Randomosities...

• Tonight, KERA ran a John Denver special, recorded in Japan in the'80s.  The musicianship was so-so - I've seen him backed by better bands - but still, it was enjoyable.  It's John Denver.
• His name came up recently at my parents' house.  Mom reminded me that at the annual Oskosh Fly-In a couple of decades ago, my Dad tripped Mr. Deutschendorf accidentally as the latter walked from the sunshine (on his shoulders?) into a [darker/darkened] workshop or hospitality tent.  Ruh-roh!
• A colleague recently complimented me, saying that I help make working at our organization 'bearable'. (Rebuttal viewpoint from Todd the Blogger or the Dew in 3-2-1...)
• An exaggeration, sure, but I understand what was meant.  I do try to leaven the day with levity, and to play well in the sandbox.
• Historically, co-workers tend to treat me as a confidant - telling me things that they likely shouldn't - probably because they know I can keep a confidence.  Nothing immoral, illegal, or unethical, mind you, just things that might be unflattering.
• Someone was sleepy Sunday evening as I watched TV on the sofa:

• The Circus Blogger recently referred to the Eagles as 'generic' music.  Now, I understand that Todd the Blogger might use the adjective 'geriatric'.  And if Skippy's talking about Tequila Sunrise, Peaceful Easy Feeling, Best of My Love - well, I wouldn't argue the point, even I consider those pretty much throwaways from the musical canon. 
• But from Hotel California forward (with an aside that Desperado is an excellent concept album), and especially in Henley's solo work, I don't believe there's a better, more literate songwriter/lyricist than NTSU ex Don Henley.
• What is kind of surprising is that a band whose recording catalog numbers fewer than 7 original releases (plus two Greatest Hits compilations, two live recordings, and an anthology boxed set) still can easily fill large arena tours.
• Wonder if this was written about the Ringmaster of said blog:

But the Baron is in the balcony, laughing¹ 
And pointing to the pit 
He says "|Aw, look, they've grown accustomed to the smell²
 Now people love that $#!+ 
 And we're workin' it." 
Workin' it.

(Henley/Simes/Lynch, excerpt from Workin' It, InsideJob)

• Moving on.
• News today that the USAG says it's okay for the POTUS to use drones against US citizens domestically.
• Not that they intend to, though.  It's, you know, just in case.
• And the MSM thinks that folks with AR-15 poodle shooters are paranoid.
• Full disclosure: I don't own an AR-15 or any of its clones.  But I don't have any issue with ordinary law abiding folks who do.
• As one who remembers the 'Texas Secede' bumper/window stickers from the '70s, I tend to regard the concept as so much 'bar talk'.  Silliness, in other words.
• However what's not silly, and not nearly as amusing, is that Washington in its derision of the concept, utterly disregards the underlying discontent in the nation - not just Texas - that tends to give rise to the possibility of an en masse secession of a wide swath of the midwest, potentially including a band of states from the Gulf of Mexico, through the nation's breadbasket, northwest (and maybe including some disgruntled Canadian Provinces - they're not too thrilled with Ottawa) up to Alaska.
• Seems to me the productive, energy and resource-rich states would kind of hold the high cards, and would be self-sustaining.  Thriving, even.
• As well, many arms manufacturers, watching the outcome of bills wending their way through different blue state legislatures, may be relocating to more hospitable areas.
• So, if a large part of the North American continent were to issue the Declaration of Independence II, they would probably be the well-armed states, and unless the remaining Federal government intended to go all Kim Jong Un on the 'rebellious' ones, there'd be essentially zero chance of successfully occupying/subjugating the new breakaway nation stretching from the Gulf to the Baltic.
• Not that I advocate or hope for such a scenario.  But we seem to have possibly the greatest Divider in Chief these United States have ever seen.
• Like I said, something to chew on.

¹,²  Lyrics modified in lines 1 and 3