never mind

that's it. Never mind.
If I have nothing nice to say then hell with it.
I think I will disable comments again soon. I'm just too flooded with them to keep up

Ed McMahon of Blues Harp

Ed's job was pretty much to make Johnny look good. If you don't remember Carson, don't worry about it. Just to paint a pcture; Carson is to Letterman what a tuxedo is to a liezure suit. Except Carson is no longer with us. Just a little perspective on late night.

Anyway, I cannot play like Jason Ricci or Sugar blue, or even Brandon Santini, but I do a good job enhancing the sound of musical groups without being the front man. I'm a sideman, and that is what I do best. I blend and accent. That has usually been my goal, and a skill acquired both intentionally and by necessity. At open jams way back when the best way to get a turn was to play on things other harmonica players avoided. That meant accenting songs not commonly thought of as blues harp tunes.

The people I liked best get little credit in blues harp circles but they are great sidemen. The guy with Willie Nelson and the guy who used to be with Buffet--some kind of misguided ego thing must have split those guys apart. Neither is as good without the other. Buffet without the harmonica player just don't cut it. Anyway Willie and Mickey are still going. Mickey Raphael may have done some solo stuff, but the sidework with Willie has to be the bread and butter. It works.

Even though I think I ought to be getting better at a more rapid rate, or that I should be able to play like some of these other guys, the truth is I do what I do fairy well, and there is an art to it. Norton Buffalo is the main other guy I've seen who can pay while a vocal is going without messing up the sound or drowning out the voice. Norton was a far better player but not that much better when it came to purely back up.

This realization just kind of hit me. I've been playing more with the guys on the mountain lately. We've been practicing some tunes. They all sing well and play some good accoustic guitar

Ouch. If you have recessed bedframe legs, then you are lucky. If mine were just set in about 3 inches I would not have stubbed toes. That is how all bed frames should be made.

Edge of the Earth

I wonder when I actually fell off the edge of the feverish earth. I wonder if it would have made a difference if it wasn't feverish. Actually, I think that is an idiotic characterization of the planet, but Al's convinced a lot of people it makes sense, and he's made tons of dough in the process.

The effort to get back on this side of the edge has been successful in some ways. Considering I may have been over the edge all my life with brief periods just about getting firmly planted on solid land, the progress is somewhat significant. But, I do not find it easy to clearly define or see the path to real solidity. It doesn't help that I abhor official red tape and interference in life, and find it almost a moral dilemma when it comes to jumping through hoops that ought not be there. Most people don't see it that way and they enjoy a lot of things I don't. Maybe I'm wrong.

Those are things that might have been considered, were I capable of that, long before now. Since I know I was not capable of meaningful analysis back then, it doesn't matter. The thing now is how to get into the flow of things, be secure and in compliance with at least most of the laws of the land. I certainly wouldn't want to do it by being on any government subsidized program. Ought to be my choice.

Then we get to health insurance. Mine lapsed some time ago. I've paid as I've needed, and I've kept something set aside to cover things that might come up--to a point. Beyond that, I would just do without.

However, under the new law I will be required to buy, and if I can't, I'd be required to demonstrate my inability to reasonably purchase this product so that the government can then subsidize the forced purchase. That, of course would mean I'd have to be monitored, much like people on welfare. Except I do not want anything to do with it. I find this a hurdle in my journey to center of the earth. These are not benevolent initiatives on the part of government officials and agencies.

Those who think that it is kind to spend tax money on the peons, provided of course they submit to paternal oversight, do not ever think they will be on the receiving end, and they obviously think those who could be are inferior beings. Fair enough. The trouble ramps up when you force people into that that system. If I somehow make a lot of money, then maybe I can feel fine complying with laws which are absurd in a free land. Until then, not so much.

For now I will just convince myself and the world that I am Amish, or a Christian Science practitioner, and forget the rest. It just confuses the what now question. Living a simple life out of the fray is becoming illegal. That is wrong. And no, I do not feel the slightest obligation to be involved in what is euphemistically called "the community". What they mean by that is unclear. You do not take from a community if you live there, conduct business and behave. You have no reason to "give back". Everyone who does something useful or kind contributes.

The sickness has been so ingrained in the psyche of people in this and other countries that logic scares people more than slavery.

Maybe over the edge the better side.

Life in the Golden State:--legalizing the controversial weed

November will be an interesting thing in CA. Among other things, legalizing marijuana is on the ballot. This will be interesting because the tax funded war on drugs (which I think has done more to promote the use of truly harmful substances than it has to curb them) has been waged in quite a curious manner. I cite the cases in which our federal people have aided smugglers while punishing their own whenever they got in the way of certain cartels' operatives. Under the Bush era, several border patrol agents were put behind bars in trials marked by withheld evidence and violent smugglers being paid to testify.

Nothing has changed in that regard, except the pretense of protecting citizens on the border has been lifted a bit.

It was never a war against drugs. It was always a war to ensure certain entities maintained their trafficking networks. I do not know all the detailed ins and outs, but the basic duplicity of the effort is clear. It is hard to keep clear of conspiracy theory when looking at this stuff, but I try. I remember when no one knew what crack was---until the NY Times ran an article describing it, explaining not only how cheap it was but details on how to manufacture it. Really, they gave the entire recipe and process. Anyone with a little cocaine could have used that article as a guide for turning it into crack. Soon, the stuff was all over the place.

So far, from what I've heard, more right leaning people appear in favor of legalization than not. No idea what Arnold's take is. My guess is that he is opposed. I am guessing that behind the scenes La Raza will work against it. It would prove troublesome to the illegals who run farms in national forests. It would also limit the income of the gangs who are part of the drug distribution network. Of course, as much as people pretend otherwise, they also promote some much more damaging substances.

Denial is the only explanation I can figure for the view that alcohol is safer and less likely to accompany violence than is marijuana. Until the recent lunatics who became unruly on airplanes and such, then blamed it on medical pot, I had never known of purely cannabis induced violence. I believe that those who blame their violent behavior on being stoned are lying, hoping ignorant and idiotic authorities or juries will buy the excuse. It is simply not the nature of the substance on the huge preponderance of people.

Of course, those who run the illegal farms on federal land are prone to violence, but not due to use of the weed.

Personally, I am for legalizing pot, and any other plant you care to grow, as long as it isn't a plant that grows out of control and destroys the countryside, like kudzu. I'd make most pharmaceuticals available to adults who feel the need, without the hassle of going to a doctor for a prescription.

Some of us prefer to manage our own health care, and often the doctor visit is merely an exercise in legal extortion which is unnecessary as our own common sense would have worked just fine. Those who are prone to addiction are going to find it anyway, and in many cases became hooked under their doctor's guidance. It is highly possible that left to their on devices they might not have done it. The MD's stamp of approval gives a false sense of safety and security. It must be the best thing if the doctor says it is OK. If I make a bad choice I can sue the doc.

Legalizing pot could save money. One less thing for heavy handed police state interference. Also there are many useful products that hemp in various forms provides. Mostly, what business is it for anyone to tell me what I cannot grow or taste? The initiative allows one to use a 5 foot by 5 foot plot for personal growing use. It CA it is the number one cash crop--15 billion. The second highest yielding farm product is dairy at about half that amount. So, for the most part we are feeding gangs and Mexican cartels billions while wasting time trying to enforce personal choice.

From my experience I strongly believe the number one "gateway drug" is alcohol. You get drunk enough and you have no idea of the end result. Most people do not push it that far but the fire water is big trouble for some. Just a fact, not a reason to prevent its use or to make people obtain a special license to enjoy a glass of wine. Production of alcoholic beverages in an ancient art, and it gives much pleasure to many. If you are one who can't appreciate it properly, then you ought to avoid it. I guess it is like art appreciation---if your idea of great art is the tiger on black velvet, then best not to let anyone know.

It is highly unlikely that actual use and abuse of drugs will increase if big brother gets out of the act. Some studies allegedly confirm that assertion. Ever skeptical of the "studies show" arguments, I would not wager the farm on it. To me that is irrelevant. I strongly, achingly, believe that the birthright of all humans is to live free as long as you don't infringe on the right of others to do the same. And that trumps any studies and most else.

If the illegal voters and corrupt government entities and lobby groups who profit from keeping this plant under control of thugs don't skew the vote, I think it will pass. If so, I think I'll start a cottage business manufacturing special butter, salads, and maybe chocolate treats. The trick is that cannabis is fat/oil soluble, and also alcohol soluble. Water, not so much.

Then again, I doubt I'd even use it except possibly on highly special occasions. Anything that limits the number of excuses for random search and seizure is good. We gave up our right to be free of search without probable cause under this phony "war on drugs". Like health care, the reaction to lunatic terrorists, and who knows what, it was merely another move for an elite to control the population and increase their power.

I'm all for fighting violent thugs and insanely motivated terrorists who think Allah wants them to kill infidels, but I am not in agreement to combating these things by imprisoning citizens and intruding on their right to liberty willy nilly.

So, with some luck, California will let go of the ban on pot, while continuing to fight the evils of trans fats and that stuff you put in the atmosphere when you sigh--CO2.

Maybe they'll even begin to look at the causes for something like 47000 businesses leaving the state in a year's time. Maybe it was 4700. I'll double check, but in either case, that is not a good trend, and there are obvious reasons for it. Anywhere this beautiful and sunny is not easy to leave without good reason.

I knew I heard that 47K number. This from a thing called The Digital Report in an article discussing a [piece of legislation in CA designed to take into account economic impact when making other laws, or some such thing. CA is impact crazy; how will the seals respond? What about the safety of children who walk too fast? Will the earth suffer a worse fever? What about the coyotes? The owls? The manzanitas? etc
The Census Bureau’s 2010 Statistical Abstract of the United States provides that one of every six American employers that closed permanently in 2008 was in California. Our state experienced 45% more business closures than launches, compared to 10.5% nationally. By the end of that year there were almost 47,000 fewer businesses in California than in 2007.

Most likely a lot just went off the radar. It is easier to operate if you class yourself as an undocumented business, person, or worker. Anything else is far too complicated to process with anything but a sick, warped and, quite possibly, brain damaged mind--the sort that embraces and relishes red tape and legal tyranny.

Strange Days: part 2010.420

I know these things don't bother most people, and I often wonder why they bother me. Even more often, I wonder why they don't seem to concern others. Maybe it has to do with conditions of my youth. Then again, I may be right.

OK. Treaties. When did countries like Russia ever actually honor them? Putin, being a product of USSR and KGB, is not the sort you wave down to say you are going to take the bullets out of your gun for no good reason. It is pointless.

The oft quoted notion that the job of the USA is to bring our way of life or democracy to the rest of the world. No, it is not our job, and it is a terrible idea. Live free and mind your own business. Either others choose to follow that lead or not. If they don't mess with you then leave it at that. We have more people in jail than anyone, so how about we fix our own place.

Everything divided up between minorities and whatever is left over. And on top of that, lumping all females in the group considered a minority. What about just enforcing equal treatment under the law, eliminating a slew of laws, and that's that? Anything else is unequal treatment under the law and can never work well in the long run.

I knew life was getting screwy in this country when I found a little girl's purse at the airport, where I worked, and my coworkers were pissed off because I refused to take the money it contained before tracking down the rightful owner. In Memphis, working for that same company, Out of 21 employees it turned out that only 4 or 5 did not steal from the company on a regular basis. I mean real theft--money. I may be overstating the case by saying as many as five did not steal. It may have only been three.

I have a feeling the last years of my life will be spent in hiding. Maybe I never should have read Brave New World, Anthem, or 1984. We are so there it is scary. Uninvited and unwarranted authority and oversight over individual lives gives me the creeps. I'm constitutionally incapable of taking it voluntarily. I always hated bullies, and often found ways to launch counter attacks as a youth, or yout, if you prefer.

What good does it do for a governor and/or senator to "survey damage" with a cadre of cameras and reporters after an earthquake? Can't they just get the info via pictures and such? What a waste of money to fly them down there then disrupt the town for security reasons while they walk around looking serious for the cameras. I'm sure Calexico is so much better off since the morons, Arnold and Barbara Boxer made their appearance. I've always despised that politician grandstanding trick.

The thing that stills puzzles me is why the elitists want world domination and total control of the lives of individuals. It is against the nature of man, providing the species is not drugged. What is happening is definitely a big leap toward closing off every last vestige of life lived without permission and control. I don't even know if I can ride a bike on this dirt road without a helmet. I think you are supposed to have a license to keep a cat or dog. I can only hope that it quickly comes around to bite those who continually play smartass with the rationalizations for such tyranny because up until now they are not affected.

I'm a poor candidate to seek citizenship in Cuba. I can definitely see that. I believe Boxer is the one who thinks the Cuban model of control is admirable. They must hate people like me who just want to live a day without worrying about what forms I may have not kept up with.

VAT? What a euphemism, "value added tax". More like cost added at gunpoint. No value is added. No long term benefit is derived. This is what guilt over being productive has given us. There are some very seedy people in high places directly in government and in companies which use government to gain power. That's why so much stuff is made in foreign sweat shops in less than free countries.
Screwed up mess.

If you think third world people are fun, and that ignorance is genius, just take a look at who drives like homicidal/ suicidal maniacs as a percentage of the notable crazies on the road. First subtract out the lawyers on cell phones in the BMWs after happy hour.

Tiger Woods; what do phony self righteous pundits want?

The most disturbing aspect of the Tiger scandal is how all those women suddenly turned when the cat was barely out of the bag. They knew he was married, knew everything. So, now that it is a story they all want their piece of fame and fortune by piling on with the hypocrites in the media, pretending they are somehow victims and he is the ultimate evil. Deception is not a good thing, for sure. But putting a target on someone, pulling out all stops under the excuse that he gets paid to promote products and play a sport professionally is over the top.

I've heard sports shows very somberly address the issue, even suggesting he be suspended from the sport for a time. e did not have any three ways on the 18th green during a tournament. Sick as it may be, he did not advertise his private antics. That has been the sport of the media and self serving skanks.

I believe he does feel changed and that he is experiencing what one feels when waking up from a long term nightmare. Some of these reporters have complained that he hasn't been open enough since the story broke. What do they want? It sounds as if some will only be happy with a very detailed sexologue describing each encounter in graphic detail. I think they are self righteous opportunists.

If he used pain medication, so what? Those are not performance enhancing substances. I'm not sure any drug would help you play golf better.

I actually applaud Nike, a company I did not previously like, for not dropping him. It may actually be the case that he has opened his eyes to the gratitude he should feel for his fans and for the things in life that are real and enduring. I'm hoping he's allowed to do what he can to embrace a new outlook and undergo a psychic change.

Nothing rings less true than the same people who worship celebrity, and snoop into any of their love lives they can, suddenly pretending to be neo puritans.

As for the commercial with his father's voice posing questions, I see nothing wrong. It is not so easy to avoid pitfalls in those shoes. Age and horror ridden experience does change one's judgement for the better.

No idea why, but I am more of a Tiger fan than I was before this scandal hit the press.

Oh boy, I know some women who will go through the roof. I do not agree with deception, and do not hold harmless those who play a part in it; in this case the legions of publicity and money seeking tarts who have jumped into the limelight with their hands out.

I think the press and many people won't be happy until they get the videos. A really sorry form of voyeurism fuels their approach to this matter.

Tales From The Neighborhood

I decided not to say "'hood" because I am sick of pretending hiphop racists are anything different than the most obnoxious rednecks. Same damned thing: violence is OK and glorified for no good purpose. Women are viewed psychotically, and anyone not just like them is free game--the enemy.

OK. That wasn't the point. I'm reacting, which is what people putting out news want. Why, I do not know. I know much of it is pure fiction. I believe a lot of people are creating or fabricating various incidents, primarily undocumented, in order to class any dissenter as an enemy of the people. We are experiencing what early stages of many totalitarian regimes experienced. It did not happen over night. Those who blindly thought "my country, right or wrong" and went along with all the baby steps for the last 80 years, or more, can't feign sudden surprise with any sympathy from me. They have been as afraid of freedom as any career politician.

In the mean time, while I wait for people to figure it out, I am living lucky.

The flowers were bright hot pinkish purple in front of my cottage but the picture hardly shows them. This is a pretty place, especially the last couple of days.
The geography of a place is a big deal. Looks like this month's rent will be paid on time, again. Not a bad gig when I look at it objectively. Lots of people have drama out the yazoo. I have to say, my life is not very dramatic. Few conflicts other than the perpetual internal ones. Even those are losing steam.



The hang gliding friend told me of a launch site east of here. He said the road used to only be accessible by four wheel drive vehicles. I think he meant all-terrain military vehicles. My car made it fine, but it is a beloved Subaru. Other cars I've had, for the most part would have had trouble. I was surprised this car had enough clearance. It is a wild several miles of dirt switchbacks. I want to go there on a weekend when people are flying off of there. My friend said he and his wife used to fly from there a lot. They were instrumental in getting the road upgraded to the quality it is today. They must have used mules to get up there in the early days of this site.


These are phone pics and maybe lose a little in detail, but you get the idea. That's what some call "the eight" down there. That's Californian for highway 8 or I-8. People have managed to soar to Yuma from this place.

Oh, and there's a bit of the hood of the tour mobile number 2. Number one met an untimely death last summer. July, I think. You can probably sense from its expression that it is chomping at the bit for a massive road trip.

Forgot about Hugo

RE the last post, which you probably did not read, same as this one:

I forgot the Hugo Chavez take on the Haitian earthquake. He claimed the USA did it through tectonic plate warfare. I vaguely remember that. My mind was refreshed on Coast to Coast with George Noory. George wasn't saying it. Someone just mentioned that Hugo made that claim since they were talking about things like ... I don't know what... something, I'm sure.

Speaking of earthquakes, here's Hugo with Courtney Love. She thinks he's sexy. They met at the premier for some Oliver Stone film.


The amazing thing about celebs and tyrants is that under such a regime, they'd be beggars, unless of course they were among the favored few. It is clear that more than a few in Hollywood and elsewhere find butchers and dictators chic, and that they assume they will always be among the elite, under any circumstances.

Shake Rattle and Roll

Finally, the cabin shook like crazy, and I could confidently chalk it up to seismic activity. Supposed some of the after shocks have been in the 5 range. Normally, I assume it is just my own form of partial seizure when things appear to be shaking. Sometimes, that is the case. Not today.

Fortunately, if anyone is blaming the oil companies, disposable razors, carbon dioxide, George Bush, Nancy Pelosi, or America's tolerance of gays, I haven't heard it. Of course I did hear equally scientific explanations for Haiti's earthquake.

Being the ultra scientific expert that I am, I have found bits of truth in various past causal theories and formed my own learned opinion regarding the underlying causes of this occurrence.

Al Gore has proven beyond a doubt that the earth is running a temperature. Not totally on subject, but that then proves the earth is warm blooded and will die if it gets too hot or cold. Or it could run too high a temperature for too long and suffer brain damage. This may have already happened, but I'll save that scholarly investigation for another time.

Danny Glover, noted seismologist, asserts that global warming caused by activities of humans causes earthquakes. He and Al both believe humans are the cause of things that happen in nature which are inconvenient to man. In science this is known as the "inconvenient causal loop theory".

I have determined that earth is running a temperature but is suffering from a cold. It can be easily proven and you'll find the details in this month's issue of Science Things Only Offered Publicly In December.

So, the short of it is this, man made inconvenience has caused the earth to have a feverish cold which resulted in the earth sneezing and, if you'll forgive the indelicacy, some flatulence also resulted. When the earth poots or sneezes, either volcanoes erupt, tidal waves are generated, and/or earthquakes strike.

There you have it. Humans being human caused the earth to shake. It can be prevented by planting trees, but not all on one side of the place or it will capsize, and by buying yourself down to neutral through approved carbon offset firms. It may help to pour massive amounts of aspirin and chicken soup all over the ground and particularly down volcanic craters, both active and inactive.

Unshakable

So, there I was inside a UHAUL truck, the kind with "Mom's Attic", trying to get a table, or dog house (don't remember) in place. Nothing unusual when you are helping the Waterfront gypsies move things over there about a mile.

When we exited the truck looking for more objects to load, the guy who'd been piddling around with things in the basement room claimed there had been an earthquake, much creaking, rattling and shaking. Yea, sure. Then I returned to the front yard and noticed neighbors out there asking me if I had felt IT. As the wife flirted in that semi-buzzed, afternoon cocktail sort of way, the husband explained that he'd lived here for a hundred years and never felt such a quake.

Later, others reported rattling dishes and things nearly falling off of shelves. M and I noticed nothing. We were doing important work.

This could be a testament to a number of things. It could be proof of our extreme focus when a job is to be done--no time for foolish movements of the earth, who allegedly has a fever. Or it could be we are obliviots, totally unaware of our surroundings and the nature of activity around us. We may be totally unaware of what The Earth tries to tell us in the only way it knows to communicate. Once again, completely environmentally deaf and blind, I mean hearing and sight impaired.

I came all this way expecting to find hippy chicks, earthquakes and beach parties. Finally, an earthquake that got everyone's attention, except M's and mine.

One explanation may be found in what some teachers and others said of me many years ago--that I float through life without my feet ever touching the ground. That would explain not feeling the planet complaining or whining.

Had this been centered in a populated area rather than arid land with few people, there could have been trouble. Would I have noticed? I guess there is no guarantee.

Of all the explanations for not noticing an earthquake, I prefer to think it is just that I am unshakable.