fingersfred-talk

Two-Tier Justice System...

2011-12-29T19:43:00.001-08:00

I'm in Calgary, AB for a New Year's gig, among other things. But that will not be the subject of this blog.

I was at the courthouse today to pay a speeding ticket. While I was there I met two lovely young ladies who say they are Jazz fans, and one even gave me a potential lead on a gig. And later on, I met another lovely young woman who is kind of involved in the classical side of the music world, and she's Italian to boot. But, that also, is not the subject of this blog.

The courthouse was more crowded than I have ever seen such a place. In fact, I was in for a three hour wait before I was finally done. But, places get busy, and that's just a part of life. And now we come to the meat of what I have to say: A lawyer showed up, about an hour and a half into my wait, also to deal with a ticket, like the rest of us. From his behaviour, and familiarity with the courthouse staff, he clearly is a colleague of the JPs we were all waiting to see. Perhaps he is a JP himself. Now we come to it: I don't know why we make such a fuss about a two-tier health system in this country, because we already have a tow-tier legal system. My proof? I, and many others there waited a good 2 1/2 hours or more for service but this 'gentleman/Lawyer/JP/whatever' had his situation resolved in 20 minutes. Is that fair? Well, it certainly is a good reflection of life which is clearly unfair in many respects. It's no wonder the ruling elite have no concerns about what happens to the rest of us, because they wait in a different line from us. Perhaps one day, those of us in the slow line will wake up. I wonder what will happen then...?

Lessons...(Finally)

2011-07-17T15:49:00.000-07:00

I have recently ventured into the world of music lessons. As in me both giving and receiving them. Two times - the first was a serious miscalculation, as I arranged to take lessons in reading music from some local woman in exchange for my teaching her son how to play Jazz, and basically, improvise. The miscalculation was this: I approached this woman as a peer, with just a different skill set. She however, saw herself as the teacher, and me as the lowly student - she says "jump", I say "how high?"

Those of you who know me are likely laughing right about now...

In all fairness to her son, to my mind he was so over-committed, there was no way he was going to learn anything well from me. So, he had no time to work on the things I gave him to work on, and he didn't at all. It was obvious. Also, I checked his ears. Similar to his mothers. No perfect pitch...no relative pitch, barely any sense of pitch at all. And whatever hearing ability he may have, his Mother's Gestapo-like teaching methods killed any freedom or sense of spontaneity that would assist in him learning something as freeing as jazz improv. And to think that this woman may end up achieving a Master's degree in Music education. No wonder this generation is turning to rap and techno in record numbers, if this woman is typical of today's music educator.

Needless to say, I didn't stand for this long. My next adventure was with another young lady, and in this case, She's teaching me how to read, and teach, and sing, and again, in exchange for me teaching her to play like me. Now, based on our sessions so far, she even feels different. Although she says she came up the classical way, she feels like a musician like I am a musician, not by the "I'll make a musician out of you by God...now drop and give me 20..." which I think is the school my previous music educator went to, but this woman seems to have come up the way I, and many like me have. She listens, and copies. Just like a child learning to talk, by imitating what the parents say to him/her and each other. In my humble opinion, this is how music should be learned. Because then it becomes internal.

As a student, she's sucking up what I'm giving her like a sponge, and I'm attempting to do the same with what she give to me. And, in terms of the voice, I'm already seeing some improvement: I've increased my range in the top end by a major 3rd: no small accomplishment given only 2 weeks.

I'll keep you posted...

Wall Street Journal Sizes up Obama -

2011-04-14T11:35:00.000-07:00

The article below has been incorrectly attributed to Eddie Sessions of the Wall Street Journal. The attribution is wrong. It was not written by Eddie Sessions.

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/e/Eddie-Sessions-WSJ.htm

It was written by Alan Caruba and posted on his Warning Signs blog under the title of "Obama's Make Belief Life."

"I have this theory about Barack Obama. I think he's led a kind of make-believe life in which money was provided and doors were opened because at some point early on somebody or some group (George Soros anybody?) took a look at this tall, good looking, half-white, half-black, young man with an exotic African/Muslim name and concluded he could be guided toward a life in politics where his facile speaking skills could even put him in the White House.

In a very real way, he has been a young man in a very big hurry. Who else do you know has written two memoirs before the age of 45? "Dreams of My Father" was published in 1995 when he was only 34 years old. The "Audacity of Hope" followed in 2006. If, indeed, he did write them himself. There are some who think that his mentor and friend, Bill Ayers, a man who calls himself a "communist with a small 'c'" was the real author.

His political skills consisted of rarely voting on anything that might be deemed controversial. He went from a legislator in the Illinois legislature to the Senator from that state because he had the good fortune of having Mayor Daley's formidable political machine at his disposal.

He was in the U.S. Senate so briefly that his bid for the presidency was either an act of astonishing self-confidence or part of some greater game plan that had been determined before he first stepped foot in the Capital. How, many must wonder, was he selected to be a 2004 keynote speaker at the Democrat convention that nominated John Kerry when virtually no one had ever even heard of him before?

He outmaneuvered Hillary Clinton in primaries. He took Iowa by storm. A charming young man, an anomaly in the state with a very small black population, he oozed "cool" in a place where agriculture was the antithesis of cool. He dazzled the locals. And he had an army of volunteers drawn to a charisma that hid any real substance.

And then he had the great good fortune of having the Republicans select one of the most inept candidates for the presidency since Bob Dole And then John McCain did something crazy. He picked Sarah Palin, an unknown female governor from the very distant state of Alaska .. It was a ticket that was reminiscent of 1984's Walter Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro and they went down to defeat.

The mainstream political media fell in love with him. It was a schoolgirl crush with febrile commentators like Chris Mathews swooning then and now over the man. The venom directed against McCain and, in particular, Palin, was extraordinary.

Now, nearly a full 2 years into his first term, all of those gilded years leading up to the White House have left him unprepared to be President. Left to his own instincts, he has a talent for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. It swiftly became a joke that he could not deliver even the briefest of statements without the ever-present Tele-Prompters.

Far worse, however, is his capacity to want to "wish away" some terrible realities, not the least of which is the Islamist intention to destroy America and enslave the West. Any student of history knows how swiftly Islam initially spread. It knocked on the doors of Europe, having gained a foothold in Spain

The great crowds that greeted him at home or on his campaign "world tour" were no substitute for having even the slightest grasp of history and the reality of a world filled with really bad people with really bad intentions.

Oddly and perhaps even inevitably, his political experience, a cakewalk, has positioned him to destroy the Democrat Party's hold on power in Congress because in the end it was never about the Party. It was always about his communist ideology, learned at an early age from family, mentors, college professors, and extreme leftist friends and colleagues.

Obama is a man who could deliver a snap judgment about a Boston police officer who arrested an "obstreperous" Harvard professor-friend, but would warn Americans against "jumping to conclusions" about a mass murderer at Fort Hood who shouted "Allahu Akbar." The absurdity of that was lost on no one. He has since compounded this by calling the Christmas bomber "an isolated extremist" only to have to admit a day or two later that he was part of an al Qaeda plot.

He is a man who could strive to close down our detention facility at Guantanamo even though those released were known to have returned to the battlefield against America .. He could even instruct his Attorney General to afford the perpetrator of 9/11 a civil trial when no one else would ever even consider such an obscenity. And he is a man who could wait three days before having anything to say about the perpetrator of yet another terrorist attack on Americans and then have to elaborate on his remarks the following day because his first statement was so lame.

The pattern repeats itself. He either blames any problem on the Bush administration or he naively seeks to wish away the truth.

Knock, knock. Anyone home? Anyone there? Barack Obama exists only as the sock puppet of his handlers, of the people who have maneuvered and manufactured this pathetic individual's life.

When anyone else would quickly and easily produce a birth certificate, this man has spent over a million dollars to deny access to his. Most other documents, the paper trail we all leave in our wake, have been sequestered from review. He has lived a make-believe life whose true facts remain hidden.

We laugh at the ventriloquist's dummy, but what do you do when the dummy is President of the United States of America

Disney Revision

2011-03-30T21:34:00.000-07:00

Hmmmm...

When I first came here, I thought that this was like Crystal with kids, but now that I've been here a while, I see similarities with NCL as well. And by that, let me say first that Disney has a great product. I mean, they are an entertainment company after all. And a global one at that. So, how can I compare a company like this to NCL, when only a few weeks ago I called her " crystal cruises with kids"? Well, it's because of the Demographic.
DCL is basically a family cruise line. The kind of insanity that you may typically find on Carnival doesn't reign here, because it's not cheap to be on this ship. However, here in LA, we are sailing out of, and returning to, the same port. Los Angelinos are used to having the most famous, most glamourous, most highly skilled performers living and entertaining in their midst, for over a century. So, even the riff-raff that come on a ship that is leaving from, and returning to LA will have very high expectations of what they want to see, entertainment-wise. Pretty voices, Pretty Boys, pretty girls. They aren't like NYers, who expect to see brilliant instrumentalists, and the rest is just window dressing - No, For THESE folks, if you don't sing amazing, the rest of the package doesn't really matter.
The result of this is, a public that is very unforgiving.
Me, I'm used to having people either really loving me, or being indifferent. However Disney doesn't want anyone being indifferent to it. They have no tolerance for it, no understanding of it. The had it easy in Florida, but here, in LA, so close to Disneyland, and Universal Studios, This cruise line is getting its butt kicked. Why? Is it because the ship-board entertainment is bad? Not really. But, let's face it: No three and 4-star cruise line, not even Disney, is going to pay to have the kind of entertainment that the folks of LA are used to. Period. So, Rich, middle class or poor-ish, we're getting a very wide demographic as clients, who are NOT on vacation, but rather, they are giving their children a vacation. The net result of this is you have a clientel that are as picky, hard to please, and as distracted as the demographic that would take an NCL cruise. In other words, very tough to please. Disney is doing a great job, under the circumstances, but my first suggestion would be for DCL to get out of LA, or do LA - Somewhere, and then Debark/embark, Somewhere - LA debark/embark. Does that make sense?

To do LA/LA is really putting undue pressure on themselves, and for what reason...? To prove what? To who?

My 2 cents worth...

Some Thoughts At Sea...

2011-03-09T12:03:00.000-08:00

In
1952
President Truman
established one day a year as a
"National Day of Prayer."
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
----------------------------------

In
1988
President Reagan
designated the
First Thursday in May of each year as
the National Day of Prayer.
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------

In June
2007
(then)
Presidential
Candidate Barack Obama
declared that the USA
"Was no longer a
Christian nation."
---------------------------------------------
------------------
This year
President Obama
canceled the
21st annual National Day
of Prayer ceremony
at the White
House under the ruse
Of "not wanting to offend anyone"

---------------------------------------------
---------------------------

BUT... on September 25, 2009
from 4 AM until 7 PM,
a National Day of Prayer
FOR THE MUSLIM RELIGION
was Held on Capitol Hill,
Beside the White House.
There were over 50,000 Muslims
in D.C. that day.

HE PRAYS WITH THE MUSLIMS!

I guess it Doesn't matter
if "Christians"
Are offended by this event -
We obviously
Don't count as
"anyone" Anymore.

The direction this country is headed
should strike fear in the heart of every
Christian,
especially knowing that the
Muslim religion believes that if Christians
cannot be
converted, they should be annihilated.

This is not a Rumour -
Go to the website

To confirm this info:
http://www.islamoncapitolhill.com

You know, at first glance, this looks like
Islam is truly the religion and power, that
for us, must be resisted at all costs, and by
all means. But, knowing what I know about the
ruling elite's agenda (The Bilderberg Group)
and knowing that, among their many stated
goals, they intend for the global population
to be no more than 500,000,000, this
so-called "clash of civilizations" which will
result in a global, and likely a nuclear conflict, will do the job
that all other attempts at population control
have been unable to do. And even if we succeed in reducing our numbers far below the target, we can always re-populate, right? So long as the ruling elite's infrastructure is still intact, what do they care? At least, this is how I imagine the line of thinking goes.

This is similar to the film, "The sum of all fears" where the architects of that conspiracy were fanning the flames of both sides of the potential conflict in the hopes of eliminating the competition. In our case, the ruling elite are funding both sides of the civilization clash, and let's face it; fanatical Islam and neo-fascism are both easy flames to fan. No one seems to recall the words, "we have seen the enemy, and he is us".

Would I love to be wrong, and think that Islam has to be destroyed? Sure. It's much easier, and I do have major disagreements with Islam and the Koran on SO many levels. But so many things happening now seem to be happening by design. Who's the designer? Whether divine or diabolic, these forces usually use humans to accomplish their desired actions. What if Alex Jones is right? Let's put our focus on the Real Target - the Bilderbergs. And with that dealt with, we move on to the next target, just like troubleshooting a PC, or a network. Process of elimination.

Disney - The Company

2011-02-23T12:39:00.001-08:00

I must admit, I've spent the bulk of my career trying to get back to Princess as a Pianist/entertainer, and I find myself in the position of, perhaps not needing to do that. It's only been 2 weeks, and into my third, but I'm seeing that Disney is not just another Carnival at all. That's what most of us think, looking from the outside. Actually, Disney really would better be described as Crystal Cruise Line, with children as part of the demographic. It's really the last thing I was expecting. The work is challenging, and you really need to stay at the top of your game, but an artist wants that extra drive towards excellence. And I must say, Disney provides that push. Not in a bad way. Here are some examples.

They tune the ships pianos every week. I don't know if even Crystal does that anymore, although I can't say for sure. No other line does, not even my beloved Princess Cruise, since the Carnivalization of that line. And Pricess used to be the ruler against which all other cruise lines were measured, entertainment wise. Here's another example:

I used to have to stay up to 4 AM everynight when all the guests were asleep in order to do my daily practice routine. Here, my room
(the Gig) is accessible to me and other staff, but closed to the public, so I'm in the unusual but pleasant position of being able to practice during the day. It ALMOST makes me feel like I'm a day person. (Almost - I'm still a performer, after all.) Disney takes entertainment very seriously, and so do I. This seems like a very good match. They seem to be trying to treat me very well, and I'm trying very hard to return the favor by being, and maintaining, excellence in my performance skills.

Disney Cruise Line - Who knew? Something tells me that everyone knew but me...

Disney - The Company

2011-02-23T12:39:00.000-08:00

Disney Wonder

2011-01-21T13:11:00.001-08:00

Well, after almost a 3 year break, looks like I’m going back out there. And by out there, I mean another ship. The Disney Wonder this time. And, I’m a little apprehensive, because I know that this time, it won’t be business as usual. Of course, I’ll know much more in a month or so, but my understanding is, Disney is PC (politically correct) on steroids. So, I know I’m going to REALLY have to edit what I do. My concern is, can I stay funny and entertaining, editing myself so much, or will I just seem to be another “white” guy, blending into the background?
This really has me concerned. Although, for this occasion, perhaps I’ll just suck it up, and blend…after all, if Disney was not even willing to let Christina Aguilera shine and do her own thing for them, some 50+ piano player is going to be of little concern. I’ll do the best I can do, and hopefully, it’ll be enough. Anyhow, it’s only for a few months. How rough could it be?
And I just remembered another thing: Space Shuttle Discovery, or space shuttle mission STS-134 will be Launching April 19, which, if I cut the gig, (which I’m actually not sure about at this point) will take place while I can watch from the sidelines. It will be only the second time I’ve seen one launch, although Teresa and I watched one scorch across the night sky as it was on its way to Edwards’s air force base. At first we thought it was a plane on fire, and very close to us. Later, while watching the news, we realized what it was, and why there was no noise, for something that “looked” so close. It must’ve been still many miles up in its re-entry point when we saw it.
..Just another perk of travelling…
Well, better practice up – want to be in top form for Mickey Mouse, you know…

A few Hip Cats...

2010-09-17T18:16:00.000-07:00

I've had the truly rare experience of running into a club owner who loves Jazz, knows it's a small market, knows this is a country town, Still wants to brand himself, and his club as a place for jazz lovers. Even more interesting: I've played for this fellow previously with a girl singer, who, regardless of anything else I may think, can actually sing, and is easy on the eyes. Yet, he's not interested in her - only me. The most remarkable thing about this is I didn't solicit the attention - Along the same line, I've recently run into a number of young kids, around 14 - 15, who don't listen to, or even like the rap or tecno that many of their peers listen to. They both really dig Jazz. And the best part was the reason: "We like our music to be free, and to have content. It's not merely about the presentation" When I pressed them to be more specific, they said, and I quote, "music that speaks to the emotions is nice, but that's one thing. Lyrics that speak to the intellect is something else, and that's nice too. But music that speaks to the soul, that is every part of a human, on it's own merits, without the benifit of lyrics - now that's something altogether different, and when you run into someone who can create that, right in front of you, there you have something. That's what happens with a musician playing jazz, and that's what we want to do someday."
Teenagers saying that, and thinking something this profound!?!?

I have performed on Carnival Cruise Lines, many years ago. A large majority of the passengers, and crew members, for that matter, caused me to despair for our species almost every day. These young kids, and this particular club owner, for the time being, at least cause me to have hope.

Definition of an Infidel

2010-09-11T11:40:00.000-07:00

This fellow may say he no longer believes in organized religion, and what that means to him, I won't speculate. Nonetheless, there is nothing like shining the light on something that likes to hide in the dark like this fellow shines the light on what this self-rightous Iman really thinks about us Infidels in relation to his teaching of Islam. Check it out:

The Uncomfortable Definition of an Infidel, by John Harrison MBE.
> MIDSc
>
> Why I've ceased believing in anything to do with organised religion,
> No doubt I'll be heading for the fire and brimstone.
>
> Allah or the Jesus Christ? The Muslim religion is by far the fastest
> growing religion in the UK.
>
> Last month I attended my annual training session that's required for
> maintaining my prison security clearance. During the training session
> there was a presentation by three speakers representing the Roman
> Catholic, Protestant and Muslim faiths, who explained each of their
> beliefs.
>
> I was particularly interested in what the Islamic Imam had to say
> The Imam gave a great presentation of the basics of Islam, complete
> with a
> video.
>
> After the presentations, time was provided for questions and answers.
>
> When it was my turn, I directed my question to the Imam and asked:
> 'Please, correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that most Imams and
> clerics of Islam have declared a holy jihad [Holy war] against the
> infidels of the world and, that by killing an infidel, (which is a
> command to all Muslims) they are assured of a place in heaven. If
> that's
> the case, can you give me the definition of an infidel?'
>
> There was no disagreement with my statements and, without hesitation,
> he
> replied, 'Non-believers!'
>
> I responded, 'So, let me make sure I have this straight. All followers
> of Allah have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of your faith
> so they can have a place in heaven. Is that correct?'
>
> The expression on his face changed from one of authority and command
> to
> that of 'a little boy who had just been caught with his hand in the
> cookie jar.'
>
> He sheepishly replied, 'Yes.'
>
> I then stated, 'Well, I have a real problem trying to imagine Pope
> Benedict commanding all Catholics to kill those of your faith or Dr.
> Stanley ordering all Protestants to do the same in order to guarantee
> them a place in heaven!'
>
> The Imam was speechless!
>
> I continued, 'I also have a problem with being your 'friend' when you
> and your brother clerics are telling your followers to kill me! Let me
> ask you a question. Would you rather have your Allah, who tells you to
> kill me in order for you to go to heaven, or my Jesus who tells me to
> love you because I am going to heaven and he wants you to be there
> with
> me?'
>
> You could have heard a pin drop as the Imam remained speechless.
>
> Needless to say, the organisers and promoters of the 'Diversification'
> training seminar were not happy with this way of dealing with the
> Islamic Imam and exposing the truth about the Muslims' beliefs.
> Within twenty years there will be enough Muslim voters in the U.K. to
> elect a government of their choice, complete with Sharia Law
>
> I think everyone in the U.K. should be required to read this, but with
> the Liberal justice system, liberal media and the political
> correctness
> madness, there is no way this will be widely publicised.
>
> Please pass this on to all your e-mail contacts.
>
> John Harrison MBE. MIDSc

Mom...

2010-01-26T16:39:00.000-08:00

On Friday, January 22, 2010, at 7:10 AM, PST, My mother, Grace Mary Potvin, left earth for parts unknown. According to one source, she left this life quietly, and peacefully. Although I was close by, I was not present at her moment of death. But I truly wish and hope that her departure was as stated by this source, "...left this life quietly, and peacefully..." I hope this is true, because for one thing, she deserved to go in such a manner, and for another, it would be such a contrast to how I witnessed her last few hours Thursday evening, struggling for every breath. It was difficult to watch, and how much worse to live that, I don't care to think.

So, Mom was special to so many people, and for so many reasons, but I will focus here on why she was special to me.

I really was a punk-ass kid growing up. A punk-ass kid when "Popeye" Doyle was still walking the beat. A punk-ass kid who just happened to be a natural when it came to music. Most, if not all of the kids I grew up with would consider being seen with their mother social-anthema. To do this would put you squarely in the untouchable category, with names like "Geek" and "Nerd" riding you all thru high school. And those terms meant something far less pleasant in the '70s than they do today. Yet, somehow, my Mom was different. She was, for myself and my sister Maria, (And I will guess, for my other siblings) as well as for all of my closest friends. something different. She was, dare I say it, even "cool". for us. This was a mother who attended every Sock-Hop, school dance, drama production, and every other event where I was performing. And I happen to know, since I was a heavy metal guitarist at the time, that she didn't come because she loved the music I was playing. She came because she was my mother and I was her son, and that's just how things worked. This was a mother that you would invite out to dinner or out to a movie with your friends, (Depending, of course, on the movie, and provided it wasn't a date)

My mother loved. Deeply, consistantly. It was something you knew, deep inside of you. And when you messed up, she was there wearing two hats: 1) She helped you clean the mess, or told you how. 2) She helped you to sort through the reasons the mess happened in the first place, and how not to repeat it. As much as a parent can possibly do so, and more than most, she allowed us (My friends, my sister and I) to learn consequences, but not to the point that it killed us: Enough, so that we got the point. She was concerned about our whole life, not just the present. And this never changed.

When it came to some of us bringing someone into the family through marriage, Mom never interfered, but always let the couple find their own way. From what I've observed of my friend's lives, not many mothers do this, but Mom had this down to an art. Whatever else I may say about my siblings, there are no divorces, and Mom never interfered, in any case.

I have been in some pretty ugly situations early in my music career, having at one point been stiffed for $30,000 and was basically kidnapped by force for my services.

Without going into the story, (After all, this is about Mom) it was Mom, with Dad's support, that brought me back from being almost a wild animal into the world of human beings again. I recall during that time that while other family members talked, (They would've never done that to me..etc.,) Mom, with Dad, acted.

I will never forget that. I was not easy to deal with at that time.

Another example of a mother's love that I remember vividly was when my sister Maria was killed tragically at age 36. Due to the injuries she sustained to her head and face, she was very difficult to look at. It was hard. Yet, I recall, as though it were yesterday, Mom going right up to Maria's face, and kissing her face, and saying to Maria, "I'm here, Maria. Mom's here"
My mother's face covered in the blood that was still pouring from Maria's face. Mom was indifferent to that. For Mom, all that mattered was that she be there for her child.

I learned what kind of a creature my mother was that day, and in the days ahead...

And, I have been reminded every day since, and in every "good" mother I have since encountered.

Is there a heaven? I certainly hope so, and if anyone should be let in, it's my mother.

Without going into all the details about her belief-system, and how she consistantly practiced it, I will only say this: If the Creator of this universe is all about love, than Mom is one of the mirrors in which HE sees himself.

I have many elderly friends who joke about being my mother, and I care for these people. But...I HAVE one mother, one Mom: Grace Mary Potvin.

Wow......quite the letter, but the REAL deal!!!

2009-12-01T10:33:00.000-08:00

Subject: FW: And that's the way it is this November 24th 2009 - - - goodnight and God Bless

From a Recon Marine in Afghanistan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the Sand Pit it's freezing here. I'm sitting on hard, cold dirt between rocks and shrubs at the base of the Hindu Kush Mountains , along the Dar 'yoi Pomir River , watching a hole that leads to a tunnel that leads to a cave. Stake out, my friend, and no pizza delivery for thousands of miles.

I also glance at the area around my ass every ten to fifteen seconds to avoid another scorpion sting. I've actually given up battling the chiggers and sand fleas, but the scorpions give a jolt like a cattle prod. Hurts like a bastard. The antidote tastes like transmission fluid, but God bless the Marine Corps for the five vials of it in my pack.

The one truth the Taliban cannot escape is that, believe it or not, they are human beings, which means they have to eat food and drink water. That requires couriers and that's where an old bounty hunter like me comes in handy. I track the couriers, locate the tunnel entrances and storage facilities, type the info into the handheld, shoot the coordinates up to the satellite link that tells the air commanders where to drop the hardware. We bash some heads for a while, then I track and record the new movement.

It's all about intelligence. We haven't even brought in the snipers yet. These scurrying rats have no idea what they're in for. We are but days away from cutting off supply lines and allowing the eradication to begin.

I dream of bin Laden waking up to find me standing over him with my boot on his throat as I spit into his face and plunge my nickel-plated Bowie knife through his frontal lobe. But you know me, I'm a romantic. I've said it before and I'll say it again: This country blows, man. It's not even a country. There are no roads, there's no infrastructure, there's no government. This is an inhospitable, rock pit shit hole ruled by eleventh century warring tribes. There are no jobs here like we know jobs.

Afghanistan offers two ways for a man to support his family: join the opium trade or join the army. That's it. Those are your options. Oh, I forgot, you can also live in a refugee camp and eat plum-sweetened, crushed beetle paste and squirt mud like a goose with stomach flu, if that's your idea of a party. But the smell alone of those 'tent cities of the walking dead' is enough to hurl you into the poppy fields to cheerfully scrape bulbs for eighteen hours a day.

I've been living with these Tajiks and Uzbeks, and Turkmen and even a couple of Pushtuns, for over a month-and-a-half now, and this much I can say for sure: These guys, all of 'em, are Huns... actual, living Huns.. They LIVE to fight. It's what they do. It's ALL they do. They have no respect for anything, not for their families, nor for each other, nor for themselves. They claw at one another as a way of life. They play polo with dead calves and force their five-year-old sons into human cockfights to defend the family honor. Huns, roaming packs of savage, heartless beasts who feed on each other's barbarism. Cavemen with AK-47's. Then again, maybe I'm just cranky.

I'm freezing my ass off on this stupid hill because my lap warmer is running out of juice, and I can't recharge it until the sun comes up in a few hours. Oh yeah! You like to write letters, right? Do me a favor, Bizarre. Write a letter to CNN and tell Wolf and Anderson and that awful, sneering, pompous Aaron Brown to stop calling the Taliban 'smart.' They are not smart. I suggest CNN invest in a dictionary because the word they are looking for is 'cunning.' The Taliban are cunning, like jackals and hyenas and wolverines. They are sneaky and ruthless, and when confronted, cowardly. They are hateful, malevolent parasites who create nothing and destroy everything else. Smart. Pfft. Yeah, they're real smart.

They've spent their entire lives reading only one book (and not a very good one, as books go) and consider hygiene and indoor plumbing to be products of the devil. They're still figuring out how to work a Bic lighter. Talking to a Taliban warrior about improving his quality of life is like trying to teach an ape how to hold a pen; eventually he just gets frustrated and sticks you in the eye with it.

OK, enough. Snuffle will be up soon, so I have to get back to my hole. Covering my tracks in the snow takes a lot of practice, but I'm good at it.

Please, I tell you and my fellow Americans to turn off the TV sets and move on with your lives. The story line you are getting from CNN and other news agencies is utter bullshit and designed not to deliver truth but rather to keep you glued to the screen through the commercials. We've got this one under control The worst thing you guys can do right now is sit around analyzing what we're doing over here, because you have no idea what we're doing, and really, you don't want to know. We are your military, and we are doing what you sent us here to do.

Saucy Jack

Recon Marine in Afghanistan

Semper Fi

"Freedom is not free...but the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share".

Negative Liberties...

2009-11-23T06:21:00.000-08:00

In a 2001 radio interview, Barack Obama revealed some of his shocking ideas about how the government should run.
Here is what he said about the 1953 - 1969 Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Earl Warren, which was a very activist court: "To that extent, as radical as I think people tried to characterize the Warren court, It wasn't that radical." (Pay atention here) "It didn't break free from the essential constraints that were place by the Founding Fathers in the constitution."
The extremely liberal Warren Supreme Court wasn't radical enough, in Mr Obama's opinion.
Mr. Obama was showing where he believes the Founding Fathers erred in writing the defining legal charter of the United States.
"Generally the Constitution is a charter of negative liberties," Mr Obama continues. "It says what the states can't do to you, says what the federal government can't do to you, but it doesn't say what the federal government or the state government must do on your behalf."
This is true, and it is a major reason the Constitution was so successful in establishing the nation.
Essayist Bill Whittle wrote this in response to Mr Obama's interview: "The entire purpose of the Constitution was to linit government. That linitation of powers is what has unlocked in America the vast human potential available in any population. Barack Obama sees the limiting of government not as a linchpin, but rather as a fatal flaw..." (National Review Online,Oct. 27th, 2008)

Draw from this what you will, But it seems clear that Mr Obama intends to work towards changing the constitution. And let's assume for a moment that he is completely benevolent. Even so, he won't be in office forever, and if he's successful in making the changes he seems bent on, he's opening the door for any kind of tyrant to follow, and have their way with the government, and the country.

Is this really the direction we want to go?

AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

2009-08-15T10:09:00.000-07:00

I would truly like to get off the political comment and move back into music, but this is just too good to not give it a larger platform. I'm not a fan of Proctor and Gamble, and stay away from I think, almost ALL of their products in our home, but Lou Prichett really hits this one out of the ballpark. So, here goes:

Lou Prichett is the retired VP for Proctor and Gamble. This
>> letter
> is special
>>
>>
>> AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA
>>
>>
>> Dear President Obama,
>>
>>
>>
>> You are the thirteenth President under whom I have lived and
> unlike any of the others, you truly scare me.
>>
>> You scare me because after months of exposure, I know nothing
> about you.
>>
>> You scare me because I do not know how you paid for your
>> expensive
> Ivy League education and your upscale lifestyle and housing with
> no visible signs of support.
>>
>> You scare me because you did not spend the formative years of
> youth growing up in America and culturally you are not an
> American.
>>
>> You scare me because you have never run a company or met a
>> payroll.
>>
>> You scare me because you have never had military experience,
>> thus
> don't understand it at its core.
>>
>> You scare me because you lack humility and 'class', always
> blaming others.
>>
>> You scare me because for over half your life you have aligned
> yourself with radical extremists who hate America and you refuse
> to publicly denounce these radicals who wish to see America fail.
>>
>> You scare me because you are a cheerleader for the 'blame
>> America
> ' crowd and deliver this message abroad.
>>
>> You scare me because you want to change America to a European
> style country where the government sector dominates instead of the
> private sector.
>>
>> You scare me because you want to replace our health care system
> with a government controlled one.
>>
>> You scare me because you prefer 'wind mills' to responsibly
> capitalizing on our own vast oil, coal and shale reserves.
>>
>> You scare me because you want to kill the American capitalist
> goose that lays the golden egg which provides the highest standard
> of living in the world.
>>
>> You scare me because you have begun to use 'extortion' tactics
> against certain banks and corporations.
>>
>> You scare me because your own political party shrinks from
> challenging you on your wild and irresponsible spending proposals.
>>
>> You scare me because you will not openly listen to or even
> consider opposing points of view from intelligent people.
>>
>> You scare me because you falsely believe that you are both
> omnipotent and omniscient.
>>
>> You scare me because the media gives you a free pass on
>> everything
> you do.
>>
>> You scare me because you demonize and want to silence the
> Limbaughs, Hannitys, O'Relllys and Becks who offer opposing,
> conservative points of view.
>>
>> You scare me because you prefer controlling over governing.
>>
>> Finally, you scare me because if you serve a second term I will
> probably not feel safe in writing a similar letter in 8 years.
>>
>> Lou Pritchett
>>
>>
>>

...A shining light has gone out...

2009-08-01T22:10:00.000-07:00

I have not said anything about the passing of Michael Jackson, and by not touching on this subject, I'm doing a great disservice to this site, and to modern music in general, so let me start by saying, unequivocally, that MJ was a musical and performing genius, who will not be replaced certainly not in my lifetime, and who is only survived, perhaps by artists like Prince, or perhaps Christina Aguilera.

I'm not even sure if this comparison is doing justice to MJ. He brought his art, which was his own, to the top of its game. His passing is like the passing of Frank Sinatra, or Oscar Peterson, or Victor Borge, who were also at the top of their game, and were the kings of their respective fields. Some might say, I should also put Elvis in here. Perhaps. But the three people (Frank Sinatra, Oscar Peterson, Victor Borge) were innovators who were, each one of them, the top of their fields, the best of the best. MJ was in this category.

I say this because it is true, and also to counter-act some of the stupid and just plain asinine comments I've been hearing about Michael on local and national media. For example, "I don't know why we're giving all this attention to Michael Jackson. He was just a freak and a pedophile...' That was one of the nicer, of the idiotic things I've been hearing. And for those idiots, those small minded piss-ants who think this way, I have two words: "Not Guilty" Nothing was proved. Get over it, already, or perhaps you'd like me to accuse YOU of Pedophilia. Why? Just because I feel like it, because MAYBE I can get some of your money, because you are dumb, and trust everyone, and it doesn't occur to you that someone may be sick and evil enough to ruin you for a few $$$. Yeah. Think about that, while you're throwing stones at MJ, even in his grave...

And the freak thing? Hey, he was a genius musician. Find me one that's NOT a weird guy/girl, in one way or another, and I'll show you someone who's not really a musician. Not in their heart. Not in their soul. And, for the record: Just because you play something, that doesn't make you a musician. For a short period of time, recently, I was involved with a small group of people in a church, who THOUGHT they were Musicians. One of them had the potential to be...but none of them were.

Michael Jackson was. Very much was. And after the trial, he never really recovered from the hurt and pain it caused. That people, HIS people could truly think that about him. Did you notice that Not ONE of the people who knew him personally thought that way about him? They couldn't of course, because they knew him. Gene Simmons, (the guitarist from Kiss)you have it completely wrong, dude.

He was a genius, as a performer, composer, innovator, musician, and artist.

I miss him.

Teacher's letter to Obama

2009-07-02T13:59:00.001-07:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> This letter you are about to read was written by a 4th grade teacher recently (April 2009). She even gave the world her telephone and fax numbers. We are in dire need of more trueAmerican citizens who are proud of OUR United States ofAmerica. WAKE UP AMERICA . . . please . . .before it is too late!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> April 27, 2009
>
>
>
> The White House
>
> 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
>
> Washington , DC 20500
>
>
>
> Mr. Obama:
>
>
>
> I have had it with you and your administration, sir. Your conduct on your recent trip overseas has convinced me that you are not an adequate representative of the United States ofAmerica collectively or of me personally.
>
> You are so obsessed with appeasing the Europeans and the Muslim world that you have abdicated the responsibilities of the President of the United States of America . You are responsible to the citizens of the United States .
>
>
>
> You are not responsible to the peoples of any other country on earth. I personally resent that you go around the world apologizing for the United States telling Europeans that we are arrogant and do not care about their status in the world. Sir, what do you think the First World War and the Second World War were all about if not the consideration of the peoples ofEurope? Are you brain dead? What do you think the Marshall Plan was all about?
>
>
>
> Do you not understand or know the history of the 20th century? Where do you get off telling a Muslim country that the United States does not consider itself a Christian country? Have you not read the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution of the United States ? This country was founded on Judeo-Christian ethics and the principles governing this country, at least until you came along, come directly from this heritage. Do you not understand this?
>
>
>
> Your bowing to the king of Saudi Arabia is an affront to allAmericans. Our President does not bow down to anyone, let alone the king of Saudi Arabia . You don't show Great Britain , our best and one of our oldest allies, the respect they deserve yet you bow down to the king of Saudi Arabia . How dare you, sir! How dare you!
>
>
>
> You can't find the time to visit the graves of our greatest generation because you don't want to offend the Germans but make time to visit a mosque in Turkey . You offended our dead and every veteran when you give the Germans more respect than the people who saved the German people from themselves. What's the matter with you?
>
>
>
> I am convinced that you and the members of your administration have the historical and intellectual depth of a mud puddle and should be ashamed of yourselves, all of you. You are so self-righteously offended by the big bankers and the American automobile manufacturers yet do nothing about the real thieves in this situation, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Frank, Franklin Raines, Jamie Gorelic, the Fannie Mae bonuses, and the Freddie Mac bonuses. What do you intend to do about them?Anything? I seriously doubt it.
>
>
>
> What about the U.S. House members passing out $9.1 million in bonuses to their staff members -- on top of the $2.5 million in automatic pay raises that lawmakers gave themselves? I understand the average House aide got a 17% bonus. I took a 5% cut in my pay to save jobs with my employer.
>
>
>
> You haven't said anything about that. Who authorized that? I surely didn't! Executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be receiving $210 million in bonuses over an eighteen-month period, that's $45 million more than the AIG bonuses. In fact, Fannie and Freddie executives have already been awarded $51 million -- not a bad take. Who authorized that and why haven't you expressed your outrage at this group who are largely responsible for the economic mess we have right now.
>
>
>
> I resent that you take me and my fellow citizens as brain-dead and not caring about what you idiots do. We are watching what you are doing and we are getting increasingly fed up with all of you. I also want you to know that I personally find just about everything you do and say to be offensive to every one of my sensibilities. I promise you that I will work tirelessly to see that you do not get a chance to spend two terms destroying my beautiful country.
>
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
>
> Every Real American
>
>
>
> P.S. I rarely ask that emails be 'passed around'.............
>
>
>
> PLEASE SEND THIS TO YOUR EMAIL LIST......it's past time for all
>
> Americans to wake up!
>
>
>
> Ms Kathleen Lyday
>
> Fourth Grade Teacher
>
> Grandview Elementary School
>
> 11470 Hwy. C
>
> Hillsboro , MO 63050
>
>
>
>
>
> (636) 944-3291 Phone
>
> (636) 944-3870 Fax

...Very Scary Stuff Happening Now...

2009-06-13T14:12:00.000-07:00

Doubtful? Verify this for yourself
Whether you are an Obama fan, or not,
EVERYONE IN THE U. S. Needs to know....
Something happened... H.R. 1388 was
passed in January, behind our backs. You may want to read
about it. It wasn't mentioned on the news... Just went
by on the ticker tape at the bottom of the CNN screen.
Obama funds $20M in tax payer dollars to
immigrate Hamas Refugees to the USA. This is the news that
didn't make the headlines...
By executive order, President Barack
Obama has ordered the expenditure of $20.3 million in
"migration assistance" to the Palestinian refugees
and "conflict victims" in Gaza.
The "presidential
determination", which allows hundreds of thousands of
Palestinians with ties to Hamas to resettle in the United
States, was signed on January 27 and appeared in the Federal
Register on February 4.
Few on Capitol Hill, or in the media,
took note that the order provides a free ticket replete with
housing and food allowances to individuals who have
displayed their overwhelming support to the Islamic
Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the parliamentary election of
January 2006.
Let's review...itemized list of some
of Barack Obama's most recent actions since his
inauguration:
His first call to any head of state, as
president, was to Mahmoud Abbas, leader of Fatah party in
the Palestinian territory.
His first one-on-one television interview
with any news organization was with Al Arabia television.
His first executive order was to
fund/facilitate abortion(s) not just here within the U. S.,
but within the world, using U. S. Tax payer funds.
He ordered Guantanamo Bay closed and all
military trials of detainees halted.
He ordered overseas CIA interrogation
centers closed.
He withdrew all charges against the
masterminds behind the USS Cole and the "terror
attack" on 9/11.
Now we learn that he is allowing hundreds
of thousands of Palestinian refuges to move to, and live in,
the US at American taxpayer expense.
These important, and insightful, issues
are being "lost" in the blinding bail-outs and
"stimulation" packages.

Doubtful? Verify this for yourself
PLEASE PASS THIS ON... AMERICA NEEDS TO
KNOW
WE are losing this country at a rapid
pace.

Reply to "I don't Care..."

2009-06-11T07:41:00.000-07:00

I felt that this was important enough that it needs a much larger audience. So I re-print this here, with permission.

"By no means do I take away from the words of the fellow Canadian whom you have shared. But my -not caring- stems deeper than that of a woman, a person, an individual, who is only seeing the little picture.

How can one assume that the world's problems can be solved through tolerance when 90% of history's "organized religion" has taught otherwise.

Acceptance can only be achieved if and when the youth of today are being educated as such, as so, and so on.

The recent passing of Bill 44 proved that even in Canada, the LAND OF THE FREE, there is intolerance. 'Free' in our nation? More like, free us from our nation. Not only do individuals have the freedom/right to vote on such matters, but now they also have the power to CHOOSE what their children CAN learn, through a lack of participation and communication with their teachers and fellow students.

Religion, sexual education and orientation have always been touchy subjects because they are not being talked about in the right ways. By cutting communication and discussion on this matters (or "issues" if you want to be like that) we are stunting their growth and dampening the advancement of the spiritual war.

Watch it here

I implore you to watch this video and not only consider the message that it intends to send, because... however, it is true.

There is only one culture who's fertility rate is not only above the necessary to maintain their culture, but well-surpassing all others. This, will change the global demographic, drastically.

Consider it."

I Don't Care...

2009-05-29T10:44:00.000-07:00

Wow, would I like to shake this Lady's hand....she has nailed it with this letter!!

This was written by a Canadian woman, in her local paper, but oh how it also applies to the U.S. , U.K. and Australia

THIS ONE PACKS A FIRM PUNCH

Here is a woman who should run for Prime Minister!

Written by a housewife in New Brunswick, to her local newspaper. This
is one ticked off lady.

'Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not
started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001
and have continually threatened to do so since?

Were people from all over the world, not brutally murdered that day,
in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from the nation's capitol and in
a field in Pennsylvania ?

Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible,
burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?

And I'm supposed to care that a few Taliban were claiming to be
tortured by a justice system of the nation they come from and are fighting
against in a brutal insurgency

I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents
for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start
caring about the Holy Bible, the mere belief of which is a crime punishable
by beheading in Afghanistan .

I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking
off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed
throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in Afghanistan come
out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by
hiding in mosques.

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search
of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide
bombs.

I'll care when the Canadian media stops pretending that their freedom
of speech on stories is more important than the lives of the soldiers on
the ground or their families waiting at home to hear about them when
something happens.

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a CANADIAN soldier roughing
up an Insurgent terrorist to obtain information, know this:

I don't care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not
to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank:

I don't care.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat,
and 'fed special' food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining
that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe in
your heart of hearts:

I don't care.

And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled 'Koran'
and other times 'Quran.' Well, Jimmy Crack Corn you guessed it,

I don't care!!

If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this on to all your E-mail
friends Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this
ridiculous Behaviour!

If you don't agree, then by all means hit the delete button. Should
you choose the latter, then please don't complain when more atrocities
committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great Country!
And may I add:

'Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a
difference in the world. But, the Soldiers don't have that problem.'

I have another quote that I would like to add, AND.......I hope you
forward all this.

One last thought for the day:

Only five defining forces have ever offered to die for you:

1. Jesus Christ
2. The Canadian Soldier.
3. The British Soldier..
4. The US Soldier, and
5. The Australian Soldier

One died for your soul, the other 4 for your freedom.

Feel free to copy/paste this. Perhaps some of those responsible will see this, and think...

A pleasant surprise...

2009-05-10T18:55:00.000-07:00

Not too long ago, I backed a woman singer, a pleasant lady named Valdine, at a local venue. Our audience was a slightly older demographic than I’ve had for a while, but that’s not the topic of this blog.

Valdine, in contrast to the bulk of my experience with girl singers, was gracious enough to let me take over the room for the last 20 minutes or so of the show.

So I did.

Considering the age of the clientele, and the setting we were in (I was expecting the front row to be asleep) they received me with, well, really overwhelming enthusiasm, so much so that I commented more than once, “You folks REALLY need to get out more.”
I t was so much fun, that, rather than “hang it up” for a year like I was planning, instead, perhaps I’ll take some gigs locally.

To that end, I’ve actually started talking to some GMs, and it looks better than I would’ve thought…Some of these places even pay almost real money. Those of you who know me know what I mean.

Why, it’s almost like home. (Shall we go to the Carlyle, anyone?)

Who knew? What recession? Apparently, these buyers have decided not to participate.

Anonymous

2009-03-31T08:57:00.000-07:00

I sound like a "very troubled soul" This is on good authority [courageously signing his/her lofty indictments as "Anonymous"]. And of course, he/she has the clinical qualifications to back up this assessment, or at least, the power of his/her convictions to stand behind such statements by signing his/her name to them...OH! They didn't sign their name...what do you know?

That's cool. It was either one of five people I know, and I know the value of those opinions, and so can treat them with all the consideration they deserve, (None), or it's from some stranger, and in which case, I don't care what they think, as they don't know me, and I don't know them.

In other words, my music, my website, my blog, my professional objectives and intellectual pursuits are, in all respects and in fact, truly things that I stand behind, are the result of years of wide life and professional experience, and reflecting on those experiences in the still quiet places in my soul. Experience and not merely superficial, simplistic attempts at trying be heard above a relativistic din of increasingly discordant mediocrity posturing in the culture as style or substance. My life and professional focus bear no relationship whatsoever to such tasteless ephemera

So much for the opinions of "Anonymous".
Perhaps now I can deal with issues more pertinent to this blog.

Enough is enough...

2009-02-27T18:22:00.001-08:00

There is nothing like dealing with donkeys. When one pictures a donkey in one’s mind, Stubbornness and intellectually challenged, are the first attributes that come to mind. Also, they tend to be strong, as they are generally used as beasts of burden. When using the image of a donkey to describe a human, a certain lack of sophistication would also be applicable.

I was listening to a radio show today, or perhaps yesterday, where a woman was extolling the virtues of so-called Rednecks. She was explaining the “red” neck came from laboring in the fields, exposed to the elements, and that’s why the “red” neck. But she was also quick to point out that those so-called “red” necks were some of the finest, most generous, and hard-working folks she knew, and that she was pleased to identify herself as a red neck. She said she was tired at how the term “Red Neck” came to have such a derogatory connotation attached to it, when, in her opinion, they are such fine people.

This particular woman, like most “Red Necks” I have met, and certainly like the ones I know personally, completely miss the point.

Hard working? Goes without saying. Generous? In my experience, I would say that the majority of the ones I’ve dealt with are very generous, loving people indeed. No one, not ONE so called city slicker I know, including me, will take issue with any of these characteristics. These are their strengths. It’s where they are weak that they have earned the reputation of being stupid and Donkey-like. That area is….

Ignorance. And this can be fixed. Indeed, I have friends from the Deep South, who are truly fine people, in every sense of the word. They know how to behave at the table, they are great patrons of the arts, and they have taken the time to refine themselves in every way that one might consider important. They can tell you the difference between say, Jazz and Classical music, and are able to appreciate both. They can talk with both knowledge and ease about Picasso and Frieda Khalo and know the differences between them. And supposedly, the Deep South has been thought to be a haven for “Red Necks.”

And this is precisely what people like me, hold in disdain about real Red Necks. Their ignorance. And here is what I’ve seen, with my own eyes, and heard with my own ears.
The really, stupid ones don’t know how ignorant they are, the moderately stupid ones when you tell them how boorish and low they’re behaving (Notice – I said …” they’re behaving…” not …”they are…”) they either don’t believe you, or come right out and say something like, “You’re crazy and paranoid” And get angry at you for pointing out the obvious, and then don’t talk to you.
It gets better….

The smart ones, they sometimes have money, sometimes they’ve traveled the planet. They know they’re ignorant – THEY DON”T CARE!! You know something? My friends from the Deep South – perhaps they know the stereotype that pursues them, perhaps they go back to their roots when they owned plantations…I don’t know the reasons, but they are almost always a pleasure to deal with. For me, in any case. Do you know where I find real Red Necks? And I’m talking about ignorance here. Just plain boorish, ignorant anal-retentive, politically correct, self-satisfied, self entitled know-nothings. They’re the ones who drive in the fast lane on the freeway in front of you, and won’t pull over to the right to let you pass. They’re the ones who are on the cell phone who aren’t paying attention to you honking at them to get off the road. They’re the ones who honestly believe that anyone can paint, or draw or play music in a church or professionally without having a gift or without knowledge. If it’s so easy, idiot, sit down at my piano, and show me how you play. You have a big mouth – now let’s see you back it up.

And by the way, I know that certain truck drivers have to talk on the phone while they are driving. I’m not talking about them. They are doing their job. That’s why they have the training they do.

What is a red neck’s serious failing? It’s coming to decisions about things without doing any kind of head-banging, soul-searching or any other kind of reflective process. It’s thinking, “I can download any kind of music I want without paying for it.” “It’s my right” Yeah? What about the rights of the guy or girl or created the music you’re so fond of, you dumb shit? How about I come get my car repaired at your garage and just leave without paying? I have the right too. How about that?

And who told you that you can play keyboards in a church group, when you so clearly can’t even find middle “C”? You bleeding wanker! First of all, it’s not a stage, it’s an altar. And in any case, since you clearly don’t know the difference, get off, and get out of the way.

This is why red necks, and I mean real “red necks” have the bad connotation to the name. If you don’t like it, radio lady, if you don’t like it, Calgary, Alberta: If you don’t like it, North Dakota, If you don’t like it small-town America, and part of urban North America, then do like some of my friends in the South: Go out and get a clue. Educate yourselves in things that lift us higher and transform us from mere talking beasts into something more. Put down the stupid beer, you damn wanker, and get a clue.

Guaranteed Fast Money

2009-02-01T16:22:00.000-08:00

As seen on Oprah and 20/20 ---You most likely seen or heard about this project on TV programs such as 20/20 and Oprah. This program is by no means new. It has been in existence in many forms for at least a decade. Keep in mind that every thing stated below is 100% legal as stated by the U.S. Post Office (1-800-725-2161).All you are going to be out of pocket is about the cost of a couple of coffees with the opportunity of banking thousands of dollars into your PayPal account!
I sent out my $6.00 to the six people on the list...within 7 days, I started getting $$$$ in my account! In my first week, I made about $25.00. By the end of the second week I had made a total of over$1,000.00! and is still growing. Just follow the 3 basic steps below to make thousands in just a few days, weeks or months, it depends on how many posts of this letter you put on the message boards or send it as e-mails. Here is how it works: When you post 200 messages over the internet, it is estimated that at least 15 people will respond and send you $1.00 ($15.00). Those 15 will post 200 messages each and 225 people send you $1.00 ($225.00). Those 225 people will post 200 messages each and 3,375 people send you $1.00 and on and on. But lets say if 1 person out of 200 tries this program you are still going to make 40,000 anywhere from 1 month to 6 months max!!
You can also copy this letter and e-mail it to some of your friends and associates. It's a guarantee that some of them will be interested and give it a go. The more they do the more you make.

INSTRUCTIONS: 1.Immediately send $1.00 to each of the six people on the list using Paypal and in the comment (Subject) section type "Please add me to your list". Below are the e-mail IDs that you need to transfer the money into: Paypal accounts to send 1 dollar to: It is very important that you follow these steps to the letter. You must register with Paypal as a Premier Member. If you do not register this way you will only be able to receive $500.00 per month .It's certainly worth $6.00 and 6 minutes to send it out. Just follow the 3 basic steps below, it all depends on how many posts of this letter you put on the message boards or send it as e-mails. Paypal accounts to send 1 dollar to:

1.)ruthy119@hotmail.com
2.)heman821@gmail.com
3.)lalost86@aol.com
4.)quick21@dongo.com
5.)lotti-tot-ti@hotmail.com
6.)fingersfred@yahoo.com

2. After sending the money to the first 6 people on the list you can remove the name next to the #1 on the list and move the rest of the names up one position (#2 becomes #1, #3 becomes #2 and so on...) Now place your name in the #6 position & save it. 3. After completing the instructions take this letter and go to (Google, Yahoo,...) and type in (Making Money Message boards, Money Message boards, Money forums, Free money forums or anything along the lines of forums). Now start posting your copy of this message at least 200 times to as many unique message boards as you can, or more. The more times you post this at a unique board, the more money you will make. You can e-mail your message to as many people you can but remember, the more you post and e-mail the more money you make! Keep a copy of this letter so you can use it a second time. Post it out again in six months but post it with the addresses you receive with each dollar. It will work better the second time. Estimates are at 20,000 new users every day with thousands of those actually joining the internet.
Remember, act FAIRLY and HONESTLY and this will work. It's totally secure, costs you nothing to set-up and is a very useful way to transfer and receive money. You will be amazed every time you check your account to see how much money has been paid into it and this money goes straight in without any deductions. To sign up for PayPal, go to
http://www.paypal.com - just make sure that you use the same e-mail address for your PayPal

What is right?

2009-01-10T18:20:00.000-08:00

What is right? It seems like such a difficult question right now, with so many fine people and companies at risk, as well as some not-so-nice people and companies.

This letter can be found many places on the web, but the philosophy behind it is so brilliant, that I simply MUST make it part of this blog as well. Do I agree with everything he says, or do I think we, as a nation, and as a planet should bite the bullet as hard as he suggests? I honestly don't know...after all, I'm an entertainer/musician. But, I hope the powers that be will take this seriously. There's truth here...

Abridged letter from Troy Clarke, President of General Motors - followed by a response from our son, Gregory Knox: Dear Employee, Next week, Congress and the current Administration will determine whether to provide immediate support to the domestic auto industry to help it through one of the most difficult economic times in our nation's history. Your elected officials must hear from all of us now on why this support is critical to our continuing the progress we began prior to the global financial crisis.....................As an employee, you have a lot at stake and continue to be one of our most effective and passionate voices. I know GM can count on you to have your voice heard. Thank you for your urgent action and ongoing support. Troy Clarke President General Motors North America
QUOTE
From Gregory Knox,
In response to your request to call legislators and ask for a bailout for the United States automakers please consider the following, and please also pass this onto Troy Clark, the president of General Motors North America for me. You are both infected with the same entitlement mentality that has bred like cancerous germs in UAW halls for the last countless decades, and whose plague is now sweeping the nation, awaiting our new "messiah" to wave his magical wand and make all our problems go away, while at the same time allowing our once great nation to keep "living the dream". The dream is over! The dream that we can ignore the consumer for years while management myopically focuses on its personal rewards packages at the same time that our factories have been filled with the worlds most overpaid, arrogant, ignorant and laziest entitlement minded "laborers" without paying the price for these atrocities and that still the masses will line up to buy our products Don't tell me I'm wrong. Don't accuse me of not knowing of what I speak. I have called on Ford, GM, Chrysler, TRW, Delphi, Kelsey Hayes, American Axle and countless other automotive OEM's and Tier ones for 3 decades now throughout the Midwest and what I've seen over the years in these union shops can only be described as disgusting. Mr Clark, the president of General Motors, states: There is widespread sentiment in this country, our government and especially in the media that the current crisis is completely the result of bad management. It is not. You're right, it's not JUST management, how about the electricians who walk around the plants like lords in feudal times, making people wait on them for countless hours while they drag ass so they can come in on the weekend and make double and triple time for a job they easily could have done within their normal 40 hour week How about the line workers who threaten newbies with all kinds of scare tactics for putting out too many parts on a shift and for being too productive (mustn't expose the lazy bums who have been getting overpaid for decades for their horrific underproduction, must we?!?) Do you really not know about this stuff?!? How about this great sentiment abridged from Mr. Clarke's sad plea: over the last few years we have closed the quality and efficiency gaps with our competitors. What the hell has Detroit been doing for the last 40 years?!? Did we really JUST wake up to the gaps in quality and efficiency between us and them? The K car vs. the Accord? The Pinto vs. the Civic?!? Do I need to go on? We are living through the inevitable outcome of the actions of the United States auto industry for decades. Time to pay for your sins, Detroit . I attended an economic summit last week where a brilliant economist, Alan Beaulieu surprised the crowd when he said he would not have given the banks a penny of "bailout money". Yes, he said, this would cause short term problems, but despite what people like George Bush and Troy Clark would have us believe, the sun would in fact rise the next day and something else would happen. Where there had been greedy and sloppy banks, new efficient ones would pop up. That is how a free market system works. It does work if we would let it work! But for some reason we are now deciding that the rest of the world is right and that capitalism doesn't work; that we need the government to step in and "save us". Save us, hell we're nationalizing and unfortunately too many of this once fine nation's citizens don't even have a clue that this is what's really happening but they sure can tell you the stats on their favorite sports teams yeah THAT'S important. Does it occur to ANYONE that the "competition" has been producing vehicles, EXTREMELY PROFITABLY, for decades now in this country?... How can that be??? Let's see - - Fuel efficient - Listening to customers - Investing in the proper tooling and automation for the long haul - Not being too complacent or arrogant to listen to Dr W Edwards Deming 4 decades ago - Ever increased productivity through quality, lean and six sigma plans - Treating vendors like strategic partners, rather than like "the enemy" - Efficient front and back offices - Non union environment - Again, I could go on and on, but I really wouldn't be telling anyone anything they really don't already know in their hearts I have six children, so I am not unfamiliar with the concept of wanting someone to bail you out of a mess that you have gotten yourself into. My children do this on a weekly, if not daily basis, as I did at their age. I do for them what my parents did for me (one of their greatest gifts, by the way). I make them stand on their own two feet and accept the consequences of their actions and work them through. Radical concept, huh? Am I there for them in the wings? Of course but only until such time as they need to be fully on their own as adults I don't want to oversimplify a complex situation, but there certainly are unmistakable parallels here between the proper role of parenting and government. Detroit and the United States need to pay for their sins. Bad news people, it's coming whether we like it or not. The newly elected Messiah really doesn't have a magic wand big enough to "make it all go away" I laughed as I heard Obama "reeling it back in" almost immediately after the vote count was tallied "we might not do it in a year or in four"! Where was that kind of talk when he was RUNNING for the office Stop trying to put off the inevitable! That house in Florida really isn't worth $750,000! People who jump across a border really don't deserve free health care benefits! That job driving that forklift for the big 3 really isn't worth $85,000 a year! That couple whose combined income is less than $50,000 really shouldn't be living in that $485,000 home! Let the market correct itself people, it will. Yes it will be painful, but it's gonna be painful either way, and the bright side of my proposal is that on the other side of it is a nation that appreciates what is has and doesn't live beyond its means and gets back to basics and redevelops the work ethic that made it the greatest nation in the history of the world and probably turns back to God. Sorry, don't cut my head off. I'm just the messenger sharing with you the "bad news"

Gregory J Knox President Knox Machinery, Inc. Franklin, Ohio 45005

Just Another Gig...

2008-12-26T09:06:00.000-08:00

I played a private party not long ago. I don't do that very often, but it was the kind of situation that appeals to me, so I figured, Why Not?

It was another one of those situations, however, where no matter what you do, they don't have a clue what you're doing, or whether you're good or not. I'm beginning to think this is the norm.

So, getting a response for the crowd was very hard work, and there was some brilliance in the first set. But it was missed by most everyone. The second show was another story however...

Two things saved it for me. 1) There was a pianist in the crowd, who started telling anyone who would listen, "Hey, this guy is amazing!" 2) With the crowd now being informed of this, they started being quiet and paying attention, and then I could do my job. Guess what? They started having fun, started laughing, and enjoying the show. The second half of the evening the crowd participation was so high, I had difficulty ending the show.

What happened? Something that is depressingly common in this part of the planet. They didn't know they should pay attention to the show, until someone told them that we were great.

Did the band play differently? No. Did I perform any differently? No. What changed?

What's the politically correct way to say it? I don't know, and I don't care. For me, they suddenly clued in. If this was a concert hall, they would've known to pay attention, but because it was a private home, they treated me like background at first. A very large and beautiful private home, but a home all the same.

It's amazing how a person's perceptions change based on their surroundings.

As for me, if Tony Bennett performed in my house, he'll get the same reverence from me as when I'm watching him perform in Carnegie Hall. More, actually, "cause I'd get him to sign all my furniture.

You know why? "Because I don't need someone to tell me the difference between Shit and Shinola... I already know.

An Opportunity for Fans and Investors Alike:

2008-11-11T15:37:00.000-08:00

After many years of being part of duos, trios or playing a supporting role in
other artists shows on numerous cruise lines or other venues, I, Fred Potvin,
am promoting a show of my own, to play in the coming season.

If you’ve heard me play live before, or have visited my samples page, you'll know what I'm capable of musically and entertainment-wise, and I know exactly what it takes to put together a winning show.

To listen to my work, or to watch me play, go to:
http://www.fingersfred.com/music-samples.htm

Those who have enjoyed my work in the past and want to help promote my
development as a ship-board main-room entertainer are invited to give to this venture
through the following Paypal option:

Those interested in an investment opportunities are able to contact me through the
following information:

fingersfred@yahoo.com
fred@fingersfred.com
1 866 676 2954 Toll Free
1 403 248 6520 Fax
1 403 700 4225 Cell

Finances are being sought for the following:

Twenty-one Seven-piece band arrangements @ $100 - $700 each.

Video promotion – between $500 and $1500.

Altogether, approximately $15,000 US are needed to launch this show.

Returns on the investment will be made within 18 months, with a competitive
interest rate offered, negotiated on an individual basis with each investor.

Help a musician/entertainer take the next big step in his career!

Thank you,

Fred Potvin,

http://www.fingersfred.com

One Women's Opinion - From Mary Lou

2008-10-26T20:58:00.000-07:00

One Women's Opinion - For What It's Worth - From Mary Lou

I have been sitting on the fence about this election, trying to decide between Obama & McCain, for months now. I classify myself as a moderate republican, however, I have voted for John Kerry and Bill Clinton (both democrats) in past elections.
And I like both John McCain and Barack Obama, I really do. I especially liked them at the Alfred Smith dinner in New York last week. They showed a side of themselves that we rarely see. Their kinder, gentler, funnier side.

I also like Joe Biden and Sarah Palin, and in the event of a tragedy befalling the President, I have no doubt that either of these two could lead our country with the help of strong administrations.

Both candidates, I think, are earnest in their desire to make our country better, stronger and economically secure. Certainly not an easy task before either of them and why anyone would want the responsibility is beyond me. Thank God, that there are those who welcome the challenge. Both candidates are courageous, extremely smart and visionary.

So I have watched every single debate, I have read every pro and con, I have gone back and forth agreeing with this and disagreeing with that and up until last week I didn’t know what I would do when I got to the voting booth. And just one sentence made by Barack Obama summed it all up for me. He said, to the now (infamous/famous) “Joe the Plumber” – “we have to spread the wealth”.

Nowhere in the Constitution of the United States does it say that the government has a right to take from the rich to give to the poor. That is why we have charities and churches and volunteer programs. It is not the role of the government. Unless you want a socialist government.

My husband and I have worked since we were youngsters. We were both taught that in order to provide for ourselves and our family we had to make sacrifices. My husband came to the United States from Europe when he was just 18 years old. He came here legally and he made it his business to learn English and to take any job available to him at the time, his parents also took any job they could find and in just a few years, they were able to purchase a multi-family dwelling that would sustain them for all the years ahead. Between them they were able to send the two younger siblings to college.

My family was more affluent, but again, had strong work ethics, and they passed that on to me and my 2 sisters. I began working when I was 13 years old and with the exception of a couple of years after I gave birth to our daughter I continued to work until retirement.And while I was not working, my husband worked 2 and sometimes 3 jobs to make ends meet.

When we were finally able to buy our own home, we carefully calculated what we could afford, (not what we could get away with). We didn’t buy the home of our dreams, we settled for something less, knowing that it would be a stepping stone to something better later on. We couldn’t afford 2 cars, so for the few years I was at home with my baby I walked to the wherever I had to go. We did not ask nor did we receive assistance from anyone. We were not college graduates, but we did the best we could, we learned the real estate business and had the courage to open our own brokerage office. We knew that since we were self employed there would be no golden parachutes for us, so we bought a rundown old house, made some improvements and have rented it out for the past 20 years. Now we are retired, we are not rich, but we have made good real estate investments which we still own and which subsidize our retirement. We do get Medicare and we supplement that with BC/BS which we pay a lot for. If we can’t take a vacation every year, so be it. We live a good life; we are blessed with good friends and a loving family.

We expect this country that we love to provide us with the basics; we pay taxes for those services. We understand that there are those who are not as fortunate as we, but we also know and understand that there are those who have never made the effort or the sacrifices that we made in our lives. For those who are truly underprivileged through misfortunes not of their making, there are charities to which we should all give freely and generously. This country and our tax dollars do provide free health care, we do provide for the unemployed, we do provide for much of the poor with welfare programs. We are the most generous country in the world to the world to a fault.

DO NOT ASK US TO BECOME A SOCIALIST ONE!!!!!!

I guess you know by now who I will be voting for. And I respect those of you with another view on this. It is a hard decision but a very important one and a privilege to be able to make that decision in our free society.

Whoever becomes President of the United States will have my absolute loyalty and respect.

Thanks for letting me sound off.
M’Lou

Another correction...

2008-10-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

As seems to be the case more often than not with the law, and the passage of law, things are not always straight-forward. If they were, I would be completely retired by now.

However, things are not what they seem. Having said that, I must explain, or use an explanation, about the laws on which Senator Obama, and others, have voted pro or con, for.

At first I was angry about this, and I expressed that in the previous blog.

Now, with a clear head, here is the law, as it currently sit:

Sometimes when a person votes against legislation, it is because of the language of the bill.

Freedom from Fear and Mistreatment
S.1348 would set these immigrants free from fear, to emerge from the back alleys and shoddiest housing in America and beyond the reach of smugglers, blackmailers, human traffickers and harassers.
Like the African-origin slaves set free by Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, this heavily Latino underclass of unskilled, poorly-paid U.S. workers would be freed from the shackles of unequal treatment as a human beings.
And that is what America’s noble ideals of freedom and equality are all about.
On May 17, 2007, Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) proudly proclaimed of this bill, "Politics is the art of the possible, and the agreement we just reached is the best possible chance we will have in years to secure our borders, and bring millions of people out of the shadows and into the sunshine of America."
Problem is... the negatives of S.1348, Comprehensive Immigration Reform, are so numerous and so virulent, that they may cause Congress to fail to pass this legislation.
Cons
Below are a few of the most egregious negatives of S.1348 .
Guest Worker Program
S.1348 sets a guest worker program for low-skilled labor that creates a separate class of workers with few protections granted to other U.S. workers and little hope for permanent residency.
The New York Times dubs S.1348's guest worker program as "massive indentured servitude."
And the guest worker program includes provisions that are overly onerous to fulfill. One is a mandate that between the 3 renewable 2-year visa periods, the worker must return for a year to his home country where he may have neither job nor home.
Another is the severe limitation on workers' ability to bring spouses or minor childen with them while they labor in the U.S.
An amendment sponsored by Sen. Jeff Bingman (D-NM) was passed to reduce to reduce the annual cap on workers from 600,000 to 200,000. An amendment by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) to strip it from S.1348 was defeated by a vote of 64-31.
Retention and Internment Facilities
S.1348 provides “resources” for the daily detention of 27,500 illegal immigrants.
Internment centers are privatized warehouses for immigrants awaiting wrongful detention appeals or pending deportation proceedings. Like the hotel industry, the corporations running the centers make profits by keeping the centers at full occupancy.
While in internment centers, immigrants have virtually no rights. Like slaves in pre-civil War days, detainees are usually unable to communicate with children and spouses. Identification is often stripped from their possession.
Reports abound of denials of medical care, overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, lost ID documents, lack of access to info, and callous treatment. (For more info, read Lost in Detention published by The New Mexican on May 20, 2007.)
Impossible Path to Citizenship
S.1348 creates an unachievable path to citizenship for the majority of formerly illegal immigrants, resulting in millions of low-wage earning U.S residents without voting rights.
The legislation requires upfront payment of $5,000 in fines plus $2,000 in “processing fees,” unthinkable sums for poverty-level earners. It requires the head of household (usually the wage earner) to return to their home country, and then reenter the U.S. Few could afford to return to their home countries, and, if they did, they would likely lose their jobs.
And even if all these and other conditions are met, the waiting period is estimated to be 8 to 14 years.
Where it Stands
In early June 2007, S.1348 is mired in U.S. Senate backroom negotiations, and the bill hotly debated in the media and public forums.
No one knows whether or not S.1348 will pass both houses of Congress, despite the urgings of President Bush and a determined bipartisan band of senators led by Sen. Kennedy and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).
Another vital area of contention that must be resolved is the proposed new U.S. approach to selecting future immigrants.
Past Immigration Goal: Family Unification
In the past, America immigration policy was tied to the humanitarian goal of family unification.
The 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1868 in reaction to the abolition of slavery and its abuse of families, declared all children born in this country of illegal immigrants to be U.S. citizens. This was reconfirmed by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. As a result, parents of children who are U.S. citizens often stay in this country as legal residents (i.e. green cards holders).
Currently, there is no limit on the number of green cards that can be issued to foreign spouses and children of workers holding U.S. work visas, or for foreign-born parents of minor children.
S.1348 Immigration Goal: Support Corporations, Not Families
S.1348 radically shifts U.S. immigration to skills-based from family-based goals, and places a cap on all permanent residency green cards issued annually.
Objecting to this change, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) wryly commented to the media, “For those who often speak about family values, this is your opportunity to match your rhetoric with your action.“
Briefly, the cap for H-1B visas, used by corporations and universities to import higher wage-earning scientists, computer specialists and the like, will be raised from 65,000 to as much as 180,000 annually.
The remainder of green cards would be issued based on a point system that places highest values on graduate and post-graduate education; achievement in technology, science and math; areas of high labor demand; and English language proficiency.
Family ties would be given scant consideration, and then, mainly for spouses and minor children. Under S.1348, even U.S. citizens would encounter difficulties bringing elderly, foreign-born parents into the country.
At this writing, Sen. Clinton and Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) have introduced an amendment to eliminate limits on the number of green cards for spouses and minor children of legal immigrants.

Myth Blaster Verdict: Incorrect.

Snopes:

On May 25th, 2006, the U.S. Senate passed the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 (62-36). Many different amendments were proposed, some being adopted, modified or deleted. Amendment 4064 was proposed on May 17th – “Declare English as the national language of the United States and to promote the patriotic integration of prospective U.S. citizens.” The section concerning English language that was passed:

“The Government of the United States shall preserve and enhance the role of English as the national language of the United States of America. Unless otherwise authorized or provided by law, no person has a right, entitlement, or claim to have the Government of the United States or any of its officials or representatives act, communicate, perform or provide services, or provide materials in any language other than English. If exceptions are made, that does not create a legal entitlement to additional services in that language or any language other than English. If any forms are issued by the Federal Government in a language other than English (or such forms are completed in a language other than English), the English language version of the form is the sole authority for all legal purposes.”

This amendment passed by 62-35; however the e-mail is in error stating that 38 senators voted against the amendment – one name was missing: Senator Mary Landrieu, Louisiana.

What has probably become confusing to the person passing this information on was that one half hour after the 4064 amendment passed, the Senate voted on amendment 4073. The text is as follows:

“The Government of the United States shall preserve and enhance the role of English as the common and unifying language of America. Nothing herein shall diminish or expand any existing rights under the law of the United States relative to services or materials provided by the Government of the United States in any language other than English. For the purposes of this section, law is defined as including provisions of the United States Code and the United States Constitution, controlling judicial decisions, regulations, and controlling Presidential Executive Orders.”

This amendment contradicted the previously passed amendment by declaring that English was to be regarded as “the common and unifying language of America” (rather than “national language”) The amendment was by 58-39. No Democrats voted against this amendment, although 14 Republicans and one Independent voted in favor of it. Since 22 Senators voted for both amendments, the issue became confusing in reference to “official language.” Sloppy legislation, to say the least.

So, when you go to the voting booth in the upcoming congressional election, make sure you have the facts. Voting record is available on the Internet for every Senator in Congress. Use that to decide if you want him/her in Congress or leave in order to vote for someone who will be worth the money we pay them. The Senate bill is a poorly written, amnesty approving legislation that should never have passed as is, and I believe that many voted “Yea” because it had some good amendments attached, not considering the impact of the entire bill. So, take your checklist out and if you believe that English should be the official language, put a checkmark on your “no vote list” and don’t forget Senator Landrieu, if you live in Louisiana.

Thus far, 75% of the chain-mail “info, must read this” material is either false, incorrect or misleading.

33 Senators

2008-10-19T07:32:00.000-07:00

33 Senators Voted Against English as America 's Official Language on June 6, 2007.

On Wed. 6 June 2007, Colonel Harry Riley, USA , Ret. wrote:

Senators:
Your vote against an amendment to the immigration Bill 1348.... to make English America's official language is astounding.

On D-Day, no less, when we honor those that sacrificed in order to secure the bedrock, character and principles of America , I can only surmise your vote reflects a loyalty to illegal aliens.

I don't much care where you come from. What your religion is. Whether you're black, white, or some other color...male or female......Democrat, Republican or Independe nt....... But I do care when you are a United States Senator representing Citizens of America ..and Vote against English as the official language of the United States

Your vote reflects Betrayal. Political Surrender. Violates Your Pledge of Allegiance. Dishonors historical principle. Rejects Patriotism. Borders on traitorous action and, in my opinion, makes you unfit to serve as a United States Senator...impeachment... Recall........Or other appropriate action is warranted, or worse.

Four of you voting against English as America 's Official Language are Presidential Candidates: Senator Biden, SenatorClinton, Senator Dodd and Senator Obama.

Four Senators vying to lead America, but won't, or don't, have the courage to cast a vote in favor of English as America's Official Language when 91% of American Citizens want English officially designated as our language.

This is the second time in the last several months this list of Senators have disgraced themselves as 'political Hacks'.....Unworthy as Senators and certainly unqualified to serve as President of the United States .

If America is as angry as I am, you will realize a backlash so stunning it will literally 'rock you out of your socks'......... And preferably totally out of the United States Senate.

The entire immigration bill is a farce... Your action only confirms this really isn't about America ... it is about self-serving politics......despicable at best. It has been said: 'Never Argue with an Idiot....They'll drag you down to their level!'

PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN SAID: 'Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damages morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, quickly tried and hanged!!!'

BUSH'S RESIGNATION SPEECH

2008-10-15T19:22:00.000-07:00

The following 'speech' was written recently by an ordinary Maine-iac [a resident of the People's Republic of Maine ]. While satirical in nature, all satire must have a basis in fact to be effective. This is an excellent piece by a person who does not write for a living.

The speech George W. Bush might give:

Normally, I start these things out by saying 'My Fellow Americans.' Not doing it this time. If the polls are any indication, I don't know who more than half of you are anymore. I do know something terrible has happened, and that you're really not fellow Americans any longer.

I'll cut right to the chase here: I quit. Now before anyone gets all in a lather about me quitting to avoid impeachment, or to avoid prosecution or something, let me assure you: There's been no breaking of laws or impeachable offenses in this office.

The reason I'm quitting is simple. I'm fed up with you people. I'm fed up because you have no understanding of what's really going on in the world. Or what's going on in this once-great nation of ours. And the majority of you are too damned lazy to do your homework and figure it out.

Let's start local. You've been sold a bill of goods by the politicians and the news media.

Meanwhile, all you can do is whine about gas prices, and most of you are too damn stupid to realize that gas prices are high because there's increased demand in other parts of the world, and because a small handful of noisy idiots from the far-left wing of the Democratic party are more worried about polar bears and beachfront property than your economic security.

We face real threats in the world. Don't give me this stupid 'blood for oil' thing. If I were trading blood for oil I would've already seized Iraq 's oil fields and let the rest of that country go to hell.

And don't give me this 'Bush Lied...People Died' crap either. If I were the liar you morons take me for, I could've easily had chemical weapons planted in Iraq so they could be 'discovered.' Instead, I owned up to the fact that the intelligence was faulty.

Let me remind you that the rest of the world thought Saddam had the goods, same as me. Let me also remind you that regime change in Iraq was official US policy before I came into office. Some guy named ' Clinton ' established that policy before I got here. Bet you didn't know that, did you?

Now some of you morons want to be led by a junior senator with very little experience and with no understanding of foreign policy or economics, and this nitwit says we should attack Pakistan , a nuclear ally. And then he wants to go to Iran and make peace with a terrorist who says he's going to destroy us.

While he's doing that, he wants to give Iraq to al Qaeda, Afghanistan back to the Taliban, Israel to the Palestinians, and your money to the IRS so the government can give welfare to illegal aliens, who he will make into citizens, so they can vote to re-elect him. He also thinks it's okay for Iran to have nuclear weapons, and we should stop our foreign aid to Israel . Did you sleep through high school?

You idiots need to understand that we face a unique enemy. Back during the cold war, there were two major competing political and economic models squaring off. We won that war, but we did so because fundamentally, the Communists wanted to survive, just as we do. We were simply able to out spend and out-tech them.

That's not the case this time. The soldiers of our new enemy don't care if they survive. In fact, they want to die. That'd be fine, as long as they weren't also committed to taking as many of you with them as they can. But they are. They want to kill you, and the bastards are all over the globe.

You should be grateful that they haven't killed any more of us here in the United States since September 11. But you're not. That's because you've got no idea how hard a small number of intelligence, military, law enforcement, and homeland security people have worked to make sure of that. When this whole mess started, I warned you that this would be a long and difficult fight. I'm disappointed how many of you people think a long and difficult fight amounts to a single season of 'Survivor.'

Instead, you've grown impatient. You're incapable of seeing things through the long lens of history, the way our enemies do. You think that wars should last a few months, a few years, tops.

Making matters worse, you actively support those who help the enemy. Every time you buy the New York Times, every time you send a donation to a cut-and-run Democrat's political campaign, well, dang it, you might just as well Fed-Ex a grenade launcher to a Jihadist. It amounts to the same thing.

In this day and age, it's easy enough to find the truth. It's all over the Internet. It just isn't on the pages of the New York Times, USA Today, or on NBC News. But even if it were, I doubt you'd be any smarter. Most of you would rather watch American Idol or Dancing with Stars.

I could say more about your expectations that the government will always be there to bail you out, even when you're too stupid to leave a city that's below sea level and has a Class 3 hurricane heading directly towards you, but why bother.

I could say more about your insane belief that government, not your own wallet, is where the money comes from. But I've come to the conclusion that were I to do so, it would sail right over your heads.

So I quit. I'm going back to Crawford. I've got an energy-efficient house down there (that Al Gore could only dream of) and the capability to be fully self-sufficient for years. No one ever heard of Crawford before I got elected, and as soon as I'm done here pretty much no one will ever hear of it again. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to die of old age before the last pillars of America fall.

Oh, and by the way, Cheney's quitting too. That means Pelosi is your new President. You asked for it. Watch what she does carefully, because I still have a glimmer of hope that there are just enough of you remaining who are smart enough to turn this thing around in 2008.

So that's it. God bless what's left of America .

Some of you know what I mean. The rest of you, kiss off.

P.S. - You might want to start learning Farsi, and buy a Koran.

545 people.....

2008-10-09T20:10:00.000-07:00

> This is an article written by Charlie Reese, a former
> columnist for the
> Orlando Sentinel Newspaper. Very interesting perspective on
> the state of
> our Nation!
>
> 545 PEOPLE
> By Charlie Reese
> Politicians are the only people in the world who create
> problems and
> then
> campaign against them.
>
> Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the
> Republicans
> are
> against deficits, we have deficits?
>
> Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are
> against
> inflation and
> high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?
>
> You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president
> does.
>
> You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to
> vote on
> appropriations.
> The House of Representatives does.
>
> You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
>
> You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
>
> You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal
> Reserve Bank does.
>
> One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and
> nine Supreme
> Court justices; 545 human beings out of the 300 million are
> directly,
> legally, morally, and individually responsible for the
> domestic problems
> that plague this=2
> 0country.
>
> I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because
> that
> problem was
> created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its
> Constitutional
> duty
> to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but
> private,
> central
> bank.
>
> I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a
> sound reason.
> They
> have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a
> senator, a
> congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing.
> I don't
> care if
> they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The
> politician has
> the
> power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist
> promises, it
> is
> the legislator's responsibility to determine how he
> votes.
>
> Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy
> convincing you that
> what
> they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common
> con
> regardless of
> party.
>
> What separates a politician from a normal human being is an
> excessive
> amount
> of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a
> Speaker, who
> stood
> up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The
> president can
> only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to
> accept it.
>
> The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land,
> gives sole
> responsibility to the House of Representatives for
> originating and
> approving
> appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House?
> She is the
> leader
> of the majority party. She and fellow House members,
> not the president,
> can
> approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it,
> they can pass
> it
> over his veto if they agree to.
>
> It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million
> can not
> replace
> 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of
> incompetence
> and
> irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic
> problem that is not
> traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully
> grasp the plain
> truth
> that 545 people exercise the power of the federal
> government, then it
> must
> follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
>
> If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it
> unfair.
>
> If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it
> in the red.
>
> If the Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want
> them in IRAQ .
>
> If they do not receive social security, but are on an elite
> retirement
> plan
> not available to the people, it's because they want it
> that way.
> There are no insoluble government problems.
>
> Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats,
> whom they
> hire
> and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts
> and advice
> they
> can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to
> regulate and
> from
> whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them
> con you into
> the
> belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like
> 'the
> economy,'
> 'inflation,' or 'politics' that prevent
> them from doing what the
> y take
> an
> oath to do.
>
> Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
>
> They, and they alone, have the power.
>
> They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the
> people who are
> their bosses provided the voters have the gumption to
> manage their own
> employees.
>
> We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their
> mess!
>
>
> Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel
> Newspaper.

The Whole Truth...

2008-09-20T15:06:00.000-07:00

OK, this is the second correction in as many months, and if anyone is watching Mr. Obama with a jaundiced eye, it's me, but I won't lie about him. I have my suspicions, and I hope and pray I'm wrong, but they are, at this time, only suspicions.

Here is Obama, in his own words, in full:

The actual quote from the book "Audacity of Hope" is from page 261 and is as follows: "Of course, not all my conversations in immigrant communities follow this easy pattern. In the wake of 9/11, my meetings with Arab and Pakistani Americans, for example, have a more urgent quality, for the stories of detentions and FBI questioning and hard stares from neighbors have shaken their sense of security and belonging. They have been reminded that the history of immigration in this country has a dark underbelly; they need specific reassurances that their citizenship really means something, that America has learned the right lessons from the Japanese internments during World War II, and that I will stand with them should the political winds shift in an ugly direction."

Although the statement is open enough that he could, with integrity, turn on us (Non-muslims) later, if he is to be criticised, it should be based on what he said, and who he is, not on what he seemed to say, nor on who he seems to be.

As afraid as I am of this guy, I'm gonna wait and see...

You Ain't Gonna Like Losing

2008-09-20T14:32:00.000-07:00

I know everyone has a different opinion on the war and our current President. But, this article makes a lot of sense, take 2 minutes, read it and give it some thought. When electing the next President, 'the only decision you have to make is who you want sitting in that seat in the White House when - not if - WHEN we get hit again and millions of American lives are put at risk!' This is from: 'You ain't gonna like losing.' Author unknown.

President Bush did make a bad mistake in the war on terrorism. But the mistake was not his decision to go to war in Iraq. Bush's mistake came in his belief that this country is the same one his father fought for in WWII. It is not. Back then, they had just come out of a vicious
depression. The country was steeled by the hardship of that depression, but they still believed fervently in this country. They knew that the people had elected their leaders, so it was the people's duty to back those leaders. Therefore, when the war broke out the people came together, rallied behind, and stuck with their leaders, whether they had voted for them or not or whether the war was going badly or not. And war was just as distasteful and the anguish just as great then as it is today. Often there were more casualties in one day in WWII than we have had in the entire Iraq war. But that did not matter. The people stuck with the President because it was
their patriotic duty. Americans put aside their differences in WWII and worked together to win that war.

Everyone from every strata of society, from young to old pitched in. Small children pulled little wagons around to gather scrap metal for the war effort. Grade school students saved their pennies to buy stamps for war bonds to help the effort Men who were too old or medically 4F lied about their age or condition trying their best to join the military. Women doubled their work
to keep things going at home. Harsh rationing of everything from gasoline to soap, to butter was imposed; yet there was very little complaining. You never heard prominent people on the radio belittling the President. Interestingly enough in those days there were no fat cat actors and
entertainers who ran off to visit and fawn over dictators of hostile countries and complain to them about our President. Instead, they made upbeat films and entertained our troops to help the troops' morale. And a bunch even enlisted. And imagine this: Teachers in schools actually started the day off with a Pledge of Allegiance, and with prayers for our country and our troops!

Back then, no newspaper would have dared point out certain weak spots in our cities where bombs could be set off to cause the maximum damage. No newspaper would have dared
complain about what we were doing to catch spies. A newspaper would have been laughed out of existence if it had complained that German or Japanese soldiers were being 'tortured' by being forced to wear women's underwear, or subjected to interrogation by a woman, or being scared by a dog or did not have air conditioning. There was a lot of things different back then. We were
not subjected to a constant bombardment of pornography, perversion and promiscuity in movies or on radio. We did not have legions of crack heads, dope pushers and armed gangs roaming our streets.

No, President Bush did not make a mistake in his handling of terrorism. He made the mistake of believing that we still had the courage and fortitude of our fathers. He believed that this was still
the country that our fathers fought so dearly to preserve. It is not the same country. It is now a
cross between Sodom an d Gomorra and the Land of Oz. We did unite for a short while after 9/11, but our attitude changed when we found out that defending our country would require some sacrifices. We are in great danger. The terrorists are fanatic Muslims. They believe that it is okay, even their duty, to kill anyone who will not convert to Islam. It has been estimated that about one third or over three hundred million Muslims are sympathetic to the terrorists cause... Hitler and Tojo combined did not have nearly that many potential recruits. So... We either win it - or lose it - and you ain't gonna like losing.

America is not at war. The military is at war. America is at the mall, or watching the movie stars. (Remember Obama said in his book 'Audacity of Hope', 'I will stand with the Muslims should the
political winds shift in an ugly direction'...what better place for the Muslins to control our country, than in the office of the President of USA

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY, AND ASK OUR GOD/LORD TO TAKE CARE OF THIS ELECTION!! PRAY ABOUT ALL OF THIS!!

Equal Time

2008-09-14T07:18:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of fairness, and out of deference to a Democratic friend of mine in Ohio, I must point out 2 things: I personally know neither of these two candidates, so the opinions expressed here are all based on 3rd party info. Whereas I want a Republican victory, if I'm going to quote a source, I really must report what that same source had to say about both candidates.

To that end, here's the other side of the coin, as it were...

This is a comment on the previous post:

"You may want to be more careful about who you source, either this guy's legit like you say, and this post is pretty damning, or the guy is a complete nutcase and we can ignore both your post and this one...

Also by your buddy Jack Wheeler:

The number of fellow senators who think John McCain is psychologically unstable is large. Some will admit it publicly, like Thad Cochran who says, "The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine."

Others relate times when McCain screamed four-letter obscenities right in their faces in the Senate cloak room, like Dick Shelby, Rick Santorum or Jim Inhofe. "The man is unhinged," one senator told me. "He is frighteningly unfit to be commander-in-chief."

That John McCain is clinically nuts is scary enough… You never can tell what a psychologically unstable guy will do. And that last point is why - be prepared for this, folks - I would not in any circumstances vote for John McCain, not if either Hillary or Obama were the alternative. Evil is safer than crazy. Leftie, amateur inexperience is safer than crazy. So I agree with Ann Coulter who says:

"I'd rather deal with President Hillary than with President McCain. With Hillary, we'll get the same ruinous liberal policies with none of the responsibility."

How in the world can the Republican Party get saddled with a nutcase wack job who knows nothing about economics, is so anti-capitalist he uses "profit" as a term of derision, has never run a business or had any job outside of government, will raise taxes, is so stupid that he believes "stopping global warming" is worth destroying the American economy, won't drill ANWR, won't appoint strict constructionist justices, won't protect marriage, will give amnesty to 20 million illegal aliens, is beloved by the New York Times and lives in a delusionary world of vanity and rage?

Rush is right. A McCain presidency will be the destruction of the Republican Party."

This comment was unsigned. But Jack Wheeler clearly doesn't like either the GOP or the Dems for this election....I wonder what's next?

Dr. Jack Wheeler Regarding Obama

2008-09-13T10:19:00.001-07:00

Take a few moments and read this...it will open your eyes.....

Jack Wheeler is a brilliant man who was the author of Reagan's strategy to break the back of the Soviet Union with the star wars race and expose their inner weakness. For years he wrote a weekly intelligence update that was extremely interesting and well structured and informed. He consults(ed) with several mega corporations on global trends and the future, etc. I think he is in semi-retirement now. He is a true patriot with a no-nonsense approach to everything. He is also a somewhat well known mountain climber and adventurer.

Subject: Dr. Jack Wheeler Regarding Obama

Written by Dr. Jack Wheeler

The O-man, Barack Hussein Obama, is an eloquently tailored empty suit. No resume, no accomplishments, no experience, no original ideas, no understanding of how the economy works, no understanding of how the world works, nothing but abstract empty rhetoric devoid of real substance.

He has no real identity. He is half-white, which he rejects. The rest of him is mostly Arab, which he hides but is disclosed by his non-African Arabic surname and his Arabic first and middle names as a way to triply proclaim his Arabic parentage to people in Kenya . Only a small part of him is African Black from his Luo grandmother, which he pretends he is exclusively.

What he isn't, not a genetic drop of, is 'African-American,' the descendant of enslaved Africans brought to America chained in slave ships. He hasn't a single ancestor who was a slave. Instead, his Arab ancestors were slave owners. Slave-trading was the main Arab business in East Africa for centuries until the British ended it.

Let that sink in: Obama is not the descendant of slaves, he is the descendant of slave owners. Thus he makes the perfect Liberal Messiah.

It's something Hillary doesn't understand - how some complete neophyte came out of the blue and stole the Dem nomination from her. Obamamania is beyond politics and reason. It is a true religious cult, whose adherents reject Christianity yet still believe in Original Sin, transferring it from the evil of being human to the evil of being white.

Thus Obama has become the white liberals' Christ, offering absolution from the Sin of Being White. There is no reason or logic behind it, no faults or flaws of his can diminish it, no arguments Hillary could make of any kind can be effective against it. The absurdity of Hypocrisy Clothed In Human Flesh being their Savior is all the more cause for liberals to worship him:
Credo quia absurdum, I believe it because it is absurd.

Thank heavens that the voting majority of Americans remain Christian and are in no desperate need of a phony savior.

His candidacy is ridiculous and should not be taken seriously by any thinking American.

Pass this on to every thinking American you know!

It's about time....

2008-08-10T09:21:00.000-07:00

I've just read something that needs to be read by my fellow artists, and all supporters of live and original music. Because of the "hit the nail on the head" nature of this article, I'm going to print it in it's entirety:

No one has felt the impact of music on the Internet more than the independent musician.
The recording industry has dominated the production and distribution of music for many
years. The big six recording labels are making a push to incorporate the Internet into their
distribution process. Standing in their way is the issue of security.

It seems that music files on the Internet, no matter how secure they may seem, are
susceptible to tampering. This will force a shift in distribution away from selling music
on the Internet in compact disc or MP3 file form and towards artists creating communities
of shared interest that provide music to their audiences for free. New revenue sources will
be created using streaming audio and video technology in a pay-per-view format, among
others. This will drive the demand to see an artist in concert and increase the revenue that
is generated from live performances.

This paper will address the current state of the industry and the battle between the Internet
world and record companies. Next, various plans will be discussed that create and
distribute music on the Internet. Finally, I propose a comprehensive strategic plan for
successful Internet commerce by independent artists that will be based on artists giving
away all of their music for free via the Internet.

Contents
Industry Overview
Creativity and Financial Support: The Musician's Dilemma
Plans for the Future
A Solution
Concluding Thoughts

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Is it possible for music to be delivered via the Internet without complete protection from
hacking and/or tampering? Carol Kuester replied "The transfer of any data across the
Internet is only as secure as its weakest link. Even with the highest encryption available
(which, I believe, has been cracked to some degree) there is no guarantee that the sources
or recipient is secure, ever" [1]. Her reply reflects the effect of the Internet on the
movement of information, such as digital music. The music industry is the latest that has
been forced to address tough questions about its current structure.

No one has felt this effect more than the independent musician. This mainstay of the
music industry is poised for either a boom of creative control and distribution or a bust
that will see it increasingly difficult to be heard, let alone make a living from their art.
The creativity and passion of these musicians fuels music around us. Without them, there
would be no music.

This paper will address the current state of the industry and the battle between the world
of the Internet and traditional record companies. I will then examine the various plans in
place to create and distribute music on the Internet. Finally, I will suggest a
comprehensive strategic plan for successful Internet commerce by independent artists,
that will be based on artists giving away all of their music for free via this networked
medium.

Industry Overview
Traditional recording labels
Many believe that the Internet has caused confusion and uncertainty in the recording
industry. Actually, these changes can trace their beginnings back to the 1980s and early
1990s. At that time, there was a great deal of merger and acquisition activity taking place,
due to many factors including market share, publishing rights, global market penetration,
and the need for quality, marketable musicians.

Keith Negus noted "Throughout the 1980s greater levels of investment [had] been
required to record, market, and promote artists. At the beginning of the 1990s, a major
record company in Britain anticipated having to spend between £250,000 - £330,000 over
the first 12-18 months of an average [recording] deal for a new act; roughly broken down
into £100,000 to advances to the artists, £150,000 for recording costs, and £80,000 for
basic promotional expenses" [2]. In addition to this financial risk, the companies also ran
the risk of over-signing acts and not having enough staff available to service and promote
them properly.

This period of consolidation, coupled with a significant sales slump, forced record labels
to take a smarter business approach to their operations. They began to look back towards
the independent, smaller artist for new talent. "Small upstart labels began to thrive. As
recording costs were forced downward ... more and more people could afford to record"
[3]. This produced a resurgence of unsigned artists recording music that people actually
liked to hear instead of what record labels believed they would like to hear. The artist-
listener relationship grew closer than it had been for a long time.

By the early 1990s, independent musicians had revitalized the recording industry and
encouraged a second wave of corporate mergers and acquisitions. "The alarming result
was that six corporations now control 93 percent of the records sold in America" [4].
Today that number has been reduced to five.

These labels are now moving towards the Internet and merging or acquiring Internet
companies who provide audio content over the Web. Profit difficulties and a slump in
2000 music sales added to these moves. In 2000, sales worldwide were worth $236.9
billion, as units sold fell 1.2 percent on the back of falling singles and cassette sales [5].
America Online and Time Warner partnered to create a massive media conglomerate with
Bertelsmann Music Group and EMI to form a powerful force in online music. They will
license their music catalogs to MusicNet, a Real Networks subscription service on the
Internet, via the Napster platform in a non-exclusive agreement (which means they will
be able to license their catalogs to other services) [6]. The three companies have a total of
43 percent of the music market in the United States and potentially that much in world
market shares [7]. Vivendi and Sony (38 percent total U.S. market share) have formed
Duet to add their online presence. This leaves just 19 percent of the American/world
market for independent labels.

"Record companies have been doing business a certain way for a long time and making a
lot of money, and they are comfortable doing business in that way. Now the industry is
changing ... on the Internet, you can reach out to the consumer, at virtually no cost, and
market your products, services, your art, anyway you wish," says entertainment attorney
Rose Meade Hart [8]. Independent musician Bill Lonero of the United States, remarked
that "right now, the record industry is working off a formula that they know will make
them money. There is no experimentation anymore in popular music. They know what
the kids are buying and they are mass producing it. Hopefully, true artistic expression will
make a comeback" [9]. Derek Gibson, Web designer for Julian Lennon's site, said
something similar when he spoke about Julian's experiences with record labels. "Julian, in
common with many artists, has had a number of regrettable experiences with record
companies and distributors. He now feels that his Web presence provides the opportunity
to disregard the traditional route of record releases" [10]. These views reflect those of
many independent artists; the Internet may bring about a return to the independent
musician as the center of the music world.

The Internet
How well will music sell on the Internet? Table 1 below provides one picture of the
projected sales of music via the Internet through 2006. These projections do not mention
or take into account the kinds of security measures that will be necessary to protect digital
downloads. The estimates of sales, however, suggest that music on the Internet is here to
stay.

Table 1: Online Music Sales, by Distribution Method ($US million), 2000-2006 [11]
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Traditional Formats 906 1,421 2,161 3,060 3,911 4,893 5,796
Digital Downloading 6 22 86 258 584 989 1,601
Subscriptions 19 56 188 440 939 1,494 2,270
Total Online Sales 931 1,499 2,435 3,758 5,434 7,376 9,667

The recent history of the Internet has seen several styles of music distribution appear, the
first being Napster and Gnutella. These systems allow users to swap MP3 music files
without paying royalties to recording companies and artists. Recent cases involving DVD
technology have tried to prohibit users from cracking security codes. This has led to a
legal battle involving major industry players with security as a major issue hindering
efforts to deliver music profitably over the Internet.

Battle lines have been drawn on copyright infringement. The Digital Millenium
Copyright Act (DMCA), signed into law on 28 October 1998 by U.S. President Clinton,
is being touted by labels and users. The key lies in "the copyright owners [having]
monopolies on their works and deserve to profit from them. Yet, as a buyer of a
copyrighted work, one should be able to get full use of out of what was paid for, and not
be hassled by restraints on the usage of an item for which a substantial sum was paid. It is
the last part that is an issue with the implementation of the DMCA" [12].

The debate over open source code for computer software has spilled into the Internet
music battle. Richard Stallman noted that "any kind of information that can be stored on a
computer, conceivably, can be copied and modified. Napster is a big example ... of the
public deciding to exercise the freedom to copy instead of giving it up" [13]. On the other
hand, artists have been testifying in front of U.S. Congressional committees to defend
their right to collect money over the use of their works. Singer/songwriter, Lyle Lovett,
testified before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual
Property on behalf of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers
(ASCAP), remarking "let me say as clearly as I can that there isn't a songwriter I know
who opposes new technological ways to perform music. And as long as we are being
compensated fairly for that listening pleasure, we are better able to feed our families, pay
our bills, and sustain careers as songwriters" [14].

Another area in development is the development of Internet-only radio stations or
Webcasting. The key to success for these stations hinges on advertisers getting their
money's worth. "Webcasters say that the biggest obstacles to growth are the need for
credible third-party metrics and the need to continually educate advertisers and agencies
about the value of Webcast advertising. Almost one-third (30 percent) of Webcasters feel
that the lack of metrics is the biggest obstacle to selling advertising, followed by
advertiser awareness (24 percent), lack of a coherent sales message (23 percent), and
technology issues (10 percent)" said Bill Rose, general manager and vice president of
Arbitron Webcast Services [15]. These Web radio stations "are not exempt from a
copyright owner's digital performance right for sound recordings when transmitting over a
digital communications network such as the Internet" [16]. This has prompted action by
Web radio stations so that they could be included in blanket music licenses granted by the
U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) [17].

These differing formats all are trying to move towards a personalization of music,
searching for the perfect method of identifying an individual and their musical
preferences and delivering music in a smooth and efficient manner. Napster and Gnutella
provide options that are free; in the case of recording labels, there is a price for this
service.

Creativity and Financial Support: The Musician's Dillemma
Independent musicians have had a difficult time assessing the ultimate value of creative
control compared to fundamental need for royalties. They have constantly asked for more
control over their work, but realize that they cannot live without the benefits provided by
record labels, that is until the Internet arrived on the scene.

Creative control
Creative control is at the heart of the relationship of independent artists with their
recording companies. Musicians believe that they know how to find and produce the
kinds of music that the listening public wants. Over the years, labels have tried to take
that control away from musicians. This control allows the recording companies to manage
the entire musical production system and maximize their revenues, but it means that
musicians are often left behind as musical fashions and fads change.

Riordan says that, "When I was contacting top industry pros for a seminar, I was amazed
that some of them said they actually preferred that the artists they work with not
understand the industry ... blindly trusting [the record companies]" [18]. One marketing
director at a record label said that no label goes to an artist, signs them, and then plans
what they will wear, what they will do, and how they will act [19]. However, in some
markets and countries such as Thailand, this sort of control is exactly what happens.

Grammy Entertainment, like other Thai record companies, caters to the teenage market,
producing "pop" music and contrived stars. The company has an extensive network in
Thailand that links television and radio programming, magazines, and advertising with its
music division, thereby controlling all facets of the production, marketing, and promotion
of its artists. The downside is that the company tends to make "the artists into copies of
previous successes, [for artistic development to occur] they [Grammy] must let the artist
develop their own style. Eventually, the teen market will not be able to support the music
business as it is. You can only produce so many similar products before they begin to lose
value in the eyes of the consumer" [20].

However, not all blame can be laid at the door of the recording labels. Rose Meade Hart
noted that "artists often have unrealistic expectations and one of those expectations can be
that if they sign with a major label, they'll immediately release a huge, hit record. No one
seems willing to start out small and grow into a superstar. Perhaps the Internet can be
used as a new way of cultivating bands and helping the artists get the exposure and
experience. The record company's goal is to promote and sell records. And sometimes, I
think that the artistry can get lost along the way as the focus is only on the bottom line.
Given the new alternatives and options for the artist presented by technology, I expect
artists will be looking harder at these opportunities and doing their own cost/benefit
analysis" [21].

Internet record labels promise to be different than their traditional counterparts. However,
Lonero says that in his experience, "Internet labels never promise what they offer.
Sometimes, they say things like 'send your material to them and they'll put it in the top ten
on their site'. The problem with that is, if 100 people send in the press kit, how can 100
people be in the top ten? Most of them that I have seen fall by the wayside within 6
months" [22].

Financial support
The structure of payments to musicians has been relatively the same for over thirty years.
Some say that it is fair, while others maintain that the system is out of date given the new
resources of distribution and technology.

The most obvious source of revenue is by record album sales. In the case of these sales,
artists receive a percentage of sales as described in their contracts. "The current rate is
7.55 cents (U.S.) per track per album, making royalties from a record around ten percent
of the wholesale cost" [23].

Royalties are essentially payments made to songwriters in order to use and distribute their
work. Publishing has been a hot topic over the last twenty years as record labels acquired
publishing companies or have started their own to capitalize on re-issued music,
television, movie use, and other means of generating income. Royalties are paid
whenever a given song is used. Songwriters and music publishers contract a performing
rights organization (PRO) to issue a blanket license covering all songs represented. The
price that the user will pay depends upon many factors, including how many people may
hear a given song and how many times it is played. The PRO calculates royalties earned
and processes payments to the artists. Maryann Barletta of EMI says that "a hit song that
is played regularly on radio and television can generate performance royalties of more
than $100,000 in a single year" [24]. Universal/Vivendi is in the midst of a lawsuit
claiming that they illegally breached their contract with their artists when they launched
digital music without paying royalties. Theoretically, an artist should be able to buy back
the master copies of their songs from their labels, but usually they cannot afford it. Digital
record labels are trying to bridge the gap by offering to share the royalties "50/50" with
their artists. In this case, artists may not have the sales figures they would have with a
major label, but they are receiving a larger portion of revenue. "Instead of $1 or $2 they
might make per CD sold through publishers, a band might sell CDs for [half the price] of
a CD sold in a store, and still clear $5 to $6 in profit. And if they're good, they get to keep
all of it, including the rights to their own music. If they market on the Web, they can also
keep control of their fan mailing list and Web site and they don't have to worry about
major labels attempting to censor their lyrics" [25].

The right of the label to control an artist's Web site, sometimes in perpetuity, has flared as
a recent trouble spot between artists and recording companies. The labels view these
rights as insurance, whether or not a given artist becomes a star upon signing. The
companies would allow an artist to "do specific things on their own site, but the artist had
to state in the contract what they wanted to do" [26]. Musicians argue that no one can
predict exactly what their Web site will look like, especially given the pace of advances in
technology. Giving up their rights to control a site, as well as any potential revenue
generated from the site, is generating further debate over control and creativity.

Plans for the Future
These developments describe the current situation facing independent musicians
everywhere. Certainly, the choice between recording companies and independence is
made more difficult by the Internet. Since there is no perfect way to distribute music over
the Internet, the playing field is still wide open.

Two interesting areas developing on the Web feature the recording of music using
Internet based software and tools and the marketing and distribution of music by
musicians. We will examine these developments in order to suggest a new strategy.

Recording music via the Internet
Companies such as the Rocket Network and mH2O.com have made serious efforts to use
the Internet for musical recording. Rocket Network is, in the words of Sara Perkins their
public relations manager, "a business-to-business company. We lease Internet recording
studios to other companies that already have software or hardware that we can build into
... We sell groups of studios as studio centers to our partners who are basically online
resellers, and they can brand the Internet recording studio and sell or lease them to their
existing communities of users" [27]. This has important implications for musicians
around the world gathering in virtual studios. In these studios, they are able to record their
parts and upload them to a main center where they can be downloaded by others, to be
analyzed, critiqued, and changed. This is not done in real-time, but close enough to offer
a non-linear recording process. A chat window allows conversations to take place about
the music.

mH2O.com is based on the open source concept. The site offers a virtual studio to
accommodate most musicians. Members of mH2O.com take previously recorded samples
and edit them as if they using a word processing program. Samples are available from
unknown as well as known artists; a majority are available for downloading free of charge
while others are downloadable in customizable bundles. Registration is simple;
membership for a monthly or yearly fee provides access to a complete suite of services.
The site also offers downloadable MP3 music, a tutorial service, a copyright service,
music competitions, and search engines. The site even has a live streaming video feed of
concerts from around the world with interactive chat with the performers during the
concert, as well as Internet radio stations. Artists that win competitions have a chance to
sign with the site's record label and receive a major portion of the revenue generated by
sales of their music.

Distributing music via the Internet
There are a number of sites designed to make marketing easier as well as distribution.
Garageband.com, avantnoise.com, Dotclick Digital Music Network (www.dotclick.com),
and the Independent Musicians WebRing all offer different methods for independent
bands to be heard on the Internet.

Garageband.com is a record company that brings customers and musicians together
through the Internet. The site's advisory board included Sir George Martin, producer of
the Beatles, Brian Eno, Steve Earle, George Massenberg, and others. Online reviews of
bands by the public, via a proprietary software system, are at the core of Garageband.com.
The audience has near total participation in a musician's success. Garageband.com
achieves this "by integrating and filtering the active participation of both musicians and
fans through the Internet, the Lathroum Preference EngineTM provides important
consumer research data, identifing promising artists. This research is then combined with
a variety of marketing, professional, and promotional services that assist bands in
advancing their musical careers" [28]. Garageband.com is trying to remove one of the
most costly parts of the recording business, new talent search and development (also
known as A&R or artist and repertoire). The chances that featured bands will land a
Garageband.com recording deal increase with each user that responds and pushes a given
band's rating higher.

Avantnoise.com is a site that allows artist to set up their own home page, upload their
music, and sell it at a price of their choosing. It is free and open to everyone. Visitors to
the site search for music by genre, listen to free samples, view artist information, and
purchase tracks they like. Downloads cost between $US.50 to $US1.00. There are
community areas and direct access to the artists for the fans. Future plans for the site
include a music resource center that has information on retailing, tutoring, and recording
studios, among others. Purchases are made with a personal debit account, based on funds
transferred with a credit card. Avantnoise.com views itself as an interactive center for
musicians, managers, fans, and record labels. Management, publishing, and copyright
options are also available.

The Dotclick Digital Music Network is

"the only Internet marketing services company focused exclusively on empowering the
entertainment industry to create one-to-one relationships with online music fans.
DotClickTM is a free plug-in to today's media players that provides music fans with a
convenient, personalized way to discover more about the music they listen to online.
DotClick provides a platform combining the power of relationship-marketing and viral
marketing, enabling DotClick affiliates to better understand, reach and increase their
customer base. Affiliates receive a co-branded version of DotClick, targeted marketing
services and detailed online marketing reports to increase customer satisfaction and
loyalty, drive traffic and generate revenues. DotClick has already established affiliations
with 150 entertainment, music, and consumer brand companies, which are using the
software as an integral part of their online marketing strategies" [29]
An example of DotClick's relationship with artists can be found at Artemis Records.
Their agreement with the record label states that "a number of Artemis' artists will build
on-line communities utilizing DotClick's Digital Music Network. [The software] enables
people to link directly with each artist's on-line network, learn about the artist, instant
message other fans, be alerted to upcoming performances, purchase CD's and get
personalized music recommendations" [30].

The Independent Musicians' WebRing offers independent musicians a chance to link their
Web sites to those of other musicians on the WebRing. Artists vary from a Tokyo-based
female electronic pop group to a New England-based jazz singer/songwriter. The site is
Yahoo! based. This specific WebRing only has nine members; to join you simply fill out
an online information sheet and choose a password. Each musician controls their own
Web site; navigation among the various sites is easy thanks to WebRing's links.

A Solution
Music on traditional formats like compact discs will never completely disappear, and
with it an entire production and promotion industry. For independent musicians to
achieve any form of success in a medium like the Internet, they will need to take radical
steps that will shake the traditional music industry to its very foundations. Suppose
independent musicians do something completely unexpected such as providing music for
free on the Internet. This idea is the complete opposite of most schemes today considering
Internet distribution of music; it may be the only way for independent musicians to take
control and ultimately achieve success.

Music companies are interested in developing a completely foolproof digital rights
management or security system for music distribution. The question they should ask
really "is a completely foolproof digital media rights system possible for any media?" The
answer is no. Some have suggested that piracy or theft is naturally built into a retail
operation; in fact, the technology driving Internet-based file sharing potentially permits
greater piracy than ever. "There is no hack-proof method to transfer files, nor does it seem
that there will be, as long as people with smarts and a desire to reverse engineer software
exist. The SDMI (Secure Digital Music Initiative) found this out when it held a contest to
see if anyone could circumvent what they hoped would be hack-proof security measures"
[31]. The challenge was met by a team at Princeton University; legal action has been
threatened by SDMI to keep the results out of circulation [32]. Given that an
uncompromisable digital media security system will never happen, there no longer will be
a perceived scarcity of products, which the music industry thrives on. More well-known
music and performers will be more highly pirated than small town acts, but the results
will be the same for everyone, thanks to piracy. Music companies will have to battle
pirates at all levels, from large-scale operations in Asia, burning and selling compact
discs for the equivalent of a few U.S. dollars, to individuals distributing a few songs to
friends, the same individuals that the industry hopes will also be customers.

The Grateful Dead are probably the most well-known example of a band with a high
tolerance of pirated music, in order to encourage long-term popularity and the sales of
diverse products. The band created a vast following by not preventing - and sometimes
even encouraging - the distribution of their music via copied tapes. They created an
environment that people enjoyed and wanted to be a part of, a kind of lifestyle. Those that
truly supported the Grateful Dead's ideas and music ensured that the music survived in
one form or another and that the artists in the band never suffered financially. The
Grateful Dead's marketing strategy proved that musical success, even longevity, could be
achieved using non-traditional means.

Unfortunately the music industry has not learned much from the example of the Grateful
Dead. While the traditional music industry argues over security standards, much
independent music is being lost. In turn, it will be more difficult to convince people to
buy into various subscriptions services that could be offered as alternative distribution
schemes. "If the process of listening to a song on the Internet is made burdensome by too
many security concerns, then consumers will look elsewhere for the easiest way, whether
RIAA-sanctioned or not" [33].

Technical Security Issues
There is absolutely no way that music can be distributed on the Internet without
compromising it. Since Internet-based music is essentially bits, it can copied and
redistributed. Security measures ultimately fail because they are always reactionary
instead of proactive. In the past, copies of vinyl albums could be made and transferred to
a more mobile medium like tape. Tapes however could not be distributed widely in a cost
efficient manner. The Internet has changed all of that.

The early adapters of Napster technology were college students and serious computer
users. As word spread, more and more mainstream computer users bought into the idea.
Improvements on the Napster idea have multipled, such as Fasttrack. Fasttrack claims one
million users, but Webnoize estimates these figures at around eight million and 370
million files downloaded in June 2001 [34]. Fasttrack seems to be more flexible than
Gnutella and faster and more reliable than Napster without having a central server to
monitor. "Fasttrack users can find and download video, images, documents, and software,
making the copyright issues Napster faces seem like child's play" [35].

The dilemma facing the industry was best summarized by Larry Powers who noted that
"the core issue is what's next after a major label has paid millions committing to one
technology plan? Will another idea reduce your investment to the residual value of [the]
catalog and the hoped-for results of more lawsuits?" [36].

Communities
To achieve success, artists will need to incorporate themselves at the outset, becoming
record companies to maintain control of their own careers and, most importantly,
creativity. Their presence on the Web cannot be solitary. Instead, a given artist will form
communities with like-minded musicians to share costs and create a more effective
marketing force. Examples of this strategy include Rocket Network, mH2O.com,
Avantnoise.com, and Garageband.com. However, the difference will be that the music is
free. These communities will have the freedom to become entertainment sources unto
themselves with the only limit being the creativity of their members. These communities
will be able to align the interests of the artist with the interests of the fans, enlarging in
turn the fan base. The independent musician will no longer have to search for an
audience; instead the audience will search for music that meets their preferences, thanks
to new technologies that will be increasingly efficient. These changes will induce an
important behavioral shift as the relationship between musician and fan is a strong
emotional one. The alignment of interests will enhance this relationship far beyond
today's industry-imposed barriers. "Julian [Lennon] [believes] that his Web sites should
continue to be developed as a source of entertainment in their own right and not just
another promotional tool" [37]. For example, Julian's Web site will feature unique items
for all of Julian's fans, including the younger ones. "A move to communities of interest
and action rather than an individual personalized customer market focus" is how Stuart
Henshall envisions marketing on the Internet; his ideas certainly apply to the marketing of
music [38]. Jeff Wood, Director of Content for the now defunct audiohighway.com said,
"It is expensive to secure a customer ... the more we personalize the site, the more we can
get people back ... from chat rooms to artist chats to artists performing in live venues ...
content itself is essential and it is important that the content is wonderful" [39]. "The
benefits of a musician having direct contact with their audience extend further than sales"
[40]. Recording artist Brenda Carol has had experience joining community sites and says
that "[we] have found great community morale among other independent artists" [41].

These communities will be based around the creative and musical aspects of the artists,
the basic reasons why fans are drawn to musicians in the first place. Already, Radio Free
Virgin is launching it's "Inside the Music" segments on their Internet radio network. The
segments are 30 to 60 seconds long and are recorded exclusively for the company,
allowing fans a unique perspective on specific artists [42]. In the future, the artists will be
able to speak directly with their fans; a given artist's own ideology and beliefs will be
searchable, allowing fans to connect with artists at several levels. For example, Bill
Lonero used his music to organize a charity concert for AIDS; a substantial sum was
raised. He noted that "I had six bands total including mine and it was quite successful.
Everyone was very cooperative and were more than willing to help" [43]. Brenda Carol's
Web site provides advertising for another site that promotes the search for Tiffany Rain
Fordham, a young woman who has been missing in Japan for three years. This is one
form of proof of the power of the independent musicians and their fans, coming together
through the music. In addition, all of the recording, producing, feedback, and distribution
of music, both paid and free, can be done by the artists and distributed through their
communities on a daily, if not, hourly basis.

The communities also offer a way to generate revenues through alternative methods. The
first of these is subscription. If a site has 100 bands and the music is available for free, a
subscription fee is charged to access the site on a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly basis.
That charge is standardized; it does not matter how many downloads are completed or if
they are distributed for free.

The site will utilize streaming technology to provide live concerts, interactive chats, and
tutorials. For example, Julian Lennon's Web site will eventually incorporate video to
capture Julian working with his band in the studio. He can then upload the music tracks
from the studio to the site for fans to sample and provide feedback [44] in real, or near
real, time.

Streaming audio and video allows you to charge on a pay-per-view basis, a constant
revenue stream provided the content meets consumer demand. Software could also be
used to allow fans to donate funds to musicians based on the number of downloads
completed. If fans are pleased with the music they hear, they can provide feedback to
works in progress, and form an emotional bond with the artist. They can also support a
musician financially with a credit card donation to a third party donating company, who
in turn will pay the artist cumulative donations at some fixed period. Eliminating the
album concept means that fans can contribute directly to the artist, not the music label,
and thus provide the artist with a greater percentage of revenue than is possible under
existing traditional contracts. The fact that artists are willing to provide the music for free
adds an incentive for fans to treat them fairly.

Thus, the Internet can return music and creative control back to the performer. Today,
bands are manufactured like cardboard boxes; mass-produced figurines based on the
results of a marketing survey. In the new music industry, musicians with talent will return
to the spotlight as artists "take it to the virtual streets". Artists will be able to create some
music for downloading, while retaining many other songs for live performances. Free
downloads will drive demand for an artist's music, which will drive demand to see the
performer live in concert. The Internet allows these concerts to be broadcast everywhere,
but in a pay-per-view format. In this situation, a local fan of a musician in Cleveland,
Ohio will be able to see the artist more often than a fan in Bangkok, Thailand, but both
will be paying some funds to see that artist whenever they can. Riordan believes that
record companies want the following when creating the musical "product": Hit Records,
Vocals, and Live Appearances [45]. With the Internet, live appearances will take on
greater value for the artist and their audiences. The more popular an artist becomes, the
greater the demand for live performances, and the greater the fees venues will pay for
them to perform, which in turn generates even more revenues for the artist.

The benefit to fans is obvious - free music, closer contact with their favorites, and access
to a wide range of new talent. Those new Internet-based communities that successfully
bring along new talent will have the best chance to be profitable. In turn, these successful
communities will generate sales of merchandise, yet another revenue stream for
musicians.

Concluding Thoughts
No one can predict the future of Internet music. However, most believe it will give
independent artists more control over their careers. Security issues will force a drastic
overhaul of the current music industry, but the result will be a far more interactive,
productive relationship between fans and musicians than exists today.

Musicians will be able to harness the connectivity and distribution potential of the
Internet to support their live appearances and promote their music to people all around the
world who may never be able to see them live. Whatever path musicians may choose,
ultimate creative control will belong to them and true artistic ability will return to music.

About the Author
Michael Pfahl is a management and marketing lecturer at Bangkok University
(International College) with a BBA from Ohio University (International Business,
Marketing, and Sales) and an MBA from the University of Toledo (Management).
E-mail: PfahlME@go.com

...From The Past....

2008-07-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

I've recently got an email from someone I once considered a friend. I've haven't really
seen or known of this person for 30 years, and hearing from this person now, has brought
back a flood of all kinds of emotions, low, face-in-the-dirt kind of feelings, to mountain
high - Maslow's peak experience kind of thing. Most of that period for me brings back
that entire decade, and all the people that meant so much to me at the time, but only one
stuck, only one stayed in my soul, and even though he is gone, he remains with me still.

Lyle Rindahl.

This man taught me real estate speculation. When we were in high school, and I played
guitar like it was the end of the world, he would clean my fingers with a damp rag, as they
were usually bleeding, (I used to practice a LOT!) and then he would clean my guitar, and
change the strings. There used to be a small field immediately behind my place. We
would spent hours there, talking about anything that would come to mind, while I would
play or practice. He has been gone from the world for 11 years, 7 months. It's very hard
for me to think that that's actually true. But it is.

There were many good and bad things that happened in my life as I grew, like anyone
else. But Lyle was always there to mitigate the bad, and to help me celebrate the good.
There was plenty of both. Most importantly, and this is someone else I haven't thought of
in years, Lyle was there to celebrate a girl named Martha.

This was my first, great love, and although we didn't end up together, meeting her was a
fork in the road of my life. Lyle was there. Being a man of the world, he explained many
things about girls to me that were a complete mystery to me. All I really knew is that I
liked them.(Ah, let's face it - I still don't really get the whole guy - girl thing) He was
there to talk me through Martha. His advise couldn't have been very good, 'cause she
ended up marrying another friend of mine, Allen. Hey, at least it wasn't some enemy!

I suppose every young guy has someone, some special friend to walk them through the
really brutal years of high school and beyond. Lyle was that guy for me, with some
assistance from Garnet, and Gunther. I wonder what they're up to?

Here's to you Lyle, wherever you are....

....As much as it pains me...

2008-07-13T20:06:00.000-07:00

I just have to print this to undo the previous post. And I say, it pains me, because I really want McCain to win, but...The truth is the truth, like it or not.

In response to my previous post, (And apologies to Bob) I say this:

False. Barack Obama is, in fact, a natural-born citizen of the United States, for the simple reason that he was born on American soil (in Hawaii, two years after it acquired statehood). The age and citizenship status of Obama's parents have no bearing whatsoever on Obama's citizenship.

Any confusion on this point is the result of misunderstanding the legal concepts of jus sanguinis (right of blood) and jus soli (right of birthplace). Here is how the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service explains the difference:

The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizenship at birth to almost all individuals born in the United States or in U.S. jurisdictions, according to the principle of jus soli. Certain individuals born in the United States, such as children of foreign heads of state or children of foreign diplomats, do not obtain U.S. citizenship under jus soli.

Certain individuals born outside of the United States are born citizens because of their parents, according to the principle of jus sanguinis (which holds that the country of citizenship of a child is the same as that of his / her parents).
It is a fact that under the provisions of Article Two of the U.S. Constitution naturalized citizens are ineligible to hold the office of president, but this disqualification does not apply to Barack Obama, who has been a citizen since birth.

However, the hotel manager on the NCL Dream (Assuming it's still that dutch broad) is still the Sphincter of the Millennium, is still the size of Nebraska, and could still trick-or-treat over the telephone. Put that in your pipe, and start smokin'.

Barack Obama...I'll take Schwarenegger....

2008-07-13T16:26:00.000-07:00

This just came in and so far nothing on Snopes to
verify or deny...Thanks to my good friend Bob, again.

This came from a USNA alumnus. It'll be interesting to see how the media
handles this..

Barack Obama is not a legal U.S. natural-born
citizen according to the law on the books at the time of his
birth, which falls between December 24, 1952, to November
13, 1986. Federal Law requires that the office of President
requires a natural-born citizen if the child was not born to
two U.S. Citizen parents. This is what exempts John McCain,
though he was born in the US Panama Canal Zone .

US Law very clearly states: '. . . If only one parent is a U.S.
Citizen at the time of one's birth, that parent must have
resided in the United States for minimum ten years, five of wh ich must be after the age
of 16.' Barack Obama's father was not a U.S. Citizen is a fact.

Obama's mother was only 18 when Obama was born.
This means even though she had been a U.S. Citizen for 10
years, (or citizen of Hawaii being a territory), his mother
fails the test for at-least-5-years- prior-to Barack Obama's
birth, but-after-age- 16.

In essence, Mother
alone is not old enough to qualify her son for automatic
U.S. Citizenship. At most, 2 years elapsed from his mother turning 16 to the
time of Barack Obama's birth when she was 18. His mother
would have needed to have been 16 + 5 = 21 years old at the
time of Barack Obama's birth for him to be a natural-born
citizen. Barack Obama was already 3 years old at the time
his mother would have needed to be to allow him natural
citizenship from his only U.S. Citizen parent. Obama should
have been naturalized as a citizen . . . but that would
disqualify him from holding the office.

The Constitution clearly declares: Naturalized citizens are
ineligible to hold the office of President. Though Barack
Obama was sent back to Hawaii at age 10, any other
information does not matter because his mother is the one
who must fulfill the requirement to be a U.S. Citizen for 10
years prior to his birth on August 4, 1961, with 5 of those
years being after age 16.

Further, Obama may have had to have remained in the USA for some time frame to
protect any citizenship he might have had, rather than
living in Indonesia . This is very clear cut and a glaring violation of
U.S. Election law. I think the Governor Schwarzenegger of California should be very
interested in discovering if Obama is allowed to be elected President without being a
natural-born U.S. Citizen, since this would set a precedent. Stay tuned to your TV sets
because I suspect some of this information will be leaking through over the next several
days.

Solar, or Gas...?

2008-07-01T21:42:00.000-07:00

This is a little off-topic for me, but I got an Email from my Friend Bob on why we should drill in ANWR, actually a thin slice of ANWR that sits right on the Arctic Ocean. I've heard his arguement, and it makes sense. The drilling would be in a very small, isolated spot on the very edge of ANWR. (which is an acronym for Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)

Like I said, my friend Bob is a thoughtful guy, and has certainly paid some life dues. I don't think you can have a front-row seat to the worst event in the history of NYC, if not the country, and not be a thoughtful man. And I will print his case for drilling here in another post. But I want to show both sides of this argument. However, since I can't really think of a reason why not to drill that satifies my own jugdement, let's look at alternatives to oil and gas. And since this isn't my field, you can hear it from a scientist. Since one day we want to buy or build a house that runs on solar energy, This blog will focus on that.

Since first discovered in the 1860s, the concept of storing energy from the sun to use as a source of power has been studied and pursued by many programs. Either using solar collectors or photovoltaic cells, the methods of using solar power are becoming more efficient and cost-effective. Solar technology is currently being used by homes and businesses, but is still too expensive and risky for many residents. Researchers are still making advances to solar technology for it to be a feasible energy source in the future.

Solar energy was first started in the 1860s when Auguste Mouchout and William Adams found a way for storing solar radiation into tanks of water. Since then, there have been improvements to the processing of solar energy, which has been split into two categories: agricultural based and electricity based. The agricultural method, otherwise known as thermal solar energy, uses the sunlight to heat liquid and power steam engines.

Solar collectors can be used on houses or business buildings to store the energy. Different types of solar collectors are flat-plate collectors, evacuated tube collectors and integral collector storage systems (US Department of Energy, 2007, para. 2). The electrochemical process is more complicated and requires photovoltaic (PV) cells to capture the solar energy and convert it into electricity. PV cells have many uses, including powering batteries or mechanical devices by absorbing the photons and creating a voltage. (Simon, 2007, p. 88)

Silicon in the PV conductors absorbs photons, but sometimes impurities are added to create a charge. Phosphorous is added to create negatively charged silicon and boron is added to create positively charged silicon in a process called doping. This way the silicon cell will have differently charged ends, like a battery. Because silicon cells are only semi-conductive, it is harder to generate an electrical current, and therefore require collective grids to transfer electrons through a series of thin wires.

Although collective grids are the most efficient way of solving conductive issues, it is expensive to produce. Instead, photolithography is used to attach the metal grid to the cell. After the development of PV cells in the 1940s, little progress was made for the next few years because of its expensive cost. However, it was used in the space industry in the 1950s and 60s. Now, with nanotechnology and other improvements, there is possibility for cheaper and more efficient production. Finally, there are uses of solar furnaces to collect solar energy in a small area by reflecting the heat using mirrors. An example of this is a solar furnace in Odellio, France that has the ability to heat up to 33,000 degrees Celsius (Darvill, 2007, para. 11).
Experiments with Solar Power Plants:

The Mojave Desert is an ideal place for solar power plants since it is so insolated and has more sunlight than most areas of the United States. The Solar Energy Generating Systems were nine trough power plants built in 1980s converting sunlight into electricity. Combined, they produced 354 MW of power, enough to support 500,000 people and making it a successful project. (Wikipedia, 2007, para. 1).

The Solar Energy Technology Program (SETP) set up solar initiatives in hopes of replacing fossil fuels with solar power. SETP’s main goal is promoting the use of solar panels, but it also spends a small portion of its budget, around 10%, on solar lighting and heating. One of its projects, the Million Solar Roofs Initiative has had 350,000 installations since 1997 and is working towards its goal of 1 million by 2010.

Advantages of Solar Energy:

Although solar energy produced less than 1% of 63 trillion British thermal units, it is gradually expanding and had increased by .2% between 1999 and 2004. (Simon, 2007, p. 92). Solar power is so strong that every minute the energy that hits the earth from the sun can be used to power the earth for a whole year. With one square meter of a PV cell, there is enough energy to power a 100 watt light bulb, proving that if discoveries
are made to harness solar heat efficiently there is a strong possibility that it can be used to power the earth. (Van Wyk, 2005, para. 4).
Solar energy also has cost benefits, because although PV cells were extremely expensive when first developed, improvements have been made reducing its price.

Currently, extending energy applications to remote locations can cost from 20,000 to 80,000 dollars per mile. People living in these remote areas are willing to pay for renewable energies, including solar power. However, new solar energy packages can cost from $20000 - $100000 when being installed. Not only does solar energy not depend on fuel, it will power buildings in times of power outages.
Environmental advantages of solar energy can impact people since it helps with the affects of global warming. Installing solar panels is a way of reducing the stress of global warming because it is both renewable and sustainable.
Disadvantages of Solar Energy:
Although relying on solar energy seems like a simple solution, many people are turned away by the initial price, which can range from 20,000 up to 100,000 dollars. This is a result of the semiconductors and other materials required to build a PV cell.

The efficiency of solar energy is dependent on many factors, including the weather, position of sun, time of day, and pollution in the air. To deal with this issue battery backups have been created to make solar power effective 24/7. For most home programs, a 1 kilowatt system costs around 10,000 dollars to install. On sunny days it can receive 1,600 kilowatt hours a year, but on cloudy days it receives less than half that amount, only around 750 kilowatt hours per year. (Van Wyk, 2005).
Feasibility of Solar Power:
The idea of harnessing solar power has been discussed and pursued, and will likely be a feasible source of alternative energy in the future. It can start out as being expensive, but for people who have the money to invest; it is a reasonable method of solving the shortage of oil that will soon become a problem. The advantage of having an expensive installation price is that people will be able to save money long-term because afterwards, there is no need for paying for energy.
Even though it may not be as efficient at the present, many programs are making progress in fixing the shortcomings, such as using batteries to power solar panels at night. The U.S. Department of Energy has been studying the use of mirrors to concentrate heat from the sun, which would provide a low-cost source of energy for people. Because solar technology is already in use, it is reasonable that more utilities will be made for solar power. The major problem with its development is for people to realize it is efficient and reasonable. However, because it saves money in the long-run and does not give off polluting gases, solar energy will most likely spread and become more popular.

Conclusion:
Because using solar power as an alternative energy has many benefits, it is looked to by both homes and businesses. The US Department of Energy is still coming up with ways to reduce the cost of PV cells and find ways of using more durable material. In the future, with support from the government, solar technology can expand and be within the cost range for more people. The sun has the ability to provide power for the Earth as long as there is a way to harness and store the energy.

Movies That Make Me Think...

2008-06-26T18:34:00.000-07:00

Life. Liberty. And the pursuit of happiness.

I've recently watched the film, "Pursuit of Happiness" with Will Smith, which is the true
story of a brilliant man who decides he's willing to pay the price for success. And there
was quite a price to be paid. In his case, and I think, in every case, but the price is suppose
to be less than the price of voluntary mediocrity, particularly when you know you are
capable of more.

This man's story got me thinking about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and why
these concepts would be included in the American consciousness, and in Her fundamental
documents. So, I thought to myself, "How would I define these grand ideas?"

I don't think I'm up to the task, but here are some thoughts....

Life. And every aspect of it. Not to blend in to someone else's idea of life, or how to
behave, but discover who you are, and become THAT, as much as you were meant to. To
live one's fullest potential.

Liberty. Freedom to be you, in all it's fullness. But true freedom comes with discipline,
like the freedom of a martial artist, or of a concert jazz pianist. They are totally free
within their craft, only because they restrict and train themselves daily, to achieve and
maintain said freedom. True liberty, with limits, and a price. This is American Freedom.

Pursuit of happiness. And in the pursuit, one learns that happiness comes not at expense
of another, but in co-operating with another. I am happy not by stepping on another, but
by brainstorming with another. And the more we involve in this process, the higher we all
climb, the further we all see. Happiness after all, is more of a process than a destination.
The pursuit of happiness, at least in this perfect world that exists only in my head, will
lead to deep and lasting wisdom, and a general broadening of perception and awareness,
and a true empathy and compassion for one's fellow human.

My, that sounds wonderful. I wonder if such a thing is actually possible here. I ask this in
light of my own life experience.

Anyhow, not that it's even my place to make this assessment, but, I think the Founding
Fathers were on to something. And for that matter, so were the writers of the Torah, and
the New Testament. Where did we go wrong?

As Vinnie Barbarino from "Welcome Back Kotter" would say...,"What?"

We interrupt this program....

2008-06-25T07:33:00.000-07:00

I got an email from my friend Bob, who barely, and I mean by the skin of his teeth,
survived the WTC attacks. He managed to get out shortly before the tower he was in
collapsed. This is a profound, intelligent man, and he does not send me things without
doing his due diligence first.

Get ready: the implications of this are deep and disturbing.

Subject: The Jihad Candidate
I received this today and it is soooo scary.

The Jihad Candidate - by Rich Carroll

Conspiracy theories make for interesting novels when the storyline is not so
absurd that it can grasp our attention. 'The Manchurian Candidate' and
'Seven Days in May' are examples of plausible chains of events that
captures the reader's imagination at best-seller level. 'What if'
has always been the solid grist of fiction.

Get yourself something cool to drink, find a relaxing position, but before you
continue, visualize the television photos of two jet airliners smashing into
the Twin Towers in lower Manhattan and remind yourself this cowardly act of
Muslim terror was planned for eight years.

How long did it take Islam and their oil money to find a candidate for
President of the United States ? As long as it took them to place a Senator
from Illinois and Minnesota ? The same amount of time to create a large Muslim
enclave in Detroit ? The time it took them to build over 2,000 mosques in
America ? The same amount of time required to place radical wahabbist clerics
in our military and prisons as 'chaplains'?

Now……

Find a candidate who can get away with lying about their father being a
'freedom fighter' when he was actually part of the most corrupt and
violent government in Kenya 's history.

Find a candidate with close ties to The Nation of Islam and the violent Muslim
overthrow in Africa , a candidate who is educated among white infidel Americans
but hides his bitterness and anger behind a superficial toothy smile.

Find a candidate who changes his American name of Barry to the Muslim name of
Barak Hussein Obama, and dares anyone to question his true ties under the
banner of 'racism' …..Nurture this candidate in an atmosphere of
anti-white American teaching and surround him with Islamic teachers.

Provide him with a bitter, racist, anti-white, anti-American wife, and supply
him with Muslim middle east connections and Islamic monies. Allow him to be
clever enough to get away with his anti-white rhetoric and proclaim he will
give $834 billion taxpayer dollars to the Muslim controlled United Nations for
use in Africa .

Install your candidate in an atmosphere of deception because questioning him on
any issue involving Africa or Islam would be seen as 'bigoted racism';
two words too powerful to allow the citizenry to be informed of facts.

Allow your candidate to employ several black racist Nation of Islam Louis
Farrakhan followers as members of his Illinois Senatorial and campaign staffs.

Where is the bloodhound American 'free press' who doggedly overturned
every stone in the Watergate case?

Where are our nation's reporters that have placed every Presidential
candidate under the microscope of detailed scrutiny; the same press who pursue
Bush's 'Skull and Bones' club or ran other candidates off with
persistent detective and research work?

Why haven't 'newsmen' pursued the 65 blatant lies told by this
candidate during the Presidential primaries?

Where are the stories about this candidate's cousin and the Muslim butchery
in Africa ? Since when did our national press corps become weak, timid, and
silent?

Why haven't they regaled us with the long list of socialists and communists
who have surrounded this 'out of nowhere' Democrat candidate or that his
church re-printed the Hamas Manifesto in their bulletin, and that his 'close
pastor friend and mentor' met with Middle East terrorist Moammar Gaddafi,
(Guide of the First of September Great Revolution of the Socialist People's
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya)

Why isn't the American press telling us this candidate is supported by
every Muslim organization in the world?

As an ultimate slap in the face, be blatant in the fact your candidate has ZERO
interest in traditional American values and has the most liberal voting record
in U.S. Senate history.

Why has the American main stream media clammed-up on any negative reporting on
Barak Hussein Obama?

Why will they print Hillary Rodham Clinton's name but never write his
middle name? Is it not his name?

Why, suddenly, is ANY information about this candidate not coming from main
stream media, but from the blogosphere by citizens seeking facts and the truth?

Why isn't our media connecting the dots with Islam?

Why do they focus on 'those bad American soldiers' while Islam
slaughters non Muslims daily in 44 countries around the globe?

Why does our media refer to Darfur as 'ethnic cleansing' instead of
what it really is; Muslims killing non Muslims!

There is enough strange, anti-American activity surrounding Barak Hussein Obama
to peek the curiosity of any reporter.

WHERE IS OUR INVESTIGATIVE MEDIA!?

A formal plan for targeting America was devised three years after the Iranian
revolution in 1982. The plan was summarized in a 1991 memorandum by Mohamed
Akram, an operative of the global Muslim Brotherhood. 'The process of
settlement' of Muslims in America , Akram explained, 'is a civilization
jihad process.' This means that members of the Brotherhood must understand
that their work in 'America is a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and
destroying the Western civilization from within and sabotaging its miserable
house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated
and God's religion is made victorious over all other religions.'

There is terrorism we can see, smell and fear, but there is a new kind of
terror invading The United States in the form of Sharia law and finance.
Condoning it is civilization suicide. Middle East Muslims are coming to America
in record numbers and building hate infidel mosques, buying our corporations,
suing us for our traditions, but they and the whole subject of Islam is white
noise leaving uninformed Americans about who and what is really peaceful.

Where is our investigative press? Any criticism of Islam or their intentions,
even though Islamic leaders state their intentions daily around the globe,
brings-forth a volley of 'racist' from the left-wing Democrat crowd.

Lies and deception behind a master plan - the ingredients for 'The
Manchurian Candidate' or the placement of an anti-American President in our
nation's White House?

Is it mere coincidence that an anti-capitalist run for President at the same
time Islamic sharia finance and law is trying to make advancing strides into
the United States ?

Is it mere coincidence this same candidate wants to dis-arm our nuclear
capability at a time when terrorist Muslim nations are expanding their nuclear
weapons capability?

Is it mere coincidence this candidate wants to reduce our military at a time of
global jihad from Muslim nations?

Change for America ? What change? To become another 'nation of Islam'?

COULD IT BE THE REASON OUR COUNTRY HAS NOT BEEN UNDER ATTACK SINCE 9-11
BECAUSE THE MUSLIMS HAVE AN AGENDA TO TAKE OVER OUR GOVERNMENT BY PLACING A
MUSLIM IN THE PRESIDENCY?

IT MAY COME TO PASS IF AMERICANS DON'T WAKE UP!!!!!!

I saw this today too, and thought I would pass it along....

Hot on the heels of his explanation for why he no longer wears a flag pin,
presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama was forced to explain why he
doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played. According to
the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171, During rendition of the
national anthem, when the flag is displayed, all present except those in
uniform are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand
over the heart. 'As I've said before about the flag pin, I don't
want to be perceived as taking sides,' Obama said. 'There are a lot of
people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression. And
the anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in
air and all. It should be swapped for something less parochial, and less
bellicose. I like the song, 'I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing.'
If that were our anthem, then I might salute it.' (IS HE KIDDING??? AND
HE IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT!!!)

NCL DOOM is right...

2008-06-09T05:31:00.000-07:00

You know, I've been working these ships a long, long time, and I figured I'd seen it all.
But it turns out I was wrong: I have now worked with a hotel manager that rivals Devon,
of Carnival Jubilation fame, as the Sphincter of the Millennium.

A dike, and one with absolutely no people skills, she's clearly missing huge things in her
life, and is resentful of anyone who has those things. Emotionally and intellectually inept,
fat, ugly and miraculously stupid, I can't imagine how she got to be Hotel Manager.
Actually, I can imagine, but I don't need the image, and I just ate. Actually she would
look OK, if she lost some sq. footage, say, the State of Nebraska. Scary? She could trick-or-treat
over the phone. and then there's the brain power. I'm not saying she's stupid, but to call
her plant-life is insulting to plants. I've had better conversations with Jello Pudding after
dinner and a few drinks.

So, to make up for this slight deficiency in people skills, she compensates by being a
hyper-controlling bitch from hell. if you are smarter than her, (This would include
virtually anything more complex than a single-celled organism) you are labeled as having
attitude and must be dealt with so you won't make it overly obvious to everyone else how
free she is of anything resembling a thought. And when I say, "hyper-controlling bitch
from hell" I mean Lucifer would have second thoughts about asking her to make him a
cup of coffee in the morning. Still, She does have her good points: If I ever run out of
toilet paper, she will suddenly become useful. So that's good.

And then there's a Newbie CD who calls himself Fith. Clearly an AKA. Whatever. This is
a spineless, gutless queen, who clearly thinks whatever anyone tells him to think. The
program has been anyone's guess from day to day. The poor printer. The good thing about
him is he's not afraid to make a fool of himself. This is good, because every time he turns
around he does make a fool of himself. But not on purpose. Not an evil guy, I've decided:
Just incredibly incompetent.

Then we come to Bruce, A man who must be good at brown nosing with Mike, 'cause
apparently He thinks this Bruce guy is great. Do you know what I saw? A man who wants
to be a guest entertainer, and does it by forcing the band to play his show instead of being
a band master and looking out for the guys like a bandmaster is supposed to, and have done
with every company I've ever worked for, until NCL. What I saw him do with the guys in
the band was the worst type of exploitation. Can Mike really not see through guys like
this? I know my business is all about looks, and appearances, but this really makes me
want to hang it up. Then again, I say that at least once a year.

OK, I feel a lot better now. Maybe I'l chill now....Then again....

Whatta Town...

2008-05-31T12:18:00.000-07:00

I met a fellow, an ex-serviceman, an ex-NYPD, and an Italian to boot, who I met on the previous cruise (See previous entry) who just happens
to have a talent for singing and entertaining. This fellow has paid dues in life that I can't
even go into, except to say that if anyone has a break coming to them, it's this guy. And
all he wants to do now, is to be a performer like me.

Well, he's gonna get that break. From me.

There is not one thing about this guy that you can't respect. Not to mention, his brother
tried out for the NY Mets. That doesn't really have anything to do with this, but I thought
I'd toss it in.

Anyhow, The point is, this is the kind of guy, and the kind of person that I work for. It
seems that I've inspired him to be a performer. No, that's not true. He's already doing it at
some level, but he says I've inspired him to take this to the next level.

What better "thank you" can an artist possibly receive in life than this? That is truly as
good as it gets.

The gentleman's name is Lou....watch for him.

I've made a discovery. A couple of them, actually. First, an observation from a fine
Bostonian man who has earned my respect. He said that the most hard core Red Socks
fans, as well as the most boorish people, are from outside the city itself. These are his
words. I can't really comment either way, but I'll take his word for it for now. What my
observations, based on this cruise have told me is this: When it comes to giving and
getting, NYers, can dish it out, and can take it too. And actually, enjoy a good verbal
trashing session. Bostonians, or perhaps I should say, people from around Boston, like to
dish it out, but can't take it. And of course, you KNOW if someone trashes the Mets in
front of me, they're gonna get it. This contract, I'm surrounded by those kind of people.

Man, am I EVER on the wrong ship. It would be fun if these guys knew how to play, but
a lot of these guests, ( Although by no means all) think it's fine for them to disrespect
someone else, but cry foul if they experience even the slightest consequence.

Now I know what a real Democrat looks like. My good friend Deborah (Dem) looks like
a Republican by comparison. (I knew there was something I liked about her!) These
people would like a constitutional amendment that states: their lives must be free from
anything that offends, challenges or disagrees with their thinking, whatever that may be.
Actually, some of these people would make good M_____s, (Use your imagination)

OK, now that THAT'S off my chest....I'd like to see Barry from Boston
do a NY cruise,
and let's give him as rough a time as these guys are giving me....

NCL Dream...(DOOM...Just kidding, K & A)

2008-05-23T00:28:00.000-07:00

Well, after two cruises, and two weeks of Boston people, I've decided that I like them. I mean, their choice in baseball teams suck, but then again, the best pianos in the world are made in Boston. I'm not sure how they Forest-Gumped their way into making the best pianos in the World, but that is the case nonetheless. That's hard for me to admit, but then again, every city has to have SOMETHING!! I mean, they don't have the Mets now, do they?

And, I believe I've found a free wireless signal out here in Bermuda, which is a good thing, because the internet speed on the ship is about 5 kb per sec, which is WAY slower than dial-up. It's faster to write a letter. But, it's a ship, and that's old news, so on to the next thing.

For some reason, Bostonians really like their Irish sing-a-longs. Does that mean I'm going to start doing one again? NOPE. I know the hotel manager likes these things, and it looks as though it does make money for the bar, but it's simply not something I'm willing to do anymore.

Today, I also watched a Jazz....concert? Actually, if I didn't know better, I would've thought that I was watching a guest entertainer play a show which was musically excellent, but not very entertaining. What I was, in fact, watching was the band master on the ship use the showband to have his 15 minutes of fame. I think this is just another example of a bandmaster abusing his position. They guy is a very fine player, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't about the guys-it was ALL ABOUT HIM.

I'm sorry, but I think that is just wrong.

Be a band master, or be a guest entertainer. Decide which hat to wear, and then wear it. This really upsets me, and I'm no fan of his at all anymore, in spite of his fine playership.

The worst thing is the pianist, and the Bassist are smoking hot, and I can feel how much they are restraining themselves to make him look good, and not make themselves look too good. What happened to the Bandmaster looking out for the interests of the musicians? This guy is a big disappointment to me. It's good for me that I don't really have to deal with him.

Tommy, my snapperhead friend from Brooklyn, has asked me to go on the NCL Jade after this one. I would like to, if only to give Tommy a hard time like before. Plus, we would pretty much run the ship. It would be fun. We'll see...These things never seem to happen by my choice.

I'm trying out some the lines I've written for my show, on the current gig. It works. OK, now to write more stuff.

All in all, this is a good gig, if only to hone my skills even further. Next month, all things being equal, Gennadi starts working on my show....I really can't wait.

Update...

2008-04-28T12:07:00.000-07:00

Well, this has been quite a ride. In a month an a half, I almost bought another house, and
got outbid by another buyer at the last minute, and could've increased my bid, but it
would've eaten too much, and well, let's face it, it was nice, but not THAT nice. My
wallet, with all its ID, has, shall we say, taken a walk. So my new wallet is remarkably
empty. Strange to see.

And something interesting: When I was on the Marco Polo, my notebook went down, and
me without any of the recovery discs. It took a month and a half to get everything back to
90% of what it normally should be. And most of what I lost, I had to get online. At $1 per
minute, and with a download speed of 5-10 kb per sec, (Yes, it's slower than dial-up) It
was a hellish, and expensive month and a half. Prohibitively expensive.

Contrast that with my notebook going down here at home, 2x actually, once for a trojan
horse, and once because of physical drive failure. And recovery time, with all my apps
reinstalled, took 2 days. EACH time. What I get from that are two things: Don't leave
home without your recovery software, and a hard internet connection is ALWAYS better
than satellite.
(Not to mention cheaper!)

And I'm focused like a bandit on getting my show ready. Gennadi, a Russian
conductor/arranger I met while on the Marco Polo, agreed to do my charts, and, all things
being equal, they will be ready at the completion of this contract coming up, which will
be on the NCL Dream. That takes us to Sept. and all I can say about that is, we'll see what
happens then.

But I'm hopeful...and grateful for a lot of things, actually...

Home: Gotta Love That...

2008-03-25T14:38:00.000-07:00

Well, Remember 2 blogs back where I basically trashed the hell out of some of my fellow crew members in the entertainment dept? Well, A lot of things have taken place to confirm everything I've said.

First, let's talk about my friends, Allen And Cathy. They really had the contract from hell, in more ways than I will talk about here, from NO support from the ship, or NCL or from the ports they were supposed to off-load in, but they basically pulled a rabbit out of the hat, and finished the contract with a bang, making good money for the company.

Let me tell you about these guys:

If you're looking for a stock to invest in, or looking for some money making venture, BELIEVE ME on this one: Invest in whatever venture Cathy and Al have going. Your ROI will be as safe as anything can be, and if they think they can't make you money, they won't accept it.

I can't say enough about them, except to say, When they have an idea, I listen, and I write checks. I'm so blessed to have met them.

Now, for the rest of this riff-raff;

A young woman, whom I'll call Ide, had her packed luggage with clothes, PDA, cell-phone, MP3 Player, camera, pictures, all her cds, and DVDs, thrown in the garbage in Cadiz. The reason? Well, maybe greed, maybe incompetance...but the point is this:

That's pretty much a disaster for anyone.

So, you would think that, upon hearing the news of such a thing, the crew would rally around her and give what they could to off-set the loss. $1, $5 or $10 each, right?

Apparently not. According to her, the only person that gave her any money at all was myself. I gave her $50, $20 of which came from my guests, passengers who don't know this woman, but were moved by the story.

Off-setting once more the image of the ugly American. But this won't make the headlines, will it? (By the way, These Americans were Republicans!! Put that in your pipe, Democrats!! {Sorry BB!!})

The worst example of this was a german girl, Nice enough, I THINK,(I Say think, Because I'm really just not sure what goes on in that tiny brain) so faced with the misfurtune of her fellow crew member, What does she do? She buys a card for the woman with the missing luggage.

A Card...

What the hell...?!?!

She lost everything she came to the ship with, and she's from a poor country, and this German chick buys a CARD?!?!? She needs $$$, you idiot!!! This German girl is a blond, and really re-enforces the blond bimbo stereotype. Smart blonds have simply got to hate this chick.

All I can say is... Unbelievable.

As for the rest of these spoiled brats, I don't even have contempt for you. You're not worth another second of my time. And, if, on the off chance that you did give to Ide, (Not her full name) some money, take yourself off this "YOU SUCK" list of mine.

As for the rest...You have no shame, no class, and are an embarrassment to the human race. I'm ashamed of all of you. At least the German girl had good intentions.

Actually, I begin to wonder if she might be learning disabled to a small degree. Lucky for her she's cute. But that only lasts so long....

Sphincter-boy BOB has had the sense to stay out of my way. And I, his. This is evidenced by my making this entry. So, happily, that turned into a non-issue. I don't like him, and he doesn't like me, and we're happy with that.

Not EVERYONE has to like you, you know...

Now Let's talk about my guests this cruise. Special mention must go to another German woman, who shall only be known as Doris. She could hardly speak to me, but loved the music. And two women, retired swabbies, 30 years my seniors, whom I shall have in my heart forever.

The very best our nation can produce. We shared something wonderful...Thank you. And a Lt. Colonel, and his wife, who've earned my respect. Another one who only wanted to hear "Stella" Or "San Francisco" A fan, for some reason. And the two English women, and The Ozzies who gave Teresa "Dame Edna's" book... It goes on and on...

And special metion must go to a GOP couple from Boston (BOSTON!?!) They were a pleasant surprise in almost every way. Well, they're still Red Sox fans, but c'mon... ya can't have everything!!

Only one bad passenger, And since he was drunk, I won't spend any time on him here.

All told, I don't think I've been so touched and enhanced by a group of guests in all my life, except possibly the guests I met on the Caronia, (Cunard)

I keep you close, and bless you, and truly hope to see you again.

The Last One...

2008-03-12T09:52:00.000-07:00

This is it: The last cruise, and it's a long one...21 days, more or less. And on this one, I'm seeing many faces I've seen before. I have a feeling this will be a good cruise, although I'm sensing a lot of mixed feelings by the guest. It's like they're saying goodbye to an old friend.

For those that don't know, this ship, and Orient Cruise Lines, are no more, after this trip.So now you can understand some of the mixed feelings out here.
I've gained a lot from coming out here. probably the key things will have been meeting Gennadi and getting the charts done, and meeting Allen And Cathy, and Andre. There may be a joint venture in the making there. A year from now, who knows what may happen.

Them, I will miss. And of course I think of a handful of guests who moved me greatly, and I feel proud to have known them, and am honored to count them among my friends. You know who you are.

A week in...

There is this one couple, I don't know their names, but they love to dance together, and even though we have a perfecly capable dance band playing in the Charlston Lounge upstairs, for some reason they seem to prefer to hang with me, and dance to me, dancing to some of the most undanceable selections, yet making it seem graceful and beautiful.

All that is interesting, and fine, but that's not what gets to me about this couple: For some reason, when they're in the room, I feel the most incredible warmth and happiness, almost as though I were being showered in it. And I think I've figured out why yesterday:

They are truly, completely and happily devoted to each other. They are in love. And they are no spring chickens by any means. These are the people I am a musician for... this is why I have this gift. I hope they read this.

In many years of playing, I MAY have met or watched perhaps a few hundred of these people from the stage, out of multple hundreds of thousands of folks. It is for the sake of these people that we must try to do better. It is for these people that the human race limps on. The fact that our specis still produces such gems is why I carry on. why I still think there is some hope for us, after all.

Hmmn....Gotta stay off that soap box, man.

March 10th....we're about half a degree north of the equator. 35 minutes north, to be exact. And I know we're north now, 'cause the toilet water is once again swirling the normal way, instead the "other" direction like it does in the far South.
As glad as I am to be heading home, there are some good things, actually many good things that have come my way as a result of this trip.

As much as I am not interested in Antarctica, Still, I'm going to like wearing those jackets in cold weather. They aren't just cool: They're a conversation piece.
And although I love Rio, and am sad to leave it, It's good to see how much better the country of Brazil is doing. I would like to see them become a first-world country before I die. I have a real fondness for the place - what can I tell ya?
And I come away with some interesting info, although I don't really know what to do with it. A 5000 sq. ft. home can be had in the southern part of Chili for $20,000. And the country side looks just like the Pacific Northwest. Or New Hampshire, for that matter.

...Retirement???

Lots more cool info, but I'll share those in later blogs.

I take this for granted, but one can learn a lot by traveling. Your thinking changes. Then again, it's just another reason why I can't relate to people at home, or why I get bored of conversations so quickly.

...Gotta quit traveling, man.

...Probably won't, though....

Ok, I think that's it til I get home. If I get home. I have some concerns about that, but if I make any more entries, well, Clerly I got home and everything is fine. Home is ALWAYS the BEST place.

Later...

One Short and One Long Cruise left...

2008-02-27T08:22:00.000-08:00

After being on this ship since August, several of us older musicians have noticed something about most, if not all of the younger crew on board this ship. These are some of the most mentally and emotionally screwed up people I have ever encountered. Perhaps it was always like this out here and I've never noticed before, but seriously, on this ship, plastic and phony and clique-ishness rule out here at a level I don't remember seeing before.

Is it simply what this new generation is like?

There is only one exception to this: A young Italian girl named Carissa From New Jersey. Mature beyond her years. Loving and caring and respectful. But she's the exception to the bullshit. Chalk another one up for good old Italian upbringing.

And as for my own generation...

The last few years, the people who've been my best friends on ships have been the senior staff and officers on board. It's been that way here as well, up until a new Security Officer came on board. Man, talk about a complete waste of oxygen. This guy doesn't deserve to be even a merchant marine, let alone regular Navy. He plays head games like a little girl. He's a brown-noser and a coward. And he's the Chief of Security? I hope nothing serious happens while he's here.

I've been lucky to meet some remarkable people out here, folks I'm honored to call friends. People of note would be the Staff Captain, and the old Safety officer, Paul, and of course the art auctioneers, Allen and Cathy...serious class acts.

But not this piss-ant security guy. I'll need people like him (His name is Bob) when I run out of toilet paper. Meeting too many idiots like him, one despairs for the future of the species, which is how I feel about most of the entertainment staff out here, the only exception being my fellow musicians and the Italian girl I mentioned earlier...

Sitting where I sit, behind the piano, I see everything. From the couple who are saying nothing to each other, because they're afraid of what they might say, to the guy who everyone looks forward to stopping and talking with, to the guys who are totally focused on talking business, or sports, and I wonder what they're doing in my room, to the folks who are eating up everything I do, to the folks who are there because they're tired of complaining about their lives so they come to complain about me. Later, they'll complain about the food, or the other shows, or the dance band, or the accommodation. But for now, I'm the complaint of choice. It takes all kinds, it seems. But, these people are my people, and I love people. After all, who else is there to talk to, or talk about?

Cows?

3 long Cruises left...

2008-02-12T13:02:00.000-08:00

Valparaiso, Chile. Antarctica is done. All I have to show for it are a couple of very nice jackets. No Blue Whales this time, but lots of ice. More Ice than I'll ever want to see again. No more Ice in my drinks - I'm taking everything straight and warm from now on.

This has been a very quiet cruise. Some of the folks seem quietly grateful for the music, and a few shyly clap, but on the whole....very quiet. I think, if it's possible, that I have almost an entire ship of introverts. Herb and Christine would be right at home here.

A few days in...

They're coming alive a bit, but nothing like that crazy cruise about 3 or 4 back. Texans are another animal entirely, that's for sure. But the group this cruise are very polite. A lot of Germans, Austrians and Swiss, as well as the token Brits, Americans, and here's an interesting breed - an Expatriot Canadian. Living in England. Interesting person, that....

If anyone is hoping for a more enthusiastic depiction of the entire Antarctic season, I met some very fine men and women on this run. Scientists, who have a real appreciation for where we have been. One of them, an Irish fellow named Jim Wilson has a blog. You can check him out here
Hey Jimmy, Here's some Steely Dan....Top o' the morning to ya!

Finally, The Last Antarctica...

2008-01-23T11:55:00.000-08:00

Before I get to the last cruise of this Antarctic season, I must say some things about the previous cruise. In a season that has been pretty drab, in terms of the guests, I must say that the previous two cruises have been really remarkable. In terms of bar revenues, and in terms of the audience knowing how to behave in a performance setting, the last two cruises have been wonderful and heart warming. I think of people like Helen Wu and her friends and family, both from Chicago and China/Taiwan. I think of the small, remarkable group from Texas (Who Knew?) and the two black girls from Chicago. And Holly the "Legit" singer, and her "Tom Lehrer" Loving hubby.

What fun. I wish every cruise was like that. I really hope they all sign my guest book.

Now, for this last cruise of the season. It's a long one, with some repeat customers. And when I say long, I mean 16 days. But it has started with some incredibly rough seas. Rough enough to turn over all the funiture in my cabin, except of course, my bed. But still, I'm getting tossed out of bed. And this is occuring courtesy of Drake's Passage. She's letting us know who's boss.

The result of this rough weather is that I really can't tell yet,even after 2 days, what kind of a cruise this will be. Although I know one thing. They are mostly land-lubbers. The ship is empty, as only a few can be out and about. Most, so far, can't handle the ship's movement, and so retire early.

I'll know better at the end of this run...

One thing that's a sad note: We'll be losing all the scientists, and lecturers, two of whom I consider my friends. Makes me want to visit Scotland and Ireland. They know who they are.

I'll put a link to their blogs in my next entry...

New Year's Cruise...

2008-01-05T17:03:00.000-08:00

New Year's Eve with the sun up all night, and snow covered mountains as the backdrop.
Now there's a head trip and a half. I really should be in awe over the whole thing, but the
truth is, I'm longing for Rio again, and actually, am counting the days till end of contract.
And BTW, 77 more days....

Short and uneventful. This cruise had a handful of quite remarkable people, with the
remainder being made up of, well, shall we say, people I would not have in my home for
dinner. Of course, the lecturers we have on board are top-notch, but some guests of note
were a group of either Chinese or Taiwanese guests who greatly impressed me. And there
were the four Chinese-Americans, one of whom greatly impressed me. A school teacher/
pianist who found her way into my heart. A very pleasant surprise. When I run into
people who are interested in life as these kids seem to be, I have hope for the human race.

I'm not sure, but I think I may have met the owner of Star Cruises. If so, he seems like a
very fine man, and a great "uncle" to my school teacher/ pianist friend.

Oh yes, Drake's Passage was fairly aggressive on the way up this time. Not so rough that
thought the ship would sink, but rough enough that it was tough getting any sleep at
night. I would just nod off, and would get tossed out of bed, courtesy of a big swell. That
only went on for a few hours though, so not so bad. But I've noticed that own ability to
handle rough water has really increased over the years. I understand that the wind was
Force 10 on the beauforte scale for a short time, and I didn't really feel it, except for the
obvious difficulty walking. But wasn't seasick at all.

At The Bottom Of The Planet...

2007-12-29T20:31:00.000-08:00

As far as I know, No one on this particular run is part of any country's space program, and
none of us are astronauts. Having said that, this place is about as alien a landscape as any
of us will ever see, and I would not ever want to experience this with winter in full sway.
They say that the climate on the equator of Mars is almost the same as this place in
winter. If so, why are we in a big rush to colonize it?

OK, Quit whining before someone offers some cheese.....

If I'm honest with myself, I must admit to being impressed with seeing penguins jumping
in and out of the water immune to the cold. Water which, If I were to jump in, would
finish me in less than 30 seconds.

That gives one pause.

There is one section on this trip that makes me think of the Flood. And we're the Ark. It
may be close to Conception Bay. Or somewhere near the Shetland Islands, but there are
very high mountains right on the water, and the whole scene makes me think of the
Himalayas, and that everything else is under water, and we're all that's left.

The place has it's moments.

It's also strange to be singing Christmas Carols in a place where the sun is up all night. Or
day, depending on your point of view. It's beautiful, in a very alien sort of way, and I've
discovered something about myself: I like to be close to nature, but not this nature, and
not this close.

I'll be happy when we get back to Brazil.

Antarctica, I'm a'comin.....

2007-12-15T14:04:00.001-08:00

....On route to Antarctica. This is only the second time I've been down here. And, as is
typical for the area, the water is a little rough. Not so bad for an old sea dog, but a lot of
the guests, and some of the newer crew members are having a rough time. I admit, the
ship is rolling more than I'd like, but you pretty much have to expect that down here. And
if I think this is rough, (3 meter seas) Drake's Passage awaits. That promises to test me.
And from the stories, I wonder if it will pass my Hurricane Hugo experience. I'm hoping
the stories prove to be an exaggeration, as the last thing I would like is to re-live that
experience. Going down on a ship, when I'm actually close to the end of this phase of my
career would be such a drag. Could ruin my whole day.

3 people have left the ship in the last port. Well, many people left the ship: It was a
debark day. But 3 people in particular are gone. One of them was as plastic and phony as
they come (Read evil) And, sadly the other two were either to weak or stupid to see thru
this person, or worse, they saw this individual for what she was, and simply didn't care. f
that's true, that would be a very sad and hard thing to take, as I considered these people
pleasant colleagues.

But life on a ship really is the whole planet in miniature, so after all these years, I really
shouldn't be surprised. On the contrary, It's a pleasant surprise when someone shows
class. From guests, I do find class every now and then. And every few years, the same can
be said of my fellow shipmates. I suppose that must be enough

Buenos Aires

2007-12-13T17:56:00.000-08:00

A beautiful city, seeming at first glance like any American city. The economic greatness
she had within her grasp is in evidence everywhere here. And there are deals to be had
with many of the merchants.

However, do yourself a favor: If you are down here for any length of time, and need to
have things sent to you by mail or Fed-Ex....DON'T!!

Go without. I learned this the hard way today when some CDs, and personal supplies,
having been sent from home over 6 weeks ago, have not arrived. An expensive lesson, in
this particular case, and a mistake I won't ever repeat.

Having thus learned this lesson from the school of hard knocks, I will say that, unlike
Brazil, Argentina is more than happy to take the American dollar. Gotta like that.

Still, it's just good sense to use those big-city skills when doing anything down here....

Rio....

2007-12-13T17:55:00.001-08:00

Well, Rio is everything that I remember it to be, and then some. Prices have gone up
some but then again, the greenback is in a free-fall, unprecedented since the Great
Depression, or maybe worse, although the reasons and the effects are very different.

Rio is still my retirement destination of choice. But the way things are, if you want to take
advantage of living there, now you must have $$$. Too many of us now know about the
place. And as demand goes up, so does price.

You won't find any deals on clothing, shoes, or other goods, but the quality is first-world
and with this oil discovery of the Brazilian coast, it's on track to become a global
economic power-broker.

Now if they can address the poverty and economic inequities in the country....

Rio....

2007-12-13T17:55:00.000-08:00

Well, Rio is everything that I remember it to be, and then some. Prices have gone up
some but then again, the greenback is in a free-fall, unprecented since the Great
Depression, or maybe worse, although the reasons and the effects are very different.

Rio is still my retirement destination of choice. But the way things are, if you want to take
advantage of living there, now you must have $$$. Too many of us now know about the
place. And as demand goes up, so does price.

You won't find any deals on clothing, shoes, or other goods, but the quality is first-world
and with this oil discovery of the Brazilian coast, it's on track to become a global
economic power-broker.

Now if they can address the poverty and ecomomic inequities in the country....

You Never Know What Tomorrow Brings.....

2007-11-15T06:39:00.000-08:00

Well, I guess I'll be going to Brazil after all. It's only one of my favorite places on earth.
So I won't complain. Indeed, I'm quite pleased. Now I'll get to compare Angus Beef with
Brazilian beef. and that's only one of the too-many features of Brazil. But enough for now
- Brazil can wait till we get there.

This last cruise put an idea in my head that I never had before, and it's not a bad idea:
Liverpool. Of all the places I've thought of moving to, This one makes a lot of musical
sense. After all, it's where the Beatles are from, and I've been hearing more and more
lately how it's and art and cultural center of the world, certainly of Europe. Do I know this
for a fact? No, but I've heard enough that I'm persuaded enough to go and check it out.
This goes contrary to most of my previous retirement locations: It's not a warm location.
Then again it is at sea level and it's a humid place. It's not a warm place, but then again,
you can't have everything.

Hmmn, we'll see. It's worth investigating....

Here's another interesting tidbit:: After almost 30 years at sea, I finally have a seaman's
book. Never needed one before, but I have one now. It looks a lot like a passport.

Is this useful? Who knows, but it looks nice. Maybe I'll put it on the piano at home........

Reflections...

2007-11-06T05:43:00.000-08:00

The good thing about ships, and having passenger status is, IF you truly have guest status,
you never have to get up in the morning, and that means you can practice when you wake
up, and stay up late to practice at night. So, since one of my ambitions in life is to have
the freedom to practice, that need is met out here. Unfortunately, I do have other
ambitions as well, and they cannot be met out here.

This has been a good run, as runs go, but I think maybe I'll miss out on Brazil this time.
Sad, as I would've loved to sample some of the Brazilian beef once more. I honestly don't
know why the beef in South America is SO delicious. Oh well...
It's funny, how every little things becomes precious to you, the further down the road of
life you get. Perhaps that's because, like this ship run, I know that nothing lasts forever.
...And I STILL have work to do before the end....
hmmn.....Me, and everybody else.

More Thoughts....

2007-10-17T05:04:00.000-07:00

Well, This has been an interesting cruise. The sea has been somewhat temperamental, and
I've been a little under the weather myself, to the point of not being able to sing of even
talk, which is a shame, as this cruise we've had some good people that were truly paying
attention. I must admit, I feel bad for them, 'cause I really would've liked to given them
more. But, what can I say? I gave what I had to give this cruise. Hopefully I'll be back to
myself a few days from now.

Here's something interesting...After 7 years, I'm on the ship with Mike Goddard. He's the
comic I met when I was on Cunard. He's as World-Class now he ever was, and I think I
MAY have another shot at that show I was hoping for from him. Of course I'll know more
as time goes on. I'll likely see him again. before my time here is up.

A sad note: This new cruise staring means that at its end, I'll be saying good-bye to many
of my friends. The Orchestra is leaving, and being replaced by new musos. Of course it's
the way of things out here. but these were a good bunch of guys, and Andy, Ruslin Pat
and the boys will be hard to replace, but that's life.

Hey, At least I got that NASA hat from my friends.....With that, I'm like Forest Gump
with ice cream....

Christmas is coming, and so is Brazil.....

Some Thoughts....

2007-10-09T04:42:00.000-07:00

You know, it's one thing to be treated as background music by the general public - We all
know that you don't know any better. But when it's one of your peers, that simply shows
poor manners, or no manners, in some cases. And it makes me wonder: Am I the only one
that feels this way? Or is common courtesy simply not so common anymore? The reason
I've been given for the boorish and ignorant behavior by so many of the guests is that it's
the end of this particular season. Whereas that may explain the behavior of the guests, it
doesn't explain the behavior of my fellow entertainers. So, I must conclude that some of
my peers are simply idiots. And in the case of one classical reed-player (Not his real
instrument) this is certainly the case. It's a real shame too, as he plays quite well. But can't
play jazz, and has no understanding of harmony, by his own admission. This makes sense,
as, to be a great jazz player, you must be a great listener, understand what you're hearing
and respond to what you hear, and not merely play notes. It's a conversation, not a
dialogue.

Even taking all this into consideration, however, doesn't excuse bad behavior. I can
remember the old rules: Children are seen and not heard. I was taught how to behave as a
child, at great pains to my mother, as I recall. But this new generation seems to have not
gotten the memo. Indeed some of my own generation seems to have not gotten that
memo.

Will we make it, I wonder?

Which brings me to another issue: The British government has granted amnesty to all
refugees in the country and as a result, approximately 166,000 British citizens are calling
it quits and looking to move elsewhere. This is a dreadful blow to the west. Are we
REALLY going to allow ourselves to disappear, because another culture breeds more
than we do, and because our governments don't get it, or worse, our governments are in
co-operation with the demise of our way of life? And here's a worse question: Is my
generation the one responsible for this decline?

European Logistics...

2007-09-14T09:18:00.000-07:00

This Past week, I've been reminded of how tough it is to get money home from anywhere
in Europe. Combine that with the fact that the US dollar is in the toilet, and that I couldn't
communicate to anyone or understand what was being said to me, and you have the
makings of a very bad week.

Now, at first, I was very put out by this, and was angry that France, Spain and Germany
did not go to more trouble to assist me, a foreigner, to send money out of their country
and into mine. But upon some reflection, it occurred to me that this policy, although
inconvenient for me, is fine for the countries involved. I haven't gone to the trouble of
learning the local languages, and I'm a guest in these countries, so whether I like it not, I
need to deal with things as they are here.

And this makes me re-think how we bend over backwards for refugees and certain other
classes of immigrants. We are far too accommodating in our country, making life easier
for unskilled foreigners that are unwilling to work, than for the rest of us who contribute
far too many tax dollars and get next to nothing for our efforts. And these same shiftless
foreigners have one agenda: To force their way of life on us.

Just like me, wanting someone in Spain, France or Germany to serve me in English. How
dare they consider their own citizens interests over my own.

You know, I begin to think we can learn a lot from some of these countries. And before
someone tells me I'm racist, let me be very clear: I have only one bias. against stupidity.
Any ideology that fosters this state of mind places itself in my cross-hairs. Am I biased
against people as a general rule? No. Only against any mental construct that inhibits ones
ability to think for oneself.

As to the actual gig, I've had a very pleasant cruise with these people. Of note, Larry and
Susan, new friends from Florida, and her from home, the kind of people you want to have
to your home for dinner. Also, the Austrians finally went home. So, no more country
music for a while...(Whew!!) All in all, good people. It's good to know that there are still
some left.

Dover...

2007-09-01T07:32:00.001-07:00

This cruise has been a bit of a cultural shock. I met some Austrians, living in Vienna. OK,
so the first thing that you would think is that they LOVE classical music, especially
Mozart, right? Wrong - their musical taste is Country and Western music, and I mean the
really old, hokey stuff. We're talking Hank Williams Senior, and things like 'Tie a Yellow
Ribbon 'Round The Old Oak Tree"

For those that know me well, I think you can guess how much of a shock to the system
this taste in music is. Especially from people who are from the country of Mozart's birth.

Enough said.

It is truly beautiful out here. And I must admit, the ship is bending over backwards to
keep me out here. They've actually shuffled my replacement around to keep me out here.
It's funny: I've tried so many things to stay home, and yet, the thing which everyone says
you can't make a living at, is the one thing that keeps welcoming me with open arms.

It really makes you think that there are some things a person simply shouldn't fight, but
should surrender to those things. Frank Trainor, someone respected in the music industry,
and someone I consider my friend, had a disagreement a while back, which although it
seemed I was fighting with words against his portion of the industry, in actual fact, I
merely had a case of sour grapes against what I perceive as the slow death of an industry
which has treated me both wonderfully and disdainfully, depending on the year. Anyhow,
he said something to me which may be the best advice I've ever heard. And I do believe I
may start to implement his idea. Something to do with a jazz trio.

Can this work? I don't know, but let's see......I've got some work to do.

I'm Likin'It....

2007-08-20T06:11:00.000-07:00

Well, here I go again, throwing myself to the wolves, as it were. Everytime I think I'm
done with performing in general, and ships in particular, I find myself out here again.
Marco Polo - A very small ship, with a small guest capacity. This makes me speculate
that this may be a luxury ship, although the ratios are reversed: If it was luxury, the
numbers should 1 crew to 1 guest, but it's 1 - 2. Still, My impression, based on just a few
days here, makes me think of a premium cruise ship, with many elements of a luxury
ship, in the old style of cruising, slightly better than Princess in the pre-carnival days, but
not quite Crystal. Kind of like Cunard, without the attitude.

I like it, but you can tell that NCL doesn't really know how to do luxury. What saves this
ship is the crew. They DO know how to do luxury. It's funny - I've spent my career
preparing for a Princess gig, and I'm doing that gig here. Funny how things change.
Martin Hall seems to be and after thought at Princess these days, and Roger Hawke, is
now booking the gig I would want at Princess. Yet, my beloved Princess is now in the
hands of Carnival Cruises Lines, probably the most hated name in cruising by anyone
who's been in this industry long term. Man, it's been 7 years, and I still can't believe that
P&O Princess is now CCL Princess. Just sounds wrong, doesn't it?

Anyhow, I'm enjoying my time out here so far, and am impressed by this ship, especially
by the stability of this ship, especially in rough seas. She has a very deep keel. like the QE
II and other real sea-going vessels. You don't see that very often anymore.

I'll keep you posted.

End of Cruise - What a fine bunch of people. This really is like the Princess that I
remember. And I fear that this may be one of the last lines like this out there. Like My
visit to Chicago, this cruise was marked by too many people, almost all of home I would
welcome in my home. Of note was a young woman, Betsy, I think was her name, with
whom I shared a cab on the way to the ship. I believe I will play "Chicago" for her and
her Cubbies, after which I will immediately go back to routing for the Mets, but hey, A 5
minute song for Chicago - 5 minutes is 5 minutes, right? Don't complain, Betsy....

Also, 2 English women, one a bit of a case, and the other, very, very fine. I hope I age that
gracefully. I enjoyed the knowledge and wisdom of the one immensely, and the other one
kept me on my toes.

I guess I'm an artist again....It feels good.

New Doors, New Horizons...

2007-07-29T18:29:00.000-07:00

Just came back from Chicago last week, and I had forgotten what a great city she is. And
this time I paid attention to the humidity in the air - no difference in fresh water humidity
and salt water humidity, as far as I can tell.

I do have one regret though: I've played with a performer named Lou Pride in the past,
and it was one of the most enjoyable gigs I've ever had in a band situation. He's recently
performed here at home, and I had intended to call him while I was in the Windy city, but
forgot his phone number. D'oh!!

Clever.

It seems to me that it would be easy to settle in that place. I just fell in love with all the
trees, and I've heard that the local music scene is great. But I've also heard that the winters
really suck. Well, no place is perfect, right?

For those that are unfamiliar with Lou Pride, Google his name and see what comes up.
He's a blues singer extraordinare, and I consider him my friend. And when we played
together, we had a great line up of players.

But the reason for this particular blog is just to say: n this trip, I met and spent time with,
20 remarkable people. And without going on and on about it, I'm proud to have met them.

Chicago - my kind of town.

Some Things Useful, Some Not...

2007-06-15T10:54:00.000-07:00

I've been messing around with the web every time I'm home, and I've discovered some very useful tools. For example, let's say you have a site and you want to promote it a bit. That's a useful tool as well as THIS, In fact, it seems there are no shortage of traffic tools out there, if you only look. But maybe you don't care about any of that, and are just looking for some easy cash and don't want to be bothered. These kinds of sites that actually work are harder to find, and many take a long time to work, but there is cash to be had. One just has to look hard, and of course, use common sense. Your own good judgment should do, with the advice of a wise web-smart friend. OK maybe you could care less about any of this kind of thing, and you plain like to buy things...I mean, you have to shop for things every month anyhow, right? Yeah, but why spend more than you have to? I know how to get 40% off on everything Well, that should do it. By the way, I've been getting kinda busy these days. If you ever run short of cash, and if you think you can sell ice to Eskimos, I'm Hiring, and I pay quite well.

OK, I've wanted to deal with this for a while, but it needed some thought, and now I've given it.....

Some time ago, that songwriting friend of mine, (Yes - I mean YOU!) had some issues with my "free Internet" entry, and although I stand by my comments, My friend had a number of good points to offer. But - First of all, I stand by my comments unrepentant because I speak as a professional musiscian/entertainer, and am coming from that point of view, and do not even pretend to speak from any other point of view. I can't speak from the point of view of a songwriter. That's not what or who I am. A composer, maybe, but that's STILL not a songwriter. OK, that's one thing.

Now here's one problem with what I had to say in that entry. I was beating up on a music business model that is around 40 years old, and doesn't really exist anymore. From my point of view, that's sad....now I have to find something else to beat up on....Hmmnn.....I guess I'll watch the news for a day or so: No shortage of scapegoats there.

Also, I explained to my friend the reality of live performance when people are indifferent to your art, something we've both experienced, and something we BOTH feel we don't deserve. But, deserve or not, It happens. Being upset at this is like yelling at the sky during a storm. Useless, but sometimes you just can't help how you feel.

For my end, it seems to me that if anything, the friendship is strengthened, and although neither of us is persuaded away from our position, I think we are both more aware of the other's position, and agree to live and let live.

We've both lived many of the same things, and besides, my blog that day was more about the quirks of the English language, anyway.

Check me out by going
here and check out my friend by going here

What a day...

2007-05-22T18:52:00.000-07:00

Well,

Where do I begin? Let's start with the fact that Jazz and Blues (My cats) are both indoor
cats with backyard privileges, although I'm certain that they see it as a right. And in a way,
they're correct. They aren't meant to live as we do.

Anyway, Jazz is a jerk. Blues, She's the shy, timid one of the two, but Jazz is a typical
boy. Every chance he gets, he tries to jump, or climb the fence. Well, today he succeeded,
just as the neighbor's lawn was being cut. Of course, Jazz, being the courageous, adventurous brute that
he is, and being completely at ease with all manner of mechanical devices, promptly ran away to hide. Perfect. I gotta drive people to school, gotta ship
product, and now I gotta go find
that dufus cat. Well, I come home, and start looking. For an hour and a half, I'm looking.

Then, wouldn't you know it, as I've gone through one of the neighbors' back yard for the
millionth time, who comes waltzing out from under a pile of storage, looking none the
worse for wear, but Jazz. And looking perfectly innocent, by the way, blissfully free of
any feelings of self-recrimination or guilt for what he's just put me through.

Little turd. He's lucky I like him. Actually, he could probably care less, as long as he gets
what he wants, every second of every day. Hmmmnn....That's probably why I like cats:
They live like I wanna live. The little !@#$%^&*(!!!!!

Other than that, it's been a pretty good day, except I haven't practiced yet today....I'll do that
right after I do this. But if I have too many more of these "cat" days, I'll need some TLC
in
style

Free Internet

2007-05-08T19:14:00.000-07:00

Yup, that's one of, but certainly not the only great thing about being home, rather than
being out in the middle of the ocean. being at home is always very productive, business
wise, and I can get in lengthy, heavy practice time on my piano, which really is beautiful.
(9' 4" Mason-Hamlin). Not to mention my family, which even includes Jazz and Blues,
our two dumb cats. Actually, they're surprisingly smart. And I must admit, I enjoy them a
lot.

But not as much as the four-handed piano jams that seem to fill the house till all hours of
the night. Man, this girl, she can Play!! This old man forgets sometimes, but there is music in
the bloodline, I guess.

Music is a great thing for many reasons, but today it's good for me, as it gets me off the
computer, and away from thinking about advertising, money and interviewing prospective
contractors, and it reminds me how wonderful flying is. (To see some of what I'm up to, And what I do in my spare time on the ship, check here)Yes, playing the piano is ALSO a
kind of flying....I wonder if it's like this for classical pianists?

You can say so much by speaking or writing: Poets and songwriter/storytellers and the like, say as
much as can be said with spoken language, but with music, and in my case, Jazz music,
you say it all. There is no boundary between what is felt or thought, and what you play.
It's as free as a human can be, I think, and not a day goes by, that I'm not grateful. In spite
of all the crap that just seems to go with the music/entertainment business. But, how
would I appreciate blues skies and sunny days, without a little rain?

We talk funny, in this language we call English. I have a friend, well, someone I know,
who is a songwriter by profession, and by gift. And when I say songwriter, I mean
someone who creates well-crafted stories in a lyrical way, with a simple melody and then
he sort of throws chords together, and that is a song, for him.

Not just for him, but for many, as he is a former Nashville writer, working on music row.
He is one of many people in his field, contributing to the (so-called) music industry.

I say so-called, because even thought it is a fact of life, still, I resent the fact that someone
with more regard for the story than the music is considered more integral to the music
industry than musicians themselves. It's a twisting of the language, I say. What he
participates in, should be called the song-writing business, closely akin to story-telling. In
fact, in may cases, as in the case of my acquaintance, what he does is actually a marriage between
story-telling, and poetry.

Don't get me wrong. He's extremely good at what he does. But in my humble opinion, his
type of songwriting (Story first) is the music industry, in the same way my piano playing
is playing by ear.

I'll be playing the piano the way I do, and occasionally people ask me, "Do you play by
ear?"

I promptly twist my head to the right or left, and hit the keyboard with the ear-portion of
my head. After a few moments of dissonance, I say "No"

I do, however, learn by ear.....For the record

Success!! Sort of....

2007-04-23T17:43:00.000-07:00

Fred and Melody's show went off well, if you discount some of the band members
deliberately mis-playing the parts, doing stupid things like playing out of key, or even
playing a half step out of sync with the track. Talk about an entertainer's nightmare.
Incredibly, and thankfully, most of the audience didn't seem to notice anything was
wrong. So, all things considered, the show went well. And I have more respect for Fred's
arranging and charting abilities. I'm looking forward to hiring him as soon as he's
available.

I've been told that the ship is full for this last cruise, but it doesn't feel full. And the folks
that are here are early to bed, so, I suppose, early to rise. Still, I don't mind so much: I'm
really at home in my mind, and looking forward to eating real food again, and sleeping in
my own bed. I love my home. And being with my family again, and I guess even goofing
off with Jazz and Blues, my stupid cats will be fun.

Yesterday, I had one of those perfect sets, and by that I mean a set where I had the magic,
the entire room became quiet, and the applause after every song was loud and sincere. It's
remarkable, even to me, that some people actually have the gift to occasionally cause
people to stop in their tracks and reflect on the deeper things in their life, and that music
has that power. So I spent the evening basking in the glow of that. But then I went out on
deck 7 forward, where there are no lights and the night sky and all the stars and planets
were clearly visible. And you know what? My music had the effect it had on those folks, I
think, because I was playing at the peak of my ability, and the distance between my soul
and my skill was, for a time, reduced to zero. But outside, looking at the night sky, I
realized that the night sky, and nature in general can do that do a person without even
trying. And I then thought about all the times I've felt the most true to myself, all the
times I've felt closest to God. It was usually when I was surrounded by nature, or during
the rare times when I was with people, it was with people who seemed to be perfectly
themselves. Jean Vanier, a certain nun from Calcutta now passed on, and my mother
come to mind, as well as a few other select people I've known over the years.

The point is, when I think my ability to create music is amazing, (and it is) yet all the
creation around me, including me, is an infinitely more impressive piece of work by
Someone way better at this than me, so I'd better shut up, and be happy for the little bit of
magic He lends me every now and then.

It sucks when people try to put you down, or attempt to make you tow the line, whatever
that line is, but it's OK when God puts you in your place. Indeed, who better...?

What a Life...

2007-04-16T19:12:00.001-07:00

You recall that rude man from Kona? Well, it turns out he was on the ship this cruise as
well, and is actually some kind of dive instructor on one of the islands. I know which one
of course, and so does he, but I won't say the name here. Shame, really. I love diving and
think it's a great way to broaden one's soul, but clearly it doesn't have that effect on
everyone.

All in all, passenger wise, this has been a good 10 days for me, and the big surprise has
been a couple from Surrey BC in Canada. She's learning how to play piano, and he's
learning to be her fan. I'd like to see her progress in 10 years.
And of course, Boston 7 ladies from Boston, to be exact, which of course got us on to the
subject of baseball. Ya gotta love provoking these rivalries.

But the big, and pleasant surprise was the two women living in Canada, working in
Ottawa, for the federal government. What was fun about them was how passionately, yet
intelligently we all argued together. I haven't had that much fun in a long time. Wish they
were still here so we could argue some more.

But now, the one black spot on this cruise, came from my own people, and I mean
musicians.

Two people I now consider friends, Fred (Good name!) and Melody, although on the ship
as a lounge duo, are seasoned headliners, and are doing their show tonight. But the
orchestra musicians are throwing up road blocks at every turn. or rather, a couple of
musicians are doing this, and they are the two last people I would ever have suspected of
making such a fuss. I've never seen musicians doing musicians in this way in 28 years of
performing.

Perhaps now I understand why no one has ever jammed with me this whole contract. It's
not merely the mentality of the guests that's changed....Even WE musicians have changed.

This is the saddest spectacle I've ever had to face, and it truly spoils being an artist for me,
and it MUST hurt the one who gave us this gift.

Many folks don't get this and seemingly, even some musicians don't get it, but I truly
believe that if you are called to do something, you must do it, and you'll be provided the
gift to do it. Well, Music, like many other things is a calling, and it must be supported,
not sabotaged, and certainly not by other musicians.

I'll let you know how the show went.....

Sometimes you get the horns...

2007-04-04T17:57:00.001-07:00

At the beginning of this cruise, mentally I was probably 60% home already. It's been a
long contract, under strange conditions from a musical standpoint. No place to practice
unless I want to stay up all night. What a shame this company, or at least this ship, has no
Disclavier, or Pianodisc pianos. Then practicing would not be an issue. Hmmnn...just
reading what I wrote there. Perhaps I should have some cheese with that wine.

OK, the point of this entry s that I'm already in home-mode, and with 3 cruises to go,
that's the wrong place to be mentally. I still need to create another world for these people
for a few weeks yet, so now is not the time to take my eye off the ball, even if taking my
eye off the ball means I get to look at my home-life, and think about how truly grateful I
am for it.

I'm not having what I would call a good cruise, but I can't really blame anyone except me.
I'm getting the horns and I'm doing it to myself. When I was just playing instrumental
piano, I could get away with not being present, but as an entertainer, I've discovered that
it doesn't work. I'm stepping out of character, as it were. So, let's see if I can't get back
into ship, and performance mode.

I'm here, and everytime I leave my stateroom, it's showtime, and I have a show to do.

Later.....

After the gig tonight I went to the front of the ship, where there are NO lights, and just
felt the darkness, and the gentle breeze. I've been neglecting this. In fact, this is the first
time I've done this the entire contract, and it's what has always kept me sane on other
ships. A good stiff dose of pure, true nature to stave off the falseness of ship-life. This is,
after all why us crew members continue to come out here. Now I know how I'll be
spending my nights for the rest of this month.

Strangely enough, the only real low note on this cruise was some idiot from Kona, so he
said. He actually gets offended by my greeting him, and asking how he was......My room,
and I'm working my room and he's my guest. Good house guest. I suppose no one told
him how it works.

If I see him again, I'll offer to buy him a ticket to Iran. I'm sure he'd like it there......

An Unexpected Surprise....

2007-03-21T17:56:00.000-07:00

It took four whole days for this one to even begin to show signs of life, but they did get
going, and I must admit to having fun with them. When you find an audience that is there
to listen to what you have to present, then it's simply a matter of presenting it. Then, even
the few people who truly don't get will fall in line and listen during the performance, and
clap when appropriate. I am acquainted with a very good example of this. There was
someone who I won't name, but I could see, because I know him, that, although he
behaved appropriately during the entire show, he seemed to do it out of a desire to fit in
with the majority of the crowd, and not show that he couldn't understand what all the fuss
was about.

I don't really give this much thought anymore, but every now and then I do still wonder:
Why do people who have known you for a long time always become the last ones to see
you for what you've become, and the last to let go of what you were? That's actually a
silly question, though, because the older one gets, the harder is to let go of any cherished
idea. In fact the only people I know who seems to manage this without too much stress
are Mom, and a dear friend of mine named Herb. Both have a highly developed skill of
taking whatever life throws at them and going with it, and coming out, intact, if perhaps a
little worse for the wear.

Based on what I've seen so far this cruise, I wonder if my family, and by family I mean
siblings, nieces, nephews....etc., would understand what the crowd was seeing when they
see me, and why they react to me the way they do. Although, I must admit, I do wonder
that myself, most of the time. I have a handicap, you see.....I'm a musician, and see life,
and in fact, all things thru the eyes of a musician, and nowadays somewhat thru the eyes
of an entertainer. Sadly, only other musicians reading this will get what I mean. What the
crowd sees, hears and enjoys is a bit of a mystery to me. When they enjoy me, I might
think they liked to see how fast my hands move, or how perfectly I played a certain line,
but they'll enjoy the dumb face I'm making, or how I move around while I play, as an
example. The point is, I never really know what happens when the crowd and I connect.

To me, I do the same thing every night, but not to the crowd. It can't be the same to them,
because I get a different reaction all the time, or a different reaction to a different bit.

Over a generation in this business, and every night you feel as though you're starting from
scratch....You want to feel alive? Make your living in front of an audience.....

This has been such a cruise of extremes, it needed more commentary, and so here it is.
That particular individual has seemingly been won over by the, well, whatever it is that I
do. And, in truth, that says a lot more about him than it does about my skill or lack thereof.
I've come to believe that if people enjoy, or "get" what I do, it has more to do with their
wit, and subtlety of thought. The stuff I do is not for the AC/DC fan. So, when people
like I do, I learn something else about them: They're usually the kind of people I would
like to welcome into my home. This particular fellow has shown those colors, and I
almost feel bad that I'm keeping him separate from my regular crowd, but work is work,
and family is, well, family. Until they want to change that, that's how it will stay.

Four Cruises To Go...

2007-03-20T20:10:00.000-07:00

I'm beginning to be in home mode. And I think that because, even though it was a pretty
good bunch of guests, from all over the planet, the time away from home is really starting
to weigh on me. I'm starting to miss my piano, and my cats, strangely enough, and the
whole comfortable routine of being at home and regular meals with my family. Mowing
the lawn, or in our case, watching it being mowed.(We have a fellow who does it)

But, I'm supposed to try and make this a service space as I have info about the world that
most people would never have, so let's talk about something that is generally a non-issue,
but every now and again, becomes a significant threat, and one which is affecting me this
cruise......Illness on a ship.

If you get sick on a ship, or if you are sick before you get here, and arrive sick, (and by
sick, I mean the Flu, or a Cold, or other things of that nature) you're going to be in for a
very expensive vacation, and it won't be as pleasant as it might have been. If you must
come out in spite of your illness, here are some suggestions for how to be prepared:

Bring as much Echanicha and Astragulus as you can get you hands on. The Melalueca
Corp. makes something called Activade which has those 2 ingredients and some other
stuff in it which stops those infections in its tracks, and if you are already sick, it will not
allow the infection to get any worse. Also, as most ships I know all have a steam room,
try to give yourself at LEAST 10 minutes, and 20 if you can stand it that long. Not the dry
sauna....it just doesn't have the same affect. Steam that stuff out, and drinking water like a
fish during your illness is a great idea. Also, if you're going to sweat out the infection,
you've got to drink water so your body can make sweat.

I know, this seems like a no-brainer, but as simple as this seems, it really works. If this is
useful, use it. Just remember, a cruise ship is a mini-planet, with people from everywhere,
which means different antibodies to many different diseases, all packed close together for
many days at sea, with no place to escape from each other. Having said that, I've been out
here for a generation, and am not dead of some exotic disease yet. Take my advice, when
it comes to being out here, I know what I'm talking about.

And now to the part that I like. Knowing as I do that crew look for different things while
working on a ship than passengers do, there are some things that are very cool for people
to do while in Hawaii. The first thing, other than the obvious beach, sun and fun, is to
check out the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. THe last time I was there, some
idiot kids where having fun....a time and place for everything. And that place is a place
for reverence and silent contemplation. Personally, I'm offended by light hearted
behaviour at such a place. So here's notice. If you don't know how to respect what people
have done for you in the past, and don't know how to behave, stay away from this
hallowed place. And go take human lessons. No pigs or dogs masquerading as humans
allowed.

Also, take a helicopter ride over the active Volcano on the Big Island. Beyond that, you
can do what you want, although, if you dive, there are some good shipwrecks to check out
too.

As for us who work here, we tend to just look for phones and cheap or free internet.

Another Sweet Cruise...

2007-03-05T19:43:00.000-08:00

OK, I give up. A few great ones in a row, now and I think I should be using this space to
provide useful information, so I'll give it a shot. But before that, I should point out that
this cruise was tied for the best one of this contract, and possibly the best I've had in
perhaps 8 years. First and foremost, Craig (Or is it Greg?) who is a reasonable pianist
himself, and the entire entourage of Tri-state people with him, yes even the nutty Mick,
really made the cruise for me, and that's no joke. These people could amuse themselves
and me, even if we were sitting on an iceberg in the middle of nowhere. After that bunch,
the entire ship could sink and no one would notice....we were just having too much fun.

And there was the fellow who is learning the piano, after being retired from NASA. Now
this is one smart cookie. I hope he gets quite skilled. And the girls from
Utah.....UTAH!?!?! Yeah, who knew? Go Figure.....You can find gold everywhere,
seemingly.....Last, but in no way least was the very sweet old couple, he was quite deaf, and she was....something really special, and just happens to know Victor Borge's agent. I really hope to hear from her.

OK, let's be useful: Internet on a ship. Unless you absolutely have no choice, as in my
case, because I'm out here so long: don't use it. Even if you have on-line businesses to
run: You're only out here for 10-11 days. catch up when you go back home. The data
stream speed is not even half of dial-up, and it cuts in and out for no apparent reason. I
know that in my case, if I leave even for 3 days, I'll have a thousand emails to go through.
Even so, the experience of doing internet on this ship is so disappointing, and the cost so
needlessly expensive, that unless you'll lose money by not being on line, I'd stay away
from the ship internet altogether. It's only useful for checking e-mail, and not really
adequate for that either.

In Nawiliwili, (Kauai) If you take the Walmart shuttle, and then walk to the food court,
there is free wireless internet. But you're on battery time, as there's no place for AC.(Correction: I found a source of AC there...by one of the tables under the roof)

And in Kona, don't walk up the hill. Instead, turn right and walk until you see there is a Japanese restaurant, to the left of which is a sandwich place,
which, for the price of a coke, you have a place to plug in, and very fast DSL, or at least,
fast, compared to the ship. Here is a place where you can get a lot done, including
downloads. Sadly, these are just 2 days out of 10 or 11 days, and 5 of them are sea days.
So for those of us that work out here, we have no choice: we must use the ship facilities,
at least to a limited degree.

I must include here one thing that has just come to mind. Everyone in life has heard
something stupid, to the point where you are so taken aback that you can't even properly
respond. Here's what I heard.

After 3 days at sea, and 3 more from the nearest land:, this woman asks her husband:
"Which side of the ship is the ocean on?"

....as I roll my eyes.......

What a difference...

2007-02-21T16:18:00.000-08:00

Silence while one is performing, Applause after every song, and that just for
instrumentals, and the big surprise is a lot of my steady fans are Canadians. Even some
from Quebec. And the numbers on this cruise are about the same as last cruise. same
percentage of Americans, Canadians, and other nationalities. And these are once again the
kind of people I would expect to meet on Cunard/Seaborne, or perhaps Crystal Cruise
Lines. Unlike the way I felt every single day on Carnival, which was that as a species,
we're not going to last much longer.

On this cruise, with these people, I'm inspired with hope for the future. And not merely
because they know how to behave during a show, but because we seem to share a
common background, which is comprised of this: I was wacked for doing the wrong
thing, for disrespecting my elders, and I know the taste of soap as a reward for using foul
language....In short, I learned that every action has a consequence, so the lessons that life
taught me after parents and school had finished were not as hard to assimilate as they
might have been. And this cruise, I'm with people of like mind.

Political correctness.....A state in which if someone's behavior or performance is simply
not up to par, you can't tell them. A state in which everyone seems to think they have the
right to not be offended. Guess what? PC isn't working, ladies and gentlemen. Life is in
the business of shaving off the rough edges we have, and that is offensive, and painful,
and that's the only way we clue in to things. We're not doing kids any favors by not failing
them in school, or by not instilling in them the values we need to function as a
civilization. Better to fail in school, or to stay home and do chores, and get used to life
that way, then get the crapped kicked out of you by life when you're already an adult, and
less able to roll with the punches.

I'm with my peers as well as the previous generation this cruise, and I must say the for the
most part, I'm proud to be among them. People like my Mother. People like my sister
Maria, and people like Lyle Rindahl, God rest them both. It's good to know that there are
more people like that than just one or two out of a million. We have almost a ship-full
this time.....

Here's another example of what kinda class these folks are.....We had some pretty strong
winds last night (February 19th) and yet these people still observed all the correct
behavior appropriate to watching a show. I'm sure some of them really felt awful with
seasickness, but like a bunch of Marines in a storm, they handled it and went on with the
job at hand, which, in this case, is to enjoy their life, and in the case of this cruise, helping
their fellow passengers do the same. What a contrast from last cruise. I wonder if I can
stash some of these people in my cabin.....??

Certain couples have stood out as demonstrating humanity at it's best: I think of the ex-
naval serviceman and his wife, the young couple now living in Phoenix, he a ex-
musician, she a Broadway singer, who are are feeling the absence of the industry in their
life. Although they think they will turn me into a democrat. I really can't see that
happening. I think Guilliani will be my guy in '08. And the newly-wed couple, the
Dempsy's from Saratoga, NY, whom I hope I see again. and the Brits, who hung with me
every night. It's not often one gets to share life with these caliber of people. And last, but
not least, there was the Canadian couple Ruth and BobTempleton from Saskatchewan, of
all places, who watched me so intently that I thought they were fellow pianists. Basically,
turn the previous cruise upside down, and that was this cruise. It's tough to say bye to
these kind of people, but as Frank Sinatra says, "That's Life"....

Heads Up...

2007-02-10T16:19:00.000-08:00

Gradually, the season seems to change but more slowly than on other lines and other years. I don't don't know if Free-Style is accomplishing what NCL was hoping for...I'll let you know more as this new cruise gets underway....

Jan 31rst cruise...

2007-02-10T16:09:00.000-08:00

Reality TV is one of the reasons we dropped cable in our house. Not to mention that TV is a good time-waster to begin with. I haven't watched TV in
over 4 years now. Too bad shows like "24" weren't on, then. And to me, Kareoke is to
music entertainment what reality TV is to television. I don't want to see a bunch of
wanna-bes and never-will-bes and quick-where's-my-gun-gotta-put-this-one-out-of-her-
misery...
I don't want to have to listen, or be put through that abuse. If some stranger wants to be
abusive in this way, they need to get in line and wait their turn. Folks don't care about
watching a pro perform his/her art, but watching some idiot is fun, or actually being the
idiot is more fun!?!?

I know how bad a cruise is going to be by how popular Kareoke is. And this was the
Kareoke cruise.

This was the cruise where some idiot kid thought it was perfectly fine to boot up his
stereo and play his crap while sitting in front of me while I'm performing. Now, that's an
actual new low. Not since working the Carnival Jubilation have I experienced this level
of ignorance.

And as it happens, the majority of the cruisers this time were Canadians, a large portion
of them from Quebec. What does that say? Well, do I think that all Canadians are this
low, and ignorant? I know from personal experience that they are not all that way, but we
seem to have got all the riff-raff from the whole continent together on this last cruise. Bad
manners and boorish behavior must have been at an all-time low in North America,
because it was all happening on-board the NCL Wind.

Having said that. I must acknowledge the graciousness of about ten passengers who
basically saved the cruise for me. Again, these were the kind of people I would expect to
meet on Cunard/Seaborne or Crystal Cruises, and although I'm grateful they were here,
I'm sad they had to see what we all saw from humanity this cruise.

This is the low season for cruising, I know, so in order to fill the ship they give these
cruises away, but those same people are not grateful to be here. And they are similar to a
boss I had while driving rock truck. Basically rough, unpolished individuals who see no
need to educate themselves, yet demand everything from everyone around them. Get a
clue, people!! Don't look for another place to complain....If you can't afford to be here,
next time, stay home...

...That Time of Year...

2007-02-01T17:20:00.000-08:00

Well, this cruise took the longest to get going of anyone yet this year. 4 days it took for them to wake up, and discover me. But, just like last cruise, the people that needed to find me found me, and I found them. Once again, the folks that seem really tailor-made for me were people from home, (Where I grew up)or close to home. (Gotta love the Tri-State)
And a couple from San Fran that really impressed me. Folks like this give me a lot of hope for the species. Some things are worth fighting for.

One very sad thing, or at least sad to me. I found this wonderful home on the big island that is just fabulous, but because it's too close to an active volcano, I can't get insurance. (Not yet...still trying) But I've decided that I will try very hard to move here. Which means I have a LOT of work to do when I get home.

More on the trip, and the people I've met. One couple in particlar stood out. I met a man who now lives in Jersey, who was in Tower 1 of the WTC when it was hit. What he had to say was...profound. And I will take it to my grave. I would like to say thank you to this great man, and hope he didn't get in too much trouble for staying up so late to tell me his story.

Some people, you let go, and some, you keep.

I don't get it...

2007-01-19T16:08:00.000-08:00

Wow...

This is supposed to be the worst time of year for entertaining on a cruise ship, yet I still
seem to find my audience. Almost 30 years in this business, and I used to think I could
predict how people behave on these ships, but I've been proven wrong again. People are
either getting more sophisticated, or I'm actually getting pretty good at performing. Or,
more likely, they're just too old and tired to complain. LOL!!

All I know is, this is one sweet gig. Not good enough to come to this like a full career
again: I already got one of those. But, man, I think I'm starting to clue in that an artist just
gives, and if people receive or not, I still gotta give.

Being a musician, and even being an entertainer, is a noble and honorable profession.
And I have respect for everyone who does it well.

Here's a blast from the past: Got an email from someone I remember as an annoying cute
little girl. She's now a woman and a mature mother, who's actually interesting to talk to.
At least by email. She had one serious set of pipes, as I recall, being able to hit a high "G"
while strumming a guitar. Teaches at a Catholic school.

The thought just amazes me. Then again, I always figured she'd land on her feet. You
can't keep a natural musician down, I always say....

I think the highlight of this week for me was hanging out with an Italian couple from
home.

Some people you let go, others, you keep.

Some other folks that must be are are the two crazy girls girls from Norlins (New Orleans) and that fellow from MI, who closed my last night. Thank God that there are actully still people on the planet like them.

This may not be Crystal, but it sure ain't Carnival either. Maybe I'll stick around for a while...

New Year, New Attitude

2007-01-10T18:06:00.000-08:00

Here we go again,

Once again, there have been a few people who have really surprised and impressed me.
Of note were a family from southern Illinois, headed by Van and his wife, a son who's a
guitarist, and two lovely daughters. and....get this: They're CARDINAL fans!!! And
yet....they made my cruise. The kind of folks you want your kids to be friends with, and
have over for a barbecue or 77 barbecues. Other than the poor taste in baseball clubs, the
kinda folks you keep.

This, along with a professor and his wife, and a wanna be singer, who in my opinion is a
should-be singer, and I hope he follows that dream especially about learning the piano.
There was the Latin fellow, and the Mexicans, and dealing with all this was made easy by
a quirky, but cool waitress named Mihaela, someone who likes to fight, but it's just
pretend. I hope she ends up with the professor's son. Why not?

So, this cruise fooled me. This time of year is supposed to be low-life scum, but the trend
seems to be breaking. well, except for one woman and her husband, who were very much
in trend for this time of year, by throwing a tantrum over me turning off the TV in
preparation for my show. To that lovely couple, clearly pillars of their respective
community, I say, simply, "See ya".

Other than that one couple, I was sorry to see that cruise end. Although it was the cruise I
lost my voice on, The fact that they applauded for even just my playing skill moved me
greatly. How can I have anything but fondness and good will for such people.

...Should finished the night with "Nightingale" ....Or maybe "Rocky Top".

28 Years of Christmas Cruises...

2006-12-30T17:36:00.000-08:00

OK,

Well, it seems that even on a Christmas cruise, the people that like what I do seem to always find me, and there seems to be enough of them to make my time with them
pleasant, and indeed, I think it is for these few, remarkable people that people like me
exist.

I think of another pianist, much more skilled than I, who says whenever he finds an
appreciative audience, that the fact that they recognize that he is doing something great says more about them and their capacity to know and acknowledge high-minded and
honorable things when they come their way. So actually, the praise and attention I receive from these guests of mine says more about them, and the praise is reflected back to them.

This is true. Which is why I refer to these folks as remarkable. The fact that the market for what I do seems to be dying off as my audience ages is not lost on me. They are getting old, and so am I, it seems. "Dated" is the word that Sandra used. And she's a fan.(With fans like these....?!?)

OK, those are the people that have it in them to love and enjoy what I do. I'm not really clear on what it is that I do, but they love it. Contrast that with the young man who seemingly deliberately wore headphones and sat where I could see him. Was he just being a jerk, or could he actually be that low, and ignorant? Both possibilities are disturbing....

Or the fellow who was upset as the TV went off because of my upcoming performance.
Are these civilized folk, are am I dealing with cave men and women? These are basic
rules of human behavior in civilized society, or so I always thought. Guess some parts of my upbringing turned out OK, after all. But what happened to those two examples? Oh well...

Still, when all is said and done, the Christmas cruise is over, and I think I've made some real friends, and as always, my warm feelings towards a few certain races as well as my own, goes up. Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas. New Year's post will be next.....

In the swing of NCL...

2006-12-21T16:49:00.000-08:00

OK,

This cruise was slow to get started. It's as though they REALLY needed to recover from the trip to get out to the ship, but once they all had their rest, I think they were all on speed. They were here to enjoy their life, and I think they did. Certainly crowds like that are easy to get used to, and I have to say that the highlight for me was meeting Francis and her husband. Now, this woman, who is possibly 30 years younger than my mother, reminds me so much of Mom that it's scary. It was quite easy to fall into calling her "Ma".

OK, Let's talking about cruising at this time of year. After doing this for getting close to 30 years, there is a recognizable pattern that I've noticed, that on this ship s being broken: Usually, this time of year tends to be slow, and the guests on board tend to be dis-interested in showing pleasure or appreciation for any service presented to them. Of course, there are always exceptions to this "rule", but they are generally the minority. Say out of 3,000 guests, you'll get 30 people that just seem to exude joy, no matter where they are. I guess those are the people that that folks like me live for, and I try to give to them as much as possible. The rest....well, what can you do? What you can, and hope for the best.

Having said that, last cruise, was definitely an anomaly. It's so close to Christmas, and yet, these were genuinely happy people. I can recall working on Carnival, and even on RCCL, and despairing for the human race based on some of the people I was meeting. At least most of the staff I worked with were good people, but many of the guests just depressed me. This, in spite of some of the fine people I met, and would love to see again.

So far, NCL is the biggest surprise of my life, but the acid test is coming: The Christmas cruise, which we are now in, and the post-new year season, traditionally the worst time of the year for the Cruise industry, is something I haven't yet experienced on NCL. Given how it's surprised me so far, I'm cautiously optimistic.....

I"ll keep you posted.

NCL Wind...

2006-12-09T19:43:00.000-08:00

This has been one remarkable 10 days, mostly because of my work situation. As members
of the audience, I was really honored to have some of the finest men and women I have
ever met returning to my show night after night. Combine this with true passenger status,
and performing in the most relaxed setting I've experienced in almost 30 years of
performing on ships, and you have the ingredients of a dream-gig.

It seemed that all the regulars had a pretty intimate knowledge of what I was doing, and
what it took to do it, thus, the level of appreciation was very high. I'm almost scared to get
used to it, because in this business, you're only as good as your last show. I may be in for
a nightmare this coming week, but for a first time out in over a year, this is a remarkable
return to an industry that has treated me well, and shows itself willing to do so again.

My impression of this ship, if not the line, is that this really reminds me of Princess in the
old days. And I mean back when if guests didn't know how to behave, they were put off
the ship. Back when elegance was the rule. These, my guests, and seemingly, my fans, are
no strangers to the finer points of behavior and etiquette. In fact, if behavior is any
indicator, my fans this week are the creme of society. They know who they are, and they
know I mean what I say.

Oh yes, I can't forget this: One man in particular, is a gifted pianist himself, but was
fighting with arthritus somewhat, for him, and anyone who suffers from such maladies,
they can click here. for the same remedy I use.

When you get to the site, they may ask who sent you. If you wish, or feel the need for a refferal, you can use my name.

Just Rambles...

2006-11-20T20:52:00.000-08:00

Tired as I am, I wanted to add a little something today, in the hopes that anyone thinking about a carreer in music, or entertainment (two related, but very different fields) will seriously consider the following:

Just like actors, except possibly less so, Musicians, and especially entertainers, would do well to try to have a secondary skill to fall back on. In my case, I've have found that working wih computers, and being a webmaster are a good fit. It seems that the computer and I like each other. Perhaps it's because I'm a keyboardist/pianist. I've heard from other keyboardists' that this sort of comes natural, and I'm finding this to be so. Strange, as I don't read music, yet I'm reading code. Go figure....

I've come across a couple of sites that have captured my interest, one for practicallity, here, and the other for learning html, much easier than even Webmonkey. That one is here

The first is a rebate site from every store I can think of, including Walmart, Best Buy, and even guitar, piano and drums shops, and the second is the best free on-line html tutorial I have ever come across, for all you webmaster-wanna-be's.

Good thing about being on a ship is I have so much time to learn things, and I try to take advantage of it. I have friends who are in retirement, and they don't know what to do with themselves after working all those years. I find that hard to understand. There are so many things I wish to know, and only so many years to learn them all.

One thing I'll never be, is bored....

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. My friend Frank Trainor was at an important dinner on Music Row in Nashville not long ago. His site can be found here. The Music Row article can be found here.

Learning HTML...

2006-11-19T19:09:00.000-08:00

I've done in few things in this half-century life of mine, and I've always thought that nothing could be as interesting as music. And although the love for playing music is undiminished, I'm discovering that making websites, the details of it, and the finished product, can actually be a type of art as well. Who knew?

I've gotten in a group of people that even though I'll only be with them for 9 more days before a 5 month absence, I'm going to miss these people. Experts in e-commerce, and seemingly all other computer applications, yet, with people skills. Remarkable. They break the mold of the socially-inept computer-geek.

I've known for years that us musicians were strange in our own way, and I know that every other group has its' own particular type of behaviour, and some groups just don't seem to mix. What I didn't know was that there were computer-types that behave and think more like musicians-types.

Who knew?

Friends...

2006-11-15T17:41:00.000-08:00

It's funny how things seem to come back to the fore-front of your mind, no matter how you try to put them away. Not so they're done, or gone, but so they're easier to live with.

I'm not sure how the topic came up, but Frank Trainor and I were talking, making plans for us to get together before I leave on this contract, and the subject of 9/11/2001 came up. Oh yeah, it was because we were talking about my life on ships, and I was on a Cunard ship based out of NY at the time.

What came out of that conversation, other than the blur of strong feeling that even now I find difficult to put aside, was how important it was, and is, to focus on the good in life, and on the relationships that one finds in life, and to treasure those relationships, and actualy, one's own life, because it really is a treasure, and one that you can only keep so long, and then, perhaps without warning, it's gone.

I think of a great man, and a dear friend, Robert E. Lewis, a succesful playwrite and music afficiando who wrote a very kind review of my music. We met on the Regent Sun, years ago, and remained friends until his death some 12 years later, just a few years ago actually. That was a remarkable man.

I've been lucky to know many remarkable people. Bob was one.

Another person I was very lucky to know was someone I knew long before I started traveling the planet as a musician. As a matter of fact, I met him in high school.

Lyle Rindahl eventually became many things to me, and many people, but he started out as the idiot sitting behind me who liked to poke me in the back of my head with a pencil. I'm sure, if he were typing this, he would have a different take on that, but now, you'll all have to take my version of things as the last word.

He was student body president in our Grad class, which kinda took me by surprise, as I always saw him as my friend, and the guy who used to change the strings on my guitar, and wipe the sweat off the neck. (of the guitar)

But being class president was just a hint of things to come, although the promise of that year didn't manifest itself for some years yet.

At 4 months prior to his death, almost 10 years ago, he was worth close to a million on paper, and if he had just contined to live, now he would be completely financially independant. But rather than being a stuck-up snob, this is the same guy who intended to own a hge house, so all his friends, and those who weren't so well-off could live with him. Him and his family.

His family, in his mind, was anyone he loved. And in my thinking, it was anyone who loved him. That made his "family" very large, indeed.

Many times I regret his not being here. He would've enjoyed this part of the ride, and I would enjoy having him. But, at least we did our living while we could.

In the Line of Fire...

2006-11-15T11:57:00.000-08:00

I had second thoughts about that title, seeing as how, whether we like it or not, we are deeply involved in a deadly conflict. But it is a global conflict, and the one I will refer to here is merely my own personal conflict.
Back to the love /hate relationship that is the work I do, namely, singing/playing my instrument...what my employers call entertaining.
I truly love to watch and listen to someone who plays well, and sings with authority. Now, even though many might argue that Frank Sinatra, for example, was not a singer, even Placido Domingo is on record as saying that he "greatly admires what he does, how he phrases..." Frank had authority when he sang a song. He was speaking to YOU, and with enough conviction, that you paid attention.
This is what I try to do when I perform. I believe I can play the piano. And my singing is ok, but not amazing. So, for me, what I have to work with is my phrasing. This is what playing jazz has done for me, vocal-wise. Work with what you got, right?
So...in the line of fire. I may be mistaken, but if there is still a market for the old standards, the market is dying off, slowly. Even me, I'm getting older, too, and I love Frank and Tony, and Harry Connick Jr. But I say the line of fire, because during the last few years, it seems to me that the songs previous audiences enjoyed, are not the songs of choice for this new generation of sea-going travellers. Songs like "We'll meet again" and other WWII-era music is not pregnant with meaning for the modern traveller, as it once was for my parents, and even me.
But, armed with the repetriore I have,......Here we go, again....
Fred is on the Norwegian Wind, cruising the islands of Hawai 'til April, '07

The Critics....

2006-11-08T19:03:00.000-08:00

Have you ever noticed how no matter what you're doing, or trying to do, there always someone who seems to need to spend time finding what's wrong with it? Or if they can't find anything wrong, then they attempt to discredit the work by minimizing you. I'm hoping I'm not unique, and that this has happened at various times in everyone's life. And, I must admit, I've caught myself doing it the odd time. Perhaps more than the odd time.

There are people who are destined, I think, to work, behave, and think outside the "box" that the rest of the world wants to live in, and it is exactly those people, these non-comformists, who tend to move society forward. If not for the mere patent clerks, (Einstein) or a couple of bike enthusiasts, ( Wright Brothers) or star-gazing dreamers (Galileo, Copernicus) where would we be today? We'd be walking around, thinking the world was flat, with no curiousity abut the world in which we live.

Hmmn, actually, I understand there continues to be a segment of society that believes the world is flat. I may have met some in my travels, in fact. There may, indeed be entire cultures that continue to think this way. At least, such small thinking would explain some of the behaviour I've seen on occasion.

I feel as though I'm extremely lucky. In my work, I tend to see the best side of the best people the human race has managed to produce. Still, put someone on a boat for 40 days straight, and even the most long-suffering of temperments tends to wear. (Try being out there for 540 days!!)

I have a friend, Ray, who a few years ago put out an album called "Hip October" and a local newspaper man had nothing good to say, and this was after Ray's fan-base gave their answer with cd purchases thru the roof. I was angry at this "newspaper man" and wrote a letter to the paper, which was printed. It basically read, "What are your credentials for criticizing this man's work? How may pieces of music have you written, arranged, produced and sold? How many musical instruments have you mastered? How many years on the road have you endured to have earned you the right to critique this artist?".....etc.

He got the point.

When I watch an artist perform, UNLESS he/she is EXCEPTIONALLY bad, (and that happens,) I do make a point to stop my conversation, and clap when the performance is over, because they are giving me the best of themselves, and I know what it cost for them to get there.

Then again, perhaps I need an enema.....

Improvized music...

2006-10-29T13:26:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I spent a good portion of the afternoon listening, and I must admit, transcribing Bill Evans, and Dave Mckenna, two of my many heroes. And as I listen to these giants of the piano, I wonder how such brilliance can be lost on so, so many people.

For those of you who don't know, Bill Evans is generally thought of as one of the most influential jazz pianists of the 20th century, and Dave Mckenna is a, hmmnn.....what would you call him? A stride/ be-bop solo pianist of such skill, imagination, and joy in his playing as to number him with the likes of Art Tatum, and Teddy Wilson? Hmmnn....Sounds good, and I hope I haven't offended anyone by that.

Anyway, The more I listen to these gentlemen, the more I'm amazed that this type of music is generally thought of as background music. And unless I'm mistaken, a large number of people think of background music as something you can talk over, eat dinner to, and generally ignore.
What an insult to the greatest music that was ever created, and something that is uniquely North American.

Here come the classical musicians to criticize me for that comment, and I have the perfect answer for them:

First of all, did you notice I said classical musicians, and not classically trained musicians? That's because many of the great jazz musicians are classically trained, and can usually play every style of music to a reasonable degree, not just one.

OK, the comparison between Jazz and Classical can be summed up in this way: Classical music is someone saying what someone else had to say. It's like reading a book or the newspaper to someone, and this is what the listener hears. Nothing wrong with this, but I learn nothing about the reader, only the subject about which he/she is reading.

When someone plays Jazz, the listener is taken on a journey of the performer's own life experience, because Traditional classical music is a story already written, and Jazz is a story being made-up while you are listening. It's the difference between listening to someone speaking, versus, engaging someone in conversation.

Have you noticed Jazz musicians getting up and "jamming"without music? And they do it without stepping all over each other, musically speaking? It's because they're having a conversation right in front of you, only with their hands and sound, instead of their words. And They are not merely repeating the dialogue of musicians spoken centuries ago, long dead.

I have always considered Jazz musicians to be the elite in the music world, because it not only requires the disipline and technique of the classical world, but it is created during the performance.

If Mozart, Bach, Chopin and etc., were alive today, they would all be Jazz musicians. This is my opinion.

2006-10-26T19:59:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to reach Frank today, but He's still in Nashville, apparently. You have to admire when someone knows they must do something, indeed, are CALLED to do something, and without compromise, in the face of MANY nay-sayers, indeed in the midst of a culture of conformity, steps out and does what he/she knows must be done.

Of course, I'm speaking about People like Frank, and people like Bob Dylan, and anyone who has given themselves to their commision in life whether that person is an artist, or a teacher, or runs a home or daycare. Not for the money, but because they cannot walk away from it. Because it's what they were meant to do.

There seems to be a shortage of that these days. When one sees it, it should, no, it MUST be treasured, and supported, and encouraged.

But it's not.

Let me talk about thepassion that I know.

Can I imagine a world without music? Without the voiceless, ethereal sounds that will always say to me more than words ever could? Well, yes, I can imagine it, but I don't wish to live in such a world.

Here's to people who know what must be done, from their very soul, and do it.