Open Thread - Friday, December 23, 2016
We have to create culture, don't watch TV, don't read magazines, don't even listen to NPR. Create your own roadshow. The nexus of space and time where you are now is the most immediate sector of your universe, and if you're worrying about Michael Jackson or Bill Clinton or somebody else, then you are disempowered, you're giving it all away to icons, icons which are maintained by an electronic media so that you want to dress like X or have lips like Y. This is shit-brained, this kind of thinking. That is all cultural diversion, and what is real is you and your friends and your associations, your highs, your orgasms, your hopes, your plans, your fears. And we are told 'no', we're unimportant, we're peripheral. 'Get a degree, get a job, get a this, get a that.' And then you're a player, you don't want to even play in that game. You want to reclaim your mind and get it out of the hands of the cultural engineers who want to turn you into a half-baked moron consuming all this trash that's being manufactured out of the bones of a dying world.”
~ Terence McKenna ~
Sweetie and I are fully occupied with the here and now. The extent of my holiday preparations was to hit up Sweetie's friends for hand outs from their cookie exchange.
Being free, from Christmas, is rather liberating. I take pride in knowing, I am not weak and shall not succumb to the indoctrination. I think the liberation, and corresponding enlightenment, were always there. They were catalyzed by Sweetie's ALS.
During the past couple of years, I have disposed of an expresso machine, ice cream maker, food processor, bags of clothes, toys, household bric-a-brac, sports gear, kitchen kitsch, ... It really feels good to lighten the load.
I still love this time of year. When I was a young man, I always looked forward to this time of year. Fine cannabis, like Meigs County Gold and Gainesville Green would suddenly be available.
Sunday is still a pivotal day around our household. In spite of my aversion to indoctrination and conformance. And the fact that football is a metaphor for warfare. I am a die hard Steelers fan and Ravens Sunday is on the docket. I procured my football affinity during my youth. Two of my uncles were high school coaches any my father was a high school principal. We went to all the football and basketball games, home or away, no matter the weather. Steelers-Ravens is nearly the pinnacle of the focused rage and violence.
Eating and drinking with friends, and with football, has been indoctrinated into me. You see, Pittsburgh is a drinking town with a football problem. Most of the Jazzfest krewe lives in Pittsburgh, so most Sundays involved ritualistic consumption of beer and food, while socializing and watching the game. I am a few years older than most of my college buddies and was the first to have children. From the time he could walk and talk, I would bring my son to the gatherings. It is where he first learned about not sharing everything you hear or see.
What the funk just happened? Oh yeah, it is Funk Friday!
It will be alright.
You just need the right attitude.
Have a great weekend! Onward and upward!
The thread is OPEN.
Comments
Hi Tim
Thanks for the great reggae. I was listening to Gregory Isaacs when I clicked on your open thread.
[video:https://youtu.be/K6oYyG0KcvQ?list=PLD1A74275259385DE]
This made me laugh …. “It is where he first learned about not sharing everything you hear or see.” What an indoctrination your son must have had!
Warmth and peace to you and Sweetie and the kids.
Hey JB
I hope your brood is peaceful and warm. Sweetie is sleeping peacefully, which allows me time for a coffee and to check the OT. I had already sensed the end is nearing, and last night Sweetie broached the topic. My take, Sweetie has started the mental part of departing.
We made sure the kids saw and heard plenty. There is a story about dad howling at the moon during a Los Lobos concert and peeing in the front yard, when we arrived home, that is part of family folklore.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
All is well here.
Sounds like you’ve all enjoyed a very lively family life together. I know you’ll help Sweetie let go with grace, in the comfort of your love.
[video:https://youtu.be/AwXMKbJVCrQ?list=PLGu2rm6Wo165urTSjwNf7IZxPADgKw4Jl]
Wishing you some liveliness to soften the loneliness.
Good morning, Tim.
I know I wrote a response to your opening post, but I don't know what happened to it.
Let's see if I can recreate it.
Here are two obscure football songs from Broadway and/or Hollywood. What's better than big band football songs with professional choreography? (Almost anything, I suppose, but what the heck.)
I wish I had found a good version of Varsity Drag with lyrics and dancing (either Charleston or Black Bottom), but Benny Goodman's no slouch.
Happy Festivus. I have no Festivus pole, no grievances to air, no miracles to report, and no feats of strength planned, but, who knows? All that could change by midnight. Meanwhile, I'm sending you and Sweetie a hug and love.
Good Morning HW
Just managing your microcosm, making things better and coexisting is a feat of strength. Sometimes, I feels sorry for the terminally enraged.
I don't know much about Festivus, except that there may be beer involved. Works for me. I love the Black Lagers, Porters and Stouts that are around this time of year. Just not this year.
Dad was a Benny Goodman fan. Alvin Lee was a fan also. The marching bands were a big part of western Pennsylvania football. At least before austerity, most high schools would have a couple of bus loads of band and drill team. Ours always ended with:
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
I like good stuff from every era of music.
I can even enjoy some Revolutionary War ditties and I love to listening to the harpsichord (or even a glass harp). I am probably not sufficiently discriminating, but I have fun.
Whaddayaknow? I found a seasonally appropriate water harp video!
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdoTdG_VNV4]
Heh
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Fantastic!
Good Morning y'all
Hey Tim.
despite spending most of my life in football dominated Alabama, I've never been a fan....really of most sports. No offense to those who enjoy it...just never was my cup of tea. But music...hey we've got that in common!
All the best to you and Sweetie!
Thanks for the glass harp and the plum fairies HW. That's pretty cool.
from wiki
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Cool
I always stop to see the glass harmonica guy who busks in Jackson Square.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Hello Tim
Hitting up friends for cookies from the exchange is the best Christmas preparation I've heard.
"Santa" is bringing me a dog for Christmas. I will get her in a couple of hours. My dog died right after Thanksgiving and I've been lonesome. My daughter-in-law works with a rescue group in southern CA and picked her out for me. We thought it would take a while, but the right dog appeared quickly.
Other than that, I'm caring for pets of a couple of relatives away for holiday visits.
Blessings on you and sweetie. I hope the cookies are some of your favorites. Enjoy!
Lonliness
My deepest fear.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
I've had that conversation....
The current working assumption appears to be that our Shroedinger's Cat system is still alive. But what if we all suspect it's not, and the real problem is we just can't bring ourselves to open the box?
Gearhead alert
Saint Blues Bluesmaster ^^^
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
As a bassplayer...
that 49 West with the twin TV Jones humbuckers looks sweeeet.
The current working assumption appears to be that our Shroedinger's Cat system is still alive. But what if we all suspect it's not, and the real problem is we just can't bring ourselves to open the box?
Cabronita
with TV Jones in the closet. Squeals and screeches, nothing like a standard Telecaster.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
merry xmas from ravens land, tim...
i personally could care less about football, or most sports for that matter. but, where i live, people are wild about the ravens and there are purple lights, purple-lit buildings and statuary, even purple xmas trees.
anyway, good luck to your steelers.
i hope that you and your family have a warm and wonderful time.
Thanks Joe
I was using football to juxtaposition the Jesus thing, while pointing out Christmas is a consumerism trap.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Nice open thread, Tim
When I was reading about you and your friends in western Pa., it almost seemed like I was reading about my own family who came from the area. When we would visit my grandparents every summer, we all would sit on the front porch with the radio listening to the Pirates baseball games. My grandmother was a real fan and knew her stats and all.
Warmest wishes to you and Sweetie during this time of year.
Peace to you both.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Hey GG
Thanks, warmest wishes to you and yours. I have tried to explain bar culture to some of my southern neighbors. They do not quite grasp the concept on the neighborhood social environment being a tavern.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Hola
It's been a while since I've been able to post... or just even open the lap top. Retail hell season. Season of customer service aka we workers gettings shit on.
The "news" is so bad. Idiots blaming people who had their right to vote taken during the primaries for not voting for the Evil Queen... figure that one out, eh.
Top that with icy weather ( I don't give a fuck if you are from Montana, Utah, Vermont, Michigan, Colorado etc etc and YOU can drive in the SNOW...) I can drive in the snow, too. In fact, I took my test in two feet of snow. I and most humans can't drive on
ICE.
We get slush here in NW Oregon. Maybe an inch or two. Then it gets all melty-like and becomes slush. Which then overnight... wait for it... that shit you call "snow" becomes...
ICE.
You can't drive on ice.
And I can't navigate the roads in my 4wd because assholes from "elsewhere" who can "drive in the snow" because they have a car built for that..... because the aforementioned assholes are on the road and slipping all over the place due to the ICE. I had to do some tricky manuevering to get around all those Expeditions and Jeeps because their drivers lost control or were going too damned fast.
Took me hours to get home and before that hours to get to my son whose bus never came and he was left alone.
Thanks to all those so called "people who can drive in the snow" welcome to driving on ice on roads that are windy, curvy and hillish.
Then we all got the flu. At various intervals of course.
Oh and Merry Christmas or whatever floats your boat.
And.. I've missed you twerps.
Now onward to buying some groceries and xmas stuff - ya me, shopping on the day before Xmas Eve. oh joy...
"Love One Another" ~ George Harrison
Hey DJ
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
After three days I got my car unstuck and out!
And immediately drove to te gas station because it had been on E for two days of slippage. I also stocked up with about a month of food: nevermore.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
I was a violinist in my first phase of life.
Terence McKenna knows whereof he speaks:
There is nothing like immersing oneself in the ethereal themes and variation to experience the finest of creations. Canon in D major by Johann Pachelbel is one I particularly liked to play.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGftsRH7A2w]
Good morning caucus people
and everyone have a joyous or at least merry or maybe just a peaceful Christmas, Solstice, Festivist or whatever you call the festivals of light we need in the dead of winter. Thanks for the OT Tim. My one preparation for this year is a small tree sitting on the front porch waiting to be put up and lit up. Cookie exchanging is a fine way to celebrate. All my love to you and Sweetie. Thanks for the reggae it suited the day. I'm glad you have your family there to light the dark.
We are having a low key Christmas as my kids are going to their wives family gatherings in southern Oregon. They are coming here on New Years Day which suits me fine as it gives me time to get out and about now that the ice is gone. Dammit Janet is right. We get what's called a silver thaw after the snow here in cold winters. The neighbor's back yard with a small lawn looked like an ice skating ring until yesterday when the last of the ice melted.There was 101 car wrecks on the day the blizzard and ice storm hit. We left the car out front and walked for provisions. One good thing about working from home is you do not have to get on a icy road to go to work.
For all you Portlanders.
Heard this the other day on the radio ...
[video:https://youtu.be/h8ipqEk3ZPY]
I like it janis b
Is this band from Portland OR? Shah my husband plays in a local band . He's the grandpa of the power pop local scene. Although all the genx 'ers are getting older too. I really like this song thanks. Portland is really changing and not for the better in my opinion but then what do I know I'm a old get off my lawn coot. I hope this mad gentrification somehow gets curtailed. All my politics are now local so maybe the citizens who reside here can stop these progressive Democrat's from totally wrecking the place. Seattle seems to be headed in a better direction.
They are from Portland but live in LA now.
My best to you, Sweetie, and
your children, Tim. Know that this Christmas will be a very special one for all of you. Hope that Sweetie can be kept comfortable through the days ahead.
I knew we both shared a common thread regarding our Dads--high school principals (before I was born), but guess we shared another one--football mania. As an adult, I don't follow much football, except college football--but, that wasn't always the case. I can remember my Dad watching a game, with a couple of radios situated nearby, so he could check on the outcome of other games. (Bear in mind, he's been gone almost 40 years, so it wasn't as simple as checking the scores on the internet.)
Take care.
Mollie
“I believe in the redemptive powers of a dog’s love. It is in recognition of each dog’s potential to lift the human spirit and therefore– to change society for the better, that I fight to make sure every street dog has its day.”
--Stasha Wong, Secretary, Save Our Street Dogs (SOSD)
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
Dec. 23rd comes but once a year
so let's celebrate it!
One of my fave things is to get up, pour some coffee, listen to music, come upstairs, turn on the computer and read the open thread. It's usually pretty soothing, a good way to wake up. On this day of the week I always check the story of Tim and Sweetie, hoping that, even though it's difficult, it continues. Love IS the answer and the ongoing story reminds me that it's so.
Hey compadre, gracia for the OT. Last year we skipped xmas
cards, and just that minor step was pretty liberating. I can' imagine how good it must be to ditch the whole routine. All the best, as always.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Warm greetings and wishes to you and Sweety for Christmas
it helps me to listen and watch Africans enjoying the music and songs that came to them by the colonists, I learn from them of how to overcome hardships of life. I always wished I could have sung like them. One of my best memories.
[video:https://youtu.be/QSWpoHUs4-Q]
Thanks mimi
I really like this music. Listening to music where ever it is from helps me to overcome my sorrow Warm greetings to you where ever you are. The hardships of life come to us all. My mom used to say 'life is just one damn thing after another'. Maybe these one damn things after another bring us ordinary people together wherever we are. Merry Christmas or the light in the middle of the dark winter to you. I hope you come back soon and get to be with your son.
thx, Shaz, I like your mom ... :-)
and for your last sentence, yes, I hope so too. It's a very strange world out there, everywhere. Hard to not lose one's mind. Hugs back to you. If I just had the words like you do. I am always amazed how very well a lot of very kind folks express themselves here. Thank you.
MERRY CHRISTMAS NCTim and Sweetie!!!!!!!!!!
Man, do I love the tunes!!!!!!!! Rec'd X 1M!!
P.S.: I'm a NFL nutt, too. Tampa Bay Bucs fan loud and proud!! I'll have them on today. They actually look like a pro football team again.
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.