Wednesday, December 31, 2008

DON'T DRINK THE WATER: CENTRAL PARK, DMB

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND SAY GOODBYE-

We could post Dave Vids all night...

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND #41

I consider a great song, #41

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND

Great jams, this is the first band Jakob saw in 2004 in Bonner Springs, Kansas, when he was 18 months old...great show...Kell and Jakob and I. We went back in 2006 at the Gorge when he was 4...it was amazing.

PREVIOUS POST...RE MICHAEL MOORE

Here is a link to a previous post-6.21.08

KATRINA AID ARRIVES IN NEW ORLEANS

Onward, let us effect change...

MICHAEL MOORE

His movies infuriated me during the early 2000's and the 2004 Bush/Kerry campaign. He is an inspiration to me now, I have included several links to wikipedia pages. All of his movies should be studied. Chels, I will send you SICKO, and Momma you need to watch it too. Holler Trent-This is a momentous time to be alive,and if we are vigilant, we can effect change, we must effect change in the United States. Here's a clip from Real Time with Bill Maher:

Links:
Fahrenheit 9/11
Bowling for Columbine
Roger and Me
Sicko
michaelmoore.com

Monday, December 29, 2008

RACHEL MADDOW


FRED HAMPTON, SR




Fred Hampton was murdered by the Chicago Police in cold blood in his bed with his pregnant Lady beside him...He was an activist, a father, a Black Panther, a man. He paid with his life for helping the poor. Although Hampton lived and died in Chicago, Mos Def recounts that, as a child in NYC, it was the Black Panthers that ensured he and thousands of other low-income children had a free breakfast before school...something I want for my own children. Read about the vandalism and the burning of Black Panther medical clinics by the police...it is mindblowing...Peace and much love...

MOS DEF DOLLAR DAYS

From his great work, True Magic...a slammin c.d.



This is in response to the unmitigated disaster that was the Katrina response.

Dr. Ernesto Guevara de la Serna Inspiration Continued

El Che: A Revolutionary, and a rabble rouser. He reminds me of me. Che stood up for people that were powerless, despite his aristocratic background, and he stood up to something far more powerful than himself. Vive Che!

He is at the United Nations, as a Secretary of State(essentially) for the nation of Cuba. No hate 4 Cuba, I can't wait to be able to interact with the people and build a dialogue and history with the great people of the Island of Cuba.

DR. KING "Be True To What You Said On Paper"

I've Been To The Mountaintop. I love the way this man put words together, and the way he delivered...this was the last speech delivered, in Memphis Tennessee, before a cowards rifle silenced his voice. "I'm not fearing any man."


Legacy live on, Dr. King...

INSPIRATION

I'm going to post some videos of people that have shaped, and are shaping my life and outlook. Here is Dr. Michael Eric Dyson with Tavis Smiley hosting the Black State of the Union, 2008. I caught it on C-Span, but here it is courtesy of YouTube:

Professor Dyson has a masterful grasp on the English language, and he is a gentleman that I would love to sit and discuss any damn thing.

MOS DEF ON REAL TIME

Mos Def on Real Time, with the incomparable Dr. Cornell West, Princeton professor. For my Ladies in the Southland, Mos is the Brother with the ball cap, Dr. West has the hair. I don't agree with some of Mos's stances on 9/11, but he is dead on, as is Dr. West. Enjoy, I'm going to post more.


Love y'all...

Thursday, December 25, 2008

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Well it is Christmas Day in Vancouver. So another is here and almost gone. I'm sitting in my living room in our little apartment looking out the back door, and it is so still and white and frozen.



In this Christmas Season and Chanukah season there are still people on the streets begging for money and a place to live. As I ponder the entire reason for Christmas, I can't help but realize the irony of the richest country on the culturally richest day for Christendom the poor are just trying to catch a break. What would Jesus do? He would make sure the poor were taken care of, he would make sure education was a priority, and he would make damn sure people did not go hungry. I am thankful I live in Washington. People here are far more conscious on the poor, far more focused on education, and far more conscious of the need for a social safety net for its most vulnerable citizens.



Far more than the Christian South. I cannot help but rail against the bullshit in the religious south, as it has proven itself to me to be time and again unconcerned with the real tenants of what Jesus taught, it is a region in the country that is poverty stricken, but ironically, hates the poor. Go figure.

Another thought: Regardless of your religious affiliation, or your beliefs regarding God, or Jesus, or any other religious figure, Buddha, Mohammed, etc., one has to admit, when his life is studied, when his teachings are studied, that Jesus had some great ideas regarding society. Whether one chooses to follow Jesus is their own business, and as I grow as a person, and question, question, question, I realize that Jesus' teachings and the church in the United States couldn't be further apart.



We need a systemic change in the US, one that focuses our resources not on hate and war, but on the people, on education, on well-health management rather than the colonizing aspirations that we have focused on in a post empire, post colonial world.



For all of my concerns, I am grateful for several things:



Chelsea and I have been in contact, my beautiful little dark haired baby girl, a woman now, (I remember when she was just three months old, and she contracted a viral pneumonia, with her little bitty self in a croup tent, and her little self when she was a little older and toddling around, with her long hair and beautiful voice and eyes...*sniff*) I've missed her so much, conversations with her are going very well, and her mother and I have lain to rest old animosities, and we are speaking too. We are going to go down there when Chels has the baby, (I am so excited to be a Granpa, Kell is too), and will probably stay with her and Chels and Lace. I never thought I would have April as one of my T-Mobile My Faves, but there you go.



I have been talking to Lacey, which is also a miracle in its own right.



Although he has not been back in contact, dialogue between my oldest son and me have been opened, I cannot wait to discuss varying social philosophies with Trent, as well as religion, health welfare, etc. It appears he and I would have plenty to discuss, quite a bit in common, and if I may be so bold, we'd have a damn good time discussing such issues.



And I am grateful and thankful to April for letting me into her and the kids lives...





I have been in contact with my son Hunter, at least I think it is him, and from the contact back from him via MySpace, I can only assume it is him, as it sounds like me at a very pissed off 13 years old. And I'm not mad about that!



And, of course, I have my beautiful Lady Kelli, my precious son Jakob, a warm place, food to eat, Mosey, Eden and the Cat, and the prospect and possibilities of success before me.

I have missed all of the kids through the years, and this is another motivating factor for me to see reform in the colossal fuck up called Child Support Enforcement. I do hope some people go to jail over this incredible debacle, and you can rest assured that I will do my part to hold individuals accountable for any corruption, theft, or other chicanery that has resulted in harm to my children, to me, and to all the other families that have been used as economic pawns to line the pockets of private collection companies, as well as attorneys, judges and legislators. I wanna see some bodies twisting in the wind. I'm angry, and I have awakened.


I have many things to be thankful for, and they are all duly noted. I do believe, however, that the work in the United States is far from over, the election of Barack Obama is perhaps just the beginning. The trickle down economic theory which has brought this country nearly to ruins, (and ruined other nations) is still being preached as gospel from the meeting rooms of Congress and state legislatures to the corporate boardrooms, to the pulpits. One of the solutions? Tax the shit out of the rich.



I currently do not have but a small voice. However, it is gaining in depth, breadth, and resonance. So listen up corporations! You can bet your ass companies like Wal-Mart, McDonalds, Kaiser Permanente, Pfizer, and ExxonMobil would be paying about 80 percent and they would not be making billions off of the backs of the poor without giving back, and giving till it hurts. I pay an enormous percentage of any disposable income of mine in taxes at the check out line at the store, at the gas pump, and restaurants, etc. As do all of the people in the United States that currently have a low income. Taxes that are not refunded, and I want a fucking return on MY investment. Change must be made in this country, I'm going to see to it. Peace and love, Searchers, blessings in this coming new year, Hasta Siempre-



Mike

Monday, December 22, 2008

HAPPY CHANUKAH TO ALL MY JEWISH BROTHERS AND SISTERS

Many blessings during this festival of lights...May G-D turn his face toward you....and enjoy this!



and smoke your marijuanica!
Peace-
Mike

Sunday, December 21, 2008

AND I'M GOING TO BE A GRANPA

AND WONDER OF WONDERS

Lacey and I have caught up with each other...will wonders never cease? My girls are so beautiful...

And blessings to their Momma. April

I SPOKE WITH MY DAUGHTER

I have been reluctant to discuss my personal life on my blog, outside of expressing my concerns about social issues, although I know I have touched on other things regarding my personal stuff.

But I spoke with my daughter Chelsea for the first time in fifteen years. My mind is blown, my heart is bursting, I am amazed.

Chels is an amazing young woman, stunningly beautiful, full of life, and I couldn't be happier or feel more blessed that this incredible woman would want me in her life.

Peace, much love-
Mike

AXE DOMINATION FROM MY SON

A couple of clips from an amazing young man currently residing in Arkansas, but clearly destined for greater things. His name is Trent and he is my son.




And another-this one is kinda grainy, Searchers, but its slammin all the same. If he doesn't already know about MosDef, they should be introduced...









Very excellent.



Peace-

Mike

Thursday, December 18, 2008

CHENEY ADMITS TO TORTURE, CONDONES WATERBORDING

In an ABC interview, US V.P. Dick Cheney admitted to "getting the process cleared" or authorizing the use of water boarding on prisoners of war. While invoking 9/11 yet again, (which has become the get out of jail free card, and the "do anything you want and get away with it" pass), Cheney was adamant in insisting it was the right thing to do, despite the fact that it is against U.S. and International law.

If Cheney is allowed to admit on television his disregard for the law, without fear of prosecution, it will set a dangerous tone for future administrations to wantonly disregard law, human rights, and liberty, and flaunt their ability to avoid legitimate prosecution for their crimes. Furthermore, administrations will find it increasingly easy to use torture tactics on all people, American citizens included, when they deem necessary.

The blatant disregard for law, ethics and morality in this Conservative Christian administration is appalling. I have voted for this administration twice, I have been duped, I have held the measuring stick to them and they have fallen far short. I am thankful the term is almost finished.

If the President of the United States as well as the Vice President, SecDef, SecState, the Attorney General for God's sake, can violate the letter as well as the spirit of so many laws, why would I expect anyone to respect the legal system in my country, obey the law, and even give a damn that we have laws?

It is a question worth asking, and delving into. I believe we need to hold our elected officials, appointed politicians such as some judges, law enforcement personnel, accountable for their actions and make it extraordinarily painful if they violate the public trust.

Just some thoughts on a snowy Wednesday morning in Vancouver.
Peace-
Mike