They are dumbing down our Rock ‘n’ Roll!

Okay… the greatest recording artists of all time.  The Beatles, right?  Right… just checking.  Elvis ranks right up there.  One could argue that the Beatles had four individual members whereas there was/is only one Elvis.  In fact , early on the media called the Beatles “the four Elvis’” because of their remarkable popularity.  There was a time that the Beatles had 5 songs in succession ranking #5 up to #1.  A former #1 Beatles song would get knocked down in ranking by another Beatles song…  under four different record labels!  Unheard of before or since!

1.  Can’t Buy Me Love (Capitol Records)

2.  Twist and Shout (Tollie)

3.  She Loves You (Swan)

4.  I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Capitol Records)

5.  Please Please Me (Vee-Jay) 

So why am I bringing this up now?  Well, frankly I’m disappointed in a lot of the music these days and I have to wonder what the heck is going on?  We are lacking in something here.  I was talking to a friend of mine the other day about it.  How music from 40 years ago still resonates with young people.  Maybe not exclusively, but back when I was a teenager listening to my parents music was unheard of, almost like treason.  People would have checked my I. D. just to make sure I wasn’t a 40 something infiltrator if I’d been listening to Benny Goodman or Frank Sinatra.  So were we on to something back then when the Beatles and other rock ’n’ roll bands reigned supreme?  Has rock reached it’s pinnacle?  It would appear so and I’ll tell you why…

Quietly, over the course of some 16 years, another artist is about to break the Beatles record of 20 #1 hits.  Right now she has tied with Elvis with her 19th #1.  Soon to be named the most popular recording artist in music recording history is…  is… …

(drum roll, please… horn section 20th Century Fox style,  Rocky theme… played backwards)  is….   is… 

Mariah Carey… whoo hoo! 

Huh?

Mariah Carey? 

I’m sorry, but from the King of Rock ’n’ Roll to the Fab Four to… Mariah Carey?  I can’t stand it…  and I’m not trying to minimize her accomplishments but… who buys this stuff?  Every picture I see of her is like she’s in the midst of some erotic dream… oh, so vulnerable and innocent yet still some sexual deviant to be longed for and desired.  yikes… what does that have to do with good music?  Oh, I know she has a 12 octave range but her oooo’s are a cross between a yodel and a screeching siren. 

Oh, you know… people dissed Elvis way back when, but you can’t deny his popularity is stronger than ever. Case in point… Elvis reached another milestone by being the only artist to have at least one #1 in the last 5 DECADES since the recent release of his greatest hits CD!  and the Beatles?  Their compilation of #1’s went platinum in a matter of days!

So who would be my choice?  Well, in as far as #1 records I couldn’t tell you but if it came to hits in general I don’t think you could deny Eric Clapton’s legacy.  After all, he’s got a rock ‘n’ roll heart.  In the past 40 years he has been a strong influence in the music industry, a multi-Grammy Award winner and has been placed in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame 3 different times.  (no other artist has done that)  Think about it:  Elvis=The Beatles=Clapton.  Or the Rolling Stones could reign on longevity alone.  But Mariah Carey?  Pah-leeze!   

I wonder if it isn’t all just a conspiracy, dumbing down our music.  I realize that there are many different outlets and more artists are getting air time than ever before.  I just worry that the message from rock ‘n’ roll will be blurred into some socially/politically correct form, sanitized and served up with a wink and an approving nod. This stuff is fluff.  I long for the days of socially redeeming commentary the likes of which have woefully fallen silent.  Is it media driven or do people just not care anymore?   

 There is some current stuff out there that I like and since I’ve been married (!) (blissfully married, I might add)  I have been exposed to some music that I have missed along the way and that is good.  Music sootheth the savage beast in me as long as there is a back beat you can’t lose it.  The times are indeed a-changin’ and perhaps rock ‘n’ roll has to grow up one day, but does it have to be during my lifetime? 

I imagine I’ll be a rockin’ grandpa at 78, or more delicately put… 18 with 60 years experience.

*

Peace.

Oh!  in all fairness I have included a Mariah Carey video for you to enjoy.  Her appeal cannot be denied, her talent immeasurable, her singing voice sublime.   Elvis=the Beatles=Mariah Carey.  Enjoy! 

P.S.  By way of comparison, an Eric Clapton video follows.

 

 

   

Mariah Carey - Touch My Body

Mariah Carey - Touch My Body

Elvis=theBeatles=MariahCarey?

Eric Clapton - Layla (live)

Eric Clapton - Layla (live)

Elvis=theBeatles=Clapton… think about it.

peace.

God’s Yard Sale

God woke up one day and made Himself some tea. He read the morning paper while petting His cat and wondered about the state of the world. “So much that is wrong in the Earth has been going on in My name.” He thought. “It is no wonder that people have a difficult time believing in Me. Look at all this chaos!” Then God decided He would clean out His closet and start over. He would take all the stuff out that was no longer useful and have a yard sale.

The first item He pulled off the shelf was PEACE. God dusted it off and took a long, hard look at PEACE. “Peace is just not on people’s minds these days.” God thought. “‘Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men’ has just become a slogan to sell products during the holidays.” Yet God realized that PEACE was a direct result of His even temperament. His entire relationship with mankind had always been based in peace and harmony. No, PEACE was not something He should sell at His yard sale. The problem with the Earth was not PEACE, but a lack of it. God returned PEACE to it’s place on His shelf.

Next God rummaged through various items and pulled out LOVE. God knew that LOVE was the greatest of all emotions. He recalled that His entire creation was formed simply because He loved life and wanted to share it. Because of LOVE, all things existed and were created. He held LOVE close to His heart for a long time. “Love is all you need.” God thought. This was not an item that He could sell at His yard sale. The testimony of God’s LOVE was everywhere in the Earth, all people had to do was look for it. The problems the Earth had now were not caused from a lack of LOVE on His part. He returned LOVE to it’s rightful place in His closet.

God continued to pull out several other items from His closet. JOY, KINDNESS, RESPECT… each time God examined them and found that there was nothing lacking in any of these qualities. Each served a wonderful purpose for Mankind which would assure his health and well being while here on the Earth. The trouble with the Earth’s inhabitants was not founded in any of these things. So with ever growing confidence and conviction in His stock, each one was returned to God’s closet.

Finally, God removed His golf clubs and tucked way back in the corner was FAITH. FAITH was the thread that bound all the other qualities together and drew them up tight. God knew that for a lack of FAITH all other traits of His Divine personality would be lost amongst Mankind. He wondered about how FAITH might be weak in humans or mis-guided. FAITH and HOPE were the foundation His people leaned upon, surely the problems in the world were not caused by a lack of FAITH.

But then God had a revelation. People were lacking in FAITH because of how He was being represented. “God does not see us.” some people are thinking. “God does not care about us.” others believed. “God does not exist!” more and more proclaim. “God commands that I do this!” “God is on our side!” “God damned them!” “God declares this!” “God resides here!” “Our God is more powerful!” “God blesses us!”

There were rituals that alienated the people from Him. There were ungodly practices condoned by leaders that confused them. There was pomp and ceremony, riches and alliances, politics and social debauchery which were in direct contradiction to God’s own principles. This caused God a measure of distress, so much so that He took out His beach umbrella and began opening and closing it in rapid succession causing the clouds to swirl above the Earth. But then God remembered His promise never to destroy the Earth by flood again. He put His beach umbrella back in the closet, tucked FAITH up under His arm and decided to go apply for a permit for His yard sale. If FAITH was all that was lacking in people, God decided He would offer it at a discount. In fact, His yard sale wouldn’t be a “sale” at all, but a gift offering to the people of the Earth. All they had to do was believe and it was theirs free of charge. God smiled, it was all very good.

God took His three wheeler downtown and found the code enforcement office. He went up to the counter to make His application for a yard sale permit, to be had on the following week-end.

“What do you intend to have at this yard sale?” asked the Man, suspecting anarchy in the quaint old neighborhood in which God lived.

“Oh, it isn’t going to be a yard sale per sa, I’m offering FAITH free of charge.”

“FAITH?” asked the Man, in a sort of mocking tone. “What kind of FAITH?”

“Why,” God replied, “FAITH in ME, in the divine purpose with a HOPE for a better future. For the Kingdom to come and My will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.”

“Well,” the Man imposed an official sounding tone. “You can’t conduct a religious activity without a license. So unless you can show FAITH outside of a recognized affiliation, I’m afraid I cannot grant Your request.”

“But without Me there would be no FAITH!” God was persistent.

But the code enforcement officer didn’t recognize God and demanded proof of His existence. God sighed, He knew that the Earth was full of identity theft and there were many imposter’s going about declaring that they were He. God decided He would pull off a small miracle to prove to the man He was indeed who He said He was.

So God took the Man high up in a condo with a view to the entire world.

“There!” said God, pointing towards Yellowstone National Park. “Old Faithful has been around since the founding of the Earth!”

But the man was skeptical. “Old Faithful is about as regular as a city bus. I’m afraid you’re going to have to do better than that!”

So God pointed to a farmer working in his field. “That farmer plants and reaps what he sows. But without FAITH, he wouldn’t plant because he couldn’t be sure his seed would grow.”

“Naw,” said the code enforcement officer. “Scientists can produce a harvest without soil, it’s called hydroponics. You don’t need rain or sunlight or even a fair season.”

God realized this man was going to be a tough nut to crack, he was very cynical.

“Okay,” said God, “the sun rises and sets with a precision that can be calculated years in advance. FAITH in it’s continued cycle allows for such predictions.”

“Well, so go the Laws of Physics,” replied the Man, “the entire universe has been mapped and calculated with astonishing accuracy. But still there is aways the unknown, the sun may one day die out. Then where will be the planning and predictions?”

So God was perplexed for a moment.  It seemed this Man just wanted to be obstinate, which kinda ticked Him off.  God pondered changing him into a cockroach but then thought better of it.  After all, He wanted people to LOVE Him, not fear Him.  And besides, He knew He couldn’t go around turning people into cockroaches just for being obstinate, He wouldn’t have time for anything else.

God looked down at a nearby park where an elderly couple sat.  They had been married for a long time and God saw that it was very good.  This couple had FAITH in each other and that had solidified their LOVE for all those years.  When God thought of this FAITH He was very glad He had put His beach umbrella away earlier that day.

“Look there,” said God to the Man, “there is a couple who has FAITH in each other, FAITH in their LOVE and FAITH in their everlasting reward.  Surely now you can see that FAITH does exist outside of organized religions.”

The Man thought for a while.  He figured if he thought long enough he could refute God’s logic on FAITH, but decided against it.  Anyone who could whisk him away to a condo like this had to be a force worth reckoning with.

“Okay,” agreed the Man, “you don’t have to belong to an organized religion to have FAITH.  I’ll grant you your permit.  By the way… how many floors up are we?”

But God was so excited to receive His permit that He didn’t take time to answer.  In the blink of an eye they were back at the code enforcement office and the Man was issuing Him the permit.  God rode back home on His three wheeler, grinning ear to ear and squeezing His bell ringer with His thumb the whole way.

*

Faith is the assured expectation of things not yet realized… you can take it with you everywhere and it doesn’t cost a dime, nor can it be taken away.

Coming to a yard sale near you…

peace.

Waiting For Zed

Okay, everyone… sing with me!  A, B, C, D, E, F, G… H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P… Q, R, S,… T, U, V… W, X… Y and Zed… Huh?

Where did that Zed come from?  What happened to the good ol’ fashioned, unadulterated Z?  As in the Z that stands for Zorro… take me to Z Casaba… Z plane! Z plane! and Z maestro? 

Well, it turns out (and everyone knew this but me) Zed is the form of the last letter in the alphabet for the majority of English speaking countries in the world except the U. S. A.!  How could they all  get it wrong?  So I went to my trusty Wikipedia to look it up and sure enough, they all have it wrong.  No, seriously… It seems that somewhere in the American Revolution we decided to stick it to the English by not using the form Zed in our alphabet.  Guess we showed them not to mess with the colonists.

Early records say that the Boston Tea Party was originally called the Boston Z Party, but the throwing of consonants into Boston Bay by scholars and their scribes didn’t draw too much distain from the authorities.

In fact, old manuscripts reveal that Patrick Henry actually said something along the lines of, “Give me liberty… from the use of Zed!”  Years later Hollywood gave us a more dramatic, “Give me liberty or give me death!” but the request of the freedom from the use of Zed was drastically down played.  John Adams declared, “I must study the politics of Zed…”  which was transformed into, “I must study politics and war…” as a political slogan.  Our great maritime hero, John Paul Jones was asked once why he wouldn’t just give into the use of Zed and give up his feeble colonistic verbiage to which he valiantly replied, “I have not yet begun to fight… you hedonistic sons of Zed!”  But of course, since he was on dry land at the time no one took him seriously.

Perhaps it was a lisping Paul Revere trying to disguise his speech impediment that caused the negetivity over this Omega letter.  Declaring, “The Zedcoats are coming!  The Zedcoats are coming!” early Americans saw the letter Zed as something to be fearful of and thus decided to banish it from their pronounciation.  As a lad, George Washington formed a coalition of his fellow classmates to discover the truth behind the use of the form Zed instead of Z, which for political purposes became construed as not telling a lie over the chopping down of a cherry tree.  The militia that could be ready before you reached the letter Zed in a recital of the alphabet later became known as the slothy minute men.

Even our Declaration of Independance was originally entitled, “The Declaration of Independance From the Use of Zed and Other Grievances” sort of an “in your face” attitude to King George (the English one.)  But brevity took precedence over accuracy and the effort to show our defiance to the rest of the English speaking world has been muted.

So now I wonder, what if we hadn’t chosen “Zee” over “Zed?”  Well, since the majority of Americans are natural linguists and lyricists, imagine having to rhyme, “Now I know my ABC’s, next time won’t you sing with me?” if the alphabet ended with Zed?  It does’t work. ”Now I know my ABC’s, next time won’t you sing with Fred?”  “next time I’ll just go to bed.” or something like that… “next time I’ll just bang my head”  ”next time change the “A” instead” 

No doubt there are positive aspects.  A great name for a rock band could be the Grateful Zed or even, Zed Leppelin.  (my sweetie thought of that one, she’s so smart… don’t you just love her?)  We would be catching a few Zeds at nap time, referees at football games could be known as zedbras, Nissan should have a 350 Zed and some might have a zedro tolerance for this blog.  

Oh… perish the thought!

Zedippity do dah, zedippity ay!  My oh my it’s a zed-i-free day!

or something like that.

peace. 

 

  

 

friends

You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose, but you can’t pick your friends nose.

(anonymous)

.

My friends make me laugh.  I have one friend, Keith, who (when he gets wound up) is better than T.V. 

.

I’m not lackin’ in social graces

so lets get down to the Oasis

I’ve got friends in low places

(Garth Brooks)

.

There are different types of friends out there.  My fair one has become my best friend.  She has a way of seeing me differently…  the way I want to be seen, accepting my limitations as a failure of nature.

.

She’s got a way about her

I don’t know what it is

But I know that I can’t live without her.

She’s got a way of pleasin’

I don’t know why it is

But there doesn’t have to be a reason anyway.

(Billy Joel)

. 

My business partner is also my friend.  We like and trust each other.  One will poke fun at the other and vice versa.  We work hard together without egos.  We enjoy our successes and support each other when times are rough.

.

I’ll be there for you

(when the rain starts to pour)

I’ll be there for you

(like I’ve been there before)

I’ll be there for you

(’Cause you’re there for me, too)

(the Rembrandts)

.

We don’t get to pick our relatives, we accept them usually or reject them because of differences but  we are bound to them because of blood anyway.   We may not even like them. 

But I have relatives that I’m sure I would be friends with even if we were not related.  The fact that I do like them makes being family all the more sweet. 

.

Give me your hand - I’d like to shake it

I want to show you I’m your friend

you’ll understand - if I can make it clear

It’s all that matters in the end.

Put it there - if it weighs a ton

that’s what the Father said to his younger Son.

I don’t care - if it weighs a ton

as long as you and I are here, put it there. 

(Paul Mc Cartney)

.

The choosing of a friend is by mutual agreement.  You can’t call someone your friend if they run and hide every time you come near.  Likewise it would be difficult for them to lay claim to your friendship if you had never laid eyes on them.  The degree of friendship may not be equal between two parties, but the sentiment has to be shared to some extent.  It might not be a 50-50 arrangement due to circumstances like personality, politics or financial limits. 

But the old adage is true: in order to have a friend you have to be a friend.

 .

I had a friend who had friends by a river

they, too, had friends who had friends of their own.

(Terry Reid)

.

I have friends who have friends that I am not privy to, and that is okay.  Having a friend doesn’t mean exclusive rights to their attention 24/7.  Obviously, if there are traits and characteristics that I see and admire others will no doubt see them to a greater or lessor degree.  Having someone as a friend doesn’t diminish their fine qualities, but enhances your own.  Some friends may not understand what you see in other friends which shows your own diversity.  How boring life would be if we surrounded ourselves with people that were all the same.

.

From now on all my friends are gonna be strangers.

(Merle Haggard)

.

True friends are hard to come by.  It seems when times are good there is no shortage, but when the chips are down you may find friends to be scarce.

.

Once I lived the life of a millionaire

spent all my money, just didn’t care

took all my friends for a mighty good time

bought bootleg whisky, champagne and wine.

Then I began to fall so low

lost all my good friends, had nowhere to go

I get my hands on a dollar again

gonna hang on to it ’til that ol’ eagle grins

Cause, nobody knows you

when you’re down and out

in your pocket there’s not one penny

and as for friends, you don’t have any.

When you’re back on your feet again

everybody wants to be your long lost friend.

Said it’s mighty strange, without any doubt

nobody knows you when you’re down and out.

(Eric Clapton))

.

Yeah, we’ve all heard of those “fair weather” friends.  

The old saying goes, “A friend in need is a friend in deed.”  Now does that mean a friend in “deed?” like he will earn your friendship or does it mean “indeed” like when he needs something from you… he is your friend indeed! hoping you’ll bail him out? 

.

you never caught a rabbit

and you ain’t no friend of mine

(Elvis)

.

The Bible says… “there exists a friend sticking closer than a brother.”  I have one of those… he’s called my life long friend.

Through thick and thin, through the miles and years, through disagreements and misunderstandings I’ve had this friend.  When we get together, how ever long we’ve been apart… we’ll pick back up again where we left off.  He hasn’t aged and neither have I, we’re still the same two guys but with just a little more experience.  When he talks, I listen.  My troubles are his troubles, his successes are my successes and vice versa.  We lost that competitive thing years ago, now we are just happy to be along in each others company.

.

Lovely to see you again, my friend

walk along with me to the next bend.

(Moody Blues)

.

It has been said that a person could count all his real friends on one hand, that the rest of the people we meet in life are just acquaintances.  I like the philosophy of everyone I meet being a potential friend and I think that is the key to friendship in general, being receptive to it. 

I have many friendships of varying degrees, but only one life long friend.  And…

.

He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother

(the Hollies)

.

Life long friends…  on life’s sidelines cheering each other on.  Thanks, bro… for the good times then, now and those to come. 

peace… and vice versa

(scroll down)

                                                           

 

The Hollies - He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother

THE HOLLIES - He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother

thanks, Perry…

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Lying

I had a friend who used to sell Amway.  Amway was an acronym for the American Way.  The company was founded on some basic products, mainly soap… organic soap.  I remember the stuff well because I went to several meetings.  Oh yes, they had meetings to discuss the quality of the soap and demonstrated how effective it was.  And it was!  Wow!  Never had I seen soap perform like this before!  It was a miracle!  And the cool thing was it was concentrated so it would just last and last.  I was enthralled with Amway products.  I thought everyone would be, too, and that was the gig.  When I went to the meetings I was schooled on how I could sell Amway and retire.  I could be an honest salesman because I believed in the product.  Good product, good price… no worries, right? 

All I had to do was bring in two people, who in turn would each bring in two people, who in turn would each bring in two people… and so on.  Since Amway was not available on store shelves, how was I supposed to get to my two people?  Well, that was the easy part.  All I had to do was convince my friends and relatives to join in the Amway sales team, (signing up under me… so I became a sponsor and gained credit for their sales.)  They could come to the meetings and learn about the product, become schooled into the process of bringing in their two people, who in turn each brought in two people, who in turn each brought in their own two people… and so on.

I got excited.  I loved the product and got all hyped up.  I scrounged enough money to buy the starter kit and went to work convincing my friends and relatives that they needed this soap in the worst way.  But I failed as an Amway distributor and I learned a valuable lesson from it.  Some people just don’t care that the soap that they are using is inferior, especially my friends and relatives which I decided were just plain ignorant.  They were holding me back from getting my first two people signed up, who in turn would each bring in two people, who would in turn each bring in two people…  and so on.  Then I could be on my way to financial freedom!  They were hampering my progress and closing their eyes to the potential of the Amway pyramid scheme.  I felt betrayed.

Time passed and a new product came on the market.  It was called Tupperware.  This was the greatest thing since Amway.  Imagine all the leftovers I could save in these little plastic boxes that would last indefinitely as long as I remembered to “burp” the container.  I went to several meetings at people’s homes and saw demonstrations of how Tupperware could save me money and right away I imagined all the people I knew that could benefit from this product.  It was a market miracle that was fair and honest.  The problem was… it wasn’t sold in stores.  You had to go to a “Tupperware party” to learn about and order your stuff.  I remember the hostess receiving “free” Tupperware for allowing the “party” to be held in her home.  It really wasn’t the type of “party” that I was accustomed to and I quickly decided that I didn’t even know two people that would be interested in food containers that you had to treat like a baby every time you put something in it.  If my friends and family couldn’t see the potential in organic soap I sincerely doubted they would buy into something made out of plastic no matter how good it was for them.

I love my friends and family.  But I know that they will never be the foundation I build my wealth upon.  As time has passed I have come to realize that if I know of a product that I personally can get good results from, I will buy it.  If my friends and family members see I am getting good results from it, they will inquire about how I did it.  The conversation might go something like this…

“Hey man!  How did you get your plastic food containers so clean?”

“Why… it was easy!  I used Brand X in my dishwasher!”

“Brand X?  Never heard of it!  How do I get some?”

“Well… I’m glad you asked!  Go down to your local Soap Mart and buy some!”

“Gee, thanks!”

And in doing so my friends still remain my friends and my relatives will still claim me as one of their own.

In all fairness, there are some companies that see the home sellers as the best way to represent their product.  A home demonstration can be more relaxed and the setting conducive to an individual families needs.  For example:  sometimes a product looks better under store lighting than the homeowners choice of illumination.  Once you get it home, the color may not match or the size might not be what you imagined.  Buying at home could remedy that situation.

But I have a hard time making money off my friends and relatives.  The conversation might go something like this:

“Hey Joe, I’m having a Tupperware Party at the house this Friday night.  Do you wanna come?”

“Well, I dunno… how much is it gonna cost me this time?”

“What do you mean, Joe?   If you bring two people and they buy Tupperware, then they each bring two people and THEY buy Tupperware, who in turn each bring two people and so on… you could get your Tupperware for free!”

“Gee… I never thought about it that way before.  Okay, I’m in.  But since I’m your brother and we have virtually the same relatives and friends… how am I ever going to retire?  Besides, we both live with Mom and Dad and they have enough Tupperware to fill the basement with!”

“Well, Joe… you just need to widen your social circle a little bit!”

“How am I going to do that?  Everytime I meet someone and ask them to come over to the house you try to sign them up for Tupperware!”

Nope.  I am just not the salesman type.  If I found a product that worked for me I couldn’t try and make money off of it at my friends or families expense.  I might talk about it, I might even rave and recommend it.  But if the shoe was on the other foot, I’d probably harbor a little resentment towards my host if the only reason he invited me over was to buy his stuff.  Then for me, the “party” would cease being a party. 

I wouldn’t know if I was being invited for me or for my sales potential.

And if I said I didn’t want to be a success, I’d be lying…  so,  if you as a reader could recommend this blog to two people, and THEY in turn each knew two people who in turn each knew two people… and so on.

peace.    

the Great American Boycott

I have no earthly idea what logic caused the industry to dye pistachio nut shells red… but I ate them anyway. I think back on some of the things I accepted without question and I realize that I have been fairly lucky in the fact that what was then unknown to me didn’t cause any permanent damage. But lately I have had a different prospective on things and what I have had the utmost confidence in has been shaken a bit. The shoe is on the other hand, someone has slipped a mickey into my mouse, my world has been turned outcenter safe.

The confidence I had was in my own logic, my ability to figure things out, to see things clearly without the benefit of evidence, doctrine or consequence. I relied on my intellect and humor. I was sure of my own level of compassion and savvy. In short, I was full of baloney. I wasn’t made aware of the power one individual can have over his own environment; physically, emotionally, spiritually until recently. My Fair One has indirectly caused an introspection in me.

I have a friend that immigrated from Denmark to the United States back in ‘59 who remembers WWII very well (he was born in ‘34.) He was in his native country during the war and is convinced to this day that Germany would have overtaken Denmark if the United States had not gotten involved when we did. In fact, he is sure that all of Europe would have succumbed to Nazi tyranny if not for Yankee ingenuity and intervention. He told me how he entered this country legally ( a declaration that seems all too uncommon these days) and how it took a year and a half for him to gain citizenship. Remember, this was back in the early 60’s.

As I listened to him talk about the love he had for this country with his thick accent still wonderfully intact, I found myself thinking how far we have come from that state of one generation ago. I wondered if we would ever regain that position again where people envied us, emulated us, wanted to be like us. Not take away from but add to us. Not demand what was not rightfully theirs, but earn what they wanted in a spirit of cooperation and trust.

I have heard radio talk show hosts slamming our past, saying things like the United States does not owe the world democracy or it is not up to us to “police” the world. As I recall that reasoning I have to think, if not us… who? Do we just roll up the red carpet, barricade the door, close our eyes and pray that everything works out fine? We have a responsibility not only to ourselves but to our neighbors and the Earth we live upon.

Not one of us chooses where we are born, it is virtually the luck of the draw. Poverty and ignorance in this new millennium is something we should not be turning a blind eye to, nor should oppression or abuse be tolerated by ANY government. But then… some people don’t play by the rules.

When jobs are outsourced by U.S. companies to foreign countries that are not forced to comply with the standards we have set for ourselves, it creates an unfair advantage. In the United States, we are required by law to pay a fair wage, pay insurances and taxes. We are also regulated for pollutants placed in the ground, air or water. We have safe working environments and are barred from discrimination. There are codes and inspections and accountability when things go haywire. There are recalls of product, notices to the public, health and safety issues that are closely monitored by our government. We enjoy fair trade practices and competitive pricing, we have selection and comparable alternatives to just about everything on the market. Except oil.

When Sam Walton came down off of Walton’s mountain his idea was to offer American made products when ever possible, along with the cheaper foreign made ones. It was a good approach because usually if you wanted a quality product it was American made. Somehow we got off the quality and went for the cheap. Walmart has come to be known as “Fall Apart.” I think we did it to ourselves.

We have gotten to the point in our society where the thinking is: cheaper is better. It is not. Cheaper is CHEAPER. Not safer, not quality, not long lasting, not good for you, and certainly… not better. If you were to have an operation as a matter of life or death, would you want a second rate doctor in a third class hospital with drugs past their expiration date and questionable sanitary methods? What if it were CHEAPER? Your insurance company would love to pay the least amount, but is it better for YOU?

I’d like to see us use the gift of GAB… a Great American Boycott, against countries that have taken quality out of the equation for the American consumer. #1 on my list would be China. We buy a lot of stuff from China that I’d like to give back to them. And the companies involved with China aren’t looking out for the people of the United States, they are looking at their bottom line… how much profit they are making. And we are at fault for allowing this to go on.

We should boycott products made in China, they suck as a nation and they suck as a manufacturer of goods. It is embarrassing for me as a contractor to pull out products that do not meet a quality that I can personally endorse and stand behind then try to convince my customer that this is the industry standard. The Great American Boycott would let their useless junk sit on the shelves until the companies that are trying to sell it realize that, “Hey, we ain’t sellin’ squat!” and decide to improve their product.

What logic put us in this inferior mode has got to be reversed. We should be willing to pay more. Our country was founded on the desire to have something better, not inferior. We have to regain some pride. Pride in workmanship, pride in ownership, pride in quality and a job well done.

When my friend from Denmark came to the United States back in ‘59, we were the industrialized nation of the world. Made in the U.S.A. wasn’t just a slogan or an alternative product, we set the standard for quality… we wouldn’t accept anything less. People that immigrated here then wanted better, America offered better. Americans were proud of their country, themselves and their image/product. We need that pride back. We need the pride that says, “I’m not going to accept this, this is below my standard, I expect more… I want better… I DEMAND better!” If you buy something cheaper that doesn’t last as long as a product of quality can you honestly think you are saving money in the long run?

Read the label, where does it come from? Do you want to indirectly support a country that oppresses it’s people? You wouldn’t knowingly buy from and/or support a terrorist… would you?

The gift of GAB… the Great American Boycott, power to the consumer… you and me.

Boycott China… start today.

(p.s. Pistachio nuts are dyed red or green to hide the fingerprints of the pickers. Apparently oil from human skin stains the shells. Today modern machinery does most of the picking and thus… less dyed nuts!)

peace.

Why Obama?

Oo my little witty one, sittin’ pretty one

is what you say such a crime, Obama?

make a presidential run, presidential run

they’ll pick on every line, Obama

Never gonna stop, or say too much, someone’s gonna whine

’cause it seems you’re in touch with the younger mind

Why-ee ey-ee by-ee ahee ah woo!

Wa wa wa  why Obama!

Move a little closer, over here

is that the truth in your eyes, Obama?

Hey what’s the mystery, it’s plain to see

he’s gonna win the first prize, Obama!

Never gonna stop, or say too much, someone’s gonna whine

’cause it seems you’re in touch with the younger mind

Why-ee ey-ee by-ee ahee ah woo!

Wa wa wa why Obama

Wa wa wa why Obama

When you gonna shut ‘em down, shut ‘em down

ain’t it a matter of time, Obama?

Is it a destiny, a destiny

Or is it just a game to unwind, Obama?

Never gonna stop, or say too much, someone’s gonna whine

’cause it seems you’re in touch with the younger mind.

Why-ee ey-ee by-ee ahee ah woo!

Wa wa wa wa wa wa wa wa

Why-ee ey-ee by-ee ahee ah woo!

Wa wa wa why Obama

Ooooh why Obama?