Groucho Marx said. . .

. . . (among many other hilarious things) . . . "I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members."

MEMBER OF THE CLUB

Who doesn't want to belong to something; a need that's bigger than us. You feel it deep in your heart, desire for attention; a little trust; a little trust. Now I'm a member of the club and I'm not really sure how far it will get me. And I'm not really sure how far I will go.

I felt it so many times, that yearning to be a part of it all. I couldn't understand why I didn't fit into your kind of style; your kind of style. Now I'm a member of the club and I'm not really sure how far it will get me. And I'm not really sure how far I will go.

I'm an outsider from so long ago; a solo performer on my own road, on my own road.

Why so much serious doubt consumes me I can't begin to describe. Just when I thought that I found a greater confidence I want to hide, I want to hide. Now I'm a member of the club and I'm not really sure how far it will get me. And I'm not really sure how far I will go.


MEMBER OF THE CLUB
©2011 Raymond M. Jozwiak



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Nothing. . .

. . . is easy.

The late comedian Morey Amsterdam used to say that nothing is impossible, except getting toothpaste back into the tube and getting off a mailing list. I don’t know about getting off of a mailing list, but my wife proved to me that it is NOT impossible to get toothpaste back into the tube. Way back before we were married, when I first heard Morey’s line, I used it quite frequently in conversation. My wife ‘to-be’ said that she thought that the back-end of the toothpaste tube could be opened, and the toothpaste could be returned to the tube using a spoon or a table knife, then re-sealed. She actually tested her hypothesis with successful results. The ‘guinea pig’ tube of replaced toothpaste was caste in plastic for the ages and made into a paperweight, which she still has to this day, many years later I might add. Of course the mailing list is a different animal that has now evolved into a cyber-being. I’ve had mixed results with attempting to disengage myself from these things, so I guess it’s not really impossible, just difficult, and certainly not consistent.

But no matter where you stand on these crucial issues of the day, in the end I think we can all agree that nothing is easy. At least most things aren’t. Most certainly those substantial ones, like raising children, working full-time, buying a house, getting a job (for many these days), having a civil discussion on your political views with one of the other ‘camp’, maintaining calm while driving on the highway, reconciling your spirituality with the world, maintaining a happy marriage, dying and marketing your music on the internet . . . ARE ALL ANYTHING BUT EASY!





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All's right with the world?. . .

. . . the piano is tuned, Mystic I is well-rehearsed and will finalize Sunday's two performances on Saturday, a break tonight to watch some baseball, a visit to a couple of wineries scheduled for the weekend, a long holiday weekend forthcoming and by the end of the month - vacation!

A Boston gangster is captured on the West Coast after many, many years, the president is ready to bring home troops from Afghanistan, Congress is questioning the president's military action in Libya, Farrakhan is keeping mum about Kadahfi's monetary support of the nation of Islam, it's hot and humid here in the northeast (and I love it!).

Intercourse with the media and potential customers could be better, concerned about a good friend (artist), lots to learn about the web and exploitation of same, concerned about the health of another good friend (and supporter), wondering about the dangers of driving cross-country alone, reading Hitchens' books like they're going out of style, pushing myself to write while expending so many hours BLOGGING!!!




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Beware the sharks. . .

. . . in the treacherous, music business ocean. (Even attractive sharks referred by 'friends') It all started with. . .

"BMI members Gentleman Hall did and Billboard Pro made it a reality by putting the band on ABC’s 2011 Billboard Music Awards, watched by 8 million music fans. Backed by the strongest name in the music business, Billboard Pro offers emerging artists the analytics, tools, resources, and opportunities they need to help make their music careers happen. Adding Billboard Pro to your marketing and fan management plan puts you in front of Billboard’s extensive industry network and connects you to the millions of passionate music fans who read Billboard publications, websites, and newsletters. Find out what Billboard Pro can do for your career. Start a FREE TRIAL + take advantage of a special BMI member discount today! CLICK HERE "

Dear BMI,
This is very interesting to me, as a BMI member.

Did I miss it, or did they NOT mention the cost AFTER the free trial expires. (I don't want to provide my credit card number for a FREE TRIAL if I don'tknow what the REAL COST will be at the end of the FREE TRIAL period.

I did find . . . "each year on your subscription anniversary date, you will be charged the prevailing rate for an additional one-year subscription renewal."

Can you help me? I can't seem to find the cost of the one-year subscription. If the REAL cost is this difficult to find in the offer, I am suspicious about what other items that could be hidden from one ignorant of the legalities of such matters.

Personally, I am a little disappointed in BMI for promoting an offer such as this, which sounds so enticing, but offers such great potential for cheating the innocent, optimistic, artist, who relies on BMI to HELP them through this maze of a business.
Best,
Ray Jozwiak




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Pop goes the culture. . .

Have you read about Rebecca Black's FRIDAY video or seen Katy Perry's LAST FRIDAY NIGHT or do you dig Justin Bieber? If there were no www, I would probably know nothing of any of it. But, alas there is; ergo, I do.

I normally enjoy weightier matters, but I must say, at my age, it's good fun to watch the turmoil that develops over superficial, pop-centric 'events' such as the FRIDAY video thing. I barely have an opinion, excepting that none of it surprises me.

Oh yes, then there's the question of how much talent Rebecca Black actually possesses, as deduced by the 'expert' television, soft-news personalities. Again - YAWN!!!

You want to see TALENT???. . . .



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You Go Bernie. . .

BUZZFLASH AT TRUTHOUT NEWS ALERT

The following is a June 15th news release from the office of Senator Bernie Sanders:

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today introduced legislation to make federal commodity regulators halt excessive oil speculation that has driven up gasoline prices.

A provision in last year's Wall Street reform law required federal regulators to clamp down on speculators, but the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has refused to do so. Partly as a result of the failure to enforce the law, the national average price for a gallon of gasoline today is $3.69 a gallon, although supplies are greater and demand lower than two years ago when prices averaged about $2.44 a gallon.

"We have a responsibility to do everything we can to lower gas prices so that they reflect the fundamentals of supply and demand and bring needed relief to the American people," Sanders said.

When speculators push up oil prices "guess who suffers, it's the rest of us," said Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), an original cosponsor of the bill who joined Sanders at a Capitol press conference. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), another cosponsor, called gas prices "absolutely crushing" for American families and the economy. Other cosponsors include Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)."
-------------------------------------------
We must be relentless in our pursuit of the FACTS before jumping to unfounded conclusions (or rushing to subscribe to a convenient political position)! I've been reading about this situation for a LONG time time and I'm THRILLED that a legislator is doing something about it!





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Silver Tongued Devils. . .

In the first New Hampshire debate among 2012 presidential hopefuls, Factcheck.com found a number of incorrect, misleading or shaky factual claims:

**Pawlenty was wrong when he boasted that he was "one of the few governors" to respond to a Bush request to send guardsmen to the southern border. In fact, all 50 states participated in that border operation

**Romney claimed that "we didn't raise taxes in Massachusetts" to pay for his health care law. In fact, his successor imposed a $1-a-pack tax increase on cigarettes to pay for the new law.

**Santorum claimed a Medicare advisory board created by the new federal health care law will result in a rationing of care for seniors. The law specifically says the board “shall not include any recommendation to ration health care.”

**Santorum was wrong when he said the Obama administration is "against any kind of exploration offshore or in Alaska." The administration has approved 296 new permits for new offshore oil wells since taking office, and it is considering granting the first permits in Alaska since 2004.

**Bachmann claimed the Congressional Budget Office "has said that Obamacare will kill 800,000 jobs." That's a distortion. CBO said some Americans would work less or leave their jobs if they can get health insurance outside the workplace.

**Pawlenty said that "[if] Brazil can have 5 percent growth, then the United States of America can have 5 percent growth," showing his economic plan is not unreasonable. But the fact is, World Bank figures show Brazil has failed to achieve 5 percent growth for 23 of the past 30 years.

**Gingrich again tried to rewrite history by claiming that his words "right-wing social engineering" were "totally taken out of context." In fact, he called Paul Ryan's plan "too big a jump" and "radical" change as well.



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