DEAR Olympic Committe and WHO, got 3 words for you. And then a bunch more...

OK.  First, three words; D D T

I am not prepared to debate the ills of using a little of the stuff once in awhile.  Seriously, saving some human lives and pain is not a bad thing.  Sometimes you have to weight things out.  And here is where we run into trouble.

There seem to be varying and competing ideas of what things weigh.  Some see the value of a one celled organism as more valuable than human life.  Certainly many value mink, polar bears, or minnows more than humans.  Not that there really ought to be so many of these issues.  Lunatics always seem to spearhead these little warring factions.

I thought I would look at Drudge incase I could figure out what some facebook picture was about.  I avoid a lot of news so I am often behind on the trivia.  This thing touted a rally in which a hundred thousand bikers showed up and heard Trump and no one made trouble, fought, beat up cops or horses.

Was it a real thing?  Or imagined?  Or maybe only half true?  We just don't know.

But what struck me was a headline claiming the now famous dead gorilla was really just protecting the boy at the zoo.  So I hit the link to the story which contain the alleged video proof.  What nonsense!

I watched the video and the gorilla dragged the kid suddenly and unbelievably rapidly through the shallow water.  Nothing even slightly gentle about that.  It was freaky.  I do feel, from the background hysteria and nonsense that maybe they should have capped Mom first.  But this outrage is insane, giving existing circumstances.

 Of course you can't have a zoo without really working to maintain any idiot-proof features you can dream up.  No way you can depend upon people to manage themselves or their children.  Most people are OK, but plenty are worthless and screw things up one way or another wherever they go.

Why the blatant lie and misrepresentation by Drudge and the Daily Mirror, I have no idea.  But that is really bad.  How can you watch the video and believe it shows the kid was safe?  They have such a low opinion of people that they think they can let you see proof that they are lying but that you will think the opposite because that is what told you to think.

And really, Olympic people, forget all this nonsense trying to be politically obnoxious. Just do summer games in Sydney and maybe alternate with whatever Canada wants to do.  And Winter Olympics should always be in Norway and, I would say France, but they have too many lunatic muslims running amok.  Maybe Canada somewhere for that too.  Or some small but not insane country I cannot right now draw to mind.  But no USA, no China or other totalitarian regime, and no place like Brazil that is overrun with riffraff and mosquitoes.

It is stupid to give it to places that cannot pull it off.  But I hate olympics in the US any more. Just asking for trouble in present environment.   Most of Europe is the same way as far as being too vulnerable through fruits of their own pretense and stupidity to reasonably and prudently host the Games.

Texas Ranch-Style Wedding; best ever

I was a groomsman.  What a blast.  This Valor and Lace experience is really helping me pull out of near hopeless feeling blues.  Depression, I guess.

The Holy man somehow cued Chris to repeat the first bit, but it was Emily's line.  He bagan asking himself to be blablabla

Anyway, when I am around this bunch and included in things like their wedding, it makes me feel like my life is probably worth living, and actually enjoying.  I have trouble with that, I confess.

I am the guy with the white shirt, black hat, and cowboy boots.

This band is like a family in a way that few are.   I cannot explain it.  Clearly, I have a lovely family.  I am not one who thinks I want to substitute or discount blood and all that.  But this is still family. Most people have that sort of thing in some way in their lives.

**The rest of us backed another guy who sang some songs, and people danced like crazy.  Emily is a superb dancer.  It is like a real expression of joy with her.  Country and western people do line dancing and such too.  I think because you don't have to deal with a particular partner if you don't want.  

This is the whole group.  Richard on resonator, JRod on bass, Chris, Emily, and the harmonica player. 

Chris' charisma is really amazing.  Women like him, and even seem like the fact that he is all Emily.  And guys like him.  He was a badass scout sniper in Afghanistan.  And almost got blown up. Like most musicians other than myself, his hearing is a little screwy.  That's why the in-ear monitors he and Emily use made so much different.  When he can hear, he is not pitchy, and it is good.  I have never seen anyone make such progress vocally and instrumentally in such a short time. 

They'll be heading to Texas, north of Austin, Georgetown - Weir vicinity.   Richard resonator too.
If I  can figure a way to slit time, between states, that would be ideal.  That would require some effort and change everything, make more money and find some way to get healthier.

I met a guy who uses cbd oil and has had huge success in combating Mesothelioma.   Upon diagnosis, he was thought to have less than a year to live.  It has been over six and you would never know he had issues.  They don't just ignore the medical world, but his wife took a lot of this into her own hands, so a combination of cannabis oils containing various thc to cbd ratios and such has really made a difference.  Food for thought.

Under certain circumstances, these measures can be a Godsend to a person suffering.  That is not BS as you may have heard.

So I really liked all the Texans there.  Not that many there, but it was great.  I'm glad I have family living there now, both native Texans and transplants.  If only the Seattle nephew wasn't seriously allergic to Austin.  We have yet to pin it down.  It is his excuse to his brother for not moving. Besides they love Seattle.  Another story.  I love Seattle, too.

It is very flattering to have been asked to be in this wedding.  That is a very significant gesture, coming from Emily and Chris.   The type of loyalty involved with this group is not like people who grew up in Miami usually encounter.  Not with my group.  Heartbreaking in a way.

So, this band is getting better, and we made a big splash up the coast on Friday.

So the kid I gave my spare Suzuki Manji to has been listening to all kinds of harmonica and blues stuff, trying to master certain sounds or licks.  I heard he was holding court with it at recess at school, playing whatever he has learned to play and his mom says he was a big hit with the kids.  She implied the lick mastery was more in is head than real.  I get that.

That kid will be a monster by the time he is 12.  I better learn his name.

So, I have been a bit torn.  I have my interest in playing with Enter the Blue Sky as well.  I think they have very different markets. It is just my niche that I work well with both.  I do not see any of the other players of either group playing with the other.

I would love to have the fluidity of movement to work with both bands and particularly figure a good marketing strategy for Sande and ETBS.   Chris and Emily are doing better at moving Valor and Lace along than I ever could.  It is a very different deal.

Also, I don't know that I can stop the subtle self defeating strategy that I feel ETBS(enter the blue sky) sometimes employs.  Right now, I do not have enough energy to figure out how to make her material bring money and implement a plan.  But, I guess I can be a critic.  Sometimes critics are right.

The thing is, I developed somewhat of a different style by playing with Sande, and it is a good thing.  So, I will play.  I enjoy it, just not when we play venues I hate.  For little or absolutely nothing.

Chris and Richard, his wife, Sharon, and Emily all say I am coming to Texas soon enough.  If I can find the right things to keep me going, plus playing with Chris and them, I will do it.  I want to be nearer family, but not when I am isolated, useless, and down on myself.  I have to approve of what I am doing rather than waste away.  If I am near them, I have to be better.  Just how it is, Plus there are little kids there.  Have to always up the game.  The deal of being an example of what not to do is pure bunk and garbage.  Show kids what you want for them and from them, not the opposite.  It is how the mind works.  Although an electric shock when they don't comply is perfectly good practice, if you want results.

So, if you are the one, go ahead and marry me now. Let's just resign ourselves to such fate.  But you must be perfect for me.  Whatever that would be.  Probably pleasant enough and don't find me annoying.

Memorial Weekend

Valor and Lace--the country band with the ex marines and Emily, and JRod--and with me---played Laguna Hills today.
Holy smoke.  What a cool event.

This neighborhood, or maybe the town adopted the Team Dark Horse, 3rd battalion, 5th Marines.  They did adopt them with the purpose of helping them out in various ways.  The houses around the park/ranch where the event took place were like small high end hotels.  You could fit a village in just one house.  Maybe just one of their multi car garages.

And then you were lucky if there was 10 feet between dwellings.  Weird.  These were very high end dwellings.  I prefer a little more rustic.  Rustic is forgiving.  If I do something clumsy,  most likely nothing will be damaged.  Whether it is wipe up a spill or whatever else might fit that bill.

Great outdoor event, lights on towers, nice stage.  We were one of four groups.  With the lights all you could see from the stage was the spotlights and the blue lights up and down the light towers out in front of us.  All else was a sea of black.  I could not see the people.  But I could hear them.

People like this bunch.  Richard the resonator player saw whatever it is with these two first.  Chris was the Marine and went through a music therapy program they started for PTSD, and I think he got off all the meds they were feeding him.  His mother a sister were in from TX for this and he and Em getting married on Sunday.  And I am in it. Along for the ride.  These people are having an impact on me.

That may be good.  I always enjoy being alive when I am around them.  Strange. but good

Demonstrators? Of what?

Media and others tend to call people "demonstrators", and even preface it with the word "peaceful", when they are anything but.  I have no idea why they would be called demonstrator, except the word "demon" is contained within.  What is being demonstrated?

I never did get that.  Protester, I guess.  It makes sense.  But again, what is being called peaceful protesting is nothing but thuggery and sadistic violence to make sickos feel happy.

All I am saying is, if you don't like what Trump has to say, don't go to the rallies, and instead voice your views wherever you do such things.  But you go out there and hurt horses?   And their riders?  I don't care if they are cops.  You are so far over the line, you are lucky to be alive.  If they don't get you, someone like me could end up doing it. I would make you apologize to the horse and rider.  And groom their horses every day for six months.  That is after you pay any money you have to defray medical expenses and property damage caused by you and your bully friends.

If you think it is OK to silence Trump through violence, then, in principle, you are saying it is OK for the government to silence you with guns and such.  You never know when you may fail to be in proper alignment with viewpoint of those calling the shots.

This is not about Trump.  This is about people who twist the victim label around using it as an excuse to commit any violence and lack of reasoning they see fit.  And as prone to violence and hatred as those people are, violence is what they love.   It is kind of low to throw rocks at police, when they don't want to be there but they have to because thugs decide to congregate, hoping to intimidate people out of their freedom of assembly and speech.

I hate mob violence and the mentality of those who have to hang in a pack or a herd.

The New Me, yippee kie yay, lil' dawggies

I already uploaded this pic on facebook. It is a bootleg shot from Blazing Saddles.  Slim Pickens watching Alex Kerras(?) combust due to a bean issue.  I believe that is correct.

Whatever the deal, now that I have cowboy boots, and a white cowboy shirt with snaps, and a black cowboy hat for Chris' and Emily's wedding this weekend, I am changing my name to Slim Belmondo.

But this Friday, we go up the coast to play at a huge veteran memorial day event.  They have other groups, three of them.  They are of a different nature than this group, Valor and Lace.  The wedding is Sunday in this neck of the woods.  See, I talk like a cowboy now.  Boy, howdy, them dawggies.

Now that Richard Resonator is back and sometimes J-Rod plays bass for us, it is really taking shape.  Chris and Em are young 30's and exceptionally good looking in a likable, approachable way.  And they are heavy duty Texas swamp country.  It is getting swampier with what Richard and I do.  Resonator is generic word for Dobro.  The latter is apparently a brand or something. like Coke.

I heard a recording Chris did through the board at our last practice in Em's garage.  It sounded way better than I thought.  Also people are highly attracted to them.  Richard and I help them sound good. But the persona that seems to attract people is that thing they have going.  I cannot tell you why, but every time I am around them, I leave feeling more optimistic and about life, more confident, less negative.

The four of us went to Boot Barn to get stuff to wear at their wedding.  It is a bit of a western-casual affair.  They did not want people to feel like they had to go overboard who are in the wedding.  I am in it.  Richard is best man which is way cool.  He's 70.  Chris is maybe 33.  Of course both had a stint in the Marines in entirely different eras under different conditions, but with much the same scars.  They deal with it better and quicker now in most ways.

So, we were there 2 1/2 hours.  Various reasons, but it was fun the whole time.  And Emily did all the brain work and else.  She found stuff we couldn't.  Really an amazingly capable and high energy person.  I could see her running a large corporation, juggling a hundred things at one time and staying on top of all. I guess most women I know are exceptional in ways like that.

It was clear today that we were quite willing to let her be the brains and also decide yay or nay.

I got some spiffy cowboy stuff now.  I'm going to be tipping my black hat to the pretty girls, "Ma'am. All I'm askin' is eight seconds.  Whataya say?"

Tune up!! Or the harp player gets it!!!

Now I am a cowboy.  I do believe my country music friends are likely to catch on.  I have watched how audiences want to like them. They want to like their music before they hear it.  And now it is good, so they don't have to try to hard to like it.

I am in two bands.  After what the other did in the studio, and how the country one is doing, I am pushing both to apply for South by Southwest in Austin.  It is a huge deal and means something big to get invited.  What if both made it?

So I Benefit the Most

When it comes to healthcare, I do not think I can force trained professionals to serve me, or save me. Believe me, even when they are trying, they are not always very sharp.  Sometimes.

So, the country has been all into the healthcare thing; Obamacare, et al.   It is like a ball of yarn assembled by a cat.

I listen to people whose deductibles went north, whose premiums and coverage are less favorable, etc.  And I know people who have to go to the primary in order to do anything and they get caught in various catch-22's.  The HMO system creates much of what it was supposed to eliminate.  It is a bureaucratic misanthropic construct.  And it is sold to the public as the opposite of its reality.

But in my case, any poorer and I would be screwed.  Any wealthier and I would be screwed.  A whole lot wealthier and it wouldn't matter.   That tells me that my mind is thinking that it is not even worth the effort unless you are going to be a big whole lot wealthier.   Just some wealthier is not worth it.  Not my idea.  Indirectly, IT'S THE LAW !!!

The brings me to an aside.  I remember posters and such put out to indoctrinate the public during the 55 mph phase.  Maybe it is just me, but some posters and slogans put out by government agencies, whether irs, police, blm, or other,  are ridiculous, insulting and moronic.  Not to mention heavy handed.

The one I am thinking of was in a DMV office in Albemarle, NC or somewhere like that.
It had some graphic of a cop car or something scary, and it just said, 55, Not only a good idea, IT'S THE LAW!  Just seemed odd, as if they are saying, "Yes, 'good idea' and 'law' are not necessarily coexistent entities."  And I'd thank you for your candor.

That is neither here nor there.   The real point is my good fortune amid an overall history of odd fortune.  I hesitate to call it bad, or good.  But odd comes without caveat or hesitation.

Be happy.  It looks like I will pay more than I am using this year.  Last year you took most of the hit.  Not all,  by any means.  Now that I look at it.   But that is how things work.

If this keeps up, good news.  Things are always in flux.  When that is a good thing, I don't know.

Way Behind the Times

Not the NY Times.   Just the general pop culture of busybody statists.  The idea of a draft, which gives a pick of happy hippy work or military is not a form of involuntary servitude.  It is just compulsory volunteer service.  

I actually read an article which explained Stewart's plan as different than the old fashioned draft because you could do public service things as dictated by the bureau in charge of such things.  It said everyone would be "required to do volunteer service' for the public good, or some such noble cause.

The meaning of the word "rights" was clouded, diluted and obliterated some time ago.  Now we see the word slave and volunteer being interchanged.

Really Small Minded Power Thing

That is my view.

I remember when the news had big things on raising the driving age to 18 in FL, back in my Miami youth.  They always had student government slime from whatever high school to speak in support of raising the age.  They were seniors, either already 18 or soon to be.  What kiss-up sell-outs.

Just like Jon Stewart, wanting to place obligations, from which he is exempt, on others.  He did not have such intrusion of the state controlling his choices at 18.  That sort of hypocrisy is typical of almost anything political in this country and maybe world.  I am certainly not one of those who believes our system is inferior to the more state heavy systems of much of the world.  Our laws have been broken by those sworn to uphold them.  The siren call of alleged pragmatists often overrides farsighted moral considerations.

Government hijacked by thugs long ago.  No telling how far back it goes.  But it is a crime syndicate sort of outfit.

That bit of "everyone ought to have to (do this or that)", never set well with me.  People should not owe their lives to the state to do with it as it chooses--even if only for a year or two.  Maybe there won't be a bunch of people getting killed in a stupid excursion.  Everyone will robotically thank you for your service.  You will either feel wonderful to be thanked for being forced to serve the state, or you will grow to despise the empty unqualified nature of their gratitude.  How do they know what you did or if they are glad of it?

Yea, I guess I must be wrong.  Most have no idea what to do anyway, so a couple of years being the state's bitch can't hurt. Pays pocket change and room and board.  Maybe even exposure to gender variations new to the planet.

Drafting girls could be so cool.  Since most seem unaware of Vietnam, or much else, how about we draft for a cool war like that?  This could be absolutely wonderful.  Another psychotic generation can rebel against the other lunatics controlling them.  Maybe have a summer of love which is really lots of sex and being high in preparation for the decade of greed these same altruists created soon as they could.

Justy when I thought no one could be bigger idiots than baby boomers, a new crop has backed women into the draft-me-for-any-ridiculous war corner.  Can't say a damned thing. Out of their F'ing minds.  And unlike the old days, anything but straight will no longer get you out. Nothing gets you out.

Two Kinds of People...

There are those who always think in terms of what everyone should do, and how to force them.  They think this is the best way of things for everyone, because they know best.

And there are those who do not think in those terms.

I saw something which quoted Jon Stewart asserting that everyone of draft-able age should serve a year of military or community service or whatever kind of government thing.

Jon was not subjected to the draft.  He never had the government threatening to conscript him to fight a war which may have been conducted under false pretense.  Certainly most of America seemed confused about the situation.   The hawks were still thinking in terms of the clear cut goals which marked WWII.  So it was knee jerk patriotism to support the Vietnam war and draft.

The protestor side was blaming us for being awful people etc., as if we were the ones violating every war crime taboo in the book.  As a matter of course.  I am sure we did at times.  I probably would have either melted into a puddle or violated all those things in some manic state of hysteria.  Properly directed though, that kind of thing can win the day.

But, I was never there.  Just threatened, blackmailed, baffled and horrified by the draft.  I was horrified because I was under the belief that our country was much freer and less oppressive than others. Yet they could force me to meet their plans and goals, not mine.  And their goals are a bit gray in most skirmishes since WWII.

 I had been to Latin America as a kid and they had a different feel.  Bureaucratic abuse.  Lines.  Unnecessary delays, seemingly just to affirm to the citizen that he/she is a subject under power of the state.

Back then, that seemed a contrast.  Not so much anymore.  So, really, all you need do is hang around long enough in many parts of the USA, and old fashioned third world problems will come to you.  It is like a free vacation!   TB!  Lines!  Total absence of reason within public agencies.  Something for everyone.

It always gets me when someone makes these pronouncements upon groups of which they do not belong.  And in some cases, even if they do belong, by what right do they suggest all their fellow whatevers "serve" as they see fit?  Is it OK because everyone is or was young?  OK because that is the most powerless, but most physically fit age group.

When only men were drafted, I believed it was the result of a long history in which middle aged men found ways to get rid of young men so they could chase the younger women.  Now, I don't know.  I was probably right, but the stupid plan has now backfired big time.

What You Can't See, can hurt you

So, sometimes things catch my eye online.
I was on facebook on an unremarkable post.
Someone commented, "I'm a Cali girl. Always". 
I thought she said, "Call girl." Could be time to update the specs. I almost made an inappropriate financial inquiry. Yikes.

I need to check an see if maybe you will buy me glasses through medicare or some other program. I think they allow you to get an eye on a stick every year or two. At least that is what the poor people get.

I'm relieved. Not a call girl figuratively strutting her stuff. Just the usual Cali girl deal. Reminds me of Miami in a way. Code for trouble. That is all I will say. It is to myself. Steer clear. Pure fluff and no stuff ahead. Maybe it is the cadence of certain phrases that mark the dangerously unsatisfying relationship, yet to happen.

Some things never change. No matter how hard we pretend.