Teas - Hurdy Gurdy Man - Donovan
I
strolled into a deserted seaside café
All on a winter's day.
I
ordered up a cup of rich brown steaming tea
From an old lady.
What happened to you, man, you used to be so free,
Now all you do is sit and dream
Of a fay girl green
By a mountain stream.
I
strolled into a deserted seaside café
All on a winter's day.
I
ordered up a cup of rich brown memories,
Sat and I watched the sea.
What happened to you, man, you used to be so free.
When you were as a mountain stream
Following a dream,
Following a dream.
What happened to you ?
What happened to you
Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
More on Sheriff Joe Arpaio and what is right
I am on a topic about Maricopa County, Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio. There is more on this in my previous blogs if you are interested, including video of his blatant abuses of power and the nasty situation his rule has caused down south because people are scared and angry and are allowing him and re-electing him in office to continue his abuse. A guy complained that, who cares about how prisoners are being abused in their county, they deserve what they got; people are after all, suffering with losing their homes, etc.
Here are his comments:
" Cry me a river. Good people are losing their houses because of the policies of corrupt politicians and youre worried about convicts living in a tent? They get food and medical, what about the family thats on the street. And if Im the one locked up, its my own damn fault for being stupid enough to not abide by societys rules. AKA due unto others..........." [Ellipses, people only three periods, four at the end of a sentence, okay?]
Here was my response, to be fair, I'm not going to edit my words below, this is straight from the posting I had made, so please excuse:
Well, that's the point isn't it? You too could end up in jail for having not broken any rules, that's half of what all this is about. And IF you are suddenly the one sitting in jail, wondering how the hell did I get here, and why am I being treated so miserably and people are looking in at you in their nice safe area outside the fences, they are thinking, shut up punk, you deserve to be in there, there are people like us, out here worrying about our jobs and mortgages, you suck, you shouldn't be IN jail! And you could only sit in jail wondering what the hell they are talking about and how you got in jail, wishing someone would take on your cause because, maybe you only pissed off some loser cop and you are now going to lose your job, your house, your family and maybe your life.
As for people in prison who belong there, they need to be given proper care, regardless, as they are now in the government's charge; this isn't about revenge, or even punishment. Its about correcting things that are broken (the people, or their orientation) but when the government is broken too, how is that a good thing? Then when these people get out, the idea is for them to not offend again, yes? Isn't that really the goal? What the hell is the use of just punishment (which is documented as working about as well as torture does in another arena,) and yes, this has been something that has forever been at issue in penal theory, but people like our beloved, fat little, joe-boy, are just making things worse. If there is also corruption involved with him, regardless of all this we are talking about, THAT is an issue that needs to be dealt with and HE needs to go to jail and his department dismantled.
By your way of thinking, I might argue that these people losing their houses were idiots to begin with for not setting themselves up for success. They should have been saving to keep themselves off the public dole, they should have gotten jobs that would support them through the bad times; they should have lived under their income not at the edge or over it or on credit; they shouldn't have refinanced using up all the equity in their homes. But that's not the point at this point, is it? We're there, they need help.
Now, if that gets your ire up, then you are right there with us on this Joe topic. However, if you can't see that, well, you're just blowing steam and that is understandable too. We're all pissed off, about something during these hard times. People are pissed, but they need to direct their anger at the roots of issues, not the people trying to correct things.
We need people that take care of things that aren't important to us, just as much as we need people who are fighting what we see to be, "our just causes".
Here are his comments:
" Cry me a river. Good people are losing their houses because of the policies of corrupt politicians and youre worried about convicts living in a tent? They get food and medical, what about the family thats on the street. And if Im the one locked up, its my own damn fault for being stupid enough to not abide by societys rules. AKA due unto others..........." [Ellipses, people only three periods, four at the end of a sentence, okay?]
Here was my response, to be fair, I'm not going to edit my words below, this is straight from the posting I had made, so please excuse:
Well, that's the point isn't it? You too could end up in jail for having not broken any rules, that's half of what all this is about. And IF you are suddenly the one sitting in jail, wondering how the hell did I get here, and why am I being treated so miserably and people are looking in at you in their nice safe area outside the fences, they are thinking, shut up punk, you deserve to be in there, there are people like us, out here worrying about our jobs and mortgages, you suck, you shouldn't be IN jail! And you could only sit in jail wondering what the hell they are talking about and how you got in jail, wishing someone would take on your cause because, maybe you only pissed off some loser cop and you are now going to lose your job, your house, your family and maybe your life.
As for people in prison who belong there, they need to be given proper care, regardless, as they are now in the government's charge; this isn't about revenge, or even punishment. Its about correcting things that are broken (the people, or their orientation) but when the government is broken too, how is that a good thing? Then when these people get out, the idea is for them to not offend again, yes? Isn't that really the goal? What the hell is the use of just punishment (which is documented as working about as well as torture does in another arena,) and yes, this has been something that has forever been at issue in penal theory, but people like our beloved, fat little, joe-boy, are just making things worse. If there is also corruption involved with him, regardless of all this we are talking about, THAT is an issue that needs to be dealt with and HE needs to go to jail and his department dismantled.
By your way of thinking, I might argue that these people losing their houses were idiots to begin with for not setting themselves up for success. They should have been saving to keep themselves off the public dole, they should have gotten jobs that would support them through the bad times; they should have lived under their income not at the edge or over it or on credit; they shouldn't have refinanced using up all the equity in their homes. But that's not the point at this point, is it? We're there, they need help.
Now, if that gets your ire up, then you are right there with us on this Joe topic. However, if you can't see that, well, you're just blowing steam and that is understandable too. We're all pissed off, about something during these hard times. People are pissed, but they need to direct their anger at the roots of issues, not the people trying to correct things.
We need people that take care of things that aren't important to us, just as much as we need people who are fighting what we see to be, "our just causes".
Being a "Space Cadet" is a bad thing? Not in music.
When I was younger I was frequently told, or it was alluded to, that I was stupid. Later, I was called a "space cadet" when that term first came into use; something I wore like a badge of honor at that time.
In listening just now to Bass Guitarist Victor Wooten, he talked about his drummer JD Blair, who is a genius at using space between the sounds he makes on the drums and who has therefore been touring with the likes of Shania Twain, Shelby Lynn, Lyle Lovett and many other. He had grown up listening to the likes of old funk like, Parliament (P-Funk (also spelled P Funk or P. Funk) is a shorthand term for the repertoire and performers associated with George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic collective and the distinctive style of funk music they performed.).
Victor said he just can't find anything out there, a book, a CD, to teach people better music theory than what is taught, which he sees as shallow, which is all about notes, scales, harmony, chords, melody, modes, but not the use of tone, dynamics, phrasing, articulation, using space and when not to play.
So just consider, space, it can be a good thing. Yes?
In listening just now to Bass Guitarist Victor Wooten, he talked about his drummer JD Blair, who is a genius at using space between the sounds he makes on the drums and who has therefore been touring with the likes of Shania Twain, Shelby Lynn, Lyle Lovett and many other. He had grown up listening to the likes of old funk like, Parliament (P-Funk (also spelled P Funk or P. Funk) is a shorthand term for the repertoire and performers associated with George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic collective and the distinctive style of funk music they performed.).
Victor said he just can't find anything out there, a book, a CD, to teach people better music theory than what is taught, which he sees as shallow, which is all about notes, scales, harmony, chords, melody, modes, but not the use of tone, dynamics, phrasing, articulation, using space and when not to play.
So just consider, space, it can be a good thing. Yes?
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
The American Taliban
"The American Taliban" refers to those American Fascists who are against free speech, who are typically afraid, who want no one to speak out against whatever "they" are into or believe in. Screw them.
What I'm FINALLY (THANK YOU!) starting to see, is a backlash of Americans against all this kind of thing. We have lost personal freedoms that were becoming compromised anyway and, certainly much of our personal privacy. We are sending people out of America because of being illegal aliens when they should be handled appropriately. When we are ejecting parents of legal American children, we are abusing Americans (the children). When we eject part of a family who are not legal Americans, we may be damaging Americans in the process.
People are starting to finally see what we have been and are, turning into. Frightened, childish, lower denominator type nationalists. But we are better than that. We have been, we can be. We are Americans. We need to make that a statement that is a proud thing to hear, to say, ANYwhere in the world. But now what? We are afraid to say that in many places around the world. Or if we are not, we should be.
How do we change that? Well, how about we start acting like good people, even at our detriment at times. We need to do what is right, take the high road, help people everywhere to have a better life, not governed by our greed. We need to get a collar on corporations. We need to force our government officials to do a good job (take your partisanship and stick it up your *ss), we need to force them to push good laws. We need to better our people, our nation, our world.
People come first. We've forgotten that.
Why have we forgotten that?
What I'm FINALLY (THANK YOU!) starting to see, is a backlash of Americans against all this kind of thing. We have lost personal freedoms that were becoming compromised anyway and, certainly much of our personal privacy. We are sending people out of America because of being illegal aliens when they should be handled appropriately. When we are ejecting parents of legal American children, we are abusing Americans (the children). When we eject part of a family who are not legal Americans, we may be damaging Americans in the process.
People are starting to finally see what we have been and are, turning into. Frightened, childish, lower denominator type nationalists. But we are better than that. We have been, we can be. We are Americans. We need to make that a statement that is a proud thing to hear, to say, ANYwhere in the world. But now what? We are afraid to say that in many places around the world. Or if we are not, we should be.
How do we change that? Well, how about we start acting like good people, even at our detriment at times. We need to do what is right, take the high road, help people everywhere to have a better life, not governed by our greed. We need to get a collar on corporations. We need to force our government officials to do a good job (take your partisanship and stick it up your *ss), we need to force them to push good laws. We need to better our people, our nation, our world.
People come first. We've forgotten that.
Why have we forgotten that?
Ataraxia - a short neo-gothic film
Inspired loosely by The Blood Countess (by the brilliant, Andrei Codrescu), Erzebet Bathory (Hungary, 17 August 1560 – 21 August 1614), who was accused and convicted for murdering hundreds of young girls, comes Ataraxia, a short neo-gothic film about a young nurse who yearns to impress her new wealthy employer, will soon discover that her boss has a special liking for her nurses and the occult.
Bringing a Victorian stylistic edge to a modern story, Ataraxia is destined for future film festivals and for becoming a great piece in its creator’s portfolio.
Currently Ataraxia is being produced by New York Film Academy graduate students George Sardis (writer/director) and Tatjana Bluchel (producer). See the web site for Atraxia
Currently Ataraxia is being produced by New York Film Academy graduate students George Sardis (writer/director) and Tatjana Bluchel (producer). See the web site for Atraxia
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Middle Eastern Man beaten to death for being immature near DC Club
"Around 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning of the 16th, a 27-year-old named Ali Ahmed Mohammed was allegedly beaten to death outside of the Washington, DC indie rock club DC9, according to The Washington Post. The venue's owner and four employees were arrested and charged with second-degree murder. Police say Mohammed threw a rock through a window of the club before he was chased and then beaten."
-- From The Pitchfork
FYI, there is a possibility that this was not the club's doing.
This will be decided in court as there are some possible misconstrued facts.
-- From The Pitchfork
FYI, there is a possibility that this was not the club's doing.
This will be decided in court as there are some possible misconstrued facts.
Local Pacific Northwest Children's shows
Most regional locations around the US have had their local, live kid's TV shows over the years. I started watching them when I was a kid in the 50s and 60s. They were the shows you waited to see after school, a kind of reward for sitting through boring classes all day. I couldn't find actual video from some of these shows but supplied what I could find on either the show or the actor.
I have heard about TV being a video wasteland and it certainly has been, but I think more so in the 1980s than the 1960s. Some, most, or all of these shows won awards and I have fond memories of them; while some of them, hae taught me a lot, too.
Here is a list of the kinds of shows we watched here in the Pacific Northwest. A few were national, most were not.
Romper Room. The Backstory
Mostly a show about kindergarten kids. This was an international show that used local talent for the locally aired shows.
Wunda Wunda
A clever show about young children with a witch as host that for some reason, I found mesmerizing back then.
Kookla, Fran, and Ollie
This show was so weird, I just watched it sometimes because it fascinated me so much.
Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop
This woman may have been my first crush. And Lamb Chop was just cool, innocent but with a vein of underlying rascalness.
The Brakeman Bill Show
I was on the Brakeman Bill show several times with a few hand picked students from my dojo, Steve Armstrong Sensei's Issuinryu Karate dojo in Tacoma, Washington. We went on the show to demonstrate Karate as Sensei was always into spreading the word. This was my first time on TV and I demonstrated some punching and blocking techniques with another student.
Later, Bill showed up with his son. He said that he had been having problems in school because of his dad being "Brakeman Bill" which is understandable. I got to be good friends with his son and he finally actually beat me at the Bremerton Tournament one year. We fought two overtimes after the fight tied. I should have won but the judges thought we were going to fight all night. People told us later it was a better fight than the main adult event that night. I threw a flying side kick, he put his hand up to keep me from hitting him and they counted it as a punch. He told them that wasn't the case but he won anyway to get it over with. We were pretty exhausted. So he got third place, I got fourth. He apologized later and all I could tell him was that he was my student and that I was very proud of him for beating me. And, really, I was. But I felt pretty badly at the time.
This was the same tournament I had to fight a guy that pretty much terrified all my fellow students. When they called his name indicating who would fight him, I said, "I pity the guy that has to fight him." Everyone agreed, then they called my name and the universe stopped and everyone walked away from me on the bleachers. I remember one of my dojo mates coming up to me before the fight and handing me a packet of honey saying, "Take it, you're gonna need it." I lost that fight, mostly out of fear. The other guy knew it, knew I was heavily outclassed and took it easy on me.
Another funny story. Years later, after the military, after college, I ran into a guy, actually he ran into us, he would come into Tower Video in Tacoma and bring us pizza. We thought he was a bit odd, but seemed nice enough. He said he ran the camera for channel 11 for the State Lotto. Saturday nights he drove to the station (Tacoma or Olympia, I wasn't sure) and he was tired of it. If I wanted the job, he said he would give me an "in". So I did what he said, I applied. I had to go to Channel 11 to interview.
Turned out, it was with "Brakeman" Bill. I wanted to tell him, I was the one that taught his son Karate down at the dojo. He won that trophy because of my instruction. But Bill was such a hard ass and so, kind of, mean, I was a bit stunned and it never came up. He acted like that guy that sent me was non existent. Where that guy told me I could be taught to run the camera, Bill said, "Let's face it, you don't know how to run a camera." And that was the end of that. Where he seems so nice in public, he was kind of an ass at work acting as an executive.
JP Patches
Even in High School I would put his show on while I was getting ready for school. I loved the opening. I started with JP the clown, and "mayor of the city dump" sleeping, with only his head and feet supported, then the grandfather clock went off and the face of the clock lifted up at the bottom and dropped some water on to him wherein he fell, and jumped up and the music picked up and it was a fun and reassuring beginning to my day.
Captain Puget
Sometimes he would have Ivar Haglund on playing guitar, who was famous for Iver's seafood restaurants in Seattle. I loved this show and it may have something to do with my love of the Puget Sound region and the ocean in general. I liked his show because I never felt that he talked down to us as kids.
Stan Boreson (1957)
I loved this guy and his show, he was always so funny.
Captain Kangeroo
The Captain was always entertaining, I loved Crazy Bunny and Mr Greenjeans and everyone really, was always so relaxed on that show.
I have heard about TV being a video wasteland and it certainly has been, but I think more so in the 1980s than the 1960s. Some, most, or all of these shows won awards and I have fond memories of them; while some of them, hae taught me a lot, too.
Here is a list of the kinds of shows we watched here in the Pacific Northwest. A few were national, most were not.
Romper Room. The Backstory
Mostly a show about kindergarten kids. This was an international show that used local talent for the locally aired shows.
Wunda Wunda
A clever show about young children with a witch as host that for some reason, I found mesmerizing back then.
Kookla, Fran, and Ollie
This show was so weird, I just watched it sometimes because it fascinated me so much.
Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop
This woman may have been my first crush. And Lamb Chop was just cool, innocent but with a vein of underlying rascalness.
The Brakeman Bill Show
I was on the Brakeman Bill show several times with a few hand picked students from my dojo, Steve Armstrong Sensei's Issuinryu Karate dojo in Tacoma, Washington. We went on the show to demonstrate Karate as Sensei was always into spreading the word. This was my first time on TV and I demonstrated some punching and blocking techniques with another student.
Later, Bill showed up with his son. He said that he had been having problems in school because of his dad being "Brakeman Bill" which is understandable. I got to be good friends with his son and he finally actually beat me at the Bremerton Tournament one year. We fought two overtimes after the fight tied. I should have won but the judges thought we were going to fight all night. People told us later it was a better fight than the main adult event that night. I threw a flying side kick, he put his hand up to keep me from hitting him and they counted it as a punch. He told them that wasn't the case but he won anyway to get it over with. We were pretty exhausted. So he got third place, I got fourth. He apologized later and all I could tell him was that he was my student and that I was very proud of him for beating me. And, really, I was. But I felt pretty badly at the time.
This was the same tournament I had to fight a guy that pretty much terrified all my fellow students. When they called his name indicating who would fight him, I said, "I pity the guy that has to fight him." Everyone agreed, then they called my name and the universe stopped and everyone walked away from me on the bleachers. I remember one of my dojo mates coming up to me before the fight and handing me a packet of honey saying, "Take it, you're gonna need it." I lost that fight, mostly out of fear. The other guy knew it, knew I was heavily outclassed and took it easy on me.
Another funny story. Years later, after the military, after college, I ran into a guy, actually he ran into us, he would come into Tower Video in Tacoma and bring us pizza. We thought he was a bit odd, but seemed nice enough. He said he ran the camera for channel 11 for the State Lotto. Saturday nights he drove to the station (Tacoma or Olympia, I wasn't sure) and he was tired of it. If I wanted the job, he said he would give me an "in". So I did what he said, I applied. I had to go to Channel 11 to interview.
Turned out, it was with "Brakeman" Bill. I wanted to tell him, I was the one that taught his son Karate down at the dojo. He won that trophy because of my instruction. But Bill was such a hard ass and so, kind of, mean, I was a bit stunned and it never came up. He acted like that guy that sent me was non existent. Where that guy told me I could be taught to run the camera, Bill said, "Let's face it, you don't know how to run a camera." And that was the end of that. Where he seems so nice in public, he was kind of an ass at work acting as an executive.
JP Patches
Even in High School I would put his show on while I was getting ready for school. I loved the opening. I started with JP the clown, and "mayor of the city dump" sleeping, with only his head and feet supported, then the grandfather clock went off and the face of the clock lifted up at the bottom and dropped some water on to him wherein he fell, and jumped up and the music picked up and it was a fun and reassuring beginning to my day.
Captain Puget
Sometimes he would have Ivar Haglund on playing guitar, who was famous for Iver's seafood restaurants in Seattle. I loved this show and it may have something to do with my love of the Puget Sound region and the ocean in general. I liked his show because I never felt that he talked down to us as kids.
Stan Boreson (1957)
I loved this guy and his show, he was always so funny.
Captain Kangeroo
The Captain was always entertaining, I loved Crazy Bunny and Mr Greenjeans and everyone really, was always so relaxed on that show.
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