Bloggity Thing

Super Fat Tuesday - Laissez le Bon Temp Rouler

thegeorgeman — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 07:59:31 GMT

So, Mardi Gras is just about over, and Lent is almost here I'm giving up politics for 40 days 9 Months from now we'll have an election, plenty of time for Hillary and Barack to bear a love child and run as co-presidents which will ensure a Democratic victory Baby Obama-Clinton will be the Fourth Clinton to hold our nation's highest office

DEAD HEADS FOR OBAMA AT THE WARFIELD TONIGHT!

thegeorgeman — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 01:53:02 GMT

DEAD HEADS FOR OBAMA featuring BOB WEIR, MICKEY HART, PHIL LESH & FRIENDS The Warfield Theatre San Francisco, CA Monday, February 4, Doors 6:00 PM/ Show 7:30PM Grateful Dead Members to Reunite for Barack Obama Members of the Grateful Dead will host a get out the vote concert in support of Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama on Monday, February 4th at The Warfield Theatre in San Francisco. Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh, and Bob Weir, joined by Jackie Greene, John Molo, and Steve Molitz, will play show together in support of Barack Obama. The video website Iclips will be producing a live simulcast streamed via the Internet on www.iclips.net at approximately 7:30pm PST. This will mark the first time that the members of the legendary band have performed together since 2004. They have agreed to reunite for this one-time-only event in order to lend support to Senator Obama leading into the crucial “Super- Tuesday” series of primaries held on Tuesday, February 5th. http://www.iclips.net/deadheadsforobama.php

A wedding and a funeral today...

thegeorgeman — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 19:49:25 GMT

So I was all ready to go to this wedding in Santa Cruz, I like that my old girlfriends invite me to their weddings... And then I got a call, "Dayn committed suicide, his service is today". FUCK! A thousand scenes of better days on the beach and in the woods run through my head. My mind is spinning, Dayn was such a good guy, how could that happen, a handsome man with everything to live for, beautiful girlfriend, great business, heart and soul, Much love to the bredren, See you in the next dimension Obituaries Dayn Schulman Services are today for Dayn Schulman, who died Tuesday. He was 35. Raised in Dana Point, Mr. Schulman also lived in Santa Cruz and Bonny Doon. He loved music and surfing. He is survived by cousins Claude Silver of Pacifica and Caleb Silver of New York; aunts Jeri Silver of Santa Fe, N.M., and Gail Bloink of Springfield, Ill; uncles David Silver of Santa Fe, N.M., and Bruce Schulman of Chicago; and grandmother Bee Schulman of Santa Fe, N.M. His father, Barry Schulman, mother, Trudy Schulman, and grandfather Leonard Schulman died previously. A memorial service and celebration of life will be 1 p.m. today at Four Mile Beach off Highway 1 north of Santa Cruz.

Couple Calls for Global Orgasm for Peace

thegeorgeman — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 01:36:30 GMT

Two peace activists have planned a massive anti-war demonstration for the first day of winter. But they don't want you marching in the streets. They'd much rather you just stay home. The Global Orgasm for Peace was conceived by Donna Sheehan, 76, and Paul Reffell, 55, who live together on a houseboat along scenic Tomales Bay in Marin County, just north of San Francisco. Their immodest goal is for everyone in the world to have an orgasm on December 22 while focusing on world peace. "The orgasm gives out an incredible feeling of peace during it and after it," Reffell said on Sunday. "Your mind is like a blank. It's like a meditative state. And mass meditations have been shown to make a change." The couple are no strangers to sex and social activism. Sheehan, no relation to fellow Northern California anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, brought together nearly 50 women in 2002 who stripped naked and spelled out the word "Peace" on a grassy hillside in Marin County. The stunt spawned a mini-movement called Baring Witness that led to similar unclothed demonstrations worldwide. The couple have studied evolutionary psychology and believe that war is mainly an outgrowth of men trying to impress potential mates, a case of "my missile is bigger than your missile," as Reffell put it. By promoting what they hope to be a synchronized global orgasm, they hope to get people to channel their sexual energy into something more positive. "Religion, science, art, medicine — you name any great accomplishment that the human race has made and none of it has stopped war and aggression," Sheehan said. "We thought, 'What's the next unbelievable, untested biological gift that we've all been given?' The orgasm." Interest in participating appears strong, according to the couple. They reported receiving 26,000 visitors a day to their Web site (www.globalorgasm.org) thanks to links from several blogs. Sheehan said she received "a soulful letter from a man in Istanbul" who lamented that because he lacked a partner, he couldn't take part. They assured him that there were no rules for when, where or how the orgasm was achieved, as long as it was on the given day, she said. "It's basically what ever turns you on," Reffell said. Participants can identify one another through the "secret signal," according to the Global Orgasm Web site, of a thumb and forefinger shaped to form the letter O. The one guideline Sheehan and Reffell do encourage everyone to follow is to practice safe sex and use birth control, citing overpopulation as a source of many of the world's woes. Reffell said the couple hopes to coordinate with the New Jersey-based Global Consciousness Project to measure the impact of the Global O. The experiment, directed by a Princeton University scientist, claims that the psychic energy of many people worldwide focusing on the same event, like Princess Diana's funeral or the Olympics, can create patterns in otherwise random lists of numbers generated by computers. Still, documenting the Global O's possible effects is not the main focus. "The dream is to have everyone in the world (take part)," Reffell said. "And if that means laying down your gun for a few minutes, then hey, all the better." www.globalorgasm.org By Marcus Wohlsen, Associated Press

The Floyd Factor pt. 3

thegeorgeman — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 09:20:01 GMT

I just worked for The Australian Pink Floyd Show last night, the biggest Pink Floyd tribute band in the business. It ws a surprisingly big production, these guys are really into re-creating the stadium concert experience in small venues. There are some serious Pink Floyd fans out there... Who's your favorite tribute band? The picture is from their website http://www.aussiefloyd.com the official homepage of the worlds No.1 Pink Floyd Tribute The Australian Pink Floyd Show

Roger Waters and the Floyd Factor pt. 2

thegeorgeman — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 02:03:21 GMT

So, they let the pig go at a show back east and some commercial jet pilot reported seeing a flying pig at 30,000 feet, so the FAA grounded him for evaluation until it was learned that a 16 foot inflatable pig had indeed been released from the show under the pilot's flightpath that night! Excellent show... Roger was having a great time pounding it out on bass, sounding great on vocals, the sound was so clean, extra delay speakers on the concourse for the full quad audio effects, every little nuance from the album versions were blasted out with hypnotic clarity, Roger Waters for President!

Roger Waters and the Floyd Factor

thegeorgeman — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 01:36:24 GMT

I'm working the Roger Waters show at Shoreline today, installed the biggest video wall we've ever had here, with coliseum rig reinforcements shoehorned into our tiny little amphitheater, days like this remind me how much I love my job!!!

S.F. Marriott’s Composting Program Approaches 1 Million Pounds Annually

thegeorgeman — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 16:57:03 GMT

Turning food waste…into wine? In a roundabout way, that is what is happening to the composted food scraps and other items generated at the 1,498-room San Francisco Marriott hotel. Once hauled away by Golden Gate Recycling, the waste is taken to an organic composting facility where it is ground up, heated and converted to nutrient-rich mulch. Many vineyards in Napa Valley then use that mulch to help grow grapes. The real story here is not the wine but the effort Randy Nelson and the other associates at the San Francisco Marriott have made to divert as much food waste from landfills as possible. In 2004, 500,000 pounds was compacted, hauled away, and then composted off site. In 2005, 750,000 pounds was diverted from the waste stream. “Our goal is 1 million pounds a year,” says Nelson, full-time recycling coordinator at the busy hotel that features multiple restaurants and cafeterias where food waste is generated. Compostables collected include food scraps, paper cups, napkins, waxed cartons and waxed cardboard; almost everything but plastic, metal or glass. The items are placed in 32-gallon containers and then wheeled to the loading dock where they are emptied into the hotel’s compactor. The 20-yard capacity machine occupies 400 square feet of loading dock space. Golden Gate Recycling hauls the compacted material away every five to six days. Left to sit any longer than that would be an odorous error, Nelson says. About 15,000 to 17,000 pounds of food waste is taken each time. Even meat and meat bones are part of the mix. The San Francisco Marriott currently leases the compactor for around $500 a month. The money not spent taking the waste to a landfill pays for the program. The hotel is able to recycle food waste because the city of San Francisco offers a mulching option. “Our composting effort is a commitment to the city of San Francisco,” Nelson says. “It is also good for business. We set up our system so that really is not a lot of extra work.” Nelson says he helped launch the composting program in April 2003 in conjunction with Earth Day. At first, food waste was collected only in restaurant areas. In 2005, however, the program was expanded to the employee cafeteria where approximately 1,300 employees dine daily. Five hundred pounds of food waste is collected there each day for composting. Associates at the hotel are reminded about recycling via posters and handouts. “I created a talking points list for managers,” Nelson says. “I do the initial education first but it later becomes part of each manager’s responsibility to remind associates. When there is a transition in managers, there can be a bit of a backslide.” The cafeteria is the focal point of associate education. For the most recent Earth Day and as part of Marriott International’s Environmental Awareness Month, Nelson and his staff put on a Green Game Show in the employee cafeteria to remind associates about the importance of recycling. The San Francisco Marriott was the first hotel in San Francisco to have a compactor dedicated to compostables. Nelson says that any hotel can start a composting program but it needs to be large enough to warrant the investment in the type of compactor the San Francisco Marriott uses. Since launching its program, other area hotels have followed the Marriott’s example. Prior to working as recycling coordinator, Nelson worked as a supervisor in another part of the hotel. In 2001, he was able to convince management that recycling alone could pay for a new recycling coordinator position. Five years later, the hotel’s composting program is growing by leaps and “mounds.” At the same time, Napa Valley’s wine makers are using the sweet mulch to grow grapes for the best tasting wine in the world. By Glenn Hasek 07/12/2006 For more information on the San Francisco Marriott’s composting program, contact randall.nelson@marriott.com. Glenn Hasek can be reached at greenlodgingnews@aol.com. http://www.greenlodgingnews.com/Content.aspx?id=181

Buy towels, save the planet

thegeorgeman — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 01:27:38 GMT

You thought bamboo was for holding up your tomato plants. That's so last century. Now, it's the hottest green material going, with everything from bedding to clothing being made from the fast-growing grass CECILY ROSS Green, The New York Times announced recently, has become the new black. And now that designers from Oscar de la Renta to Diane von Furstenberg are weaving organic alternatives to king cotton into their repertoire, the term eco-style is no longer an oxymoron. Runway designs at New York's FutureFashion show, part of the city's recent fashion week, included such enviro entries as a pink honeycomb bamboo dress by Rebecca Taylor and a bamboo body suit by VPL. As Sara Gardiner, a spokeswoman for Vancouver-based Oqoqo, which has two stores in Vancouver and a new outlet opening this week in Toronto, says: "Granola style is definitely a thing of the past." And as conscientious consumers begin to demand sustainable alternatives in which to wrap their yoga-toned physiques, exciting and luxurious new fabrics made from the fibres of bamboo, soy, corn, seaweed and even pineapple, are coming on the market. The new generation of fabrics is superior to its hippie predecessors in every way. In addition to the more familiar organic cotton, wool and hemp, Oqoqo (pronounced O-co-co; it is owned by the yoga-style emporium Lululemon) has launched a line of elegant, hip designs in its trademarked Boolux and Soyla fabrics. The former is made from bamboo, the hottest new ingredient in everything from flooring to furniture to dishware. Harvested every three to four years, it is grown without pesticides and is now turning up in fabrics, even at mass-market retailers such as Zellers, which carries a new line of cushy Alfred Sung bamboo/cotton towels. At Roots Home, the Roots Bamboo bedding line is 100-per-cent bamboo and boasts a silky smooth finish. Bamboo fabric is actually made of a non-synthetic fibre called Lyocell, which is manufactured from bamboo pulp. Oqoqo's Boolux is 92-per-cent Lyocell with 8-per-cent Lycra added to help it hold its shape. It has the drape and feel of the softest silk jersey. It is also known for its unusual coolness and natural antibacterial qualities. The Soyla, made from soy fibre, is often called "the vegetable cashmere." In addition to its environmental advantages, it is washable, wrinkle-resistant and extremely durable. Diane Bald, founder and creative director of Roots Home Design, says the trend to sustainable fabrics is being driven by a heightened consumer interest in all things environmental. "It started with food and the move to organics. People are aware they have to change the way they live." Roots also carries a line of yoga wear made from bamboo and organic cotton. Chip Wilson, founder of Lululemon and Oqoqo, says the trend has been partly driven by the wave of interest in yoga. "More and more of our yogis were asking for natural fabrics," he says. The retailer speculates that this is just the beginning in what amounts to a textile revolution. "The next wave," he says, "will be fabrics that will release aloe and vitamin E right onto your skin as you wear them." Bald agrees that green fashion is as much about technology as it is about awareness. "We are seeing some incredible fabrics," she says. "It's very exciting to be on the forefront of this." Both agree that the trend is bigger on the West Coast. And Bald feels that "Canadians are way more aware" of the evils of cotton than U.S. consumers. (According to the non-profit group Sustainable Cotton Project, a third of a pound of pesticides and other chemicals goes into the production of cotton for a single T-shirt.) Wilson says that he gets nothing but blank stares from focus groups in Toronto when he mentions sustainables, while in Vancouver "everyone's on to it." Still, there's little doubt that heightened consumer interest in all things environmental is changing the way we look at fashion and design. "We're all becoming incredibly aware of the impact we're having on the globe," Oqoqo's Gardiner says. "This," she says of the eco-fashion boom, "is the future." http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060923.BAMBOO23/TPStory/TPEntertainment/Style/

Hospitals go organic for patients' health

thegeorgeman — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 04:29:47 GMT

Some have created farmers markets or hired chefs in focus on nutrition The Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. - Patients at Good Shepherd Medical Center like the hospital food so much, some come back to eat after their stay is over. The food is cooked from scratch. The menu features offerings like wild salmon and local organic produce. Even the pie has a hint of health, packed with antioxidant-rich dried cherries. "Oh man it was good," said Angela Mallory, a 21-year-old who stayed at the hospital in rural Hermiston, Ore. for five days recently for the birth of her son. She was reticent about trying the naturally lean bison, but wound up enjoying it. She also dined on pasta primavera with fresh vegetables. She now makes a point of trying to meet her mom, who works at the hospital, for lunch. Good Shepherd is one of many hospitals across the nation offering food that's healthier for patients, workers and the environment. Some hospitals have created onsite farmers markets. Others have hired chefs and former restaurant employees to run their kitchens. "What we are trying to do is provide not just our patients, but everybody that eats here, with foods that are health promoting," said Nancy Gummer, director of nutrition services at Good Shepherd. The hospital no longer needs to modify each meal for a patient's sodium or fat restrictions. Instead it serves healthy food to everyone. In just one year, Gummer has been able to rid the hospital of all trans fats and major additives. Our bodies are "bombarded with this stuff all the time," Gummer said. "All our ingredients are actually food." Hospitals, which have typically served institutional food because of labor or cost demands, are changing their approach. "The purer and cleaner the food is, the better the ability of that food to improve the health of people," said Mark Peterson, manager of food, nutrition and environmental services for St. Charles Medical Centers in the central Oregon cities of Bend and Redmond. "That is a key recognition hospitals are making." Patients at Peterson's hospitals can get fresh fruit smoothies or visit the onsite farmers market. Environmentally friendly Medical centers from California to North Carolina are hosting farmers markets where patients and staff can grab fresh fruits and vegetables to snack on, and some are even buying produce for the kitchen there. The trend is more popular in the West, where produce is abundant. The California-based health system Kaiser Permanente launched a farmers market at its Oakland hospital in 2003. The system now has markets at 31 medical sites. "Having it there for the benefit of the patients, our staff and the neighborhood was a natural match with our mission of good health and community support," said Dr. Preston Manning, who is responsible for the initial Kaiser market. Hospitals have also begun using food practices that are friendlier to the environment. Catholic Healthcare West grows its own produce onsite at its Santa Cruz, Calif., hospital. Fletcher Allen Health Care in Vermont and others compost food waste on site. A few have switched to fully biodegradable sugarcane-based containers instead of Styrofoam. Room service-style food is becoming prevalent for patients, which improves patient satisfaction and reduces waste. Coffee is organic fair trade, meat is antibiotic-free and milk is free of added hormones at a number of facilities. Some hospitals are even cracking down on the fattening treats at coffee carts and vending machines. "It is important that we recognize the connection between a healthy earth and healthy human beings," said Sr. Mary Ellen Leciejewski, ecology program coordinator for Catholic Healthcare West in Santa Cruz. "If we don't have a healthy planet, we won't have healthy human beings." The efforts are earning good feedback from staff and patients, such as those who schedule their appointments around farmers markets. "You can't beat the taste," said Julie Yochim, 50, a nurse at Kaiser Permanente in Portland as she visited a farmers market across the street that the medical center worked with the community to develop. "It is healthy, but you forget what a carrot is until you try one of those," she said, pointing to a nearby booth. Retail sales at Oregon Health and Science University's hospital have more than doubled in the past three or four years since making a number of major changes, including adding vegan options, said Steven Hiatt, director of food and nutrition services. This is good news for hospital budgets, because the majority of the food used is for visitors or workers, rather than patients. It's also good news for dietitians and nutritionists, who say staff support is crucial to encourage changes for patients. "We needed to walk the talk," said Sandra Kelly, the food and nutrition manager for Kaiser's Northwest region.

September 11th 2006, the 100th Anniversary of Ghandi's Nonviolent Protest Movement

thegeorgeman — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 02:13:37 GMT

On September 11, 1906, in Johannesburg, Gandhiji initiated his Satyagraha against the Natal Government, which was trying to pass an Ordinance meant to disenfranchise the Indians and if passed would have made life impossible for the Indians in the country. It was on September 11, 1906, when the Indians gathered to discuss how to meet the challenge of the ordinance that Gandhiji thought of facing violence with non-violence, of fighting for truth and justice with suffering. He warned the meeting that pursuit of Satyagraha might mean prison or even cost them their life. Everyone who attended that meeting took a pledge to resist the ordinance with non-violence whatever the provocation. In launching his Satyagraha movement in Johannesburg, Gandhiji said: "I had no companion. We were 2,000 men, women and children against a whole nation capable of crushing the existence out of us. I did not know who would listen to me. It all came as if in a flash. Many fell back. But the honour of the nation was saved. New history was written by the South African Satyagrahis." September 11, 1906, was the beginning of Gandhiji's Satyagraha movement — it started in Johannesburg against the ordinance and was later used in India to fight for its independence. "Satyagraha," explained Gandhiji, "is a relentless search for Truth and a determination to search for Truth. Satyagraha is an attribute of the spirit within. Satyagraha can be described as an effective substitute for violence." An eye for an eye, said Gandhi, only ends up making the whole world blind. Explaining his philosophy of non-violence to the people, he said, "I saw that nations like individuals could only be made through the agony of the cross and in no other way. Joy comes not out of infliction of pain on others but out of pain voluntarily borne by oneself. Violent means would give violent freedom and that would mean a menace to the world. Real suffering, on the other hand, bravely borne melts even a heart of stone. Such is the potency of suffering. And there lies the key to Satyagraha."

R.I.P. Syd Barrett - Shine on you Crazy Diamond

thegeorgeman — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 18:59:13 GMT

LONDON (Reuters) - Syd Barrett, a founding member of Pink Floyd, has died aged 60, a source close to the band said on Tuesday. "I have had it from David (Gilmour) that it was confirmed by the family," said the source, who did not want to be named. "It happened on Friday". Guitarist David Gilmour joined Pink Floyd in 1968, three years after it was formed and shortly before Barrett left the band. Barrett, a singer, songwriter and guitarist, had lived the life of a recluse for the last 30 years. He had been suffering from diabetes, although it was not immediately clear what caused his death. The writer of the bulk of Pink Floyd's early music, Barrett had been credited with helping to shape its progressive sound. His increasingly erratic behaviour in the late 1960s has been linked to his experimentation with psychedelic drugs. Pink Floyd's 1975 track "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", from the album "Wish You Were Here", is widely believed to be a tribute to Barrett. He was born in Cambridge as Roger Keith Barrett, and acquired the nickname "Syd" when he was 15 years old. He missed out on Pink Floyd's most successful years in the 1970s, which included the albums "Dark Side of the Moon", "Wish You Were Here" and "The Wall". The band has sold an estimated 200 million albums worldwide, although internal rifts have kept public performances featuring its main members to a minimum since the 1980s.

My Birthday with Ozzy

thegeorgeman — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 13:51:25 GMT

What on earth would make a person choose to get up and go to work at 3am setting up the Ozzfest on their 40th birthday? Union doubletime? Gluttony for punishment? I choose to believe it's because I love my job and there's nothing else I would rather be doing than something that represents what I want to keep on doing, kind of a good luck ritual of things to come, it's worked out pretty well so far...

Reggae Icon Desmond Dekker Dies Of Heart Attack

thegeorgeman — Fri, 26 May 2006 20:27:05 GMT

Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir, So that every mouth can be fed. Poor me, the Israelite. Aah. My wife and my kids, they are packed up and leave me. Darling, she said, I was yours to be seen. Poor me, the Israelite. Aah. Shirt them a-tear up, trousers are gone. I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde. Poor me, the Israelite. Aah. After a storm there must be a calm. They catch me in the farm. You sound the alarm. Poor me, the Israelite. Aah. Poor me, the Israelite. I wonder who I'm working for. Poor me, Israelite, I look a-down and out, sir. -Desmond Dekker, Israelites 'Trailblazing artist helped paved the way for Bob Marley.' Ska and reggae legend Desmond Dekker died Wednesday from a heart attack, Reuters reports. The 64-year-old Jamaican icon, best known for his hits "The Israelites" and "007 (Shanty Town)," collapsed inside his home in Surrey, England, his longtime manager Delroy Williams told the wire service. Dekker was divorced and is survived by a son and daughter. Dekker, a welder turned singer/songwriter who was orphaned in his teens, was born Desmond Adolphus Dacres in Kingston, Jamaica, on July 16, 1941. The singer helped forge a path for reggae artists, including Bob Marley, to gain international attention during the genre's fledgling years. "Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not," Williams said. "When he released 'Israelites,' nobody had heard of Bob Marley — he paved the way for all of them. Before Marley's ascent, Dekker was the best-known Jamaican musician outside of his native land, and one of the most popular within it. He shaped both reggae and ska during both styles' infancies. "The Israelites" helped raise Dekker's international profile in 1969, reaching the top of the British singles chart and cracking the top 10 in the U.S. The song became the first international hit produced by Jamaica's vibrant music scene, and it introduced the world to ska, reggae's precursor. Several of Dekker's most popular tunes — "Rude Boy Train," "Rudie Got Soul" and "007 (Shanty Town)" — reflected the violent "rude boy" culture ("rude" referring to someone who was cool), establishing him as a rude boy icon. Dekker also enjoyed success with the 1970 hit "You Can Get It If You Really Want," written by Jimmy Cliff. Dekker made Britain his home in the late 1970s, and spent much of the decade touring. His popularity waned during the 1980s, but that didn't keep the singer — who declared bankruptcy in 1984 — from recording. In 1990, "The Israelites" was reissued, and later used in various television commercials, which helped reinvigorate his career. Dekker was still actively touring when he died, Delroy Williams said. He gave his final performance at Leeds University in England on May 11 and was booked to perform at the Respect Festival in Prague on June 2. Dekker also had plans to tour Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, Belgium and London this summer. "He was at his peak fitness, he had this big tour coming up for this summer and he was looking forward to it — and then that was it." Williams said. "He died peacefully, but it still hurts. ... I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye properly." — Chris Harris, MTV News

R.I.P. Humphrey Kitty

thegeorgeman — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 08:24:46 GMT

He's lived with three British prime ministers, been falsely accused of murder, even dodged death a few times himself. But Humphrey the Downing Street cat has finally run out of lives. Humphrey died last week at the home of civil servant who had adopted him. He was 18 years old. Humphrey, a stray, first showed up at then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's door in 1989, staying on at 10 Downing Street -- the prime minister's official residence -- for the better part of the next decade. He was named for Sir Humphrey Appleby, a fictional character in the hit British sitcom, "Yes, Prime Minister." The black-and-white tabby had a knack for mysterious disappearances. At one point -- after his obituary had already been published -- he was returned to Downing Street by a medical secretary who had found him wandering around the Royal Army Medical College in Westminster. Humphrey had a much closer call during an official visit by President Clinton, when the cat narrowly avoided being caught under the wheels of the president's two-ton Mercedes. Cat lovers were particularly distressed by his disappearance in 1997, when rumors swirled that he had been put down on the orders of Cherie Blair -- who reportedly disliked cats. Humphrey was alive and well, as a photo shoot of him with a smiling Blair would later show, but his public life would soon be over. He was "retired" later that year for health reasons, although he lived almost another decade. Along with his uncanny longevity, Humphrey enjoyed a fearsome reputation as mouser, reportedly outperforming the pest control agency assigned to Downing Street. Some members of Parliament even suggested bringing him out of retirement to deal with a persistent rodent problem at the Palace of Westminster. But his hunting prowess could also be a liability. British newspapers referred to him as a "killer" after the Daily Telegraph accused him of perpetrating the "Downing Street Massacre." A family of robins had been found dead outside the Cabinet Room window. The accusation was described in Humphrey's file as "libelous and unfounded." In an article published Tuesday in the Daily Telegraph, George Jones, the author of the original charge, recanted, admitting he never had any hard proof that Humphrey was involved. "No jury would convict on such flimsy evidence," he said. "Humphrey deserves a posthumous pardon." By Raphael G. Satter

Rock Stars

thegeorgeman — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 07:55:01 GMT

"Listen to the stage manager and get on stage when they tell you to. No one has time for the rock star act. None of the techs backstage care if you're David Bowie or the milkman. When you act like a jerk, they are completely unimpressed with the infantile display that you might think comes with your dubious status. They were there hours before you building the stage, and they will be there hours after you leave tearing it down. They should get your salary, and you should get theirs." - Henry Rollins

Sex Pistols Flip Off Hall of Fame

thegeorgeman — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 08:41:21 GMT

Invited in after five snubs, the original Brit-punks snub back In closing the Sex Pistols' final pre-reunion performance, Johnny Rotten called out, "Ever get the feeling that you've been cheated?" It's a sentiment he and his surviving bandmates shared with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Friday: The punk provocateurs issued a terse, sneering statement avowing that they would not attend the ceremony inducting them into the Hall next month. The scrawled note, posted at thefilthandthefury.co.uk, states in Pistol-ian fashion (sic): "Next to the Sex Pistols, rock and roll and that hall of fame is a piss stain. Your museum. Urine in wine. We're not coming. We're not your monkeys. If you voted for us, hope you noted your reasons. Your anonymous as judges but your still music industry people. We're not coming. Your not paying attention. Outside the shit-stream is a real Sex Pistol." The Pistols, who played their first gigs in 1975, took a decidedly more self-destructive approach to music than punk predecessors like the New York-based Ramones. For a little more than two years, they pummeled their way through four-letter-word-laced TV appearances, bodily-fluid-spilling airport adventures and songs, like the anthem "Anarchy in the U.K.," that walked the walk so many of their peers merely talked. Frontman Johnny Rotten (now known by his birth name John Lydon), guitarist Steve Jones and drummer Paul Cook were ultimately joined by bassist Sid Vicious -- who replaced the overly music-conscious Glen Matlock and hastened the band's implosion before dying of a heroin overdose in 1979. Vicious' end also marked the end of the Pistols era. But it was not the final act for any of the participants, most notably Lydon, who went on to front Public Image Ltd. and carve out a niche as a professional curmudgeon. After being denied entry five times, the Pistols were ushered in as part of a Class of 2006 that also includes Black Sabbath, Blondie, Lynyrd Skynyrd and the late Miles Davis. The twent-first annual induction ceremony will take place on March 13th at New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. David Sprague - Rolling Stone

R.I.P. Grandpa Munster

thegeorgeman — Sun, 05 Feb 2006 22:09:55 GMT

Al Lewis April 30, 1910 - February 4, 2006

Running away with Cirque du Soleil

thegeorgeman — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 19:30:33 GMT

My favorite Quebecois are back in town for the next two months with Corteo, and lucky me, I get to be their local carpenter. There's lots of stuff to repair, customize, and create, proposals to submit, and I'm learning to cuss in French. Theatrical carpentry is about more than wood, all stage fabrics such as drapes, curtains, scenery, upholstered bits, and coverings fall under my job description and I will need to do a lot of sewing, some of it while I'm up in the air hanging from my harness. The language thing will take some getting used to, most of the crew speaks French, and even the ones that speak English have those funny Canadian accents that make you laugh, eh? We had our pre-premiere last night, a shmoozefest of folks the Cirque invited out to impress, media, mayors and other city officials, local tech celebs, and various other folks they wanted to thank for helping get the job done. They are a nice outfit to work for, and the catering is excellent!

Memories of 25 years ago...

thegeorgeman — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 21:21:41 GMT

I was a freshman in high school and friend told me during lunch, a few more friends gathered and we ditched the rest of the day to watch the news and play Plastic Ono Band and Shaved Fish over and over... "God is a concept By which we measure Our pain I'll say it again God is a concept By which we measure Our pain I don't believe in magic I don't believe in I-ching I don't believe in Bible I don't believe in tarot I don't believe in Hitler I don't believe in Jesus I don't believe in Kennedy I don't believe in Buddha I don't believe in Mantra I don't believe in Gita I don't believe in Yoga I don't believe in kings I don't believe in Elvis I don't believe in Zimmerman I don't believe in Beatles I just believe in me Yoko and me And that's reality The dream is over What can I say? The dream is over Yesterday I was the Dreamweaver But now I'm reborn I was the Walrus But now I'm John And so dear friends You'll just have to carry on The dream is over" "God", from the album "Plastic Ono Band" by John Lennon, 1940 - 1980

Warning signs of fascism

thegeorgeman — Thu, 03 Nov 2005 05:28:23 GMT

When facism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the American flag. - Huey Long Facism Anyone? By Laurence W. Britt full text at http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/27/076.html 1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism. 2. Disdain for the importance of human rights. 3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause. 4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism. 5. Rampant sexism. 6. A controlled mass media. 7. Obsession with national security. 8. Religion and ruling elite tied together. 9. Power of corporations protected. 10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated. 11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts. 12. Obsession with crime and punishment. 13. Rampant cronyism and corruption. 14. Fraudulent elections.

The cat came back, we thought he was a goner...

thegeorgeman — Wed, 06 Jul 2005 17:20:21 GMT

Our favorite farm cat 'Bingo' made his grand entrance last night while I was cooking dinner, he just walked in the kitchen door and meowed and meowed, I think he was almost as excited as we were. He went missing last week, and we figured after the second night of missing out on kitty treats that he had met his demise at the mouth of a predator, of which we have many. The dogs were happy to see him, they nuzzled a bit as we busted out the treats and checked the cat for signs of trauma, which there was none although he was a bit skinnier than before. This cat has used up a few of his nine lives, and we have had to nurse him back to health quite a few times, but cats will be cats and follow their curiosity, sometimes with disasterous results. We are very happy to be able to share in this kitty's life once again...

Late Winter Haiku

thegeorgeman — Thu, 24 Feb 2005 22:27:43 GMT

Green hills and blue skies Black dog chases butterflies Love is in the air