A recent submission to the "BackTalk" section of the NWI Times:
Bush is aiding America's enemies.
To those readers who believe that people who speak out against Bush are aiding America's enemies, in your own words, get over it. By ordering the invasion of Iraq, Bush has done more to help America's enemies than anyone. He has turned a once sympathetic world against us and, more importantly, has sacrificed American and Iraqi lives carrying on a personal vendetta against the Husseins instead of pursuing Al Quaeda. And now that the Husseins are gone, all Bush is accomplishing in Iraq is death.
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Republicans can be SO sensitive!
On January 5th, an email from me appeared in "BackTalk" section of the local paper. This is what it said:
American resources misguided
A message from Bush: To the thousands of people affected by the Asian tidal waves and to the relatives and friends of the dead, to the injured and homeless and to those who will be enduring food and water shortages and disease in the near future: You have the heartfelt sympathy of the president of the United States. Unfortunately, hearfelt sympathy is all you have because I'm using most of America's resources to kill Iraqis. Sorry. - GRIFFITH
Apparently, my email struck a nerve with one of the readers. Here's his/her reply from today's paper:
Bush is an honest man
To the Griffith resident who said, in his so-called message from President Bush, that America's resources are misguided: Get over it. People like you are helping America's enemies destroy this country, along with the liberal news media, the ACLU and the liberal Democrats in Congress. Mr. Bush is an honest man who says what he means. - DeMOTTE
Well...I'm not exactly sure what I'm supposed to get over, but I'm STILL trying to figure out how I'm helping America's enemies destroy the country. I suppose there MIGHT be groups of America's enemies scattered across the globe who subscribe to the NorthWest Indiana Times and who wait each day to see if I've sent another of my scathing anti-Bush comments in...but I somehow doubt it. As for the liberal news media...they really don't call Bush out a whole lot on his shenanigans anymore. Jon Stewart's really the only one who does that...and admittedly his show is "fake news". The ACLU? What have we heard from them lately? And the "liberal" Democrats in Congress are what keep that whole "two-party system" thing going. What does this guy want? An all-Republican Congress? That would pretty much defeat the purpose of having a representative system of government, wouldn't it? Mr. Bush is an honest man? I really don't know him that well...but somehow, I doubt it. Mr. Bush says what he means? I can hardly understand most of what he says. He's not the most eloquent man, is he? For numerous examples of Bush's eloquence, click on "Republicans can be SO sensitive!" (in green) at the top of this blog.
American resources misguided
A message from Bush: To the thousands of people affected by the Asian tidal waves and to the relatives and friends of the dead, to the injured and homeless and to those who will be enduring food and water shortages and disease in the near future: You have the heartfelt sympathy of the president of the United States. Unfortunately, hearfelt sympathy is all you have because I'm using most of America's resources to kill Iraqis. Sorry. - GRIFFITH
Apparently, my email struck a nerve with one of the readers. Here's his/her reply from today's paper:
Bush is an honest man
To the Griffith resident who said, in his so-called message from President Bush, that America's resources are misguided: Get over it. People like you are helping America's enemies destroy this country, along with the liberal news media, the ACLU and the liberal Democrats in Congress. Mr. Bush is an honest man who says what he means. - DeMOTTE
Well...I'm not exactly sure what I'm supposed to get over, but I'm STILL trying to figure out how I'm helping America's enemies destroy the country. I suppose there MIGHT be groups of America's enemies scattered across the globe who subscribe to the NorthWest Indiana Times and who wait each day to see if I've sent another of my scathing anti-Bush comments in...but I somehow doubt it. As for the liberal news media...they really don't call Bush out a whole lot on his shenanigans anymore. Jon Stewart's really the only one who does that...and admittedly his show is "fake news". The ACLU? What have we heard from them lately? And the "liberal" Democrats in Congress are what keep that whole "two-party system" thing going. What does this guy want? An all-Republican Congress? That would pretty much defeat the purpose of having a representative system of government, wouldn't it? Mr. Bush is an honest man? I really don't know him that well...but somehow, I doubt it. Mr. Bush says what he means? I can hardly understand most of what he says. He's not the most eloquent man, is he? For numerous examples of Bush's eloquence, click on "Republicans can be SO sensitive!" (in green) at the top of this blog.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Drugs in Music and Poetry
With the possible exception of the perennial favorite...LOVE...drugs may have been THE most popular subject of music and poetry in the 60's and 70's and well into the 80's. Whether it's that "peak experience" feeling or simply pleasant memories shared with friends when high, drug use was with us in song for a long, long time. It has only been with the recent return to the puritanical atmosphere of the 50's brought on by born-again bible thumpers and other right-wing types that the subject of recreational drug use in song has fallen from grace.
So...it is with my usual attitude of political-correctness-be-damned that I delve into some of my favorite lyrics and poetry about drug use.
1966...The Beatles Rubber Soul album. Was Norwegian Wood REALLY about smoking pot? "And when I awoke I was alone. This bird had flown. So, I lit the fire. Isn't it good? Norwegian wood." Hmmmm...and what ABOUT Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds?
1969...Woodstock...Arlo Guthrie, son of folk music giant Woody Guthrie (This Land is Your Land) performs a song that goes "Flying into Los Angeleez...Bringing in a couple of keys. Don't check my bags if you please mister customs man."
Also in 1969 (a great year for drug music), a seminal, low-budget film that was all about drugs and how they figured into pursuing the American dream. Yes, it was Easy Rider. The Holy Modal Rounders brought us: "Don't bogart that joint, my friend...pass it over to me." And a little-known group called Steppenwolf brings us "God damn the pusher-man." and "Born to be wild."
Was it in the late 60's or early 70's that an entire album devoted to pot was made? I guess if you remember for sure, you weren't there. But I DO remember the name of the record. It was called "Have a Marijuana" and was by a bunch of New Yorkers (with questionable musical talent) called David Peel and the Lower East Side. Yes...that's the recording that brought us such memorable hits as: "Mother, Where is my Father?" "I Do my Balling in the Bathroom" AND of course "Up Against the Wall Mother F*cker!" (Was that last title censored sufficiently?)
The Seventies...A scruffy and slightly scary writer of children's poetry, Shel Silverstein pens a poem called "The Great Smoke-Off" for Playboy magazine. The first little bit goes something like this: "In the laid-back California town of sunny San Rafael lives a girl named Pearly Sweetcakes. I think you know her well. She was stoned nineteen of her twenty years and I've heard the story told that she can smoke 'em faster than anyone can roll." A far cry from "Where the Sidewalk Ends", don't you think?
Also the seventies: John Prine sang, "You may see me some time...with an illegal smile. It don't cost very much but it lasts a long while. Won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone. No, I'm just trying to have me some fun."
The Eighties...A super-group called the Travelling Wiburies composed of music legends Roy Orbison, Bob Dillon, George Harrison, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne get together and release a couple albums. The first one...by far the most popular of the two features a song about drugs, but not at all glorifying drug use. Perhaps just a hint of what the 90's will bring. Anyway, the song goes something like this: "Tweeter and the monkey-man were hard up for cash. They stayed up all night selling cocaine and hash...To an undercover cop who had a sister named Jan. For reasons unexplained she LOVED that monkey-man." A pretty weird little story in song, huh?
Anyway...that was my foray into the subject of drugs in song and verse. Of course, this blog was for artistic purposes only and in no way constitutes an endorsement of drug use...blah blah blah...yada yada yada.
Later. Peace Out. Word to your Auntie.
So...it is with my usual attitude of political-correctness-be-damned that I delve into some of my favorite lyrics and poetry about drug use.
1966...The Beatles Rubber Soul album. Was Norwegian Wood REALLY about smoking pot? "And when I awoke I was alone. This bird had flown. So, I lit the fire. Isn't it good? Norwegian wood." Hmmmm...and what ABOUT Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds?
1969...Woodstock...Arlo Guthrie, son of folk music giant Woody Guthrie (This Land is Your Land) performs a song that goes "Flying into Los Angeleez...Bringing in a couple of keys. Don't check my bags if you please mister customs man."
Also in 1969 (a great year for drug music), a seminal, low-budget film that was all about drugs and how they figured into pursuing the American dream. Yes, it was Easy Rider. The Holy Modal Rounders brought us: "Don't bogart that joint, my friend...pass it over to me." And a little-known group called Steppenwolf brings us "God damn the pusher-man." and "Born to be wild."
Was it in the late 60's or early 70's that an entire album devoted to pot was made? I guess if you remember for sure, you weren't there. But I DO remember the name of the record. It was called "Have a Marijuana" and was by a bunch of New Yorkers (with questionable musical talent) called David Peel and the Lower East Side. Yes...that's the recording that brought us such memorable hits as: "Mother, Where is my Father?" "I Do my Balling in the Bathroom" AND of course "Up Against the Wall Mother F*cker!" (Was that last title censored sufficiently?)
The Seventies...A scruffy and slightly scary writer of children's poetry, Shel Silverstein pens a poem called "The Great Smoke-Off" for Playboy magazine. The first little bit goes something like this: "In the laid-back California town of sunny San Rafael lives a girl named Pearly Sweetcakes. I think you know her well. She was stoned nineteen of her twenty years and I've heard the story told that she can smoke 'em faster than anyone can roll." A far cry from "Where the Sidewalk Ends", don't you think?
Also the seventies: John Prine sang, "You may see me some time...with an illegal smile. It don't cost very much but it lasts a long while. Won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone. No, I'm just trying to have me some fun."
The Eighties...A super-group called the Travelling Wiburies composed of music legends Roy Orbison, Bob Dillon, George Harrison, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne get together and release a couple albums. The first one...by far the most popular of the two features a song about drugs, but not at all glorifying drug use. Perhaps just a hint of what the 90's will bring. Anyway, the song goes something like this: "Tweeter and the monkey-man were hard up for cash. They stayed up all night selling cocaine and hash...To an undercover cop who had a sister named Jan. For reasons unexplained she LOVED that monkey-man." A pretty weird little story in song, huh?
Anyway...that was my foray into the subject of drugs in song and verse. Of course, this blog was for artistic purposes only and in no way constitutes an endorsement of drug use...blah blah blah...yada yada yada.
Later. Peace Out. Word to your Auntie.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
What's on the back of YOUR car?
OK! NO MORE MAGNETIC RIBBONS!
Let's look at things realistically. Who do those magnetic ribbons REALLY support? You know, the ones that say "Support Our Troops" and "Proud to Be an American".
Those magnetic ribbons support:
1. The slimy leach bastards who are capitalizing on the deaths of American men and women who are made to participate in an illegal and immoral war.
2. The owners of auto-body shops who repair the scratches on the beemers and benz's left by magnetic strips of crap.
3. The redneck jerkoffs who think that people who are against unnecessary war are unamerican.
4. The 51% of Americans who think it's a sin to kill innocent fetus's but commendable to kill innocent non-christians.
You know who REALLY supports our troops? Voluntarily or otherwise, the people who REALLY support our troops are people like me who've been paying income taxes for over thirty years. Unfortunately, MY tax contributions must be going to pay for Bush's inaugural gala because the troops over there STILL aren't getting the body armor and vehicle armor they need. And...if I had my way, MY tax contributions would go to support social programs in the U.S. and relief efforts in areas affected by recent natural disasters. But...regular folks have little say concerning where their tax money goes...even less since the Patriot Act went into effect. Anyone complaining about how his tax money is used THESE days is in danger of disappearing. (I think Orwell called it "becoming a non-person".)
Oh...and ANOTHER thing about things people are putting on the rear ends of their vehicles: I don't give a FUCK whether little Johnny is an honor student at Joseph McCarthy middle school. I don't give a SHIT whether Jesus Saves or Jesus is Lord (whatever THAT means) and I don't give a good DAMN whether Jesus Loves You. What kind of insecure asshole cares what some stranger driving behind him thinks or believes anyway?
The only bumper sticker I've approved of recently was one that said "Jesus Loves You. Everyone else thinks you're an asshole." At least THAT one made me chuckle.
Let's look at things realistically. Who do those magnetic ribbons REALLY support? You know, the ones that say "Support Our Troops" and "Proud to Be an American".
Those magnetic ribbons support:
1. The slimy leach bastards who are capitalizing on the deaths of American men and women who are made to participate in an illegal and immoral war.
2. The owners of auto-body shops who repair the scratches on the beemers and benz's left by magnetic strips of crap.
3. The redneck jerkoffs who think that people who are against unnecessary war are unamerican.
4. The 51% of Americans who think it's a sin to kill innocent fetus's but commendable to kill innocent non-christians.
You know who REALLY supports our troops? Voluntarily or otherwise, the people who REALLY support our troops are people like me who've been paying income taxes for over thirty years. Unfortunately, MY tax contributions must be going to pay for Bush's inaugural gala because the troops over there STILL aren't getting the body armor and vehicle armor they need. And...if I had my way, MY tax contributions would go to support social programs in the U.S. and relief efforts in areas affected by recent natural disasters. But...regular folks have little say concerning where their tax money goes...even less since the Patriot Act went into effect. Anyone complaining about how his tax money is used THESE days is in danger of disappearing. (I think Orwell called it "becoming a non-person".)
Oh...and ANOTHER thing about things people are putting on the rear ends of their vehicles: I don't give a FUCK whether little Johnny is an honor student at Joseph McCarthy middle school. I don't give a SHIT whether Jesus Saves or Jesus is Lord (whatever THAT means) and I don't give a good DAMN whether Jesus Loves You. What kind of insecure asshole cares what some stranger driving behind him thinks or believes anyway?
The only bumper sticker I've approved of recently was one that said "Jesus Loves You. Everyone else thinks you're an asshole." At least THAT one made me chuckle.
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