is available as both a physical and digital release.

This is the first week as KCRW musical director and host of Morning Becomes Eclectic for Jason Bentley. He has picked up nicely for his predecessor Nic Harcourt. Harcourt now has a live program on Sunday nights on KCRW in Santa Monica.

Listen to Morning Becomes Eclectic beginning at 9 AM PST/12 noon EST through www.kcrw.com or in the Los Angeles area on KCRW 89.9 FM. School of Seven Bells will be on in the 11:00 hour. Also link to the show each weekday via Bosco Radio Music in the sidebar.

The show featuring the School of Seven Bells has been archived and can be accessed through www.kcrw.com

World AIDS Day 2008: Keep The Promise

By Amy Judd, Now Public

AIDS is a disease for which there is no cure. There is no pill, no vaccine, no surgery to make you better. HIV and AIDS has decimated the world we live in.

What started as almost an unknown disease, has now spread worldwide to affect families, groups and even whole countries.

December 1 is dedicated each year to AIDS awareness, which is caused by the spread of the HIV infection.

On this day people wear red ribbons to show their support and to raise awareness. This started as a grassroots effort and there is still not one main manufacturer for the ribbons.

At last estimate by UNAIDS, about 25 million people have been killed by the disease, and currently about 33.2 million people are living with HIV.

World AIDS Day, originated in 1988, and now every year it is a cause supported by governments worldwide, as well as groups and charities.

About 95% of those people live in the developing world, where access to the proper medicines and care is hard to find, and the disease spreads much more rapidly than in the rest of the world.

Sub-Saharan Africa is the most heavily infected place in the world for HIV and AIDS - so far about 1.5 million people have died from the disease there in the past year.

The Butterfly Tree is one of the charities working in Africa at the moment to help stop the spread of HIV and AIDS.

They run a number of programs to help people living with the disease - from feeding children whose mothers are HIV positive, to looking after orphans whose parents have died from AIDS.

Founder Jane Kaye-Bailey says that the Butterfly Tree started the orphan sponsorship program "because they believe that every child has a right to education and by offering an orphan sponsorship program to children who have lost their parents through HIV/AIDS gives them a chance to overcome this devastating pandemic".

Jane and her team have also initiated the first feeding program in Zambia for children under five and she says that as a result more mothers have come forward to be tested for HIV and AIDS.

The charity also supports everyone who is HIV positive through "workshops and voluntary testing, making more people aware of the dangers, help remove the stigma" explains Jane Kaye-Bailey.

You can also contact The Butterfly Tree to sponsor a child whose life has been severly affected by AIDS.

December 1 is one day in which we can raise awareness about what is happening due to this disease, but this is a epidemic that lasts every day of the year.