Hello, Again

Submitted by Steven D on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 3:55pm

So, how are things? It's been a while since I dropped by here, much less posted, but Mark in Queens called me out of the blue today, and, besides it being good to talk to him for the first time in a while, he reminded me how much this place means to me. I'm sure there are a lot of people who may not know who I am since I stopped posting, but back in 2016 I migrated here from Markos' Bargain Basement Sellout site, and never regretted it. This was (and I'm guessing remains) a great community of diverse voices and intelligent and civil (for the most part) discourse.

I see the last post I put up (a somewhat brief one that linked to my last YouTube video) was in September, 2018 about that lovely man, and now SCOTUS member for life (gag) Brett Kavanaugh. A sure vote to overrule Roe v. Wade first chance he gets. Too bad his infamy faded thanks to having Trump in the oval office.

So, where have I been since then? Staying away from the insanity of politics, for the most part. Life for everyone is stressful, and mine is no exception, and with personal and family obligations, and my utter lack of interest in the way the political scene here and abroad has been playing out to the detriment of almost everyone I care about (call it burnout if you like), I made the decision to focus on my health, and personal goals and obligations that did not involve screaming into the wind or chasing likes and retweets on twitter or developing a Brand. Spent some time on Mastodon, a decentralized "microblogging" platform, hanging out there for the laughs (because addiction to laughter is better than addiction to anger), but mostly I've been trying to do my best at finishing up a novel and "spending time with my family." Yeah I used quotes, but at least it was my choice and not a PR statement, and the family did need my attention. As did the novel, which, with a lot of luck, maybe I'll find a publisher later for this year.

I sincerely hope everyone is doing as well as they can in this crazy world we inhabit, one that seems to get crazier by the day. Perhaps some of you - those who remember me - could fill me in on what you've been up to, politically, personally or otherwise. I'd love to hear from you. Mark spoke to me informally of trying to organize a meetup in New York City this Spring, and hopefully that works out. I certainly plan to attend. One of the best times I had over the past decade was the time I spent at the 2016 DNC Lollapalooza with Mark and his wife, Joe and his, Mimi, and several other folks from C99. In any event, another chance to create memories with C99ers in the Big Apple is at the top of my list if it can be arranged.

As for politics and the issues of the day, and what I think of them at the moment, I'll leave that for another time (mostly because I haven't been putting a lot of thought into them), but feel free to leave your own thoughts in the comments if you like. I'm curious as to what this community thinks of our current, well, situation, for lack of a better euphemism.

And here's a current picture for good measure:

Steve 3102019.jpg

Tags:

#Personal #Update

Vote

Comments

Submitted by Tall Bald and Ugly on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 4:12pm

Good to

hear from you.
You coming back Just in time for the silly season gearing up.
Glad you’re well.

—

Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .

Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .

If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march

Submitted by Steven D on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 5:23pm

I think it’s always a silly season here

@Tall Bald and Ugly though it is getting stranger and wickeder every year.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 4:29pm

Oh hey Steven it's so good to see you again

I have been wondering how and where you were recently and now here you are. You're still handsome as evah! Understand why you took a break from all of the rotten news. Many of my friends did that too because they had nowhere to go with their anger and frustration with the disgusting democrats.

Me? I'm like that 50 year old soap opera where you can miss the show for years and come back and see that nothing happened.

Tell us about your book you've been working on. Good luck with finding a publisher for it.

—

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Submitted by Steven D on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 5:19pm

Hi Snoop

@snoopydawg The book is a multi genre novel in which Jorge Luis Borges and his son (yes son) and Basho are major characters. Working title is “My travels with a dead man.” If you have ever read Borges you have some idea of just how weird it will read, assuming I can find a publisher. But I have been working with a woman who has published 10 of her own books while also coaching others who have been published and she says it has some merit so I have hope.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by QMS on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 4:34pm

Ahoy mate

Good to see you again. Last I heard from you, you posted a trubute to Riverlover. If you've been gone awhile, you may be not know we have since lost divineorder. JtC is doing his damndest to keep things civil. EB still banging away, morning OT's rotating a bit. Some characters disappear for awhile, some more permanently. A few new voices. Hot button issues tend to be related to sexuality, Jewish affairs and voting viability. Hecate lost a lot in the Paradise fire.
Still a very smart, vital and passionate community.
Good luck.

Submitted by Steven D on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 5:13pm

I’m sorry to hear about diveneorder passing

@QMS and Hecate’s loss. That is some sad news. But I am glad to see so many familiar names still hanging out here.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by Wink on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 7:48pm

Welcome back, welcome

back, welcome back!

@Steven D

—

the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.

Submitted by Steven D on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 10:02am

Hey there

@Wink Thanks Wink!

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by Lookout on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 4:36pm

Good to "see" you Steven

I'm still spreading shit here at C99. Check out my weekly column today to catch my drift.

I remember many of your posts, but one of the most memorable to me was the series where you broke the story on the spy within Bernie's campaign in NC last cycle. I felt great admiration for your citizen journalism.

Bully on your focus on family and self. That is where it begins from my perspective. Our homestead is my refuge. I hope we all find the joy of spring and feel hope in this season of rebirth.

So good to read your story again.

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by Steven D on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 4:56pm

Hi Lookout

@Lookout I already scanned your most recent and plan to revisit it for a more in-depth read. Our family has been going through a few things but we’re holding together and trying to do some local activism as well. Had a tough winter when we had two of us down with pneumonia (my son and I) and my daughter with something called optic neuritis that we were concerned might be a sign of MS, but everyone is on the mend now. So hopefully I can be a little more present here in the future.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by Lookout on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 5:02pm

@Steven D

@Steven D

trying to do some local activism

Ain't we all? That's the good fight!

everyone is on the mend now

Most excellent. Build on good health...our greatest possession.

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by EdMass on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 4:57pm

I still love throwing clams at the sunrise but..

you barely mentioned and passed over your health issues rather quickly. You doing better dude?

—

Prof: Nancy! I’m going to Greece!
Nancy: And swim the English Channel?
Prof: No. No. To ancient Greece where burning Sapho stood beside the wine dark sea. Wa de do da! Nancy, I’ve invented a time machine!

Firesign Theater

Stop the War!

Submitted by Steven D on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 5:00pm

Tough winter for me Ed

@EdMass health wise as I mentioned in my response to Lookout but doing better now. But I keep waiting for that app to be developed that will delay or reverse aging. I’m sure I heard something about it on CNN the other day. thanks for asking.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by EdMass on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 5:19pm

Talk to me

@Steven D

I got that app and got it covered.

There is that thing about selling your soul, but that only takes a blood signature...

Heh!

—

Firesign Theater

Stop the War!

Submitted by dance you monster on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 4:58pm

And there you are.

Folks here were asking about ya.

Philly 2016 was fun, and we shouldn't leave Alison Wunderland and your daughter out of the cast of characters in attendance then.

Taking a break is good. Things are looking crappy overall, and we'll need to take periodic moments with family or nature or whatever before subjecting ourselves to the fray again. I have a rural property to play on, and from which to envision something better to come. We all need to envision something better. That's not too much to ask.

I hope you're really doing well and that your family is, too. And I hope you'll not be a stranger around these parts. Great to hear from you.

Submitted by Steven D on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 5:08pm

Must have been something going on that

@dance you monster caused Mark to call me and than for me to decide to post again. I guess all that psychic energy motivated us. ;-). Yeah that was a fun time despite the heat and Alison was a great friend to find a place for us to stay when we couldn’t stay with her due to my cat allergy.

In any case, I did need a break. Too much of our toxic culture, in politics etc is certainly bad for anyone’s mental and physical health. Good to hear from you. Thanks.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by JtC on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 5:02pm

Hey Steven...

welcome back old friend!

Submitted by Steven D on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 5:10pm

Hey to you too JtC

@JtC and so many thanks for all you do. Hopefully we’ll find a way meet in meat space someday so I can thank you in person.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by JtC on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 5:15pm

I'm hoping to get out that way...

@Steven D
sometime this year, if I do I'll certainly let you know.

Submitted by Daenerys on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 5:19pm

Building mountains out of snow.

Getting vehicles stuck in and pulled out of our driveway. Fun times. At least it's finally getting warmer.

Keep on keepin' on; thanks for checking in.

—

This shit is bananas.

Submitted by Steven D on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 5:29pm

Hi D

@Daenerys yeah we’ve had some of that weirdness too though luckily I was too sick to notice at the time. I expect each year now will be worse than the last weather wise. That does seem to be the road we’re headed down and lucky us, our car has no breaks.

But good to see your avatar and that you’re still surviving it all so far.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by Pricknick on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 5:37pm

Nice to see/hear from you again Steven.

civil

Oh hell no. But what fun would it be if we all agreed?
I admire your ability to let politics slide by the wayside. It's always too early and seems to be like christmas which now starts the day after.
Peace to you and yours.

—

Regardless of the path in life I chose, I realize it's always forward, never straight.

Submitted by Steven D on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 5:44pm

Well civil is a relative term lol

@Pricknick this place is much closer to the civil end of the spectrum when compared to what else is out there.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by Unabashed Liberal on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 5:50pm

Hi, Steven--real good to see

you back here!

Had to take a couple breaks myself (this past year), and I know how hard it is to be out. OTOH, in some ways, an absence can serve to 'recharge' a person.

At any rate, I very much look forward to your videos and essays. Look at it this way--you're just in time to help us tackle/navigate what will likely be a very dicey year, plus some. Obviously, we'll need all the help we can get!

My best to you and yours . . .

Mollie

I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive.
~~Gilda Radner, Comedienne

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.
~~Cicero

The obstacle is the path.
~~Zen Proverb

—

Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.

Submitted by Steven D on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 10:06am

Hi Mollie

@Unabashed Liberal Appreciate your kind words. I don;t ever think all have the same production I had earlier this decade, but I'll try to be more present and hopefully come up with some worthwhile essays going forward.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by mimi on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 5:55pm

Hi Steven, who could not remember you? That's quite

impossible. I remember your video talking to us very well. So good to see that despite all the tough times you go through you still have the strength to come back. And I remember you from the meeting at the 2016 DNC Lollapalooza. Wow, so many things happened. I commend you to take 'time with your family' and 'staying away from crazy politics' and 'refusing to chase the twitter and Co'. It was a wise decision.

A wiser decidsion of course is to read C99p because there are so many nice folks, who read all of that stuff for you and even tell and write about them, so that one has not to do it oneself. What could be better?

I myself had to 'retreat to Germany' in Nov. 2016 and if I were a writer, I could write a family saga Buddenbrooks-sized. But no writer here. So, all is lost.

Needless to say that I miss being in person among C99 folks and listen to you guys and ask questions. My whole life is a chain of questions and when I get answers I often don't like them. (heh, shit happens, so there is that) I miss the East Coast and if you are able to manage a meet-up in NYC, I try to make it there.

Comments here mentioned the name Alice Wonderland. I think it was the lady who sat to my left at that meeting and I often thought about her and what has become of her. She talked to me intensely (and she had health problems I remember she talked to me about as well) and I was still a greenhorn back then. I guess I made her uncomfortable with my 'not knowing nothing'. So, if anyone knows about her well-being and whereabouts, let me know.

Aside from losing my mind, my brain is losing its capability to remember things and I constantly mix things and persons up. Kind of embarrassing. But I have seen worse cases than myself. So...for the time being I am desperate about it only every other day.

Definitely, a person to person meeting would help !

Count me in. And luck and health in the future for you and your family.

Submitted by mimi on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 6:08pm

uh, oh, you can see that I am on the deteriorating side

@mimi
of things, because all what I posted above, you knew about and I start to get my time-lines scrambled. Terrible.

Submitted by Pricknick on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 6:18pm

You're not deteriorating.

@mimi
You're mellowing with age.
A fine wine.

—

Regardless of the path in life I chose, I realize it's always forward, never straight.

Submitted by Steven D on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 10:08am

Thanks Mimi

@mimi And may I add, speaking of unforgettable, you're on my list. It was a great pleasure to meet you, and I hope nothing too crazy happens in Germany. God knows we have enough crazy going on around the world, much of it created by America, Inc.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by mimi on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 5:09pm

Hi, Steven, crazy is as crazy does

@Steven D
I think very crazy things happen in Germany, the whole world is getting crazy and everyone thinks of themselves to be the smartest. Could it get any crazier?

I plan to hibernate in my cage here and am not sure I come out again... Pretty much have lost interest in all things worldly and plan projects I tried to work on since thirty years. Well, I am a little slow but I try not to give up.

Thank you for your kind words, always. Good luck.

Submitted by wouldsman on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 6:10pm

Good to see you/ your thoughts

again. I always enjoy your contribution here.

Submitted by Steven D on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 10:09am

Thanks

@wouldsman wouldsman. I love that name btw.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by The Voice In th... on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 6:18pm

Hi Steven

Migrated here from Booman Tribune. It turned into DKOS-lite in 2016 and never recovered.
Can't post there without some Hilbot troll rating anything not toeing the DNC line.
Longman himself is obsessed with encouraging Suburban republicans to migrate to the (D) Party so you can imagine the sewer a nice civilized blog has become.

Glad you are well!

—

I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

Submitted by Linda Wood on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 6:28pm

I look forward

to reading your thoughts as always, Steven D. Be well.

Submitted by Steven D on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 10:12am

Hi Linda

@Linda Wood I need to get up to speed, as I have been deliberately ignoring a lot of the BS getting flung about. I still think Reagan was the worst President in terms of damage he created because of his legacy, but this clown show (Trump v. Neolib Dem warmongers) is giving him a run for his money.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by Teiresias70 on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 7:55pm

Good to see you

I don't say much, simply because it's generally all been said by the time I get here. But, I'm glad you're back. I missed your voice. And I'm doing the publishing thing, too, so if you have questions with querying, etc, let me know.

Submitted by Steven D on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 10:14am

Hey thanks

@Teiresias70 I'm dreading the query letter/synopsis thing. If you have any tips, ideas, etc. please feel free to send me a private message. I'm all ears and appreciate your offer.

As for recovery, I don't know if I have but Mark's call sparked me to come by because this is a wonder group of people. And I've missed you all.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by on the cusp on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 7:58pm

Hello, Steven.

It is good to know your health is improving. And that you wrote a book!
I have been travelling, visiting maybe a dozen countries since your last post.
I loved Columbia, glad I toured there before the Venezuelan coup attempt. I think the mood there would be completely different now.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by Steven D on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 10:18am

I'm envious

@on the cusp I don't travel well these days, and a trip to South America would be hard, though I'd love to be able to visit Argentina and see where Borges lived and worked.

My daughter wants to take me to Mew Zealand but I'm not sure I;d survive the trip. It's a long way. Maybe if I took a slow boat and not an 18 plane trip (or however long it is).

Venezuela is going to turn into El Salvador, redux. I just know it. Except this time the Dems seem to be on board with this travesty.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by on the cusp on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 3:54pm

My only suggestion would be

@Steven D to break up the trip to Argentina into short flights, spend a night before the next flight. Argentina is just all that. Wine country, gauchos, BA is a magnificent capital city.
NZ is one country I will not be touring, due to distance. That is just too much for me. Mostly over water, no way to make it in shorter flights, unless Janis b can give suggestions.
The local Columbians were enthusiastic about their close relationship with the US, and were blaming every problem they had on Venezuelan refugees. By now, I suspect tensions with the refugees are heightened.
There was this sense they wanted America to be impressed with them.
Doesn't bode well. For Columbians.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by Mark from Queens on Sun, 03/10/2019 - 8:54pm

After calling Steven while getting some fresh air during a walk

down by the river on this raw and foggy afternoon, I came home and commenced to undertaking the big classic, Grandma’s Gravy. Kids love it (what a surprise! If it’s pasta or bread you've got yourself some quiet kids). So we decided while shopping that we’d make it this weekend because I have a gig in CT in the middle of the week and it’s perfect to send them off to daycare with for lunch that day.

Back inside, the Boy has my reading glasses perched on top of his head clearing the curls out of his face in the way that I usually have them on. He's stomping playfully around the house randomly interspersing Beatles songs, the way he hears them, with children’s rhymes: “Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band” and “the Magical Mystery Tour is trying to take you away” and “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star...” and "We all live in the Yellow Submarine."

Meanwhile I’m trying to get in some quick yoga stretches while the meatballs cook in the sauce. But my little girl interprets my being on the ground as the time to horse around; and she’s growling (mimicking how I sometimes approach her) as she toddles over to my head to throw her arms around it and lean backwards to stretch her back over my head, laughing mischievously.

As for me lately, I’ve been kind of giggling over every next establishment meltdown about my congresswoman AOC, and her female, minority freshman cohorts. There seems to be something afoot. And whether you think they're sheepdogs or not, they are definitely changing the conversation in a fairly substantial way already. I really hope that they tear the Democratic Party asunder and usher in a socialist age. It's long past time.

Like a punk rock singer friend of mine used to say about how to properly come onstage before even a note is played, “let’s fuck shit up!” These ladies are fucking shit up too.

Speaking of punks, my man here qualifies as one of the great ones. More of an alternative metal thing musically, but attitudinal it was all punk. I'm proud to have played with him.

I was recently thinking of him, and his courage to call out people politically on his records and during his shows. Before I ever him I had already thought Kory was one of the great frontmen I'd ever seen (a Detroit native in the vein of fellow Motor City man and Original Punk, Iggy Pop). In 2004 I was really chuffed to find myself playing with him and it happening during my political awakening also going to marches with him; learned a lot from him too, as he was one of the most politically astute guys I've still ever met.

There he was in the late 80's signed to one of the world's biggest record labels (Geffen), on the cover of rock magazines, managed by one of biggest too (who most famously represented Metallica) and on a coveted opening spot on a major tour - when Kory managed to get his band kicked off the tour for berating the audience to chant "Fuck Bush." Nothing but admiration for him still for that, though we've lost touch these days.

Here's a clip of a show I played with him in 2004 at yet another live music venue that's now gone, The Continental.

The lyrics are so eerily prescient and bad ass that I'm including them. (In another tune from around the same time in the late 80's/early 90's, he sang "Donald Trump, is just a money whore").

Go with the flow
Just let it ride
We don`t care
If you live or die
We suck off the companies
We suck like a whore
If we need oil
We just suck some more

We define success
And we don`t sin
Got the nation in debt
About four trilion

Infrastructure is wasted
And we`re deaf to the crowd
Nothing left for the children
It`s ok, we won`t be around

Welcome to the party
The republican party
Yeah, having fun at the party
The republican party
We`re havin` a party...
right now

We stack the courts
And we tax the poor
Got Johnny Lunchbox
To fight our wars

Tax him to his knees
And make him love the flag
We get corporate freedom
He gets a body bag

We`re making a killing
You know we kill so well
Cut the country to pieces
And we`re having a sale

But it gets old
Just like you knew it would
Now we've even got Nixon
Looking pretty good

This video has his intro talking about the "one wing of the One-Wing Party" that gives an idea of his head being at the same place with the majority of C99.

Warrior Soul - "Welcome to the Party" from Kevin Wood on Vimeo.

Anyway, dinner is finished, the chick peas are soaking overnight to make hummus in the morning (already roasted red pepper for a special edition), I just cracked my second Trader Joe's beer and thinking of you all.

As Steven mentioned, I'm going to try to organize a NYC Meetup for this Spring, possibly early May or something.

Let's see if we can get some dissident C99 folks together.

—

"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:

THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"

- Kurt Vonnegut

Submitted by mimi on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 3:48am

oh my, great writing and how

@Mark from Queens
old I am to just 'get' a glimpse of what you say. Thanks for providing the lyrics. It is eally essential for me... Ok then, I am all for fucking things up. Go for it. Musical fuck-ups are the best fucks, so to speak.

Now I don't want to use vulgar language, but it seems that's the only words I have these days.

Be happy, don't worry, keep playing with music and with your kids. Great daddy you are.

down by the river on this raw and foggy afternoon, I came home and commenced to undertaking the big classic, Grandma’s Gravy. Kids love it (what a surprise! If it’s pasta or bread you've got yourself some quiet kids). So we decided while shopping that we’d make it this weekend because I have a gig in CT in the middle of the week and it’s perfect to send them off to daycare with for lunch that day. Back inside, the Boy has my reading glasses perched on top of his head clearing the curls out of his face in the way that I usually have them on. He's stomping playfully around the house randomly interspersing Beatles songs, the way he hears them, with children’s rhymes: “Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band” and “the Magical Mystery Tour is trying to take you away” and “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star...” and "We all live in the Yellow Submarine." Meanwhile I’m trying to get in some quick yoga stretches while the meatballs cook in the sauce. But my little girl interprets my being on the ground as the time to horse around; and she’s growling (mimicking how I sometimes approach her) as she toddles over to my head to throw her arms around it and lean backwards to stretch her back over my head, laughing mischievously. As for me lately, I’ve been kind of giggling over every next establishment meltdown about my congresswoman AOC, and her female, minority freshman cohorts. There seems to be something afoot. And whether you think they're sheepdogs or not, they are definitely changing the conversation in a fairly substantial way already. I really hope that they tear the Democratic Party asunder and usher in a socialist age. It's long past time. Like a punk rock singer friend of mine used to say about how to properly come onstage before even a note is played, “let’s fuck shit up!” These ladies are fucking shit up too. Speaking of punks, my man here qualifies as one of the great ones. More of an alternative metal thing musically, but attitudinal it was all punk. I'm proud to have played with him. I was recently thinking of him, and his courage to call out people politically on his records and during his shows. Before I ever him I had already thought Kory was one of the great frontmen I'd ever seen (a Detroit native in the vein of fellow Motor City man and Original Punk, Iggy Pop). In 2004 I was really chuffed to find myself playing with him and it happening during my political awakening also going to marches with him; learned a lot from him too, as he was one of the most politically astute guys I've still ever met. There he was in the late 80's signed to one of the world's biggest record labels (Geffen), on the cover of rock magazines, managed by one of biggest too (who most famously represented Metallica) and on a coveted opening spot on a major tour - when Kory managed to get his band kicked off the tour for berating the audience to chant "Fuck Bush." Nothing but admiration for him still for that, though we've lost touch these days. Here's a clip of a show I played with him in 2004 at yet another live music venue that's now gone, The Continental. The lyrics are so eerily prescient and bad ass that I'm including them. (In another tune from around the same time in the late 80's/early 90's, he sang "Donald Trump, is just a money whore"). Go with the flow Just let it ride We don`t care If you live or die We suck off the companies We suck like a whore If we need oil We just suck some more We define success And we don`t sin Got the nation in debt About four trilion Infrastructure is wasted And we`re deaf to the crowd Nothing left for the children It`s ok, we won`t be around Welcome to the party The republican party Yeah, having fun at the party The republican party We`re havin` a party... right now We stack the courts And we tax the poor Got Johnny Lunchbox To fight our wars Tax him to his knees And make him love the flag We get corporate freedom He gets a body bag We`re making a killing You know we kill so well Cut the country to pieces And we`re having a sale But it gets old Just like you knew it would Now we've even got Nixon Looking pretty good This video has his intro talking about the "one wing of the One-Wing Party" that gives an idea of his head being at the same place with the majority of C99. Warrior Soul - "Welcome to the Party" from Kevin Wood on Vimeo. Anyway, dinner is finished, the chick peas are soaking overnight to make hummus in the morning (already roasted red pepper for a special edition), I just cracked my second Trader Joe's beer and thinking of you all. As Steven mentioned, I'm going to try to organize a NYC Meetup for this Spring, possibly early May or something. Let's see if we can get some dissident C99 folks together.

Submitted by Steven D on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 10:20am

Looking forward to it Mark

@Mark from Queens I really am. It was good catching up with you yesterday.

down by the river on this raw and foggy afternoon, I came home and commenced to undertaking the big classic, Grandma’s Gravy. Kids love it (what a surprise! If it’s pasta or bread you've got yourself some quiet kids). So we decided while shopping that we’d make it this weekend because I have a gig in CT in the middle of the week and it’s perfect to send them off to daycare with for lunch that day. Back inside, the Boy has my reading glasses perched on top of his head clearing the curls out of his face in the way that I usually have them on. He's stomping playfully around the house randomly interspersing Beatles songs, the way he hears them, with children’s rhymes: “Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band” and “the Magical Mystery Tour is trying to take you away” and “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star...” and "We all live in the Yellow Submarine." Meanwhile I’m trying to get in some quick yoga stretches while the meatballs cook in the sauce. But my little girl interprets my being on the ground as the time to horse around; and she’s growling (mimicking how I sometimes approach her) as she toddles over to my head to throw her arms around it and lean backwards to stretch her back over my head, laughing mischievously. As for me lately, I’ve been kind of giggling over every next establishment meltdown about my congresswoman AOC, and her female, minority freshman cohorts. There seems to be something afoot. And whether you think they're sheepdogs or not, they are definitely changing the conversation in a fairly substantial way already. I really hope that they tear the Democratic Party asunder and usher in a socialist age. It's long past time. Like a punk rock singer friend of mine used to say about how to properly come onstage before even a note is played, “let’s fuck shit up!” These ladies are fucking shit up too. Speaking of punks, my man here qualifies as one of the great ones. More of an alternative metal thing musically, but attitudinal it was all punk. I'm proud to have played with him. I was recently thinking of him, and his courage to call out people politically on his records and during his shows. Before I ever him I had already thought Kory was one of the great frontmen I'd ever seen (a Detroit native in the vein of fellow Motor City man and Original Punk, Iggy Pop). In 2004 I was really chuffed to find myself playing with him and it happening during my political awakening also going to marches with him; learned a lot from him too, as he was one of the most politically astute guys I've still ever met. There he was in the late 80's signed to one of the world's biggest record labels (Geffen), on the cover of rock magazines, managed by one of biggest too (who most famously represented Metallica) and on a coveted opening spot on a major tour - when Kory managed to get his band kicked off the tour for berating the audience to chant "Fuck Bush." Nothing but admiration for him still for that, though we've lost touch these days. Here's a clip of a show I played with him in 2004 at yet another live music venue that's now gone, The Continental. The lyrics are so eerily prescient and bad ass that I'm including them. (In another tune from around the same time in the late 80's/early 90's, he sang "Donald Trump, is just a money whore"). Go with the flow Just let it ride We don`t care If you live or die We suck off the companies We suck like a whore If we need oil We just suck some more We define success And we don`t sin Got the nation in debt About four trilion Infrastructure is wasted And we`re deaf to the crowd Nothing left for the children It`s ok, we won`t be around Welcome to the party The republican party Yeah, having fun at the party The republican party We`re havin` a party... right now We stack the courts And we tax the poor Got Johnny Lunchbox To fight our wars Tax him to his knees And make him love the flag We get corporate freedom He gets a body bag We`re making a killing You know we kill so well Cut the country to pieces And we`re having a sale But it gets old Just like you knew it would Now we've even got Nixon Looking pretty good This video has his intro talking about the "one wing of the One-Wing Party" that gives an idea of his head being at the same place with the majority of C99. Warrior Soul - "Welcome to the Party" from Kevin Wood on Vimeo. Anyway, dinner is finished, the chick peas are soaking overnight to make hummus in the morning (already roasted red pepper for a special edition), I just cracked my second Trader Joe's beer and thinking of you all. As Steven mentioned, I'm going to try to organize a NYC Meetup for this Spring, possibly early May or something. Let's see if we can get some dissident C99 folks together.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by lotlizard on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 3:52am

♡ Aloha Steven, welcome back! ♡ n/t

Submitted by Steven D on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 10:21am

Aloha back!

@lotlizard Good too hear from you.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by Anja Geitz on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 5:02am

Good to see you back Steven

Taking breaks are sometimes necessary. I took one over the summer to take care of my own health issues and just be offline. Hope to see some of your writing very soon.

Take Care

—

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Submitted by Steven D on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 10:26am

Hi Zoe

@Anja Geitz Yes, been working on studying Buddhism and meditation to help with my own issues. And CBD oil. If only we had a government that cared about the welfare of those who don't have a million dollars to plunk down for legalized bribery. Representative democracy is an oxymoron, since my reps sure don't represent my interests or all those who are suffering from the lack of even a half decent health care system.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by Anja Geitz on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 11:33am

I've gotten some very positive results

@Steven D

Through chanting and using my own Buddhist practice in my life. Wonderful philosophy.

been working on studying Buddhism and meditation to help with my own health issues

PM me anytime if you'd like to talk about it.

—

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Submitted by Anja Geitz on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 11:35am

Btw

@Steven D

I have my first Open Thread going live tomorrow morning (Tuesday). Swing by and say hello!

—

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Submitted by Snode on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 6:27am

Was wondering where you had gotten to

Good to hear it was just invoking the "Sanity Clause".

Submitted by Steven D on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 10:26am

A little known provision

@Snode in the Bill of Rights lol.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by dfarrah on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 11:38am

I read that as 'Santa Claus....'

@Snode So, Mimi (upthread), your mental health isn't bad at all.

—

dfarrah

Submitted by Cant Stop the M... on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 7:17am

So good to "see" you, Steven.

As for the silly season gearing up, unfortunately it never geared down.

—

"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

Submitted by Steven D on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 10:29am

No, it got worse.

@Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal Clinton gave us this world. She got Trump appointed and GOP nominee, swept the field of any legitimate challengers, and then sabotaged Sanders. And when she lost, she poisoned the well even more.

But other than that ....

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by Cant Stop the M... on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 11:14am

Well. Nice to see you, even under these circumstances. :-)

@Steven D

—

"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

Submitted by earthling1 on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 9:58am

Welcome back Steven

I remember you saying you wanted to take a hiatus.
Didn't take long for you to recover. That's great.
We're gonna need you for the upcoming "silly season".

—

Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

Submitted by Steven D on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 10:31am

Yes, I did.

@earthling1 I should probably still be on one lol.

One thing I'm going to try to avoid getting so upset by the kabuki show and focus on solutions. We'll see how long that lasts. Thanks.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by dfarrah on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 11:24am

Good to hear from you! nt

—

dfarrah

Submitted by Steven D on Tue, 03/12/2019 - 1:41pm

Thanks a lot

@dfarrah Good to see you.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by smiley7 on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 11:36am

Welcome home; Steven; happy to hear you

are on the mend and back posting. You look great.

Congrats on the book and,

Best wishes.

Submitted by Steven D on Tue, 03/12/2019 - 1:43pm

Thanks smiley

@smiley7 It's more a manuscript right now. If I can turn it into a real book people buyy that would be lovely.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by mhagle on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 11:41am

So nice to see you again . . .

. . . and glad for you that you have been focusing on family.

You were always at the top of my reading list. Look forward to reading your book.

All the best to you and yours.

—

Marilyn

"Make dirt, not war." eyo

Submitted by Steven D on Tue, 03/12/2019 - 1:41pm

Thanks

@mhagle I hope I can find someone to publish it. If I do I'm sure I'll be shameless in promoting it here.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by Bob In Portland on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 1:14pm

Looking good

You.

Me, I'm hanging in there. I've got three ideas I've been working on but don't seem to have the energy to write them out as posts.

The first one is how the Clintons were recruited by the CIA back in the sixties. Roger Morris' book puts Bill in the fold when he went over to Britain on his Fulbright. A puff piece in the NY Times in 2007, in preparation for her run for President in 2008, inadvertently shows her switch from Goldwater Girl in 1968 to be, er, curious. She joined Clean Gene McCarthy's campaign. Not mentioned is that the McCarthy campaign was filled with CIA assets and operatives, and the purpose of the campaign was not to stop the Vietnam War but to stop Bobby Kennedy from being nominated (for obvious reasons). Next, Hillary attends the Republican Convention in Miami, staying at the Fontainebleau, pretty ritzy for a college student. So why was she hobnobbing with Republicans in Miami if she truly opposed the war? Then she spends the summer of '68 as an intern for Congressional Republicans and writes a speech about Vietnam for Melvin Laird, who in six months would be Nixon's Secretary of Defense and beginning that awful carpetbombing of North Vietnam. Then she goes to the Democratic Convention. Kinda curious, no?

Overarching the Clintons' history is that just about every President (I'm not sure about Carter) since the JFK assassination has had deep connections with the CIA. In 1948 when Truman surprised Dewey, Allen Dulles, eventual Director of the CIA, blamed the Republican loss on "the Jews" for swinging the ethnic working class vote to the Democrats. From that arose the original red scare. But also the CIA had a program beginning in the early fifties, of smuggling Nazis and fascists into the US as a counter to the Jewish vote. Richard Nixon, who was friends with Dulles, oversaw the project called The Crusade For Freedom. Ronald Reagan was CFF's public spokesman (you can find his public announcements on YouTube!). Think about it. Two of the country's Presidents after WWII were part of a CIA program to import Nazis into the US to push the body politic farther to the right. This is not to be confused with Operation Paperclip, which imported Nazi scientists into the US for our military or with the Treaty of Fort Hunt, which absorbed Reinhard Gehlen's entire eastern European Nazi spy operation into the CIA.

Then there is Edwin W. Pauley, an oil man who was Treasurer of the Democratic Party and chairman of the 1944 Democratic convention. Pauley spearheaded the Wall Streeters successful removal of Henry A. Wallace from the ticket. Wallace was clearly a socialist (meaning a good guy) and entirely unpalatable for Wall Street. Since FDR was ill and died the next year it was extremely important that a more conservative candidate for VP be in line. Which brings up some curiosities around the death of FDR.

And then there is the Bush family. Prescott, GHW's father, was named as one of the plotters in the "Wall Street [attempted] Coup" of FDR in the 30s. He also watched over Nazi monies in the US before, during and after WWII. Recent revelations point that Prescott actually laundered money for his Nazi clients in violation of law and decency.

And then George HW Bush went into the oil business and was partners in business with Pauley with the intelligence scandals of Permargo Oil and Zapata Oil.

And then there is the case of OJ Simpson. There was evidence the next morning after the murders that Simpson didn't do it, much of which was blocked from the trial by Marcia Clark. There are so many characters, witnesses, neighbors, with connections to US intelligence that one wonders what the point of it was. And the point of it is truly scary.

But I'm old and tired, so anyone who wants to dig into any of these subjects should.

Glad to hear you're doing okay.

Submitted by Steven D on Tue, 03/12/2019 - 1:39pm

Thanks Bob

@Bob In Portland Yeah, America the not so beautiful past that we paper over.

You. Me, I'm hanging in there. I've got three ideas I've been working on but don't seem to have the energy to write them out as posts. The first one is how the Clintons were recruited by the CIA back in the sixties. Roger Morris' book puts Bill in the fold when he went over to Britain on his Fulbright. A puff piece in the NY Times in 2007, in preparation for her run for President in 2008, inadvertently shows her switch from Goldwater Girl in 1968 to be, er, curious. She joined Clean Gene McCarthy's campaign. Not mentioned is that the McCarthy campaign was filled with CIA assets and operatives, and the purpose of the campaign was not to stop the Vietnam War but to stop Bobby Kennedy from being nominated (for obvious reasons). Next, Hillary attends the Republican Convention in Miami, staying at the Fontainebleau, pretty ritzy for a college student. So why was she hobnobbing with Republicans in Miami if she truly opposed the war? Then she spends the summer of '68 as an intern for Congressional Republicans and writes a speech about Vietnam for Melvin Laird, who in six months would be Nixon's Secretary of Defense and beginning that awful carpetbombing of North Vietnam. Then she goes to the Democratic Convention. Kinda curious, no? Overarching the Clintons' history is that just about every President (I'm not sure about Carter) since the JFK assassination has had deep connections with the CIA. In 1948 when Truman surprised Dewey, Allen Dulles, eventual Director of the CIA, blamed the Republican loss on "the Jews" for swinging the ethnic working class vote to the Democrats. From that arose the original red scare. But also the CIA had a program beginning in the early fifties, of smuggling Nazis and fascists into the US as a counter to the Jewish vote. Richard Nixon, who was friends with Dulles, oversaw the project called The Crusade For Freedom. Ronald Reagan was CFF's public spokesman (you can find his public announcements on YouTube!). Think about it. Two of the country's Presidents after WWII were part of a CIA program to import Nazis into the US to push the body politic farther to the right. This is not to be confused with Operation Paperclip, which imported Nazi scientists into the US for our military or with the Treaty of Fort Hunt, which absorbed Reinhard Gehlen's entire eastern European Nazi spy operation into the CIA. Then there is Edwin W. Pauley, an oil man who was Treasurer of the Democratic Party and chairman of the 1944 Democratic convention. Pauley spearheaded the Wall Streeters successful removal of Henry A. Wallace from the ticket. Wallace was clearly a socialist (meaning a good guy) and entirely unpalatable for Wall Street. Since FDR was ill and died the next year it was extremely important that a more conservative candidate for VP be in line. Which brings up some curiosities around the death of FDR. And then there is the Bush family. Prescott, GHW's father, was named as one of the plotters in the "Wall Street [attempted] Coup" of FDR in the 30s. He also watched over Nazi monies in the US before, during and after WWII. Recent revelations point that Prescott actually laundered money for his Nazi clients in violation of law and decency. And then George HW Bush went into the oil business and was partners in business with Pauley with the intelligence scandals of Permargo Oil and Zapata Oil. And then there is the case of OJ Simpson. There was evidence the next morning after the murders that Simpson didn't do it, much of which was blocked from the trial by Marcia Clark. There are so many characters, witnesses, neighbors, with connections to US intelligence that one wonders what the point of it was. And the point of it is truly scary. But I'm old and tired, so anyone who wants to dig into any of these subjects should. Glad to hear you're doing okay.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by Amanda Matthews on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 2:38pm

I wondered where you went. It’s good to

see you doing well.

—

I'm tired of this back-slapping "Isn't humanity neat?" bullshit. We're a virus with shoes, okay? That's all we are. - Bill Hicks

Politics is the entertainment branch of industry. - Frank Zappa

Submitted by Steven D on Tue, 03/12/2019 - 1:38pm

Been trying to ignore the insanity for a bit

@Amanda Matthews It does help reduce one stress at least.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by magiamma on Mon, 03/11/2019 - 4:51pm

glad you popped in...

Steven D. hope to hear more from you. me? climate blogging on Thursday open thread. it is satisfying bc I feel like I am doing something but at times psychically crushing and flattening. mostly when it has to do with other living beings. but as I like to point out often and frequently, we are here now so best to do what we can. I am planning to get back involved in the SC for Bernie org to help get it up and running again, but in a limited way. I guess, at this point, for me, no news is good news. truckin' along.

so good to see you. yay for you.