I don’t listen to a whole lot of gospel music and not a whole lotta blues. But when I do they are usually blended together. One group that has done this masterfully for decades now is Blind Boys Of Alabama. Their original Christmas album is titled GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN.
On the original recording Tom Waits joins them. For this post I wanted to highlight this group without Tom’s able assist – so enjoy this live studio performance of the title track GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN.
If you've followed (or checked in on) this blog for several years then you already know the I've loved the music of Michael Franti & Spearhead.
Today I want to focus in on attitudes. I don't know about the rest of the world but here in "United" States there has been so much negativity and to be honest there have been way too many times I've gotten sucked into that deep dark black hole. Sometimes with reason sometimes for no reason at all except that's the environment I'm in. It's been especially challenging the past 10 years. Well we need to check our attitudes look at the source and either decide to continue the "downward spiral" or change our attitudes. The music of Michael Franti has been that attitude check for me. Here are 3 videos of his music from the past 2-3 years that help. Stay Human. Recognize that people who create headaches and trouble are STILL people. Don't get sucked into typecasting people as villains, enemies, animals, evil etc. When we curse other humans we curse what is human in us. We all have weaknesses, lapses in judgement, we at times can be villains, enemies, animals, evil etc. And the good thing is that we never stay that way. What makes it seem different for some other people - people/celebrities/politicians - is that the media only shows the side of people that are evil, "animals", "enemies" and villains. But enough talk because - I could write a whole lot more - just enjoy the music and videos. So check your attitude and remember with all the bad shit that happens good shit happens also. And work hard and be nice to others even those you don't like or agree with. Remember when you get/got up this morning it was a good day for a good day. If you're unable to view the videos go ahead and lookup the following on YouTube and hopefully you'll be able to find a version that is available in your country:
Michael Franti & Spearhead - Good Shit Happens
Work Hard And Be Nice
Good Day For A Good Day
***A note about the image: I did not create this figure. I only added the majority of text and I did add the blush to the cheeks. The original figure, an American caricature, of “Uncle Sam” (which has become iconic) was originally painted by cartoonist James Montgomery Flagg in 1917 for an American poster that was used for recruitment into the US Army. The poster came into popular use in 1918.
Only in America can you have more mass shootings than any other country in the world. This past week there was yet another school shooting 19 children dead and 1 teacher dead. I grow more infuriated each time this happens knowing it could be prevented.
Here are some basic facts:
1. The politicians are the first to say "we are sorry, our condolences and prayers go out to the victims and their families."
2. These same politicians have REFUSED to take any meaningful action on gun control.
3. These same politicians are "Pro-Life" (anti-abortion): as if to say you need to have your babies so they can grow up and be shot in school. Hey It's just target practice right? It's as if they value infants more than children.
4. These same politicians pockets are financially lined by the powerful gun lobby and NRA.
5. These same politicians feature political adds with them promoting guns.
6. Obviously the voters don't care because they keep voting these people back in to office.
7. The best ideas these bastards have are BAD ideas that only harm the learning environment and teach children to be even more afraid, like:
- Making teachers carry guns
- adding more police presence in schools
- lock down schools
- give children bullet proof backpacks and blankets to keep in the classroom
- give children more training on how to avoid being shot
8. Something's gotta give!
STOP hiding, like cowards, behind the 2nd amendment which has nothing to do with what is currently happening in America. The founding fathers would be so ashamed.
NO MORE INACTION!!!!!!!!!!!
Vote the bastards OUT!!!!!!!!
Gun Control NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The time for "prayers and condolences" is OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
***Share this with everyone (though I doubt few will - because they've become de-sensitized and just don't give a fuck anymore). Welcome to America.
I would not expect you to live your life based on my life experience; DO NOT force me to live my life based on YOUR life experience.
UNTITLED 4/24/2021 We are living in the time of parables and revelations choosing sides retributions morality plays we are “everyman” we are the evil that haunts our reality passport economy buy and sell only if you carry the number of the beast innocuous as an inoculation tremors and terrors of the soul as those who are weak from fear strike out and seek control of the courageous their souls listing off the coast of truth drowning in their desperate thrashing and gnashing of teeth marching and clawing up the mountain of victims they create toward heavens inverted hell fear of a zombie apocalypse the walking dead if we look at the soul it’s already here. We consume media we consume ourselves we consume everything humanity’s legacy on earth will be our consumption we’ve lost too much to turn back now in the past our consumption was tempered tempered by “out of stock” “special order” “import only” cash shortage but that has changed online everything is available all the time any time for a price on credit with our very own pay pal we forgot the payback we forgot the shark will come hunting for what is owed the environment culture social religion politics science all will come hunting and haunting enslaving for what they are owed.
The latest video from the Veritasium Channel. One of my favorite YouTube channels. For the geek in me. LOL.
Song is The Morning Fog by Kate Bush
So you may wonder given the nature of my posts; what are my favorite YouTube channels?
Well hang on to your britches because I’m about to tell you. And some may surprise you. This is by no means a comprehensive list of all channels I follow – but just favorites that regularly and consistently post new content. For examples there are many music channels that I follow but the vast majority have sporadic postings or inconsistent in featuring work that interests me. These are not in any particular rank. Just a list.
And that’s it my friend. Of the 56 channels I follow on YouTube these are my absolute favorites that bring me an endless source of enjoyment, inspiration and information. And to re-iterate – these are not ranked in any particular order. I hope you enjoy them. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend everyone.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
culture wars
begun long ago
and no one cares
living in the moment
ignoring the past
you did not ask for
this war
I did not ask for
this war
yet here we are
stuck on the front lines
drafted by those we did not vote for
A war fomented by the news media
shaped by the influencers on the internet
and social media
Systemic Racism
Economic injustice
Everyone’s a victim
We consume victimization like our favorite foods
We digest our own destruction
21st Century Ouroboros
vipers all
We ignore the shit that comes out the other end
We stubbornly refuse to clean up (it’s up the other person)
We obsessively and repeatedly fuel our consumption of outrage
The scales have tipped
As a species we are tilting at windmills
in our self-prescribed delusion
I did not ask for this war
You did not ask for this war
And the question is not IF we should fight
But HOW we should fight
Military wars always kill
Culture wars are fought for control
control of your mind
control of your freedom
control of your expression
control of your creativity
control of your religion
(even if you have no religion)
control of your education
control of your own body
fingers point everywhere
but no one cares that
when you point one finger
at someone or something else
three fingers point back to you
And the question is not IF
we should fight
But HOW
we should fight
How should I fight this war
that I did not ask for?
It seems an impossible dream
to fight a war
with love, compassion, grace & humility
when all around you
is blame, blind rage, raw hatred
and venomous pride
Jesus didn’t die for any one person’s sins
Two things killed Jesus Christ –
Politics and Religion
Their control threatened by the gospel of peace and love
“You see, control can never be a means to any practical end…It can never be a means to anything but more control…like junk..” (1)
“Is Control controlled by its need to control? Answer: yes.” (2)
The way to win this war is to give up control
to lose control
The death of one is the birth of another
Change is coming that we cannot control
Change is here
Change we can shape
“I awakened to the cry
That the people have the power
To redeem the work of fools
Upon the meek the graces shower
It’s decreed the people rule” (3)
We must surrender this culture of complaint
and realize we will never be able to control others
we can only control our selves.
“Just Do It!” *(4)
Let the lion lie down with the lamb
Let the darkness meet the light
Let hell and heaven merge
in the forge of life on earth
to burn off the dross of our misgivings
revealing yours and mine
shining gold dream
“The siren and the ecstasy, … the one in front of me
New gold dream” (5)
I did not ask for this war
You did not ask for this war
But we CAN end it!
Will We?
“And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
In a way I’m yearning
To be done with all this measuring of truth
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
And I’m not afraid to die” (6)
1 quote by William S Burroughs from NAKED LUNCH
2 quote by William S Burroughs from AH POOK IS HERE; AND OTHER TEXTS
3 lyric from PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER by Patti Smith
4 slogan from Nike commercial
5 lyric from NEW GOLD DREAM by Simple Minds
6 lyric from MERCY SEAT by Nick Cave
Why are people so stupid?
Well the headlines keep getting worse – stranger and stranger – like the story of the Michigan Militia group Wolverine Watchmen arrested for a plot to overthrow the government in Michigan by arresting the Governor and trying her in the groups own makeshift court. The Michigan Militia has been troubling to the history of the state that goes back decades. Formed in 1994 by a former US Air Force veteran. First made the news in 1995 after the Oklahoma City bombing carried out by members Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols.
Militia activity is increasing and is linked to white supremacy but the federal government has repeatedly failed to dismantle and disband these organizations with their “criminal” ideologies and activities. We now pay the price – forget about terrorism from abroad. We create our own!
Canadian music group, Moxy Fruvous, known for their ability to mock, attack, chide, parody, satirize and lampoon life’s insanities, wrote and recorded a song titled Michigan Militia in 1997 after the Oklahoma City bombing. Sadly it continues to be relevant – maybe more so – in the trump era. I’ve always loved this music group and I post this song here (lyrics below).
A very cool video about one of my favorite painters by one of my favorite YouTube channels.
The following video is from a science channel that I follow.
Happy Dog Day. August 26, 2020. For all my friends who are dog lovers.
This has always been my favorite dog song.
And of course, another favorite artist Laurie Anderson had a great movie and soundtrack called HEART OF A DOG. here are two tracks from the soundtrack.
Finally a track by Rush
Another installment: thinking of the world we are leaving our children and the children of the future. We are on the cusp of the next great extinction event caused by climate change. Climate change cause by humanities overwhelming impact on the environment and the planet on which we call home. Our children should not be the ones to warn us yet that is what is happening. We adults have shrugged off our responsibility and now our children are crying out for help. What are we doing to provide light during these dark times? What are we doing to keep them safe? How long will we pat our children on the head and offer our empty comforting words? Or, will we continue to write pretty songs to placate and humor the need instead of meet the need? It’s not enough to say, “It’s just too hard. At least the world won’t end while I’m alive. We’ll let someone else figure it out.”
When will we say, “…NOW is the favorable time. NOW is the day of salvation”(*) for our children?
* II Corinthians 6:2
Born in Cleveland, OH July 18, 1929, Jalacy “Screamin’ Jay” Hawkins would go on to take the world by storm with his unique voice and theatrical presentation. He would leave an indelible mark on popular culture. He would go on to inspire and influence generations of musicians including Tom Waits, Alice Cooper, Marilyn Manson and many others. When I discovered Tom Waits in college (mid 1980’s) I found out that one of his major influences was Screamin’ Jay. So naturally I had to check it out. I now own many Screamin’ Jay Hawkins discs. He recorded his signature hit I PUT A SPELL ON YOU many times. And just about anyone who is anybody in the music world has covered this song. But there are so many other delights. He is funny, witty, wry, satirical. Trained on classical piano he wanted to be an opera singer and sited Paul Robeson as an inspiration and Caruso was also a big influence – but when that failed to come to fruition he blossomed in the cabaret circuit and that is where his transformation into the kitschy character performer – often performing with voodoo props, rubber snakes and cigarette smoking skull he affectionally named Henry. He has had several movie appearances.
If you’ve never heard Screamin’ Jay Hawkins before you are in for a treat. Enjoy.
A simple fact.
The wind turns like a dagger, the rain falls like a hammer
The sky has grown dark but it’s not too late
The weather crashes down, what’s lost cannot be found
The night is closing but it’s not too lateIt’s not too late, it’s not too late
It’s not too late, it’s not too late
The atmosphere is lethal but I will fear no evilThe ocean rolls like thunder, the tempest pulls us under
The dogs are howling but it’s not too late
As broken structures rust, false idols turn to dust
All lies in ashes but it’s not too lateIt’s not too late, it’s not too late
It’s not too late, it’s not too late
The atmosphere is lethal but I will fear no evilIn the dark before the dawn, the echo of the siren song
Dies away like a ghost, as the day breaksIt’s not too late, it’s not too late
It’s not too late, it’s not too late
The atmosphere is lethal but I will fear no evil
... on being and becoming ... 