Speed of Life

The remarks of President Barack Obama on the war in Afghanistan, as prepared for delivery at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, on May 1, 2012 (U.S. time): Good evening from Bagram Air Base. This outpost is more than seven thousand miles from home, but for over a decade it has been close to our hearts. Because  here, in Afghanistan, more than half a million of our sons and daughters have sacrificed to protect our country. Today, I signed an historic agreement between the United States and Afghanistan that defines a new kind of relationship between our countries -  a future in which Afghans are responsible for the security of their nation , and we build  an equal partnership  between two sovereign states;  a future in which the war ends, and a new chapter begins. Tonight, I’d like to speak to you about this transition.  But first, let us remember why we came here. It was here, in Afghanistan, where Osama bin Laden established a safe-haven ...

by Gregg Chadwick "This was perhaps the most inspirational show I’ve witnessed in 30 years of attending thousands of concerts, including at least a dozen by Springsteen. There was maybe one better: When he played Jazz Fest in New Orleans after Katrina and turned the city of ruins into a city reborn. But Morello’s lead on “Ghost of Tom Joad” will be forever seared into my conscience as a testimonial, and a hope."   - Evelyn McDonnell , The Los Angeles Times   Last night the skies of Los Angeles cleared. The storms of the past few days receded only to be followed by the fierce weather of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's Wrecking Ball Tour . The sold out Los Angeles Sports Arena sported a new coat of paint but the ghosts of past political and musical triumphs seemed to hang in the air.  With the house lights up, the band entered the arena with the theme from the film The Magnificent Seven blasting. This 1960 American film, directed by John...