Grateful Dead

Only joking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Before i say anything else, another massive apology to TigerLilly for that pesky c-word; i've apologised to you via private message before as you know, so it's not done on purpose. I do regularly forget that the word is not widely used so much in the US; it's spoken much more freely here so it just slips out. I only use it for punctuation here but that is besides the point. Once again, my sincere apologies. I would be mortified if i felt that others were turning away from something that they used to enjoy because of an idiot who needs to reign in his language. It's a fine line sometimes between having the right to say what you feel and thinking that it's all about you and being blind to the community. Sorry. I'll keep certain words in check!! The other thing that would really irritate me would be for female users to feel that too much tiresome male testosterone was being sprayed over the Forum. I LOATHE that aggressive posturing and chest-beating behaviour. Have done all my life; it's repulsive. I guess these posts have made me realise that it's really difficult sometimes to convey in writing (well it obviously is for me by the looks of it!!), humour, especially sarcastic humour without it getting lost or simply being taken for hatred and seething aggression. Which i must make clear, speaking for myself, i do NOT intend. As i've posted elsewhere, in England we've had a steady diet of this type of, well, i wouldn't say snarling, but sneering, dark comedy, performed by both men and women so you take it for granted that others will laugh too. The US does too of course; Bill Hicks, the mighty George Carlin, South Park etc. Anyway, i'll try and make it clearer for people in future. Regarding any of the other content in the posts, i really don't see any problem with it. Marye, i do agree that if it's turning people away then a bit respect needs to be given for the benefit of the whole, absolutely. But i really don't think we'll be "trotting down the well-worn path to toxic cesspit that's happened on many another site by giving free rein to abusive jerks". I feel that's a bit strong. Everyone here involved in these recent posts have ALL posted comments on a huge variety of topics, with absolutely sincerity, grace, compassion, respect and understanding. It's not as though someone has suddenly joined with the express purpose of hating people or laying into other users for the slightest disagreement a la Youtube. I really believe that, certainly the 5 or six people above respect each other's views and kinda knows what attitude someone is going to bring. If we've all laughed, or shared memories of departed ones or got excited about music in other topics then none of us here should be offended or insulted by what others have to say. People must be allowed to say what they feel (reigning in some of the curse words for the sake of others i do understand though, and i personally will cut down on that a bit); i don't think anyone here with half a brain would see the above posts as being in ANY way racist. Riggsjr, quite openly and rather wonderfully, expressed his feelings of why he suddenly is getting more angry; hand on heart, i think the VAST majority of people in the world think the same. You do start to see people in a different light when injustice is going on around you. Happened to me when reading the Dalai Lama's autobiography and reeling at the appalling behaviour of the Chinese; the way they are "investing" in Africa with absolutely no benefit for the people who actually live there; the continued grief they give Japan for past errors, including demanding money; the continued idiotic booing of Japan in football games, even during the National Anthem. And when it's one thing after another, it's easy to fall into that terrible trap of treating everyone the same way. You start casting the general population in the same light as Government which of course is absurd. And it's something that can easily be applied to other countries and peoples. I think a large part of the UK certainly equates all Americans with your Governments policy and actions. That's the beauty of spun news i guess. It's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. But that's why it's so important to talk about. This Topic IS for current events, politics, sport, whatever's happenin' out there. And some of it isn't pleasant. And as lamagonzo agreed, Sharia Law is odious; that Choudary creature is a cretin. I wouldn't stop him from spouting whatever hateful nonsense pours from his head, he has every right to do so. I, with words, not violence or physical harm EVER, will oppose him. If i think he and his deluded puppies are going too far, or intimidating and tainting other Muslims (because that's the real sad fact here), i will speak out and make fun of him. It is very important for people to understand and to read things properly before making rash judgements; the above posts by myself and riggsjr made it quite clear that we were talking about those select few, the extreme idiots who are imposing nonsense on others, NOT making sweeping statements about Islam or any other faith for that matter. Just those particular people. Many beautiful, tolerant, respectable, kind Muslims are saying the same thing, wishing that their beliefs are not overtaken by hatred, corruption and debasement. They just don't use the c-word when doing it, that's all. Everyone is cool here; i have a massive amount of respect for lamagonzo, riggsjr, TigerLilly, johnman, cosmicbadger, marye and many others (apologies if i've forgotten obvious ones!! the ol' grey cells should be up on charges for desertion). I'd definitely pass over any supposed lamagonzo insults riggsjr; that's not his style. He's a real thoughtful person who, like a lot of us, has things he really wants to say. He speaks his mind and i bless him for it. Everyone must remember what others have posted in the past to get the bigger picture; just gloss over a lil' paragraph if you know that someone's just sayin' stuff. Well, that was another long one! My pleasure! For the record, i most sincerely apologise if people feel they no longer want to post because of a certain atmosphere or they can't get a word in edgeways. That is not right, not right at all. Turning people ON should be our creed not off. To music, to art, to literature, to causes, to enlightenment, and to everything in between. Lastly, i've posted this before but i would definitely recommend watching this short talk by John Perry Barlow, in case anyone missed it - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYpB1NzCO6g Okay, pyjama party at mine everyone!!!!!! johnman, you bring the beers, the cookies, the security and the common sense (we'll need a good smack upside the head of cool bearded logic when we get too full of ourselves!); lamagonzo, you bring the spiritual calm and the insight; TigerLilly, you bring the brätwurst, the serenity and your posters of Ranaldo (we need a dartboard); cosmicbadger, you bring some omlettes and truffles dammit!; marye, you bring your dogs, your camera so we can photograph them after we've dressed them in Edwardian costume and any Betty Boards that are missing from our collection and riggsjr, you bring the haggis, the heroin, the tatties and neeps and the paper for cleaning the jobbies!!!! Me? Oh, i'll try and pop in; i'm washing my hair that night..... Awwwww, i'll be there!!!!!!!! With a cheeky grin, a joint for all and a monster sound system that will propel you into the stars. Seriously, let's stick together folks. Much more fun going through life holding hands than holding yourself.

Absolutely. Point taken.Knew you'd bring the serenity! (could that symbol be a nazi salute? just asking...............). tee heeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!

How many times did i tell you NOT to enlarge that catflap? Am i talking to myself here?Christ, riggsjr, i'm reaching my boiling point; okay okay, the heroin will have to suffice. By the way, is it true that the people in Ethiopia recently held a concert to raise money for the citizens of Glasgow?......

Ha ha!Like that classic Frankie joke about a guy who asks for a lager and lime in a pub in Bathgate. The barman replies: "We dont do coctails...".

General resentment mixed with the usual amounts of idiocy i guess. The family of the victim have condoned this stupid behaviour so hopefully the media will drop any coverage so as not to give them any more attention. Highly unlikely but...Interviews with teenagers in Tottenham said that the people looting were not from the area; most of them they'd never seen before so it's just fools from outside causing trouble because they can get away with it. I heard complaints commission officers were on the scene of the shooting almost immediately; not sure whether thats a change in police policy but others have commented that thats mighty strange to be there so quickly. Practically unheard of. We shall see. Injustice awaits no doubt. On a much more positive note, for those of you either based in the UK or able to access 4Player online, at 9.00pm GMT, tonight, Channel 4, there is an update on the Fish Fight campaign that the chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall instigated. This is a campaign that highlights the throwing overboard of dead fish that fishermen have caught due to the illegality of landing stock over their quota. I emailed Laura Christine, the wonderful webmaster of Bill Kreutzmann's site after the first programmes were aired and she passed on the news to him about the issue. The result? The very next day he asked her to add the campaign site to the links section of his website!! How cool is Bill Kreutzmann? Cooler than a fridge in the Arctic. Due to the large amount of subscribers to the site and petitioners, the EU Fisheries Commission agreed to change the policy. Interested parties can check out the Fish Fight campaign here - http://www.fishfight.net/ And speaking of arctic temperatures, i heard that the boy, Horatio Chapple, tragically killed by a polar bear in Norway was named after Horatio Nelson; who was also attacked by a polar bear in that very same region. Unbelievable.

Marye - I'm sure you've seen this before but i've just watching gain for old time's sake, and seeing as though you mentioned Oakland thought i'd send you this classic link to an Evening Magazine - KPIX feature on the Dead playing the Oakland Coliseum in '87 with Dylan - http://www.livestream.com/davidaron/video?clipId=pla_6776336536446748746 Couple of classic one liners in it! The reporter stating that the Grateful Dead started as a band called The Warlocks playing bluegrass music is a real doozy along with a typically quotable Bill Graham interview!! By the way, if you're based in Oakland check out the Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe; my best buddy Mark is now the Assistant Manager. Classic Scottish Deadhead who used to run the Last Lemming restaurant in Antigua; good friends with Charles Hambleton, associate producer for the film The Cove. If you ever go, tell him Avant Lard sent you ha! ha!!

Yes, that's correct; the bass player is behind it along with a couple others.Judging from the pictures, looks like a nice little place; unbelievable sized portions of food!!! Can't wait to visit Mark in Oakland on our way to relocating to Japan. Not long now!!!!!!! He better be serving up some free coffee and lunch that's all i can say ha! ha!!

Just noticed a horrendous mistake in an earlier post i made regarding the riots in London.The family of the victim CONDEMNED the looting and rioting NOT condoned!!! My brain was full of a rather gorgeous red wine from Chile, soft and mellow with sweet tannins; a Cabernet Sauvignon positing gentle balm that i mistyped. What a dreadful faux pas. My sincere apologies to the family involved and anyone else who read it and took as fact.

Yep, a sad day in many ways.Gonna hit me with some 06/21/1989 Shoreline Smiles until it all goes away. Unfortunately, i feel that peace and sanity is a long way off yet; shops and businesses around me closing early in anticipation. Why wreck the livelihoods and homes of people who are also poor, misrepresented and struggling to make ends meet? The Lord only knows.

Yes, a lot of it is about pent up frustration; and unfortunately and rather sadly, it's nothing to do with the current situation, i believe.It does seem that the vast majority of young teenagers causing the damage are mainly black. I feel this is down to a whole host of factors; incredibly poor relations between the police and the community; the obvious issues of high unemployment and the searing lack of youth orientated projects and aspirations. Plus, and i do believe this is a major factor in all black related crime, a really sad lack of father figures. I have seen this born out in many documentaries, completely unrelated to this point; programmes about disabled children, inner city buildings, a whole shed-load of topics. And, may i point out, that we are all to blame here as, being human each and every one of us, we all have a responsibility to help and encourage others; but it seems that among the poor black population in London and other grim concrete cities, the desertion of fathers seems to be commonplace. I have absolutely no idea why it is more pronounced in this particular community, but it is a factor that everyone must acknowledge. Which is odd as, although London and England in general has had it's fair share of racial problems and divides, black culture is, in my opinion, at all time high; music, fashion, vocabulary. It's a lot more positive as far as i can see than at any other point in history. And yet, so many kids are without a family unit. And it's always the men leaving of course, never the women; if you have to work to put food on the table and pay the rent and you work two, sometimes three jobs, you are not necessarily there in the evening to check on what your children are doing. Unfortunately, i am running out of time here so will have to continue this tomorrow. But lastly, one of the most disappointing things being "reported" is the eyebrows raised at social networks like Twitter and Blackberry communications etc.; the ease and speed at which people can communicate meeting places and ideas and be one step ahead of the police. If it was a terrorist attack or another appalling catastrophe that occurred they would be praising it for allowing people to warn others of dangers and the emergency services being able to respond quicker. Can't have it both ways guys. Let's hope tonight is a quiet one as it's just down the road from me and all i can hear outside my window is police sirens.

Seemed much quieter here in London last night; not so for other cities in the UK though. Wolverhampton, West Bromwich, Manchester...Really nice to see locals getting together with brooms and cleaning up the streets themselves; gives me great heart. Police increased by 10,000 but worryingly permission has been given to use plastic bullets should the need arise. Not a good idea. You are dealing with young people who truly do not care about what they're doing. Rounding them up is one thing but using firearms? That way madness lies. Further to some points i was making yesterday, there are other important factors that need to be addressed. Certainly, the closing of youth related projects and centres does not help. In Clapham, where some of the rioting took place yesterday, a youth worker said that 4 youth centres had been closed in that area alone. Clapham is not even very big. The old saying, "the devil makes work for idle hands" is very very true. It is school/college/university holidays here and without parental guidance, somewhere to use that energy and adrenalin in a productive fashion; mix in resentment, frustration, poverty and alienation and what we've seen these last few days is bound to happen. And parental guidance is very important. People are having children at younger and younger ages; they themselves are not capable of looking after their own lives, so how on earth are they to care for someone else's? They do not have the life skills, the values and moral strength instilled in them to pass it on. This isn't meant to be patronising; i couldn't have taken on such responsibility at 18, 19 or even 20 years old. Some do of course, this does not apply to everyone. There are some remarkable young people doing an incredible job, whether the child was planned or unplanned. Let's not paint everyone with the same brush. But what outlook do you think some of these kids should have? Some are born into a flat on the 23rd floor of a grim high rise in dirty concrete surroundings. Just down their road is smart cafés, restaurants and bars; London, like a lot of cities all over the world is incredibly schizophrenic in design and social standing. I used to work in Angel, Islington; plenty of trendy bars and eateries in the high street outside the tube station. Go around the corner and there's a pleasant (and probably expensive) school for juniors; next road is a row of very expensive houses and a secure garden in the square, always well maintained. A few short steps and there is a block of council flats, dirty, rubbish on the floor, pokey shops and 12-14 year olds in school uniform smoking spliffs before another day wasted in the classroom. The Parcelforce guy wouldn't deliver to the front doors in the flats because even if the van was locked, it would get broken into. He now buzzes the intercom and waits downstairs until the recipient collects. All this is one street away from rich houses (including many television/celebrity owners); these kids have to walk past these to get to school (if they choose to go of course). Now, that isn't to say it's rich people's fault necessarily; some have studied damn hard and gone to Medical School and are doing positive things for others; they can't help being born into a more privileged background anymore than poorer kids being born into low-income grime. (Beliefs in reincarnation not withstanding). But when the cost of living is rising and wages, if you have any, are stalling; when you are treated differently (and people, don't fool yourselves that they don't recognise a condescending look in their direction; we may think we hide it well, we're just looking, but these kids know what most are thinking - black hooded waster, criminal, drug taker). A childhood of that together with absent parents; role model desertion and no money; bleak surroundings and police harassment; raging hormones and zero prospects. Well, let's face it everyone, we have an ammunition factory ready to blow. Something has to be done. Fairer conditions for all; genuine investment in certain areas; investment in youth projects is massively important. Why don't these corporations donate computers to youth centres in poorer areas? Musical instrument manufacturers donating or loaning equipment to projects; set up a community centre that has things that kids simply can't afford. Musicians and artists should regularly give talks and demonstrations in schools. Fashion designers, hairdressers, top stylists, writers, actors; would it be so hard to take some time away from what you do and spend a week showing some of these extremely bright kids just what is possible? A lot of these kids don't even know that you can make a living doing this; that you don't necessarily need to go to a University to be creative or have access to technology and ideas. Scientists, physicists and computer programmers should also regularly attend schools and design projects that would blow a kid's mind. In most cases i bet, these kids simply aren't aware that these things exist. When your daily routine is smoke, school, no parents, getting aggressively shouted at for the slightest misdemeanor (the amount of times i've witnessed a mother literally scream in a 2 year old's face for having the temerity to gently and smilingly reach out at a shiny candy bar in a supermarket and then usually getting a slap is for it's trouble is criminal; abuse pure and simple); when the parent's have no idea how to cook and all meals, if they get one, is chips, fried chicken or microwaved slop; if the parent is out at their third job so they can make ends meet and intimidation and argumentative aggression is an everyday occurence then they will not have the time or the simple chance to be exposed to some of the most incredible things human beings can achieve. Work-placements should be mandatory for large companies; computer graphics and radio, film and art and music and literature and sport and science and medical and spiritual practices and organisations should all be a large presence in schools from a young age. Blow their little minds and show them what can be achieved, rich or poor. Give them something they won't forget. Treat them like little adults and listen to what they have to say and how they express their emotions. Give them examples of the more out-there approach you can take to life and still be responsible and kind to others around you. If you're busy being creative or are filled to the brim and bursting with enthusiasm you have no time to even consider rioting or fighting or drinking or robbing or killing. Time would be too precious. Until we go in that direction, as Frank says, "there's no way to delay, that trouble comin' every day". Well, that's what i think, for what it's worth. And lastly, to end this rather over-long ramble, i'm reminded of something Stephen Fry once said; and to condense and paraphrase really quite wildly here, he basically remarked that if you look out if the window, Nature itself is unconditionally beautiful - the arctic, the deserts, the oceans; the only ugly things you will ever see out the window are things made by Man. And if, from your earliest age, looking at the world, you see yourself as a member of a species that can only uglyfy and spoil the world, it gives you a deep sense of guilt; guilt being the major cause of aggression and that why you get violence, because you feel guilty and worthless; ou feel worthless if you don't believe you are part of a species that is actually capable of producing beautiful things, which we are; in terms of architecture, in terms of painting, in terms of music and all kinds of things. Beauty is possible and is good.

i cried salt water.for what it's worth. brown skin painted on weak bone. shrunken carcass; something for the dust to claim. unholy abandonment for our viewing pleasure. no water no food no hope no life but do try, please. cue ball eyes in that head on a stick. our disconnect is perfect. we weep for a while and sleep soundly. hang in there little one. hang in there as the man with the camera brings image not grain. lens into lenses and my body sagged. sagged with all the hurt; a shriek that could summon God and shatter your semicircular canal. it doesn't bring him of course; he only seems to listen. where did we go so wrong when we can look straight into the eyes of a dying child and do nothing? a shameful spectacle. a suffering soul a stain on our species. sick and disgust as their organs fail. we've released so much pain into the world that the ether seeps decay. ghastly fog that chokes our brothers and sisters. suffocates and laughs. it's head seemed swollen. his head? her head? i couldn't tell. emaciated. fragile. eyes of ache and injustice. twisted with hurt. i could tell it was broken. i couldn't tell what it thought of me. why would i let a part of me suffer? for what purpose would i cut off one's own arm? because that's what i'm doing when i'm complicit in starving a life more pure and beautiful than mine. they ARE my life, have i not figured that out yet? he/she got better by the way; i saw it on the news. little body became more like yours and mine. sunken cheeks expanded and eye's like a cow. hope for that child at least. let's hope Aids doesn't pay a visit; please God, leave them alone for a while. reading this back, a thought of Arsenal's new signing Miyaichi entered my head; his debut on Saturday. looking forward to that. how shameful.

And yeah, just back from two weeks off art the beach, holiday on the seashore. How can I make a comment on starving children in Ethiopia? Saw the news and got sick the other night, had to remind myself to keep it off, restore my head. The reporter was in Mogadishu, Somalia. She was interviewing one of the top officers in the African Peacekeepers, drawn from other countries' armories and people. He said they were in the worst place on earth. The soccer stadium in long weeds, the bombed out buildings, IEDs. A Kalashnikov fires and the reporter and soldiers scramble for cover. The world is responding to this humanitarian crisis but food coming in through here first had to go through civil war in a country without a government for 20 years. Who is making the war here? Al Shabob (I am prompted to say "Shish Kabob") the AQ backed militias trying to take Somalia and turn the country into a terrorist training camp. They finally realized that they were killing the locals and pulled back to allow the pent up need for food distribution. Too little, too late as a woman with her kids cries "Where is the humanity?" Where, indeed? So the camps grow in Dadhob, Kenya and we live our lives of luxury and privilege... Look up MSNBC.com for a list of charities to make a donation to feed these people.

...from the terrorist networks after Ayman Al-Zawahiri, new AQ head, calls for revenge attacks on America for the killing of OBL. The problem is, there usually is a lot of chatter and when it is missing, that is when Homeland Security starts to go nuts. We are now in the waiting time. The FBI has admitted that it has lost track of many people in the Minneapolis area (Somalis', etc.) who have been to terrorist training camps. Anybody planning a plane trip before 9/11 should see increased security. More air marshals too, I should imagine. I think a lot of people in high government posts are uncomfortable right now and they are not saying much.

I hope it never happens. But everybody who guards this country knows that the chances are way up there for a mass casualty event, most probably in a major metro area, to happen. If not now, then some time in the future. How much blood before these slimy vampire vermin are vanquished?

This summer alone there has been at least four events where stages have collapsed due to unusual weather events: Cheap Trick narrowly averted catastrophe in Ottawa. The Indiana State Fair The Coco Puff Festival in Belgium most recently One other I can't think of... You'd think they'd build a stage to withstand a 60mph wind gust. Another bad sign of climate change for the festival crowd. ~ When in doubt, send them out! ~