iTumbleweed

Ohhhhhhhh I should become a tumbleweed
Such a simple existence they have indeed
They just come & go & drift about as the wind leads
Very simple things and they really have no needs
But they're dead-damn it Jim-and so they are not free
They have no roots & so they are tossed about as a ship at sea
They have no intellect & they sure don't breathe
Can we learn anything from them as they be?
Keep it so simple comes to mind you see
Don't get caught up in the world's materialistic greed
Make positive, helpful, & encouraging morals & values your creed
Slow down & look all around at nature from the ground to tops of trees
Slow down world. What's the hurry? Why go at such high speed?
Do you even stop to enjoy the meal upon which you feed?
Sit down, take a while, & put up your feet
You there, doing a million things a day, how well do you sleep?
Oh the complicated tangled web society dost weave
You must buy this or get that or be this & that becomes our belief
What seeds are you sowing? That's the harvest that you will reap
Have you ever sat & listened to the symphony of silence & found peace?
We live here in the present now & can only focus on today's keep
Get out of the fast lane, go on, take that big leap
So many run themselves into the ground & crumble into a heap
What have they gained in their chase of their perhaps foolish dreams
I'd rather float along upon a soothing stream
I've no idea what this has to do with tumbleweeds; what does this mean?
I don't know & it sure beats the heck out of this me
Become simple like a tumbleweed perhaps, I guess, & it seems
Much of what we toil for & after amounts to a hill of beans
Welp am done now & well wasn't that keen?

iDontNeedIt

So it's come up in casual conversation a few times recently that as long as my Treo 650 smart phone works, I have no need to upgrade to a new phone. The only reason I use a smart phone is because it's my brain for remembering events/appointments/etc. If it's not in my datebook, I won't remember it. Verizon has the new phone every two years incentive to try to lock in you in for an additional 2 year contract after your initial contract expires. I've been eligible for a new phone upgrade for a while. No need for it. Does my phone make & receive calls? Yup. Do my reminders & contacts & memos still work? Yup. So therefore, I dun't need to take advantage of the phone upgrade option. Well that is until today anyway.

Apparently as of today mine Treo 650 won't let me hear anyone on my phone unless I put them on speaker phone. Bummerz. So onward upon the Verizon website I journey to look at the upgrade options. I came across a Palm Centro smart phone as well as the few flavors of Blackberries. I looked at all the hype & hoopla surrounding all the gadgets. And the simple conclusion is...I'll just stick to the Palm Centro. I don't understand why one wants/needs to browse the internet from their phone. I tried it with my Treo for a while then concluded, I don't need it. I don't understand why you'd pay the $30 or so per month to be able to do so. One already pays their internet service provider for at home use unless you use a portable & just use hotspots. And we thought the internet was free eh? ha. I don't send/receive enough emails to need the messaging features of Blackberry nor do I want to pay for the "staples" of the Blackberry service. I can't think of any personal emails I've received that needed my now & immediate response. My experience is that it usually doesn't matter when a personal email is read as compared to when it was sent. And for those who think they need such features, why not try calling & having an actual conversation with the people involved/concerned? I don't need/want to take pictures from my phone. I have a digital camera that does that well for me. I don't need my phone to be a video game console either. I just need my phone to be a phone & do it as well as possible along with the datebook stuff as in "this is my real brain outside of my brain." An added bonus for me is music media playing so I don't have to carry around a music player such as an iPod or other music playing device.

The assumption is that we, the people, are lemmings & embrace the technologies companies create & try to persuade us to purchase. They prey upon us to make us think/believe we must have what they offer or we'll surely perish. Most of it is all toys, bells, & whistles that are luxuries. Am I saying it's wrong to want for such gadgets & features. No. If you think you'll enjoy the something & services, then great. Go for it. Yes there is real business need & justification for taking advantage of it. Yes there is the 'fun' & 'wow' factor of having such things as well.

For today & now I say "pleah" to the being constantly wired & connected via the Blackberry paradigm. I'm John & I vote & so what & I say phones should be phones & they should not drop calls.

Until later comes, turn it up to ring ring.

T'was Two...

T'was two days before Christmas & holy cow
Much to tend to still & finish and how
Be careful out there as you journey through the crowds
Go buy that, wrap this, & find a moment for some chow
I'm going to get done earlier next year & that's my vow
It sure creeps up on ya faster than you realize & you go "like wow"
Never mind all that you say as you wipe the sweat from your brow
There's stuff to do so let's get to it & get it done like now
Crank up the tunes & get to jammin' with the holiday sound
No time to just hang out or just lay around
Get your feet a runnin' & hit the ground
Come on & get on with it already as Santa's comin' to town
You better not pout & there's no reason to wear a frown
Ya done with that wrapping yet? Just add it to the tree's mound
Ya stressed out, or tired, or tightly wound?
Well ya can recover later; perhaps then some peace will be found
Move it, move it Christmas soldier! Double time it! The clock is countin' down
"Hey come back here with my ribbon cat" you say as he runs away with a sarcastic meow
"Why you I outta" you say to yourself aloud
Careful now as you move from here to there & all about
We wouldn't want you to trip on the stuff & fall & smack into the ground
T'was two days before Christmas & holy cow
May you find some quiet as if drifting on a cloud
Me hopes you liked this ditty & merry Christmas from this rambling clown

T'was Three Days...

T'was three days before Christmas & all through the land
The sales were on & the shoppers had a lot of bags in their hands
What do I get him, or her, or them thar over there?
Oh I haven't a clue as some say while pulling out their hair
For many it is a hard, or even sad, season & they might just not care
But they try anyway to tend to their Christmas affairs
Some are so stressed & tired & they just collapse in a chair
Others seem to have endless energy like a solar flare
Some are calm & peaceful as they have well prepared
Others choose to wait till the 24th to enter the shopping lair
Out comes all the tape & cutters & the colorful paper
Ribbons, bows, ties, boxes, for all the wrapping layers
Can't we wait to wrap till a bit or a lotta later?
OUCH! I cut myself with the edge of the paper sharp as a razor
Can someone grab me a drink & a snack? Oh waiter?
Now where'd that thing for who'z it what'z it go that's as big as a freighter?
Can we just "Git 'r done" so says Larry who does the voice of Mater
The gifts are placed carefully under the tree
I wonder what so and so decided to get this year for me?
The fires are put out & the lights no longer glow
Off for a warm winter's sleep we go
Us older folk creak & crack & pop as we ache from head to toe
All that running about & doing the do isn't easy ya know?
Can we just take it easy now & just move real slow?
For we've been so crazy busy going to & fro
And this is the journey of the season where we just go with the flow
In the end it's simply about being with friends & family to enjoy & share
And to, for a brief moment, let go of all our burdens & cares
T'was three days before Christmas & all through the land
Slow down & relax & have a nice time that is grand

iSnap

Bonk ding doh-ing go the parts in me head
Snap ZZZzttt sproing go the parts that are red
It's a case of the bonkers which we dread
For which there's no treatment from what I've read
There's no putting it back together as it's dead
Yer just gonna have to face all that's ahead
Hey bonkoid did you hear anything I said?
Nope, notta, zip, zilcho there Mr. Ed
I'm going going gone fuzto instead
I'm slipping on my lost marbles heading to bed
Wake me up when the clock is half past fred
But only if you can track down my brain which seems to have fled
Cuckoo says I flying over my own nutzo nest
And all this just to provide daily bread
Phtphphtphthtpth says I as that sums up this season best
And of course this is just boredom drivel in which I jest

iMe

Hey me
I'm he
I be
You see
Yes, si
And indeed
Slow's the speed
Nothing to achieve
So I write & read
It's wow & gee
I sip coffee or tea
And I just breathe
It's crazy I believe
But it meets need
'Cause gotta feed
Our melting economy bleeds
Who has the lead?
Too many problems interleaved
Like too many overgrown weeds
I question land of the free
Ruled by corporate & political greed
Where wall street is their creed
Now there's broken lives & dreams
Time for new seeds
Well me that's it for thee
The news isn't too yippie
Maybe I outta just be a hippie
Well, uhm,er, ok then, well gee

iSuccess

The boys & I watched the movie "A Dennis The Menace Christmas." Mr. Wilson is the neighbor of the menace that Dennis be. When asked about things of Christmas Mr. Wilson called Christmas "shameless capitalism." In a time of the crumbling of debt laiden lives & companies, the last thing we need is to be bombarded by advertisements for buying things on credit. So this last weekend a commercial was on for Sears. Hey guess what? Get a Sears card & pay no interest until 2012. Today, Yahoo's main page has an ad for an Amercian Express gold looking card with the headline of "How To Say Success." What a crock of hooey. Success for me is simply having food, clothing, shelter, & some quality time with my wife & kids each day. The dangling of the buying power carrot in front of people continues. And it will always be there & will continue. Is it shameless capitalism on the parts of those offering such credit offers? It's certainly capitalism of course. And afterall customers buying things on credit has become the norm for retailers to sell their products & survive. You can just hear the robotic voice in mr. or mrs. retailer's head "Must make a sale. Must offer credit to all & their fleas to make a sale. We don't care if they can pay it back or not. Must sell sell sell." I'm sure this is part of the root issue with Circuit City's floundering & having to file. How the Tribune Company can accumulate billions in debt & still function is quite bizarre. But then we only need to look at our own states & federal government to see that defecit spending is the norm & accepted as is & the status quo. I personally wouldn't call such credit offers shameless but I think trying to continue with what has been the norm is a root flaw in our grand economic wheel. Stop the wheel I'd like to get off & just sit a spell in simple basics of life. When all else fails eat a hamburger or have some chocolate & enjoy something of nature nearest you.

iCore

Hey it's now four
One or so hour more
Then go time out the door
Yawn, stretch, & then snore
Thankful but my mood is poor
In the mundane routine work day war
It's a real hoot galore
Mr. & Mrs. government fix our country we implore
Millions are now free falling into poor
Lives are crumbling down to the floor
Can any of this be overcome & restored?
There are many defecits that cannot be ignored
To survive in times of famine can be quite the chore
Economic foundations are being eaten down to the core
Who cares if you now have a bad credit score?
At least I have a view of the Bay's shore
Nobody knows what is coming or what is in store
Just gotta stare it in the face & give out a lion's roar
Maybe we can learn from famines in times before
Just live for the now & today for the present is your's
Do good & give to the extent that you can afford
Look to the ordinary simple things as life's rewards
Nothing can out do goodness & generousity outpoured

iHeyDay

Hey, day
Goodnight eh?
Light fades
What I can I say?
Nothing really oh tay
Can try to play
Or hang in man cave
And rest okay
Find the way
Work done so yay
Life comes what may
Still by the Bay
'Tis a miracle I still get paid
In strange waters we wade
Find moments in the shade
Or embrace the fall sun's rays
Be brave
And oh behave
Yeah baby yeah
Night falls without delay
Hey, day
Goodnight eh?

iStareWhere

Stare
Where?
There
In Chair
Tasks rare
Boredom affairs
Don't care
Not fair
Count hair
No flair
Yay for tech & software
What a bear
Walk the stairs
Double dog dare
Welcome to the downturn lair
Don't wanna be a player
Call the recession slayer
Hello, this the mayor?
Someone throw a rager
Or at least a pint or a kegger
Getta down & getta funky alligator
Someone turn up the fader
Say no to Darth Vader
Play Space Invaders
Ride the elevator
Don't be a stock trader
Everyone get goofy like Mater
Welp until later, later

iTickTock

Gibberish run together.

Tick tock
Walking the clock
What a crock
Beam me up Spock
Whaz up doc?
Knock knock
Pick the lock
Wanna rock?
Rockin' Bach
Not a jock
Don't mock
Art with chalk
Yak 'n talk
Fly with hawks
Around the block
Feathery Flock
No elctro shock
Tubular socks
Worthless stocks
Tick tockin' tock
Grogg n' grock

I Sit

Written 12/5 1230

Wanted: Senior Software Quality Assurance Engineer. Reality - Wanted somebody who can sit at their desk day after day & do very little to no actual work. I've said before & believe "At least I have a job & it's better than digging ditches." Actually I think I'd prefer digging ditches about now. The movie "Holes" is about a boy's youth prison facility out in the middle of desert nowhere & each day the attendees have to dig like 5 foot deep holes for apparently no reason other than to do it. There is more to the story but you'll have to read about it, or read the book or watch the movie. Basically I get up in the morning to look forward to sitting, sitting, & more sitting. Occasionally something will come up for me to do but it usually isn't too hard & it doesn't take too much time. Then it's back to more sitting & pondering & sometimes writing things such as this. I've been doing an occasional Yahoo Crossword but I know very few of the answers so I have to use their hint link. This existence is very odd. I'm not complaining because that doesn't help me or anyone. When you're younger & someone asks "What do you want to be when you grow up?" nobody answers "Terminally bored just sitting all day long." I know that we're in extremely odd & foreign times. The cubicle nation is crumbling more & more each day. And there doesn't seem to be any light shining in the tunnel of great uncertainty we're in. Without warning this position I have could fade away just as easily as any other position in any company right now. I am thankful to be sitting here as in having an attitude of gratitude. I sit therefore I am. I sit here to contribute to the defense that belongs to Uncle Sam. I sit to provide for my family daily green eggs & ham. I sit & read the news about things of which I usually do not give a damn. I sit while I watch the clock's hands. I sit near a view of the Monterey Bay which is grand. I sit always able & willing to do a task or to lend a hand. I sit but am often found blah from the bland. I sit in the "simply show up each day to say hi" employment plan. I sit & ponder my existence in a strange land. I sit here on my can.

Is The Sky Falling?

Is The Sky Falling?
Written 12/4/2008

The parade of companies cutting employees in our newly acknowledged state of being in a 'recession' continues. The parade of reductions will continue. Recovery & stability lies beyond anyone's horizon & it all seems unreachable. Is the sky falling? For those who are losing their jobs, their homes, & everything in between it must feel like the sky has collapsed upon them. There are parents who cannot provide for their children. Families are having to go without food because that's the only thing left they can cut back on. The sky is falling. Is it a necessary journey? I believe the answer to be yes. Just as a farm's soil must be churned & prepared for its crop so to must society go through the churning & preparation now and then. Why do I believe this is necessary? Because our nation is recovering from the addiction to debt & from living beyond our means month to month. The sky is falling because of our own irresponsibility as well as the irresponsibility of financial institutions who loosely gave credit to anyone & their fleas. If you dangle 'the carrot' of spending power in front of someone, they'll take it without a 2nd thought. And unfortunately the irresponsibility of many does affect the few who try to be responsible. Everyone needs to stop trying to blame & point fingers however. Instead we must turn our focus towards first surviving, perhaps even helping others in need, then towards rebuilding for a new future where we live more responsibly focused more on those closest to us than upon Wall Street, job titles/status, gadgets, credit scores, debt, etc. The sky may be falling but if you can breathe then you're still alive. If you're alive then you can & will survive. Remember that there are countless millions who have been living in worse poverty for years in the world than we'll ever experience here in our own country.

Myanmar atrocities

I must ramble my thoughts. As I started writing this I selected all of my music mp3 files & clicked play. I landed on an appropriately titled song by guitarist Joe Satriani called War. But that's so insignificant.

When Myanmar was struck by the cyclone the devastation we know was beyond comprehension. But what is more beyond comprehension is the tragedy of the oppressive government or the ruling class who is led by Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe. I refer you to the gory details of this article. You'll have to form your own opinion.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080612/ap_on_re_af/zimbabwe

Last week there was a headline on Yahoo about how U.S. ships with aid freely available was declined by the ruling government there. The ships left for to sit there & wait was futile & they needed to move on. Today while being able to freely travel into a Starbucks for a mocha frap I read on a newspaper's headline about how something like 40 tons of food aid was seized by the Junta government & instead used for a rally to gain voters for the current president. It also mentioned how the government treats such aid as aiding the opposition in the upcoming presidential vote. And then I read the Yahoo headline mentioned above. This in the same week where headlines mentioned 10,000+ pregnant women who needed care & aid. The above mentioned article mentions about the current president "he has been accused of holding onto power through fraud and intimidation and trampling on people's rights."

Obviously a diplomatic solution is always best. The election is June 27. This assumes the lead opposition seeking true democracy can even win with the injustice of the opposition leaders being arrested for no good reason today. That's 15 more days of people dying & suffering great tragedy now. Dare I suggest that allowing such suffering is along the lines of Nazi concentration camps? Yes there is the idea of 'To each his own.' But in a global oriented age, something more must be done. Yes the U.N. is being pressed by many to do something. When does the U.N. enact it's power to intervene by force if necessary? I'm sure all such things are complicated beyond measure. But it's simple...People need help. Help is being offered. Somebody stand up to the new block bully & hold them at bay & bring in the help. My own personal opinion is this is Sadam revisited in a different way in a different country on a different scale. Somebody with the power to do something, please go do something. What that something is & to what extent needs to be decided by those qualified to do so.

At the very least, may the leading opposition prevail in the election. But until then somebody go deal with the bullies. Pass onto anyone as desired especially those who might be able to affect change.

- Unable to help in Aptos, CA.

Satch's new boogie...

Interesting new path for Satriani, Hagar, Anthony...Not that any of them need the money.
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/van_halen_red_hot_chili_peppers_launch_new_project.html

You know the vocals & harmony will be there because Hagar & Anthony have done that well. I'd rather see Anthony stick with Hagar than return to the circus of Halendom.

To me a drummer's a drummer but to be a Pepper ya must have to have been good in that realm.

I like Hagar's comment about Eddie. It fits well with what has been.

Hope there's some maturity & depth to the lyrics in the songs & not the typical pre-teen focused crippy crud that's already been done year after year after year by band after band after band. Joe's lyrical songs haven't ever been like that so hopefully he's looking for lyrical maturity from Hagar's writing. Maybe Sammy will grow up lyrically.

I'd rather see this incarnation in concert than the current Halen Roth merger that's regurgitating the old & already been there done that stuff. Yeah it is a tour that needed to happen before they become rockers with walkers...I guess...It's a nostagia thing for the 40 & 50 somethings.

Eddie was first & made his mark but there's nothing new now. His solo thing he does is a direct replay of what he's already done twice in concert video tape/DVDs. And he's done it for years before as evidenced on YouTube clips. Do something new Eddie. But to be fair, Vai will always have to play Attitude Song in concert & Satch will have to play Surfing with the Alien in concert. But they have enough new in their set that the old fits in well & is interesting. It's just the nature of having those trademark songs as a musician/band. The legacy of Satch & Steve Vai & Gary Hoey, Dick Dale or The Ventures is far more interesting to me than Ed's. Ed was more into the business of music, signature series deals, & image than making music. Der-amma. No thanks. I'd rather sit down & have a conversation with Ed or hear him on Oprah than see 'im in concert. I guess I'm just over the whole EVH guitar king stigma. I am glad he's cleaned up & according to him is playing better than he ever has. Perhaps it's the way he's treated Hagar & Anthony is my irk...and overpriced EVH signature gear.

And that's my 1 cent 'bout that. Whadda I know? I hear stripes...I think...Maybe I outta make peace with my bro's stripes & finish what I started. Dumb paint & clear coat. ha.

Side note, I keep thinking about, but not sure yet, putting my stripe design on my I've Been Had, aka Ibanez, guitar. Maybe after I finish the lady's tiger in mid July & Steeb's stripes...probably in July as I have to clear it again & let it situate & cure. Am having to get over my own stigmas about self. Shine finish Shine!

Side note #2, I'm almost there in playing Flight of the Bumble Bee well at 100 beats per minute. Next up, 110 Bpm. You wouldn't think it but there's a feeling of exponential increase as you increase the speed by 10 BPM's. It'll make your fingers fall off

- Sublime I'm

iYammer

Yammerin' because I'm a yammer...

So Yahoo's 'Featured' section on their main page states:
"7 must-have gadgets for your home"
Oh really?....Lesse what those are...

Bose SoundDock Digital Music System
Don't got it. Don't need it. Never needed it. Funny - They don't mention that you need to have a digital media player to play the music you want to hear through the system.

Canon Powershot A560 Digital Camera
Hmm, have a digital camera. Don't need the model you say I need to have.

Curves Digital Glass Scale
Never owned a scale or even wanted one.

Sephora Professional Cordless Straightener
My hair is straight but thanks though.

Illuminations Electric Aroma Diffuser
Hack 'n cough. Ooo-oooo whaz that smell?

Alessi Stainless-Steel Cordless Electric Kettle
Thanks but stoves for all of time have worked just fine. Usually BBQ pits at the beach or camping involve flame & heat so I think the world can manage. Be environmental...Don't manufacture such things as fire is a natural element after all. Lemmings humanity is. So how many of each of the above items will be purchased today because Yahoo planted the 'go buy this or you're dumb seed.' Well actually I am intrigued by the A650 camera but I couldn't let my quip down in the heat of the comment now could I? And thaz my quip for the now & I'm sticking to it.

Until later comes turn it up to quipping the 'quipment.'

American Dream? What is the cost?

Note, this is just me rambling out loud in Blog form. No homeowners, or mortgage payers, or homes were harmed during this creation. Nor is this directed at any particular group(s),
person(s), or individual(s) nor their values/ideals/dreams.

American dream...buy house & pay it off in your lifetime...

Saw a headline on some newspaper today about how the current housing issues, and/or, crisis in our country is reshaping America. 'Tis odd to drive along some roads around here in Seaside & see former military housing units all boarded up. Kind of a good word picture. Some, if not the majority, don't have the luxury, for whatever the reason(s), to buy a home. So what becomes of those peoplez dreams? They can waste time on thinking upon the American dream which won't become a reality & possibly feel cruddy about themselves & not being able to keep up with their peers. Or they can reshape their thoughts upon what really matters & what is most important. I'm sure some choose to move far far & away, to a more affordable area just to have a piece of that American pie. But what do they give up in doing so? Everything they've built up where they have been living. I've asked self thousands of times, why stay on the Central Coast where the cost of living is ugh?! Why stay in California? The thought "Bloom where you're planted" returns to remind me that all is well. Others choose to live in affordable areas & then enter into unfathomable daily commutes. Add up such commute time a month & then project outwards & see what percent of one's life is spent in traffic jams. Meanwhile, the one(s) doing such commutes are exhausted/wiped out, leave before the sun rises, come home after the sun has set, & they miss out on the very persons & events under the roofs of the homes they commute to pay for. And that's a dream?

My definition of success is simply...Do I have what I need for my family today? And that sure got thrown for a loop during the unemployment stages. But the provision was always there.

I get to go to bed every night & hear the ocean .5 miles away. It doesn't get better than that for where we are at in the present moment.

Until later comes, turn it up to get Reshaped America...Get simple.

iRetro

Long time no write. In my free time of the last week or so, I've been recording VH1's Rock Mania to see that which was once popular. I also came across a song I did enjoy back then but really didn't realize the meaning of it till now. Bon Jovi "Dead Or Alive." Did the countless bands of metal/hard rock go down the road of drinking & drugs just because it was there to do? Or were they driven towards the insanity of it all from being pushed so hard by management & promoters. Must keep recording. Must keep touring. No break allowed. You must make us more money. And in the end, when the music fades & all is stripped away, what's left is an overmarketed & overpromoted wreck & poof...it all becomes a dust in the wind memory, whether nightmare or not for the individual. Part of this revisiting was a rockumentary on the Def Leppard's Hysteria album I watched this week. Anyway so I pondered upon such things & then wrote...

The metal came & it was time to rock out
The jams, the intros, the leads, & shredders all around
I don't care what you looked or acted like just make your big rockin' sound
How'd it turn into big hair & strange glam gowns?
Make the big bigger & party on until you all fall or drown
And don't forget to do ballad drool to woo the masses & crowds
As if that wasn't enough how about doing an unplugged set & get you turned down?
Then poof the game was over & nowhere could any of you be found
Ya crashed & burned from being pushed beyond the limits playing town to town
Some died in their addictions & darkness that did enshroud
Welcome to the jungle baby where you'll fall from the top & crash into the ground
Was the ride worth it as you think back from the now?
Some of the remnants have done their rehab & are touring around
'Tis strange to think upon then & now & the attempted rebounds
Hard rock once was & was the dominant sound
But all has faded away & most of ya all have taken your final stage bows
There was dangerous & deadly madness to it all & you became the pawns & clowns
Welp this concludes my retro tour of the then & of stuff becoming unwound

Until later comes turn it up to retro.

iBrink

Right now I don’t want to think
I do not wish to just sit & dink
I should not & do not want to shrink
I’d rather just close my eyes & not blink
On the edge of adversity I am once again upon the brink
Glad I don’t smoke nothing nor do I drink
I pause & stretch to get out some of the kinks
Sometimes the things of life just plain stinks
But that’s part of the game & the mystery Inc.
Joy is a cuddly cat in my lap with his nose pink
But soon though I must get busy looking at links
Can’t I just be some band’s roadie or guitar tech; Ha & kidding wink wink
I ought to do some o’ the dishes in the kitchen sink
I can’t lay low too long like Egypt’s sphinx
I must send out some paper with those things called words in ink
In the silence of now visions of the next can come into being
I don’t have to understand about anything of purpose or meaning
My believing in the new window or door will result in my seeing
Have a nice now, afternoon, & onward into this evening
Maybe I’ll go get mindless & stare for a while at the t.v.
All I can do is just keep swimming & breathing

iRevolution

Greetings blog reader(s),
First I claim all ignorance about the times & the issues. And I have not read or studied a thing about the times & the issues. So I'm going on only 1 source in this ramble. I was only very young at the time anyway.

I watched a documentary this week that was made in 2006 called The U.S. v.s John Lennon. All I really knew about him was The Beatles & songs & him being a song writer. That's it. Then he was shot dead.

I knew nothing of he & Yoko being the hard core activists they were in trying to join forces with other radicals to bring an end to the Viet Nam war. I did know of the "Give Peace A Chance" song. I learned that he & Yoko were basically an enemy of the state for the state hated him. The state was threatened by him. This quote was interesting "So flower power didn't work. Don't give up. Keep trying." They did, they kept pushing & pushing under the scrutiny & threats of the FBI. So the state used immigration to come after them to get them deported. I find it amusing that despite the state's best, injust, law bending attempts for 5 years to force deportation upon them, that the state failed. Peace was victorious over the injustice.

Lennon & Yoko stood their ground for wanting the war to come to an end & wanting peace. At the end of the documentary their lawyer shared that he got a call saying the appeals court has dropped the deportation issues as Watergate had already occurred. So the lawyer called John & that was the day they were on the way to the hospital to have their baby. Jullian was born on John's birthday & on the same day as freedom from the state.

One historian summed it up as "John was a man of trying to inspire peace. And that is admirable. Nixxon & Mr. Bush are men of death. And that's a bad thing."

Then I read on Yahoo headlines this morning about some U.S. report doubting the Iraqi leaders' ability to govern. Without diplomacy & leadership, what's a nation without peace supposed to do? It's a Mad Max kind of genre. May some out of the box radical visionary in our times figure out how to establish peace there. Our troops are there in harm's way to help the Iraqi people. That is admirable. But a way to peace must be found.

The word Shalom is a blessing. Shalom means peace, completeness, harmony, health, & welfare. May Shalom be upon Iraq & all who can influence change to bring about positive change.

Until later comes turn it up to Shalom.