STRAIGHT UP

Ever see an elderly person who's spine is bent like a number "7" and you immediately straighten your posture?

(And then let it slack again?)

MJW

CIVILIZATION BASED ON FECES TRAVEL

I have a theory that you can judge a cultures level of civilization by how far human feces travels from it. Let me drop it to you like this:

In less civilized cultures, one defecates on the surface of the planet and leaves it. In slightly more civilized cultures one will bury it, thus increasing the distance between feces and human. Some cultures will both leave feces or bury it, but do so at a location distant from their homes. Even more civilized.

Water water everywhere but not a drop to drink.

Granted, it IS possible for uncivilized cultures to poop in a river and have it travel hundreds of miles on the Mississippi, Yangtze, Amazon, Nile or Danube. You would think this implies civilization. It does not. I must stipulate that the distance traveled by said feces must be facilitated by humans. Not nature. Pooping in a river is clever, but not civilized. (something the village down-river is bound to agree with)

That being said, some cultures have sewage systems that remove the feces from the home and channel it into a river. This is more civilized than just pooping directly in a river, but not the supreme measure of human civilization no matter how far away the waterway.

Now, I live in America in the year 2,011 AD and when I "go", I press a lever on a porcelain chair that sucks waste down a tube that passes under the floor, out of the house and under the front lawn to the street where it travels under traffic into a larger tube that takes it downhill, across town and toward larger and larger pipe systems that connect and connect and connect to sewage treatment plants that process and de-crapify it so that it can be disposed of properly.

Chart needed? Civilized.

Imagine the massive metropolis of New York, all the toilets in all the apartments, hotels, skyscrapers, on all the floors, depositing human waste down the spines of buildings then underground, gushing under the city as people walk blissfully above, channeled to massive pools at waste treatment facilities.

Truth is the system is so advanced I have no clear idea what they do or how they do it nor do I care. Everything is so worked out we don't NEED to know how the heck they do it. We pull a lever, push a button, or in some instances, a computer sensor does it for us, and we're back in business. No fuss no muss.

And our feces travels far. Kilometers. Miles. All engineered by man.

Signs of true civilization.

MJW

"THERE IS SIMPLY THE ROSE"

There comes a time in ones life when you realize you're not as young as you once were. And when you hit that point in life, you also realize that there's no going back. You can be surrounded by young people and feel their energy and become so entranced by it and part of it that you feel you are as young as them. But you're not. They know it and see it but you don't. You'll look in the mirror and see you, and you see what you've always seen, though maybe you acknowledge, reluctantly, that you've changed and continue to. And seem to faster these days.

If I could say anything about life after 35 is that aging speeds up. I feel from 25 to 35 I didn't change that much. Weight would go up or down sometimes, but "I" stayed the same physically. But that's changing now. And how do I feel about that?

Well, I guess I realize I can't be lazy anymore if I want to take care of myself. And I have been lazy. I have been blessed (thank goodness) with a pretty healthy existence here on planet earth. (knock on wood) I have heard SO many horrible stories of bad health problems assaulting people and laying them low. I know people who have been killed by them.

There's a girl in the summer theater camp where I work who's mother passed away years ago from some crazy brain issue. I don't remember what. Some kind of growth or disease that withered her and put her in her grave in a short amount of time. A rare thing. Out of the blue.

I performed with her mother two times in my life, in the musicals Camelot and West Side Story with a local community theater group. I always liked her. She was always sweet, funny and friendly, and was a talented actress, dancer and singer. Her husband, a man I've performed with in the same shows, and who has been my director in another show, has never remarried. Their daughter is now 10 or so and I met her today for the first time and she said her father told her about me. She seemed to like that I knew him. I don't know why but I felt some kind of connection with her. Or felt one from her to me.

I didn't know if I should mention her mother or not. That I knew her too. She was 3 or so when her mother died and so I guess she doesn't even remember her, though I know full well she's been well informed about her. I eventually told her I performed with her mother. I'm guessing I'm not the first person she's met in our area who's said that to her. Her mother performed with so many people. She didn't seem saddened by that and just nodded her head with a smile. For some reason I wanted her to know I knew her mom and enjoyed spending time with her. I guess as she grows older and maybe wants to know more about her as she becomes a woman herself, the number of people who knew and spent time with her mom will grow smaller and smaller.

And it brings me back to the overall passage of time and of life in general. How this woman I knew had a daughter and not long after, was taken from her. And now here is her child, growing up fast and heading towards her own adulthood. The connection and thread of life continuing. They also have a son who was 5 when it happened. And life goes on. Its amazing. Maria, her mother, is gone but they are not. She's part of her son and daughter. And always will be.

I don't know why I went down this road. But it makes me think of my own life and how I'm getting older and I have no 10 year old daughter of my own. I have no children, no thread I'm leaving behind. I have an older brother and a younger sister that have children. My amazingly cute and (also) quickly aging nephews. The oldest is two. They carry the family genes in them and so on that front I spoze my biological duties have been fulfilled by my siblings. I could have another nephew who comes out looking and acting like me. With my quick wit, amazing good looks and unlimited athletic ability. (cue barf)

I guess at the end of the day there comes a time in ones life when you realize you're not as young as you once were. And when you hit that point in life, you also realize that there's no going back. And its an interesting feeling is all. Makes you wonder where you've been and why. Where you're going and why. And how you maybe never thought about it as clearly before. Never noticed. Or didn't want to. Thinking you were still as young as the youth around you. Choosing to see what you wanted.

But I don't mind appreciating the process. Taking time to smell and observe the roses. For they're beautiful in the end. Always beautiful.

"These roses under my window make no reference to former roses or to better ones; they are for what they are; they exist with God to-day. There is no time to them. There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of its existence. Before a leaf-bud has burst, its whole life acts; in the full-blown flower, there is no more; in the leafless root, there is no less. Its nature is satisfied, and it satisfies nature, in all moments alike. There is no time to it. But man postpones or remembers; he does not live in the present, but with reverted eye laments the past, or, heedless of the riches that surround him, stands on tiptoe to foresee the future. He cannot be happy and strong until he too lives with nature in the present, above time." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

MJW

A MATTER OF LIFE AND DISCO

Heading from the parking lot into a nightclub a while back, my friend and I saw an ambulance parked out front with all its lights flashing. No siren, no emergency that we could see, but I couldn't help but notice the fine line between an emergency vehicle designed to save lives, and a disco dance party.

Observe...

Potential Death (click for video, "back" to return to blog)

Potential Disco (click for video, "back" to return to blog)

Swapping high-pitched sirens for high-tech techno, ambulances are mobile discotheques.

MJW

PEP BOYS LOGO = FASCISM

Nice try Pep Boys Auto-parts company. You almost had me fooled but I've smoked you out. Your seemingly innocent logo featuring characters of the three (supposed) founding owners, "Manny", "Moe" and "Jack"...

...Is really a thinly veiled resurrection of the triumvirate of World War II fascists leaders; Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo (left),  Nazi Germany's Adolph Hitler (center), and Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini (right).

With a few simple modifications, this "Axle of Evil" is exposed. 

Manny - Hair = TOJO

Moe + Mustache Trim & Hair Swoop = HITLER

Jack - Hair = MUSSOLINI

It's not the first time they've been portrayed in cartoon form together. Check out this anti-fascist cartoon from 1942, with the original characters in the same order left to right. (ps - these are real)

Or this one. (note character on the left is Japanese Emperor Hirohito, but it still works)

"Pep Boys does everything for less" all right. Like putting pep in your goose-step, then subduing you and your vehicle to the iron will of fascism.

I may not understand what they're up to exactly, but it can't be good. You've been warned, America. What you do (or don't) from this point is up to you.

Just remember...

 MJW

MARK TEIXEIRA/RACHEL MADDOW IDENTICAL TWINS

I've realized that Rachel Maddow, American radio personality, television host, and political commentator, and New York Yankees first baseman and slugger Mark Teixeira are identical twins.

MJW

TRICKED BY CATCHY JESUS MUSIC

Since my return to the Hudson Valley from New York City I've been doing a lot of driving.

Pressing "Scan" on the radio sends it through the stations it picks up, plays a second or two, then goes to the next if I don't press "Scan" again to stop it.

So lately, it'll land on a good song, something sort of Maroon 5-ish, a catchy catchy tune I do not know but figure whatever, I'll listen to it. And then all of a sudden they mention Jesus and being saved or something.

Now, the fact it's Christian music shouldn't make me stop listening if I liked the music, and yet, for some reason I feel tricked, and so change it.

Well played, crafty catchy Christian composers. Well played...

MJW

THE BORN (in the u.s.a.) IDENTITY

Okay my fellow Americans. Once and for all, you have GOT to stop playing Bruce Springsteen's song, "Born In The U.S.A." at 4th of July Independence Day fire-works shows, political rallies, and hate-gatherings like those against Muslims near the former World Trade Center because you don't want them to build a community center.

This song is NOT PRO AMERICAN. It is CRITICAL OF AMERICA. SARCASTIC.

In particular of the Vietnam war, the poor sent to fight it, and treatment of veterans upon their return. I read it was originally titled "Vietnam", but was changed. You can challenge the specifics of my interpretation of the lyrics (which are coming up) but proving its pro American would be a neat trick.

Now, I used to sing along with the chorus at fire-works shows myself. I'm as guilty as any other American. Let's face it. No one can understand much of what Bruce Springsteen is saying. He, Michael Jackson, and Michael McDonald (from the Doobie Brothers - BEAVIS: heh heh... doobie...) have all had successful music careers with no one having a damn cloo what any of them are saying.

(You know what I'm talking about)

MICHAEL JACKSON

• What I know of his song, "Smooth Criminal" (a big hit in the States)
• "Annie are you okay? Annie are you okay Annie?" 
• "And the blood-stains on the carpet"
• "You were struck down, it was your doom" 
• What the HECK is any of the above about? 
• No cloo. 
• Hit song.
• Or "Billy Jean"
• "Do a dance. On the floor. In the round." 
• ??????
• Big hit.

But that's no excuse for the complete stoopidity that underscores the pro-American stance when the song is played.

In my opinion its symptomatic of Americans in general. Not paying enough attention to what they're railing passionately about, which is usually something bad for them though they scream they want it. (war, tax cuts for the rich, bail-outs for the rich, ending their own social security, increased military spending, disbanding unions - yes they, like any other human institution can become corrupt, but balance them, like we should balance government, banks, business', don't get rid of the workers only representation - you want your greedy-ass profit-motive managers to have all the power in deciding when to fire you when you and your pension and medical coverage is cutting into their bottom line? SO DO THEY.)

So, here, once and for all, I share the lyrics to Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." so we're all on the same page. You wanna be proud of your country, be proud of more than just being born there. It was chance. Big whoop. What ELSE are you proud of?

BORN IN THE U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen

Born down in a dead man's town
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
You end up like a dog that's been beat too much
Till you spend half your life just covering up

Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.

Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hand
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man

Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.

Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man says "Son if it was up to me"
Went down to see my V.A. man (mark note: V.A. = Veteran Affairs)
He said "Son, don't you understand"

I had a brother at Khe Sahn fighting off the Viet Cong
They're still there, he's all gone

He had a woman he loved in Saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms now

Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I'm ten years burning down the road
Nowhere to run ain't got nowhere to go

Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
I'm a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the U.S.A.


MJW

MEN BEHIND THE CURTAIN

In all honesty I haven't been up on the news lately, (blog for another time) but I know there's debate about how Wiki-leaks posted documents called the Afghan War Diary, 2004-2010.  That people's names were mentioned who are helping us overseas and now they may be killed or something. I don't know enough about those specifics, but I feel over all its good the government knows shit may be leaked. Any place. Any time. World Wide. That's GOT to go far toward making them more legit, or at least covering their tracks better (which may not be good).

I'm so weary of the bullshit that holds this country together that I welcome any dose of another side - any reveal of the men behind the curtain. When people have no jobs, no home, no hope in this country, and billions of dollars, millions of lives are being wasted to increase the profit margin of corporations with more money and power than entire nations, I'm for anything that stings people into realizing governments lie.

Everyone's yelling about Mexicans or Mosques, all riled up and so emotional they can't think straight about the infiltrators and fundamentalists, orthodox capitalist terrorists working daily in DC and Wall Street.

MJW