Alright...
Part 2 of the resurrected blog. The political agenda.
I'd like to start by stating that I'm not an activist, nor do I consider myself to be a liberal or conservative, democrat/ republican, monkey/ zebra. I'm simply someone who is fed up with the two-party system in America, and the 'pathetic' choices it offers us. Obviously, I don't support Obama or McCain, and I didn't much care for Clinton, either. However, I don't believe ex-Governor/ wrestler/ mime Jesse Ventura's assertion that we should add 'none of the above' to the ballot. That's wasteful and proves nothing. If anyone (born in this country, and old enough) can be president, surely someone must be worthy?
And that's where I'm headed with this...
Just because we held primaries and caucuses; just because both candidates secured their nominations; just because all delgates are pledged; does NOT mean this election could be, or SHOULD be, a two-person race! We're less than 4 months from election day... Republican McCain has SAID nothing about the pathetic mess called the economy, or what he plans to do to get us out of the muck and mire. He's simply another 'war president'... great, just what we need. Both candidates have narrowed the essence of their 'platforms' down to a single 'buzzword'... McCain's is "Victory". As in- if elected, his 'victory' will lead to 'victory' in Iraq, which in turn means 'victory' throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world, resulting in untold prosperity (think V-E/ V-J day) for every man, woman, and child in America. Or something like that. Until then, nothing need be said, or done, about the economy here at home... 'Victory' will take care of us.
And who do we have as our alternative. Democrat Obama. The man with the plan (?) Everyone knows his buzzword. "Change". All the while going up against Clinton, he was the candidate of 'change'. She was 'Bill's wife'; Ms. Corporate Interests; politics-as-usual. He was 'change'. Although, with his recent reversals on important issues, a more apt buzzword might be - "CHANGED". Sure, he's just going to the center, where the voters are. Typical. Politics-as-usual.
Sadly, we're indoctrinated to believe that these are our only choices. It's a two-party system, right? Our last great hope to end this charade was Mr. Ross Perot back in '92... a businessman entering politics before it became fashionable. Now, any Tom, Dick or Harry with $20 million-plus in the bank wants to be your governor... your congressman... your mayor. Some ridiculed Perot for his 30-minute TV ads (remember those?)... Ross with his charts and graphs, trying to educate America on the evils of NAFTA before it got signed.
But enough about Mr. Perot. His time has passed; we had our chance. But that chance has come around again, fresh and with a new face. I'm speaking of Dr. Ron Paul, a Republican from Texas. Yes, I realize he's dropped out of the race, as has everyone but the two 'centrists' we have left. I don't believe that has to be an obstacle, though. The race to the White House is not over. Hell, the race to the CONVENTION isn't even over! Both candidates are only the PRESUMED NOMINEES of their respective parties... nothing's written in stone! There's still TIME!
Mr. Paul's website explains his credentials, as well as his views on various major topics, in much greater detail and eloquence than I could muster here, so I'll simply provide the link to his site: http://www.ronpaul2008.com/ ...you can check him out there. (I find myself agreeable to about 80-85% of his views... best part is, he's no front-runner, so there's no need for him to flip-flop and go where the votes are.... didn't John Kerry get into trouble for doing that? I guess things are different now.)
Anyway, if you've made it this far, I thank you for reading and, most of all, for keeping an open mind. I would be more than willing to converse with anyone, on this or any other subject, through the trusty comments section of this blog. Ultimately, I feel (as many others do) that this country- not Iraq, or any other country; that THIS country- is off course, and has been for many years. Our dear President Bush makes it clear that if you do not favor sinking barrels of money, not to mention the endless and inexhaustable supply of servicemen and women, into the false promise of 'victory' in Iraq, that you are an 'isolationist'. For shame. Not mine, though. I'd rather worry about how Bernanke and the Federal Reserve wants more control over Wall Street, so they can get us out of this mortgage crisis we seem to have gotten ourselves into. Seems like a good plan. The Federal Reserve has done such a wonderful job at trying to completely devalue the dollar, why not put a little more on their plate!
Somewhere, we need new ideas. Substantial ideas. Not just 'victory'. Not just 'change'. It's not enough.
All I ask of anyone reading this is to consider an alternative. Could your mind be swayed, by reading this, to check out Dr. Paul's site? Could his site sway you to support him? If you support him, could you set up a site, or webpage, or blog, to incite others like yourself? Pure grassroots.
Sure, I'm probably naive. Maybe it IS too late. I hope not. I think there's still time. I HOPE there's still time.
End America's two-party system today!
Thank you for reading, and thinking.
Bob H.
2008-07-11
It's been awhile since I've posted any music, simply because I wasn't sure how (or if) I wanted to proceed. I, like many others, check out Totally Fuzzy every day, and I'm really only interested in doing this as long as it's different, as well as mutual. There's really only so many times somebody can post a Beatles album, or Eagles or Led Zep, right? My last attempt at reciprocal posts (the Frippertronics, or Fripp-related posts) did not result in ANYONE offering links to other Fripp-shows, which I would gladly have posted for all to share (these links are still generating downloads, so I'll leave them up).
I've decided the best way to continue (with the music part of this blog, anyway) is to 'test the waters of reciprocity' once more. I'm posting a few hard-to-find 'sound art' albums, as well as one of my own. Here's the list:
Gavin Bryars - 1976 "The Sinking Of The Titanic/ Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet" (Obscure Records)
The original, on Brian Eno's 'Obscure' imprint from 1976.
Beautiful, haunting chamber music.
DJ Food - 2005 "Raiding The 20th Century"
An aural history of 'sound art'.
Everything from Alvin Lucier to Dickie Goodman to Steinski and
beyond. Wonderfully realized and essential.
Osymyso - "Intro Inspection"
A comparatively-short (12 minute) mash-up of only the beginnings
of hit songs from the 70's and 80's, mostly.
John Oswald - 1990 "Rubaiyat - Plunderphonics"
John Oswald - 1993 "Plexure"
John Oswald is the 'plunderphonics' (his term) master. "Rubaiyat"
is the project he undertook after his 1989 "Plunderphonics" album
caused such a flap in the Michael Jackson camp. You can read all
about Oswald's legal hassles in more detail (if you like)...
I'm posting "Rubaiyat" because the music excels (especially the
'ferocious' tribute to the MC5, "Mother"!)
"Plexure" is impossible to describe... 1000 70's and 80's hits (some
not even one second long) sliced, diced, overlayed and/or mutated
in every way. Unbe-freakin'-lievable...
(and mine)
Ocean Miner - 2008 "WheatleMix" & "Talking Cars"
Here's the gist: I read somewhere (I think it was on 'Go Home
Productions' site) where the person was responding to people who
thought 'mash-ups' were as simple as putting 2 songs together, and
how that wasn't the case, and it got me thinkin'...
What if mash-ups could be as simple as putting two songs together?
That's what my stuff is... take 2 songs, put them together (with as
little meddling done to the originals as possible), just to put things
in a different context. That's all sound art is, as far as I can tell...
A new way to listen to the same old songs, or sounds.
"WheatleMix" came from my realization (after George Harrison's
death) that, with Keith Moon and John Entwistle gone, the Who
needed a drummer and bass guitarist. Well, who's left from the
Beatles? So, if they joined forces, could it sound like this (in mash-
up land)?
"Talking Cars" takes the fact that I've always loved the Cars albums,
but their sound was kinda thin (very 80's, synth-drums and bass).
So I added their sound to another late-70's/early-80's band I love
(the Talking Heads, who have a very heavy-percussion/ bass-driven
sound) and I ended up with an interesting combo.
(Disclaimer: I do NOT include my stuff, which was done cheap-'n'-quick, along with these other CLASSICS to prove my worth, or to imply that I belong 'up-there' with John Oswald, et al.)
Sound art is pretty much the only 'new' music I listen to these days. ALL of these (with the exception of mine, 'natch) are CLASSICS in sound art, and I've got plenty more if people are interested. I hope this will spark interest in more sharing of 'sound art', but (especially) I'd LOVE to hear what others are doing! Surely there's people out there with ideas and a little free time and a frewware 'Audacity' (or similar) program on their computer, right? Let's hear from you! Let's share! Let's create, just for the fun. Just for the ideas!
Rant now over. Bob H.
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