WOW! I couldn't have said it better myself. EXCELLENT post. You know, I watch all these new bands on MTV and VH1 and have always thought to myself, my gosh, these people are NOT genuine musicians. I mean, really, how many can actually read music? Very few I am willing to wager.

I'll give everybody a chance, for example I was very impressed to hear Pink "unplugged" on a recent award show. That girl has some talent and an incredible range. Same situation with Jewel. Yes, these are just a few odd examples but you can truly tell how talented some of these people are by hearing them unplugged and just singing with a guitar or an acoustic piano. I think you get my point.

And speaking of our current administration, just read some staggering "Health Related" statistics in Vanity Fair:

2-Years that veterans in some parts of the country have to wait for a doctor's appointment; this is with a proposed new $250 enrollment fee in their health plan, and increased prescription-drug costs.

7-Number of hospitals Bush's Veterans Administration announced it was closing one day before the president addressed a group of veterans in St. Louis.

43.6 million-Number of Americans without health insurance as of 2002.

And a few more small tidbits:

#1-This year's deficit will be the biggest in U.S. History.

$6.84 quadrillion (yes, quadrillion)-Current national debt.

#1-Record for most bankruptcies filed in a single year (1.57 million) set in 2002.

0-Number of funerals or memorials Bush has attended for soldiers killed in Iraq.