When George Bush was first elected to the kingship he said "Americans don't care about hybrid cars and all that stuff." Well something like that. After all one can not remember everything that moron has said during his almost eight year reign.
Well Americans do care. Especially now that gas is four dollars a gallon. I get a kick out of the TV ads that offer guaranteed $2.99 gas for so many miles in a two year span. So you buy this gas guzzle and you will not have to pay outrageously at the pump for the first 12,000 miles.
GM is scaling back on SUV's, trucks and other gas guzzlers. They are closing several factories were these gas guzzlers are made. Yesterday I read that the Prius, which is made by Toyota, has sold over one million at this point. I would like to own one but they are 22,ooo dollars, way over my budget. I do own a Corrola which does beautifully on the highways.
Well what about George Bush ??? I bet he is fuming about how his America is no more. We want better gas millage King George. If he would have done something about it when he got into office we would have more fuel efficient cars. And yes he was part of the conspiracy to kill the electric car, which was available in California during the late 1990's. These cars would be plugged in every night and then driven for up to 90 miles or so during the day. GM inbounded the cars which did not make sense since they were leased. One of the gas companies bought the patent for the battery. (See Who Killed the Electric Car for more info.)
So I am hoping that the American car companies get with it and develop something to compete with the Prius. I read recently that Toyota is the number one car company in the world now. This is because they did not listen to George Bush. They did the right thing.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Vinyl Records And the Dead Kennedys in Particular
I started collecting vinyl records back in the day before CDs. As a kid I would get vinyl records for Christmas such as a Billy Joel album from my oldest sister(I can't stand his music now), A Van Halen album from my aunt and uncle and a Stevie Wonder album from my parents.
I did not become a serious collector until age 13, which was 1980, a time of many great punk bands. When I was visiting my cousin David back in the day, he turned me on to Gang of Four, The Stranglers, 999, Wire and other punk bands that just emerged onto the music scene a few years back. He lent me his forty fives which was a really cool collection of music for a 13 year old to listen to.
I remember going with my sister Marie and her friend Leslie to New York City. It was at an independent punk rock record store in the village where I picked up Fresh Fruit for Rotten Vegetables by the Dead Kennedys, since my cousin said "You gotta get this album."
My sister and Leslie were reading the lyrics on the train home. "How does it look?" I asked. They just laughed.
When I got home I listened to it constantly and memorized the lyrics from side A to side B. The album began with Kill the Poor and ended with Viva Los Vegas which of course was them covering the classic Elvis song. Some of the lyrics on the album were on the depressing side such as "Why am I alive. Urban Wonderland. By the fields I stand. In and out of hand." At least those are the lyrics I now recall.
My mother saw the album sitting on the top of my vinyl collection and gasped "The Dead Kennedy's. That is an awful name for a rock band." "It's not rock, mom." I said. "It's punk."
I was so glad that she decided not to investigate any further and read the lyrics, since she would have comfascated the album due to the content.
I do not think that the Dead Kennedy's songwriter Jello Biafri was a Nazi Skinhead since I think he was being sarcastic when he sang such songs as Kill the Poor, in which it could be misconstrued that he was advocating bombing the projects. I do think some people believed this to be so, which is probably why they came out with the song "Nazi Punks Fuck Off" on a later album which I believe was either called In God We Trust or Plastic Surgery Disaster.
Well when I was high and down in the dumps I got pissed off and broke my Radio Shack Stereo and amazingly I lived without music for a few years. I sold all my vinyl records and bought a bag of weed with the money. But in the back of my head I knew I would come back to music someday.
When I was 18 I bought a new stereo.Since Cds had come out by then (It was 1986." I started collecting CDs. I remember that one of the first Cd's I bought was Scary Monsters by David Bowie,who I think is a genius to this day.
Vinyl was still around back then so I would pick up new albums by some of my favorite bands such as the Dead Kennedy's FrankenChrist, which contained a poster that looked like dicks in action. The band was sued by a family who had a young son who's sister purchased the album as a Christmas present.
A lot of the bands from back then are no more. The Dead Kennedy's were touring a few years back but it was without Jello Biafri so I do not think that really counts since he was the singer and the primary songwriter. I believed the band sued him for back royalties. Someone once told me that he would hum the songs and the band would compose the music based on his humming.
Well the neat thing now is that vinyl is making a major comeback. The other day while in Saratoga with a friend I met through my zine, Transcendent Visions, I went to a record store were they sold vinyl records. I bought a new sealed copy of The Dead Boys. (Yes another punk band with dead in their name.) The lead vocalist Stiv Bators was in John Waters Polyester, one of my favorite movies of all time. (At least I believe it was him.)
While I was in the store a younger person around my nephews age (mid to late 20's) was buying Pink Floyd's Animals. I said to him "I got that on vinyl also. Along with The Wall and another one which slips my memory.
Anyway, I think that vinyl actually sounds better then CD's. And obviously so does a lot of people in the younger generation. The woman at the counter persuaded me to shell out the 15 dollars for the Dead Boys album by saying "This is a classic punk record that all punk lovers should own." I asked her how the vinyl was selling and she said it was 75% of their sales.
So I walked out of there with 7 new records (Well six of them were actually used, but new to me.) for 42 dollars. I was glad I found the Captain Sensible album since I was listening to the Animal Liberation compilation album for a long time, which had one of his songs, What No Meat and I really loved that song.
Well I do not think I will ever stopped buying vinyl since there is just something magical about the vinyl record spinning round on a turntable. And the Dead Kennedy's. Yes I still to this day listen to them from time to time and when I got the Rolling Stone record guide and saw only four stars out of five for Fresh Fruit for Rotten Vegetables I was seriously thinking of writing them and saying Fuck Off. That would be real punk rock of me. Now Wouldn't it???
I did not become a serious collector until age 13, which was 1980, a time of many great punk bands. When I was visiting my cousin David back in the day, he turned me on to Gang of Four, The Stranglers, 999, Wire and other punk bands that just emerged onto the music scene a few years back. He lent me his forty fives which was a really cool collection of music for a 13 year old to listen to.
I remember going with my sister Marie and her friend Leslie to New York City. It was at an independent punk rock record store in the village where I picked up Fresh Fruit for Rotten Vegetables by the Dead Kennedys, since my cousin said "You gotta get this album."
My sister and Leslie were reading the lyrics on the train home. "How does it look?" I asked. They just laughed.
When I got home I listened to it constantly and memorized the lyrics from side A to side B. The album began with Kill the Poor and ended with Viva Los Vegas which of course was them covering the classic Elvis song. Some of the lyrics on the album were on the depressing side such as "Why am I alive. Urban Wonderland. By the fields I stand. In and out of hand." At least those are the lyrics I now recall.
My mother saw the album sitting on the top of my vinyl collection and gasped "The Dead Kennedy's. That is an awful name for a rock band." "It's not rock, mom." I said. "It's punk."
I was so glad that she decided not to investigate any further and read the lyrics, since she would have comfascated the album due to the content.
I do not think that the Dead Kennedy's songwriter Jello Biafri was a Nazi Skinhead since I think he was being sarcastic when he sang such songs as Kill the Poor, in which it could be misconstrued that he was advocating bombing the projects. I do think some people believed this to be so, which is probably why they came out with the song "Nazi Punks Fuck Off" on a later album which I believe was either called In God We Trust or Plastic Surgery Disaster.
Well when I was high and down in the dumps I got pissed off and broke my Radio Shack Stereo and amazingly I lived without music for a few years. I sold all my vinyl records and bought a bag of weed with the money. But in the back of my head I knew I would come back to music someday.
When I was 18 I bought a new stereo.Since Cds had come out by then (It was 1986." I started collecting CDs. I remember that one of the first Cd's I bought was Scary Monsters by David Bowie,who I think is a genius to this day.
Vinyl was still around back then so I would pick up new albums by some of my favorite bands such as the Dead Kennedy's FrankenChrist, which contained a poster that looked like dicks in action. The band was sued by a family who had a young son who's sister purchased the album as a Christmas present.
A lot of the bands from back then are no more. The Dead Kennedy's were touring a few years back but it was without Jello Biafri so I do not think that really counts since he was the singer and the primary songwriter. I believed the band sued him for back royalties. Someone once told me that he would hum the songs and the band would compose the music based on his humming.
Well the neat thing now is that vinyl is making a major comeback. The other day while in Saratoga with a friend I met through my zine, Transcendent Visions, I went to a record store were they sold vinyl records. I bought a new sealed copy of The Dead Boys. (Yes another punk band with dead in their name.) The lead vocalist Stiv Bators was in John Waters Polyester, one of my favorite movies of all time. (At least I believe it was him.)
While I was in the store a younger person around my nephews age (mid to late 20's) was buying Pink Floyd's Animals. I said to him "I got that on vinyl also. Along with The Wall and another one which slips my memory.
Anyway, I think that vinyl actually sounds better then CD's. And obviously so does a lot of people in the younger generation. The woman at the counter persuaded me to shell out the 15 dollars for the Dead Boys album by saying "This is a classic punk record that all punk lovers should own." I asked her how the vinyl was selling and she said it was 75% of their sales.
So I walked out of there with 7 new records (Well six of them were actually used, but new to me.) for 42 dollars. I was glad I found the Captain Sensible album since I was listening to the Animal Liberation compilation album for a long time, which had one of his songs, What No Meat and I really loved that song.
Well I do not think I will ever stopped buying vinyl since there is just something magical about the vinyl record spinning round on a turntable. And the Dead Kennedy's. Yes I still to this day listen to them from time to time and when I got the Rolling Stone record guide and saw only four stars out of five for Fresh Fruit for Rotten Vegetables I was seriously thinking of writing them and saying Fuck Off. That would be real punk rock of me. Now Wouldn't it???
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
The Jitterbug--Momma Poem 1
On one rainy May day
Back in the mid nineteen seventies
Momma came to me and said
"It is time for you to learn how to dance.
When you meet a girl and get married
you will be thankful that I taught you
how to dance."
She flipped through her record collection
looking for records to dance to.
"When your father and I were young
we did the Jitterbug," she said.
Jitterbug I thought.
What a crazy name for a dance.
Mother put a record on the phonograph player.
It was Glen Miller,
Tommy Dorsey or some other performer
from her day. The nineteen forties
The years in which my parents met at
high school and courted each other
to high school dances.
She would take me in her arms
and we would dance in the living room.
She moved so gracefully.
I moved so awkwardly.
I was eight years old
and it felt strange dancing with my mother
but I enjoyed the stories she would tell
about when they were growing up
and how the music of their day
was so nice compared to my brother's
acid rock. We'd dance and all the while
my eyes would peer out the window
wondering if someone was watching.
After all who wants to be seen
dancing with their mother.
Back in the mid nineteen seventies
Momma came to me and said
"It is time for you to learn how to dance.
When you meet a girl and get married
you will be thankful that I taught you
how to dance."
She flipped through her record collection
looking for records to dance to.
"When your father and I were young
we did the Jitterbug," she said.
Jitterbug I thought.
What a crazy name for a dance.
Mother put a record on the phonograph player.
It was Glen Miller,
Tommy Dorsey or some other performer
from her day. The nineteen forties
The years in which my parents met at
high school and courted each other
to high school dances.
She would take me in her arms
and we would dance in the living room.
She moved so gracefully.
I moved so awkwardly.
I was eight years old
and it felt strange dancing with my mother
but I enjoyed the stories she would tell
about when they were growing up
and how the music of their day
was so nice compared to my brother's
acid rock. We'd dance and all the while
my eyes would peer out the window
wondering if someone was watching.
After all who wants to be seen
dancing with their mother.
Friday, March 28, 2008
The Lack of Original ideas
Don't you hate it when you have an idea and find out it has already been played out??? Once I had an idea for a book and I explained the plot to my friend and he said "It sounds exactly like Clockwork Orange." So I get a copy and read it and at the end I said to myself "Damn. Another idea down the tubes."
My latest idea was Zoombie pets. The main characters in my comic book decided to give their pets a zoombie syrum. Well I rented Fido and guess what it is about pet Zoombies. It is a great flick that happens in the 1950's and there are all these pet zoombies in it who get treated like dogs. The children are required to have pet zoombies on leashes when they take them outside. Over all a fun flick.
When I read reviews of music in Rolling Stone, they often say stuff like "Sounds like Talking Heads mixed with African Tribal music or whatever.
Well I decided to go through with the zoombie idea anyway, but half the pets are getting rabies since they are going to make a documentary of the mall sabotaging and yes that famous zoombie movie (Was it Night of the Living Dead???) had zoombies in the mall. So I added rabid rednecks to the mix to give it a little bit of originality.
Some of you are probably thinking "Why is he bothering?" Well I need to create. That is why. I had this story perculating in my head for ages and now I am putting in on paper. A freind is doing a few illustrations for it. It is basically a comic book without the pictures. I invented all these characters. They clutter my head. I need to bring them to life.
My latest idea was Zoombie pets. The main characters in my comic book decided to give their pets a zoombie syrum. Well I rented Fido and guess what it is about pet Zoombies. It is a great flick that happens in the 1950's and there are all these pet zoombies in it who get treated like dogs. The children are required to have pet zoombies on leashes when they take them outside. Over all a fun flick.
When I read reviews of music in Rolling Stone, they often say stuff like "Sounds like Talking Heads mixed with African Tribal music or whatever.
Well I decided to go through with the zoombie idea anyway, but half the pets are getting rabies since they are going to make a documentary of the mall sabotaging and yes that famous zoombie movie (Was it Night of the Living Dead???) had zoombies in the mall. So I added rabid rednecks to the mix to give it a little bit of originality.
Some of you are probably thinking "Why is he bothering?" Well I need to create. That is why. I had this story perculating in my head for ages and now I am putting in on paper. A freind is doing a few illustrations for it. It is basically a comic book without the pictures. I invented all these characters. They clutter my head. I need to bring them to life.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
War Protest March 19,2008
In case you did not know, on Wed March 19,2008 King Georges War just celebrated its 5 year anniversary. As conscientious objector I was out in full gear (Raincoat, several layers of clothing, glasses and peace sign covered with clear plastic bags)
My sign said "Iraq Five Years Too Many. I made it on the previous Sunday at the sign making workshop for Coalition For Peace Action of Bucks County. Several of my patriotic protesting freinds and I got our creative juices following so we could all have signs for this anniversary protest which took place at the Trenton Makes World Takes bridge that goes from Morrisville Pennsylvania to Trenton New Jersey, which is the New Jersey capitol.
I had to get up at 6:30 that morning which was way before my rise and shine time. I ready quickly and Pat called saying "Don't want to be out in the rain. I am not feeling to good." "Can you at least make the college. I can drive us there," I said. "No I just want to stay in today." She said.
So I ventured out into miserable rain. I picked my adopted mom, Eleanor, up at the church United Church of Christ, which about half of the people in the Lower Bucks County Peace Movement attend. (I tried to get my church more active. Lord knows I tried. But Morrisville Methodists are just not as politically active as these church going people.)
I drove us to the bridge.I parked and we gave out some extra signs and went crossed the street. We stood on the side that went from Morrisville to Trenton, right at about where the bridge started. I was talking to Bob. I think I was getting a little bit anoying since my mind was racing and I get annoying when it is racing. Bob runs Coalition for Peace Action out of Princeton New Jersey. According to Paul who I used to work with at Italian Bastards florist, Coalition for Peace Action is the largest peace group in the area.
There were about 30 people at the protest. Cars streamed by all heading to jobs at the capitol complex I imagine. Most were positive. Honking, giving us tumbs up or peace signs. One gave us the finger and when I looked at their bumper I saw a Ron Paul sign. Wait a minute I thought wasn't Ron Paul against the war. Wasn't that one of his main platforms. He was the only Republican to be against the war. Why were they giving us the finger then????
After the vigil I went home and tried to relax. I read all the coverage of the war. The local paper was filled with people saying it is time to get out. Some were for the war but the magority were not. The paper did a survey in which they said it was 4 to 1 against the war.
Did the college thing next in which I sat at a table with Paul, Angela and a woman who's name escaped me but I know it started with an A. The college kids were either gong ho or totally "Don't bother me with Iraq." One said "My husband is over there." then walked away. Anotehr said "Freedom is not free." Paul said he wished he could talk to the pro Bushees. A nice Indian student stood around the table talking to us for about a half hour. I told him about my deceased sister who insisted she was the great grand daughter of Gandi. There was another student who actually served in the military (I believe the Navy) She talked about the use of depleted urainium and how woman become steral from it.
Then I did the symposium which was about the business of war. How corporations profi off of it. This was not new to me and I was burnt out so I decided to leave.
I went home ate dinner then went to the Reach Out party, forgetting about the war, just like alost every other American.
My sign said "Iraq Five Years Too Many. I made it on the previous Sunday at the sign making workshop for Coalition For Peace Action of Bucks County. Several of my patriotic protesting freinds and I got our creative juices following so we could all have signs for this anniversary protest which took place at the Trenton Makes World Takes bridge that goes from Morrisville Pennsylvania to Trenton New Jersey, which is the New Jersey capitol.
I had to get up at 6:30 that morning which was way before my rise and shine time. I ready quickly and Pat called saying "Don't want to be out in the rain. I am not feeling to good." "Can you at least make the college. I can drive us there," I said. "No I just want to stay in today." She said.
So I ventured out into miserable rain. I picked my adopted mom, Eleanor, up at the church United Church of Christ, which about half of the people in the Lower Bucks County Peace Movement attend. (I tried to get my church more active. Lord knows I tried. But Morrisville Methodists are just not as politically active as these church going people.)
I drove us to the bridge.I parked and we gave out some extra signs and went crossed the street. We stood on the side that went from Morrisville to Trenton, right at about where the bridge started. I was talking to Bob. I think I was getting a little bit anoying since my mind was racing and I get annoying when it is racing. Bob runs Coalition for Peace Action out of Princeton New Jersey. According to Paul who I used to work with at Italian Bastards florist, Coalition for Peace Action is the largest peace group in the area.
There were about 30 people at the protest. Cars streamed by all heading to jobs at the capitol complex I imagine. Most were positive. Honking, giving us tumbs up or peace signs. One gave us the finger and when I looked at their bumper I saw a Ron Paul sign. Wait a minute I thought wasn't Ron Paul against the war. Wasn't that one of his main platforms. He was the only Republican to be against the war. Why were they giving us the finger then????
After the vigil I went home and tried to relax. I read all the coverage of the war. The local paper was filled with people saying it is time to get out. Some were for the war but the magority were not. The paper did a survey in which they said it was 4 to 1 against the war.
Did the college thing next in which I sat at a table with Paul, Angela and a woman who's name escaped me but I know it started with an A. The college kids were either gong ho or totally "Don't bother me with Iraq." One said "My husband is over there." then walked away. Anotehr said "Freedom is not free." Paul said he wished he could talk to the pro Bushees. A nice Indian student stood around the table talking to us for about a half hour. I told him about my deceased sister who insisted she was the great grand daughter of Gandi. There was another student who actually served in the military (I believe the Navy) She talked about the use of depleted urainium and how woman become steral from it.
Then I did the symposium which was about the business of war. How corporations profi off of it. This was not new to me and I was burnt out so I decided to leave.
I went home ate dinner then went to the Reach Out party, forgetting about the war, just like alost every other American.
Friday, March 14, 2008
People Have the Power
Yes as Patty Smith said sometime in the 1980's People have the power. Last night I felt powerful as I held my peace sign as all these cars went by during rush hour from 5:30 to 6:30 on Oxford Valley Road. There was about twenty five of us and a photographer was there for www.phillyburbs.com. He interviewed me and said that we would be on the site by Friday 14. He recorded us so there will also be sound. I said how there are all these corporations profiting from war. Most of the people going by were giving us the peace sign or the tumbs up. But some shouted at us. One said "WE should nuke them all." I was talking to my friend Chris who is also a poet. He wants to speak to the Creative People in Recovery group I run.
Next Wed (The 19th of March) will mark the 5th anniversery of the IRaq War. We, The Coalition For Peace Action, will be out protesting at the Trenton Bridge from 7:30 to 9:00. Yes, Patty Smith, People Do Have the Power.
Amen
Next Wed (The 19th of March) will mark the 5th anniversery of the IRaq War. We, The Coalition For Peace Action, will be out protesting at the Trenton Bridge from 7:30 to 9:00. Yes, Patty Smith, People Do Have the Power.
Amen
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Quakers United for Peace Marie Poem 37
You were little miss Quaker pacifist
Saying "As a quaker I am a conscientious objector.
All true Quakers are pacifists.
All true Quakers are against the American War Machine,
all those evil corporations making money off of war.
We, Quakers refused to go to war
throughout history
But we did contribute to the rebuilding of Germany
and Europe in general after World War 2.
I remember going with you to a fellow Quakers
house and discussing with them
peaceful means to heal the world
embracing all human beings as equals
who deserve all the things
we Americans take for granted.
And now every week I feel your presence
Cheering me on
As I hold my peace sign
declaring to the world and all those cars
full of people passing by
that I am an America citizen
opposed to war and war profiteering
corporations like Dick Cheeny's Haliburtan
I feel the essence of your soul there
every Saturday morning
cheering me and my compatriots on
as we speak out and try to radiate peace
in a nation divided by a needless war
You'd be there to
with your loving aura
Saying "As a quaker I am a conscientious objector.
All true Quakers are pacifists.
All true Quakers are against the American War Machine,
all those evil corporations making money off of war.
We, Quakers refused to go to war
throughout history
But we did contribute to the rebuilding of Germany
and Europe in general after World War 2.
I remember going with you to a fellow Quakers
house and discussing with them
peaceful means to heal the world
embracing all human beings as equals
who deserve all the things
we Americans take for granted.
And now every week I feel your presence
Cheering me on
As I hold my peace sign
declaring to the world and all those cars
full of people passing by
that I am an America citizen
opposed to war and war profiteering
corporations like Dick Cheeny's Haliburtan
I feel the essence of your soul there
every Saturday morning
cheering me and my compatriots on
as we speak out and try to radiate peace
in a nation divided by a needless war
You'd be there to
with your loving aura
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