A big day today, I guess, for Beatles fans, as “The Beatles Rock Band” will be officially released. I’ve never played any of those “Rock Band” type games, mostly because I only like a couple of the songs that I’ve seen on them, and I always thought maybe it would be better to put all that time and energy into actually learning to play a real instrument. This one, though, has me tempted, not just because I grew up with the Beatles and their music, but also because it would be fun to pretend to be able to play a replica of John’s Rickenbaccker 325, or to pluck out the bass line in “Rain” on Paul’s Höfner (I used to turn the treble all the way down and the bass way up and crank that song). Sadly, Rain is not in the forecast for the game. I guess I’d have to settle for playing Eric Clapton’s part in “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”

In more Beatles news, the entire Beatles catalog – freshly remastered – is being re-released today, including a 14 album (though not LP, sadly) stereo box set, a mono box set and individual CDs painstakingly digitally remastered and repackaged with lots of photos, extensive CD booklets, and new liner notes.

Speaking of the Beatles, today is the late Billy Preston’s birthday. 9/9 is also Roger Water’s birthday (he turns 66, which is 99 upside down), and Otis Redding’s as well. It’s also the anniversary of the 1971 release of John Lennon’s “Imagine” album (which coincided with his and Yoko’s appearance on the Dick Cavett Show). On that same day, the inmates took over Attica prison. Chairman Mao Tse-Tung croaked on this date back in 1976, and a fella by the name of Elive Presley made his national teevee debut on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1956.

Of course, it’s also a big day today because President Obama, fresh off of indoctrinating the youth of America with socialist dogma like “listen to your parents,” “do your homework,” “work hard and go to college,” and “watch what you write on your Facebook page,” will attempt to work his voodoo on Congress. I’d really like him to say something to the Republicans, like

And to my “friends” on the other side of the aisle. You know there are no death panels under consideration, and you should all be ashamed of yourselves for the fear and hatred you’ve been fomenting. Shame on all of you. You had your chance to be a part of much-needed health care reform, and you’ve squandered it playing the politics of fear and division at a time when this country desperately needs the courage to come together as one.”

I’d like to hear him send a message to the Blue Dog Democrats, too. But it’s only a two-word message, and probably not appropriate for TV.

Of course, September 9th only means one thing to me. It was 15 years ago today that the phone rang in the middle of the night, and my mom told me that my dad had died. To this day, the sound of a telephone ringing puts me on the verge of a panic attack (fortunately, phone don’t really ring anymore – they kind of chirp or play songs; mine is permanently on vibrate). Fifteen years. Hard to believe. In some ways, it seems like yesterday, and in others, a lifetime ago.

Oh well, back to work again after four days off. This will no doubt be a long one. All I can say is:

Firetruck!