Althouse: "I constantly hear Gregorian chants. That's the noise... I always think I'm in touch with God."

March 20, 2011

"I constantly hear Gregorian chants. That's the noise... I always think I'm in touch with God."

Says Rush Limbaugh.

37 comments:

MadisonMan said...: Hubris.; 3/20/11, 9:01 PM
Peter V. Bella said...: I constantly hear Georgian chants... that's the noise...I always think the rebels are coming.; 3/20/11, 9:01 PM
David said...: It's not God. It's Hank Haney saying "Keep your head down, Rush."; 3/20/11, 9:03 PM
vbspurs said...: Quoting from the transcript:

Yeah, like if you're listening to music on an iPad or something?

Jeez, I wish the caller had taken the opportunity to ask Rush when we would be getting the native Rush Limbaugh iPad app for it.

'Cause only the iPhone version for subscriber is out there, and I hate "doubling" it.; 3/20/11, 9:05 PM
Wince said...: Yea, that should help dispel the Rush is evil meme.; 3/20/11, 9:07 PM
Automatic_Wing said...: Didn't see any hubris. I thought it was a pretty good description of what it's like to be mostly deaf; 3/20/11, 9:11 PM
Anonymous said...: Hubris?; 3/20/11, 9:11 PM
Henry said...: Rush actually has something really interested to say about hearing loss. He has a lot of air to fill, so he never stops talking, and he never stops talking about himself, but he offers some real insight into his handicape:

What I have to do, I can still listen to music, but it has to be music that I knew and that I've heard before I lost my hearing. And what happens is that my brain, fertile mind, provides the melody. I actually am not hearing the melody, and the way I can prove this to you, sometimes it will take me, even a song that I know, it will take me 30 seconds to identify it if I don't know what it is....Music is the one thing that I miss, but you know what else? This is another thing. Compatibility with other people in normal circumstances takes a big hit. For example, my most comfortable is sheer quiet now...But I crave silence, blessed silence because anything other than speech is just noise. It is irritating noise...Music, it's amazing what the memory can do when I'm listening to music that I love, that I've known. In fact, I can create the music without evening hearing it. Your memory, your mind can do that."; 3/20/11, 9:12 PM
coketown said...: Monday morning political cartoons: Beck sitting cross-legged, covering his eyes; Limbaugh sitting cross-legged, covering his ears; man wearing sash that says 'conservative' covering his mouth.; 3/20/11, 9:13 PM
traditionalguy said...: Oh my! If Rush hears Christians chanting, then the times they are a changing: NPR is nearly kaput. The Arab world is in chaos trying to become secular Democracies. Republicans openly govern with guts Wisconsin. Charlie Sheen is withering away. A soon to be US President, a female Alaskan Governor is in Israel telling them to get a backbone.These are interesting times.; 3/20/11, 9:16 PM
somefeller said...: Oh my! If Rush hears Christians chanting, then the times they are a changing: NPR is nearly kaput. The Arab world is in chaos trying to become secular Democracies. Republicans openly govern with guts Wisconsin. Charlie Sheen is withering away. A soon to be US President, a female Alaskan Governor is in Israel telling them to get a backbone.These are interesting times.

Hate to break it to you Tradguy, but NPR is doing fine financially, there's not a lot of evidence that secular democracy is spreading in the Arab world and Sarah Palin will never be President of the United States. But yeah, Wisconsin has a GOP governor and Charlie Sheen is going haywire. Those parts are true.; 3/20/11, 9:26 PM
Dad29 said...: Yah, well, maybe God's trying to tell him something....; 3/20/11, 9:41 PM
traditionalguy said...: Somefeller...You seem to be seeing what you expect to be there. The interesting times comes from things never before seen occurring all over the world as we watch. (And tell Japan to put some ice on that). I remember the announcers of the first Holyfield/Tyson fight chattering away for 8 rounds about how Tyson was killing Holyfield while the TV screen showed the opposite going on, when suddenly one announcer hesitated and managed to say timidly to the other announcer that Holyfield might be doing OK. Anyway, I learned to believe my lying eyes over the narratives of this world.; 3/20/11, 9:42 PM
MadisonMan said...: To think God is in touch with you? You can't get more self-important than that.; 3/20/11, 9:49 PM
Automatic_Wing said...: Did you read the transcript, MadMan?; 3/20/11, 9:51 PM
Automatic_Wing said...: Hate to break it to you Tradguy, but NPR is doing fine financially

Good, it's the perfect time to cut out their Federal support, I'm sure they won't miss a beat. Then they can accept Hamas donations to their heart's content and they won't even have to cover it up.; 3/20/11, 9:54 PM
MadisonMan said...: I did not. I just reacted to the Headline.

Internet is dreadfully slow at home, I think my kid is downloading the Universe.; 3/20/11, 10:00 PM
Anonymous said...: To think you are the highest power-

That you have created all, understood all, and in control of all-

Hubris?; 3/20/11, 10:01 PM
Automatic_Wing said...: Well, I think you would find it interesting. It's not political at all, just about what it is like to lose most of your hearing.; 3/20/11, 10:05 PM
Anonymous said...: I like Gregorian chants. Very peaceful stuff. I never thought God was calling to me through them. Just the opposite; we're calling out to Him.; 3/20/11, 10:08 PM
YoungHegelian said...: I just hope what Limbaugh's hearing isn't the Dies Irae.; 3/20/11, 10:53 PM
rhhardin said...: Tallis Third Mode Melody might be better, if you want old church music.

As to hearing only melodies you know, probably it's based on rhythm.

Tap out the melody of any song and a friend can usually guess it pretty quickly.; 3/20/11, 11:05 PM
Phil 314 said...: So he's tone deaf.; 3/20/11, 11:31 PM
Mark D. said...: I've got tinnitus, although mine isn't so pleasant as Gregorian chants. A very common side-effect of hearing loss, as the brain attempts to fill in the missing sound that isn't coming in from the ears anymore. Tinnitus is, to be blunt, a living nightmare, particularly if it can't be masked effectively. Whatever one things about Limbaugh's political views, he deserves more than a little sympathy for his condition. I know in my own circumstance, I would happily give up all my hearing to have the tinnitus stop. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way (usually tinnitus gets worse as one's hearing deteriorates).; 3/21/11, 12:42 AM
dick said...: MM,

Trust me - it is not hubris. I also have a cochlear implant and I know just what he is talking about - and I got mine years ago before they became as good as they are now. In one ear I have a constant sound like crickets in the background - it never stops. In the other ear I have a sound like the wind that also never stops. If I am in a crowd I find it very hard to hear whoever I am with. Cocktail parties are just plain painful. I also get wax buildup and when that gets built up you can stand right behind me and talk loudly and I will not hear a sound from you. It is one of the reasons that I only like to be in small groups. With small groups I can make out most of what is going on. I have been in a room with people watching television and they are hearing it just fine and I can't hear any of it at all. If I turn it up high enough for me to hear then it becomes painful for the rest of them.

With hearing aids there is the problem of telephones. When you try to talk on the phone with the aids on you get a piercing whistle sound. I have to turn the aids off and then I can't hear much at all. I have to interpolate the words between to figure out what is being said. The other problem with hearing aids is that you have to change the batteries about every 4-5 days and that is a PITA. Then when you have to get up at a certain time you need to wear the hearing aids all night and that is also a PITA. If you don't then you won't hear the alarm clock. I got to the point that I can will myself to wake up at a certain time and come pretty close if I want to sleep without the hearing aids.

I don't think Rush is being unrealistic in what he says since I have many of the same things going on.; 3/21/11, 3:00 AM
Michael said...: somefeller: "Hate to break it to you Tradguy, but NPR is doing fine financially"

How funny. Thanks, somefeller. Michael Moore school of economics grad.; 3/21/11, 5:39 AM
Unknown said...: "if you look at the timeline of humanity, however long it is, 10,000 years, a million, billion, whatever the number is, my little time on it is not much larger than a grain of sand. And yet I happen to lose my hearing at the same time technology had evolved to the point where cochlear implants had been invented. If I had lost my hearing 15 years ago, it would have meant the end of my career. I would not have been able to hear."

Interesting insight from a man the Lefties deride, but showing a certain humility and thanksgiving that would be lost on most of our National Socialists.

somefeller said...

Oh my! If Rush hears Christians chanting, then the times they are a changing: NPR is nearly kaput. The Arab world is in chaos trying to become secular Democracies. Republicans openly govern with guts Wisconsin. Charlie Sheen is withering away. A soon to be US President, a female Alaskan Governor is in Israel telling them to get a backbone.These are interesting times.

PBS does OK because of Sesame Street marketing, but NPR on its own, competing with satellite radio? Good luck on that one.

Hate to break it to you Tradguy, but NPR is doing fine financially, there's not a lot of evidence that secular democracy is spreading in the Arab world and Sarah Palin will never be President of the United States.

Miss Sarah may never run (right now, she is one of the most influential people in the country), but, if she does, after some more time in grade, I'll bet she wins.

As for the Arab world, some phony folksy strains what's happening through his wishful thinking and America-hatred rather than reality. He's never heard of the Arab Reform Movement.; 3/21/11, 5:54 AM
Toad Trend said...: @edutcher

"Interesting insight from a man the Lefties deride, but showing a certain humility and thanksgiving that would be lost on most of our National Socialists."

And therein lies the rub...humility and a leftist are complete strangers.

The left is the home of arrogance and hubris.; 3/21/11, 7:50 AM
somefeller said...: Maguro@9:54pm: Actually, I think it would be a good idea for NPR to start moving away from federal funding. While I don't think it should be cut off today (too quick of a budgetary problem for NPR would ensue), it's my understanding that only around 5% of NPR's budget comes from federal sources. If that's true, they would be better off walking away from that over time. Too much hassle for too few dollars.

Michael @5:39am: Cute comment, but my comment was in response to the idea that NPR is nearly kaput. Sorry, not much evidence of that. In fact, there was a recent NY Times article about how NPR Music is becoming more of a force in the music industry these days.

Edutcher @5:54am: I am aware of the various reform movements in the Arab world. I am also aware that there's not a lot of evidence that secularism is the lead ideology of reform in the region. While the current changes in Egypt, Tunisia and elsewhere provide some hope, it is far too early to claim that secular democracy is sweeping across the Arab world. And I love America just fine, thanks. I could elaborate more on these points, but I have to get to the office, which is something you don't have to do today and probably never will.; 3/21/11, 7:50 AM
MadisonMan said...: Now that I'm at work, I can read the link.

My wife has hearing aids and has a similar problem to Rush -- if you're in a room with a lot of ambient noise or party chatter, you're pretty much deaf. So you withdraw.; 3/21/11, 8:52 AM
kent said...: Only moderately O/T, given this thread's "Music" tag:

"Red" rocker Sammy Hagar says abducted by aliens

This just had to be shared, really. ;); 3/21/11, 9:29 AM
The Dude said...: Junkies are always hearing shit.; 3/21/11, 9:51 AM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: To think God is in touch with you? You can't get more self-important than that.

@ Madison Man

Did you even READ the transcript?

At the end he was talking about the echoing or tintinitus in his ear and comparing it to the sound of Gregorian Chants (which I believe to be some of the most beautiful sounds in the world). At the same time he was talking about the miracle of being able to hear at all and how grateful he was.

To think that there might be some hand of God in such miracles is not hubris (whether it is or not or whether YOU think is is or not), but is rather a humble statement.

I suggest you try to read the material before jumping to a knee jerk reaction. You are better than that.; 3/21/11, 10:08 AM
Unknown said...: somefeller said...

Edutcher @5:54am: I am aware of the various reform movements in the Arab world.

Of course you are. You're right on top of everything. You know everything before it even happen.

I am also aware that there's not a lot of evidence that secularism is the lead ideology of reform in the region. While the current changes in Egypt, Tunisia and elsewhere provide some hope, it is far too early to claim that secular democracy is sweeping across the Arab world.

Well, the piece did say it wasn't getting much press, so Kos hasn't heard of it yet.

I could elaborate more on these points, but I have to get to the office, which is something you don't have to do today and probably never will.

Mom set up an office for you in the basement?; 3/21/11, 10:15 AM
Conservative Playa said...: So quoting somebody out of context is now bad....hmm just a few days ago it was good (http://althouse.blogspot.com/2011/03/i-really-hope-that-in-future-people.html). What exactly is the rule for when it is appropriate? i'd like to know so that I can play along.; 3/21/11, 11:50 AM
Unknown said...: madisonman:

Now that I'm at work, I can read the link.

My wife has hearing aids and has a similar problem to Rush -- if you're in a room with a lot of ambient noise or party chatter, you're pretty much deaf. So you withdraw.

Really, you made your comment without even reading the link?

Hubris. Seriously, you're unbelievable, the ur-clown.; 3/21/11, 4:26 PM
sarge said...: sarge here, back when I was hooked on pills I had the same problem; 3/21/11, 9:50 PM