A Certain Something. . .

As far back as I can remember, I have always possessed a great appreciation for humor.  I don't just mean the telling of jokes good or bad, or listening to jokes per se. Even though all kids, myself included, go through the 'knock knock" stage.  (I remember when our youngest did.  He would concoct the most nonsensical knock knock jokes which evoked the most hilarious laughter from himself, non-stop at the dinner table.) And I certainly enjoy certain stand-up comedians as well as humorists in literature. 

Maybe I should more specifically say that the appreciation to which I am referring was (and is) for individuals possessing a natural, innate quality in their ability to inject a humorous element in ordinary conversation to the degree that they become, for lack of a better word, humorous.

I have personally encountered several of such personalities throughout the years.  In the past I even enjoyed them so much that I wanted to be like them.  But this mysterious, humorous quality is not something that can be taught or learned.  It appears to be a genetic trait and a natural characteristic that one either has or does not, such as blue eyes or the ability to curl your tongue.

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Legend. . .

(from http://www.northjersey.com/arts_entertainment/102321329_Hidden_sound_of_Charm_City.html?page=all)

The Left Bank Jazz Society, launched in 1964 by jazz aficionado Benny Kearse, arrived at a time when Baltimore's jazz scene was in decline and its racial tensions were worsening. Against that background it was a progressive, integrationist group that, over the course of more than 30 years, brought most of the great names of jazz to its Sunday soirees: Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock, Stan Getz, John Coltrane, Art Blakey, Maynard Ferguson and many others. - See more at: http://www.northjersey.com/arts_entertainment/102321329_Hidden_sound_of_Charm_City.html?page=all#sthash.clUxO6rD.dpuf

The Left Bank Jazz Society, launched in 1964 by jazz aficionado Benny Kearse, arrived at a time when Baltimore's jazz scene was in decline and its racial tensions were worsening. Against that background it was a progressive, integrationist group that, over the course of more than 30 years, brought most of the great names of jazz to its Sunday soirees: Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock, Stan Getz, John Coltrane, Art Blakey, Maynard Ferguson and many others.

On May 17, 1967, concert-goers were unaware that they were listening to world-renowned saxophonist John Coltrane's last live performance, writes Cathleen Carris, in a profile of the Left Bank Jazz Society included in "Music At The Crossroads: Lives & Legacies of Baltimore Jazz."

Coltrane died two months later of liver cancer at 40.

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Musicians . . .

. . . are special people. . . 


(from http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/11/world/meast/israel-palestinian-jewish-rock-bands-for-peace/index.html?iid=article_sidebar)
"Two Israeli bands, one Jewish and one Arab, are joining together in "metal brotherhood" to spread a message of peace through rock 'n roll.  Arab group Khalas (Arabic for "Enough") and Jewish band Orphaned Land are heading out on an 18-day European tour that they hope will foster tolerance between the two sides in the Arab-Israeli conflict "We want to share the stage together, we want to show co-existence," said Kobi Farhi, Orphaned Land's vocalist. The bands will also share a tour bus for three weeks. What more perfect example of co-existence, asks Farhi. "We will snore at each other, we will do laundry together, we will make coffee for each other," he said. Among those on the tour bus will be Abed Hathout, Khalas' guitarist and band manager. "If we can do this co-existence on a bus, why can't we do it all over this country," he said.

One in five Israelis is of Arab descent, according to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics. Sometimes called Israeli-Arabs, many consider themselves Palestinians. Apart from handful of cities that the government designates "mixed," where a minority of Arabs lives alongside a majority of Jews, the two groups live in separate communities.

We will snore at each other, we will do laundry together; the only conflict we have is who is going to pay the bill. . ."

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Long . . .

. . . To Be Latin. . .
live. . .


We spin on an axis as bold as love round a sun that’s alight with fire
It’s true our time is marked by the man in the moon
Don’t walk ahead, don’t walk behind, just be my friend and walk by my side
It's real, this life is by in the blink of an eye.

I live and I long to be Latin as beauty rebels against time
I live and I long to be Latin
The cardinal wish for the scent of the red summer rose.

We have walked the dream palace of yesterday
Where myth is truth and the proof’s hearsay
Memories disguised by the ways that we wish they could be
The drives and input are well defined
Lies rolling off dying tongues chill the soul
Chained in gold we walk a lifelong line.

I live and I long to be Latin.  I’m waiting to see my own eyes
I live and I long to be Latin
But what will I wear to the end of the world, my demise?

Upon the chipped dish the rich and pure fare of the love feast, kissing the sky
As we hold hands in a ring, the night to morning link
Contacts with the light

Be my friend, we can walk side by side
Don’t walk ahead you know I won’t walk behind
Though we stumble through our fears and tears
To the cadence and the tune of the spheres.

I live and I long to be Latin to live the fool and die the sage
I reach and intend to be Latin
To make vision real in the face of chance and circumstance
I live and I long to be Latin to take my stand against routine
I live and I long to be Latin
Where living at risk means I can see what others don’t see

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Dear Senator. . .

. . . Mikulski,
I have chosen "Other" as my message topic because you list neither Syria nor War.  Your list does include "Defense" but nowhere do I see "Offense."

Writing to tell you that after my letter to you, pleading to disapprove of any military action against Syria, I just heard on the radio that you support the President's plan for military action.

I know you can't act based solely upon my advice, but after hearing that the majority of the U.S. population is against such military action in Syria, I can't help but think that you are ignoring the wishes of your constituents.

Can you please respond to this and provide an honest accounting of the opinions that you have received from the people you represent in the state of Maryland?

Thank you and best regards,
Raymond M. Jozwiak

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Thoughts. . .

. . . about our environment. . .

(from http://www.nbcnews.com/science/fracking-practices-blame-ohio-earthquakes-8C11073601)
". . .Research now reveals wastewater from fracking is linked to all the earthquakes in a town in Ohio with no history of earthquakes.

Fracking involves high pressure injection of water, sand and other materials into a well to fracture rock which opens up fissures from which oil and natural gas can flow freely. This process generates wastewater which is disposed of by pumping it underground.

Advocates claim fracking is a safe, economical source of clean energy, while critics argue that it taints drinking water supplies and causes other problems.

Before January 2011, Youngstown, Ohio had never experienced an earthquake since researchers began observations in 1776. In December 2010, the Northstar 1 injection well came online to pump wastewater from fracking projects in Pennsylvania into storage deep underground. In the year that followed, Youngstown recorded 109 earthquakes. The well was soon shut down. . ."


(from http://www.monbiot.com/2013/08/30/backwards-reasoning/)
". . .Many of those who deny that climate change is taking place reached that position as a result of their opposition to wind farms. This, for example, was the route taken by David Bellamy, who stumbled disastrously into the debate a decade ago.

During one of our discussions, he set me the following challenge:
“Why are the so-called greens backing a cartel of multinational companies which are hell bent on covering some of the best of our countryside with so-called wind farms, which can neither provide us with a sustainable source of future energy nor have any measurable effect reducing the amount of carbon dioxide pouring into the atmosphere? If he [George Monbiot] can disprove the latter – which is the mathematical truth – I will fall into line over global warming”.

In other words, if I could disprove his contention that windfarms are useless, he would accept climate change science. I don’t mean to disinter an ancient and long-settled debate, but to use this as an example of a common phenomenon, to which all of us succumb from time to time. When we don’t like an outcome, we reject the premise. . ."

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Live. . .

. . . performance by OHO . . .


You’re living your ninth life time is running out
The blood of the lamb has dried and lost its clout
If you show no mercy, no mercy will be your
You’re dated and done for the dot’s on your door

On day one they marked you, put you on the list
Embroidered a burning red letter on your bib
You move with caution, the trap’s laced with lure
You’re dated and done, there’s a dot on your door

Cowards die a thousand times, the brave die only once
If ignorance is bliss, may your joy be out to lunch
If you were meant to hang in life then you will never drown
Dodging the left, the right one brings you to the ground

You’re using the right words, getting the response
Newton was right, you’re life’s a renaissance
Your impedimenta pile up on the floor
You’re locked in this room, There’s a dot on your door

Cowards die a thousand times, the brave die only once
If ignorance is bliss, may your joy be out to lunch
If you were meant to hang in life then you will never drown
Dodging the left, the right one brings you to the ground

Kissing your mother, digging in the dirt
Hoping something of your life will take root and give birth
The vine seeks the light, branches reaching through the clouds
Where love will prune and crown you, relieve you of your shroud

You’re living your ninth life time is running out
The blood of the lamb has dried and lost its clout
If you show no mercy, no mercy will be your
You’re dated and done for the dot’s on your door

Cowards die a thousand times, the brave die only once
If ignorance is bliss, may your joy be out to lunch
If you were meant to hang in life then you will never drown
Dodging the left, the right one brings you to the ground


Dot On Your Door
by John P. Graboski (Oho live at Bread & Circuses September 6, 2013)






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