From a Christian Perspective; From a Drummer's Perspective
(and lately, the Spring of 2020, an American's perspective)
Some thoughts, some ideas, some concepts, some principles to contemplate.
(scroll down for new entries)
(hi-lite, copy and paste any links or hi-lite and right click)
1. The Language of the Drum
2. "Christian" Drummer?
3. Pride and the Drummer
4. "Drums" in "Church?"
5. Intrinsic, Lasting Value
6. Speed
7. Criticism
8. Local Talent
9. It's a Drum Shell
10. The Local Scene - Commitment (or lack thereof)
11. Noise
12. Evil ?
13. The Christian and Secular Music
14. Maxed Out
15. The Time has Passed
16. What is the Problem people?
17. Fame and Fortune?
18. Do We Serve or ...?
19. A Drumist
20. The Square Pegs
21. People Do Not Understand the Drum Set Artist
22. Choices and Time
23. Ford, Honesty, Integrity, and Ultra-Hype
24. Are Christians Changing the Music Industry?
25. The Sound of a Drum
26. Rights and Offense
27. Love
28. Legend ~ From the Fjords Reissue
29. Yes, I've seen UFO's
30. The Search for a "Legendary" Guitarist
31. KIT XXlll - A Guitarist ... Plus ...
32. SERIOUSLY???
33. Can We Discuss This?
34. Fish Out of Water
35. Never Satisfied
36. Interviews with Sonic Age Records' Manos Koufakis and Kostas Organopoulos
37. My Gripe with Drum Thrones (and what I did about it)
38. Politics and Music, Anyone?
39. Keep It True festival/ Coronavirus
40. Separation is Coming
41. Keep It True and Covid-19 Update
42. 2nd UPDATE on Keep It True and C-19
43. The Virus, Music, and Freedom
44. A Word of Encouragement for Do-It-Yourselfers
45. Neil Peart
46. Christian Progressive Rock? (Just read it)
47. Speed and the Mind
48. C-19. Has the Tide Turned? Will Live Music Return?
49. C-19. The Gateway Pundit. I am Livid.
50. A Darkness Descends
51. Any Protest Songs Yet?
52. Alt Music, Alt Politicians, and Alt News
53. Having a "Voice."
54. Drum Forums
55. Keep It True Update #3
56. Does America Have the Will?
57. Entertaining Church Youth
58. Gary Hendrickson - America the Beautiful
59. George Floyd, Riots, and Christ
60. What Lives Matter?
61. Your Attacks Don't Change the Facts
62. I Remember Better Times ... I Think
63. Racism?
64. "No One is Above the Law."
65. Like I said ...
66. Music for Patriots is Coming
67. Stop Singing?
68. Don Lemon and Jesus Christ. Yes, I'm Going There.
69. Why Is There So Much FEAR?
70. The Religion of "Expertism."
71. Why Me? Why Now?
72. Filters: Music and Masks.
73. The Silence of the Organs.
74. Am I Heartless?
75. Portland, Oregon. Am I Missing Something?
76. "Negro"
77. Song #2
78. Go Ahead; Draw The Lines.
79. America's Frontline Doctors. UPDATE
80. Peaceful Protests? Yes. Police Brutality? Yes.
81. The Mighty World of Snare Drums.
82. I Told You So ...
83. Covid-1984
84. Two Great articles on the Covid-19 event.
85. Beyond Creepy, Outrageous, and Sick - Vaccine Coercion.
86. Burning Bibles Now.
87. Medical Disclaimer?
88. WAR
89. The Future?
90. Why I Believe in Creation.
91. Live Music Only When A Vaccine Arrives?
92. What Race Was Christ?
93. Who Really Runs America? UPDATED
94. Why does This Linger?
95. Here It Comes. The Great American Rebellion.
96. Maine and Sweden
97. Think About This
98. Ah, The Footnotes!
99. Sri Lankan Music Lover
100. 1,000 Subscribers
(scroll down for new entries)
(hi-lite, copy and paste any links or hi-lite and right click)
1. The Language of the Drum
2. "Christian" Drummer?
3. Pride and the Drummer
4. "Drums" in "Church?"
5. Intrinsic, Lasting Value
6. Speed
7. Criticism
8. Local Talent
9. It's a Drum Shell
10. The Local Scene - Commitment (or lack thereof)
11. Noise
12. Evil ?
13. The Christian and Secular Music
14. Maxed Out
15. The Time has Passed
16. What is the Problem people?
17. Fame and Fortune?
18. Do We Serve or ...?
19. A Drumist
20. The Square Pegs
21. People Do Not Understand the Drum Set Artist
22. Choices and Time
23. Ford, Honesty, Integrity, and Ultra-Hype
24. Are Christians Changing the Music Industry?
25. The Sound of a Drum
26. Rights and Offense
27. Love
28. Legend ~ From the Fjords Reissue
29. Yes, I've seen UFO's
30. The Search for a "Legendary" Guitarist
31. KIT XXlll - A Guitarist ... Plus ...
32. SERIOUSLY???
33. Can We Discuss This?
34. Fish Out of Water
35. Never Satisfied
36. Interviews with Sonic Age Records' Manos Koufakis and Kostas Organopoulos
37. My Gripe with Drum Thrones (and what I did about it)
38. Politics and Music, Anyone?
39. Keep It True festival/ Coronavirus
40. Separation is Coming
41. Keep It True and Covid-19 Update
42. 2nd UPDATE on Keep It True and C-19
43. The Virus, Music, and Freedom
44. A Word of Encouragement for Do-It-Yourselfers
45. Neil Peart
46. Christian Progressive Rock? (Just read it)
47. Speed and the Mind
48. C-19. Has the Tide Turned? Will Live Music Return?
49. C-19. The Gateway Pundit. I am Livid.
50. A Darkness Descends
51. Any Protest Songs Yet?
52. Alt Music, Alt Politicians, and Alt News
53. Having a "Voice."
54. Drum Forums
55. Keep It True Update #3
56. Does America Have the Will?
57. Entertaining Church Youth
58. Gary Hendrickson - America the Beautiful
59. George Floyd, Riots, and Christ
60. What Lives Matter?
61. Your Attacks Don't Change the Facts
62. I Remember Better Times ... I Think
63. Racism?
64. "No One is Above the Law."
65. Like I said ...
66. Music for Patriots is Coming
67. Stop Singing?
68. Don Lemon and Jesus Christ. Yes, I'm Going There.
69. Why Is There So Much FEAR?
70. The Religion of "Expertism."
71. Why Me? Why Now?
72. Filters: Music and Masks.
73. The Silence of the Organs.
74. Am I Heartless?
75. Portland, Oregon. Am I Missing Something?
76. "Negro"
77. Song #2
78. Go Ahead; Draw The Lines.
79. America's Frontline Doctors. UPDATE
80. Peaceful Protests? Yes. Police Brutality? Yes.
81. The Mighty World of Snare Drums.
82. I Told You So ...
83. Covid-1984
84. Two Great articles on the Covid-19 event.
85. Beyond Creepy, Outrageous, and Sick - Vaccine Coercion.
86. Burning Bibles Now.
87. Medical Disclaimer?
88. WAR
89. The Future?
90. Why I Believe in Creation.
91. Live Music Only When A Vaccine Arrives?
92. What Race Was Christ?
93. Who Really Runs America? UPDATED
94. Why does This Linger?
95. Here It Comes. The Great American Rebellion.
96. Maine and Sweden
97. Think About This
98. Ah, The Footnotes!
99. Sri Lankan Music Lover
100. 1,000 Subscribers
******************
1. The Language of the Drum
Most drummers know some history of the drum. Aside from the voice, it may be the oldest instrument known to man; certainly in the top three. It's been used for all kinds of communication. I believe it stems from the beat of a mother's heart, the first consistent sound a baby hears as it develops in the womb. Thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump. The language of rhythm. The language of beat. Somewhere, way back in my life that concept became clear to me.
Jump thousands of years. Twenty-first century. Thousands and thousands and thousands of excellent drummers all over the earth. At one time it was almost exclusively America and Great Britain producing all the names in drumming. Not any more. And there are new voices in drumming coming forth every year that startle people with their abilities.
When I mention those drummers who have influenced my playing the most, I often think of those who have the same abilities who have not really influenced my playing. People ask me who my favorite drummer is. I don't have one. Never did, really. They might ask me, or say, "Well, what about so and so?" So and so is great. "Well, why don't you like him?" Didn't say I didn't. He just doesn't "speak" to me the same as other drummers.
Now this is quite a thing to my mind. Take two drummers of equal ability and have them do the same beat or fill. For some reason the language of drumming comes forth from one player in a way that speaks to me, whereas not so much with another. The "voice" of one drummer is different than another. Ever wonder how penguin chicks can possibly recognize their mother's voice among tens of thousands of penguins? Nuance. Something in the voice humans may not hear, but the chicks do. I believe it's the same with the voice of the drummer. Which is why it is so important to have your own voice. It may only be a nuance of difference, but it counts.
It isn't about speed. It isn't about technique. It isn't about anything but, how we each speak the language of drumming, and I don't mean rudiments or reading notes. Speed, technique, rudiments, reading ... all good things. But, if these elements of the language make you a clone of another drummer what has been gained? Not very much. Maybe a job playing for a band who likes having a clone in their midst.
Now I'll take this a step further. Buddy, Ginger, Carl, Billy, Tony. Those are my five most influential players upon me. Their body of work is easily obtained. Listening critically, or even casually, ever notice how these giants tend to use the same voicing and language in the solos they do? How many solos did Buddy Rich play for how many years? And yet, for the most part each one followed the same "formulas" developed over the years. I have seen it with Baker, with Palmer, with Cobham, and with Williams, as well. And to be certain, I have the same kind of patterns in my own playing. As much as one may attempt to change their language it seems rather inborn, incarnated in some way which the brain takes and stabilizes and matures. Is it like the child? The first five years are those which develop a child's character. After that things are just added to that initial character. The inner voice of the language consistently emanates from us as a recognizable outer voice. The key is to have a recognizable outer voice of drumming language.
But, what if Buddy was asked to play in ELP, or the Mahavishnu Orchestra? What if Ginger were asked to play in the Rich Big Band or Lifetime? Sure enough, the BRBB has hosted numerous drummers now, in concert as well as in the studio. Notice how these drummers accomplish the task. Some fit right in. Some ... do not. It's as though their voice gets lost in a different musical situation. I find that fascinating. And truly, some of these great influences of mine sound very different to me when taken out of the groups I originally heard them in. In some ways I cannot get into their playing as much. It just doesn't sound the same. Which means the musical vehicle players exist in is as influential on their own playing, as their playing is to those who hear it.
I've been told more than once over the years that I play "different." I have no idea what that means. I am but a sum of many parts and pieces and influences. Multitudes of drummers out there sort of all sound the same, to me. I emphasize that - "to me." Just tons of penguins all over the place. Hundreds, thousands of 'notes,' but nothing musical, voices do not stand out to me. To someone else these same drummers could be speaking volumes! It's the language of the drum.
In the end of anyone's life of drumming, regardless of speed, endurance, technique, reading ability, or even keeping time well and guiding or driving a group, a band, a trio, whatever, really well, the bottom line, to me, is to have a voice. It is to have a voice which speaks differently in some way, to some one - the language of the drum.
Jump thousands of years. Twenty-first century. Thousands and thousands and thousands of excellent drummers all over the earth. At one time it was almost exclusively America and Great Britain producing all the names in drumming. Not any more. And there are new voices in drumming coming forth every year that startle people with their abilities.
When I mention those drummers who have influenced my playing the most, I often think of those who have the same abilities who have not really influenced my playing. People ask me who my favorite drummer is. I don't have one. Never did, really. They might ask me, or say, "Well, what about so and so?" So and so is great. "Well, why don't you like him?" Didn't say I didn't. He just doesn't "speak" to me the same as other drummers.
Now this is quite a thing to my mind. Take two drummers of equal ability and have them do the same beat or fill. For some reason the language of drumming comes forth from one player in a way that speaks to me, whereas not so much with another. The "voice" of one drummer is different than another. Ever wonder how penguin chicks can possibly recognize their mother's voice among tens of thousands of penguins? Nuance. Something in the voice humans may not hear, but the chicks do. I believe it's the same with the voice of the drummer. Which is why it is so important to have your own voice. It may only be a nuance of difference, but it counts.
It isn't about speed. It isn't about technique. It isn't about anything but, how we each speak the language of drumming, and I don't mean rudiments or reading notes. Speed, technique, rudiments, reading ... all good things. But, if these elements of the language make you a clone of another drummer what has been gained? Not very much. Maybe a job playing for a band who likes having a clone in their midst.
Now I'll take this a step further. Buddy, Ginger, Carl, Billy, Tony. Those are my five most influential players upon me. Their body of work is easily obtained. Listening critically, or even casually, ever notice how these giants tend to use the same voicing and language in the solos they do? How many solos did Buddy Rich play for how many years? And yet, for the most part each one followed the same "formulas" developed over the years. I have seen it with Baker, with Palmer, with Cobham, and with Williams, as well. And to be certain, I have the same kind of patterns in my own playing. As much as one may attempt to change their language it seems rather inborn, incarnated in some way which the brain takes and stabilizes and matures. Is it like the child? The first five years are those which develop a child's character. After that things are just added to that initial character. The inner voice of the language consistently emanates from us as a recognizable outer voice. The key is to have a recognizable outer voice of drumming language.
But, what if Buddy was asked to play in ELP, or the Mahavishnu Orchestra? What if Ginger were asked to play in the Rich Big Band or Lifetime? Sure enough, the BRBB has hosted numerous drummers now, in concert as well as in the studio. Notice how these drummers accomplish the task. Some fit right in. Some ... do not. It's as though their voice gets lost in a different musical situation. I find that fascinating. And truly, some of these great influences of mine sound very different to me when taken out of the groups I originally heard them in. In some ways I cannot get into their playing as much. It just doesn't sound the same. Which means the musical vehicle players exist in is as influential on their own playing, as their playing is to those who hear it.
I've been told more than once over the years that I play "different." I have no idea what that means. I am but a sum of many parts and pieces and influences. Multitudes of drummers out there sort of all sound the same, to me. I emphasize that - "to me." Just tons of penguins all over the place. Hundreds, thousands of 'notes,' but nothing musical, voices do not stand out to me. To someone else these same drummers could be speaking volumes! It's the language of the drum.
In the end of anyone's life of drumming, regardless of speed, endurance, technique, reading ability, or even keeping time well and guiding or driving a group, a band, a trio, whatever, really well, the bottom line, to me, is to have a voice. It is to have a voice which speaks differently in some way, to some one - the language of the drum.
******************
2. "Christian" Drummer?
What is a Christian Drummer? Is there a difference between a Christian drummer and a drummer that is a Christian? What are the foundation of factors and influences under and behind the one, as compared to the other? Christian first? Drummer first? The Christian in heart would say faith first, probably. Then, I wonder. And what kind of choices will a Christian drummer make, compared to a drummer that is a Christian? Is it just semantics? Here's one aspect to think about.
The other day my wife and I watched some music videos. Among them were the 'Songs 4 Worship' DVDs. If you aren't familiar with them, they show various artists like Paul Wilbur, Ron Kenoly, and Don Moen, or P&W teams (like Hillsongs) in various settings performing popular, well-known choruses, songs and hymns. Being "Integrity" productions, many of the musicians and singers are the same throughout. Chester Thompson and Alex Acuna can be seen with Don Moen. Vinnie Colaiuta and Chester are shown playing with Ron Kenoly And then the players, unknown to most, offering their best before their Maker.
As I watched, from my perspective as a drummer, I noticed drum manufacturer's logos, drum set colors, cymbal manufacturer's logos, glimpses of set ups, etcetera. I listened for the kinds of things drummers would; like drum tones, cymbal tones, various fill ideas, drummer's style and technique, and whatever drummers are generally drawn to watching other drummers play. I noticed a few odds and ends about basses being played, and keyboards being used, or the makes of speakers and monitors employed. Being a musician, I noticed things musicians think about; technical things. My wife noticed the flute player and his instrument because she is a flute player, and a great one, at that.
But then my mind began to take in the bigger picture. Does the Father take notice of all these things? Is it important to Him what instruments are being used? Does He favor any manufacturers over others? Does it matter to Him whether someone uses a 4 piece set or 6 piece, a 9 piece, or 12 piece set? Does it concern Him if drummers use three or four or ten or twenty cymbals? Perhaps only from the aspect of the personal stewardship of the musicians, and the heart condition of that musician who purchased those instruments for whatever reasons they purchased and use them. Is it for show or is it for music? Is it for pride or is it for praise to the One who died for us? Otherwise, I cannot see what difference it makes to God what kind or finish of drums I use, or what kind of cymbals I employ.
For the record, I use a lot of cymbals in my set up. And I make my own drums; have been since 1991. And I employ a wide array of drums. People who see my set immediately ask why I have so many drums and cymbals. My answer is always the same. Why does a piano have 88 keys? No pianist can play them all at the same time. No pianist will play them all on a given occasion. The fact is tens of thousands of keyboardists play every day and night on 61 note keyboards, or less, and they get the job done. But, it certainly is nice to have all 88 there if you want to hear that note. I have choices in pitch, timbre, musical culture, and other factors that go into my expression of the music I am playing. And I have cymbals from five different companies, and various lines and models from each, low end to high end from each manufacturer. All my life of drumming, personal stewardship has come into play at any given time. Sure it would be nice to have all top-of-the-line cymbals .... or, would it? Why? What exactly gets the job done?
Then I thought about the hundreds and thousands of people present at these events; church services, concerts, or at home watching the same DVDs we were watching. Would they know the difference between a 16" crash and an 18 or 20"? Would they notice or care about cymbal logos like Sabian, Zildjian or Paiste? Would they know Sonor from Pearl from Tama from Yamaha from Gretsch (some of the manufacturers seen on the DVDs)? Do they care about or notice which guitar, which bass, which keyboard, which drum set, which cymbal, which speaker, or which microphones are being used? Only those who are musicians or sound techs truly notice or care, maybe. Otherwise, the average person listening and watching has little or no idea about anything technical going on up on those platforms. They hear an overall sound-field of music. They behold a wide view of everything happening in front of them, not close-ups being shown every three or four seconds on their TV screen. Unless, of course, large screens are employed to show that. And some of the events did use such screens. Even so, it's all one big experience for the average person, not technically invaded by details of particular instruments or equipment used.
From my perspective as a drummer, after a full day of watching and listening to music, on a good sound system, I could not tell any real, significant difference between any set of drums, or cymbals, or keyboards, or mics, or sound systems. Maybe I noticed differences between drummers using Paiste Signature crashes ... maybe. I noticed that a drummer could hit three of his cymbals and they all sounded close to the same pitch on these recordings, if not identical. Some performances did sound better than others, overall, presumably the result of the work of sound men not seen, using equipment available to them in their day; some of these events taking place in the late 80s. Did a red drum set look better than a black one? Did natural maple look better than white or blue? Well, red isn't a color that falls into a favorite category, but it certainly had nothing to do with any performance or overall sound I heard or beheld. In the mix of an entire band or orchestra, all that volume, can anyone actually hear the differences in the cymbals drummers use?
So, what did I notice? What did the Father and Son notice? What did the people notice at these events? Lots of melodies. Much praise. Musical emotion, passion and excitement. "Professional" level performances. And I ask myself how much the music, the overall sound of the music, would suffer if all the drummers were using Peace drums, or Pearl Exports, or bottom line instruments. Would Chester Thompson, would Vinnie Colaiuta play with less enthusiasm before their Lord and Saviour using Royce or Dixon drums? Would God care about the difference between a Sabian AA, HH, and a B8? Certainly the congregations would not. A crash, is a crash, is a crash to them. Most do not even know what a "ride" cymbal is! And when I see top-of-the-line drums all muted with dense heads, or tape and rings, foam, pillows and such, I wonder what the point is, when all is said and done? Personal sound preference. Or sound engineers actually taking away the drummer's character and personality, by choice or forced to for the sake of current fads or poor room acoustics. Most drum sets are mic'd so poorly, or drummers so little thought of, crashes are barely heard, toms almost inaudible for pitch difference, and just the snare and hi-hats are picked up. Did you say that drummer has a Paiste Full ride and not a Sabian B8 Medium? Really? Did you notice that from the logos or the actual sound? Perhaps you have a top-of-the-line Bose sound system. See what I mean?
It is often said that the better the quality of the instrument, the higher the quality and inspiration of the performance. Maybe so. No major argument there. There are some obvious differences, close up, between an inexpensive brass ride, and a cast bronze one. There are differences between well made instruments and things made solely for economy's sake. Yes, inexpensive cymbals can clang and sound like harmonic "pie plates," rather than musical instruments. Ever hear a more expensive, 'dead' cast bronze cymbal? I've owned them. But "Beginner" versus "Professional?" Hardware takes abuse setting up and knocking down time after time. Cheap is cheap, and "you get what you pay for." Sometimes. But not always, especially in today's highly competitive market and manufacturing processes. Today's "bottom line" cymbal stand is as good or better than top-of-the-line which big name drummers used many decades ago. "Vintage" hardware can command high prices, but they do not necessarily command better respect for actual quality and usage. And maybe we "Christian drummers" have been as influenced by manufacturing ads and hype and "heroes" before our conversions, that have carried into our post-conversion experience, and made us as much drummers who are Christians, as much as Christian drummers.
I just wonder what actual difference it makes, looking at the bigger picture, to go for that extra expense in top-of-the-line equipment, when almost anything else would make little difference to Higher Authorities we want to worship and praise, and those we want to minister to and worship with.
It really does come down to personal preference that can get loaded up with materialistic pride, cultural influence, and drummer hype if Christian drummers think more like drummers who are Christian, if you see what I mean.
Something to think about.
The other day my wife and I watched some music videos. Among them were the 'Songs 4 Worship' DVDs. If you aren't familiar with them, they show various artists like Paul Wilbur, Ron Kenoly, and Don Moen, or P&W teams (like Hillsongs) in various settings performing popular, well-known choruses, songs and hymns. Being "Integrity" productions, many of the musicians and singers are the same throughout. Chester Thompson and Alex Acuna can be seen with Don Moen. Vinnie Colaiuta and Chester are shown playing with Ron Kenoly And then the players, unknown to most, offering their best before their Maker.
As I watched, from my perspective as a drummer, I noticed drum manufacturer's logos, drum set colors, cymbal manufacturer's logos, glimpses of set ups, etcetera. I listened for the kinds of things drummers would; like drum tones, cymbal tones, various fill ideas, drummer's style and technique, and whatever drummers are generally drawn to watching other drummers play. I noticed a few odds and ends about basses being played, and keyboards being used, or the makes of speakers and monitors employed. Being a musician, I noticed things musicians think about; technical things. My wife noticed the flute player and his instrument because she is a flute player, and a great one, at that.
But then my mind began to take in the bigger picture. Does the Father take notice of all these things? Is it important to Him what instruments are being used? Does He favor any manufacturers over others? Does it matter to Him whether someone uses a 4 piece set or 6 piece, a 9 piece, or 12 piece set? Does it concern Him if drummers use three or four or ten or twenty cymbals? Perhaps only from the aspect of the personal stewardship of the musicians, and the heart condition of that musician who purchased those instruments for whatever reasons they purchased and use them. Is it for show or is it for music? Is it for pride or is it for praise to the One who died for us? Otherwise, I cannot see what difference it makes to God what kind or finish of drums I use, or what kind of cymbals I employ.
For the record, I use a lot of cymbals in my set up. And I make my own drums; have been since 1991. And I employ a wide array of drums. People who see my set immediately ask why I have so many drums and cymbals. My answer is always the same. Why does a piano have 88 keys? No pianist can play them all at the same time. No pianist will play them all on a given occasion. The fact is tens of thousands of keyboardists play every day and night on 61 note keyboards, or less, and they get the job done. But, it certainly is nice to have all 88 there if you want to hear that note. I have choices in pitch, timbre, musical culture, and other factors that go into my expression of the music I am playing. And I have cymbals from five different companies, and various lines and models from each, low end to high end from each manufacturer. All my life of drumming, personal stewardship has come into play at any given time. Sure it would be nice to have all top-of-the-line cymbals .... or, would it? Why? What exactly gets the job done?
Then I thought about the hundreds and thousands of people present at these events; church services, concerts, or at home watching the same DVDs we were watching. Would they know the difference between a 16" crash and an 18 or 20"? Would they notice or care about cymbal logos like Sabian, Zildjian or Paiste? Would they know Sonor from Pearl from Tama from Yamaha from Gretsch (some of the manufacturers seen on the DVDs)? Do they care about or notice which guitar, which bass, which keyboard, which drum set, which cymbal, which speaker, or which microphones are being used? Only those who are musicians or sound techs truly notice or care, maybe. Otherwise, the average person listening and watching has little or no idea about anything technical going on up on those platforms. They hear an overall sound-field of music. They behold a wide view of everything happening in front of them, not close-ups being shown every three or four seconds on their TV screen. Unless, of course, large screens are employed to show that. And some of the events did use such screens. Even so, it's all one big experience for the average person, not technically invaded by details of particular instruments or equipment used.
From my perspective as a drummer, after a full day of watching and listening to music, on a good sound system, I could not tell any real, significant difference between any set of drums, or cymbals, or keyboards, or mics, or sound systems. Maybe I noticed differences between drummers using Paiste Signature crashes ... maybe. I noticed that a drummer could hit three of his cymbals and they all sounded close to the same pitch on these recordings, if not identical. Some performances did sound better than others, overall, presumably the result of the work of sound men not seen, using equipment available to them in their day; some of these events taking place in the late 80s. Did a red drum set look better than a black one? Did natural maple look better than white or blue? Well, red isn't a color that falls into a favorite category, but it certainly had nothing to do with any performance or overall sound I heard or beheld. In the mix of an entire band or orchestra, all that volume, can anyone actually hear the differences in the cymbals drummers use?
So, what did I notice? What did the Father and Son notice? What did the people notice at these events? Lots of melodies. Much praise. Musical emotion, passion and excitement. "Professional" level performances. And I ask myself how much the music, the overall sound of the music, would suffer if all the drummers were using Peace drums, or Pearl Exports, or bottom line instruments. Would Chester Thompson, would Vinnie Colaiuta play with less enthusiasm before their Lord and Saviour using Royce or Dixon drums? Would God care about the difference between a Sabian AA, HH, and a B8? Certainly the congregations would not. A crash, is a crash, is a crash to them. Most do not even know what a "ride" cymbal is! And when I see top-of-the-line drums all muted with dense heads, or tape and rings, foam, pillows and such, I wonder what the point is, when all is said and done? Personal sound preference. Or sound engineers actually taking away the drummer's character and personality, by choice or forced to for the sake of current fads or poor room acoustics. Most drum sets are mic'd so poorly, or drummers so little thought of, crashes are barely heard, toms almost inaudible for pitch difference, and just the snare and hi-hats are picked up. Did you say that drummer has a Paiste Full ride and not a Sabian B8 Medium? Really? Did you notice that from the logos or the actual sound? Perhaps you have a top-of-the-line Bose sound system. See what I mean?
It is often said that the better the quality of the instrument, the higher the quality and inspiration of the performance. Maybe so. No major argument there. There are some obvious differences, close up, between an inexpensive brass ride, and a cast bronze one. There are differences between well made instruments and things made solely for economy's sake. Yes, inexpensive cymbals can clang and sound like harmonic "pie plates," rather than musical instruments. Ever hear a more expensive, 'dead' cast bronze cymbal? I've owned them. But "Beginner" versus "Professional?" Hardware takes abuse setting up and knocking down time after time. Cheap is cheap, and "you get what you pay for." Sometimes. But not always, especially in today's highly competitive market and manufacturing processes. Today's "bottom line" cymbal stand is as good or better than top-of-the-line which big name drummers used many decades ago. "Vintage" hardware can command high prices, but they do not necessarily command better respect for actual quality and usage. And maybe we "Christian drummers" have been as influenced by manufacturing ads and hype and "heroes" before our conversions, that have carried into our post-conversion experience, and made us as much drummers who are Christians, as much as Christian drummers.
I just wonder what actual difference it makes, looking at the bigger picture, to go for that extra expense in top-of-the-line equipment, when almost anything else would make little difference to Higher Authorities we want to worship and praise, and those we want to minister to and worship with.
It really does come down to personal preference that can get loaded up with materialistic pride, cultural influence, and drummer hype if Christian drummers think more like drummers who are Christian, if you see what I mean.
Something to think about.
******************
3. Pride and the Drummer
As Christians we see pride as the enemy.
Self-pride, self-importance, being self-willed. Pride brought Satan down, and brings all down who succumb to its hypnotic influence and power.
Drummers sit behind a drum set, and depending on the kind of set one plays, can actually hide behind it. They can sit in their own little world back there and almost reject the spotlight. But either way, small set or large, with cymbals wobbling and all the arm movement, and the quick "stuff" drummers can do, it draws a lot of attention. The drum set, itself, can draw a lot of attention. The drum solo, of which I have performed my share, can be a pretty fair patch of heady quicksand to fall into. You can hide, but you can also put self on parade pretty easily. Think about that.
When I think of the bands out there that play "Christian" music, and can pack very large halls, arenas, stadiums and such, I wonder where the line is for rendering praise to God, and receiving thunderous applause as performers for performances, including, of course, where drummers fit into this issue.
Self-promotion. Jesus made no reputation of Himself. He didn't go out of His way to promote Himself. Where is the line for self-promotion and necessary exposure to fulfill a music ministry, or getting a place in one as the drummer/percussionist? For that matter, doing almost anything in life, like just getting a job and forming a career? Where does "self-promotion" fit in?
It seems to me Christianity is a religion of selflessness; of bringing all honor, praise, glory, recognition, exposure, purpose and reason to Christ. From that perspective who are we to promote ourselves? What do we actually have to offer that we should put ourselves out there as warranting notice or recognition? "I'm here. Look at me. Consider me. Pick me. Choose me. Look what I can do. Look at what I've done." Lots of self in all that.
How much does faith, in waiting for doors to open and a calling from on high to take place, weigh against the worlds process of "putting yourself out there" to be noticed? Over the years I've had a number of people suggest that I enter various drumming competitions out there. I've always said no. Just not comfortable with the whole gig.
Even this web site of mine. Self-indulgence? Self-promotion? Am I offering a worthwhile service? Am I offering a product which has value and practical use? Maybe I'll make some interesting contacts. Maybe something spiritual will result. Maybe something musical. Maybe not.
Something for a believer to think about.
Self-pride, self-importance, being self-willed. Pride brought Satan down, and brings all down who succumb to its hypnotic influence and power.
Drummers sit behind a drum set, and depending on the kind of set one plays, can actually hide behind it. They can sit in their own little world back there and almost reject the spotlight. But either way, small set or large, with cymbals wobbling and all the arm movement, and the quick "stuff" drummers can do, it draws a lot of attention. The drum set, itself, can draw a lot of attention. The drum solo, of which I have performed my share, can be a pretty fair patch of heady quicksand to fall into. You can hide, but you can also put self on parade pretty easily. Think about that.
When I think of the bands out there that play "Christian" music, and can pack very large halls, arenas, stadiums and such, I wonder where the line is for rendering praise to God, and receiving thunderous applause as performers for performances, including, of course, where drummers fit into this issue.
Self-promotion. Jesus made no reputation of Himself. He didn't go out of His way to promote Himself. Where is the line for self-promotion and necessary exposure to fulfill a music ministry, or getting a place in one as the drummer/percussionist? For that matter, doing almost anything in life, like just getting a job and forming a career? Where does "self-promotion" fit in?
It seems to me Christianity is a religion of selflessness; of bringing all honor, praise, glory, recognition, exposure, purpose and reason to Christ. From that perspective who are we to promote ourselves? What do we actually have to offer that we should put ourselves out there as warranting notice or recognition? "I'm here. Look at me. Consider me. Pick me. Choose me. Look what I can do. Look at what I've done." Lots of self in all that.
How much does faith, in waiting for doors to open and a calling from on high to take place, weigh against the worlds process of "putting yourself out there" to be noticed? Over the years I've had a number of people suggest that I enter various drumming competitions out there. I've always said no. Just not comfortable with the whole gig.
Even this web site of mine. Self-indulgence? Self-promotion? Am I offering a worthwhile service? Am I offering a product which has value and practical use? Maybe I'll make some interesting contacts. Maybe something spiritual will result. Maybe something musical. Maybe not.
Something for a believer to think about.
******************
4. "Drums" in "Church?"
The Bible says a lot about music. In those passages where music and musical instruments are mentioned, you will often see tabrets (the toph, generally a frame drum or hand drum), and cymbals mentioned. The use of music and instruments to celebrate is obvious in Scripture. In war, victory, dedication, and daily life, the use of the toph with other musical instruments is clear enough. The context of praise music and musical instruments are profusely seen in the Bible. In worship, however, something is missing. Oddly enough, at first thought, but missing nonetheless.
What I am about to write may seem strange coming from a drummer, but I believe it is the truth. And a very simple truth, at that.
You can do a study of Scripture and see what worship is, how to worship, why to worship, etc. But I have yet to see a passage in the Old Testament, (which is the book almost exclusively used by Christians to support the use of drums in worship services), which describes the use of the toph in worship. I believe there is a very salient reason why, but more on that in a bit.
Psalm 150 - generally considered the favorite Psalm of Christian musicians and proof text of having drums in church services. But wait a minute. Take a closer look:
Psa 150:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Psa 150:2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Psa 150:3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Psa 150:4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Psa 150:5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Psa 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. [KJV]
Notice I have the word "sanctuary" in bold, and "firmament of his power" in italics. Why? Well, for one, the ancient sanctuary, or tabernacle, was the outer court and inner court, which had the tent containing holy and most holy places. No musicians. No gatherings of people. Only the penitent walked through the opening in the curtain to offer his sacrificial animal. The priest took over from there. And only the priests were allowed inside the tent, and only the high priest inside the most holy place on the day of atonement. The same was true of Solomon's temple, which was modeled after the original tabernacle, as well as the rebuilt, smaller temple constructed after the Babylonian captivity.
Then what does "sanctuary" mean in this passage? It's a common Hebrew word, qodesh, which means a sacred place or thing. It is often used to denote the physical sanctuary, but also translated as other things, as well. Seeing how the use of firmament, or 'expanse,' is also the context, a translation of 'his holiness,' or his sacred or holy place(s), meaning heaven itself, or the entire universe is just as justified. It simply can not mean His earthly sanctuary because people were not allowed into it, save for the priests. It could only mean his earthly sanctuary in an allegorical or hyperbolic way. The Psalmist is trying to make the biggest statement possible for readers to understand. Our praise should be of a type so the entire universe can hear it!
Of course, the earthly sanctuary, in ancient or more modern times of Herod, was not the synagogue, where the people gathered each Sabbath to pray and study, and certainly not the house church, or home ekklesia of early Christians. Indeed, there is much disagreement and study over exactly what Solomon's temple housed in the way of extra rooms. More is known of Herod's temple, but Psalm 150 was not written in that time. Herod's temple had a number of 'courts,' which probably contained musicians.
The bottom line is this. Christians use Psalm 150 to allow the use of drums and even other instruments, in a church service. It is not possible to use Psalms 150 for that purpose. Not if you want to stay biblical. The fact is, the modern worship service is based on the Roman Catholic service, or mass, which has been modified and re-modified since the Protestant Reformation. And as such, trying to find biblical proof of who, what, when, where, why and how to conduct a "worship service" in a modern 'church' is rather futile. There is no such detail in the Bible. There is no such 'church service' in the Bible. There is no such church in the Bible, for that matter. There are basic principles, though.
To me the most solid, and forthright principle of worship is what Christ stated - we MUST worship God in spirit and in truth. "Spirit," in the Greek, has to do with the intellectual nature of man. Hence, to worship in spirit and in truth is to do so intelligently, in truth. There is no place for error in the church, which is the pillar and ground of truth" (1 Tim. 3:15).
There is nothing in the Bible about what kind of instruments to use in a modern worship service, or congregational, corporate worship assembly. Ultimately that decision must be left up to each individual assembly, guided by the principles of Scripture. If all the congregation wants is human voices, so be it. If all they want is a piano, or an organ, the traditional instruments, so be it. If they are a home church and just want a couple acoustic guitars, so be it. If they want a full orchestra, so be it. And if they want the modern context of electric guitar, bass, keyboards and acoustic or electronic drums, so be it.
The second most important principle to me is unity. I find ZERO principle in the Bible for starting a schism in an assembly of any kind over music or musical instruments. Regardless of what size the congregation - three people or three thousand - unity is not a matter of political voting. Unity is a matter of hearts linked to Christ through the connecting power of the Holy Spirit. It is quite unbiblical to have a vote on what kind of music to have. The fact of biblical brotherhood is, if a converted, born again brother or sister is not comfortable with something, who are others in the body to tell them their conviction is not important, or tell them to go to another church if they don't like the "new" way the assembly is going to function. That is pride of such an order as to make angels weep. People who raised up churches with their own blood, sweat, and funds being told to go somewhere else because a more modern music is coming in? Such audacity should be denounced as complete lack of Christian ethics and morals.
A few hours once a week is hardly reason to split a church. It seems logical to me that if a congregation has to employ a "traditional service" and a "contemporary service" to please everyone, then leaders have allowed their flock to be split up generally because of music, which is nothing more than the culture. Any assembly can find some kind of common musical ground suited to the convictions of every believer if true brotherhood exists and prayer is made every day until unity is reached. Otherwise the assembly becomes a place of power struggles not of heaven, but of man, and this earth. From that point on, such statements by leaders of "how God is blessing" is pompous, human arrogance, and a congregation has been duped by the devil over music, which is quite prophetic in nature if you study it out in Daniel and Revelation. The assembly may have more people coming through the doors and more money coming into the plate, but that is never the gauge of where the Holy Spirit is leading and where the presence of God is. Nay. Where two or three gather and agree, there Christ is in the midst. Unity of the Spirit.
Music was never used to win souls to Christ. Music was never used to teach the truth in New Testament times. Music was used as an adornment to the truth. But truth can and will survive if music ceased to exist. Let us be serious. Drums have not, and will never bring a soul to repentance. Drums are an augmentation of rhythm and time keeping in modern music. Can music bring someone to repentance? A message containing the truth is what the Spirit uses to bring to repentance. Music is, at best a baited hook, or lure in fishing for souls. It might open a door for the truth, but music is not the truth. If it were, God would have seen to it that the music of David, along with his lyrics, were saved for us.
Worship is bowing before God. We come before Him as sinners in great need of a Savior. In many ways corporate worship, whatever it can and should be, has become an entertainment center filled with lots of music, smooth speeches, American culture, and little true repentance from sin.
Yes, I play drums. No, I do not play in a church service because the people I have worshiped with over the decades would not be comfortable with drums, nor are the buildings of a size to warrant drums being played in them. I have worshiped with people playing percussion of all kinds, but not a full drum set. For a short time I played some percussion in a couple praise and worship groups of a community-type church which met in a gymnasium. The place could hold the sound of both a small drum set and my percussion rig.
I believe it is entirely futile to try and justify the use of a full drum set in a modern church building from Scripture. It cannot be done. It doesn't have to be done, for there is nothing in Scripture about modern church buildings, modern church services, or much of anything else current Christianity is into. There is plenty in the Bible to condemn what many modern churches are into. But that is another subject.
What I am about to write may seem strange coming from a drummer, but I believe it is the truth. And a very simple truth, at that.
You can do a study of Scripture and see what worship is, how to worship, why to worship, etc. But I have yet to see a passage in the Old Testament, (which is the book almost exclusively used by Christians to support the use of drums in worship services), which describes the use of the toph in worship. I believe there is a very salient reason why, but more on that in a bit.
Psalm 150 - generally considered the favorite Psalm of Christian musicians and proof text of having drums in church services. But wait a minute. Take a closer look:
Psa 150:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Psa 150:2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Psa 150:3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Psa 150:4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Psa 150:5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Psa 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. [KJV]
Notice I have the word "sanctuary" in bold, and "firmament of his power" in italics. Why? Well, for one, the ancient sanctuary, or tabernacle, was the outer court and inner court, which had the tent containing holy and most holy places. No musicians. No gatherings of people. Only the penitent walked through the opening in the curtain to offer his sacrificial animal. The priest took over from there. And only the priests were allowed inside the tent, and only the high priest inside the most holy place on the day of atonement. The same was true of Solomon's temple, which was modeled after the original tabernacle, as well as the rebuilt, smaller temple constructed after the Babylonian captivity.
Then what does "sanctuary" mean in this passage? It's a common Hebrew word, qodesh, which means a sacred place or thing. It is often used to denote the physical sanctuary, but also translated as other things, as well. Seeing how the use of firmament, or 'expanse,' is also the context, a translation of 'his holiness,' or his sacred or holy place(s), meaning heaven itself, or the entire universe is just as justified. It simply can not mean His earthly sanctuary because people were not allowed into it, save for the priests. It could only mean his earthly sanctuary in an allegorical or hyperbolic way. The Psalmist is trying to make the biggest statement possible for readers to understand. Our praise should be of a type so the entire universe can hear it!
Of course, the earthly sanctuary, in ancient or more modern times of Herod, was not the synagogue, where the people gathered each Sabbath to pray and study, and certainly not the house church, or home ekklesia of early Christians. Indeed, there is much disagreement and study over exactly what Solomon's temple housed in the way of extra rooms. More is known of Herod's temple, but Psalm 150 was not written in that time. Herod's temple had a number of 'courts,' which probably contained musicians.
The bottom line is this. Christians use Psalm 150 to allow the use of drums and even other instruments, in a church service. It is not possible to use Psalms 150 for that purpose. Not if you want to stay biblical. The fact is, the modern worship service is based on the Roman Catholic service, or mass, which has been modified and re-modified since the Protestant Reformation. And as such, trying to find biblical proof of who, what, when, where, why and how to conduct a "worship service" in a modern 'church' is rather futile. There is no such detail in the Bible. There is no such 'church service' in the Bible. There is no such church in the Bible, for that matter. There are basic principles, though.
To me the most solid, and forthright principle of worship is what Christ stated - we MUST worship God in spirit and in truth. "Spirit," in the Greek, has to do with the intellectual nature of man. Hence, to worship in spirit and in truth is to do so intelligently, in truth. There is no place for error in the church, which is the pillar and ground of truth" (1 Tim. 3:15).
There is nothing in the Bible about what kind of instruments to use in a modern worship service, or congregational, corporate worship assembly. Ultimately that decision must be left up to each individual assembly, guided by the principles of Scripture. If all the congregation wants is human voices, so be it. If all they want is a piano, or an organ, the traditional instruments, so be it. If they are a home church and just want a couple acoustic guitars, so be it. If they want a full orchestra, so be it. And if they want the modern context of electric guitar, bass, keyboards and acoustic or electronic drums, so be it.
The second most important principle to me is unity. I find ZERO principle in the Bible for starting a schism in an assembly of any kind over music or musical instruments. Regardless of what size the congregation - three people or three thousand - unity is not a matter of political voting. Unity is a matter of hearts linked to Christ through the connecting power of the Holy Spirit. It is quite unbiblical to have a vote on what kind of music to have. The fact of biblical brotherhood is, if a converted, born again brother or sister is not comfortable with something, who are others in the body to tell them their conviction is not important, or tell them to go to another church if they don't like the "new" way the assembly is going to function. That is pride of such an order as to make angels weep. People who raised up churches with their own blood, sweat, and funds being told to go somewhere else because a more modern music is coming in? Such audacity should be denounced as complete lack of Christian ethics and morals.
A few hours once a week is hardly reason to split a church. It seems logical to me that if a congregation has to employ a "traditional service" and a "contemporary service" to please everyone, then leaders have allowed their flock to be split up generally because of music, which is nothing more than the culture. Any assembly can find some kind of common musical ground suited to the convictions of every believer if true brotherhood exists and prayer is made every day until unity is reached. Otherwise the assembly becomes a place of power struggles not of heaven, but of man, and this earth. From that point on, such statements by leaders of "how God is blessing" is pompous, human arrogance, and a congregation has been duped by the devil over music, which is quite prophetic in nature if you study it out in Daniel and Revelation. The assembly may have more people coming through the doors and more money coming into the plate, but that is never the gauge of where the Holy Spirit is leading and where the presence of God is. Nay. Where two or three gather and agree, there Christ is in the midst. Unity of the Spirit.
Music was never used to win souls to Christ. Music was never used to teach the truth in New Testament times. Music was used as an adornment to the truth. But truth can and will survive if music ceased to exist. Let us be serious. Drums have not, and will never bring a soul to repentance. Drums are an augmentation of rhythm and time keeping in modern music. Can music bring someone to repentance? A message containing the truth is what the Spirit uses to bring to repentance. Music is, at best a baited hook, or lure in fishing for souls. It might open a door for the truth, but music is not the truth. If it were, God would have seen to it that the music of David, along with his lyrics, were saved for us.
Worship is bowing before God. We come before Him as sinners in great need of a Savior. In many ways corporate worship, whatever it can and should be, has become an entertainment center filled with lots of music, smooth speeches, American culture, and little true repentance from sin.
Yes, I play drums. No, I do not play in a church service because the people I have worshiped with over the decades would not be comfortable with drums, nor are the buildings of a size to warrant drums being played in them. I have worshiped with people playing percussion of all kinds, but not a full drum set. For a short time I played some percussion in a couple praise and worship groups of a community-type church which met in a gymnasium. The place could hold the sound of both a small drum set and my percussion rig.
I believe it is entirely futile to try and justify the use of a full drum set in a modern church building from Scripture. It cannot be done. It doesn't have to be done, for there is nothing in Scripture about modern church buildings, modern church services, or much of anything else current Christianity is into. There is plenty in the Bible to condemn what many modern churches are into. But that is another subject.
*******************
5. Intrinsic, Lasting Value?
Back in 1979 when I became a Christian I was in a rock band named Legend, a local New Haven, CT area power trio. You can do a Google on Legend, From the Fjords (our album) and see that 30 years later, incredibly, the band has a following pretty much from all parts of the world, but mostly here and Europe. While I always knew Legend would make it 'big' I certainly never thought it would gain a following 30 years after I left the band and it eventually just faded away.
When I was questioning my place in the band, the music, the whole scene, the evangelist who was giving a series of meetings in my area, Mark Finley, I believe the current host of It Is Written, was in my home standing in my basement, looking at the pretty enormous drum set I had and he said, "Ray, does the music have any intrinsic, lasting value? Can it be a witness and influence for God?" The obvious answer was No, but Mark didn't want to say it, he wanted me to realize it. I did, and left the band as the album was about to come out. It was a wise decision, though completely misunderstood by band mates and fans of the group at that time, and even today.
Thirty years later, as interesting as it is to see the following the group has, the interest in it (and some of the strange album reviews and commentary on what people think the band and music was all about - Viking metal?), and as cool as it is to realize I was a major part of producing something which had a 'lasting value,' the question still comes home to me, and I have to shake my head and say, "Wait a minute. It doesn't have any more intrinsic value now than it did then. Put your eyes back on heaven above, not things of this earth." In preaching and teaching the truth down through the years since my conversion there are things of true, intrinsic, lasting value. Anyone who accepts Christ and His truth as a result of your witness and has their name written in the Lamb's book of life carries the merit of true, lasting, intrinsic value. Eternal value.
Is this how Solomon fell? Just a man, but with incredible wealth, honor, fame, and influence which should have been always pointing to God as the source, but unfortunately got self-directed and it ultimately caused his great fall, and caused great problem in all Israel as a result. He eventually saw the light and repented and his experience and thoughts are emblazoned in his inspired works, saved for us in Scripture. Pride goeth before fall.
I have read where a number of "Christian rock bands" got sucked back into the world by getting too close to it. The Bible says, Come apart and be a separate people. God means what He says. For our own good.
Drumming is good exercise, promotes both mental and physical ability, and has other therapeutic values as an activity. But in the final analysis both drumming and music, whatever blessing it can be because of content which gives praise and honor and glory to God, will be burned out of existence someday (2nd Peter 3:7,10; Revelation 20:7-15). The only thing that shall survive such an inferno is a character formed after the similitude of Christ. Certainly things which do not give glory to God have little to no value, save for convenience sake in this life.
What is the intrinsic, lasting value of anything, everything we do? Is it for exaltation of self, or exaltation of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the kingdom of God, the truth, and the everlasting gospel?
When I was questioning my place in the band, the music, the whole scene, the evangelist who was giving a series of meetings in my area, Mark Finley, I believe the current host of It Is Written, was in my home standing in my basement, looking at the pretty enormous drum set I had and he said, "Ray, does the music have any intrinsic, lasting value? Can it be a witness and influence for God?" The obvious answer was No, but Mark didn't want to say it, he wanted me to realize it. I did, and left the band as the album was about to come out. It was a wise decision, though completely misunderstood by band mates and fans of the group at that time, and even today.
Thirty years later, as interesting as it is to see the following the group has, the interest in it (and some of the strange album reviews and commentary on what people think the band and music was all about - Viking metal?), and as cool as it is to realize I was a major part of producing something which had a 'lasting value,' the question still comes home to me, and I have to shake my head and say, "Wait a minute. It doesn't have any more intrinsic value now than it did then. Put your eyes back on heaven above, not things of this earth." In preaching and teaching the truth down through the years since my conversion there are things of true, intrinsic, lasting value. Anyone who accepts Christ and His truth as a result of your witness and has their name written in the Lamb's book of life carries the merit of true, lasting, intrinsic value. Eternal value.
Is this how Solomon fell? Just a man, but with incredible wealth, honor, fame, and influence which should have been always pointing to God as the source, but unfortunately got self-directed and it ultimately caused his great fall, and caused great problem in all Israel as a result. He eventually saw the light and repented and his experience and thoughts are emblazoned in his inspired works, saved for us in Scripture. Pride goeth before fall.
I have read where a number of "Christian rock bands" got sucked back into the world by getting too close to it. The Bible says, Come apart and be a separate people. God means what He says. For our own good.
Drumming is good exercise, promotes both mental and physical ability, and has other therapeutic values as an activity. But in the final analysis both drumming and music, whatever blessing it can be because of content which gives praise and honor and glory to God, will be burned out of existence someday (2nd Peter 3:7,10; Revelation 20:7-15). The only thing that shall survive such an inferno is a character formed after the similitude of Christ. Certainly things which do not give glory to God have little to no value, save for convenience sake in this life.
What is the intrinsic, lasting value of anything, everything we do? Is it for exaltation of self, or exaltation of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the kingdom of God, the truth, and the everlasting gospel?
******************
6. Speed
Speed. Americans like things fast. Everything from cars, to food, to sports, and check out lines. Make it quick. Speed is built into the culture. It's the same around most of the modern world.
Since the days of Gene and Buddy speed has been a "given" attribute for modern drummers to look up to and try to equal or surpass. Today we have speed contests for single stroke rolls and double bass work. Gadgets and devices have been invented to 'clock' drum rolls. Youtube is filled with entries about drummers with "fast" or some other similar word with adverbs to describe the merits or abilities of the players. Why? Why is speed so important to drummers? It always was to me. I emulated fast drummers. But lately I have been seriously questioning why.
Speed is a couple of things. One - genetics. Some drummers, some humans just have abilities to gain speed which other humans of same size, weight, and build will not match. It's in the gene pool. Just the way it is.
Speed is also practice. The more one practices, the more speed will be attained as muscles, lungs, heart and mind coordinate to move hands and feet.
Speed is also adrenaline and even inspiration. Under certain circumstances any person can attain greater than their normal speed because of their playing environment. Of course, the same can be said in reverse, too. Those same environments - a concert, an audition, a performance of any kind, or some emotionally heavy event can work to slow someone up, mess with body/brain communications, and emotional break down can cause one to fall apart. Just depends on the individual. So speed, then, is also emotional and mental, not just physical.
Why is speed even important? Aside from being able to sustain patterns during fast tempos in music and the added need or ability to do so with endurance, what makes speed so attractive to drummers? Not all drummers, mind you, but certainly most drummers and the listening public respond positively to fast drumming, especially, of course, in a soloing context.
Mel Lewis. Buddy claimed Mel was a great drummer. Mel Lewis was as calm and laid back and relaxed a drummer as one could be. Mel Lewis was not a "fast" drummer. But Buddy keyed in on what Mel was as a drummer - a great stylist. He had his own voice. It was obviously not important to Mel to be a fast drummer. It was important to him to be musical, to be an individual, to be solid support for instrumentalists, and to play as he believed his big band would sound best with him in the driver's seat. He had a long career doing just that.
Think of drummers who play very fast. I won't name any. Just think of the ones we know of, whether very famous or very unknown, past or present. If they did not play that fast would they still be musically good, viable artists in their own right in the sight of those who admire them?
Recently I saw a Youtube entry; a 'battle' between two newer drummers on the drumming scene. Both known for speed, one freakishly so. The man plays with phenomenal speed. Yet in this 'battle' his contemporary pretty much ruled the event from my point of view. The 'speed freak' just couldn't seem to come up with musically satisfying passages when his turn came. Perhaps he froze up inside under the spotlight. Maybe he was musically intimidated by the guy across from him. Yet, when he chose to turn on the burners in one particular sixteen bar opportunity the crowd went wild, and even his 'opponent' rendered vocal respect. But in reality all this drummer seemed to have was speed. That may be the bottom line in a race, but as a musician? What's the point?
I find it interesting that if any other musician played fast in the same fashion almost all drummers play - just hitting drums, cymbals, and sounds as fast as possible with almost no regard to what one is actually striking as far as pitch or sequence of sound, such a musician would be seen as rather ... sloppy, or just plain "out there" somewhere, if not just a bad musician. And I do it myself. Arms flying, sticks in blur, cymbals wobbling, tom rolls, snare rolls, no rolls — just striking notes ... Someone with no experience of watching a drummer might think such a one were not mentally stable. The Muppet's "Animal" if you will. No wonder drummers have this bad rep. We look rather insane at times. Is this music, or is this noise and "sport" of some kind?
I mention this simply because of the emulation which takes place in young people. Would it not be much better if young drummers were drawn to actual placement of notes in musical fashion done with individual style, rather than the element of speed, alone?
Something to think about.
Since the days of Gene and Buddy speed has been a "given" attribute for modern drummers to look up to and try to equal or surpass. Today we have speed contests for single stroke rolls and double bass work. Gadgets and devices have been invented to 'clock' drum rolls. Youtube is filled with entries about drummers with "fast" or some other similar word with adverbs to describe the merits or abilities of the players. Why? Why is speed so important to drummers? It always was to me. I emulated fast drummers. But lately I have been seriously questioning why.
Speed is a couple of things. One - genetics. Some drummers, some humans just have abilities to gain speed which other humans of same size, weight, and build will not match. It's in the gene pool. Just the way it is.
Speed is also practice. The more one practices, the more speed will be attained as muscles, lungs, heart and mind coordinate to move hands and feet.
Speed is also adrenaline and even inspiration. Under certain circumstances any person can attain greater than their normal speed because of their playing environment. Of course, the same can be said in reverse, too. Those same environments - a concert, an audition, a performance of any kind, or some emotionally heavy event can work to slow someone up, mess with body/brain communications, and emotional break down can cause one to fall apart. Just depends on the individual. So speed, then, is also emotional and mental, not just physical.
Why is speed even important? Aside from being able to sustain patterns during fast tempos in music and the added need or ability to do so with endurance, what makes speed so attractive to drummers? Not all drummers, mind you, but certainly most drummers and the listening public respond positively to fast drumming, especially, of course, in a soloing context.
Mel Lewis. Buddy claimed Mel was a great drummer. Mel Lewis was as calm and laid back and relaxed a drummer as one could be. Mel Lewis was not a "fast" drummer. But Buddy keyed in on what Mel was as a drummer - a great stylist. He had his own voice. It was obviously not important to Mel to be a fast drummer. It was important to him to be musical, to be an individual, to be solid support for instrumentalists, and to play as he believed his big band would sound best with him in the driver's seat. He had a long career doing just that.
Think of drummers who play very fast. I won't name any. Just think of the ones we know of, whether very famous or very unknown, past or present. If they did not play that fast would they still be musically good, viable artists in their own right in the sight of those who admire them?
Recently I saw a Youtube entry; a 'battle' between two newer drummers on the drumming scene. Both known for speed, one freakishly so. The man plays with phenomenal speed. Yet in this 'battle' his contemporary pretty much ruled the event from my point of view. The 'speed freak' just couldn't seem to come up with musically satisfying passages when his turn came. Perhaps he froze up inside under the spotlight. Maybe he was musically intimidated by the guy across from him. Yet, when he chose to turn on the burners in one particular sixteen bar opportunity the crowd went wild, and even his 'opponent' rendered vocal respect. But in reality all this drummer seemed to have was speed. That may be the bottom line in a race, but as a musician? What's the point?
I find it interesting that if any other musician played fast in the same fashion almost all drummers play - just hitting drums, cymbals, and sounds as fast as possible with almost no regard to what one is actually striking as far as pitch or sequence of sound, such a musician would be seen as rather ... sloppy, or just plain "out there" somewhere, if not just a bad musician. And I do it myself. Arms flying, sticks in blur, cymbals wobbling, tom rolls, snare rolls, no rolls — just striking notes ... Someone with no experience of watching a drummer might think such a one were not mentally stable. The Muppet's "Animal" if you will. No wonder drummers have this bad rep. We look rather insane at times. Is this music, or is this noise and "sport" of some kind?
I mention this simply because of the emulation which takes place in young people. Would it not be much better if young drummers were drawn to actual placement of notes in musical fashion done with individual style, rather than the element of speed, alone?
Something to think about.
******************
7. Criticism
Recently I came upon a review of From the Fjords and it contained this paragraph:
"The drummer, Raymond Frigon, is however, one of the best drummers I've ever heard. Yet he's the main detractor on this album. It seems like there's nothing this guy can't do, and it's a shame we never saw him in any other bands after this, but here he just doesn't seem to fit. Legend wasn't an overly complex band, and their riffs were pretty simple and straightforward, as were the vocal melodies. So why is this guy showing off every chance he gets? "The Iron Horse" for example has a 3+ minute drum solo that just kind of breaks up the song and makes it hard to listen to. On the other tracks here, it's mostly okay, because you can tune it out, but he seems to like providing as many fills and beats as he possibly can, and it's annoying. No doubt, he's talented, but the band would fit better with more simplistic drumming, nothing over the top like they did here."
Ouch.
There are a couple things this reviewer is apparently not aware of. One - back in the day many first albums from rock bands of various genre had a song which had a drum solo in it that lasted around two to three minutes, plus or minus. So 'Iron Horse' was that song, and the solo was in that length category. I guess thirty years later such songs and solos are not common.
Two - I never considered myself to be "showing off." I just played what I felt in each song. And considering seven of the eight cuts on the album had melodies and lyrics composed by me, I certainly felt at ease in complimenting each piece as I did.
As mentioned elsewhere we never considered ourselves a heavy metal band as people do today. At least, aside from Psychedelic rock, and Epic rock, and Epic metal, and Viking metal (as this reviewer calls it), most mention of the album is placed in that genre - heavy metal. Yet we were musicians who were more into fusion and some progressive rock as anything else. Fusion was especially the thing I was into, and that style of drumming made its way into all of Legend's music. A full concert would have shown this reviewer the broader base of music we got into. So, indeed, I played a lot, and was a "busy" drummer. This is actually the first time I have seen a review of the album with this kind of comment in it. But it's also one of the elements that made Legend what it was. No one I knew back then would have classed Kevin Nugent or Fred Melillo as heavy metal players.
Still, to the subject at hand. The "Ouch" of this article. The fact is, when I have heard the album thirty years later and listened critically, indeed, there are places I would have done things differently, and I can hear that I "overplayed" in spots. I would rather have had both Kevin and Fred take more fills in places, or we traded back and forth, or just all went for it. So, in a very honest way this reviewer has a point. Of course, hind sight being 20/20 I doubt there are very many musicians who have recorded who would have left everything they did just as it came out if they had the chance to do it again. Even now, thirty years later, while still predominantly a fusion-styled player, I am not the same musician as I was thirty years ago. If I were into the music and themes of Legend today, and recorded that album today, with a bigger budget than the five or six thousand dollars I spent then, all kinds of things would come out differently. But the fact is, my playing on the album IS flawed in places. And I still take this reviewers positive comments of my abilities as encouragement for the work put into what I did and still do.
I mentioned this review to Fred the other day. He told me not to bother reading reviews of any kind. He never does. You just have to do what you do. Fair enough. And Fred plays in a couple of bands which take on some fairly complex musical pathways. I also found out this reviewer was nineteen when he wrote this critique. Not exactly a seasoned researcher of music from thirty years ago. But, his opinion is his opinion. And, even at nineteen years of age, his points are taken by me with the kind of analytical thought I put into just about everything. So really, the "ouch" is tempered by my own Christian experience, and life experience which has taught me to listen to people, regardless of where they are at and what they think. I don't have to agree, but it's no skin off my nose to listen to somebody. In this case, should I ever record again, and certainly hope to in the near future, I'll take this young man's thoughts and be aware of them next time out.
On the other hand, no musician should allow anyone else's words determine what kind of musician they shall be or what they shall play in the passion of their chosen instrument in any given musical situation and environment. I play my instrument, not the critic. Every person's opinion is just that, their opinion, and their opinion can be as flawed as what they are criticizing. Music critics, media critics in general, often seem to take pride in being brutally honest, as though slicing things and people up is some kind of advanced communication skill. I guess that's why Fred doesn't bother to read anything from critics. How many actually critique from an artists position? They find ways, however caustic, comical, or casual to express their own tastes against the work of others. I never understood the place of professional "critics" in American society. And there are plenty to be seen and heard, mostly "non-professional," in churches throughout the land! But, that's another subject. People read reviews for their own practical needs to know what a product is like before they plunk their money down. Fair enough, as long as everyone realizes a review is a human undertaking, and what humans do, on both sides of any issue, is prone to flaws.
The bottom line. No one is above criticism. No one. Christ, alone, is above man's negative opinions. He is the Great Teacher, we the students in a class room of life. Any person who feels above criticism and has little need to learn how their art and life effects others is living in a false world. I guarantee the melodies, harmonies and rhythms of music in heaven and throughout eternity would be criticized by vast multitudes of humans as being unworthy of their consideration, and not in their taste categories. So be it. Heaven will be populated by those who love being there and none else. God is above criticism. He is the Almighty Sovereign. That's just the way it is. Question Him. Wrestle with Him. Shake your fist at Him. He understands. Choose to abide in His love or walk away from it for any human reason there is but, God isn't changing. WE need the change. His critique is perfect.
Something to think about.
"The drummer, Raymond Frigon, is however, one of the best drummers I've ever heard. Yet he's the main detractor on this album. It seems like there's nothing this guy can't do, and it's a shame we never saw him in any other bands after this, but here he just doesn't seem to fit. Legend wasn't an overly complex band, and their riffs were pretty simple and straightforward, as were the vocal melodies. So why is this guy showing off every chance he gets? "The Iron Horse" for example has a 3+ minute drum solo that just kind of breaks up the song and makes it hard to listen to. On the other tracks here, it's mostly okay, because you can tune it out, but he seems to like providing as many fills and beats as he possibly can, and it's annoying. No doubt, he's talented, but the band would fit better with more simplistic drumming, nothing over the top like they did here."
Ouch.
There are a couple things this reviewer is apparently not aware of. One - back in the day many first albums from rock bands of various genre had a song which had a drum solo in it that lasted around two to three minutes, plus or minus. So 'Iron Horse' was that song, and the solo was in that length category. I guess thirty years later such songs and solos are not common.
Two - I never considered myself to be "showing off." I just played what I felt in each song. And considering seven of the eight cuts on the album had melodies and lyrics composed by me, I certainly felt at ease in complimenting each piece as I did.
As mentioned elsewhere we never considered ourselves a heavy metal band as people do today. At least, aside from Psychedelic rock, and Epic rock, and Epic metal, and Viking metal (as this reviewer calls it), most mention of the album is placed in that genre - heavy metal. Yet we were musicians who were more into fusion and some progressive rock as anything else. Fusion was especially the thing I was into, and that style of drumming made its way into all of Legend's music. A full concert would have shown this reviewer the broader base of music we got into. So, indeed, I played a lot, and was a "busy" drummer. This is actually the first time I have seen a review of the album with this kind of comment in it. But it's also one of the elements that made Legend what it was. No one I knew back then would have classed Kevin Nugent or Fred Melillo as heavy metal players.
Still, to the subject at hand. The "Ouch" of this article. The fact is, when I have heard the album thirty years later and listened critically, indeed, there are places I would have done things differently, and I can hear that I "overplayed" in spots. I would rather have had both Kevin and Fred take more fills in places, or we traded back and forth, or just all went for it. So, in a very honest way this reviewer has a point. Of course, hind sight being 20/20 I doubt there are very many musicians who have recorded who would have left everything they did just as it came out if they had the chance to do it again. Even now, thirty years later, while still predominantly a fusion-styled player, I am not the same musician as I was thirty years ago. If I were into the music and themes of Legend today, and recorded that album today, with a bigger budget than the five or six thousand dollars I spent then, all kinds of things would come out differently. But the fact is, my playing on the album IS flawed in places. And I still take this reviewers positive comments of my abilities as encouragement for the work put into what I did and still do.
I mentioned this review to Fred the other day. He told me not to bother reading reviews of any kind. He never does. You just have to do what you do. Fair enough. And Fred plays in a couple of bands which take on some fairly complex musical pathways. I also found out this reviewer was nineteen when he wrote this critique. Not exactly a seasoned researcher of music from thirty years ago. But, his opinion is his opinion. And, even at nineteen years of age, his points are taken by me with the kind of analytical thought I put into just about everything. So really, the "ouch" is tempered by my own Christian experience, and life experience which has taught me to listen to people, regardless of where they are at and what they think. I don't have to agree, but it's no skin off my nose to listen to somebody. In this case, should I ever record again, and certainly hope to in the near future, I'll take this young man's thoughts and be aware of them next time out.
On the other hand, no musician should allow anyone else's words determine what kind of musician they shall be or what they shall play in the passion of their chosen instrument in any given musical situation and environment. I play my instrument, not the critic. Every person's opinion is just that, their opinion, and their opinion can be as flawed as what they are criticizing. Music critics, media critics in general, often seem to take pride in being brutally honest, as though slicing things and people up is some kind of advanced communication skill. I guess that's why Fred doesn't bother to read anything from critics. How many actually critique from an artists position? They find ways, however caustic, comical, or casual to express their own tastes against the work of others. I never understood the place of professional "critics" in American society. And there are plenty to be seen and heard, mostly "non-professional," in churches throughout the land! But, that's another subject. People read reviews for their own practical needs to know what a product is like before they plunk their money down. Fair enough, as long as everyone realizes a review is a human undertaking, and what humans do, on both sides of any issue, is prone to flaws.
The bottom line. No one is above criticism. No one. Christ, alone, is above man's negative opinions. He is the Great Teacher, we the students in a class room of life. Any person who feels above criticism and has little need to learn how their art and life effects others is living in a false world. I guarantee the melodies, harmonies and rhythms of music in heaven and throughout eternity would be criticized by vast multitudes of humans as being unworthy of their consideration, and not in their taste categories. So be it. Heaven will be populated by those who love being there and none else. God is above criticism. He is the Almighty Sovereign. That's just the way it is. Question Him. Wrestle with Him. Shake your fist at Him. He understands. Choose to abide in His love or walk away from it for any human reason there is but, God isn't changing. WE need the change. His critique is perfect.
Something to think about.
******************
8. Local Talent
Over the years people have compared what I do to some well-known drummers. Perhaps you have had such things said about your work. It's gratifying to hear such encouraging words. We practice, and practice, and we hone the craft. It's nice if it touches someone's ears in a way that excites them and calls forth such comparisons.
When I started out bands played with lights. Colored lights. That's about it. Technology created change. Special effects of all kinds, enormous screens showing close-ups of the band members, various kinds of moving platforms musicians stand on ... on and on it goes. It has been said a lot of this is to mask the fact that many of today's most well-known "artists" really cannot play or sing very well. Not being into popular music, I really don't have much knowledge of who the "big names" are anymore, but of what I have seen and heard in passing, it is true that what is called music today is noise to my ears, or repetitious blather. Many of the most popular groups out there couldn't make it out of the garage in my day. They even call bands "garage bands" now. But when you put all the special effects in play, with the huge screens and all, just about any group on earth can "put on a show." What has this done to, created for, local talent?
I am seeing and hearing things from all over the country that there are no places for bands to play anymore, no interest from local people to come and hear fine musicians do their thing, even in music defined as Christian in some way. From a Christian perspective, bands are using the same things to create a "show," that secular artists use, and somehow this has effected the audience. Without all the glare and glitter, local talent, no matter how talented, just playing music, has no draw for people. People expect and desire a show, and that is true even if a concert is free! Doesn't matter. Modern entertainment has become so much more than "talent" that talented people get lost in the shuffle of technology out-doing itself. Perhaps this is not so in one genre - Southern Gospel. There, it seems, just musicians and singers doing their thing can still satisfy an audience. On the other hand, it is difficult for local talent in Southern Gospel to find an audience, simply because without a recognizable "name" people aren't interested in leaving their homes to check anything out anymore. People just don't go out as much as they used to. Economics play a big part in that, but with the advent of video and "world" television, it has become so easy to see and hear world-class music on big TV screens it has become less and less interesting to go out and see local talent do their thing. That is sad.
My thoughts then run to God's granting talent to people. I often ask myself why some artists "make it," in a professional way, and why others, equally as talented, or even more so, do not. People attempt to "increase their talents" and flounder, struggle, and after a lifetime of trying to accomplish something with their talent, have little to nothing to show for it. From a Christian perspective how does one find an answer to this?
Of course, in the Bible there is no such thing as a traveling, performing group of musicians. Israel had no such thing, nor did the early Christian church. Israel had temple musicians, and musicians who played going into battle. King David employed a lot of music in worship, and also attempted to teach his people the "use of the bow." Early Christians either just had their own voices or music in their own homes, which is where they had their fellowship gatherings, their "church." Even the great organ was considered a pagan instrument for centuries, seeing as fellow believers were being killed to the sound of organ music in the Colosseum and Roman amphitheaters. How things can change.
So, the Bible doesn't offer practical help for today's struggling musician. As far as spiritual help, that the Bible does offer, of course. First, God's will is God's will, and it can be mysterious and confusing at times. Character is the most important thing to God, not becoming a "successful" musician. A life of struggling to become a working musician may be God's way of building character, a character that will stand the test of time and eternity. It can be a test for people to see what kind of lines they will hold. Will they hold to the pure or mix wheat and chaff together and compromise faith and works to "make it." Has the church influenced the culture, or has the culture corrupted the church? I tend to see the latter more and more, year after year.
Then there is the aspect of timing. Moses spent forty years herding sheep, being prepared to be the meekest man in the world, and also the greatest leader in history. Trying to wrap your head around that can take some time, but from God's timing perspective, He knew exactly what He was doing in allowing that long forty years to go by. So, the time for anyone to take their music to the next level might be right around the corner, even if it is at the end of life, not the beginning. Of course, God's level is not necessarily man's level. God doesn't care about entertaining people, nor if people "make it big." He cares about ministering to people, and putting people in the right place at the right time; and that can be before the one, or before multiplied thousands. King David could have been a great entertainer. God chose for him to write music that ministered to people's spiritual needs. Psalms are vacant of music. I find that interesting. I do not know what kind of scales and music notation existed back then, but obviously lyrics need a melody, and many of the psalms are specifically given as pieces for people to sing in corporate worship. Yet, no one knows a single melody today. Indeed, people place their own melodies to many of the psalms. I've done that myself to a number of them. We call them Scripture songs, or say our music is "biblically oriented."
There's a lot of noise in this world. Literal noise. Music is a way of tempering the negative effects of noise upon our physical being. Music can still soothe, excite, cause contemplation, rouse to spiritual warfare, and grant peace in the storms of life. Why some people get to play in front of thousands, and record and sell records to thousands, sometimes millions more, I do not fully understand, especially when some of those who play and record don't have very much talent. They make noise. Literally. And for "noise" to be accepted in the realm of "Christian music," can only be a sign of the times that the end is near and humanity is losing its way. Darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people. So saw the prophet Isaiah, so it is on the earth today.
To the end that people with talent, even tremendous talent, sit idle trying to understand that idling, take heart. You stand with Moses. You stand with who knows how many down through time who had great talent, and had to learn a hard lesson that if God gives talent, God will take responsibility for where it goes. We just need to be mindful of how we can increase our talents, day by day, and bare in mind it is God who must receive the honor and glory and recognition for everything, every thing we do. And maybe THAT is also a reason why some do not "make it" in this life. Self is always in their way. So, in the end, we are back to character. And that is always the bottom line with our Creator. Regardless of what kind of talent one has in this life, it is only a Christlike character they are going to take from this life into the next when Christ returns.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
9. It's a Drum Shell
Okay, so I am up super early this morning and somehow end up at youtube looking for sound files for hybrid wood/acrylic snare drums. I don't play wood snares. My ears like metal. But, in the interest of fair play I decided to give these hybrids a listen.
Well, I end up watching a bunch of vids placed by Memphis Drum Shop. I mean, a bunch of them, and they've got plenty of them on there. Fascinating. I have mentioned stopping in to Drums In The Wind on a trip and listening to all the sets they have lined up in the drum room. The ONLY set that stood out to me was the ... I'll come back to that.
So, I'm watching these vids which show sets by (in alphabetical order) Brady, C&C, Canopus, Craviotto, DW, Ludwig, Pearl, Yamaha, ... did I miss any? I didn't watch them all. You know what? Given they didn't use the same recording set up for each video (at least it certainly didn't sound that way), taking that into consideration, I am just as certain as I was in that Drums in the Wind sound room that drums are drums are drums are drums. It's a cylinder with two membranes applied to it with various attachment devices for heads and mounting. I'm not going to argue that different drum companies offer different looks, but sound? I'm sorry. All things being equal with MDS's recording set-up, listening to set after set left me wondering why the DIY market is not exponentially bigger than it is. Sure, some people are not tool savvy. Never used a drill or power tool in their life. So be it. But most guys have at some point in their life, even young kids, and I am sure ANY DIY drum set sounds as good as manufactured drums. Now, maybe the finishes are better on custom drum shop or manufactured drums. But, even there with some patience and honed skills a great finish can be done by anyone. Depends on what you want. Quite a few of the featured sets were done in satin, which is really easy to do, and some were covered with wraps, another thing easily done.
To be honest, I thought some of the Ludwig sets sounded great. I was surprised that the Craviotto had no particular aural command over any other set, given all I have read about them. Everything sounded like ... drums! Some were not tuned quite right, unless they wanted that 'off-sounding' pitch to toms. I heard variations, but nothing major. Their recording set up, my ear phones. I heard drums. I heard nothing that stood out as superior, or even better than anything else. Differences were slight, at best. Maybe a couple bass drums seemed to have more presence than others, but given sizes, head choices and recording set-ups ...? Any of the drum sets shown would work in any given musical environment. The players auditioning each set showed that by what they played.
Heads make as an important difference on drums as anything else. Mounting systems as well. Inexpensive drums can be made to sound good with the right heads and some kind of free-floating mounting system. I've done it. In any event I am just as sold on DIY drums as ever. Maybe more so. It's a drum. And in the end, despite nuances, that's what it is, and hype is huge in this industry. "Vintage" drums are in now. Drums go from 1/4" to 1/2" to 1/8" shells and everything in between. Woods, plastics, carbon fiber, metal ... sure, different materials have some different characteristics. Shell depth can make some difference. On the other hand microphones, sound equipment, and sound engineers make a huge difference. From 20' away ... it's a drum. Everyone looking for that *perfect* sound. There IS NO perfect sound. Most drummers figure that out pretty quick. There might be YOUR sound, that you hear up close, but that's as far as it goes. Hype. Hype. Hype. That's what it boils down to. Proof of that is how often many professional, name drummers change companies, change drum sets.
Oh, the drums I heard that stood out in Indiana? Ayotte maples with maple hoops. I was surprised at how musical they sounded compared to everything else in that room. But, even there, that is the impression upon MY ears. The next guy in the room might think something different.
Believe the hype if you want to. For me, I'll take the drums I make any day.
Well, I end up watching a bunch of vids placed by Memphis Drum Shop. I mean, a bunch of them, and they've got plenty of them on there. Fascinating. I have mentioned stopping in to Drums In The Wind on a trip and listening to all the sets they have lined up in the drum room. The ONLY set that stood out to me was the ... I'll come back to that.
So, I'm watching these vids which show sets by (in alphabetical order) Brady, C&C, Canopus, Craviotto, DW, Ludwig, Pearl, Yamaha, ... did I miss any? I didn't watch them all. You know what? Given they didn't use the same recording set up for each video (at least it certainly didn't sound that way), taking that into consideration, I am just as certain as I was in that Drums in the Wind sound room that drums are drums are drums are drums. It's a cylinder with two membranes applied to it with various attachment devices for heads and mounting. I'm not going to argue that different drum companies offer different looks, but sound? I'm sorry. All things being equal with MDS's recording set-up, listening to set after set left me wondering why the DIY market is not exponentially bigger than it is. Sure, some people are not tool savvy. Never used a drill or power tool in their life. So be it. But most guys have at some point in their life, even young kids, and I am sure ANY DIY drum set sounds as good as manufactured drums. Now, maybe the finishes are better on custom drum shop or manufactured drums. But, even there with some patience and honed skills a great finish can be done by anyone. Depends on what you want. Quite a few of the featured sets were done in satin, which is really easy to do, and some were covered with wraps, another thing easily done.
To be honest, I thought some of the Ludwig sets sounded great. I was surprised that the Craviotto had no particular aural command over any other set, given all I have read about them. Everything sounded like ... drums! Some were not tuned quite right, unless they wanted that 'off-sounding' pitch to toms. I heard variations, but nothing major. Their recording set up, my ear phones. I heard drums. I heard nothing that stood out as superior, or even better than anything else. Differences were slight, at best. Maybe a couple bass drums seemed to have more presence than others, but given sizes, head choices and recording set-ups ...? Any of the drum sets shown would work in any given musical environment. The players auditioning each set showed that by what they played.
Heads make as an important difference on drums as anything else. Mounting systems as well. Inexpensive drums can be made to sound good with the right heads and some kind of free-floating mounting system. I've done it. In any event I am just as sold on DIY drums as ever. Maybe more so. It's a drum. And in the end, despite nuances, that's what it is, and hype is huge in this industry. "Vintage" drums are in now. Drums go from 1/4" to 1/2" to 1/8" shells and everything in between. Woods, plastics, carbon fiber, metal ... sure, different materials have some different characteristics. Shell depth can make some difference. On the other hand microphones, sound equipment, and sound engineers make a huge difference. From 20' away ... it's a drum. Everyone looking for that *perfect* sound. There IS NO perfect sound. Most drummers figure that out pretty quick. There might be YOUR sound, that you hear up close, but that's as far as it goes. Hype. Hype. Hype. That's what it boils down to. Proof of that is how often many professional, name drummers change companies, change drum sets.
Oh, the drums I heard that stood out in Indiana? Ayotte maples with maple hoops. I was surprised at how musical they sounded compared to everything else in that room. But, even there, that is the impression upon MY ears. The next guy in the room might think something different.
Believe the hype if you want to. For me, I'll take the drums I make any day.
******************
10. The Local Scene - Commitment (or lack thereof)
Over the last eight months I have joined a number of web sites devoted to musicians hooking up with other musicians. BandMix, Musician Forest, Christian Musician Search, etc. Aside from meeting a great guy close to my home (who I jammed with and got some pointers on home recording), and sending messages to people, I have not found any bands or musicians to work with enjoying the same musical interests as mine. I am applying the thoughts I mentioned in "Local Talent" above. To love music, to love percussion, and have no public outlet for expression or purpose is tough. Playing to the four walls gets old pretty fast. You begin to ask yourself, What's the point?
Of course, this is much a situation of my own making. Bands are looking for drummers. I could audition for them. I just don't play heavy metal. Nor would I find it musically satisfying to play with other genres not my thing. I could do it as a job, I suppose, but music and musicians with passion deserve more than someone showing up like it's just a job. Of course, in the Pro world it is often just that and only that. Musicians for hire. Go in, do the gig, done. On your way to the next gig. Be a professional. Go in, give them the best you've got. Get paid. Go on. I'd like to find something more enduring and has more camaraderie with it. Well, being a Christian that narrows the field down quite a bit, too. Just the way it is. We all have our lines drawn we will not cross. Life is more than music. For the Christian, life is Christ. Life is figuring out and doing God's will, adhering to His path for your life. Indeed. Just the way it has to be. So ... time passes.
In actual fact, though, the purpose of this entry is to bring some thoughts to light about my observations of these musician sites. There is something I am reading over and over again, and it applies all across the nation. It's pretty disturbing.
I keep reading things from musicians finding it extremely difficult to find committed people. In some cases a lot of time and effort (and money) is put into a project only to have people just pick up and leave, without notice, leaving said band members seeking to replace positions over and over. In other cases just finding people who will stay committed long enough to show up for a jam session, or audition, or rehearsals is maddeningly difficult. People make contact, someone says "I'll be there," and never show up; with no phone call, email, or anything. I have seen this even with the guy I've met locally. He's about given up on finding people to play with. Everyone is experiencing this lack of commitment. A local drummer I've met moved and had to drive four hours to rehearsal. He stayed committed. Driving four hours and finding out rehearsals were canceled with no notice, no phone call, no email to let him know? There came his last rehearsal trip. He left that band, which he said couldn't get their act together week after week, after painful week. Band members obviously not practicing on their own time, then wasting time when rehearsals came. I don't blame him for leaving. He's a very good musician, too. So, what's up with this? And it's happening sea to shining sea. Doesn't matter what state, what locality. No-shows have become a nuisance. Lack of responsibility and accountability, lack of commitment has become a 'normal' thing. I see more and more "profiles" of musicians and bands stating plainly they want commitment or don't get in touch with them.
I wonder if people get afraid. Maybe they realize their talents are not as good as they thought. They back out quick. Maybe they aren't very good with words and don't know how to tell others their talent is not what they are looking for. And the occasional emergency does arise and you get flustered and forget to call someone. Rare.
I think it's all a sign of the times. I believe humanity, in general, is becoming so self-serving others do not matter. People do not truly care about others. Forget about headline news, shootings and all that. There have always been people in society bent on hurting others, destroying their fellow man. Nothing new there. But this attitude developing where it doesn't matter whether or not we are responsible, accountable, committed people ... that is another issue. And I am finding this to be so in ALL fields, too. Not just musicians. It is with tradesmen, with employees, employers ... no one is responsible to anyone but themselves anymore. No one suffers accountability when they stiff someone. They just go on and mess up someone the life of someone else. Everywhere I go people tell me the hard time they have in getting people to show up, to stay on the job, and do the right thing on the job. Nobody cares anymore. This has been building for generations. This, I believe, is a sign of our times that mankind is entering its final stage of existence in that place where Christ said, "the love of many shall wax cold," or become hardened. People are becoming hard. I see it on people's faces in the stores. My wife has seen it too. It isn't imagined. It's quite real. The human race is hardening, just as Christ predicted.
No, people aren't at each others throats, yet. Not in general. But that is coming, too. Bank on it. Christ IS returning someday, and He DID predict what it would be like, as did other prophets in the Bible. And it's all happening, even the Bible's predictions of "scoffers." There's plenty of people who scoff at the notion Christ is coming back to this earth to close up shop and call it a day on a wayward, unthankful, unholy, and tragically defiant human race. They can scoff all they want. That will not change what is coming. That will just leave them totally unprepared.
So, really, lack of commitment, lack of responsibility ... just shows where the heart is, what kind of character we have. And that is the only thing that truly matters to God - our characters.
Think about it.
Of course, this is much a situation of my own making. Bands are looking for drummers. I could audition for them. I just don't play heavy metal. Nor would I find it musically satisfying to play with other genres not my thing. I could do it as a job, I suppose, but music and musicians with passion deserve more than someone showing up like it's just a job. Of course, in the Pro world it is often just that and only that. Musicians for hire. Go in, do the gig, done. On your way to the next gig. Be a professional. Go in, give them the best you've got. Get paid. Go on. I'd like to find something more enduring and has more camaraderie with it. Well, being a Christian that narrows the field down quite a bit, too. Just the way it is. We all have our lines drawn we will not cross. Life is more than music. For the Christian, life is Christ. Life is figuring out and doing God's will, adhering to His path for your life. Indeed. Just the way it has to be. So ... time passes.
In actual fact, though, the purpose of this entry is to bring some thoughts to light about my observations of these musician sites. There is something I am reading over and over again, and it applies all across the nation. It's pretty disturbing.
I keep reading things from musicians finding it extremely difficult to find committed people. In some cases a lot of time and effort (and money) is put into a project only to have people just pick up and leave, without notice, leaving said band members seeking to replace positions over and over. In other cases just finding people who will stay committed long enough to show up for a jam session, or audition, or rehearsals is maddeningly difficult. People make contact, someone says "I'll be there," and never show up; with no phone call, email, or anything. I have seen this even with the guy I've met locally. He's about given up on finding people to play with. Everyone is experiencing this lack of commitment. A local drummer I've met moved and had to drive four hours to rehearsal. He stayed committed. Driving four hours and finding out rehearsals were canceled with no notice, no phone call, no email to let him know? There came his last rehearsal trip. He left that band, which he said couldn't get their act together week after week, after painful week. Band members obviously not practicing on their own time, then wasting time when rehearsals came. I don't blame him for leaving. He's a very good musician, too. So, what's up with this? And it's happening sea to shining sea. Doesn't matter what state, what locality. No-shows have become a nuisance. Lack of responsibility and accountability, lack of commitment has become a 'normal' thing. I see more and more "profiles" of musicians and bands stating plainly they want commitment or don't get in touch with them.
I wonder if people get afraid. Maybe they realize their talents are not as good as they thought. They back out quick. Maybe they aren't very good with words and don't know how to tell others their talent is not what they are looking for. And the occasional emergency does arise and you get flustered and forget to call someone. Rare.
I think it's all a sign of the times. I believe humanity, in general, is becoming so self-serving others do not matter. People do not truly care about others. Forget about headline news, shootings and all that. There have always been people in society bent on hurting others, destroying their fellow man. Nothing new there. But this attitude developing where it doesn't matter whether or not we are responsible, accountable, committed people ... that is another issue. And I am finding this to be so in ALL fields, too. Not just musicians. It is with tradesmen, with employees, employers ... no one is responsible to anyone but themselves anymore. No one suffers accountability when they stiff someone. They just go on and mess up someone the life of someone else. Everywhere I go people tell me the hard time they have in getting people to show up, to stay on the job, and do the right thing on the job. Nobody cares anymore. This has been building for generations. This, I believe, is a sign of our times that mankind is entering its final stage of existence in that place where Christ said, "the love of many shall wax cold," or become hardened. People are becoming hard. I see it on people's faces in the stores. My wife has seen it too. It isn't imagined. It's quite real. The human race is hardening, just as Christ predicted.
No, people aren't at each others throats, yet. Not in general. But that is coming, too. Bank on it. Christ IS returning someday, and He DID predict what it would be like, as did other prophets in the Bible. And it's all happening, even the Bible's predictions of "scoffers." There's plenty of people who scoff at the notion Christ is coming back to this earth to close up shop and call it a day on a wayward, unthankful, unholy, and tragically defiant human race. They can scoff all they want. That will not change what is coming. That will just leave them totally unprepared.
So, really, lack of commitment, lack of responsibility ... just shows where the heart is, what kind of character we have. And that is the only thing that truly matters to God - our characters.
Think about it.
******************
11. Noise - January 25th, 2011
My wife suggested I begin dating these, so, there you go. Everything else was written in the last year, year and a half I suppose. Okay, on with the guillotine.
Definition of NOISE
1
: loud, confused, or senseless shouting or outcry
2
a : sound; especially : one that lacks agreeable musical quality or is noticeably unpleasant b : any sound that is undesired or interferes with one's hearing of something c : an unwanted signal or a disturbance (as static or a variation of voltage) in an electronic device or instrument (as radio or television); broadly : a disturbance interfering with the operation of a usually mechanical device or system d : electromagnetic radiation (as light or radio waves) that is composed of several frequencies and that involves random changes in frequency or amplitude e : irrelevant or meaningless data or output occurring along with desired information
3
: common talk : rumor; especially : slander
4
: something that attracts attention <the play … will make little noise in the world — Brendan Gill>
5
: something spoken or uttered
6
: a style of rock music that is loud, often discordant, and usually uses electronic noise (as feedback)
— noise·less \-ləs\ adjective
— noise·less·ly adverb
Examples of NOISE
1. I couldn't hear him over all the noise.
2. That's not music. To me it's a bunch of noise.
3. The furnace makes a lot of noise when it comes on.
4. We closed the windows to block out the traffic noise.
5. The landlord has been getting complaints from the tenants about noise.
6. There were noises coming from the basement.
7. The sink was making a gurgling noise.
8. Do you hear that rattling noise?
9. The machine hardly makes any noise.
10. The initial data included a lot of noise that had to be weeded out.
Origin of NOISE
Middle English, from Anglo-French, disturbance, noise, from Latin nausea nausea
First Known Use: 13th century
I am about to ingratiate myself (totally not) to 90% of the current musician/audience population of today's popular music, both in and out of church-centered life.
My first musical influence was music my parents played in the house and watched on tv. The sounds of Mitch Miller's orchestra, Lawrence Welk, Andy Williams and other singers, Herb Alpert's trumpet, soundtracks from musicals, organ at church ... that was the palette with which my mind painted a picture of what music was. Then, at 9, Ed Sullivan, the Beatles, and life took a paradigm shift. America was up in arms. "What is this "noise?" parents, educators, religious leaders, civic leaders all asked. By today's standards that "noise" was innocent and tame compared to what's on the radio today, and what isn't on popular radio is light-years worse.
There's a youtube video of an early Beatles performance on a British television program. The young people are literally sitting there with looks on their faces like they had no clue. They were obviously dazed by the frenetic performance. They didn't know what to think. This was not 50s "rock and roll" (a term everyone now knows the origin of). This was not big band jazz, nor the blues, not Elvis (who already created enough stir with his hip and leg gyrations). To be honest, even mild mannered Ringo looked frenzied and possessed by some tribal spirit as he flayed away. I had never seen the Beatles quite like this. It is a pretty wild moment caught on tape. And the looks on many of the young people's faces shows how strange a moment it truly was. It was a cultural tsunami.
The Beatles remain as popular today as ever, and a lot of modern bands are copying their 1960's approach to melody, harmony and rhythm - the common definition of music. Was it always?
The "British Invasion" took place, and America followed with its own invasion of electric guitars. Rebellion was the foundation. Electric guitars became the hammer to pound out youthful discontent. That is historical fact, documented in dozens of books throughout the decades of the latter half of the twentieth century.
Today you cannot walk into any department, or clothing store with music playing that isn't "rock" music, or Top40 of some kind, rarely geared to the shopping public's mindset of looking at department store merchandise, but geared to the tastes of the employees, whoever they might be. And hearing music from the 70s sounds almost childlike compared to things being done today. Even heavy metal sounds "bubble gum" compared to what is out there in some circles. Some of it is so obviously Satanic, evil sounding, and grossly dark and morbid, shocking the senses of any rational person, I can only tremble for the youth listening to it.
What is going on? And why do Christians emulate "noise?" Look at the definitions above, from the Merriam /Webster's Dictionary site. Loud, confused, shouting and out cry. Does that fit the definition of the majority of modern "music" groups? Man, it describes to a "T" the type of vocal performances we consider common place nowadays. God created ear drums. Delicate instruments, indeed. Why do Christians think God is pleased if they are bombarded beyond sustainable levels? Is tinnitus the blessing of the Almighty? Hundreds upon hundreds of today's musicians have it. I am very thankful I've always worn ear protection. Hmm. Why should I have to, to make "music?"
Well, a symphony orchestra can be "loud." Kettle drums are loud, snare drums are loud, gongs are loud, cymbals are loud, and 150 musicians cranked up and experienced from the front row can be pretty loud. Even more so the drum corps. Major volume there. So ... volume isn't the issue here. Certainly senseless volume, painful volume, destructive volume is an issue.
Definition number 2. Sound that lacks agreeable musical quality or is noticeably unpleasant. Well, I suppose every single generation since the 1890s began making "music" that was unpleasant to others in their time. Some people feel drums are from the devil. What drummers DO certainly can be. I see no evidence anywhere that snare drums, bass drums, tom-toms and cymbals are from Satan's workshop. Drummers keep time, add accents, fills, rhythmic accompaniment. Melody, harmony, rhythm. Music. Is noise music? Well, some twentieth century classical composers believe so. Making things atonal became an "art form." Melody gone. Harmony pressed into serious confinements of logical definition. We press on. Let's get to the main suicidal purpose of this op-ed piece.
Number 6. "a style of rock music that is loud, often discordant, and usually uses electronic noise (as feedback)." So, here goes the dagger into the heart of my career as a drummer anyone will want. Why is an electric guitar, fitted to various electronic devices used to distort the sound, considered "musical?" I don't mind the sound of an electric guitar. It can be quite stunning and gorgeous. But how can "distortion" be used in the same sentence with the "Prince of Peace?" Just askin.' I mean, when electric guitars are cranked up to literal ear spitting volumes, blasting out what can only be described and defined as discordant, distorted noise, how can this be considered music, let alone Christian music? Again, just askin'.
Hey, I even question if horn players, blowing out a stream of notes as fast as they can, making nothing short of shrill and noise, can be considered a 'musical' solo. It's more an exercise of scales on steroids. What is noise? One person's noise is another person's music? Hmm. No lines drawn anywhere? And ultimately the culture ends up with Christian "punk," "grunge," "hard core," "death metal," "deathcore," "speed thrash," and every other type of sound considered 'music' by people today. Whatever the world comes up with the Christian world copies. They add some "Christian" lyrics about "love," "him," "he," and "you," and suddenly noise and lyrical innuendo becomes hymnody. I could be listening to any secular station coast to coast. Is it any wonder the subject of music is one of the most confrontational issues in Christendom today? For the most part, after congregations split over this, the torrential onslaught of volume in buildings too small to handle it, continues to surge ahead.
Hey, I play a big set of drums. And people tell me I play very well. And I certainly can play a roundhouse fill at considerable speeds. You can read my entry above on "speed" which questions some of that. But I am not yet aware of any Christian groups not using heavily modified electric guitars within what is considered popular Christian music today. I suppose Southern Gospel and Bluegrass would be an exception to that. Even neoclassical Christian composers are using distorted and modified electric guitar sounds in their scores. I am tired of distortion. I am worn out with what I hear on Christian radio stations. Literally. Walls of sound. Literal walls of guitars drowning out vocals (if you can understand the lyrics), and drowning out every other instrument. I have seen "Christian" music videos where the players were acting more like the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel than noble believers Christ died for. And this is called "extreme" Christianity. It's extreme, alright. Can't argue that. Is acting like a lunatic Christian? Are we reaching the lost or joining the lost? Just askin.' Entire cymbal manufacturers, hardware manufacturers, drum manufacturers, head and stick manufacturers have had to make things heavier and thicker to deal with drummers playing harder to keep up with the barrage of guitars on recordings and stages around the world.
A drum sounds like a drum. Lots of natural volume. Can't argue that. A bass guitar sounds like a bass. Player's mess around with tonal variations. An organ sounds like an organ, a piano a piano, almost all recorded, popular synthesizers maintaining synthesized acoustic instrument sounds, or some ethereal, spacey things, or human voices, like choirs, sound like those things. Horns sound like horns. Acoustic guitar, and other stringed instruments ... even electric violinists maintain modifications of sound well within musical definitions. But the distorted electric guitar, it has become a literal monster. A sound that has transformed the entire culture of the entire human race.
So, there you have it. An honest appraisal (and that's the only way I know how to be), of what I see and hear out there. The guillotine dropping onto the neck of any career I might hope to have in today's popular music. So be it. Headaches and ear damage are not musical. They are nauseating, which, according to the above, is where the word "noise" comes from - the Latin of nausea.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Definition of NOISE
1
: loud, confused, or senseless shouting or outcry
2
a : sound; especially : one that lacks agreeable musical quality or is noticeably unpleasant b : any sound that is undesired or interferes with one's hearing of something c : an unwanted signal or a disturbance (as static or a variation of voltage) in an electronic device or instrument (as radio or television); broadly : a disturbance interfering with the operation of a usually mechanical device or system d : electromagnetic radiation (as light or radio waves) that is composed of several frequencies and that involves random changes in frequency or amplitude e : irrelevant or meaningless data or output occurring along with desired information
3
: common talk : rumor; especially : slander
4
: something that attracts attention <the play … will make little noise in the world — Brendan Gill>
5
: something spoken or uttered
6
: a style of rock music that is loud, often discordant, and usually uses electronic noise (as feedback)
— noise·less \-ləs\ adjective
— noise·less·ly adverb
Examples of NOISE
1. I couldn't hear him over all the noise.
2. That's not music. To me it's a bunch of noise.
3. The furnace makes a lot of noise when it comes on.
4. We closed the windows to block out the traffic noise.
5. The landlord has been getting complaints from the tenants about noise.
6. There were noises coming from the basement.
7. The sink was making a gurgling noise.
8. Do you hear that rattling noise?
9. The machine hardly makes any noise.
10. The initial data included a lot of noise that had to be weeded out.
Origin of NOISE
Middle English, from Anglo-French, disturbance, noise, from Latin nausea nausea
First Known Use: 13th century
I am about to ingratiate myself (totally not) to 90% of the current musician/audience population of today's popular music, both in and out of church-centered life.
My first musical influence was music my parents played in the house and watched on tv. The sounds of Mitch Miller's orchestra, Lawrence Welk, Andy Williams and other singers, Herb Alpert's trumpet, soundtracks from musicals, organ at church ... that was the palette with which my mind painted a picture of what music was. Then, at 9, Ed Sullivan, the Beatles, and life took a paradigm shift. America was up in arms. "What is this "noise?" parents, educators, religious leaders, civic leaders all asked. By today's standards that "noise" was innocent and tame compared to what's on the radio today, and what isn't on popular radio is light-years worse.
There's a youtube video of an early Beatles performance on a British television program. The young people are literally sitting there with looks on their faces like they had no clue. They were obviously dazed by the frenetic performance. They didn't know what to think. This was not 50s "rock and roll" (a term everyone now knows the origin of). This was not big band jazz, nor the blues, not Elvis (who already created enough stir with his hip and leg gyrations). To be honest, even mild mannered Ringo looked frenzied and possessed by some tribal spirit as he flayed away. I had never seen the Beatles quite like this. It is a pretty wild moment caught on tape. And the looks on many of the young people's faces shows how strange a moment it truly was. It was a cultural tsunami.
The Beatles remain as popular today as ever, and a lot of modern bands are copying their 1960's approach to melody, harmony and rhythm - the common definition of music. Was it always?
The "British Invasion" took place, and America followed with its own invasion of electric guitars. Rebellion was the foundation. Electric guitars became the hammer to pound out youthful discontent. That is historical fact, documented in dozens of books throughout the decades of the latter half of the twentieth century.
Today you cannot walk into any department, or clothing store with music playing that isn't "rock" music, or Top40 of some kind, rarely geared to the shopping public's mindset of looking at department store merchandise, but geared to the tastes of the employees, whoever they might be. And hearing music from the 70s sounds almost childlike compared to things being done today. Even heavy metal sounds "bubble gum" compared to what is out there in some circles. Some of it is so obviously Satanic, evil sounding, and grossly dark and morbid, shocking the senses of any rational person, I can only tremble for the youth listening to it.
What is going on? And why do Christians emulate "noise?" Look at the definitions above, from the Merriam /Webster's Dictionary site. Loud, confused, shouting and out cry. Does that fit the definition of the majority of modern "music" groups? Man, it describes to a "T" the type of vocal performances we consider common place nowadays. God created ear drums. Delicate instruments, indeed. Why do Christians think God is pleased if they are bombarded beyond sustainable levels? Is tinnitus the blessing of the Almighty? Hundreds upon hundreds of today's musicians have it. I am very thankful I've always worn ear protection. Hmm. Why should I have to, to make "music?"
Well, a symphony orchestra can be "loud." Kettle drums are loud, snare drums are loud, gongs are loud, cymbals are loud, and 150 musicians cranked up and experienced from the front row can be pretty loud. Even more so the drum corps. Major volume there. So ... volume isn't the issue here. Certainly senseless volume, painful volume, destructive volume is an issue.
Definition number 2. Sound that lacks agreeable musical quality or is noticeably unpleasant. Well, I suppose every single generation since the 1890s began making "music" that was unpleasant to others in their time. Some people feel drums are from the devil. What drummers DO certainly can be. I see no evidence anywhere that snare drums, bass drums, tom-toms and cymbals are from Satan's workshop. Drummers keep time, add accents, fills, rhythmic accompaniment. Melody, harmony, rhythm. Music. Is noise music? Well, some twentieth century classical composers believe so. Making things atonal became an "art form." Melody gone. Harmony pressed into serious confinements of logical definition. We press on. Let's get to the main suicidal purpose of this op-ed piece.
Number 6. "a style of rock music that is loud, often discordant, and usually uses electronic noise (as feedback)." So, here goes the dagger into the heart of my career as a drummer anyone will want. Why is an electric guitar, fitted to various electronic devices used to distort the sound, considered "musical?" I don't mind the sound of an electric guitar. It can be quite stunning and gorgeous. But how can "distortion" be used in the same sentence with the "Prince of Peace?" Just askin.' I mean, when electric guitars are cranked up to literal ear spitting volumes, blasting out what can only be described and defined as discordant, distorted noise, how can this be considered music, let alone Christian music? Again, just askin'.
Hey, I even question if horn players, blowing out a stream of notes as fast as they can, making nothing short of shrill and noise, can be considered a 'musical' solo. It's more an exercise of scales on steroids. What is noise? One person's noise is another person's music? Hmm. No lines drawn anywhere? And ultimately the culture ends up with Christian "punk," "grunge," "hard core," "death metal," "deathcore," "speed thrash," and every other type of sound considered 'music' by people today. Whatever the world comes up with the Christian world copies. They add some "Christian" lyrics about "love," "him," "he," and "you," and suddenly noise and lyrical innuendo becomes hymnody. I could be listening to any secular station coast to coast. Is it any wonder the subject of music is one of the most confrontational issues in Christendom today? For the most part, after congregations split over this, the torrential onslaught of volume in buildings too small to handle it, continues to surge ahead.
Hey, I play a big set of drums. And people tell me I play very well. And I certainly can play a roundhouse fill at considerable speeds. You can read my entry above on "speed" which questions some of that. But I am not yet aware of any Christian groups not using heavily modified electric guitars within what is considered popular Christian music today. I suppose Southern Gospel and Bluegrass would be an exception to that. Even neoclassical Christian composers are using distorted and modified electric guitar sounds in their scores. I am tired of distortion. I am worn out with what I hear on Christian radio stations. Literally. Walls of sound. Literal walls of guitars drowning out vocals (if you can understand the lyrics), and drowning out every other instrument. I have seen "Christian" music videos where the players were acting more like the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel than noble believers Christ died for. And this is called "extreme" Christianity. It's extreme, alright. Can't argue that. Is acting like a lunatic Christian? Are we reaching the lost or joining the lost? Just askin.' Entire cymbal manufacturers, hardware manufacturers, drum manufacturers, head and stick manufacturers have had to make things heavier and thicker to deal with drummers playing harder to keep up with the barrage of guitars on recordings and stages around the world.
A drum sounds like a drum. Lots of natural volume. Can't argue that. A bass guitar sounds like a bass. Player's mess around with tonal variations. An organ sounds like an organ, a piano a piano, almost all recorded, popular synthesizers maintaining synthesized acoustic instrument sounds, or some ethereal, spacey things, or human voices, like choirs, sound like those things. Horns sound like horns. Acoustic guitar, and other stringed instruments ... even electric violinists maintain modifications of sound well within musical definitions. But the distorted electric guitar, it has become a literal monster. A sound that has transformed the entire culture of the entire human race.
So, there you have it. An honest appraisal (and that's the only way I know how to be), of what I see and hear out there. The guillotine dropping onto the neck of any career I might hope to have in today's popular music. So be it. Headaches and ear damage are not musical. They are nauseating, which, according to the above, is where the word "noise" comes from - the Latin of nausea.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
12. Evil ? July, 15, 2012
_As I've mentioned on the pedal test page I now use Drumnetics pedals. Summer NAMM just took place and I checked out the NAMM site, and took a look at youtube checking to see if any new Drumnetics vids have been uploaded. In doing that my search list contained other things besides Drumnetics hits, and I noticed some vids of fastest double bass drummers, etc. I checked a couple out. People, in all my days I have yet to hear and see evil in music as I was exposed to attempting to watch these vids. Kids are into this? Parents know their kids are into this? This stuff makes 70s heavy metal seem like choir boys. It makes KISS seem like the Hardy Boys (if you're old enough to remember the book series and tv program). It makes the "grandfather" rockers seem like Bubble Gum music and the Archies. Black Sabbath may as well be Bach. Cream may as well be Copeland.
It isn't so much the guitars. Same ol,' same ol.' But the ... well, it cannot be termed singing. It isn't singing. It IS Satanic, and apparently these bands revel in that aura. Why? What is the point of the darkness? What is the point of such guttural, angry, demonic sound? Some say, even professed Christians, there is no such thing as "evil" music. First, as posted above in the "Noise" article, calling much of today's "music" music, is a misnomer, by definition. But, if we give everything that is played on a musical instrument it's day in the sun, and let people call it music, to say there is no such thing as evil music, especially when joined to such obvious Satanic elements portrayed by bands and their artwork, is folly. I may be repeating myself here, but honestly, for any professed followers of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, the Messiah, the undefiled, sinless Savior of the world, the pure and holy One to claim that mimicking or copying or modeling such dark and evil sound as I heard this morning, attempting to put "the gospel" to it in lyrics (which could never be understood by listeners hearing such screaming and growling), is "Christian music," are living a lie, a simple lie. If Christian principle is followed, regardless of silence in Scripture about music as melody, harmony, rhythm, notes, chords, phrasings, scales, etc., trying to combine wheat with such chaff is a violation of common sense and spiritual logic such as I have yet to see in five decades of life. I fear, totally fear for youth, in general, and professed Christian youth listening to such "sound."
Sure the drummers are playing blast beats at 1000 spm. And maybe there are guitarists playing supersonic solos. But to think I live in a world where such darkness is actually marketed and sold to kids, and any "adults" who listen to it is frightening to me. Especially if done so in the name of Christ. Have mercy, this borders on total absurdity, if not insanity.
Hey, you can slam me and attack me all you want. Call me whatever you want. We each have our convictions, and bottom line in this world, and that is ALL we have as our own - our principles, our beliefs, our convictions, our personal integrity. I feel sad talented musicians who Christ died for and loves would lower their humanity to involve themselves in such exercises of Satanic darkness. For those who profess Christ and mimic such things, I weep for them and those who find "entertainment" in such a thing. Yeah, I know, my parents thought the Beatles were evil, and their parents thought Tommy Dorsey was wicked, etc., etc. Got it. But comparing what I heard this morning to anything called music in the last two thousand years ... night and day. This all began with rock and roll music, and I get that. That argument can go on until the cows come home and people are blue in the face. But what I heard this morning makes Deep Purple sound like Lawrence Welk and his merry band of music makers. "Wunnerful, wunnerful. Tank you again, Bobby anda Sissy." Just how low is it all going to go? How much more evil sounding can things get? What's left? There can be no wonder why kids are walking around with slumped shoulders, looking forlorn and lost. They are. Any parent allowing such a sound under their roof needs counseling. I remember the day my father cranked off at me while listening to Woodstock, and Stephen Stills, of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young saying "We're scared sh_ _ less." He about had a coronary right in front of me shouting to get that out of his house. Comparing CSN&Y and Still's observations of sitting on a stage in front of five hundred thousand people, with the darkness I heard this morning ... it is not comparable.
There are many things in this world which show me in vivid clarity that Christ is returning soon. What I was exposed to this morning is just another sign of the times that "darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people."
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
It isn't so much the guitars. Same ol,' same ol.' But the ... well, it cannot be termed singing. It isn't singing. It IS Satanic, and apparently these bands revel in that aura. Why? What is the point of the darkness? What is the point of such guttural, angry, demonic sound? Some say, even professed Christians, there is no such thing as "evil" music. First, as posted above in the "Noise" article, calling much of today's "music" music, is a misnomer, by definition. But, if we give everything that is played on a musical instrument it's day in the sun, and let people call it music, to say there is no such thing as evil music, especially when joined to such obvious Satanic elements portrayed by bands and their artwork, is folly. I may be repeating myself here, but honestly, for any professed followers of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, the Messiah, the undefiled, sinless Savior of the world, the pure and holy One to claim that mimicking or copying or modeling such dark and evil sound as I heard this morning, attempting to put "the gospel" to it in lyrics (which could never be understood by listeners hearing such screaming and growling), is "Christian music," are living a lie, a simple lie. If Christian principle is followed, regardless of silence in Scripture about music as melody, harmony, rhythm, notes, chords, phrasings, scales, etc., trying to combine wheat with such chaff is a violation of common sense and spiritual logic such as I have yet to see in five decades of life. I fear, totally fear for youth, in general, and professed Christian youth listening to such "sound."
Sure the drummers are playing blast beats at 1000 spm. And maybe there are guitarists playing supersonic solos. But to think I live in a world where such darkness is actually marketed and sold to kids, and any "adults" who listen to it is frightening to me. Especially if done so in the name of Christ. Have mercy, this borders on total absurdity, if not insanity.
Hey, you can slam me and attack me all you want. Call me whatever you want. We each have our convictions, and bottom line in this world, and that is ALL we have as our own - our principles, our beliefs, our convictions, our personal integrity. I feel sad talented musicians who Christ died for and loves would lower their humanity to involve themselves in such exercises of Satanic darkness. For those who profess Christ and mimic such things, I weep for them and those who find "entertainment" in such a thing. Yeah, I know, my parents thought the Beatles were evil, and their parents thought Tommy Dorsey was wicked, etc., etc. Got it. But comparing what I heard this morning to anything called music in the last two thousand years ... night and day. This all began with rock and roll music, and I get that. That argument can go on until the cows come home and people are blue in the face. But what I heard this morning makes Deep Purple sound like Lawrence Welk and his merry band of music makers. "Wunnerful, wunnerful. Tank you again, Bobby anda Sissy." Just how low is it all going to go? How much more evil sounding can things get? What's left? There can be no wonder why kids are walking around with slumped shoulders, looking forlorn and lost. They are. Any parent allowing such a sound under their roof needs counseling. I remember the day my father cranked off at me while listening to Woodstock, and Stephen Stills, of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young saying "We're scared sh_ _ less." He about had a coronary right in front of me shouting to get that out of his house. Comparing CSN&Y and Still's observations of sitting on a stage in front of five hundred thousand people, with the darkness I heard this morning ... it is not comparable.
There are many things in this world which show me in vivid clarity that Christ is returning soon. What I was exposed to this morning is just another sign of the times that "darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people."
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
13. The Christian and Secular Music - August 29, 2012
Since the advent of the Christian faith - it’s presence in the world, it’s calling to influence the world and enlarge the kingdom of God, and thereby living in the world while praying to not be of the world (it’s ungodly activities, policies, traditions, maxims, etc) - the issues of what Christians may, can, should, ought to do in a fallen world have been present. I have often heard preachers use a phrase something like this: God can make the sinner holy, the drunk sober, the prostitute pure, the drug addict straight, the thief honest, the abuser meek, the tyrant humble, and the wild calm. We hear of stories, we know of people who have been touched by the Holy Spirit and filled with Christ’s life who were taken from all kinds of darkness and brought into the light. Based on the above no one expects the drunk to keep drinking, addicts to keep shooting up or popping pills, prostitutes to continue fornicating, thieves stealing, or the converted tyrant continuing to be tyrannical. Common sense.
Phase two. Secular, that is to say non-Christian society. Where does the believer fit in, if at all? More particularly, music. More particularly (for I shall not speak of or for anyone else), me. How do I address the subject of a Christian playing secular music, which I am currently recording? For those who might (are) thinking, “How can you do that, knowing what you know, believing what you believe? How can you play secular music, especially jazz fusion ambient funky rock?” I give here a brief thought and answer.
#1. With no lyrics involved I have no struggle with warring philosophies to concern myself with.
#2. Music, in and of itself, a combination of melody, harmony and rhythm by definition, has no biblical definition found in Scripture. I dare say the music of king David, given the middle-eastern culture of three thousand years ago, would sound quite odd and foreign to most ‘western’ church goers. Although today David’s music would probably be categorized as “world music.”
#3. Playing drums is bad enough for a lot of people. I do it because I love thunder and lightening storms, I love the powers of nature and drum set artistry reminds me of that. I love rhythm and hear it in almost everything that moves and makes a sound, every day, all day. Beat is most of what a forming baby hears in its mother’s womb. It is quite natural. Onward Christian soldiers marching as to war. Do soldiers march in time to various modes of rhythmic lead, whether voice, or drums, simple stomp of feet on the ground? Yes.
#4. I like all kinds of music. I do not consider all sound musical. That is a matter of personal preference, tastes in music, and guidance of biblical principles as I understand them. I do not care for drums in church services, simply because most church buildings are not close to acoustically designed to handle the power of a drum set. Too loud. In a larger building able to handle it effectively I have no outstanding problems with the action. Almost all modern music employs percussion of some kind. I do not endorse all of it, nor listen to all of it, but factually, it is the planet’s way of communicating musically, and you can put Mariam and the ladies with their tambourines in that category. Also, Asaph and his sons and their cymbals. Hand claps, too, for that matter. And I might remind some folks that a piano is often considered a percussion instrument because the strings are struck by hammers.
#5. Music is quite enjoyable. Billions think so. It is utilitarian. It can excite, calm, call to arms, warn, and signal when it’s time to rise, to eat, and turn the lights out. Woodworking is enjoyable and utilitarian. What is the difference between playing drums and making music to enjoy, and making a chair to sit in to enjoy the music? Can the chair maker make a chair to the glory of God? Is the chair holy? No. But the chair maker can use all his talents given of God to glorify God in the making of a solid, attractive, functional chair for someone to sit in. Likewise I believe using the talents God has given me to create rhythms sitting at a drum set for people to enjoy while they sit in those chairs can be done to the glory of God, for me, in my heart, in my mind, in my life, in my witness to this fact.
#6. If there is a musician or listener who likes every single note they play or hear, in every single piece of music they are exposed to I want to meet that person. They do not exist. Some people like country music. I do not care for it. Some people love jazz. I do not care for everything under that label. Some people love southern gospel. I can only take just so much of it. Some love classical. I like some, not all. Some love hymns. I do. Yet, the composing of them has gone largely silent for a century and a half. Hymnody. Is it a dying art? Some people love “rock.” I am not going to attempt to justify “rock” music in any way, shape or form it has taken. I will say it is here, not all of it appeals to me anymore, but some of it has elements I don’t mind, and even like. So be it. Do I like every single session I have recorded start to finish? No. But I accept the whole for what it is, and the people who do their thing within it.
#7. I have the opportunity to share spiritual matters and truth with people in this industry, and I do, as doors open. I am thankful for the opportunity to do so.
Those are my convictions on the matter. Honestly, it has taken years to think this through and formulate principles which remain sound for me. Here I stand. I can do no other.
******************
14. Has it been Maxed Out? - December 9, 2012
Lately I have been pondering two things, not necessarily related. One, the condition of the world at large and the second coming of Christ. The other is the world of drumming. Has it been maxed out? By that I mean, has speed reached it's limit? Has independence? Ideas? I am believing so. Certainly drum sets have been maxed out. I don't see kits getting any bigger unless humans add six feet of length to their limbs. I do not believe drummers are going to play any faster than they are currently playing. I believe human limitations have been reached, and when I watch old clips of Buddy and Billy Cobham in their prime I can see speed was maxed out decades ago. A blur is a blur in my book and the hoopla over the World's Fastest Drummer event produces little more than people who have learned the economy of hand and finger motion that really doesn't seem to make it's way back to practical application at the drum set. Some will say people do apply it, but at the tiny stroke level which produces hundreds of spm to win the contest? Not that I have seen. For those into 'blast beats' ... well, isn't that the entire point? It's more about a blast of physical endurance than making music, and in the genres they appear in ... sorry, I question the nature of that sound as music, anyway; by definition and social consciousness. Blast beats, as others have said, is more sport than music.
I once saw a film of a young lad, an oriental fellow, writing with all four limbs in four languages at the same time. Astonishing. I have never seen that feat reproduced, but it obviously shows the ability of the powers of mind and body to coordinate. Whether or not such a feat has a practical application is certainly questionable. Whether or not drummers will attempt to play four different time signatures with all four limbs at the same time and attempt to fit it into structured or unstructured music remains to be seen. The drummer(s) that do it, if possible, will put on shows at drummer festivals and wow audiences, for sure. Maybe they will rotate different time signatures between their limbs. The thing about independence is the break up of natural flow of body movement in the sense of hands doing separate things which can produce limited notes. It can be done, but at the expense of other moves. The one-man-band drummer has been maxed out, I believe.
Beat displacement has reached a place where things can sound so mechanical and machine-like all organic and flowing nature of time keeping and musicality becomes strained. I truly find these drumming nuances to be bothersome and interferes with my enjoyment of music. Just because you can mess around with time doesn't make it musical. In many cases I have found it annoying. But, that's just me. Besides that personal taste, I wonder how many more ways time can be subdivided and apply it without the drummer sounding likes he's in another band altogether. If drumming is a science these players are astronomic mathematicians.
Louie Bellson used to say no matter how you play or what you play, make it swing. I chuckle to myself thinking of people attempting to dance to the wizardry of these drumming physicists. They'd look like zombie marionettes being controlled by someone inebriated. Call me 'old school.' That's fine. Everybody marches to the beat of their own drumming. I guess I march to the old beats of organic movement. Makes more sense to me despite the talents of those who can constantly change time within time.
Over the decades of the 20th century the use of drum set, and the artistry of it, made some great leaps as various players employed skills constantly raising the bar. With the advent of film, video, DVD, and profusion of clinics and performances drummers, young drummers have been exposed to things my young generation and those before me never saw. As a result kids are pulling off incredible artistry behind a drum set. Can they produce anything new, as yet unsaid and unstated? I seriously question it.
This brings me to the second coming of Christ. The world is obviously coming unglued at the seams. Politicians, whether on purpose or in willing ignorance are destroying the American Republic. The same is preceding us in other nations collapsing. The collapse is financial on the face, but from the perspective of those with a biblical world-view, social and moral collapse is obvious as a train wreck. They are all joined together in human frailty and sin and rebellion against the most High God.
Are these two perceptions linked? Is the end of the world near as we see humans maxing out both good and evil? I believe so. I believe humans have said just about all they are going to say. Science wants to create life to show God is not real and unnecessary. They never will. Life begets life. Life cannot come from non-life. Random chemicals cannot produce life. The evolution/creation debate can go on and on, but the fact is, the simple fact is, life begets life. Science knows it. Most just refuse to accept it and acknowledge a Creator of life.
Sports has reduced to drug use to enhance abilities to break more records by hundredths of a second or physical feats for stats on paper. Natural abilities have maxed out. Without creating human machines, some kind of droid, mankind has done all it can do. Tenths of a second, hundredths, millimeters, centimeters ... makes for a lot of flash bulbs, but does not truly say much for human progress.
We've maxed out. I believe it is time to close up shop and call it a day.
One thing remains. The most important increase in human history. A final generation of believers who can and will love like Christ, and obey like Christ, and endure like Christ, even unto the end. Can that be done in our day? It can. Will it?
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
I once saw a film of a young lad, an oriental fellow, writing with all four limbs in four languages at the same time. Astonishing. I have never seen that feat reproduced, but it obviously shows the ability of the powers of mind and body to coordinate. Whether or not such a feat has a practical application is certainly questionable. Whether or not drummers will attempt to play four different time signatures with all four limbs at the same time and attempt to fit it into structured or unstructured music remains to be seen. The drummer(s) that do it, if possible, will put on shows at drummer festivals and wow audiences, for sure. Maybe they will rotate different time signatures between their limbs. The thing about independence is the break up of natural flow of body movement in the sense of hands doing separate things which can produce limited notes. It can be done, but at the expense of other moves. The one-man-band drummer has been maxed out, I believe.
Beat displacement has reached a place where things can sound so mechanical and machine-like all organic and flowing nature of time keeping and musicality becomes strained. I truly find these drumming nuances to be bothersome and interferes with my enjoyment of music. Just because you can mess around with time doesn't make it musical. In many cases I have found it annoying. But, that's just me. Besides that personal taste, I wonder how many more ways time can be subdivided and apply it without the drummer sounding likes he's in another band altogether. If drumming is a science these players are astronomic mathematicians.
Louie Bellson used to say no matter how you play or what you play, make it swing. I chuckle to myself thinking of people attempting to dance to the wizardry of these drumming physicists. They'd look like zombie marionettes being controlled by someone inebriated. Call me 'old school.' That's fine. Everybody marches to the beat of their own drumming. I guess I march to the old beats of organic movement. Makes more sense to me despite the talents of those who can constantly change time within time.
Over the decades of the 20th century the use of drum set, and the artistry of it, made some great leaps as various players employed skills constantly raising the bar. With the advent of film, video, DVD, and profusion of clinics and performances drummers, young drummers have been exposed to things my young generation and those before me never saw. As a result kids are pulling off incredible artistry behind a drum set. Can they produce anything new, as yet unsaid and unstated? I seriously question it.
This brings me to the second coming of Christ. The world is obviously coming unglued at the seams. Politicians, whether on purpose or in willing ignorance are destroying the American Republic. The same is preceding us in other nations collapsing. The collapse is financial on the face, but from the perspective of those with a biblical world-view, social and moral collapse is obvious as a train wreck. They are all joined together in human frailty and sin and rebellion against the most High God.
Are these two perceptions linked? Is the end of the world near as we see humans maxing out both good and evil? I believe so. I believe humans have said just about all they are going to say. Science wants to create life to show God is not real and unnecessary. They never will. Life begets life. Life cannot come from non-life. Random chemicals cannot produce life. The evolution/creation debate can go on and on, but the fact is, the simple fact is, life begets life. Science knows it. Most just refuse to accept it and acknowledge a Creator of life.
Sports has reduced to drug use to enhance abilities to break more records by hundredths of a second or physical feats for stats on paper. Natural abilities have maxed out. Without creating human machines, some kind of droid, mankind has done all it can do. Tenths of a second, hundredths, millimeters, centimeters ... makes for a lot of flash bulbs, but does not truly say much for human progress.
We've maxed out. I believe it is time to close up shop and call it a day.
One thing remains. The most important increase in human history. A final generation of believers who can and will love like Christ, and obey like Christ, and endure like Christ, even unto the end. Can that be done in our day? It can. Will it?
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
******************
15. The Time has Passed - Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015
It's so hard to believe two years have passed since I have written anything here at the site. I cannot say time has flown because I'm having fun. Far from it. God knows.
I turned sixty recently. Finishing six decades of life has certainly caused a volume of reflection on life, in general, and drumming, specifically.
A player like Virgil Donati puts in hours every day at his craft. Most artists do. They want to, they love to, they have to, to stay in shape and advance. It shows. As much as I wish I had that time, alas, I do not. My basic life is not music and drums as a profession. I wish it was. So, I'm lucky to get in some stick time on the couch cushions as I watch something on youtube. Maybe I can squeeze in 30 minutes at the set every other day. Just the way it is. I'm not complaining. It's a reality check.
I don't know what it's like at all drumming forums but, the ones I have frequented seem to have guys around my age bracket as the mainstays; the people who show up every day and post things. Sure, there are younger players, too. It's a mix. The lion's share of posting, though, is done by older guys. Some of them still gig on weekends. It's amazing how many haven't laid sticks to drums in a long time. They love the instrument and love to talk about it. They just don't have the place or space or schedule or whatever to actually play anymore. It can be something as simple as not wanting to bother the neighbors. Edrums come to mind for that, if so inclined. Time goes by. Skills lie dormant. The young lions roam the land and it becomes rather obvious their time has come, our time has passed by.
You might say, "Ray, you just put out a CD and have another soon to come. You still record. You still play. You just posted some new YT vids." Okay. Yes. I would not argue that. Perhaps I am as or more involved in drumming and music than others of my age. Nonetheless ... I believe my time has passed by.
Literally, with each passing week my body is telling me it has lived six decades. Sure, drumming can keep you young. You can watch videos of older players out there who still drop jaws and hold people spellbound when they are watched by drummers and audiences of all ages. The thing is, they are also, generally, professional drummers, doing it as their livelihood, their profession, every day. For those of us not so involved, the reality is, it's a hobby, and one that seems to get less attention with each passing year. Just the way things work out. As it is, for me, my drums are in storage and have been for quite some time. Perhaps this year they will come out of storage as circumstances allow. I am currently playing on and developing a new kind of practice set. The YT vids show it - what I have called 'Pancake' drums for years now. I began making them after seeing Arbiter "Flats" and Trilok Gurtu's unique set-up years ago. I decided to make an actual set of them, not just toms in various configurations. They are fun to play on and I get a sweat worked up. I may begin recording with them, actually. And if I could I'd like to make them for others, if interested. We'll see. The vids are on the youtube page here, as well.
The thing is, as I watch youtube and see the level of playing out their now, it is unreal. While I believe max speeds have been reached, there are more and more drummers playing at those speeds. More and more drummers doing all the stuff out there which innovators brought to life decades ago. I believe "saturation" is not an overstatement. Especially is this the case with the world becoming smaller and smaller by virtue of technology. Kids are doing things that are freaking players out.
As the economy of the world teeters on the brink of disaster and more countries experience a squeeze they have not known in a century, music; making it, playing it, watching it, is not the common thing it once was. It's becoming a luxury which few can find a place in. Despite the fact that dozens of new CDs arrive at CD Baby every day that does not mean those who make them will have music as a profession. The 'day job,' if they are fortunate enough to have one these days, remains a reality. It's just so much easier to make a record these days. Kids can do it themselves. Marketing it; they can even do that with social meeting places on the web, have their own web site, etc. But, that does not mean people have the money to support and buy all this new music coming about. Fewer and fewer places to play live music exist. Those that do, see fewer and fewer people supporting them for one reason or another. The major cities have them but, even then it's a matter of how many paying customers can they bring in; how many drinks can they sell? The idea of gathering places just to see and hear live music - a thing of the past for the most part. The 'coffee houses' are long gone. Their time has passed.
As I enter my seventh decade it will see some drumming. It will see some recording, maybe. The one thing I am fairly certain of - my time has passed. It is time for others to make choices about careers and livelihoods. Time for others to make choices about life. Serious choices involving eternal interests. More and more people have no concern for such things as their eternal welfare. They will find out too late they should have made it a concern when God spoke to their hearts. Their time will pass away into eternity, the memory of them forgotten. The redeemed? They get to explore the universe forever.
I'm not complaining about choices I made 36 years ago in Legend. No. I'm just reflecting. By God's grace heaven awaits. And heaven will be cheap enough, indeed. I doubt there are drums in heaven. For that matter I doubt any instruments on earth exist in heaven. God has things awaiting which will totally blow our minds and fill us with wonder and new challenges never before conceived. It will take eternity to master what awaits those who love God. As the Bible says - Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the hearts of men what God is saving for those that love Him.
My time has passed. But, oh, man, what a time yet awaits. Praise God.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
I turned sixty recently. Finishing six decades of life has certainly caused a volume of reflection on life, in general, and drumming, specifically.
A player like Virgil Donati puts in hours every day at his craft. Most artists do. They want to, they love to, they have to, to stay in shape and advance. It shows. As much as I wish I had that time, alas, I do not. My basic life is not music and drums as a profession. I wish it was. So, I'm lucky to get in some stick time on the couch cushions as I watch something on youtube. Maybe I can squeeze in 30 minutes at the set every other day. Just the way it is. I'm not complaining. It's a reality check.
I don't know what it's like at all drumming forums but, the ones I have frequented seem to have guys around my age bracket as the mainstays; the people who show up every day and post things. Sure, there are younger players, too. It's a mix. The lion's share of posting, though, is done by older guys. Some of them still gig on weekends. It's amazing how many haven't laid sticks to drums in a long time. They love the instrument and love to talk about it. They just don't have the place or space or schedule or whatever to actually play anymore. It can be something as simple as not wanting to bother the neighbors. Edrums come to mind for that, if so inclined. Time goes by. Skills lie dormant. The young lions roam the land and it becomes rather obvious their time has come, our time has passed by.
You might say, "Ray, you just put out a CD and have another soon to come. You still record. You still play. You just posted some new YT vids." Okay. Yes. I would not argue that. Perhaps I am as or more involved in drumming and music than others of my age. Nonetheless ... I believe my time has passed by.
Literally, with each passing week my body is telling me it has lived six decades. Sure, drumming can keep you young. You can watch videos of older players out there who still drop jaws and hold people spellbound when they are watched by drummers and audiences of all ages. The thing is, they are also, generally, professional drummers, doing it as their livelihood, their profession, every day. For those of us not so involved, the reality is, it's a hobby, and one that seems to get less attention with each passing year. Just the way things work out. As it is, for me, my drums are in storage and have been for quite some time. Perhaps this year they will come out of storage as circumstances allow. I am currently playing on and developing a new kind of practice set. The YT vids show it - what I have called 'Pancake' drums for years now. I began making them after seeing Arbiter "Flats" and Trilok Gurtu's unique set-up years ago. I decided to make an actual set of them, not just toms in various configurations. They are fun to play on and I get a sweat worked up. I may begin recording with them, actually. And if I could I'd like to make them for others, if interested. We'll see. The vids are on the youtube page here, as well.
The thing is, as I watch youtube and see the level of playing out their now, it is unreal. While I believe max speeds have been reached, there are more and more drummers playing at those speeds. More and more drummers doing all the stuff out there which innovators brought to life decades ago. I believe "saturation" is not an overstatement. Especially is this the case with the world becoming smaller and smaller by virtue of technology. Kids are doing things that are freaking players out.
As the economy of the world teeters on the brink of disaster and more countries experience a squeeze they have not known in a century, music; making it, playing it, watching it, is not the common thing it once was. It's becoming a luxury which few can find a place in. Despite the fact that dozens of new CDs arrive at CD Baby every day that does not mean those who make them will have music as a profession. The 'day job,' if they are fortunate enough to have one these days, remains a reality. It's just so much easier to make a record these days. Kids can do it themselves. Marketing it; they can even do that with social meeting places on the web, have their own web site, etc. But, that does not mean people have the money to support and buy all this new music coming about. Fewer and fewer places to play live music exist. Those that do, see fewer and fewer people supporting them for one reason or another. The major cities have them but, even then it's a matter of how many paying customers can they bring in; how many drinks can they sell? The idea of gathering places just to see and hear live music - a thing of the past for the most part. The 'coffee houses' are long gone. Their time has passed.
As I enter my seventh decade it will see some drumming. It will see some recording, maybe. The one thing I am fairly certain of - my time has passed. It is time for others to make choices about careers and livelihoods. Time for others to make choices about life. Serious choices involving eternal interests. More and more people have no concern for such things as their eternal welfare. They will find out too late they should have made it a concern when God spoke to their hearts. Their time will pass away into eternity, the memory of them forgotten. The redeemed? They get to explore the universe forever.
I'm not complaining about choices I made 36 years ago in Legend. No. I'm just reflecting. By God's grace heaven awaits. And heaven will be cheap enough, indeed. I doubt there are drums in heaven. For that matter I doubt any instruments on earth exist in heaven. God has things awaiting which will totally blow our minds and fill us with wonder and new challenges never before conceived. It will take eternity to master what awaits those who love God. As the Bible says - Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the hearts of men what God is saving for those that love Him.
My time has passed. But, oh, man, what a time yet awaits. Praise God.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
16. What is the Problem, People? - February 6, 2015
Youtube is a phenomenon. Youtube is possibly the greatest everyman's instructional source on the planet. What can you say about it that has already not been said or written? The only real problem with YT is some of the people who post comments. Negative comments. Much has been said or written about these individuals with their acidic barbs and verbal tar and feathering of any and every single thing they find inadequate about drumming posts. Even those displaying talents by world renowned drummers are not spared their Exlax mouth meanderings fit for nothing but a garbage disposal.
We all know why they do it. They're either young kids who get off on being able to bad mouth and use foul language and not have to be responsible and accountable to anyone. Or, they are just showing enormous amounts of jealousy that they cannot play with the same abilities. Or they are just mad at the world and would take issue with a strawberry for having seeds on the outside. Most mature people just let them rant and go away. Some posters block them or delete their comments. Good for them.
This is not about constructive criticism. This is just a comment on total foolishness. Especially is it hurtful to young players excited about placing something on YT for the first time.
The fact is, though, that this unfortunate display of written wreckage is not the real purpose of this thought article. The actual purpose is why on earth ANYONE would say ANYTHING negative about ANY drummer just sharing what they do, or sharing what others do that impresses and inspires them.
The way things are now if a drummer cannot match the speeds of the blast beat kings and the shed/chops/twirling masters, or if they use too many drums, in their opinion, or too many cymbals it is time to open fire and tell the world what is wrong with these players. Is it just me or does it seem this supposed drummer fraternity that is supposed to exist is just a bunch of hype and bologna. I say that because if someone might have an opinion or belief which goes against the grain or currents of popular belief, that too, is descended upon like the immune system on a virus. If you are a 'somebody' you can just about say anything. If you are a nobody, well, your convictions carry no weight regardless of experience you may have. It just seems arrows are flying in every direction.
When I think back to the 60s and 70s you could count the number of world class drummers and name them in a few minutes. Now, forget it. The globe is saturated with players of all ages doing wonderful, marvelous things with hands and feet. It would take days, weeks to name them and you still would not name them all. THAT is what Youtube has shown us. They are on every continent but, Antarctica. Maybe there, too, in some outpost somewhere giving the penguins happy feet. And that is a comment on the flame throwing, speed train, mathematics-minded beat twisters and stick meisters who are phenomenal. That is not including all those drummers who have carved out a voice on the instrument, a style, and method, a technique which gives them a place at the table. They are not the fastest. They are not into stick twirling. They are just themselves and do what they do expertly. Then there are the kids, the youngsters, playing, learning, developing, growing and many shall some day be in the world class division. But, what IS the world class division?
I am always reminded of Buddy Rich, arguably a player with few peers in jazz and big band music, who said Mel Lewis is one of the greats. Have you ever heard or watched Mel Lewis? He did not have great speed that I have ever seen or heard displayed. How did this man leave such a legacy? He had a voice. He had a style. He was the great Mel Lewis.
Does everybody have to be matching 300 bpm to be considered great? Does everybody have to have a long list of recordings behind them to be great? Does everybody have to be something of some unknown criteria to be considered an equal in the drumming world? All this "best" nonsense is the greatest waste of time and energy in music. If people strive to be their best, and even if they do not, and just enjoy playing and do it well at whatever level and in whatever setting they choose, so be it. They are valid. An egg and sperm are valid. An embryo is valid. A new born is valid. A child is valid. A teenager, the young adult, the mature adult, the aged are all valid. Each has a place and purpose before God. The same principle should apply to all endeavors, including the experience of playing a musical instrument.
Being negative is a huge drag on humanity. Indeed, I have my convictions about right and wrong, religion and the Bible, politics and civil affairs, based on principles. Beyond that, who am I to judge another person's abilities? I had to start somewhere. Everybody has to start somewhere. Nobody is Buddy right out of the box and many will never be at that level. That does not mean they do not have a voice and a place of equality among drumming brethren.
Find your voice. Find your place. Let each be encouraging to others. Especially in a world swiftly going mad with 'self.'
We all know why they do it. They're either young kids who get off on being able to bad mouth and use foul language and not have to be responsible and accountable to anyone. Or, they are just showing enormous amounts of jealousy that they cannot play with the same abilities. Or they are just mad at the world and would take issue with a strawberry for having seeds on the outside. Most mature people just let them rant and go away. Some posters block them or delete their comments. Good for them.
This is not about constructive criticism. This is just a comment on total foolishness. Especially is it hurtful to young players excited about placing something on YT for the first time.
The fact is, though, that this unfortunate display of written wreckage is not the real purpose of this thought article. The actual purpose is why on earth ANYONE would say ANYTHING negative about ANY drummer just sharing what they do, or sharing what others do that impresses and inspires them.
The way things are now if a drummer cannot match the speeds of the blast beat kings and the shed/chops/twirling masters, or if they use too many drums, in their opinion, or too many cymbals it is time to open fire and tell the world what is wrong with these players. Is it just me or does it seem this supposed drummer fraternity that is supposed to exist is just a bunch of hype and bologna. I say that because if someone might have an opinion or belief which goes against the grain or currents of popular belief, that too, is descended upon like the immune system on a virus. If you are a 'somebody' you can just about say anything. If you are a nobody, well, your convictions carry no weight regardless of experience you may have. It just seems arrows are flying in every direction.
When I think back to the 60s and 70s you could count the number of world class drummers and name them in a few minutes. Now, forget it. The globe is saturated with players of all ages doing wonderful, marvelous things with hands and feet. It would take days, weeks to name them and you still would not name them all. THAT is what Youtube has shown us. They are on every continent but, Antarctica. Maybe there, too, in some outpost somewhere giving the penguins happy feet. And that is a comment on the flame throwing, speed train, mathematics-minded beat twisters and stick meisters who are phenomenal. That is not including all those drummers who have carved out a voice on the instrument, a style, and method, a technique which gives them a place at the table. They are not the fastest. They are not into stick twirling. They are just themselves and do what they do expertly. Then there are the kids, the youngsters, playing, learning, developing, growing and many shall some day be in the world class division. But, what IS the world class division?
I am always reminded of Buddy Rich, arguably a player with few peers in jazz and big band music, who said Mel Lewis is one of the greats. Have you ever heard or watched Mel Lewis? He did not have great speed that I have ever seen or heard displayed. How did this man leave such a legacy? He had a voice. He had a style. He was the great Mel Lewis.
Does everybody have to be matching 300 bpm to be considered great? Does everybody have to have a long list of recordings behind them to be great? Does everybody have to be something of some unknown criteria to be considered an equal in the drumming world? All this "best" nonsense is the greatest waste of time and energy in music. If people strive to be their best, and even if they do not, and just enjoy playing and do it well at whatever level and in whatever setting they choose, so be it. They are valid. An egg and sperm are valid. An embryo is valid. A new born is valid. A child is valid. A teenager, the young adult, the mature adult, the aged are all valid. Each has a place and purpose before God. The same principle should apply to all endeavors, including the experience of playing a musical instrument.
Being negative is a huge drag on humanity. Indeed, I have my convictions about right and wrong, religion and the Bible, politics and civil affairs, based on principles. Beyond that, who am I to judge another person's abilities? I had to start somewhere. Everybody has to start somewhere. Nobody is Buddy right out of the box and many will never be at that level. That does not mean they do not have a voice and a place of equality among drumming brethren.
Find your voice. Find your place. Let each be encouraging to others. Especially in a world swiftly going mad with 'self.'
******************
17. Fame and Fortune? - Friday, May 8, 2015
I was just listening to an interview with a famous jazz drummer. Seems like a really nice man. He has carved out a long and distinguished career playing drum set in a masterful way. He mentioned something in the interview which caused me to stop it and reflect. He mentioned the idea of loving the drums enough to do anything you have to to reach every goal you have, which took in the 'fame and fortune' aspect.
Back in the 90's I did some home grown videos I called 'Concepts for Solo Drum Set,' Vol. 1, 2 and 3. Just things I wanted to share with players I met on the web. I ended up sending out videos all over the world, which was somewhat expensive, seeing I gave them away, and in some places the video formatting did not work with the machinery used on some continents. Everything is digital now and works on just about anything.
Players would write and thank me. More than a few asked me why I wasn't a famous drummer.
When I was in Legend we put out the album just after I became a Christian. My world was changing dramatically, exponentially. I chose to leave Legend. Based on the recognition the album has today I know if I stayed with the band we would have achieved "fame and fortune." I knew it then. I know it now. To do so, though, would have conflicted with new principles I was living my life by. So, hard as it was, I left the band. Life then took a new direction - public speaking; seminars, radio, church pulpits.
Over the years drummers will come along and ask, Why aren't you famous? Most times it has been rhetorical. But, this whole fame and fortune thing I have often heard famous drummers and others comment on: that if you want it, you can have it, if you work hard enough, is something I not only do not believe but, as a Christian, recoil at. Just because I want something does not mean God wants it for me. Just because I work hard at something does not mean as a citizen of God's kingdom I shall get to excel in the kingdom of men. There is no such principle in all of Scripture. I would love to be a full-time, "professional" musician. I would love to be able to make a living doing that. To do so, though, would cause some pretty keen conflicts for me, because of my religious faith and convictions about living the biblical walk with my Creator and Savior. That is something most people do not take into consideration when speaking about fame and fortune.
In the Bible ancient Babylon played a major role. You may know the story of the Tower of Babel. One of the most serious points in all the Bible is made in Genesis 11:4 "...let us make us a name ..." Let's build a tower so high if God sends another flood we will escape its destruction. We can make ourselves famous with this tower. We can make a great name for ourselves. God had other plans and dismantled their big building project, and humanity scattered around the world as a result. Let us make us a name for ourselves. Let us be famous.
When Christ came to Earth and lived among mankind, which He created, the apostle Paul wrote of Him, He "...made of himself no reputation and took on him the form of a servant ..." Some translations state it that He emptied Himself; He became nothing. God, our Creator, became a man, and He chose to be a servant when He could have been, should have been, the greatest King on the planet. That is the example he left for us to follow. Fame and fortune are not the thing. Character is. Developing a character which God can safely bring back into eternity. There isn't going to be another rebellion. Sin is not going to rise a second time. God is taking care of that today, now, this time around.
In this world fame and fortune mean so much that people become depressed if they cannot reach their goals. What if their goals are not God's goals for them? They are wasting more time and energy than they can imagine.
This idea of being able to have whatever you want in life if you work hard enough is one of the most destructive ideas ever posed before man. Sadly, tragically, if not disgustingly, it is endorsed and promoted by many who call themselves Christian. Many ask of well-known Christian artists, What must I do to be successful, to have it all, to 'make it?" There is no formula for that. There many talented people on this Earth who shall never "make it" in music simply because it is not God's will. It may even be many who profess Christian faith and have "made it' did so out of God's will for their life and they shall learn some very hard lessons as a result. God knows.
Personally, I do not want fame and fortune. Few can handle it and develop a character safe to bring into eternity.
There was ancient Babylon, where God confused the language of men, and there is spiritual, prophetic Babylon mentioned in the book of Revelation, which stands for religious confusion, and in this world there is plenty of it, to be sure. God says, I invite you to connect with Me and develop a Christlike character to take into eternity. Men say, If you want fame and fortune you can have it if you work hard enough and do whatever you have to do.
Everybody makes their choices and shall have to accept responsibility for them.
As for me and my house we choose to serve the living God. If that means I drum in obscurity, no wealth, no fame, so be it. I shall abide satisfied if I hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of your lord," when Christ returns.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Back in the 90's I did some home grown videos I called 'Concepts for Solo Drum Set,' Vol. 1, 2 and 3. Just things I wanted to share with players I met on the web. I ended up sending out videos all over the world, which was somewhat expensive, seeing I gave them away, and in some places the video formatting did not work with the machinery used on some continents. Everything is digital now and works on just about anything.
Players would write and thank me. More than a few asked me why I wasn't a famous drummer.
When I was in Legend we put out the album just after I became a Christian. My world was changing dramatically, exponentially. I chose to leave Legend. Based on the recognition the album has today I know if I stayed with the band we would have achieved "fame and fortune." I knew it then. I know it now. To do so, though, would have conflicted with new principles I was living my life by. So, hard as it was, I left the band. Life then took a new direction - public speaking; seminars, radio, church pulpits.
Over the years drummers will come along and ask, Why aren't you famous? Most times it has been rhetorical. But, this whole fame and fortune thing I have often heard famous drummers and others comment on: that if you want it, you can have it, if you work hard enough, is something I not only do not believe but, as a Christian, recoil at. Just because I want something does not mean God wants it for me. Just because I work hard at something does not mean as a citizen of God's kingdom I shall get to excel in the kingdom of men. There is no such principle in all of Scripture. I would love to be a full-time, "professional" musician. I would love to be able to make a living doing that. To do so, though, would cause some pretty keen conflicts for me, because of my religious faith and convictions about living the biblical walk with my Creator and Savior. That is something most people do not take into consideration when speaking about fame and fortune.
In the Bible ancient Babylon played a major role. You may know the story of the Tower of Babel. One of the most serious points in all the Bible is made in Genesis 11:4 "...let us make us a name ..." Let's build a tower so high if God sends another flood we will escape its destruction. We can make ourselves famous with this tower. We can make a great name for ourselves. God had other plans and dismantled their big building project, and humanity scattered around the world as a result. Let us make us a name for ourselves. Let us be famous.
When Christ came to Earth and lived among mankind, which He created, the apostle Paul wrote of Him, He "...made of himself no reputation and took on him the form of a servant ..." Some translations state it that He emptied Himself; He became nothing. God, our Creator, became a man, and He chose to be a servant when He could have been, should have been, the greatest King on the planet. That is the example he left for us to follow. Fame and fortune are not the thing. Character is. Developing a character which God can safely bring back into eternity. There isn't going to be another rebellion. Sin is not going to rise a second time. God is taking care of that today, now, this time around.
In this world fame and fortune mean so much that people become depressed if they cannot reach their goals. What if their goals are not God's goals for them? They are wasting more time and energy than they can imagine.
This idea of being able to have whatever you want in life if you work hard enough is one of the most destructive ideas ever posed before man. Sadly, tragically, if not disgustingly, it is endorsed and promoted by many who call themselves Christian. Many ask of well-known Christian artists, What must I do to be successful, to have it all, to 'make it?" There is no formula for that. There many talented people on this Earth who shall never "make it" in music simply because it is not God's will. It may even be many who profess Christian faith and have "made it' did so out of God's will for their life and they shall learn some very hard lessons as a result. God knows.
Personally, I do not want fame and fortune. Few can handle it and develop a character safe to bring into eternity.
There was ancient Babylon, where God confused the language of men, and there is spiritual, prophetic Babylon mentioned in the book of Revelation, which stands for religious confusion, and in this world there is plenty of it, to be sure. God says, I invite you to connect with Me and develop a Christlike character to take into eternity. Men say, If you want fame and fortune you can have it if you work hard enough and do whatever you have to do.
Everybody makes their choices and shall have to accept responsibility for them.
As for me and my house we choose to serve the living God. If that means I drum in obscurity, no wealth, no fame, so be it. I shall abide satisfied if I hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of your lord," when Christ returns.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
18. Do We Serve or ... ? - August 14, 2015
Recently I came upon a yt video featuring Brandon Khoo, a very talented and wise drummer, during a clinic of his. He was asked the question, What is a good drummer and what is a bad drummer? His answer was very well stated, and shown, actually. The video is found here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oQsKRyihEA
As I was driving to Home Depot (to pick up a sheet of plywood for the next Pancake set proto-type) I began thinking about this concept of "serving the music." It wasn't sitting quite right with me.
As a Christian I understand concepts of being a servant and various modes of service within a spiritual context and religious life. This idea of serving the music, though seemingly logical and necessary, leaves me feeling a bit hollow. This concept of serving the music is quite universal now. Am I that out of step and sync with the music world?
Music does not create itself. Music does not just happen. At the very least, music, in a rhythmic or melodic sense, needs nature. It needs forces of nature, it needs birds. No nature, no rhythms. No birds, or other creatures, no melodic 'songs.' Music is made by musical entities.
In the aspect of music in the written or performed format it needs writers and then performers. Music does not make itself. Serving the music seems odd, unless the music has already been composed and one is developing or copying what has already been performed in it, regardless of the instrument. Watching the auditions for Dream Theater is a prime example of this. Some drummers did their own thing, others stayed closer to the original drum performances. Listening to the remarks by the band members after each audition was very insightful in that regard. Mike Mangini was asked to join the band for several reasons, one of them being that while he put his own signature to the music, he also respected the foundation of drum parts chiseled into it by years of repetition by Mike Portnoy. Mangini served the music and the musicians who created it. But, he also did something else.
From the aspect of original music, we are long past the days when drummers were just there to keep a beat after everything was composed. Today's drummers can be as adept at playing other instruments and composing music from a formally trained regimen as any other musician. They come to the creation of music with ideas well beyond the drum set. Even if they are not educated or trained they can have a sense of melody and harmony and can contribute "musically" in ways beyond keeping time.
Is the drummer there to "serve the music?" I do not believe that is the fullest or most correct principle to function upon in original music. Tribute bands, bar bands, cover bands can decide themselves how closely each musician needs to stay with the original tracks. Creating original music is just that - creating, making, building, and developing. The drummer does not serve the music. There is no music. The drummer creates rhythmic structures which are to and should enhance the music being created. The issue is not service. The issue is being allowed to create, to paint a scene however you want to, within the context of the music environment you are in.
Drummers can overplay and underplay in any situation. While Ringo is famous for drum parts in the music of the Beatles, he wouldn't be asked to man the chair of a Mahavishnu Orchestra or Corea's Return to Forever. Nor would Billy Cobham be expected to play funky and ferocious fusion stylings in the music of a band creating melodic songs in the style of the Beatles. Drummers in the wrong chair to begin with make issues of over or underplaying moot. A "jobbing" drummer, the guns for hire, have to play within the framework of various genres, most of the time in music already created. Someone like Vinnie Colaituta has played within many different genres, with many different artists from Zappa, to Sting, to Jeff Beck. He serves the music already made and played before him yet, he seeks to enhance it with his own voice and style. In an interview Vinnie gave years ago he mentioned a situation where the producer asked him to play like a certain drummer. Vinnie's response? "Get him." There comes a point where musicians are individuals, not clones, not drum machines. Some might say, "Vinnie was not willing to serve the music." I would say they wanted the wrong drummer for the chair and asking Vinnie to deny his own personal style and abilities is certainly not serving Vinnie and his talent, regardless of the issue of hiring him to play. If I were starving to death and someone asked me to play in a country band I might do it. Beyond that, no, my style of playing would have to be tortured and twisted to sit and play 2 and 4 in a country band, or a rock band for that matter. I'd be pretty bored, if not miserable. Get someone else for the chair who can happily 'serve the music' without denying their own musicality and passions.
I read the thoughts of a drummer who believes in serving the music, and the musicians he plays with. One well-known singer/guitarist asked him what his drum set was like. The drummer described it and the guitarist asked him to leave most of his drums at home and just come with a basic set. The drummer complied, believing he was serving the music. My response would have been, "You come with two strings on your guitar and I'll come with two toms in my set." If someone must ask me to scale down my instrument, thereby changing my voice at the instrument, they are asking the wrong drummer to sit in the chair. If you don't want to hear melodic or complex fills get a drummer happy to just keep time. Asking me to change who and what I am in the chair is not serving the music at all. It isn't serving anything. It is taking away from avenues of creation. I am not a 'less is more' person. Nor am I a 'more is more' person. I am a 'what fits, fits' person.
Serving the music is not the total answer for me. Put me in the right chair and the music will be created and enhanced with the talents given me by the Creator.
As I was driving to Home Depot (to pick up a sheet of plywood for the next Pancake set proto-type) I began thinking about this concept of "serving the music." It wasn't sitting quite right with me.
As a Christian I understand concepts of being a servant and various modes of service within a spiritual context and religious life. This idea of serving the music, though seemingly logical and necessary, leaves me feeling a bit hollow. This concept of serving the music is quite universal now. Am I that out of step and sync with the music world?
Music does not create itself. Music does not just happen. At the very least, music, in a rhythmic or melodic sense, needs nature. It needs forces of nature, it needs birds. No nature, no rhythms. No birds, or other creatures, no melodic 'songs.' Music is made by musical entities.
In the aspect of music in the written or performed format it needs writers and then performers. Music does not make itself. Serving the music seems odd, unless the music has already been composed and one is developing or copying what has already been performed in it, regardless of the instrument. Watching the auditions for Dream Theater is a prime example of this. Some drummers did their own thing, others stayed closer to the original drum performances. Listening to the remarks by the band members after each audition was very insightful in that regard. Mike Mangini was asked to join the band for several reasons, one of them being that while he put his own signature to the music, he also respected the foundation of drum parts chiseled into it by years of repetition by Mike Portnoy. Mangini served the music and the musicians who created it. But, he also did something else.
From the aspect of original music, we are long past the days when drummers were just there to keep a beat after everything was composed. Today's drummers can be as adept at playing other instruments and composing music from a formally trained regimen as any other musician. They come to the creation of music with ideas well beyond the drum set. Even if they are not educated or trained they can have a sense of melody and harmony and can contribute "musically" in ways beyond keeping time.
Is the drummer there to "serve the music?" I do not believe that is the fullest or most correct principle to function upon in original music. Tribute bands, bar bands, cover bands can decide themselves how closely each musician needs to stay with the original tracks. Creating original music is just that - creating, making, building, and developing. The drummer does not serve the music. There is no music. The drummer creates rhythmic structures which are to and should enhance the music being created. The issue is not service. The issue is being allowed to create, to paint a scene however you want to, within the context of the music environment you are in.
Drummers can overplay and underplay in any situation. While Ringo is famous for drum parts in the music of the Beatles, he wouldn't be asked to man the chair of a Mahavishnu Orchestra or Corea's Return to Forever. Nor would Billy Cobham be expected to play funky and ferocious fusion stylings in the music of a band creating melodic songs in the style of the Beatles. Drummers in the wrong chair to begin with make issues of over or underplaying moot. A "jobbing" drummer, the guns for hire, have to play within the framework of various genres, most of the time in music already created. Someone like Vinnie Colaituta has played within many different genres, with many different artists from Zappa, to Sting, to Jeff Beck. He serves the music already made and played before him yet, he seeks to enhance it with his own voice and style. In an interview Vinnie gave years ago he mentioned a situation where the producer asked him to play like a certain drummer. Vinnie's response? "Get him." There comes a point where musicians are individuals, not clones, not drum machines. Some might say, "Vinnie was not willing to serve the music." I would say they wanted the wrong drummer for the chair and asking Vinnie to deny his own personal style and abilities is certainly not serving Vinnie and his talent, regardless of the issue of hiring him to play. If I were starving to death and someone asked me to play in a country band I might do it. Beyond that, no, my style of playing would have to be tortured and twisted to sit and play 2 and 4 in a country band, or a rock band for that matter. I'd be pretty bored, if not miserable. Get someone else for the chair who can happily 'serve the music' without denying their own musicality and passions.
I read the thoughts of a drummer who believes in serving the music, and the musicians he plays with. One well-known singer/guitarist asked him what his drum set was like. The drummer described it and the guitarist asked him to leave most of his drums at home and just come with a basic set. The drummer complied, believing he was serving the music. My response would have been, "You come with two strings on your guitar and I'll come with two toms in my set." If someone must ask me to scale down my instrument, thereby changing my voice at the instrument, they are asking the wrong drummer to sit in the chair. If you don't want to hear melodic or complex fills get a drummer happy to just keep time. Asking me to change who and what I am in the chair is not serving the music at all. It isn't serving anything. It is taking away from avenues of creation. I am not a 'less is more' person. Nor am I a 'more is more' person. I am a 'what fits, fits' person.
Serving the music is not the total answer for me. Put me in the right chair and the music will be created and enhanced with the talents given me by the Creator.
******************
19. The Drumist - September 12, 2015
Recently I changed some of the heading of this web site. It used to say the web site of drummer/percussionist Ray Frigon. Now it states - Drumist Raymond Edgar Frigon.
Not a big change. Anyone new to the site wouldn't know what existed before so, it would mean nothing to their understanding of what the change is for. Honestly speaking, who cares? I care.
Many drum set players have asked the question down through the years why someone is a pianist, a cellist, a violinist, a guitarist, a bassist, keyboardist, etc. but, we are called "drummers." Well, look. Let's not split hairs here. Drummers drum. Hands, mallets, sticks, shakers, brushes, brooms, bed sheets, whatever; moving an implement on drums or cymbals is called drumming. It is interesting, though, that when someone hits a triangle with a small, steel rod, or strikes a gong with a mallet, or even a snare drum with sticks, as well as a conga or bongo, or other ethnic/world drum with hands, they are called a "percussionist."
Okay, I could get into history here but, that is not my intention. If you want to be called a drummer, so be it. I have no stones to throw. I changed the title of this web site for me, not drummers at large.
My first exposure to the term "drumist" was many years ago in an article in a magazine featuring an avante garde, jazz player of which I forget the name. The only thing I remember about the interview was the term "drumist," which is what this man wanted to be referred to as. I do not even remember why he wanted it that way. I do basically know why I would rather have it that way.
For so many years the guy in back, possibly on a riser, soaking his suit with perspiration while he drove and steered the band through evening after evening of songs, charts, and solo after solo of his bandmates was "the drummer." To be sure the jazz drummer of his day had more prestige than the rock drummers to come. After all, the Muppet character, "Animal," had to be derived from some kind of example people could easily see and relate to. Let's face it, every other musician is involved in the intimate use of fingers to play and perform. The drummer, while using fingers for stick control, is also moving arms around all over the place, as well as feet and legs, and even more so with today's elaborate pedal set-ups, and as trap sets got bigger arms moved even more to strike things spread out like a one man percussion section. "Racks" were invented well before rock drummers came along. When rock drummers did come along, larger drum sets began coming along with them in more and more huge footprint configurations. Most were not playing behind a big band with the class so many of the greats in suit and tie played. I watch Max Roach and I see dignity. Today? No, no. This was about teenage rebellion, anarchy against establishment, amplified sounds to stage the rebellion, and enormous venues to hold it all in front of thousands of screaming fans. The drummer was competing against mega watts and sooner than later they were having mics placed all around the set to be heard. One might think the use of mics would somehow curtail the image of beating and thrashing. Nope. The image of the modern drummer is what calls people to ask me over and over again, "Do you work out your frustrations playing drums?" They have equated drumming with an athletic exercise which allows one to beat something mercilessly and legally. Well, to be frank, bashing drums and cymbals is entirely nonsensical to me. Drums and cymbals have volume thresholds which are not raised by striking them with more and more force. More and more force just means broken heads and cracked cymbals. Which is why thicker heads and cymbals and beefier hardware came into existence. But, c'mon. Keith Moon, Tommy Aldridge, and other drummers knocking over their drum sets in live performances ... "Animal" is an apt character for such activity.
In my heart and mind a set of drums and cymbals and other percussive sounds are nature contained in man-made instruments. Thunder, lightening, ocean waves, streams, hoofs pounding the earth, the cyclone, the volcano, the rushing wind, the eagle flying high, the breezes on the open plains ... I hear it all when I sit down and play this set of instruments. I am not a drummer. I am a drumist. I think. I execute. With meaning and purpose. I am the thunder. I am the lightening. I am the wind. I am the sea. I am the buffalo. I am the eagle. I am the sounds of nature. And putting it all into a musical context of melody, harmony and rhythm makes me much more than the guy in the back who keeps time so people know where they are, should they lose "1."
I am a "Drumist" whose contribution to music is just as important, in context, as any other musician in a collection of such. Done right, done correctly, done musically people like Terry Bozzio and others are able to hold solo performances while people sit amazed at what one mind and four limbs can do. You can listen to a Virgil Donati all night long and never figure out what on earth he is doing when he plays, when he performs, when he explodes, or when he just "keeps time." These mathematical magicians can twist your head just keeping up with where "1" is.
I have no idea what these well-known musicians believe about God, the Creator. I know what I believe. I believe the Creator created me with this innate sense of time, of rhythm, of nature, of imagination, of intensity, of harmony, of improvisation, of collective merging of sound which creates an atmosphere charged with excitement and power. It all goes back to the Creator. To Him must go the deeper honor and glory. From Him comes rhythm and the Hummingbird's wings, the Loon dancing on the water, the Ruffed Grouse air drumming, or the Magnificent Frigatebird throat tapping, or the various Woodpeckers doing single stroke rolls so fast you cannot even see it. Nature's drumists have been there all along. It is not a hobby for them. It is life.
I never cared much for my name, Raymond. My father's name was Edgar Raymond. My parents reversed it in naming me. Hardly anyone called him by his first name. His nickname was "Chick," and that's what everyone called him since he was a kid. I placed my full name in the heading of this web site because in the end, my dad, even though we were never really close, gave to me his sense of musical nature. He never learned to play an instrument yet, I often saw him sit down at a piano or organ and just move his hands around, finding chords he liked, searching out well known melodies. We never had a piano. He would do this when he visited relatives or friends who did. I'd watch him, standing next to the piano or somewhere in the room. It made a big impression on me as a child.
My dad passed away in my arms many years ago. I'm 60 now. It is time I am known as I was named, in honor of a man who fought a world war, worked hard all his life, and died the strongest man I ever knew.
I am a Drumist. I am Raymond Edgar Frigon.
Not a big change. Anyone new to the site wouldn't know what existed before so, it would mean nothing to their understanding of what the change is for. Honestly speaking, who cares? I care.
Many drum set players have asked the question down through the years why someone is a pianist, a cellist, a violinist, a guitarist, a bassist, keyboardist, etc. but, we are called "drummers." Well, look. Let's not split hairs here. Drummers drum. Hands, mallets, sticks, shakers, brushes, brooms, bed sheets, whatever; moving an implement on drums or cymbals is called drumming. It is interesting, though, that when someone hits a triangle with a small, steel rod, or strikes a gong with a mallet, or even a snare drum with sticks, as well as a conga or bongo, or other ethnic/world drum with hands, they are called a "percussionist."
Okay, I could get into history here but, that is not my intention. If you want to be called a drummer, so be it. I have no stones to throw. I changed the title of this web site for me, not drummers at large.
My first exposure to the term "drumist" was many years ago in an article in a magazine featuring an avante garde, jazz player of which I forget the name. The only thing I remember about the interview was the term "drumist," which is what this man wanted to be referred to as. I do not even remember why he wanted it that way. I do basically know why I would rather have it that way.
For so many years the guy in back, possibly on a riser, soaking his suit with perspiration while he drove and steered the band through evening after evening of songs, charts, and solo after solo of his bandmates was "the drummer." To be sure the jazz drummer of his day had more prestige than the rock drummers to come. After all, the Muppet character, "Animal," had to be derived from some kind of example people could easily see and relate to. Let's face it, every other musician is involved in the intimate use of fingers to play and perform. The drummer, while using fingers for stick control, is also moving arms around all over the place, as well as feet and legs, and even more so with today's elaborate pedal set-ups, and as trap sets got bigger arms moved even more to strike things spread out like a one man percussion section. "Racks" were invented well before rock drummers came along. When rock drummers did come along, larger drum sets began coming along with them in more and more huge footprint configurations. Most were not playing behind a big band with the class so many of the greats in suit and tie played. I watch Max Roach and I see dignity. Today? No, no. This was about teenage rebellion, anarchy against establishment, amplified sounds to stage the rebellion, and enormous venues to hold it all in front of thousands of screaming fans. The drummer was competing against mega watts and sooner than later they were having mics placed all around the set to be heard. One might think the use of mics would somehow curtail the image of beating and thrashing. Nope. The image of the modern drummer is what calls people to ask me over and over again, "Do you work out your frustrations playing drums?" They have equated drumming with an athletic exercise which allows one to beat something mercilessly and legally. Well, to be frank, bashing drums and cymbals is entirely nonsensical to me. Drums and cymbals have volume thresholds which are not raised by striking them with more and more force. More and more force just means broken heads and cracked cymbals. Which is why thicker heads and cymbals and beefier hardware came into existence. But, c'mon. Keith Moon, Tommy Aldridge, and other drummers knocking over their drum sets in live performances ... "Animal" is an apt character for such activity.
In my heart and mind a set of drums and cymbals and other percussive sounds are nature contained in man-made instruments. Thunder, lightening, ocean waves, streams, hoofs pounding the earth, the cyclone, the volcano, the rushing wind, the eagle flying high, the breezes on the open plains ... I hear it all when I sit down and play this set of instruments. I am not a drummer. I am a drumist. I think. I execute. With meaning and purpose. I am the thunder. I am the lightening. I am the wind. I am the sea. I am the buffalo. I am the eagle. I am the sounds of nature. And putting it all into a musical context of melody, harmony and rhythm makes me much more than the guy in the back who keeps time so people know where they are, should they lose "1."
I am a "Drumist" whose contribution to music is just as important, in context, as any other musician in a collection of such. Done right, done correctly, done musically people like Terry Bozzio and others are able to hold solo performances while people sit amazed at what one mind and four limbs can do. You can listen to a Virgil Donati all night long and never figure out what on earth he is doing when he plays, when he performs, when he explodes, or when he just "keeps time." These mathematical magicians can twist your head just keeping up with where "1" is.
I have no idea what these well-known musicians believe about God, the Creator. I know what I believe. I believe the Creator created me with this innate sense of time, of rhythm, of nature, of imagination, of intensity, of harmony, of improvisation, of collective merging of sound which creates an atmosphere charged with excitement and power. It all goes back to the Creator. To Him must go the deeper honor and glory. From Him comes rhythm and the Hummingbird's wings, the Loon dancing on the water, the Ruffed Grouse air drumming, or the Magnificent Frigatebird throat tapping, or the various Woodpeckers doing single stroke rolls so fast you cannot even see it. Nature's drumists have been there all along. It is not a hobby for them. It is life.
I never cared much for my name, Raymond. My father's name was Edgar Raymond. My parents reversed it in naming me. Hardly anyone called him by his first name. His nickname was "Chick," and that's what everyone called him since he was a kid. I placed my full name in the heading of this web site because in the end, my dad, even though we were never really close, gave to me his sense of musical nature. He never learned to play an instrument yet, I often saw him sit down at a piano or organ and just move his hands around, finding chords he liked, searching out well known melodies. We never had a piano. He would do this when he visited relatives or friends who did. I'd watch him, standing next to the piano or somewhere in the room. It made a big impression on me as a child.
My dad passed away in my arms many years ago. I'm 60 now. It is time I am known as I was named, in honor of a man who fought a world war, worked hard all his life, and died the strongest man I ever knew.
I am a Drumist. I am Raymond Edgar Frigon.
******************
20. The Square Pegs - Sabbath, December 19, 2015
I am a Christian. I maintain a biblical, Christian worldview. My place in this world? God knows. I have always felt like a square peg with round holes all over the place, most of my life. I write this for the square pegs, wherever you are.
It is not difficult for us square peggers to confuse people. We are generally too conservative for liberals, and too liberal for conservatives, and totally confusing to the moderates in-between because we have fairly solid convictions that might be held by the former camps.
I was communicating with Fred Melillo, bassist, and member of Legend, about how 'From the Fjords' has been generally categorized by people into music familiar with our album. Back in 1978, when we recorded it, we saw ourselves as a power trio, playing various forms of genre from hard rock, to progressive, to fusion, which was the genre I was most into. I never saw us as a metal band, heavy as we might have sounded on some things. We are often categorized with "music" that literally curls the hairs on the back of my neck. I never understood how we ended up in such a category.
Fred said when metal fans find out he isn't into metal anymore (though he has played on some tracks for bands) they become indignant. To my knowledge, Fred has not made any kind of public statements about metal one way or the other. Me, on the other hand ...
Last week I received a contact message from a guy, I believe lives in Europe, based on his name. He likes From the Fjords and said kind things about it and my playing on the album. In reading things here at my site he was upset with me for voicing my convictions about modern music and the anger and violent nature, and bold, overt satanic nature of bands today, especially in metal. He was disappointed in me.
I remember when Black Sabbath came out when I was around 15. I bought their albums and played along to them. They were considered the birth of metal. Key signatures and things that were removed from the rock which was pioneered by Cream, The Who, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and co., influenced by American Blues, rock and roll, and even jazz artists. Tones were changing. Metal was a darker sound. To watch an old Black Sabbath video from their early days on youtube today, they seem like Top 40 compared to things out there now. You can hear actual melodies, and lyrics were discernible. The growling and screaming and stuff out there today, even in what is called "Christian" rock, is ridiculous trying to call it music, by definition.
If a Marilyn Manson appeared back then I can only imagine the horror of sensible people in the music industry. As awful as Vincent Fournier (Alice Cooper) seemed, we all knew it was just a way over the top, bizarre act for effect. It was intended to freak people out and it did. Welcome to his nightmare and all. Manson? Not much shocks me or sinks my stomach. Ten seconds of Manson was all it took, when I first heard him discussed on a radio talk show one day driving home from my weekly radio program, back in the 90s. They played one of his songs. I had to switch stations. I had never heard anything so blatantly dark and evil in my life.
I am a Christian. I maintain a biblical world view. I strongly believe Christ is going to return in my lifetime. Am I supposed to bury convictions I have about the current world scene because it might offend someone? Friend. Who told you you had a right not to be offended by anyone or anything in this life? Jesus Christ offended people, and as the Creator of this universe He became a man, lived a sinless life in the midst of national corruption, offended people who sought to kill Him, and died for every single person on earth to offer them salvation and freedom from death. You want me to keep that to myself? That is not going to happen. And you can call me an idiot, stupid and foolish all day long. I will not be offended.
Now, some people think I am lost because I play drums. Some people think I am off the wall because I play in a duo, recording a multi-genre instrumental style of music. It ain't Gospel music. It isn't hymns. I love hymns. I like gospel music. Miledge Muzic is neither. I give glory to God for the talents He has given me and am not ashamed to say so. I do what I can do behind a set of drums because of what the Creator has placed in me to do it, not anything I am responsible for. I practice. I listen to nature. I hear percussion. I play.
I get the 'metal heads' angry. I get the church folk upset. Well, thankfully, I do not have to answer to either camp because you didn't die for me to save me from my sins, which are plenty. If you do not understand me, so be it. I can live with that.
My past is my past. I have been amazed at the interest Legend: From the Fjords has around the world. It is gratifying to see the nice things people have to say about my contribution to the band. But, seriously, it was almost 40 years ago. Some people do move on, despite bands out their celebrating 40 years of existence. How many can you name? Most people have moved on, whether one hit wonders or those that had substantial careers. Some became Christians. Some joined other religions. Some became business people, or work in the trades. They turned to other forms of art or media. The bad-asses mellowed out. Well, many of them. Some want the old days and should let it go because they can't hit the notes anymore. Fans often don't care. They like to relive the past, as well. I do not care to.
I spent a couple decades in ministry. I am a student of the Bible. I hold deeply developed convictions about what is true in a mixed-up world. I have plenty in my life to apologize for, to ask forgiveness for. My spiritual convictions, based on biblical principles, are not something I am sorry for.
So, for the guys into metal or whatever who come by and read some stuff here, think what you will, good or bad. I am very willing to give you all the space for life that you want. Do your thing. Be responsible. Be accountable. Just don't ask me to keep my convictions to myself if I observe something I truly believe is wrong. Freedom of speech is not a one way street.
I am willing to be responsible and accountable for what I believe. I love everybody because Christ died for everybody. That does not mean I have to like what everybody is into or stay silent about it.
It is a dark world, getting darker by the week, just as the Bible predicted thousands of years ago.
"Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon you.
"For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but Jehovah will arise upon you, and his glory shall be seen upon you.
"And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:1-3
Everybody is going to chose one side or the other before this gig is over. The coming intermission is going to be pretty radical.
I hope and pray you are ready when it hits.
It is not difficult for us square peggers to confuse people. We are generally too conservative for liberals, and too liberal for conservatives, and totally confusing to the moderates in-between because we have fairly solid convictions that might be held by the former camps.
I was communicating with Fred Melillo, bassist, and member of Legend, about how 'From the Fjords' has been generally categorized by people into music familiar with our album. Back in 1978, when we recorded it, we saw ourselves as a power trio, playing various forms of genre from hard rock, to progressive, to fusion, which was the genre I was most into. I never saw us as a metal band, heavy as we might have sounded on some things. We are often categorized with "music" that literally curls the hairs on the back of my neck. I never understood how we ended up in such a category.
Fred said when metal fans find out he isn't into metal anymore (though he has played on some tracks for bands) they become indignant. To my knowledge, Fred has not made any kind of public statements about metal one way or the other. Me, on the other hand ...
Last week I received a contact message from a guy, I believe lives in Europe, based on his name. He likes From the Fjords and said kind things about it and my playing on the album. In reading things here at my site he was upset with me for voicing my convictions about modern music and the anger and violent nature, and bold, overt satanic nature of bands today, especially in metal. He was disappointed in me.
I remember when Black Sabbath came out when I was around 15. I bought their albums and played along to them. They were considered the birth of metal. Key signatures and things that were removed from the rock which was pioneered by Cream, The Who, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and co., influenced by American Blues, rock and roll, and even jazz artists. Tones were changing. Metal was a darker sound. To watch an old Black Sabbath video from their early days on youtube today, they seem like Top 40 compared to things out there now. You can hear actual melodies, and lyrics were discernible. The growling and screaming and stuff out there today, even in what is called "Christian" rock, is ridiculous trying to call it music, by definition.
If a Marilyn Manson appeared back then I can only imagine the horror of sensible people in the music industry. As awful as Vincent Fournier (Alice Cooper) seemed, we all knew it was just a way over the top, bizarre act for effect. It was intended to freak people out and it did. Welcome to his nightmare and all. Manson? Not much shocks me or sinks my stomach. Ten seconds of Manson was all it took, when I first heard him discussed on a radio talk show one day driving home from my weekly radio program, back in the 90s. They played one of his songs. I had to switch stations. I had never heard anything so blatantly dark and evil in my life.
I am a Christian. I maintain a biblical world view. I strongly believe Christ is going to return in my lifetime. Am I supposed to bury convictions I have about the current world scene because it might offend someone? Friend. Who told you you had a right not to be offended by anyone or anything in this life? Jesus Christ offended people, and as the Creator of this universe He became a man, lived a sinless life in the midst of national corruption, offended people who sought to kill Him, and died for every single person on earth to offer them salvation and freedom from death. You want me to keep that to myself? That is not going to happen. And you can call me an idiot, stupid and foolish all day long. I will not be offended.
Now, some people think I am lost because I play drums. Some people think I am off the wall because I play in a duo, recording a multi-genre instrumental style of music. It ain't Gospel music. It isn't hymns. I love hymns. I like gospel music. Miledge Muzic is neither. I give glory to God for the talents He has given me and am not ashamed to say so. I do what I can do behind a set of drums because of what the Creator has placed in me to do it, not anything I am responsible for. I practice. I listen to nature. I hear percussion. I play.
I get the 'metal heads' angry. I get the church folk upset. Well, thankfully, I do not have to answer to either camp because you didn't die for me to save me from my sins, which are plenty. If you do not understand me, so be it. I can live with that.
My past is my past. I have been amazed at the interest Legend: From the Fjords has around the world. It is gratifying to see the nice things people have to say about my contribution to the band. But, seriously, it was almost 40 years ago. Some people do move on, despite bands out their celebrating 40 years of existence. How many can you name? Most people have moved on, whether one hit wonders or those that had substantial careers. Some became Christians. Some joined other religions. Some became business people, or work in the trades. They turned to other forms of art or media. The bad-asses mellowed out. Well, many of them. Some want the old days and should let it go because they can't hit the notes anymore. Fans often don't care. They like to relive the past, as well. I do not care to.
I spent a couple decades in ministry. I am a student of the Bible. I hold deeply developed convictions about what is true in a mixed-up world. I have plenty in my life to apologize for, to ask forgiveness for. My spiritual convictions, based on biblical principles, are not something I am sorry for.
So, for the guys into metal or whatever who come by and read some stuff here, think what you will, good or bad. I am very willing to give you all the space for life that you want. Do your thing. Be responsible. Be accountable. Just don't ask me to keep my convictions to myself if I observe something I truly believe is wrong. Freedom of speech is not a one way street.
I am willing to be responsible and accountable for what I believe. I love everybody because Christ died for everybody. That does not mean I have to like what everybody is into or stay silent about it.
It is a dark world, getting darker by the week, just as the Bible predicted thousands of years ago.
"Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon you.
"For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but Jehovah will arise upon you, and his glory shall be seen upon you.
"And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:1-3
Everybody is going to chose one side or the other before this gig is over. The coming intermission is going to be pretty radical.
I hope and pray you are ready when it hits.
******************
21. People Do Not Understand the Drum Set Artist - December 24, 2016
What is the purpose of drum set artistry? The history of percussion instruments is basically the history of rhythm within the human race. It is also the historical interpretation of rhythm as heard and felt by humans in nature, and the modern age of industry. Time keeping, propulsion of music, accentuation in music, ethereal pause or dramatic climax, all these aspects embrace the use of percussion instruments.
Modern times have produced musical instruments of acoustic and electronic variety which truly astounds the mind when you sit back and look at the sheer numbers of things people can learn to play. And these inventions rapidly multiply with each passing year now. For over a century the acoustic drum set or drum kit has been around. The Trap set, a contraption of various instruments making up an assembly of rhythm and time keepers, mostly for large bands and orchestras, had as much stuff in it as large drum sets of the modern era. Drums, cymbals, temple blocks, cowbells, chimes, and other things took up quite a footprint in the day. They even had drum racks, well before the modern version. Little by little these footprints became smaller and smaller until the basic four piece set was utilized, and remains a mainstay for drummers the world over.
"Big" drum sets, 'big' being highly subjective, came into use and have also stayed around and in some cases have become pretty mind boggling for the average onlooker. Just the same, even a set-up such as Terry Bozzio has, does not contain the notes on a 22 fret guitar. And drums (which can be tuned to notes as Bozzio does), like cymbals, generally have a overall pitch to them: a moving, fluid sound with highs and lows and midrange tones. Even though it is possible and drummers do play melodies on a drum set, that is not the primary purpose of the instrument.
People generally see "drummers" as the guys (and now gals) that keep time. To do that, what do they need all these drums and cymbals for? Composers and other musicians often feel the same way. But for the drumist, the one who sees drums, cymbals, and percussion instruments as a means of interpreting rhythm and nature and industry within music, each drum, cymbal, and percussion item represents a family of sound put together to accomplish that task, that possibility, that passion.
No one says a negative word about 88 keys on a piano, or 138 notes on a guitar, even though the pianist or guitarist may not touch every key or fret during a performance and can only touch ten at any given moment, depending on their abilities and technique. People begin to get nervous if the drummer has more than 5 drums and as many cymbals. Guitars and bass keep adding strings. The Chapman Stick contains both. People see a Stick player and marvel. People see a lot of drums and cymbals and expect a "showoff."
For me, the drums, the cymbals, "effects" or various other sounds, create a family of chosen instruments to augment or enhance each other and my own mind to interpret music. Actual space limitations become a hazard or players like myself might have even more but, compromises often have to be made. For Terry Bozzio, and others, given their place in the music industry, they have whatever they want to fill space around them. More power to them. I have seen drummers criticize Bozzio's rig. I freely admit 6 bass drums might have sound system problems in articulating low end frequencies produced, making that many kicks almost sonically pointless but, detractors obviously do not understand Bozzio's passion for sound or his physical, emotional, and intellectual pursuit of rhythm. But, then there are the differences in how bass drums are muffled and the individual tones they create as a result. I have never seen Bozzio live so, I do not know what he employs in his kick drum choices. He has a family of bass drums, to be sure.
Families can be small. Families can be large, and extended families can produce a few football teams. I have a large family of instruments. People ask, Why do you need all that? As written elsewhere here I answer, Does a pianist need 88 notes? Obviously not, because synthesizers have as few as a couple octaves to make music with. Some drummers have collections of snare drums, collections of hi hats, etc. I do not. I am satisfied with that which I have or can make, for the most part. On the other hand drummers know the quest of seeking "the One;" the snare drum that employs the best of sound and feeling and response for the individual player's tastes. But, I do love cymbals and what their individual characters can add to music under the impact of sticks, mallets, brushes, or other implements.
I am not much of a one to get into or respect huge drum sets for show. That is something for others to have. I play what I have. I use what I fill a space with. Whether or not I use it every time I play, like the low A or C8 on a piano, it is there if I want to use it.
People may never understand the drumist with large set-ups. Their families may cringe or complain at the latest acquisition. Their bandmates might roll their eyes. Well, drumist, take heart. Your passion is worthy of pursuit.
One of my favorite people in the Bible is Asaph (anciently pronounced 'awsawf'). He was a cymbal maker and player, as well as composer and lyricist in the court of King David. He wrote a number of Psalms recorded in that portion of Scripture. His sons got involved. Cymbals were used in temple services to play the songs of God. At times he outfitted people throughout the land with cymbals to play at festive and national events; finger cymbals to loud, clashing cymbals.
I hope to meet Asaph and spend some time with him in the kingdom when Christ returns. I have a lot of questions to ask him about his percussive passion in his time on Earth.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
22. Choices and Time - February 21, 2017
I am a Christian.
One time, many years ago, a man told me of an experience he had witnessing his faith to a non-believer. He was asked by this person if he was a Christian. His answer, "Well, I'm trying to be."
It is difficult to express how that sentence has stayed with me all these years.
Well, I'm trying to be.
Is not the Christian a person who believes and just is, by faith? The apple tree does not try to produce apples, it just does, because it is an apple tree. That is a popular theology. I consider it a half truth. The other half is just as, if not more important: we must do that which the apple tree does not. We must choose to be a Christian; a follower of Christ, owned by Christ, so fruit of sanctified lives may be produced. We must choose, often against terrible odds and forces, especially our own selfish desires, to give our minds to Christ. Daily battles with self and the forces against God in this lost world. I am trying to be a Christian.
Every single day, moment by moment, human beings make choices. We makes dozens, hundreds, thousands of choices involving what we think, what we say, what we do - possible results, consequences, reactions ... realized results, consequences, reactions. We think and choose, we habitually say and do things without even thinking and choices are made in that process.
I am 62 as I write this. In the last ten years I have reflected on a choice I made almost 40 years ago to follow Christ. I have reflected on that choice because of all the record companies that have contacted me to reissue the Legend album, From the Fjords.
I can contemplate what would have happened if I chose to stay in the band and continue on with its place in music after the album was produced. I see the status it has today. I can only guess what would have developed 40 years ago. Time has passed. Where did it go? With the interest in Legend it almost seems time has frozen. It hasn't.
The drummer, or drumist, as I like to say, makes constant choices about time. He or she keeps time. They speed it up, slow it down, they stretch it, manipulate it, some expertly sub-divide it. You make choices about fills - the moment to begin and end one and what it consists of. Drumming becomes innate enough that things are done in an ebb and flow that seem to exclude thinking and choices. You just do it. Just the same, the brain has calculated hundreds of things in less than a second and choices are made to go, and to do it in time.
When I sit down to play drums, with what little time I have to do so, I am faced with great limitations. I want to do things I simply cannot do because of the time necessary to practice and develop the necessary skills. I do not have it. I do not have the time. The consequences of making or taking the time would not be beneficial. Other things must be done. Things must get done, or order in other areas are damaged. Important things. In the course of a day that same circumstance exists for my knowledge of carpentry and tentacled skills of home renovation and building, of electricity, plumbing, human physiology, nutrition, and many other aspects of daily life. Time for exercise. Time for organizing. Time for ... I'm trying to be a good drummer.
Eternity is endless time. People can think Christians are crazy but, I want Christ to return so endless time can exist for people to develop, progress, advance, enhance, experience, learn, gain, increase, and explore everything, anything meaningful to us. Endless time to spend face to face with loved ones, and especially with our Creator and re-Creator of lost, wasted lives. It is impossible to weigh the gift of eternal life.
Does endless time need or even want music recordings? Every minute of eternal life and endless time is better than the previous minute. We record, we store so things are not lost. Is there even a need or desire for time keeping devices? Everything done exceeds that which was done before it. There is no need to work to get something right. There is no time on the clock costing money. Everything returns to "normal," as God intended. There are no second takes to get a better one, or address mistakes. There is no need. Our senses our heightened, our abilities are constantly enhanced. Our execution, perfect, that our experience is optimum, and it gets better, moment by moment of endless time in harmony and living connection with our Creator.
We speak of "masters" here. People who have put in the time to master something. In heaven, everyone shall be a master of whatever they choose to get into. And, yes, as I stated elsewhere, it will take all eternity to master everything we want to explore and get into. Endless new things to do. It is mind boggling to contemplate, impossible to truly grasp.
I watch people do incredible things on a set of drums. They have the time. Of course, they may have to call a carpenter, or plumber sometimes. So, my time has not been spent or used that badly, I guess. And that is a gift from God, too.
One time, many years ago, a man told me of an experience he had witnessing his faith to a non-believer. He was asked by this person if he was a Christian. His answer, "Well, I'm trying to be."
It is difficult to express how that sentence has stayed with me all these years.
Well, I'm trying to be.
Is not the Christian a person who believes and just is, by faith? The apple tree does not try to produce apples, it just does, because it is an apple tree. That is a popular theology. I consider it a half truth. The other half is just as, if not more important: we must do that which the apple tree does not. We must choose to be a Christian; a follower of Christ, owned by Christ, so fruit of sanctified lives may be produced. We must choose, often against terrible odds and forces, especially our own selfish desires, to give our minds to Christ. Daily battles with self and the forces against God in this lost world. I am trying to be a Christian.
Every single day, moment by moment, human beings make choices. We makes dozens, hundreds, thousands of choices involving what we think, what we say, what we do - possible results, consequences, reactions ... realized results, consequences, reactions. We think and choose, we habitually say and do things without even thinking and choices are made in that process.
I am 62 as I write this. In the last ten years I have reflected on a choice I made almost 40 years ago to follow Christ. I have reflected on that choice because of all the record companies that have contacted me to reissue the Legend album, From the Fjords.
I can contemplate what would have happened if I chose to stay in the band and continue on with its place in music after the album was produced. I see the status it has today. I can only guess what would have developed 40 years ago. Time has passed. Where did it go? With the interest in Legend it almost seems time has frozen. It hasn't.
The drummer, or drumist, as I like to say, makes constant choices about time. He or she keeps time. They speed it up, slow it down, they stretch it, manipulate it, some expertly sub-divide it. You make choices about fills - the moment to begin and end one and what it consists of. Drumming becomes innate enough that things are done in an ebb and flow that seem to exclude thinking and choices. You just do it. Just the same, the brain has calculated hundreds of things in less than a second and choices are made to go, and to do it in time.
When I sit down to play drums, with what little time I have to do so, I am faced with great limitations. I want to do things I simply cannot do because of the time necessary to practice and develop the necessary skills. I do not have it. I do not have the time. The consequences of making or taking the time would not be beneficial. Other things must be done. Things must get done, or order in other areas are damaged. Important things. In the course of a day that same circumstance exists for my knowledge of carpentry and tentacled skills of home renovation and building, of electricity, plumbing, human physiology, nutrition, and many other aspects of daily life. Time for exercise. Time for organizing. Time for ... I'm trying to be a good drummer.
Eternity is endless time. People can think Christians are crazy but, I want Christ to return so endless time can exist for people to develop, progress, advance, enhance, experience, learn, gain, increase, and explore everything, anything meaningful to us. Endless time to spend face to face with loved ones, and especially with our Creator and re-Creator of lost, wasted lives. It is impossible to weigh the gift of eternal life.
Does endless time need or even want music recordings? Every minute of eternal life and endless time is better than the previous minute. We record, we store so things are not lost. Is there even a need or desire for time keeping devices? Everything done exceeds that which was done before it. There is no need to work to get something right. There is no time on the clock costing money. Everything returns to "normal," as God intended. There are no second takes to get a better one, or address mistakes. There is no need. Our senses our heightened, our abilities are constantly enhanced. Our execution, perfect, that our experience is optimum, and it gets better, moment by moment of endless time in harmony and living connection with our Creator.
We speak of "masters" here. People who have put in the time to master something. In heaven, everyone shall be a master of whatever they choose to get into. And, yes, as I stated elsewhere, it will take all eternity to master everything we want to explore and get into. Endless new things to do. It is mind boggling to contemplate, impossible to truly grasp.
I watch people do incredible things on a set of drums. They have the time. Of course, they may have to call a carpenter, or plumber sometimes. So, my time has not been spent or used that badly, I guess. And that is a gift from God, too.
******************
23. Ford, Honesty, Integrity and Ultra-Hype - February 18, 2018
Over the last 25 plus years of making my own drums I have experienced and observed some things. I have tried to share these observations on drummer forums and most of the time it is a 50/50 response of agreement versus I am insane, or worse.
My observation is simple - a drum, is a drum. It is not a piano. It is not meant to be a perfectly tuned chromatic instrument. It is a cylinder, with one or two membranes tensioned to create a relative pitch.
The sound of a drum is the head(s). We know that simply because of Remo Roto Toms, Arbiter Flats, and other shell-less drums that sound like drums, and they are just a head on a frame of some kind. The sound of a drum is not the shell, despite what drum makers trumpet to willing audiences. The hype in the drum manufacturing industry about drum shells is incredibly ridiculous these days.
More than a year ago (after some "lively" discussion about the subject at one forum I used to frequent) I bought some toms off ebay, and bought some Keller drum shells. I planned to make some videos to post on youtube regarding this subject. Almost a year went by and everything just sat in a closet. A new poster put up a thread and the subject reignited. He included a youtube video from the Ford Drum Company, where Jimmy Ford, and Jay Galen visit the Sonor booth at NAMM and Jimmy strikes each of the toms set up. Their conclusion, and mine for decades, is that a drum sounds like a drum. Change the heads, change the personality and character of the sound. Drum shells? Not so much. Nuances and subtleties lost when you crank up the whole set.
Drum companies put things on their web sites about their shells that is astounding. If true, you can have your own personal place in the sound universe. The woods, the plies, the directions of the plies, the glues, on and on they describe what must be a satellite about to be launched into space. Nonsense. Well, you know, they want to sell their drums, not someone elses heads. I get that. The nonsense? The ultra-hype? Loss of honesty and integrity? I do not get that. Competition must be radically fierce these days to stoop to such foolishness.
After seeing the Ford video, I wrote to them and stated my own belief that acknowledges theirs and thanked them for their honesty. Jay Galen replied and thanked me for my comments. I then proceeded to make the videos I had planned to a year ago. They are now up on my youtube page. Thus far there are six of them addressing shells, sound, bearing edges, and a couple surprises. I still have a couple to put up.
This subject is one of the most volatile I have witnessed among drummers. Why is that? When did this begin? How did it get here? None of this shell hype existed when I was young. Purchasing drums was about sizes, finishes, hardware and the like but, drum shells and particular, audible sounds they produce? No.
I know how and when this began and I won't go there. Suffice to say the industry has become saturated with carnival barkers trying to lure people into their tents with high octane preaching about wood and shell construction. I thank the Ford company for shedding some light on this subject. They took a risk. I am no one. I don't make and sell drums. I am not some big name that anyone cares about. Just the same, it saddens me to see people, especially young people, begging mom and dad for drums that cost through the roof and they will not sound any better than instruments costing much less. The finishes, the hardware might be better, line to line but, as I show in the videos, intermediate lines can sound just as good as top of the line. That's because the sound of a drum is the heads, not the shell. You can get the sound of a drum without a shell. You cannot get the sound of a drum without the heads. Seat good heads correctly, mount the drum correctly, you get good sound.
Every single day someone is making their own set of drums from component parts, or, if they have the tools and skills, from raw materials, and their drums sound terrific. It is not rocket science. It's a drum, not a space capsule.
Yes, products will always come with some "hype." When I was young and that word began to be used it meant excitement. Excitement was being created about a product, an event, something. Everybody understands that: products come with advertising. There comes a point where advertising claims that cannot be backed up become false advertising. We have all seen the results. Everything from toothpaste to appliances to diet plans have had to recant and rephrase things to meet the truth.
Why is it drummers allow companies to say outrageous things and continue to support them? To their credit, my research into the subject showed me Premier and Gretsch use no super-hype to promote their drums. They hardly use any hype at all. Other companies? It is embarrassing to read the stuff they proclaim about drum shells. I must say - Prove It! Set up toms from every line you make (in some cases well over a dozen) and let us hear these unmistakable characteristics your shells create in the sound of a drum. You will not see those videos because no such dramatic differences exist. The Ford video shows that. My own videos do. Others are showing up on yt as well, showing the same thing, though posters are not adamant about it. For me, it is a matter of principle and integrity.
Hey, if you want to spend a boatload of money on drums, it is your wallet. If that inspires you, go for it. For those who cannot afford those price tickets, do not feel bad if you own a "lesser" line of drums. Maybe the finish is not perfect (unless it's a wrap), and maybe the hardware is not road/touring worthy but, as far as sound? Your drums will sound as good as anything out there if good heads seat correctly on the bearing edge and the drum is mounted so it can float in some way - toms and floor toms. Kicks touch the floor no matter what and the way drummers mute them these days, changing heads and muffling can accomplish anything in bass drum sound. Studio and live, cardboard boxes can be mic'd and messed with in software and at the boards to sound like drums. Yt has videos proving that. Any drums, even entry level, can be made to sound good with recording equipment.
I hope the companies dial it back and start getting honest with consumers. And I hope consumers wise up and realize the hype is just that - marketing and nothing more.
The sound of a drum is the heads. The density of the shell material will either allow excitement or retardation of sound waves and air concussion to inhabit the cylinder, more or less. The heads are throwing off sound frequencies. The chamber will either dampen or magnify those frequencies in subtle ways. Dramatic ways? Including the bevy of bearing edges out there? No. In full-set play, especially in a band setting, no. Let it be proven if the fact is otherwise.
For over 25 years I have been making drums that sound just as good as anything out there. It doesn't take a genius. It takes decent heads, decent mounting/isolation from vibration canceling methods and environment, and, of course, the touch of the player to bring the instrument alive.
Yes, a drum vibrates as a single unit. No, the drum shell is not the most important component.
Take a look at the videos. They simply speak for themselves. REFondrums is my youtube page.
Here's #1. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnmLVURn6hk
My observation is simple - a drum, is a drum. It is not a piano. It is not meant to be a perfectly tuned chromatic instrument. It is a cylinder, with one or two membranes tensioned to create a relative pitch.
The sound of a drum is the head(s). We know that simply because of Remo Roto Toms, Arbiter Flats, and other shell-less drums that sound like drums, and they are just a head on a frame of some kind. The sound of a drum is not the shell, despite what drum makers trumpet to willing audiences. The hype in the drum manufacturing industry about drum shells is incredibly ridiculous these days.
More than a year ago (after some "lively" discussion about the subject at one forum I used to frequent) I bought some toms off ebay, and bought some Keller drum shells. I planned to make some videos to post on youtube regarding this subject. Almost a year went by and everything just sat in a closet. A new poster put up a thread and the subject reignited. He included a youtube video from the Ford Drum Company, where Jimmy Ford, and Jay Galen visit the Sonor booth at NAMM and Jimmy strikes each of the toms set up. Their conclusion, and mine for decades, is that a drum sounds like a drum. Change the heads, change the personality and character of the sound. Drum shells? Not so much. Nuances and subtleties lost when you crank up the whole set.
Drum companies put things on their web sites about their shells that is astounding. If true, you can have your own personal place in the sound universe. The woods, the plies, the directions of the plies, the glues, on and on they describe what must be a satellite about to be launched into space. Nonsense. Well, you know, they want to sell their drums, not someone elses heads. I get that. The nonsense? The ultra-hype? Loss of honesty and integrity? I do not get that. Competition must be radically fierce these days to stoop to such foolishness.
After seeing the Ford video, I wrote to them and stated my own belief that acknowledges theirs and thanked them for their honesty. Jay Galen replied and thanked me for my comments. I then proceeded to make the videos I had planned to a year ago. They are now up on my youtube page. Thus far there are six of them addressing shells, sound, bearing edges, and a couple surprises. I still have a couple to put up.
This subject is one of the most volatile I have witnessed among drummers. Why is that? When did this begin? How did it get here? None of this shell hype existed when I was young. Purchasing drums was about sizes, finishes, hardware and the like but, drum shells and particular, audible sounds they produce? No.
I know how and when this began and I won't go there. Suffice to say the industry has become saturated with carnival barkers trying to lure people into their tents with high octane preaching about wood and shell construction. I thank the Ford company for shedding some light on this subject. They took a risk. I am no one. I don't make and sell drums. I am not some big name that anyone cares about. Just the same, it saddens me to see people, especially young people, begging mom and dad for drums that cost through the roof and they will not sound any better than instruments costing much less. The finishes, the hardware might be better, line to line but, as I show in the videos, intermediate lines can sound just as good as top of the line. That's because the sound of a drum is the heads, not the shell. You can get the sound of a drum without a shell. You cannot get the sound of a drum without the heads. Seat good heads correctly, mount the drum correctly, you get good sound.
Every single day someone is making their own set of drums from component parts, or, if they have the tools and skills, from raw materials, and their drums sound terrific. It is not rocket science. It's a drum, not a space capsule.
Yes, products will always come with some "hype." When I was young and that word began to be used it meant excitement. Excitement was being created about a product, an event, something. Everybody understands that: products come with advertising. There comes a point where advertising claims that cannot be backed up become false advertising. We have all seen the results. Everything from toothpaste to appliances to diet plans have had to recant and rephrase things to meet the truth.
Why is it drummers allow companies to say outrageous things and continue to support them? To their credit, my research into the subject showed me Premier and Gretsch use no super-hype to promote their drums. They hardly use any hype at all. Other companies? It is embarrassing to read the stuff they proclaim about drum shells. I must say - Prove It! Set up toms from every line you make (in some cases well over a dozen) and let us hear these unmistakable characteristics your shells create in the sound of a drum. You will not see those videos because no such dramatic differences exist. The Ford video shows that. My own videos do. Others are showing up on yt as well, showing the same thing, though posters are not adamant about it. For me, it is a matter of principle and integrity.
Hey, if you want to spend a boatload of money on drums, it is your wallet. If that inspires you, go for it. For those who cannot afford those price tickets, do not feel bad if you own a "lesser" line of drums. Maybe the finish is not perfect (unless it's a wrap), and maybe the hardware is not road/touring worthy but, as far as sound? Your drums will sound as good as anything out there if good heads seat correctly on the bearing edge and the drum is mounted so it can float in some way - toms and floor toms. Kicks touch the floor no matter what and the way drummers mute them these days, changing heads and muffling can accomplish anything in bass drum sound. Studio and live, cardboard boxes can be mic'd and messed with in software and at the boards to sound like drums. Yt has videos proving that. Any drums, even entry level, can be made to sound good with recording equipment.
I hope the companies dial it back and start getting honest with consumers. And I hope consumers wise up and realize the hype is just that - marketing and nothing more.
The sound of a drum is the heads. The density of the shell material will either allow excitement or retardation of sound waves and air concussion to inhabit the cylinder, more or less. The heads are throwing off sound frequencies. The chamber will either dampen or magnify those frequencies in subtle ways. Dramatic ways? Including the bevy of bearing edges out there? No. In full-set play, especially in a band setting, no. Let it be proven if the fact is otherwise.
For over 25 years I have been making drums that sound just as good as anything out there. It doesn't take a genius. It takes decent heads, decent mounting/isolation from vibration canceling methods and environment, and, of course, the touch of the player to bring the instrument alive.
Yes, a drum vibrates as a single unit. No, the drum shell is not the most important component.
Take a look at the videos. They simply speak for themselves. REFondrums is my youtube page.
Here's #1. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnmLVURn6hk
*******************
24. Are Christians Changing the Music Industry - June 2, 2018
Recently I saw an article on Christians in music changing the music industry. On the face of it, in light of Bible prophecy and current events, I seriously doubt the claim.
It is true, committed, godly Christians have influenced society in all areas down through time. That said, history shows, always, that the prevailing culture generally distorts and swallows up the larger influence of the Christian church, time and again.
I find it odd that such a claim would be made when it is obvious Christians are being singled out, harassed, oppressed, and even persecuted by State laws and individual groups within the nation, itself. The First Amendment simply states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
The prohibition of free exercise and speech is now rampant as groups aggressively sue people of faith and /or churches and faith based groups for just trying to live out their faith and stay true to principles thousands of years old. No, age does not make something right. The Bible's age is not what makes it right. The Author makes it right, and America is swiftly disregarding the Sovereign of the universe in favor of man and man's ideas and preferences. A sure sign of the times that Christ is going to return to this Earth someday soon enough. Yes, that is my belief and I hold it with passion and deep conviction.
It would be wonderful if musicians that are Christians could influence the music industry. To be honest, I see it as an oxymoron. Christians are not called to influence industry. They are called to call people to Christ. Perhaps owners and leaders in industry can be influenced and decisions of change could be made but, looking at the current music industry what I see is more raw, open immorality, violence, animosity and rejection of truth than ever in American history. The churches, themselves, are faint shadows of their former moral influence in the nation, succumbing to the culture. As the historians have noted down through time - Did the church convert the empire or did the empire convert the church? The latter has historically been the case.
The fact that "family" movies are gaining in attendance does not mean the movie industry is changing. It might mean people are tired of blood and guts and all kinds of profane imagery blasted at them for decades and people are welcoming a respite from the exploitation of gore and sex. If "family" movies can make money, money is the end for Hollywood, not morality. The love of money is the root of all evil. That is what draws and excites and keeps people hooked. I would say the same for the music industry, or any industry, really. Industry exists to make money, not glorify God. For every story of a Christian in music influencing for good, a story exists of a professed Christian having doors slammed in their face or getting dropped from a band or the like. The fact that "American Idol" has professed Christians as finalists seems to stand against the final words of the apostle John in his first epistle - "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." One might ask why Christians are seeking to be an idol, when the Bible says Christ emptied Himself, sought no reputation for Himself, and it was at the tower of Babel that people sought to "make us a name" for themselves.
So, what, actually, is happening? The world is a cauldron about to boil over. My parents would not recognize today's American culture, and saw enough of it to shake their heads at where things had come. I have often asked this rhetorical question, Why did my father fight in a world war for this cultural miasma and mess? I have never seen America so divided. The Constitution means nothing to half the nation. God means less and less to the population if it involves finding and living by truth.
Okay, the eggs are scrambled, big-time. Nothing is going back to the way it was, whatever that means to people. I see freedom and liberty being attacked daily by the very people elected to preserve it. I see multitudes of people with the common sense of a stump being led around by the nose by people who hate America. When asked, they have no real answers for their placards and protests. They are just following a cultural crowd. Where on earth did people get the idea they have a right not to be offended and go after those who offend them. The entire planet offends God! Thank Him He hasn't let it drift into total control of the real enemy the globe has - Lucifer. And yet, he is glorified in music, on television, in movies, outright and in our face. Incredible.
Hey, food comes in a lot of flavors and textures. The world is not vanilla and chocolate. I get that. God creates individuals. We shall not always agree but, agreeing to disagree has seemingly gotten lost in "my way or the highway." "You will not just tolerate but accept what I am and do so regardless of your own beliefs or we will destroy you." That is American exceptionalism? No. That is tyranny. It is obvious to anyone who understands freedom and liberty and the prices that go with it.
America is not and has never been the perfect place but, the great of experiment of freedom and liberty shocked the world. How tragic it is being overthrown by PC and forces of power and influence that hate what America means. Not Washington, D.C. That's a hellhole at this point. It might be the most evil city on Earth given every ABC agency, deep state, military industrial complex, and butting our noses in around the world where it most certainly has not and does not belong.
Have professed Christians displayed hypocrisy in America? Of course. Christ warned of it in every age. It does not surprise anyone that reads the Bible. What I find surprising is that, in America, a menu religion has become the norm. Pick and choose what you like, leave out what you don't, is the norm now. No, different churches will never agree on everything because of one simple fact - ego. Self gets in the way, individually and collectively. Institutions and money have to be guarded more than truth and how the Bible interprets itself to find that truth. Tradition must be guarded, not a this saith the Lord. We have all lived with that, and let each be convinced in their own mind.
Well, all this has been predicted and will get worse, sad and tragic as it is. Until, through various deceptions and some grand dog and pony show satanic sleight of hand, "Peace and safety" will be the ultimate cry of a rebellious world deceived in a grand delusion. Then, the apostle Paul wrote, sudden destruction comes upon the earth as travail upon a woman with child. Labor pains will begin and the earth shall be shaken in a time of trouble such as never been experienced before. Then, Christ shall return. It is "the blessed hope." I am thankful for it in a world going mad.
Are Christians changing the music industry? I doubt it. The industry just watches trends and goes where the money can be made. Some would observe that there is a Christian music industry, itself, that has little to do with anything more than borrowed styles, empty hooks, and sales receipts. Call me skeptical. Call me cynical. Call me suspicious. That's okay. Just don't call me deceived when God calls it a day and closes up shop on this rebellious orb we call home.
It is true, committed, godly Christians have influenced society in all areas down through time. That said, history shows, always, that the prevailing culture generally distorts and swallows up the larger influence of the Christian church, time and again.
I find it odd that such a claim would be made when it is obvious Christians are being singled out, harassed, oppressed, and even persecuted by State laws and individual groups within the nation, itself. The First Amendment simply states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
The prohibition of free exercise and speech is now rampant as groups aggressively sue people of faith and /or churches and faith based groups for just trying to live out their faith and stay true to principles thousands of years old. No, age does not make something right. The Bible's age is not what makes it right. The Author makes it right, and America is swiftly disregarding the Sovereign of the universe in favor of man and man's ideas and preferences. A sure sign of the times that Christ is going to return to this Earth someday soon enough. Yes, that is my belief and I hold it with passion and deep conviction.
It would be wonderful if musicians that are Christians could influence the music industry. To be honest, I see it as an oxymoron. Christians are not called to influence industry. They are called to call people to Christ. Perhaps owners and leaders in industry can be influenced and decisions of change could be made but, looking at the current music industry what I see is more raw, open immorality, violence, animosity and rejection of truth than ever in American history. The churches, themselves, are faint shadows of their former moral influence in the nation, succumbing to the culture. As the historians have noted down through time - Did the church convert the empire or did the empire convert the church? The latter has historically been the case.
The fact that "family" movies are gaining in attendance does not mean the movie industry is changing. It might mean people are tired of blood and guts and all kinds of profane imagery blasted at them for decades and people are welcoming a respite from the exploitation of gore and sex. If "family" movies can make money, money is the end for Hollywood, not morality. The love of money is the root of all evil. That is what draws and excites and keeps people hooked. I would say the same for the music industry, or any industry, really. Industry exists to make money, not glorify God. For every story of a Christian in music influencing for good, a story exists of a professed Christian having doors slammed in their face or getting dropped from a band or the like. The fact that "American Idol" has professed Christians as finalists seems to stand against the final words of the apostle John in his first epistle - "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." One might ask why Christians are seeking to be an idol, when the Bible says Christ emptied Himself, sought no reputation for Himself, and it was at the tower of Babel that people sought to "make us a name" for themselves.
So, what, actually, is happening? The world is a cauldron about to boil over. My parents would not recognize today's American culture, and saw enough of it to shake their heads at where things had come. I have often asked this rhetorical question, Why did my father fight in a world war for this cultural miasma and mess? I have never seen America so divided. The Constitution means nothing to half the nation. God means less and less to the population if it involves finding and living by truth.
Okay, the eggs are scrambled, big-time. Nothing is going back to the way it was, whatever that means to people. I see freedom and liberty being attacked daily by the very people elected to preserve it. I see multitudes of people with the common sense of a stump being led around by the nose by people who hate America. When asked, they have no real answers for their placards and protests. They are just following a cultural crowd. Where on earth did people get the idea they have a right not to be offended and go after those who offend them. The entire planet offends God! Thank Him He hasn't let it drift into total control of the real enemy the globe has - Lucifer. And yet, he is glorified in music, on television, in movies, outright and in our face. Incredible.
Hey, food comes in a lot of flavors and textures. The world is not vanilla and chocolate. I get that. God creates individuals. We shall not always agree but, agreeing to disagree has seemingly gotten lost in "my way or the highway." "You will not just tolerate but accept what I am and do so regardless of your own beliefs or we will destroy you." That is American exceptionalism? No. That is tyranny. It is obvious to anyone who understands freedom and liberty and the prices that go with it.
America is not and has never been the perfect place but, the great of experiment of freedom and liberty shocked the world. How tragic it is being overthrown by PC and forces of power and influence that hate what America means. Not Washington, D.C. That's a hellhole at this point. It might be the most evil city on Earth given every ABC agency, deep state, military industrial complex, and butting our noses in around the world where it most certainly has not and does not belong.
Have professed Christians displayed hypocrisy in America? Of course. Christ warned of it in every age. It does not surprise anyone that reads the Bible. What I find surprising is that, in America, a menu religion has become the norm. Pick and choose what you like, leave out what you don't, is the norm now. No, different churches will never agree on everything because of one simple fact - ego. Self gets in the way, individually and collectively. Institutions and money have to be guarded more than truth and how the Bible interprets itself to find that truth. Tradition must be guarded, not a this saith the Lord. We have all lived with that, and let each be convinced in their own mind.
Well, all this has been predicted and will get worse, sad and tragic as it is. Until, through various deceptions and some grand dog and pony show satanic sleight of hand, "Peace and safety" will be the ultimate cry of a rebellious world deceived in a grand delusion. Then, the apostle Paul wrote, sudden destruction comes upon the earth as travail upon a woman with child. Labor pains will begin and the earth shall be shaken in a time of trouble such as never been experienced before. Then, Christ shall return. It is "the blessed hope." I am thankful for it in a world going mad.
Are Christians changing the music industry? I doubt it. The industry just watches trends and goes where the money can be made. Some would observe that there is a Christian music industry, itself, that has little to do with anything more than borrowed styles, empty hooks, and sales receipts. Call me skeptical. Call me cynical. Call me suspicious. That's okay. Just don't call me deceived when God calls it a day and closes up shop on this rebellious orb we call home.
******************
25. The Sound of a Drum - March 17, 2019
What creates sound from a drum?
I have already placed these ideas in another post. I am not going to remove that post, even though someone contacted me about some inconsistency in a Ford drum co. video on youtube. I agreed and removed my video about their company. I repeat and add from my previous post in a more concise way here.
Cylinder - As anyone who has seen my youtube videos on the subject of hype in the manufacturing industry regarding drum shells https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnmLVURn6hk (parts 1-8); you know my stance: after decades of playing and making drums my constant observation and experience is the differences caused by drum shells are very small. Nuances and subtleties may be heard but, once the entire set is engaged, especially in a band, those nuances are lost, and a drum becomes a drum, as far as sound is concerned. In most cases just a bass guitar can hide those nuances of tonal character, should they actually exist. Those who disagree can place some sort of recorded evidence before us to show that conviction is wrong. I have no problem recanting. I have yet to see or hear that evidence.
Shell Depth - Basically, the more shallow the shell, the greater interaction between the heads, the livelier the sound of the drum. The deeper the shell the less interaction between the heads, the more punchy or thick the sound. But! those differences can be achieved by changing heads. Put twin-ply heads on a shallow shell and the sound of a deeper drum can be accomplished.
Shell Thickness - The thicker the shell, the greater the overall density, the more entrapment of sound waves and volume. That said, common sense applies. A thick shell made of soft woods, will not have the density of a thinner shell made of very hard wood. Again, we end up with nuances and subtlety.
Bearing edges are not magic. They are basically muting devices. The less material that touches the heads; the better positioning of the shell apex between head collar and striking surface, the more wide-open the drum will sound, with more sustain. Conversely, the more shell material touching the heads, and an improper placement of the apex results in more muted tone, sustain, and difficulty in tuning/tension. But all that is only to allow the heads to create their sound. Typical more attention is paid to the bearing edges of more expensive drums. No argument there. Having changed the shape and placement of bearing edges on inexpensive drums I know what the better results can be, though. Bearing edges are important and the buyer should pay attention to how their heads will seat upon them for the best head tone possible. That said, it is not a drum shell contribution to sound, per se.
Ask yourself a simple question. How much mass does a drum head have? Very little. Almost none. Then how is it striking that thin mass is said to send shock waves and vibration down the sidewall of the drum shell via the bearing edge? It is not like striking a cymbal with a stick, or a note on a marimba with a hard mallet. That causes surface to surface vibration. The mass of a drum head? No. Vibration is achieved from the shock wave created by striking the head and those waves vibrating the drum from the inside out, as much as possible. Just strike a batter head with the other hand lightly touching the resonant head, and feel the difference between the instant vibration on your hand, versus placing your hand on the outside of the drum shell. It's a striking demonstration of where the sound of a drum is taking place.
Hoops - Two basic choices here. 1.6 or 2.3 mm metal hoops, or cast aluminum hoops, and wood hoops. Metal hoops can interact with the metal hoop of the head and frequencies can be effected, if not cancelled out. Wood hoops tend to allow the drum to speak with more frequencies, smoother tone, and a touch more volume. Again, nuances. I love my maple hoops. Their contribution to the sound of my drums is more than shell material because they are interacting with the heads, not the shell, and the heads are creating the sound of the drum.
Below is what contributes to the sound of a drum far more than drum shell and all its hype in the industry.
Heads - The sound of a drum is created by the drum heads, not the shell. We know that simply because Remo rototoms, Arbiter Flats, Traps, and other non-shell, basic frame drums sound like drums. The density of the sound chamber will cause sound waves to bounce around to slight varying degrees, creating nuances of tonal character. You can have sound from tensioned heads. You cannot get sound from a naked shell. Yes, the total sound of a drum is a union of its parts, which really applies to the next category but, the sound of a drum is created by the membranes tensioned on the edge of the cylinder. When two membranes are employed, sound waves are trapped and a fuller sound is achieved, generally at the expense of some volume. Single-headed drums are generally louder than double headed drums.
Head companies have worked for 70 years to come up with some kind of membrane material to recreate the sound of calfskin heads. Not the sound of any particular drum shell that jumps out at the player but, the sound character of the calfskin heads.
There is far more noticeable difference between drum head models than drum shell material and manufacturing processes.
Mounting - A drum, depending on your taste in sound, wants to resonate freely. Affixing a chunk of metal on it, like metal lugs, decreases that natural vibration of the wood or other resonant material. Place a hunk of metal on it, and place a metal bar or tube into the hunk of metal mounted to the shell and fasten that tube tightly bound at the other end somehow and you constrict the natural vibration of the drum. Low end frequencies and sustain are lost. Hence, all the devices to try and hang a drum, or nest a drum with as little metallic interference and constriction as possible. If you involve a cylinder, a drum shell, it should be allowed to resonate freely as possible. That said, it is possible to make a drum from a drum shell material that has no natural resonance or sustain and STILL have the sound of a drum because the sound of a drum is the heads. If you doubt that, watch my videos on Tubie, the Sonatube drum. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yptk_gTwvI and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hXbIPHJmK8
Sticks and Beaters - Listen to any recording. Listen to the drums. Tell me what you honestly hear the first 99% of the time. On toms, you hear the attack of the stick on the batter head first, and depending on the music, you might, maybe, will probably not hear any appreciable sustain. You certainly are not going to hear resonance of the total drum. The music covers that up quickly. In cases where players want a more thuddy sound, thicker single-ply or double-ply heads are used and even more tap or "slap" from the stick is heard.
Wood tip sticks create a little less attack. Nylon tip, more attack. It is, after all, plastic striking plastic. And then the weight of the stick, the tip size and shape, and player velocity come into play, as well. THAT is far more the initial audible impact of the sound of a drum than any kind of special process or materials used to create drum shells.
On bass drums it is really all about heads and especially beaters. Felt, wood, cork, plastic, silicone, leather, aluminum and other materials create various levels of attack. Because so many players want a thud or even a click more than anything when it comes to sound, muted heads or stuffing materials inside the drum, or things stuck to the heads are used. Ultimately the initial attack is what is heard with a relative lower end pitch. If players want the more popular, muted sounding bass drum, shell material is really quite moot. It amounts to strength in being able to safely mount hardware on the shell for toms, in that configuration. Otherwise it is all about heads and beaters.
Player Touch - As with type of stick and beater, player touch, amounting to velocity and force and technique is a very large part of the sound of a drum. Just strike a drum with nominal force and velocity with a 7A, 5A, 2B, and 3S in hickory and maple, with various tip material and shapes and listen to what results. The sound can be weak, full, or choked to varying degrees all by the touch of the player. The drum shell is only as much of the test as the heads vibrate and release sound waves into the shell. A player with a lot of natural force can take a 7A maple and create a tone equal to someone else using a 5B hickory.
Mics - This is really where the essence of drum sound is heard, on recordings or live performance. You may have student level drums and with the right set of heads, mounting, mics, recording equipment and technique, you can make the sound of those drums appear to be high end. Likewise, you can make high end drums sound like cardboard boxes or PVC tubes. Having recorded with student level drums, the only thing that really mattered was less than favorable hardware. Otherwise they sound like ... well ... drums.
I am getting more and more militant about this subject. It is astounding to me the number of players that are transfixed to the hype manufacturers put out their about their shells. Logically, as I say, they are trying to sell their drums, not another company's heads. I understand that. Sell away. I just share and warn players; just because you spend thousands of dollars more in no way means you get thousands of dollars better sounding drums. You might get better hardware and finishes. Sound? No. Especially because "sound" is subjective to begin with.
As I always say, spend what you want, it's your money. Be a wise consumer, though.
I have already placed these ideas in another post. I am not going to remove that post, even though someone contacted me about some inconsistency in a Ford drum co. video on youtube. I agreed and removed my video about their company. I repeat and add from my previous post in a more concise way here.
Cylinder - As anyone who has seen my youtube videos on the subject of hype in the manufacturing industry regarding drum shells https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnmLVURn6hk (parts 1-8); you know my stance: after decades of playing and making drums my constant observation and experience is the differences caused by drum shells are very small. Nuances and subtleties may be heard but, once the entire set is engaged, especially in a band, those nuances are lost, and a drum becomes a drum, as far as sound is concerned. In most cases just a bass guitar can hide those nuances of tonal character, should they actually exist. Those who disagree can place some sort of recorded evidence before us to show that conviction is wrong. I have no problem recanting. I have yet to see or hear that evidence.
Shell Depth - Basically, the more shallow the shell, the greater interaction between the heads, the livelier the sound of the drum. The deeper the shell the less interaction between the heads, the more punchy or thick the sound. But! those differences can be achieved by changing heads. Put twin-ply heads on a shallow shell and the sound of a deeper drum can be accomplished.
Shell Thickness - The thicker the shell, the greater the overall density, the more entrapment of sound waves and volume. That said, common sense applies. A thick shell made of soft woods, will not have the density of a thinner shell made of very hard wood. Again, we end up with nuances and subtlety.
Bearing edges are not magic. They are basically muting devices. The less material that touches the heads; the better positioning of the shell apex between head collar and striking surface, the more wide-open the drum will sound, with more sustain. Conversely, the more shell material touching the heads, and an improper placement of the apex results in more muted tone, sustain, and difficulty in tuning/tension. But all that is only to allow the heads to create their sound. Typical more attention is paid to the bearing edges of more expensive drums. No argument there. Having changed the shape and placement of bearing edges on inexpensive drums I know what the better results can be, though. Bearing edges are important and the buyer should pay attention to how their heads will seat upon them for the best head tone possible. That said, it is not a drum shell contribution to sound, per se.
Ask yourself a simple question. How much mass does a drum head have? Very little. Almost none. Then how is it striking that thin mass is said to send shock waves and vibration down the sidewall of the drum shell via the bearing edge? It is not like striking a cymbal with a stick, or a note on a marimba with a hard mallet. That causes surface to surface vibration. The mass of a drum head? No. Vibration is achieved from the shock wave created by striking the head and those waves vibrating the drum from the inside out, as much as possible. Just strike a batter head with the other hand lightly touching the resonant head, and feel the difference between the instant vibration on your hand, versus placing your hand on the outside of the drum shell. It's a striking demonstration of where the sound of a drum is taking place.
Hoops - Two basic choices here. 1.6 or 2.3 mm metal hoops, or cast aluminum hoops, and wood hoops. Metal hoops can interact with the metal hoop of the head and frequencies can be effected, if not cancelled out. Wood hoops tend to allow the drum to speak with more frequencies, smoother tone, and a touch more volume. Again, nuances. I love my maple hoops. Their contribution to the sound of my drums is more than shell material because they are interacting with the heads, not the shell, and the heads are creating the sound of the drum.
Below is what contributes to the sound of a drum far more than drum shell and all its hype in the industry.
Heads - The sound of a drum is created by the drum heads, not the shell. We know that simply because Remo rototoms, Arbiter Flats, Traps, and other non-shell, basic frame drums sound like drums. The density of the sound chamber will cause sound waves to bounce around to slight varying degrees, creating nuances of tonal character. You can have sound from tensioned heads. You cannot get sound from a naked shell. Yes, the total sound of a drum is a union of its parts, which really applies to the next category but, the sound of a drum is created by the membranes tensioned on the edge of the cylinder. When two membranes are employed, sound waves are trapped and a fuller sound is achieved, generally at the expense of some volume. Single-headed drums are generally louder than double headed drums.
Head companies have worked for 70 years to come up with some kind of membrane material to recreate the sound of calfskin heads. Not the sound of any particular drum shell that jumps out at the player but, the sound character of the calfskin heads.
There is far more noticeable difference between drum head models than drum shell material and manufacturing processes.
Mounting - A drum, depending on your taste in sound, wants to resonate freely. Affixing a chunk of metal on it, like metal lugs, decreases that natural vibration of the wood or other resonant material. Place a hunk of metal on it, and place a metal bar or tube into the hunk of metal mounted to the shell and fasten that tube tightly bound at the other end somehow and you constrict the natural vibration of the drum. Low end frequencies and sustain are lost. Hence, all the devices to try and hang a drum, or nest a drum with as little metallic interference and constriction as possible. If you involve a cylinder, a drum shell, it should be allowed to resonate freely as possible. That said, it is possible to make a drum from a drum shell material that has no natural resonance or sustain and STILL have the sound of a drum because the sound of a drum is the heads. If you doubt that, watch my videos on Tubie, the Sonatube drum. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yptk_gTwvI and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hXbIPHJmK8
Sticks and Beaters - Listen to any recording. Listen to the drums. Tell me what you honestly hear the first 99% of the time. On toms, you hear the attack of the stick on the batter head first, and depending on the music, you might, maybe, will probably not hear any appreciable sustain. You certainly are not going to hear resonance of the total drum. The music covers that up quickly. In cases where players want a more thuddy sound, thicker single-ply or double-ply heads are used and even more tap or "slap" from the stick is heard.
Wood tip sticks create a little less attack. Nylon tip, more attack. It is, after all, plastic striking plastic. And then the weight of the stick, the tip size and shape, and player velocity come into play, as well. THAT is far more the initial audible impact of the sound of a drum than any kind of special process or materials used to create drum shells.
On bass drums it is really all about heads and especially beaters. Felt, wood, cork, plastic, silicone, leather, aluminum and other materials create various levels of attack. Because so many players want a thud or even a click more than anything when it comes to sound, muted heads or stuffing materials inside the drum, or things stuck to the heads are used. Ultimately the initial attack is what is heard with a relative lower end pitch. If players want the more popular, muted sounding bass drum, shell material is really quite moot. It amounts to strength in being able to safely mount hardware on the shell for toms, in that configuration. Otherwise it is all about heads and beaters.
Player Touch - As with type of stick and beater, player touch, amounting to velocity and force and technique is a very large part of the sound of a drum. Just strike a drum with nominal force and velocity with a 7A, 5A, 2B, and 3S in hickory and maple, with various tip material and shapes and listen to what results. The sound can be weak, full, or choked to varying degrees all by the touch of the player. The drum shell is only as much of the test as the heads vibrate and release sound waves into the shell. A player with a lot of natural force can take a 7A maple and create a tone equal to someone else using a 5B hickory.
Mics - This is really where the essence of drum sound is heard, on recordings or live performance. You may have student level drums and with the right set of heads, mounting, mics, recording equipment and technique, you can make the sound of those drums appear to be high end. Likewise, you can make high end drums sound like cardboard boxes or PVC tubes. Having recorded with student level drums, the only thing that really mattered was less than favorable hardware. Otherwise they sound like ... well ... drums.
I am getting more and more militant about this subject. It is astounding to me the number of players that are transfixed to the hype manufacturers put out their about their shells. Logically, as I say, they are trying to sell their drums, not another company's heads. I understand that. Sell away. I just share and warn players; just because you spend thousands of dollars more in no way means you get thousands of dollars better sounding drums. You might get better hardware and finishes. Sound? No. Especially because "sound" is subjective to begin with.
As I always say, spend what you want, it's your money. Be a wise consumer, though.
******************
26. Rights and Offense - April 20, 2019
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
It seems obvious today, to many, anyway, that the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is literally under attack.
Depending on your social/political/religious stripe there is big money pushing a narrative that must be followed: do not offend those who have no regard for the First Amendment when it comes to you but, they can offend you all they want, with impunity. The hypocrisy of this, the moronic nature of this, the tyranny of this is astounding.
First, and foremost, no one has a right not to be offended. No such right exists. I might be offended every day, all day by various entities out there but, they have a right to freedom of speech, the press, to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. I have a right to speak my own mind. I have a right to walk away and not listen.
I might be offended by someone's speech, the press, assembled people "peaceably" protesting something, and their petitions to the Government. I might be offended, disgusted, or angered but, I have no right not to be offended, disgusted, or angered.
Right now in some situations it has become wrong, offensive, blacklisting, and dangerous to say anything against the "official" government narrative of any event it comments on. The same for Islam and Muslims. The same for vaccinations, and other medical issues. The same for sexuality and gender, and the list of "Do Not Offend Me" subjects is growing rapidly.
Now look. You already know I am a Christian, and I believe, based on the Word of God and prophecy in the Bible that things are building to head, a final confrontation between God and a rebellious world and populace of sinners neglecting and rejecting God's invitation to His way, truth, and life, and all humanity has the freedom to do just that if they so choose. I believe Christ is going to return sooner or later and that's it: He closes up shop and calls it a day on sin and its results; as the world goes mad, literally.
You ask, what does this have to do with drums and drumming? Nothing, really. What it does bode ill for is music; modern music, being Rock, sub-divided into dozens of genres, and the reason Rock exists - rebellion against ... just about anything and everything, depending on who is writing the lyrics.
Drums? No. Music, Rock, as a vehicle for protest and exposure of issues within government and politics, religion, morality, "science," society, and sophistries as a lyricist's weapon against corruption as they see it? Yes.
Not long ago we saw some female Punk Rockers in Russia arrested. The leaders didn't like their attitude. They were offended, and off to jail the band went. There are Christian artists in various places on Earth that are being persecuted for just preaching the Gospel with music. Other religious elements find it "offensive." How long before the same comes to America? You can say whatever you want about Donald Trump regardless of how it offends half of Americans. You can say whatever you want about Christians and Christianity regardless of how it offends multiplied millions of people. But, if a cake maker says he will NOT bake a cake for a certain segment of society; not make a cake with some obscene message on it but, not bake a cake, because of religious convictions, based on the First Amendment to the Constitution and freedom of religion it protects, all hell breaks loose because people are "offended."
The hypocrisy here wreaks with a stench that is putrid and gagging with duplicity and fraud. Either freedom and liberty are freedom and liberty of speech or we have TYRANNY.
Right now the majority of media, the internet, and the government are on the side of the "offended" because they reject the Constitution and scream the loudest when offended, and threaten to destroy you and your business and even your life if necessary. That is pretty offensive to me. How is that not offensive to all Americans? Why is that only offensive to one side of the American populace? It is as the saying goes, "An empty dump truck makes the most noise." Civil people understanding the rule of law just turn away, turn it off, or walk away. The uncivil scream "offense!" and begin a uncivil tirade to destroy people that disagree with them. How is it they have the freedom to protest but, others do not? Others cannot even stand in the God given right of freedom and liberty the Founders of this nation stated all freedom and liberty derives from? What is going on?
As long as people are civil to each other, it should not matter what anyone believes or says. Freedom means we can choose to listen or speak out against something we deem false, or walk away. Shutting down free speech? Threatening to shut down websites that will not toe some imaginary, on-the-spot made-up rules as you go along, not telling people the "rules" beforehand, or using the most generic language to stop free speech in its tracks is THE most dangerous agenda in America today.
I happen to believe private social media sites can throw off whoever they want. Regardless of how big they are, they are privately owned and funded. But, when people pay money to use technology provided by 'techdom,' and start picking and choosing who to shut down based on some illusory list of offenses generated on whims of "offense?" That is another matter. At the very least refund money. Be civil about it, not clandestine and secretive and turn around and say "Oops, sorry about that. We didn't mean to do that," only when faced with backlash. Hypocrisy on parade.
Of course, the obvious answer is for people who believe in freedom and the First Amendment to build their own technology and invite users to come on board. Of course, this goes all the way to the very power brokers who control power through various lines of physical transmission. Can censorship actually be escaped any longer?
It is obvious we live in a broken nation. A severely divided nation. A nation on the brink of civil unrest and even civil war. Some believe we are already engaged in civil war: a war of ideas, the rule of law, fighting for freedom as sectors of people want it, or the Constitution actually allows it. Many nations are broken and divided.
No, you cannot yell "Fire!" in a crowded building. You cannot publicly defame someone or harm their livelihood with lies. The rule of law protects those, at least in principle, against such attacks. Prove it or shut up or, pay up when you lose in court.
Beyond that, freedom of opinion and convictions, regardless of how they offend anyone, is the law. Why are lawmakers and law protectors not fulfilling their role in elected civil service to tell people, point blank, you do not have a right to not be offended?
As a form of entertainment, music, even when protesting, remains pretty low key and neutral down through the decades but, that is changing. More and more musicians are going to use music to state their beliefs and people are going to be offended. Hollywood is filled with people wanting to be political activists and believe they can say and do anything they want against any politician but, woe is that person or persons who say something against their favored idols.
Early Rock and Rollers offended an entire generation. The Beatles horrified and offended an entire generation of parents. Hippie rock and free love offended a generation of parents. Alice Cooper shocked and offended an entire generation of parents. Rap, in various forms, shocks and offends an entire generation of parents, women, and anyone who sees such lyrics as offensive to a moral and law-biding civil society. Death Metal, Black Metal shocks and offends many who have been exposed to it. It all exists in freedom regardless of who is offended, though.
Tell me, if someone writes a song protesting Christianity, or any particular spokespeople for that religion, is there outrage right into the courtroom? No. If someone writes a song protesting facets of Islam, current thought about sexuality and gender, or any of dozens of other controversial subjects, would their be protest, denunciation, and lawsuits right into the courtroom, careers threatened, if not destroyed? The answer has become obvious as a train wreck. Music is powerful. It moves people. What if it moves people to stand up for the rule of law? Can't have that. We have duplicity of definition of "freedom."
"I am offended!"
I had a science teacher when I was a kid. He used to say, "Tough bananas." "Tough cookies," or "Tough toenails." He didn't put up with nonsensical bellyaching.
I wish people of influence and elected civil service would say the same to those who can't stand the principles of the rule of law and real freedom and liberty, and complain about anything and everything that "offends" them and go after those who do; to destroy them any way they can. Seems to me leaders are duty bound to state the fact of the matter. You may be offended but, you have no right not to be.
God's people, those awake anyway, have been warned, the world is going to go upside down - right will be wrong, wrong will be right; evil will be good, and good will become evil; and His people, His remnant of what is left of true Christianity will be persecuted for the sake of His law, His government, character, and purposes, as all the lies told about Him increase exponentially. It is going to get ugly. Well, much uglier than it already is.
Seems to me we have arrived at the edge of the end. Hm. Good song title.
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
It seems obvious today, to many, anyway, that the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is literally under attack.
Depending on your social/political/religious stripe there is big money pushing a narrative that must be followed: do not offend those who have no regard for the First Amendment when it comes to you but, they can offend you all they want, with impunity. The hypocrisy of this, the moronic nature of this, the tyranny of this is astounding.
First, and foremost, no one has a right not to be offended. No such right exists. I might be offended every day, all day by various entities out there but, they have a right to freedom of speech, the press, to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. I have a right to speak my own mind. I have a right to walk away and not listen.
I might be offended by someone's speech, the press, assembled people "peaceably" protesting something, and their petitions to the Government. I might be offended, disgusted, or angered but, I have no right not to be offended, disgusted, or angered.
Right now in some situations it has become wrong, offensive, blacklisting, and dangerous to say anything against the "official" government narrative of any event it comments on. The same for Islam and Muslims. The same for vaccinations, and other medical issues. The same for sexuality and gender, and the list of "Do Not Offend Me" subjects is growing rapidly.
Now look. You already know I am a Christian, and I believe, based on the Word of God and prophecy in the Bible that things are building to head, a final confrontation between God and a rebellious world and populace of sinners neglecting and rejecting God's invitation to His way, truth, and life, and all humanity has the freedom to do just that if they so choose. I believe Christ is going to return sooner or later and that's it: He closes up shop and calls it a day on sin and its results; as the world goes mad, literally.
You ask, what does this have to do with drums and drumming? Nothing, really. What it does bode ill for is music; modern music, being Rock, sub-divided into dozens of genres, and the reason Rock exists - rebellion against ... just about anything and everything, depending on who is writing the lyrics.
Drums? No. Music, Rock, as a vehicle for protest and exposure of issues within government and politics, religion, morality, "science," society, and sophistries as a lyricist's weapon against corruption as they see it? Yes.
Not long ago we saw some female Punk Rockers in Russia arrested. The leaders didn't like their attitude. They were offended, and off to jail the band went. There are Christian artists in various places on Earth that are being persecuted for just preaching the Gospel with music. Other religious elements find it "offensive." How long before the same comes to America? You can say whatever you want about Donald Trump regardless of how it offends half of Americans. You can say whatever you want about Christians and Christianity regardless of how it offends multiplied millions of people. But, if a cake maker says he will NOT bake a cake for a certain segment of society; not make a cake with some obscene message on it but, not bake a cake, because of religious convictions, based on the First Amendment to the Constitution and freedom of religion it protects, all hell breaks loose because people are "offended."
The hypocrisy here wreaks with a stench that is putrid and gagging with duplicity and fraud. Either freedom and liberty are freedom and liberty of speech or we have TYRANNY.
Right now the majority of media, the internet, and the government are on the side of the "offended" because they reject the Constitution and scream the loudest when offended, and threaten to destroy you and your business and even your life if necessary. That is pretty offensive to me. How is that not offensive to all Americans? Why is that only offensive to one side of the American populace? It is as the saying goes, "An empty dump truck makes the most noise." Civil people understanding the rule of law just turn away, turn it off, or walk away. The uncivil scream "offense!" and begin a uncivil tirade to destroy people that disagree with them. How is it they have the freedom to protest but, others do not? Others cannot even stand in the God given right of freedom and liberty the Founders of this nation stated all freedom and liberty derives from? What is going on?
As long as people are civil to each other, it should not matter what anyone believes or says. Freedom means we can choose to listen or speak out against something we deem false, or walk away. Shutting down free speech? Threatening to shut down websites that will not toe some imaginary, on-the-spot made-up rules as you go along, not telling people the "rules" beforehand, or using the most generic language to stop free speech in its tracks is THE most dangerous agenda in America today.
I happen to believe private social media sites can throw off whoever they want. Regardless of how big they are, they are privately owned and funded. But, when people pay money to use technology provided by 'techdom,' and start picking and choosing who to shut down based on some illusory list of offenses generated on whims of "offense?" That is another matter. At the very least refund money. Be civil about it, not clandestine and secretive and turn around and say "Oops, sorry about that. We didn't mean to do that," only when faced with backlash. Hypocrisy on parade.
Of course, the obvious answer is for people who believe in freedom and the First Amendment to build their own technology and invite users to come on board. Of course, this goes all the way to the very power brokers who control power through various lines of physical transmission. Can censorship actually be escaped any longer?
It is obvious we live in a broken nation. A severely divided nation. A nation on the brink of civil unrest and even civil war. Some believe we are already engaged in civil war: a war of ideas, the rule of law, fighting for freedom as sectors of people want it, or the Constitution actually allows it. Many nations are broken and divided.
No, you cannot yell "Fire!" in a crowded building. You cannot publicly defame someone or harm their livelihood with lies. The rule of law protects those, at least in principle, against such attacks. Prove it or shut up or, pay up when you lose in court.
Beyond that, freedom of opinion and convictions, regardless of how they offend anyone, is the law. Why are lawmakers and law protectors not fulfilling their role in elected civil service to tell people, point blank, you do not have a right to not be offended?
As a form of entertainment, music, even when protesting, remains pretty low key and neutral down through the decades but, that is changing. More and more musicians are going to use music to state their beliefs and people are going to be offended. Hollywood is filled with people wanting to be political activists and believe they can say and do anything they want against any politician but, woe is that person or persons who say something against their favored idols.
Early Rock and Rollers offended an entire generation. The Beatles horrified and offended an entire generation of parents. Hippie rock and free love offended a generation of parents. Alice Cooper shocked and offended an entire generation of parents. Rap, in various forms, shocks and offends an entire generation of parents, women, and anyone who sees such lyrics as offensive to a moral and law-biding civil society. Death Metal, Black Metal shocks and offends many who have been exposed to it. It all exists in freedom regardless of who is offended, though.
Tell me, if someone writes a song protesting Christianity, or any particular spokespeople for that religion, is there outrage right into the courtroom? No. If someone writes a song protesting facets of Islam, current thought about sexuality and gender, or any of dozens of other controversial subjects, would their be protest, denunciation, and lawsuits right into the courtroom, careers threatened, if not destroyed? The answer has become obvious as a train wreck. Music is powerful. It moves people. What if it moves people to stand up for the rule of law? Can't have that. We have duplicity of definition of "freedom."
"I am offended!"
I had a science teacher when I was a kid. He used to say, "Tough bananas." "Tough cookies," or "Tough toenails." He didn't put up with nonsensical bellyaching.
I wish people of influence and elected civil service would say the same to those who can't stand the principles of the rule of law and real freedom and liberty, and complain about anything and everything that "offends" them and go after those who do; to destroy them any way they can. Seems to me leaders are duty bound to state the fact of the matter. You may be offended but, you have no right not to be.
God's people, those awake anyway, have been warned, the world is going to go upside down - right will be wrong, wrong will be right; evil will be good, and good will become evil; and His people, His remnant of what is left of true Christianity will be persecuted for the sake of His law, His government, character, and purposes, as all the lies told about Him increase exponentially. It is going to get ugly. Well, much uglier than it already is.
Seems to me we have arrived at the edge of the end. Hm. Good song title.
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
******************
27. April 27, 2019 - Love
Today I had cause to look back at messages sent to me through the site. In searching I came upon one sent to me a few years ago, via the Contact page, and expressed appreciation for the contents here on the Thought page. Having commented on "evil" he asked if I would comment on "love." Well, no easy task. Here? This is hardly a theological website. It is no cutting edge blog. Write about love? Well, I love drums, I love cymbals, and percussion but, I believe he expected more than that out of me.
So ... I love God. God is love, according to the Bible. That means the Sovereign of the universe has the character and authority to define love in any and all ramifications and experience of the term, whether ancient Hebrew or Greek words translated "love" in English, or other languages.
I had a friend I loved deeply. This guy was ... well, he was a genius. The most brilliant and talented person I ever met. He passed away some years ago after his fourth or fifth bout with cancer. Indeed, this multi-talented man knew a great deal of hardship in life. He loved God. He also loved life and appreciated every sunrise.
One day he told me, "I know God loves me. I just don't think He likes me very much, sometimes."
I raised my eyebrows. At that point in my life I did not understand what he was saying, and still shook my head after he tried to explain what he meant. Today, I understand what he meant.
We are living in a world that echoes hate. Jesus said it himself: the time will come when the love of many shall wax cold [become calloused]. We see it live every day on the news. The internet is saturated with hate as news reaches us in seconds and death is on every corner of the planet. The world is becoming calloused, hardened. One might think, in such an enlightened age, with the information highway, people would be more aligned. Never has humanity been so divided. Why so much hate?
Music has generally been something that echoes love. Love songs, about gained or lost love, dominate popular music and has done so for more than a century. But, wait. How can love songs be heard around the clock on radio, in all of entertainment media today, and yet there be so much hate in society? In some cases, in many cases today, just standing up for something you believe in, as life practice, as doctrinal truth, may be called "hate." If it "offends" someone, it will definitely be called hate and the offender a hate monger or much worse. (See my previous post) There even exists The Southern Poverty Law Center, a group that lists "hate" groups, as they see love versus hate. We have "hate crimes" now, as though hate is not involved, in some way, with all criminal intent. We have "hate speech," and sooner than later "hate thought" will be something wayward mankind thinks it can delve into.
So, what can we say with this situation? What can we observe? How can such a state of things exist? How can I be called a hate monger for standing up for things once accepted by 99% of civilized society? Why is my love for what I believe is truth, from a Deity that is love, hatred? How is this possible?
More and more people in society see God as anything but, love. Atheism is big on finding every possible way to describe God in negative terms. They never grow tired of it. Which seems odd, really; to expend so much energy on something you do not believe in. I might even call that blind hate. I mean, if God does not exist, why spend so much time commenting on Him and His actions down through biblical history and beyond?
Let's get back to love as it appears in music. A century of love songs and hatred is global. Persecution of Christians and other people groups abound, for no other reason than being out of sync with majority religions or philosophies. Professed Christianity has its own dark history where persecution is concerned, against other professed Christians, no less. Well, we can see the same attitudes all throughout the Bible among those professing belief in the one true God. Why does it happen? God is love. Mankind always hates and never gets along for any serious length of time. Why?
Sin. Ah, the dreaded sin word. Call something that God calls sin, sin, and people come unglued. Why is that? Why don't people just walk away? If someone is wrong in their proclamations and beliefs and refuse correction from those that are correct, why hate them and seek them harm; even seek to kill them? Why not love them or, at least feel sorry for them and go your own way? Just walk away. After all, in America, anyway, we are supposed to have the guarantee of free speech. That is fading quickly these days, unless you can scream the loudest when it comes to being offended, and threaten to shut people down. Then you get your way, and God forbid we call such attitude hatred. No, no. That is love, to them. It is hatred for those that oppose ideas, agenda, and threat to real freedom and liberty as outlined in and by America's historical documents and authors, and the Bible, once honored by most all citizens.
It is easy to believe in love when it is just a feeling. Warm and fuzzy, as they say. When it becomes a principle, based on an authoritative source of information on who and what real love is, it becomes an offense that must be shut up and shut down.
Why is it we never really see any discussion of what love is and where it came from? Science is saying it's just chemicals. Right. Someone jumps on a grenade to save their fellows, jumps in front of bullets to save their fellows, runs into fiery buildings to save their fellows because some chemicals activate in people. The mother doing anything she can to save her children, to protect her children, even unto death, does so because of brain and body chemicals. No. Something much higher and deeper than chemicals cause such sacrificial actions.
For others love is just a feeling. "More than a feeling." Big hit song in the 70's. Boston. The song is still a hit today. More than a feeling. What does that mean? Well, technically, the song is about lost love. Marianne walked away. The song says the singer's memories of her are more than a feeling. Logically, then, thoughts. Love is more than a feeling. Love involves thoughts. Well, that was downright biblical in nature and I imagine the author of the song had no idea that is biblical truth. True love, character, is a combination of thoughts and feelings. Love is a principle. That principle, according to the Bible, moved God to become a man, to struggle as we struggle, yet live a victorious, sinless life and sacrifice Himself, the Creator, and die for the human race that hates Him. That should be the most popular song in history. Right now, Gospel music is at the bottom of the ladder, the lowest rung of sales out there. Odd, indeed. Predicted, though.
The issue is not hate versus love. The issue is sin versus righteousness, as God defines it. Remove God from the conscience, remove conviction of guilt associated with sin - which is transgression of the law: God's moral law, the ten commandments - and mankind can be free. The Bible states emphatically that is a lie but, the Bible also says at the end of time people will believe lies, and receive delusions, and love sin more than God: become lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Well, doesn't that shoe fit today? Indeed.
Back to knowing God loves me but, doesn't like me very much, sometimes. Do love your family members? Do you always like them? Why not? Because they hurt you, or hurt others. If it is done on purpose the effect of pain is worse.
Does God hurt? Well, we hurt, and we were made in the image and likeness of God. Sin has marred that, exponentially but, of course God hurts. He may love me but, that does not mean He likes me all the time when He hurts from my actions, or I hurt others. God's love is infinite. It is referred to as "agape," in the Greek, a love so deep and enormous in scope, it is hardly even definable. It was displayed on Calvary. God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son. A well known verse, even displayed at football games hanging on banners off the bleachers while athletes grind and grunt and yell expletives at each other while they pummel themselves into the ground down below, and some even thank God for moments during this event. Hm. Odd?
God is love. God loves. Unconditionally, God loves. Total devotion to us fallen, ridiculous creatures. That does not mean eternal life is unconditional. Oh, no. Eternal life rests on a very conditional element - our choice, our continued choice to let God in and once in, do things His way, not ours. No, our good works cannot save us. Forget such a notion. That said, our attitude towards God cleaning us up, and our lack of cooperation can be our downfall. And thus abides the situation on Earth. People want their way, not God's. God shall give us all the freedom to choose our own way, and in doing so, even for believers, there are days God loves us but, doesn't like us very much. He watches in pity, yes, but, we cannot sin with impunity. And nothing is really said or done in secret. God heard it all, saw it all, adjusted for it all before Earth existed.
Thankfully, whether in song or real life, God is also grace. God is forgiveness. God is truth. God is right, righteous, and always will be. God is light. God has infinite patience. God is also infinite justice, perfectly balanced in all He says and does. We don't have that. Most cannot even grasp such a balance. Some want to hate. They rage daily; ready for a fight with those they disagree with all the time, every day. They have little self-control. If they could they would rip God from His throne to remove the guilt upon the conscience, until a human can remove all sense of conscience by their own continued thoughts and actions; even professed Christians. They lose power to reason. The Bible states, despite God's character, that will by no means clear the guilty. Live in sin, die in sin. Our choice.
Others, always a historical minority, cannot wait to see God face to Face and finally live in the peace, harmony, unity and love the universe once knew before sin entered this gig. I love the heavens, the cosmos. By God's grace I shall one day have opportunity to spend eternity checking God's back yard out to my delight. Yeah, I love percussion, too, and I imagine there are percussion instruments in heaven that make drums seem like tree branches on rocks. I loved my parents and look forward to seeing them again. I look forward to seeing my friend, David, and watching him play whatever kind of pianos they have out there.
Logically, all we need is not love, no offense to The Beatles. What we need is God and acceptance of His love,His definition of love, His way, His truth, His life, His principles, and cooperate through His gift of sorrow for what we are and say, and do, and receive power to become sons and daughters of God, getting ready for the big day, the grand reunion, day by day. Without that, love songs are really nothing more than a feeling.
The question is, who defines love for you? You? Or God?
So ... I love God. God is love, according to the Bible. That means the Sovereign of the universe has the character and authority to define love in any and all ramifications and experience of the term, whether ancient Hebrew or Greek words translated "love" in English, or other languages.
I had a friend I loved deeply. This guy was ... well, he was a genius. The most brilliant and talented person I ever met. He passed away some years ago after his fourth or fifth bout with cancer. Indeed, this multi-talented man knew a great deal of hardship in life. He loved God. He also loved life and appreciated every sunrise.
One day he told me, "I know God loves me. I just don't think He likes me very much, sometimes."
I raised my eyebrows. At that point in my life I did not understand what he was saying, and still shook my head after he tried to explain what he meant. Today, I understand what he meant.
We are living in a world that echoes hate. Jesus said it himself: the time will come when the love of many shall wax cold [become calloused]. We see it live every day on the news. The internet is saturated with hate as news reaches us in seconds and death is on every corner of the planet. The world is becoming calloused, hardened. One might think, in such an enlightened age, with the information highway, people would be more aligned. Never has humanity been so divided. Why so much hate?
Music has generally been something that echoes love. Love songs, about gained or lost love, dominate popular music and has done so for more than a century. But, wait. How can love songs be heard around the clock on radio, in all of entertainment media today, and yet there be so much hate in society? In some cases, in many cases today, just standing up for something you believe in, as life practice, as doctrinal truth, may be called "hate." If it "offends" someone, it will definitely be called hate and the offender a hate monger or much worse. (See my previous post) There even exists The Southern Poverty Law Center, a group that lists "hate" groups, as they see love versus hate. We have "hate crimes" now, as though hate is not involved, in some way, with all criminal intent. We have "hate speech," and sooner than later "hate thought" will be something wayward mankind thinks it can delve into.
So, what can we say with this situation? What can we observe? How can such a state of things exist? How can I be called a hate monger for standing up for things once accepted by 99% of civilized society? Why is my love for what I believe is truth, from a Deity that is love, hatred? How is this possible?
More and more people in society see God as anything but, love. Atheism is big on finding every possible way to describe God in negative terms. They never grow tired of it. Which seems odd, really; to expend so much energy on something you do not believe in. I might even call that blind hate. I mean, if God does not exist, why spend so much time commenting on Him and His actions down through biblical history and beyond?
Let's get back to love as it appears in music. A century of love songs and hatred is global. Persecution of Christians and other people groups abound, for no other reason than being out of sync with majority religions or philosophies. Professed Christianity has its own dark history where persecution is concerned, against other professed Christians, no less. Well, we can see the same attitudes all throughout the Bible among those professing belief in the one true God. Why does it happen? God is love. Mankind always hates and never gets along for any serious length of time. Why?
Sin. Ah, the dreaded sin word. Call something that God calls sin, sin, and people come unglued. Why is that? Why don't people just walk away? If someone is wrong in their proclamations and beliefs and refuse correction from those that are correct, why hate them and seek them harm; even seek to kill them? Why not love them or, at least feel sorry for them and go your own way? Just walk away. After all, in America, anyway, we are supposed to have the guarantee of free speech. That is fading quickly these days, unless you can scream the loudest when it comes to being offended, and threaten to shut people down. Then you get your way, and God forbid we call such attitude hatred. No, no. That is love, to them. It is hatred for those that oppose ideas, agenda, and threat to real freedom and liberty as outlined in and by America's historical documents and authors, and the Bible, once honored by most all citizens.
It is easy to believe in love when it is just a feeling. Warm and fuzzy, as they say. When it becomes a principle, based on an authoritative source of information on who and what real love is, it becomes an offense that must be shut up and shut down.
Why is it we never really see any discussion of what love is and where it came from? Science is saying it's just chemicals. Right. Someone jumps on a grenade to save their fellows, jumps in front of bullets to save their fellows, runs into fiery buildings to save their fellows because some chemicals activate in people. The mother doing anything she can to save her children, to protect her children, even unto death, does so because of brain and body chemicals. No. Something much higher and deeper than chemicals cause such sacrificial actions.
For others love is just a feeling. "More than a feeling." Big hit song in the 70's. Boston. The song is still a hit today. More than a feeling. What does that mean? Well, technically, the song is about lost love. Marianne walked away. The song says the singer's memories of her are more than a feeling. Logically, then, thoughts. Love is more than a feeling. Love involves thoughts. Well, that was downright biblical in nature and I imagine the author of the song had no idea that is biblical truth. True love, character, is a combination of thoughts and feelings. Love is a principle. That principle, according to the Bible, moved God to become a man, to struggle as we struggle, yet live a victorious, sinless life and sacrifice Himself, the Creator, and die for the human race that hates Him. That should be the most popular song in history. Right now, Gospel music is at the bottom of the ladder, the lowest rung of sales out there. Odd, indeed. Predicted, though.
The issue is not hate versus love. The issue is sin versus righteousness, as God defines it. Remove God from the conscience, remove conviction of guilt associated with sin - which is transgression of the law: God's moral law, the ten commandments - and mankind can be free. The Bible states emphatically that is a lie but, the Bible also says at the end of time people will believe lies, and receive delusions, and love sin more than God: become lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Well, doesn't that shoe fit today? Indeed.
Back to knowing God loves me but, doesn't like me very much, sometimes. Do love your family members? Do you always like them? Why not? Because they hurt you, or hurt others. If it is done on purpose the effect of pain is worse.
Does God hurt? Well, we hurt, and we were made in the image and likeness of God. Sin has marred that, exponentially but, of course God hurts. He may love me but, that does not mean He likes me all the time when He hurts from my actions, or I hurt others. God's love is infinite. It is referred to as "agape," in the Greek, a love so deep and enormous in scope, it is hardly even definable. It was displayed on Calvary. God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son. A well known verse, even displayed at football games hanging on banners off the bleachers while athletes grind and grunt and yell expletives at each other while they pummel themselves into the ground down below, and some even thank God for moments during this event. Hm. Odd?
God is love. God loves. Unconditionally, God loves. Total devotion to us fallen, ridiculous creatures. That does not mean eternal life is unconditional. Oh, no. Eternal life rests on a very conditional element - our choice, our continued choice to let God in and once in, do things His way, not ours. No, our good works cannot save us. Forget such a notion. That said, our attitude towards God cleaning us up, and our lack of cooperation can be our downfall. And thus abides the situation on Earth. People want their way, not God's. God shall give us all the freedom to choose our own way, and in doing so, even for believers, there are days God loves us but, doesn't like us very much. He watches in pity, yes, but, we cannot sin with impunity. And nothing is really said or done in secret. God heard it all, saw it all, adjusted for it all before Earth existed.
Thankfully, whether in song or real life, God is also grace. God is forgiveness. God is truth. God is right, righteous, and always will be. God is light. God has infinite patience. God is also infinite justice, perfectly balanced in all He says and does. We don't have that. Most cannot even grasp such a balance. Some want to hate. They rage daily; ready for a fight with those they disagree with all the time, every day. They have little self-control. If they could they would rip God from His throne to remove the guilt upon the conscience, until a human can remove all sense of conscience by their own continued thoughts and actions; even professed Christians. They lose power to reason. The Bible states, despite God's character, that will by no means clear the guilty. Live in sin, die in sin. Our choice.
Others, always a historical minority, cannot wait to see God face to Face and finally live in the peace, harmony, unity and love the universe once knew before sin entered this gig. I love the heavens, the cosmos. By God's grace I shall one day have opportunity to spend eternity checking God's back yard out to my delight. Yeah, I love percussion, too, and I imagine there are percussion instruments in heaven that make drums seem like tree branches on rocks. I loved my parents and look forward to seeing them again. I look forward to seeing my friend, David, and watching him play whatever kind of pianos they have out there.
Logically, all we need is not love, no offense to The Beatles. What we need is God and acceptance of His love,His definition of love, His way, His truth, His life, His principles, and cooperate through His gift of sorrow for what we are and say, and do, and receive power to become sons and daughters of God, getting ready for the big day, the grand reunion, day by day. Without that, love songs are really nothing more than a feeling.
The question is, who defines love for you? You? Or God?
******************
28. Legend Reissue, May 11, 2019
Okay, so, time to investigate my heart and mind some. Some examination of self. Magnifying glass, please?
So, yeah, it's been almost thirteen years since I found out about Legend and From the Fjords, and its status as a collector's item, and all. Lots of requests from fans and record labels to reissue. Just a simple decision Fred and I made - no master tapes, no real remastering, no reason to reissue.
With each passing year I continue to be stunned at the interest in the album and the growing fan base.
I left the band 40 years ago when I became a Christian and just saw a new path before me I had to follow. I was 24, an atheist, at best an agnostic, and my experience in taking a real, living, eternal Christ into my life was a staggering experience. It had a radical effect upon me. Family, friends, my bandmates ... nobody could believe it, or grasp it. I had a cousin who was also born again at that time and he got it. Not others. My experience was so strong even people in the church I joined, at times looked at me like they had no idea what I had experienced. In three years I was doing my first public seminar on Bible prophecy.
Forty years later, older, hopefully wiser, still yet a square peg with round holes all over the place, not really fitting anywhere: too liberal for conservatives and too conservative for liberals. My reasons for leaving the band are not as acute as they once were. Some of the lyrics still make me cringe. Youthful imagination and exuberance for stories and myths and legends have waned.
A couple years ago one of the record labels that contacted Fred, who passed it along to me, was Sonic Age Records. Manos Koufakis, the owner. Nice guy. They are in Greece, a land of history and myths and legends. I said, No, though. In January he contacted me again. We corresponded on many things about music and Legend and the album and ideas he had for a reissue. I decided to go ahead with the project. Yesterday a promotion video was released announcing the reissue, and here we go. The album will be out sometime in July.
He also was positive about handling the music I am into today, Miledge Muzic, which certainly created an enhancement to our negotiations. Tom and I hope this collaboration opens many more people up to what Miledge Muzic is and sounds like.
It has always been my belief that music, defined as melody, harmony and rhythm, regardless of format, can be arranged for symphony orchestra and many Rock bands have done just that in the last six decades. I feel the same about Legend's music. The lyrics? Well, that's another matter.
Legend is certainly not Gospel music, nor is it Classical. It is not a generally accepted form of music in most churches. I can't say "all" because there are more and more churches using various forms of Rock in their services. That is a subject that used to split churches. Today? Not so much.
People will wonder why I left the band then and am basically supervising the release of the album again, now. There are a couple reasons. Kevin and Fred's mothers had passed away before the album was made and we dedicated the album to them. Both my parents have passed away but, back then they really supported the band, and I have written about it before. If it were not for them there would have been no album.
At some point I'll be donating to charities in their name with the proceeds from sales, whatever they may be. In principle, I want to recoup their original investment in their honor.
The other reason is simply doing it in honor and memory of Kevin, a terrific person and incredible guitarist. I don't listen to the album but, in doing so, to deal with aspects of the project, it just seemed right that the music community and anybody else, should know the talent that young man had. He died so young. Just four years after the band put the album out. He had a whole lifetime in front of him and I know would have excelled to an elite status among guitarists if he lived to continue on in his craft. So, the album is being released, really regardless of thoughts I have about my faith and all. And in his name donations will be made to charities, as well.
So, yes, 40 years later I am different, life is different, America and the world are different but, melody, harmony and rhythm continue on, and after listening to the album throughout this project, no, it isn't music I will go out and perform in its current form but, I have ideas brewing for it, to change its form, like I was changed 40 years ago.
Legend ~ From the Fjords is, for fans, and for Kevin, finally being reissued. It is a surreal experience for me. I have a hunch an adventure is brewing, as well.
So, yeah, it's been almost thirteen years since I found out about Legend and From the Fjords, and its status as a collector's item, and all. Lots of requests from fans and record labels to reissue. Just a simple decision Fred and I made - no master tapes, no real remastering, no reason to reissue.
With each passing year I continue to be stunned at the interest in the album and the growing fan base.
I left the band 40 years ago when I became a Christian and just saw a new path before me I had to follow. I was 24, an atheist, at best an agnostic, and my experience in taking a real, living, eternal Christ into my life was a staggering experience. It had a radical effect upon me. Family, friends, my bandmates ... nobody could believe it, or grasp it. I had a cousin who was also born again at that time and he got it. Not others. My experience was so strong even people in the church I joined, at times looked at me like they had no idea what I had experienced. In three years I was doing my first public seminar on Bible prophecy.
Forty years later, older, hopefully wiser, still yet a square peg with round holes all over the place, not really fitting anywhere: too liberal for conservatives and too conservative for liberals. My reasons for leaving the band are not as acute as they once were. Some of the lyrics still make me cringe. Youthful imagination and exuberance for stories and myths and legends have waned.
A couple years ago one of the record labels that contacted Fred, who passed it along to me, was Sonic Age Records. Manos Koufakis, the owner. Nice guy. They are in Greece, a land of history and myths and legends. I said, No, though. In January he contacted me again. We corresponded on many things about music and Legend and the album and ideas he had for a reissue. I decided to go ahead with the project. Yesterday a promotion video was released announcing the reissue, and here we go. The album will be out sometime in July.
He also was positive about handling the music I am into today, Miledge Muzic, which certainly created an enhancement to our negotiations. Tom and I hope this collaboration opens many more people up to what Miledge Muzic is and sounds like.
It has always been my belief that music, defined as melody, harmony and rhythm, regardless of format, can be arranged for symphony orchestra and many Rock bands have done just that in the last six decades. I feel the same about Legend's music. The lyrics? Well, that's another matter.
Legend is certainly not Gospel music, nor is it Classical. It is not a generally accepted form of music in most churches. I can't say "all" because there are more and more churches using various forms of Rock in their services. That is a subject that used to split churches. Today? Not so much.
People will wonder why I left the band then and am basically supervising the release of the album again, now. There are a couple reasons. Kevin and Fred's mothers had passed away before the album was made and we dedicated the album to them. Both my parents have passed away but, back then they really supported the band, and I have written about it before. If it were not for them there would have been no album.
At some point I'll be donating to charities in their name with the proceeds from sales, whatever they may be. In principle, I want to recoup their original investment in their honor.
The other reason is simply doing it in honor and memory of Kevin, a terrific person and incredible guitarist. I don't listen to the album but, in doing so, to deal with aspects of the project, it just seemed right that the music community and anybody else, should know the talent that young man had. He died so young. Just four years after the band put the album out. He had a whole lifetime in front of him and I know would have excelled to an elite status among guitarists if he lived to continue on in his craft. So, the album is being released, really regardless of thoughts I have about my faith and all. And in his name donations will be made to charities, as well.
So, yes, 40 years later I am different, life is different, America and the world are different but, melody, harmony and rhythm continue on, and after listening to the album throughout this project, no, it isn't music I will go out and perform in its current form but, I have ideas brewing for it, to change its form, like I was changed 40 years ago.
Legend ~ From the Fjords is, for fans, and for Kevin, finally being reissued. It is a surreal experience for me. I have a hunch an adventure is brewing, as well.
******************
29. Yes, I've seen UFO's - May 25, 2019
This is going to be a long one so, settle in.
So, what does this have to do with drums, drumming, music, or anything else this website is about? Nothing. I just felt like sharing, and thought I'd add some opinion on the subject. Get ready. This probably is not what you think, by a long shot.
When I was around 19, having dropped out of North Haven High School, in Connecticut, at 15, I hadn't seen a lot of guys I hung out with for around four years and some of them were hanging out and wondered what I was up to so they piled into a car and came knocking. It was great to see these guys again, and we all headed to the dining room and sat around the table and caught up with each other. I remember my parents had gone to an apple orchard and brought home bags of apples. Some of them were huge and mom passed some around, and while we were crunching down, one of the guys said, "Hey, do remember that time we all saw that flying saucer?" Everybody all instantly chimed in, in agreement of the event, except me. I sat puzzled. One of the guys looked at me and said, "You don't remember that?" Remember this? Remember that? How could I have forgotten something so vivid to the rest of these guys?
Well, less than a minute of rattling the memory banks brought the scene back to mind. "Yes, yes, yes! Now I remember!" and off we went with the our personal recollections of the moments. I say moments because that's what it was.
We all played in Little League. Most of us were on the same team. At the end of the season the parents of one of the kids invited the rest of the team and our parents and siblings over for a cookout. The day went along with parents meeting and discussing whatever parents did half a century ago, and all the kids were doing the usual horsing around, tossing baseballs, whatever, and all of a sudden someone yelled, "Hey! Look!" Some looked up and saw it, others missed it by a moment because the trees in the back yard were so tall it shortened the viewing time of the space in the sky. Those who looked up in time saw, for a fleeting few moments, a metallic disk with what looked like domed lights around the bottom circumference, though, I don't remember them shining. I couldn't say how high it was. I couldn't say how fast it was going. It looked a lot lower than most planes or passenger airliners fly, and it was moving a whole lot faster then anything I ever saw in the sky before, and it left no noise signature of any kind. Those who saw it wondered. Those who didn't ... well, what can I say? I know what I saw. So did everybody else who saw it. It was no airplane, that's for sure.
Now, most people have never seen a UFO at all. Me? Twenty-eight years later, coming home from a Bible study one night, still living in Connecticut, I saw up ahead of me and odd-shaped object with lights at it's points. This thing was enormous, and moved so slowly it seemed impossible. Totally silent. I watched it cross the roadway I was on and quickly pulled over, got out of the van, and watched as this object, seemingly the size of a couple football fields, literally float above me.
It was more rectangular in shape, seven sides, with a slight arrow shape to the front. I remember seven small lights at the point of each angle.
I watched planes way off in the distance moving faster than this thing was. I heard doors, and looked behind me, and people living across the road saw me out there and came out to see what I was looking at. We watched this object silently move along for around 4 miles (according to a map I looked at later), until it finally vanished over the ridge, a town away.
Now you would think we'd all be filled with questions and instant discussion would have arisen. Nope. Nobody said a word. We just all went back to our domains; their houses, my van, and that was it.
Driving home I tried to wrap my head around this, also remembering twenty-eight years earlier. Two totally different objects. One extremely fast, the other extremely slow. One higher, the other feeling like it was almost close enough to throw a rock and hit it. Both totally silent.
If you ask me what the altitude was of the second object, watching it pass over the ridge, it being around 950' high max, this object was lower than 2000' up.
When I got home I went right for the telephone, everybody asking me what was going on. I called the police department of the town where we lost sight of the UFO, and sheepishly asked if anyone had seen a UFO that night. The officer said the phone was ringing off the hook. At least I know the few of us standing there were not alone.
The next day the reports on the tv news were hilarious. "Yeah, man, I saw it! It had bright lights all over it and it glowed, man."
Not so much.
So, there be my two UFO tales.
Ah, but, I am not done, my friends. You see, being a Christian, I have some thoughts on the matter. Now, don't run off just yet, you thinking you know what I'm about to write for your less than inquisitive eyes.
You see, what kind of options do we have? ET? Man-made? Something natural? Some kind of hoax? Satanic funny business? Mass hallucination?
Here's what I believe. I have been studying the Bible for 40 years now. I happen to believe the Bible plainly alludes to life beyond Earth. I part company, along with millions of others, with the majority of evangelical, fundamentalist believers who state we are alone in the universe. Nope. Don't buy it. Common sense tells me this universe is so vast the Creator put a whole bunch of children out there to play in His backyard. But, that's just my own personal belief. If I get more specific and go to Scripture I have three main points to motivate my beliefs.
1. The parable of the lost sheep. Now, we know the Shepherd is Christ. We know each of us make up that lost sheep. Who then, are the 99 that need no rescuing? Nobody on this planet, for "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
2. In doing a study of every place that refers to the "sons of God," both Old and New Testaments, especially the book of Job, I had to conclude these are not angels. Who, then, are these sons of God in Job who gathered at the heavenly convocation and conference depicted in the first and second chapters? Who are they that sang and shouted for joy during creation week in chapter 38? It has always been stated they are angels. No, not if I let the Bible interpret itself when it comes to the subject of the "sons of God" throughout Scripture.
3. The Bible says the redeemed shall wear crowns of victory and reign. Reign? Over who? The angels? The Bible states man was made a little lower than the angels. We'll not be reigning over them. Who then?
I believe the sons of God pictured in Job are representatives of other worlds, gathered to address the tragic situation befallen this world; the one Adam should have represented, if he had not fallen. Who got to represent this world? He who stood there and charged God repeatedly with not being in control of things in this world he claimed as his through Adam's fall. Christ called him the prince of this world: Lucifer.
And I add this. Back in the 19th century, into the beginning of the 20th, a woman by the name of Ellen White carried on a very intensive ministry that took her all over the world speaking, as well as writing one hundred thousand pages of manuscript on all kinds of subjects regarding the Christian faith: prophecy, daily living, education, evangelism, healthful living, Bible commentary, and it's all pretty fascinating, as well as very convicting. She pulled no punches, yet wrote beautiful things about having a living connection with Christ.
This dedicated Christian woman wrote about life on other worlds, millions of them, matter-of-factly, like she was just stating something everybody already knew. And she wrote these statements many dozens of times in her works. Incredible statements. She wrote what she knew of the Bible on the subject (the parable of the lost sheep), and what she was shown in dreams and visions. Hey, you can toss out the notion of such a thing. For me, I have no problem believing things she wrote. They have blessed me time and time again even though I am not a member of the church she belonged to. The fact is people from many churches, and no churches, have been blessed by her writings and counsels.
There are a whopping number of other beings out there, beautiful, not cursed by sin, living existence beyond our imagination, waiting for this gig on Earth to end, so God's people get to go home and meet all these people scattered across this vast universe.
So, what do I believe about UFO's?
In some cases I believe they are natural objects people mistake for aeronautic vehicles. In other cases I tend to believe some governments, or deeply entrenched, deliriously wealthy organizations have been messing around with this undertaking for a long time and have developed things that do not fly according to the need of fossil fuels. In other cases I believe the prince of the power of the air, the ruler of this world, the father of lies and murderer from the beginning, the prince of darkness is sizing the world up for a grand entrance in the near future; a deception of greater magnitude than any dog and pony show he has yet put on. Oh, yeah. Big-time delusions.
You look at the numbers of people surveyed who believe ET is out there. You look at the numbers of people that follow the UFO phenomenon. You look at the number of astronauts, military and civilian pilots, civil servants and members of the armed forces, police officers, and other very credible people who have come forward to testify what they have seen, recorded, and experienced for 70 years now. Even if only ten percent of all photos, films, and testimonies of people around the world are true and accurate, this is an enormous subject that is anything but, going away.
Do I believe other races of beings out there are visiting Earth? No. I believe they see just what they need to in ways we cannot fathom. If man has holograms, what do you think God has to show everybody out there just how the battle rages on the earth between forces of light and darkness? It would make a hologram seem like a cheap parlor trick. So, no, I don't believe we are being visited by ET. No need.
I believe the near future is lining up for the last hurrah for this crazy world. The Adversary of souls is not going down without a fight and a last great stand. He's preparing a final delusion to entrap anybody not clinging to the word of God for strength and guidance. He comes as an angel of light, with legions of fallen angels with him. A counterfeit second coming? Why not?
You think I'm crazy. Hey, just about everybody down through biblical history was called crazy by the world. Doesn't bother me in the least. Christ is going to return someday soon enough. He came, He left, He promised to return. I believe Him.
The music of eternity awaits.
I hope you come to believe His promises, and experience it, as well.
So, what does this have to do with drums, drumming, music, or anything else this website is about? Nothing. I just felt like sharing, and thought I'd add some opinion on the subject. Get ready. This probably is not what you think, by a long shot.
When I was around 19, having dropped out of North Haven High School, in Connecticut, at 15, I hadn't seen a lot of guys I hung out with for around four years and some of them were hanging out and wondered what I was up to so they piled into a car and came knocking. It was great to see these guys again, and we all headed to the dining room and sat around the table and caught up with each other. I remember my parents had gone to an apple orchard and brought home bags of apples. Some of them were huge and mom passed some around, and while we were crunching down, one of the guys said, "Hey, do remember that time we all saw that flying saucer?" Everybody all instantly chimed in, in agreement of the event, except me. I sat puzzled. One of the guys looked at me and said, "You don't remember that?" Remember this? Remember that? How could I have forgotten something so vivid to the rest of these guys?
Well, less than a minute of rattling the memory banks brought the scene back to mind. "Yes, yes, yes! Now I remember!" and off we went with the our personal recollections of the moments. I say moments because that's what it was.
We all played in Little League. Most of us were on the same team. At the end of the season the parents of one of the kids invited the rest of the team and our parents and siblings over for a cookout. The day went along with parents meeting and discussing whatever parents did half a century ago, and all the kids were doing the usual horsing around, tossing baseballs, whatever, and all of a sudden someone yelled, "Hey! Look!" Some looked up and saw it, others missed it by a moment because the trees in the back yard were so tall it shortened the viewing time of the space in the sky. Those who looked up in time saw, for a fleeting few moments, a metallic disk with what looked like domed lights around the bottom circumference, though, I don't remember them shining. I couldn't say how high it was. I couldn't say how fast it was going. It looked a lot lower than most planes or passenger airliners fly, and it was moving a whole lot faster then anything I ever saw in the sky before, and it left no noise signature of any kind. Those who saw it wondered. Those who didn't ... well, what can I say? I know what I saw. So did everybody else who saw it. It was no airplane, that's for sure.
Now, most people have never seen a UFO at all. Me? Twenty-eight years later, coming home from a Bible study one night, still living in Connecticut, I saw up ahead of me and odd-shaped object with lights at it's points. This thing was enormous, and moved so slowly it seemed impossible. Totally silent. I watched it cross the roadway I was on and quickly pulled over, got out of the van, and watched as this object, seemingly the size of a couple football fields, literally float above me.
It was more rectangular in shape, seven sides, with a slight arrow shape to the front. I remember seven small lights at the point of each angle.
I watched planes way off in the distance moving faster than this thing was. I heard doors, and looked behind me, and people living across the road saw me out there and came out to see what I was looking at. We watched this object silently move along for around 4 miles (according to a map I looked at later), until it finally vanished over the ridge, a town away.
Now you would think we'd all be filled with questions and instant discussion would have arisen. Nope. Nobody said a word. We just all went back to our domains; their houses, my van, and that was it.
Driving home I tried to wrap my head around this, also remembering twenty-eight years earlier. Two totally different objects. One extremely fast, the other extremely slow. One higher, the other feeling like it was almost close enough to throw a rock and hit it. Both totally silent.
If you ask me what the altitude was of the second object, watching it pass over the ridge, it being around 950' high max, this object was lower than 2000' up.
When I got home I went right for the telephone, everybody asking me what was going on. I called the police department of the town where we lost sight of the UFO, and sheepishly asked if anyone had seen a UFO that night. The officer said the phone was ringing off the hook. At least I know the few of us standing there were not alone.
The next day the reports on the tv news were hilarious. "Yeah, man, I saw it! It had bright lights all over it and it glowed, man."
Not so much.
So, there be my two UFO tales.
Ah, but, I am not done, my friends. You see, being a Christian, I have some thoughts on the matter. Now, don't run off just yet, you thinking you know what I'm about to write for your less than inquisitive eyes.
You see, what kind of options do we have? ET? Man-made? Something natural? Some kind of hoax? Satanic funny business? Mass hallucination?
Here's what I believe. I have been studying the Bible for 40 years now. I happen to believe the Bible plainly alludes to life beyond Earth. I part company, along with millions of others, with the majority of evangelical, fundamentalist believers who state we are alone in the universe. Nope. Don't buy it. Common sense tells me this universe is so vast the Creator put a whole bunch of children out there to play in His backyard. But, that's just my own personal belief. If I get more specific and go to Scripture I have three main points to motivate my beliefs.
1. The parable of the lost sheep. Now, we know the Shepherd is Christ. We know each of us make up that lost sheep. Who then, are the 99 that need no rescuing? Nobody on this planet, for "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
2. In doing a study of every place that refers to the "sons of God," both Old and New Testaments, especially the book of Job, I had to conclude these are not angels. Who, then, are these sons of God in Job who gathered at the heavenly convocation and conference depicted in the first and second chapters? Who are they that sang and shouted for joy during creation week in chapter 38? It has always been stated they are angels. No, not if I let the Bible interpret itself when it comes to the subject of the "sons of God" throughout Scripture.
3. The Bible says the redeemed shall wear crowns of victory and reign. Reign? Over who? The angels? The Bible states man was made a little lower than the angels. We'll not be reigning over them. Who then?
I believe the sons of God pictured in Job are representatives of other worlds, gathered to address the tragic situation befallen this world; the one Adam should have represented, if he had not fallen. Who got to represent this world? He who stood there and charged God repeatedly with not being in control of things in this world he claimed as his through Adam's fall. Christ called him the prince of this world: Lucifer.
And I add this. Back in the 19th century, into the beginning of the 20th, a woman by the name of Ellen White carried on a very intensive ministry that took her all over the world speaking, as well as writing one hundred thousand pages of manuscript on all kinds of subjects regarding the Christian faith: prophecy, daily living, education, evangelism, healthful living, Bible commentary, and it's all pretty fascinating, as well as very convicting. She pulled no punches, yet wrote beautiful things about having a living connection with Christ.
This dedicated Christian woman wrote about life on other worlds, millions of them, matter-of-factly, like she was just stating something everybody already knew. And she wrote these statements many dozens of times in her works. Incredible statements. She wrote what she knew of the Bible on the subject (the parable of the lost sheep), and what she was shown in dreams and visions. Hey, you can toss out the notion of such a thing. For me, I have no problem believing things she wrote. They have blessed me time and time again even though I am not a member of the church she belonged to. The fact is people from many churches, and no churches, have been blessed by her writings and counsels.
There are a whopping number of other beings out there, beautiful, not cursed by sin, living existence beyond our imagination, waiting for this gig on Earth to end, so God's people get to go home and meet all these people scattered across this vast universe.
So, what do I believe about UFO's?
In some cases I believe they are natural objects people mistake for aeronautic vehicles. In other cases I tend to believe some governments, or deeply entrenched, deliriously wealthy organizations have been messing around with this undertaking for a long time and have developed things that do not fly according to the need of fossil fuels. In other cases I believe the prince of the power of the air, the ruler of this world, the father of lies and murderer from the beginning, the prince of darkness is sizing the world up for a grand entrance in the near future; a deception of greater magnitude than any dog and pony show he has yet put on. Oh, yeah. Big-time delusions.
You look at the numbers of people surveyed who believe ET is out there. You look at the numbers of people that follow the UFO phenomenon. You look at the number of astronauts, military and civilian pilots, civil servants and members of the armed forces, police officers, and other very credible people who have come forward to testify what they have seen, recorded, and experienced for 70 years now. Even if only ten percent of all photos, films, and testimonies of people around the world are true and accurate, this is an enormous subject that is anything but, going away.
Do I believe other races of beings out there are visiting Earth? No. I believe they see just what they need to in ways we cannot fathom. If man has holograms, what do you think God has to show everybody out there just how the battle rages on the earth between forces of light and darkness? It would make a hologram seem like a cheap parlor trick. So, no, I don't believe we are being visited by ET. No need.
I believe the near future is lining up for the last hurrah for this crazy world. The Adversary of souls is not going down without a fight and a last great stand. He's preparing a final delusion to entrap anybody not clinging to the word of God for strength and guidance. He comes as an angel of light, with legions of fallen angels with him. A counterfeit second coming? Why not?
You think I'm crazy. Hey, just about everybody down through biblical history was called crazy by the world. Doesn't bother me in the least. Christ is going to return someday soon enough. He came, He left, He promised to return. I believe Him.
The music of eternity awaits.
I hope you come to believe His promises, and experience it, as well.
******************
30. The Search for a "Legendary" Guitarist - June 16, 2019
So, with the announcement of the album reissue came an invitation to play at the Keep It True festival, in Konigshofen, Germany, next April; to play From the Fjords in its entirety, with a little extra time on the clock to stretch out some. Pretty exciting, yes? Well, no band, though. Logically, find someone who can play guitar and sing, and find ways to make such an opportunity work. Enter, our online search.
We decided to seek someone from Europe, largely because Europe has the lion's share of fans of Legend and Fjords. It seemed a good idea to do the concert with someone from the homeland of fans that shall attend the festival. We think they will appreciate that. Of course, KIT has people show up from all over the world.
Sonic Age Records and the KIT festival Facebook pages have been announcing and helping out with things.
To be honest, I really thought we would get a lot more audition submissions than we have. Traffic here at my site went up over 100% when the audition announcement was made. It is still over 50% than normal but, submissions have ceased.
I sit here having all kinds of things going through my mind. I try not to speculate and stay focused on the task at hand. Thinking about why more people did not audition does nothing to address those who did.
Sterling candidates have submitted auditions, from both Europe and the U.S.A. It's been interesting to find out how some of these players found out about the audition. Had nothing to do with FB up front, though FB members contacted players and told them about the concert and all, and they sent in audition info. No one was familiar with the band or the album, save for a singer. That said, in listening to samples posted by people on Youtube, everybody likes the album and is anxious to dig right in.
I'm telling you right up front, though, this is a hard thing to do. You know, in the past, I cannot think of a single time I auditioned anyone. It was always asking someone if they wanted to join, and they accepted. Now, I have done auditions but, never had to choose between various candidates for a position.
I hate, I mean, I really hate being the bearer of bad news. To pick one person and have to tell others they are not chosen is extremely difficult for me.
For one thing, being a Christian, I am committed to always sharing "Good News." But, practically speaking, having to tell people eminently qualified and talented they are not getting the position really tears my heart out.
Kevin is irreplaceable for us. That is just a fact. He was a one-of-a-kind-type person. His skills, matched with his personality, gave the band a unique personality. We do not hope to find that in someone else. We knew we could find guitar and vocal talent. The question remains how it fits with the music.
I watched this video put out by Dream Theater after Mike Portnoy left the band. They showed clips of each of the candidates they asked to audition. World class players. Top tier people. Each had a choice to make. They could approach the music with a blend of their voice and Portnoy's voice in whatever percentage variations they chose. They all did incredible jobs. The band had to make a choice and tell these renowned players they did not get the job. Now, how do you tell Virgil Donati he doesn't get the job? Seriously? Thomas Lang?
Well, the band decided on Mike Mangini because, while he did his thing, he also stayed true to passages played by Portnoy more than the others, and the band is so used to hearing them went with what was, rather than what could be. I found that very interesting.
I guess you call the person who got the job and the others make an assumption, not called: then, when the info gets out, they know for sure? That is not what we'll do.
These are professional people, and in my head I know they know the drill. You win some, you lose some. That is the music business. Just the same, it will be hard. We will tell everyone in a general response who did get the position.
I don't know if they will be reading this blog entry but, hint: as much as we appreciate their skills, copping Kevin's stuff is really the gig. We are working out places where they can stretch out and do their thing, though. That is only fair.
These guys are not kids and they know the ropes. When I was young and lost every audition I tried out for, I was pretty devastated. Dazed and confused, for sure. I got a little older, honed my skills, and Legend came along. I got the job. I pretty much haven't had to audition again. I've been asked to do things but, I remember those fails. They build character, right?
For these players we have in front of us, we can't lose. I find that ironic. No matter who we pick I believe the gig will go off really well, fans pleased, we 'come down' a couple days later, life goes on. Still, some will not have that experience. Those who did not make the position, don't feel bad. The differences that make the choice will be small things because you are all fantastic players and people: very talented, very humble, and very willing. And, you are all doing your thing, producing great music, regardless of what happens with this audition.
We really appreciate your participation, spirit, and vibe.
Now, to the final decision. Stay tuned.
We decided to seek someone from Europe, largely because Europe has the lion's share of fans of Legend and Fjords. It seemed a good idea to do the concert with someone from the homeland of fans that shall attend the festival. We think they will appreciate that. Of course, KIT has people show up from all over the world.
Sonic Age Records and the KIT festival Facebook pages have been announcing and helping out with things.
To be honest, I really thought we would get a lot more audition submissions than we have. Traffic here at my site went up over 100% when the audition announcement was made. It is still over 50% than normal but, submissions have ceased.
I sit here having all kinds of things going through my mind. I try not to speculate and stay focused on the task at hand. Thinking about why more people did not audition does nothing to address those who did.
Sterling candidates have submitted auditions, from both Europe and the U.S.A. It's been interesting to find out how some of these players found out about the audition. Had nothing to do with FB up front, though FB members contacted players and told them about the concert and all, and they sent in audition info. No one was familiar with the band or the album, save for a singer. That said, in listening to samples posted by people on Youtube, everybody likes the album and is anxious to dig right in.
I'm telling you right up front, though, this is a hard thing to do. You know, in the past, I cannot think of a single time I auditioned anyone. It was always asking someone if they wanted to join, and they accepted. Now, I have done auditions but, never had to choose between various candidates for a position.
I hate, I mean, I really hate being the bearer of bad news. To pick one person and have to tell others they are not chosen is extremely difficult for me.
For one thing, being a Christian, I am committed to always sharing "Good News." But, practically speaking, having to tell people eminently qualified and talented they are not getting the position really tears my heart out.
Kevin is irreplaceable for us. That is just a fact. He was a one-of-a-kind-type person. His skills, matched with his personality, gave the band a unique personality. We do not hope to find that in someone else. We knew we could find guitar and vocal talent. The question remains how it fits with the music.
I watched this video put out by Dream Theater after Mike Portnoy left the band. They showed clips of each of the candidates they asked to audition. World class players. Top tier people. Each had a choice to make. They could approach the music with a blend of their voice and Portnoy's voice in whatever percentage variations they chose. They all did incredible jobs. The band had to make a choice and tell these renowned players they did not get the job. Now, how do you tell Virgil Donati he doesn't get the job? Seriously? Thomas Lang?
Well, the band decided on Mike Mangini because, while he did his thing, he also stayed true to passages played by Portnoy more than the others, and the band is so used to hearing them went with what was, rather than what could be. I found that very interesting.
I guess you call the person who got the job and the others make an assumption, not called: then, when the info gets out, they know for sure? That is not what we'll do.
These are professional people, and in my head I know they know the drill. You win some, you lose some. That is the music business. Just the same, it will be hard. We will tell everyone in a general response who did get the position.
I don't know if they will be reading this blog entry but, hint: as much as we appreciate their skills, copping Kevin's stuff is really the gig. We are working out places where they can stretch out and do their thing, though. That is only fair.
These guys are not kids and they know the ropes. When I was young and lost every audition I tried out for, I was pretty devastated. Dazed and confused, for sure. I got a little older, honed my skills, and Legend came along. I got the job. I pretty much haven't had to audition again. I've been asked to do things but, I remember those fails. They build character, right?
For these players we have in front of us, we can't lose. I find that ironic. No matter who we pick I believe the gig will go off really well, fans pleased, we 'come down' a couple days later, life goes on. Still, some will not have that experience. Those who did not make the position, don't feel bad. The differences that make the choice will be small things because you are all fantastic players and people: very talented, very humble, and very willing. And, you are all doing your thing, producing great music, regardless of what happens with this audition.
We really appreciate your participation, spirit, and vibe.
Now, to the final decision. Stay tuned.
******************
31. KIT XXlll - A Guitarist, Plus ... July 1, 2019
Well, some very difficult things developed towards the end of the Search for a guitarist for the Keep It True festival.
Fred encountered some circumstances that prohibit him from doing the concert. That was quite the blow. Because of everything happening and the number of people involved, and because candidates were preparing album tracks to audition and I did not want them expending time and energy for nothing, I sent out a cancellation notice. What else could be done?
I immediately began to get emails asking what happened, etc. Everybody was supportive and encouraging, seeking ways or ideas to keep the performance on track. How, though?
I have to say, the circumstances surrounding me really brought home the whole Legend-thing: this life the album has 40 years later. The impact it has made on people, and the desire people have to see this music performed; it's really quite amazing. Despite some fears, I really want to do this concert. It will probably be the last public performance I am involved in. And with the whole aspect of opening up a wider exposure of Kevin's life and talents being part of the album reissue, as well as this tribute to him for the concert, it just seems important to do this gig. It is all bigger than me, Fred, or anybody else associated with the band or album.
I set out to see if the candidates would hang on a bit as I counseled with people to see what could be done.
So, what to do? Another bassist? C'mon. Kevin is already gone. Hard enough to try and find a singing guitarist. Put somebody in Fred's place, too? I really saw that as ridiculous at first. I am not Legend. How would an audience see me and two new people? Is that Legend? How can that be Legend?
My wife, bless her heart, the wise woman she is, was first to assure me what fans care about is the music. Play the music, play it well, the fans will be satisfied. Others assured me as long as one original founding member of the band is there, it will be seen as Legend. Kind of hard for me to wrap my head around but, I was softening to the idea.
I got back to the candidates, explained the situation, and rearranged the parameters of the audition. Could they suggest or come with a bassist to do the gig with them? I tried looking for a bassist. I don't know any and living in Texas I am surrounded by Country music and Southern Rock, and searching online musician sites proved fruitless.
Well, the candidates offered suggestions. Ultimately, a choice was made, as posted on The Search page here on the website.
With Fred's wishing me well, the concert shall continue on with two fine musicians from Denmark; Martin Jepsen Andersen on guitar and vocals, and his long time friend and playing partner, Jesper Bunk, on bass. I really like these guys. Real pros with a tremendous amount of credentials behind them; both on recordings and live performance. Both excited to do this. Although they were not familiar with the album, upon listening they both became fans right away. Martin sent in his audition track: his take on From the Fjords and it was pretty stunning. He doesn't think he sings very well but, let me tell you, he does. His playing speaks for itself. His technique is fantastic but, more than that, his demonstration of his soul in what he plays really strikes me.
In speaking about Tom's playing, in Miledge Muzic, I have mentioned his very unique approach to the guitar. I am just not really into the flamethrowers, as I call them: those who can play scales so fast their fingers become a blur. It can be fun to watch and all but, speed, crowding notes together, is not necessarily music. Music is as much the space between the notes, yes? With Martin, he has great control of those spaces. It reminds me a lot of Kevin's approach. And, as it happens, we have worked out an arrangement for Martin to play a double neck for the performance, which absolutely thrills me because Kevin, for all his antics and comedy, when he strapped on that double neck and walked on stage, he transformed into a true master. He had his fun, for sure but, he used that double neck like Poseidon's trident or Zeus' lightning bolts. It was amazing to behold.
Now Jesper; he's a real stoic, much like Fred. Solid, no nonsense, lay it down, hold that pocket, throw in some razzle dazzle here and there and his task is done, he abides satisfied.
So, ten months of rigorous material shedding for them, much exercise for me to regain endurance, and then its off to Germany.
Something else happened that just brought joy to my heart this week. As much as I want to do this festival, it makes me nervous, as well. I already explained the aspect of who and what is Legend and how will this new trio be seen? Also, as I have stated dozens of times, Legend was not a Metal band. Legend was a power trio playing all kinds of stuff; a blend of Rock genres that people found difficult to categorize back then. Today, the band and the album have drifted into the Metal category. Playing before a few thousand people, diehard Metal fans, with two new people I will just meet face to face a few days before the concert, playing music that is not Metal in my mind, having never played a festival, with the hectic pace they operate under ... yeah, fish out of water, long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, wet, cold puppy cowering in a corner somewhere.
Well, about a year and a half ago a gentleman got in touch with me. He was the drummer with Manilla Road, a long time active epic Metal band from America. He happens to be from Europe, himself. His name is Andreas "Neudi" Neuderth. Great player. Great guy. We corresponded for awhile about a Legend reissue. I knew that Neudi played KIT before. I emailed him and he replied that he will be at KIT and offered to assist me any way he could. What a relief! What a blessing because, the more I read about festivals the more crazy they seem to become. Having Neudi there to help me out is a true load off my mind.
A couple days ago, another amazing event. I have reconnected with many of the people I knew back in the Legend days. One person I had not was the person who bought my whole drum set. I had not known anything about him or the set in 40 years, and I get asked about that set, too. You can see pics of it here on the site.
Well, somehow "Cans," as his nickname was, found me on youtube and emailed. Paul still has the drum set, 40 years later, intact with the same drum heads! Even the covering I put on them, a Gothic-looking, flocked wallpaper, is still sound. Amazing. Unbelievable. It does my heart well to know that rig is still in safe and loving hands. Paul offered to let me use it for the KIT gig but, it would be a small fortune to ship that whole thing to Germany. Still, the idea of using that set for a 40th anniversary concert? Man, talk about Legendary.
So, it's been an eventful couple of weeks to be sure.
So many logistical things to put in order. I'll be 65 for this gig. Neudi assures me I'll be a youngster, seeing a guy played there who was 74 a few years ago. It's a lot of energy to play this music, any music, from the drum chair. I hope to bring more fire to Germany next April than I brought to the stage 40 years ago, and do it all for the audience of One, first and foremost.
Onward.
Fred encountered some circumstances that prohibit him from doing the concert. That was quite the blow. Because of everything happening and the number of people involved, and because candidates were preparing album tracks to audition and I did not want them expending time and energy for nothing, I sent out a cancellation notice. What else could be done?
I immediately began to get emails asking what happened, etc. Everybody was supportive and encouraging, seeking ways or ideas to keep the performance on track. How, though?
I have to say, the circumstances surrounding me really brought home the whole Legend-thing: this life the album has 40 years later. The impact it has made on people, and the desire people have to see this music performed; it's really quite amazing. Despite some fears, I really want to do this concert. It will probably be the last public performance I am involved in. And with the whole aspect of opening up a wider exposure of Kevin's life and talents being part of the album reissue, as well as this tribute to him for the concert, it just seems important to do this gig. It is all bigger than me, Fred, or anybody else associated with the band or album.
I set out to see if the candidates would hang on a bit as I counseled with people to see what could be done.
So, what to do? Another bassist? C'mon. Kevin is already gone. Hard enough to try and find a singing guitarist. Put somebody in Fred's place, too? I really saw that as ridiculous at first. I am not Legend. How would an audience see me and two new people? Is that Legend? How can that be Legend?
My wife, bless her heart, the wise woman she is, was first to assure me what fans care about is the music. Play the music, play it well, the fans will be satisfied. Others assured me as long as one original founding member of the band is there, it will be seen as Legend. Kind of hard for me to wrap my head around but, I was softening to the idea.
I got back to the candidates, explained the situation, and rearranged the parameters of the audition. Could they suggest or come with a bassist to do the gig with them? I tried looking for a bassist. I don't know any and living in Texas I am surrounded by Country music and Southern Rock, and searching online musician sites proved fruitless.
Well, the candidates offered suggestions. Ultimately, a choice was made, as posted on The Search page here on the website.
With Fred's wishing me well, the concert shall continue on with two fine musicians from Denmark; Martin Jepsen Andersen on guitar and vocals, and his long time friend and playing partner, Jesper Bunk, on bass. I really like these guys. Real pros with a tremendous amount of credentials behind them; both on recordings and live performance. Both excited to do this. Although they were not familiar with the album, upon listening they both became fans right away. Martin sent in his audition track: his take on From the Fjords and it was pretty stunning. He doesn't think he sings very well but, let me tell you, he does. His playing speaks for itself. His technique is fantastic but, more than that, his demonstration of his soul in what he plays really strikes me.
In speaking about Tom's playing, in Miledge Muzic, I have mentioned his very unique approach to the guitar. I am just not really into the flamethrowers, as I call them: those who can play scales so fast their fingers become a blur. It can be fun to watch and all but, speed, crowding notes together, is not necessarily music. Music is as much the space between the notes, yes? With Martin, he has great control of those spaces. It reminds me a lot of Kevin's approach. And, as it happens, we have worked out an arrangement for Martin to play a double neck for the performance, which absolutely thrills me because Kevin, for all his antics and comedy, when he strapped on that double neck and walked on stage, he transformed into a true master. He had his fun, for sure but, he used that double neck like Poseidon's trident or Zeus' lightning bolts. It was amazing to behold.
Now Jesper; he's a real stoic, much like Fred. Solid, no nonsense, lay it down, hold that pocket, throw in some razzle dazzle here and there and his task is done, he abides satisfied.
So, ten months of rigorous material shedding for them, much exercise for me to regain endurance, and then its off to Germany.
Something else happened that just brought joy to my heart this week. As much as I want to do this festival, it makes me nervous, as well. I already explained the aspect of who and what is Legend and how will this new trio be seen? Also, as I have stated dozens of times, Legend was not a Metal band. Legend was a power trio playing all kinds of stuff; a blend of Rock genres that people found difficult to categorize back then. Today, the band and the album have drifted into the Metal category. Playing before a few thousand people, diehard Metal fans, with two new people I will just meet face to face a few days before the concert, playing music that is not Metal in my mind, having never played a festival, with the hectic pace they operate under ... yeah, fish out of water, long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, wet, cold puppy cowering in a corner somewhere.
Well, about a year and a half ago a gentleman got in touch with me. He was the drummer with Manilla Road, a long time active epic Metal band from America. He happens to be from Europe, himself. His name is Andreas "Neudi" Neuderth. Great player. Great guy. We corresponded for awhile about a Legend reissue. I knew that Neudi played KIT before. I emailed him and he replied that he will be at KIT and offered to assist me any way he could. What a relief! What a blessing because, the more I read about festivals the more crazy they seem to become. Having Neudi there to help me out is a true load off my mind.
A couple days ago, another amazing event. I have reconnected with many of the people I knew back in the Legend days. One person I had not was the person who bought my whole drum set. I had not known anything about him or the set in 40 years, and I get asked about that set, too. You can see pics of it here on the site.
Well, somehow "Cans," as his nickname was, found me on youtube and emailed. Paul still has the drum set, 40 years later, intact with the same drum heads! Even the covering I put on them, a Gothic-looking, flocked wallpaper, is still sound. Amazing. Unbelievable. It does my heart well to know that rig is still in safe and loving hands. Paul offered to let me use it for the KIT gig but, it would be a small fortune to ship that whole thing to Germany. Still, the idea of using that set for a 40th anniversary concert? Man, talk about Legendary.
So, it's been an eventful couple of weeks to be sure.
So many logistical things to put in order. I'll be 65 for this gig. Neudi assures me I'll be a youngster, seeing a guy played there who was 74 a few years ago. It's a lot of energy to play this music, any music, from the drum chair. I hope to bring more fire to Germany next April than I brought to the stage 40 years ago, and do it all for the audience of One, first and foremost.
Onward.
******************
32. SERIOUSLY? I mean, SERIOUSLY??? August 13, 2018
Anyone who knows me knows I have stated Legend was not a Heavy Metal band. If you have been to my website and read anything about the band, you have seen it written here, profusely.
Well, above is a good reason why I dread and reject the idea of Legend being associated with the "heavy metal culture" out there. That is a screen shot taken from Amazon, a listing for a T-shirt, sold by an outfit called Hells Headbangers. SERIOUSLY???
If a picture is worth a thousand words, that picture explains every possible reason why Legend was not a heavy metal band.
It not only gives Legend a bad name, it gives the legitimate Heavy Metal genre a bad name, and the genre has done enough of that themselves over the years, from the crazy antics of a young Ozzy Osborne to more modern childish nonsense grown men and women get into.
Now look. People can listen to whatever they want. Whatever floats their boats. Are there no logical, common sense limits anymore? What does the band or music of Legend have to do with the above? If Legend did, indeed, write music about the Lord of the Rings, it would not have been about the Orcs, I can tell you that. It would have made more sense for the model to be dressed in a Viking hat of some kind, a la, How to Train Your Dragon, than the above grotesque ... a bullet belt? The entire image is fraught with insensibility. That is what so much of the heavy metal community has become - insensible. Drowning in darkness, thinking it is light. Why?
I watched an interview with Bill Ward, the original drummer with Black Sabbath. He plainly said Sabbath was a band of morbid young men playing morbid music. It made sense to them. They were searching. They wrote about their search from both a good and evil viewpoint people face every day. Black Sabbath's music, with all its melodies and obtuse fun, makes much of what is out there today sound like insanity on parade.
I absolutely reject this kind of revolting puerility pictured above having anything to do with Legend. It is one of the reasons we never went for a reissue, and did, only when it was not classified as Metal. This kind of gross, over-the-top foolishness is saturated throughout Heavy Metal culture. Artwork and lyrics that totally demeans women, disgustingly mocks Christ, preaches a message of ultimate darkness, doom, and wretchedness; not from a fantasy story viewpoint but, some twisted, demented reality, should bring outrage and be rejected by any person with some common sense. But, common sense is losing ground in our world. There is a strikingly valid reason for that.
Oh, someone says, it is harmless, like Halloween and stuff. All for fun. No. I reject such notions. Giving darkness any kind of stage, platform, or push only results in negative human development. The very fact this ad for the t-shirt exists without challenge in today's society, when it would have been seen with overt disgust by any and all from previous generations, is proof of that. I am glad Kevin is not alive to see it.
What is pictured associated with the band, above, is not an association with some Hollywood horror movie but, associated with satanic darkness so much of the Heavy Metal community surrounds itself with. What are people thinking?
The other day I beheld some album covers that shocked me. I did not think much could do so at this stage of my life. One had the members of a band surrounding a naked woman, one of the men holding her breast from behind. It looked like an obvious, impending rape scene, yet the woman is pictured as slipping into some sexual fantasy! Looking at the comments, a thumbnail picture of a FEMALE stated she had to go out and get the album just because of that album cover!
No longer is it obvious to the human race what is evil and what is good. As it says in Isaiah - good shall be called evil, and evil shall be called good. That is our day, my friends. That is our prophetic time in earth's history now, today, happening for decades as "the darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people."
My worldview is not framed by popularity. It is not bolstered by what men see as permissible or acceptable. It is grounded by the Word of God, the truth as it is in Jesus: the way, the truth, and the life.
Like I say, people can listen to what they want, dress as they like, carry on however they please but, association matters. I believe in free association as a principle, as a right. When you link your association with someone else, or something else another party absolutely rejects, you cross a line. The line has been crossed, above. It is a slap in the face, a shot to the gut. Legend had nothing to do with such preposterous garbage.
Am I offended? Obviously. Am I going to take some kind of action against Hells Headbangers? They can do what they want, though they obviously never sought permission from anyone associated with the band to sell their T-shirt.
I can say what I want. I believe in free speech. What I am writing here may offend you. So be it. We are free moral agents. We all make our decisions in life, how to live it. I apologize for nothing in this blog. They put themselves out there as they have. I respond in what I believe.
Right now, today, you can get punched in the face for wearing a red MAGA baseball cap. You can be applauded for invading someone elses space and striking them because a hat offends you in some way. Violence towards others, from babies in the womb to the aged, is all seen as something necessary if circumstances call for it.
Those same people might find the above ad totally acceptable. When shock and foolishness becomes an excuse for being called "art," what does this say about a culture?
The world is going mad. The planet is going to meet its Maker some day soon enough, and then people will find out, too late, what is truly offensive and what is not.
Legend was a band that created songs about myths, legends, and stories. What is coming is not based on any myth. It is based on Bible prophesy, that which accurately predicts, centuries before it happened and will happen, what is coming.
It can't arrive fast enough for me so this human wasteland of such vast potential, turning into a cesspool because of lies and darkness, finally comes to an end.
Call it a day, Lord, and close up shop.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Well, above is a good reason why I dread and reject the idea of Legend being associated with the "heavy metal culture" out there. That is a screen shot taken from Amazon, a listing for a T-shirt, sold by an outfit called Hells Headbangers. SERIOUSLY???
If a picture is worth a thousand words, that picture explains every possible reason why Legend was not a heavy metal band.
It not only gives Legend a bad name, it gives the legitimate Heavy Metal genre a bad name, and the genre has done enough of that themselves over the years, from the crazy antics of a young Ozzy Osborne to more modern childish nonsense grown men and women get into.
Now look. People can listen to whatever they want. Whatever floats their boats. Are there no logical, common sense limits anymore? What does the band or music of Legend have to do with the above? If Legend did, indeed, write music about the Lord of the Rings, it would not have been about the Orcs, I can tell you that. It would have made more sense for the model to be dressed in a Viking hat of some kind, a la, How to Train Your Dragon, than the above grotesque ... a bullet belt? The entire image is fraught with insensibility. That is what so much of the heavy metal community has become - insensible. Drowning in darkness, thinking it is light. Why?
I watched an interview with Bill Ward, the original drummer with Black Sabbath. He plainly said Sabbath was a band of morbid young men playing morbid music. It made sense to them. They were searching. They wrote about their search from both a good and evil viewpoint people face every day. Black Sabbath's music, with all its melodies and obtuse fun, makes much of what is out there today sound like insanity on parade.
I absolutely reject this kind of revolting puerility pictured above having anything to do with Legend. It is one of the reasons we never went for a reissue, and did, only when it was not classified as Metal. This kind of gross, over-the-top foolishness is saturated throughout Heavy Metal culture. Artwork and lyrics that totally demeans women, disgustingly mocks Christ, preaches a message of ultimate darkness, doom, and wretchedness; not from a fantasy story viewpoint but, some twisted, demented reality, should bring outrage and be rejected by any person with some common sense. But, common sense is losing ground in our world. There is a strikingly valid reason for that.
Oh, someone says, it is harmless, like Halloween and stuff. All for fun. No. I reject such notions. Giving darkness any kind of stage, platform, or push only results in negative human development. The very fact this ad for the t-shirt exists without challenge in today's society, when it would have been seen with overt disgust by any and all from previous generations, is proof of that. I am glad Kevin is not alive to see it.
What is pictured associated with the band, above, is not an association with some Hollywood horror movie but, associated with satanic darkness so much of the Heavy Metal community surrounds itself with. What are people thinking?
The other day I beheld some album covers that shocked me. I did not think much could do so at this stage of my life. One had the members of a band surrounding a naked woman, one of the men holding her breast from behind. It looked like an obvious, impending rape scene, yet the woman is pictured as slipping into some sexual fantasy! Looking at the comments, a thumbnail picture of a FEMALE stated she had to go out and get the album just because of that album cover!
No longer is it obvious to the human race what is evil and what is good. As it says in Isaiah - good shall be called evil, and evil shall be called good. That is our day, my friends. That is our prophetic time in earth's history now, today, happening for decades as "the darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people."
My worldview is not framed by popularity. It is not bolstered by what men see as permissible or acceptable. It is grounded by the Word of God, the truth as it is in Jesus: the way, the truth, and the life.
Like I say, people can listen to what they want, dress as they like, carry on however they please but, association matters. I believe in free association as a principle, as a right. When you link your association with someone else, or something else another party absolutely rejects, you cross a line. The line has been crossed, above. It is a slap in the face, a shot to the gut. Legend had nothing to do with such preposterous garbage.
Am I offended? Obviously. Am I going to take some kind of action against Hells Headbangers? They can do what they want, though they obviously never sought permission from anyone associated with the band to sell their T-shirt.
I can say what I want. I believe in free speech. What I am writing here may offend you. So be it. We are free moral agents. We all make our decisions in life, how to live it. I apologize for nothing in this blog. They put themselves out there as they have. I respond in what I believe.
Right now, today, you can get punched in the face for wearing a red MAGA baseball cap. You can be applauded for invading someone elses space and striking them because a hat offends you in some way. Violence towards others, from babies in the womb to the aged, is all seen as something necessary if circumstances call for it.
Those same people might find the above ad totally acceptable. When shock and foolishness becomes an excuse for being called "art," what does this say about a culture?
The world is going mad. The planet is going to meet its Maker some day soon enough, and then people will find out, too late, what is truly offensive and what is not.
Legend was a band that created songs about myths, legends, and stories. What is coming is not based on any myth. It is based on Bible prophesy, that which accurately predicts, centuries before it happened and will happen, what is coming.
It can't arrive fast enough for me so this human wasteland of such vast potential, turning into a cesspool because of lies and darkness, finally comes to an end.
Call it a day, Lord, and close up shop.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
33. Can We Talk? - August 18, 2019
I have mentioned how people in the Heavy Metal community take issue with my positions on much of that culture. For me, music is a combination of melody, harmony and rhythm. In a lot of popular music melody has been replaced by rhythm as the most important structure block. Even modern songs supposedly composed with melody leave nothing much to hum to.
Heavy Metal is a particular genre that remains an enigma for millions of people. It was not much different than Hard Rock when it emerged in the 60's and 70's. Then the 80's hit and things began to radially change. The music became much faster and far more aggressive with less and less melody guiding the "songs." Jacket art became ... as hideous as artists could make it. More and more dark themes became common place. One could look at Heavy Metal, from a distance, and easily conclude this is some kind of cult of death. It seems to ride on the heels of death. It has not changed in the last few decades. If anything it has gotten worse.
Some bands and performers have taken a more melodic approach, and it is even called Melodic Metal. Symphonic Metal, which some refuse to acknowledge as Metal, took a very interesting route, not only musically but, also fronting seriously talented women on lead vocals. Why are these bands not considered Metal? What then, is Metal?
I am certainly not going to try and define it. Since the 1960's and 70's I believe it defined itself.
My issue is not the music, the sound, so much. I can take some and leave others. My issue is the culture. Why so much grotesque imagery and focus on death, and hell, the devil, and all the rest? Is it, indeed, the devil's music in so much of an overt way it is obvious as a train wreck? Yet many in Metal are atheists. That makes things even more confusing. If you do not believe in a supreme deity, you certainly would not believe in a supernatural being that wreaks havoc all over the place and exists to cause pain and suffering. And if you do believe in God, why on earth would you partner up with things diametrically opposed to anything considered divine by connection?
I have puzzled over this since becoming aware of the place of Legend in some current music quarters. Not just the band and album being classified as Metal. Many don't, for the obvious reasons Legend was not a Metal band. We played heavy stuff. It was part of our youth. It effected young Jazz musicians, Classical musicians as well as Rock and Roll musicians. So, naturally, Legend played some heavy material to coincide with the story themes where it fit.
The Satanic imagery, the death and hell stuff, the allegiance to ear-deafening volume, rhythm without any discernible melody, and rarely harmony; the gross and shocking as possible artwork? What gives? Why? What is the point? Is it rebellion to religion? Nobody with any common sense does not see and probably experience elements of hypocrisy in all religions. That has to do with adherents not truly committed for whatever reasons. They exist in two worlds - the world of their professed faith, and the world outside of it, and which side gains the most influence upon them. Most religions do not only present that side, though. Only someone who only cares about seeing hypocrisy can only see hypocrisy. Millions of lovely people reside in religious faiths. I am a Christian. Why Heavy metal leans more towards mocking and demeaning Christianity I do not understand. Perhaps it is because Metal, Rock, itself, is a Western style of music and Christianity is the largest religion in the West. Rebels rebel against that which is the easiest to pick out problems with. That would be professed Christianity. But, wait. Why align with that which is the greatest enemy of Christianity? How does that help the Metal proponent? How does Satan help Metal? Have people thought this through? How does parading goat horns by the tens, if not hundreds of millions around the world, help the world?
Black Sabbath made some stands against that which they considered hypocrisy, as well as foolish living (even though they engaged in some of it themselves). Is that still done, today? It is rather impossible to tell when singers cannot be understood within the chaos of the sound.
What concerns me the most is the lack of ability of Metal proponents to engage in discussion about these matters. I've been shot down many times bringing it up on discussion boards. Ad Hominem attacks rule the conversation, not actual, deliberate and sensible conversation. "You are a Christian. That explains your ignorance," and that ends the matter for them.
The other day I came upon a forum where the 40th anniversary reissue was being discussed. The album was being rejected, as I was referred to as a Christian fanatic. It was in another language and I used google translate and I don't know how accurate it all was. Just the same, if I asked why I was considered a fanatic, would anyone engage? If I asked why my convictions of faith were to be considered anathema by that group of Metal fans, whatever genre they may be into, would they consider and explain? If I asked why they used some pretty "dark" images for their membership identification icons, their avatars, would they have answers that are logical or, just tell me to shove off? Why is Metal associated with so much Luciferian imagery? Are fans, indeed, disciples of the prince of this world, the ruler of this world, the prince of the power of the air, the father of lies, the lord of the flies, a murderer from the beginning, the adversary of souls, the great fallen angel and defeated foe of Christ?
Can we discuss this? I would really like to understand.
Heavy Metal is a particular genre that remains an enigma for millions of people. It was not much different than Hard Rock when it emerged in the 60's and 70's. Then the 80's hit and things began to radially change. The music became much faster and far more aggressive with less and less melody guiding the "songs." Jacket art became ... as hideous as artists could make it. More and more dark themes became common place. One could look at Heavy Metal, from a distance, and easily conclude this is some kind of cult of death. It seems to ride on the heels of death. It has not changed in the last few decades. If anything it has gotten worse.
Some bands and performers have taken a more melodic approach, and it is even called Melodic Metal. Symphonic Metal, which some refuse to acknowledge as Metal, took a very interesting route, not only musically but, also fronting seriously talented women on lead vocals. Why are these bands not considered Metal? What then, is Metal?
I am certainly not going to try and define it. Since the 1960's and 70's I believe it defined itself.
My issue is not the music, the sound, so much. I can take some and leave others. My issue is the culture. Why so much grotesque imagery and focus on death, and hell, the devil, and all the rest? Is it, indeed, the devil's music in so much of an overt way it is obvious as a train wreck? Yet many in Metal are atheists. That makes things even more confusing. If you do not believe in a supreme deity, you certainly would not believe in a supernatural being that wreaks havoc all over the place and exists to cause pain and suffering. And if you do believe in God, why on earth would you partner up with things diametrically opposed to anything considered divine by connection?
I have puzzled over this since becoming aware of the place of Legend in some current music quarters. Not just the band and album being classified as Metal. Many don't, for the obvious reasons Legend was not a Metal band. We played heavy stuff. It was part of our youth. It effected young Jazz musicians, Classical musicians as well as Rock and Roll musicians. So, naturally, Legend played some heavy material to coincide with the story themes where it fit.
The Satanic imagery, the death and hell stuff, the allegiance to ear-deafening volume, rhythm without any discernible melody, and rarely harmony; the gross and shocking as possible artwork? What gives? Why? What is the point? Is it rebellion to religion? Nobody with any common sense does not see and probably experience elements of hypocrisy in all religions. That has to do with adherents not truly committed for whatever reasons. They exist in two worlds - the world of their professed faith, and the world outside of it, and which side gains the most influence upon them. Most religions do not only present that side, though. Only someone who only cares about seeing hypocrisy can only see hypocrisy. Millions of lovely people reside in religious faiths. I am a Christian. Why Heavy metal leans more towards mocking and demeaning Christianity I do not understand. Perhaps it is because Metal, Rock, itself, is a Western style of music and Christianity is the largest religion in the West. Rebels rebel against that which is the easiest to pick out problems with. That would be professed Christianity. But, wait. Why align with that which is the greatest enemy of Christianity? How does that help the Metal proponent? How does Satan help Metal? Have people thought this through? How does parading goat horns by the tens, if not hundreds of millions around the world, help the world?
Black Sabbath made some stands against that which they considered hypocrisy, as well as foolish living (even though they engaged in some of it themselves). Is that still done, today? It is rather impossible to tell when singers cannot be understood within the chaos of the sound.
What concerns me the most is the lack of ability of Metal proponents to engage in discussion about these matters. I've been shot down many times bringing it up on discussion boards. Ad Hominem attacks rule the conversation, not actual, deliberate and sensible conversation. "You are a Christian. That explains your ignorance," and that ends the matter for them.
The other day I came upon a forum where the 40th anniversary reissue was being discussed. The album was being rejected, as I was referred to as a Christian fanatic. It was in another language and I used google translate and I don't know how accurate it all was. Just the same, if I asked why I was considered a fanatic, would anyone engage? If I asked why my convictions of faith were to be considered anathema by that group of Metal fans, whatever genre they may be into, would they consider and explain? If I asked why they used some pretty "dark" images for their membership identification icons, their avatars, would they have answers that are logical or, just tell me to shove off? Why is Metal associated with so much Luciferian imagery? Are fans, indeed, disciples of the prince of this world, the ruler of this world, the prince of the power of the air, the father of lies, the lord of the flies, a murderer from the beginning, the adversary of souls, the great fallen angel and defeated foe of Christ?
Can we discuss this? I would really like to understand.
******************
34. Fish Out of Water - August 24, 2019
The heavy metal community/culture remains on my mind. It remains quite personal, not just because Legend is oft mentioned and classed as a Metal band but, in eight months I'll be performing as Legend with a couple very talented and serious musicians at the Keep It True festival, in Germany.
If you ventured around the site you've seen the details about that. Basically a process which began in 2006 with my discovery of the place From the Fjords has in the Metal genre, requests from record companies for a "official" reissue, deciding to do it this year as a tribute to Kevin and his skills and a memorial of his musical talents, and receiving an invitation to play KIT XXlll next April as soon as it was announced the reissue was coming.
In this whole process I have met, on line at least, some really nice people of integrity and professionalism I am pleased to call acquaintances and friends. By the time KIT arrives I figure I'll meet more such people and add some friends to my rather small, insignificant existence.
The preceding entries into this blog have raised some issues. Going further back other things I have written have caused some ... shall we say, unintentional hard feelings for some who communicated with me about those written positions.
I have told others and shall share it here, playing KIT was meant to be a tribute to Kevin and a chance for Fred and I to play together again. Pretty cool. The situation changed and while I will be playing the festival with two excellent musicians and all-round terrific Danes I look forward to rehearsing and performing with, I am going to feel like a fish out of water.
Lauda-Konigshofen looks like a very rural and historically quaint area of Germany. A twin-town situation separated by a mile or so. Lots of centuries-old architecture. And going to Denmark? What can I say? The land of Vikings and Nordic history. The great themes behind From the Fjords, Legend's epic piece, which I am told had a lot of influence on musicians and bands to come later. So, you know, not having ever been to Europe, to do so within such an occasion is pretty mind blowing, to say the least.
That said, anybody looking at the KIT XXlll poster, reading the names of bands performing there, or those that have performed in previous years, will see some pretty ... heavy monikers. In keeping with the last couple blog entries ... yeah, for me, a fish out of water. I know some would think, to do this concert I must be out of my mind. Well, of course, I may be. I won't argue that. What else is knew?
I am told by quite a few people the Metal community is actually a very big and open tent, and many in it are not entirely pleased with the direction the genre has taken down every avenue of sub-genre these days, which, historically, gave rise to the NWOTHM (New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal). Keep It True was founded, as I understand it, to cater to that more traditional sound. They even put bands leaning more towards Progressive or Hard Rock on the bill, and I was assured by Oliver Meinsheim, one of the promoters (a really nice guy, btw), that Legend will fit right in. I have read things about KIT that it is like a big, family reunion every year. Legend may fit but, will I?
It is interesting to listen to musicians from various Metal genres in interviews. So many just seem like "regular" guys. When I say "regular" I mean like any decent fellow you might work with at the plant or meet at a baseball game. There is nothing overtly nefarious about them. Nothing dark and sinister. I might expect some to come up to me and shake my hand and say, "Man, love Legend. Great album. I get some things you have written. Disagree with others but, hey, we can agree to disagree." I might even have dinner with some and feel right at home. But ... the names of the bands, and the music ... you can check that out yourself. It speaks for itself. Or, does it? What is the gig, there? While I might expect some very cordial fellows, I might also, logically, expect people to come after me with battle axes, swords, hammers, and ancient scythes! I get the fascination with ancient lore and Vikings and all but, what's with the skeletons, the Grim Reaper, the blood and guts and whole death-thing? What is that? How could I fit in? Why would I be received as a fellow traveler into these dark and mysterious roads when I am a professed citizen of Heaven and a follower of the King of light?
I recently saw a T-shirt that stated "I'd rather be a wolf of Odin, than a lamb of God." I mean, you know. I shook my head. Father forgive them, they know not what they [say]. That Lamb of God is also a Lion, a triumphant Warrior King coming to rescue His sheep from a world of ravenous wolves under another influence, a deadly influence. Revelation states the lost, the great men of this earth, will cry out for the rocks and mountains to fall on them rather than look at the face of Christ when He returns in a glory and power, beyond human imagination. His very brightness will slay the wicked. That is power. He need not take up physical arms towards anyone. He shall just show Himself as He is and everything cursed by sin will go up in flame. That is the power of infinite Purity. That is the power and authority of the Creator; the Savior of the world. Sin cannot abide it that Presence. It shall cease to exist. The redeemed? They shall bask in that light and glory. To them it is life.
Don't confuse me with what you think I believe based on what you may think you know about the Bible and religion of Christ. Ask me first. Don't assume. You may be quite surprised what forty years of Bible study has shown me that has nothing to do with much of the "traditional" Christianity and doctrines out there that turn people off; that turned me off and turned me into an atheist at a very young age.
So, why is it Metal, for the most part, chooses to uplift death and darkness? Why are those themes so apparent and enthusiastically adopted and supported? I understand "War Pigs." The lyrics to Black Sabbath's treatise on the makers of war for profit make total sense if you know anything about the American Military Industrial Complex, and the world bankers that all profit from war. The Grim Reaper is a constant house guest for those people. But, that is not entertainment. That is reality that continues to take lives every single day around the world.
What makes death and darkness entertaining for the Metal community? What is the draw?
I think I mentioned elsewhere my wife says to look at KIT as an adventure. Indeed. I have my motives. I know my intent. God knows my heart. I just wonder if I am up for such an "adventure" at this point in my life.
If you ventured around the site you've seen the details about that. Basically a process which began in 2006 with my discovery of the place From the Fjords has in the Metal genre, requests from record companies for a "official" reissue, deciding to do it this year as a tribute to Kevin and his skills and a memorial of his musical talents, and receiving an invitation to play KIT XXlll next April as soon as it was announced the reissue was coming.
In this whole process I have met, on line at least, some really nice people of integrity and professionalism I am pleased to call acquaintances and friends. By the time KIT arrives I figure I'll meet more such people and add some friends to my rather small, insignificant existence.
The preceding entries into this blog have raised some issues. Going further back other things I have written have caused some ... shall we say, unintentional hard feelings for some who communicated with me about those written positions.
I have told others and shall share it here, playing KIT was meant to be a tribute to Kevin and a chance for Fred and I to play together again. Pretty cool. The situation changed and while I will be playing the festival with two excellent musicians and all-round terrific Danes I look forward to rehearsing and performing with, I am going to feel like a fish out of water.
Lauda-Konigshofen looks like a very rural and historically quaint area of Germany. A twin-town situation separated by a mile or so. Lots of centuries-old architecture. And going to Denmark? What can I say? The land of Vikings and Nordic history. The great themes behind From the Fjords, Legend's epic piece, which I am told had a lot of influence on musicians and bands to come later. So, you know, not having ever been to Europe, to do so within such an occasion is pretty mind blowing, to say the least.
That said, anybody looking at the KIT XXlll poster, reading the names of bands performing there, or those that have performed in previous years, will see some pretty ... heavy monikers. In keeping with the last couple blog entries ... yeah, for me, a fish out of water. I know some would think, to do this concert I must be out of my mind. Well, of course, I may be. I won't argue that. What else is knew?
I am told by quite a few people the Metal community is actually a very big and open tent, and many in it are not entirely pleased with the direction the genre has taken down every avenue of sub-genre these days, which, historically, gave rise to the NWOTHM (New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal). Keep It True was founded, as I understand it, to cater to that more traditional sound. They even put bands leaning more towards Progressive or Hard Rock on the bill, and I was assured by Oliver Meinsheim, one of the promoters (a really nice guy, btw), that Legend will fit right in. I have read things about KIT that it is like a big, family reunion every year. Legend may fit but, will I?
It is interesting to listen to musicians from various Metal genres in interviews. So many just seem like "regular" guys. When I say "regular" I mean like any decent fellow you might work with at the plant or meet at a baseball game. There is nothing overtly nefarious about them. Nothing dark and sinister. I might expect some to come up to me and shake my hand and say, "Man, love Legend. Great album. I get some things you have written. Disagree with others but, hey, we can agree to disagree." I might even have dinner with some and feel right at home. But ... the names of the bands, and the music ... you can check that out yourself. It speaks for itself. Or, does it? What is the gig, there? While I might expect some very cordial fellows, I might also, logically, expect people to come after me with battle axes, swords, hammers, and ancient scythes! I get the fascination with ancient lore and Vikings and all but, what's with the skeletons, the Grim Reaper, the blood and guts and whole death-thing? What is that? How could I fit in? Why would I be received as a fellow traveler into these dark and mysterious roads when I am a professed citizen of Heaven and a follower of the King of light?
I recently saw a T-shirt that stated "I'd rather be a wolf of Odin, than a lamb of God." I mean, you know. I shook my head. Father forgive them, they know not what they [say]. That Lamb of God is also a Lion, a triumphant Warrior King coming to rescue His sheep from a world of ravenous wolves under another influence, a deadly influence. Revelation states the lost, the great men of this earth, will cry out for the rocks and mountains to fall on them rather than look at the face of Christ when He returns in a glory and power, beyond human imagination. His very brightness will slay the wicked. That is power. He need not take up physical arms towards anyone. He shall just show Himself as He is and everything cursed by sin will go up in flame. That is the power of infinite Purity. That is the power and authority of the Creator; the Savior of the world. Sin cannot abide it that Presence. It shall cease to exist. The redeemed? They shall bask in that light and glory. To them it is life.
Don't confuse me with what you think I believe based on what you may think you know about the Bible and religion of Christ. Ask me first. Don't assume. You may be quite surprised what forty years of Bible study has shown me that has nothing to do with much of the "traditional" Christianity and doctrines out there that turn people off; that turned me off and turned me into an atheist at a very young age.
So, why is it Metal, for the most part, chooses to uplift death and darkness? Why are those themes so apparent and enthusiastically adopted and supported? I understand "War Pigs." The lyrics to Black Sabbath's treatise on the makers of war for profit make total sense if you know anything about the American Military Industrial Complex, and the world bankers that all profit from war. The Grim Reaper is a constant house guest for those people. But, that is not entertainment. That is reality that continues to take lives every single day around the world.
What makes death and darkness entertaining for the Metal community? What is the draw?
I think I mentioned elsewhere my wife says to look at KIT as an adventure. Indeed. I have my motives. I know my intent. God knows my heart. I just wonder if I am up for such an "adventure" at this point in my life.
******************
35. Never Satisfied - September 7, 2019
Pro 27:20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
Are you a "gearhead?" I know others besides drummers visit this site but, the obvious portion of readers would be drummers. Of this section of the site, probably drummers who are also Christians. So, let's take a look at the subject of being a Christian gearhead, or, should it be, a gearhead that is also a Christian? Either way some thought provoking should take place with this.
Christians are asked by their Saviour to "spread the wealth." That means both spiritual wealth: the riches of salvation in Christ and the peace, joy, and assurance of plan and purpose for the individual believer's life, as well as financial wealth to help others in need.
Is there a line on that? No. The woman Christ saw in the temple gave all she had and He commended her action. We know the story of the little man who climbed the Sycamore tree to see Christ, Who looked up and saw him, and asked if He could visit the little man in his home for awhile. The little man was a rich tax collector named Zacchaeus, who was converted and said he would give half his goods to the poor, and if he stole anything from anyone he would restore it fourfold.
Those two (of many) examples are shown to display an abiding principle that is activated in the believer - the desire to share what God has given to them.
I remember visiting a church. They had a couple praise and worship bands. One of them had a young drummer. Nice young man. In his early teens. He used what instruments he had, and it was obvious he was influenced by a style of play that was not always the best for the songs he was playing in this band. I gave him some stuff to augment what instruments he had, and gave him some tips on playing. He employed both at the next service and my heart was filled. When his father stood up and gave a testimony of how thankful he was, and then named me as the blessing he spoke of, I was quite taken back. The congregation was most kind in their response, and there, the principle of giving and having it returned to you was fully displayed.
Christ said this:
"And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
But many that are first shall be last; and the last first." Mark 10:29-31
This is a promise, based on a heavenly principle, and it is serious enough to take into consideration how things line up for those who neglect or reject the principle.
If we give, we receive. There is a reason why the adage, "It is more blessed to give, than to receive," remains a principle few argue with and no one argues with if they put it into practice. Christ said, if we leave and follow Him, we receive a hundredfold more? How?
I learned, doing public evangelism, that no matter where I went I had a "family" that saw to my needs. I had houses and lands and brethren and sisters (and I happen to be an only child) and mothers and fathers who cared for me and what I was doing. When it comes to the family of God, that principle plays out in a thousand different ways somewhere, someway, every single day around this planet.
So, back to gearheads. Gearheads are people always searching for more. Some sound they desire. For drummers it is generally snare drums or ride cymbals.
For those not into drums you would benefit from understanding a couple vital circumstances in this search if you happen to know a drummer. Snare drums not only produce specific tones but, also need to have a feeling to them when played: a surface tension that is just right for each player when a sound is developed that also allows for stick rebound and bounce for playing rudiments and accents, etc. It is the same for ride cymbals. They each have a tone and a bounce factor. Drummers are well-known for trying to find the exact measure of both qualities to suit their ears and hands. A snare drum's materials, dimensions, heads and wire tensions all contribute to what makes one drum a dud or, a winner, player to player. But then, as good fortune slips out the window, when you find a snare you love, at all the right points on paper and in practice, it may be in a range of sympathetic vibrations that the snare wires rattle like crazy every time you play the toms. So, you begin to mess around with its variations of configuration to get the snare wires to cease, thereby losing the magical sound and feel you rejoiced over. Oh, yes, this is a process almost all drummers are aware of and struggle with, all the time. We end up giving up, and putting up with less than perfect situations. But, we keep on the look for "the one." It must be out there; a drum of such character and build it will not be subject to nature's laws.
It's like those of us who go to the fridge or pantry ten times thinking we will see something to eat we didn't see the first nine times around. You know who you are. We know it isn't there but, just maybe we missed it. We look in the drum and cymbal pantry endlessly to see if there is something we missed that shall satisfy the hunger for audio/tactile paradise.
Ride cymbals have shapes, weights, alloys, and manufacturing techniques that produce a wide array of tones and feel when you "ride" on their various surface real estate: bows, bells and edges. The ride that excites one person totally bores another. I like to hear a certain combination of stick "ping" and "wash" of the cymbal as it vibrates and develops volume. All discerning drummers do. Oh, for those who are not into the jargon, you would not believe how, generally, metals and woods are described by aficionados. We have wet, dry, warm, cool, fat, round, thin, glassy, transparent, dense, hollow, raw, metallic, woody ... well, duh. Drums and cymbals are round and wood or metal. It is amazing to read all these concepts in describing sound equated with drums and cymbals. Variations on these themes are endless, player to player in their search for "the one."
Because I make drums, and have made many snare drums over the years, I have had my favorites and those that just sit around. I guess I should just sell them. Some I sold that I wish I hadn't. I don't make cymbals but, I do modify them and have sold many cymbals down through the years. That means I also acquired them first, mostly through purchase.
Yes, for one reason or another I am still searching for "the one." And gearheads search for "the one" to a relentless or not so relentless degree, depending on their wallets. A whole lot of money can be spent in this search, and the believer has to ask themselves, must ask themselves, is this all to the glory of God or, is this all about me? Because, you see, "the eyes of man are never satisfied." The audience does not care. Frankly, neither do your bandmates as long as they can hear what they need to hear from you. Technically, neither do sound engineers care; who can do just about anything with technology today. You can literally make cardboard boxes sound like drums just messing around with software.
Now look. Only a drummer really knows the relationship they have with their snare drum(s) and ride cymbal(s) knowing different instruments work better in different musical or environmental circumstances. Especially is that the case in settings where drums are just used acoustically, no mics or PA. Microphones are a whole other subject when it comes to the frequency range of drums and cymbals and how it effects their natural sound. Drummers can also get into finding "the one(s)" when it comes to drum mics.
Far be it from me to say where the line is drawn on how many snare drums or ride cymbals (or any other instrument or piece of hardware) players purchase, sell, trade, and continue to search for "the one." Picture that being said in a large, deep canyon for effect. "THE ONE ... one ... one ...one ...one ... with appropriate light shining through clouds above; rays transforming the seeker of the search ended.
You know what I learned? A rainbow is not a bow. That is just how we see it from our vantage point. A rainbow is actually a circle, a halo if you will, in the atmosphere. We only see part of it. From above it, you can see all of it. It's a circle. Circles don't end. They just go round and round and never end. This is not to say we don't see bows in a waterfall or something of that nature, where moisture and sunlight interject. This is to say for the believing drumist, being a gearhead can be an easy form of idol worship that does no honor to God, and just costs a lot of money that shall never turn into "bread." It's a revolving door. It never ends.
I will be using "backline" instruments at the upcoming KiT festival, in April. The promoters rent things all drummers will use. Guitarists bring their own instruments. What does that say about relationships with musical instruments? "Just give the drummers something to bang on. They'll be fine." I'll be given drums and cymbals to play I have no intimate connection to, or even cursory connection to. No tactile experience, save for basic premises of playing drums and cymbals. I have to think about the music, itself, on From the Fjords. How do I faithfully recreate what I did? Does anybody but, me, really care? Especially as it relates to music on a 40 year old album? I care. Maybe some fans, maybe some drummers would notice. Does God care? What does God notice when it comes to musical instruments? Various instruments are mentioned all through the Bible. Harps are mentioned as something played in heaven. Harps are very gorgeous instruments. In the hands of masters they can produce a symphony of sound. What the harps of heaven are like I am certain shall be absolutely mind-blowing, as will all music and instruments in eternity. But, that's another subject.
I have already purchased a drum throne like the one provided for drummers at the festival. My back is being tortured, my right leg and foot went numb the other night as I practiced on it. I am not a happy camper. I have been sitting on modified office chairs for almost 30 years now. My sense of balance and coordination are implanted at the set from that comfort zone. What shall I do? Make a new top and send it to Germany and hope it seats on the throne they provide? Ask the backline company for a special throne to accommodate my back issues?
Then comes the drums and cymbals provided, which are nothing like the instruments I used on the album, or now, and will create an entirely different sound field and thought process for me as I play on them. There is no way I can ship my own instruments over. The cost is incredible for such things. Can I just take a trusty ride with me? Do I have a trusty ride equal to the task of playing Legend's music in this venue? I do not. Nor are they providing it, looking at the backline list of instruments the festival rents. Pedals? Take those? Obviously my own sticks will make their way into a carry on bag. I see the list of snare drums, none of which are close to the kind I make or play. Do I get one off ebay? Something good? Just decent? I could get a piece of junk and fix it up and come pretty close to what I'd be given to use? That's time and probably some more money for parts. Makes more sense to get something better, yes? Does it matter? Who cares? Shut up and play the music.
Well, trust me. I am not the only musician on Earth that goes through this thought process for gigs. The added responsibility of being a child of God and ambassador for Christ cannot be dismissed. Not for me, anyway.
Hell (the grave) and destruction are never full and the eyes of man are never satisfied. The world can never provide the deepest desires of the human heart and mind. Only God can do that. Only the Creator can provide that through the process and experience of salvation in Christ. I have experienced that. I abide satisfied I have found the truth. The truth is my greatest treasure. Most of mankind constantly seek more possessions to fill a void only the Creator can fill. They die trying to find "the one." They spend fortunes trying. They can spend food money. Responsibility money. They can be addicted to finding "the one."
Finding the right ride cymbal?
See what I mean?
Are you a "gearhead?" I know others besides drummers visit this site but, the obvious portion of readers would be drummers. Of this section of the site, probably drummers who are also Christians. So, let's take a look at the subject of being a Christian gearhead, or, should it be, a gearhead that is also a Christian? Either way some thought provoking should take place with this.
Christians are asked by their Saviour to "spread the wealth." That means both spiritual wealth: the riches of salvation in Christ and the peace, joy, and assurance of plan and purpose for the individual believer's life, as well as financial wealth to help others in need.
Is there a line on that? No. The woman Christ saw in the temple gave all she had and He commended her action. We know the story of the little man who climbed the Sycamore tree to see Christ, Who looked up and saw him, and asked if He could visit the little man in his home for awhile. The little man was a rich tax collector named Zacchaeus, who was converted and said he would give half his goods to the poor, and if he stole anything from anyone he would restore it fourfold.
Those two (of many) examples are shown to display an abiding principle that is activated in the believer - the desire to share what God has given to them.
I remember visiting a church. They had a couple praise and worship bands. One of them had a young drummer. Nice young man. In his early teens. He used what instruments he had, and it was obvious he was influenced by a style of play that was not always the best for the songs he was playing in this band. I gave him some stuff to augment what instruments he had, and gave him some tips on playing. He employed both at the next service and my heart was filled. When his father stood up and gave a testimony of how thankful he was, and then named me as the blessing he spoke of, I was quite taken back. The congregation was most kind in their response, and there, the principle of giving and having it returned to you was fully displayed.
Christ said this:
"And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
But many that are first shall be last; and the last first." Mark 10:29-31
This is a promise, based on a heavenly principle, and it is serious enough to take into consideration how things line up for those who neglect or reject the principle.
If we give, we receive. There is a reason why the adage, "It is more blessed to give, than to receive," remains a principle few argue with and no one argues with if they put it into practice. Christ said, if we leave and follow Him, we receive a hundredfold more? How?
I learned, doing public evangelism, that no matter where I went I had a "family" that saw to my needs. I had houses and lands and brethren and sisters (and I happen to be an only child) and mothers and fathers who cared for me and what I was doing. When it comes to the family of God, that principle plays out in a thousand different ways somewhere, someway, every single day around this planet.
So, back to gearheads. Gearheads are people always searching for more. Some sound they desire. For drummers it is generally snare drums or ride cymbals.
For those not into drums you would benefit from understanding a couple vital circumstances in this search if you happen to know a drummer. Snare drums not only produce specific tones but, also need to have a feeling to them when played: a surface tension that is just right for each player when a sound is developed that also allows for stick rebound and bounce for playing rudiments and accents, etc. It is the same for ride cymbals. They each have a tone and a bounce factor. Drummers are well-known for trying to find the exact measure of both qualities to suit their ears and hands. A snare drum's materials, dimensions, heads and wire tensions all contribute to what makes one drum a dud or, a winner, player to player. But then, as good fortune slips out the window, when you find a snare you love, at all the right points on paper and in practice, it may be in a range of sympathetic vibrations that the snare wires rattle like crazy every time you play the toms. So, you begin to mess around with its variations of configuration to get the snare wires to cease, thereby losing the magical sound and feel you rejoiced over. Oh, yes, this is a process almost all drummers are aware of and struggle with, all the time. We end up giving up, and putting up with less than perfect situations. But, we keep on the look for "the one." It must be out there; a drum of such character and build it will not be subject to nature's laws.
It's like those of us who go to the fridge or pantry ten times thinking we will see something to eat we didn't see the first nine times around. You know who you are. We know it isn't there but, just maybe we missed it. We look in the drum and cymbal pantry endlessly to see if there is something we missed that shall satisfy the hunger for audio/tactile paradise.
Ride cymbals have shapes, weights, alloys, and manufacturing techniques that produce a wide array of tones and feel when you "ride" on their various surface real estate: bows, bells and edges. The ride that excites one person totally bores another. I like to hear a certain combination of stick "ping" and "wash" of the cymbal as it vibrates and develops volume. All discerning drummers do. Oh, for those who are not into the jargon, you would not believe how, generally, metals and woods are described by aficionados. We have wet, dry, warm, cool, fat, round, thin, glassy, transparent, dense, hollow, raw, metallic, woody ... well, duh. Drums and cymbals are round and wood or metal. It is amazing to read all these concepts in describing sound equated with drums and cymbals. Variations on these themes are endless, player to player in their search for "the one."
Because I make drums, and have made many snare drums over the years, I have had my favorites and those that just sit around. I guess I should just sell them. Some I sold that I wish I hadn't. I don't make cymbals but, I do modify them and have sold many cymbals down through the years. That means I also acquired them first, mostly through purchase.
Yes, for one reason or another I am still searching for "the one." And gearheads search for "the one" to a relentless or not so relentless degree, depending on their wallets. A whole lot of money can be spent in this search, and the believer has to ask themselves, must ask themselves, is this all to the glory of God or, is this all about me? Because, you see, "the eyes of man are never satisfied." The audience does not care. Frankly, neither do your bandmates as long as they can hear what they need to hear from you. Technically, neither do sound engineers care; who can do just about anything with technology today. You can literally make cardboard boxes sound like drums just messing around with software.
Now look. Only a drummer really knows the relationship they have with their snare drum(s) and ride cymbal(s) knowing different instruments work better in different musical or environmental circumstances. Especially is that the case in settings where drums are just used acoustically, no mics or PA. Microphones are a whole other subject when it comes to the frequency range of drums and cymbals and how it effects their natural sound. Drummers can also get into finding "the one(s)" when it comes to drum mics.
Far be it from me to say where the line is drawn on how many snare drums or ride cymbals (or any other instrument or piece of hardware) players purchase, sell, trade, and continue to search for "the one." Picture that being said in a large, deep canyon for effect. "THE ONE ... one ... one ...one ...one ... with appropriate light shining through clouds above; rays transforming the seeker of the search ended.
You know what I learned? A rainbow is not a bow. That is just how we see it from our vantage point. A rainbow is actually a circle, a halo if you will, in the atmosphere. We only see part of it. From above it, you can see all of it. It's a circle. Circles don't end. They just go round and round and never end. This is not to say we don't see bows in a waterfall or something of that nature, where moisture and sunlight interject. This is to say for the believing drumist, being a gearhead can be an easy form of idol worship that does no honor to God, and just costs a lot of money that shall never turn into "bread." It's a revolving door. It never ends.
I will be using "backline" instruments at the upcoming KiT festival, in April. The promoters rent things all drummers will use. Guitarists bring their own instruments. What does that say about relationships with musical instruments? "Just give the drummers something to bang on. They'll be fine." I'll be given drums and cymbals to play I have no intimate connection to, or even cursory connection to. No tactile experience, save for basic premises of playing drums and cymbals. I have to think about the music, itself, on From the Fjords. How do I faithfully recreate what I did? Does anybody but, me, really care? Especially as it relates to music on a 40 year old album? I care. Maybe some fans, maybe some drummers would notice. Does God care? What does God notice when it comes to musical instruments? Various instruments are mentioned all through the Bible. Harps are mentioned as something played in heaven. Harps are very gorgeous instruments. In the hands of masters they can produce a symphony of sound. What the harps of heaven are like I am certain shall be absolutely mind-blowing, as will all music and instruments in eternity. But, that's another subject.
I have already purchased a drum throne like the one provided for drummers at the festival. My back is being tortured, my right leg and foot went numb the other night as I practiced on it. I am not a happy camper. I have been sitting on modified office chairs for almost 30 years now. My sense of balance and coordination are implanted at the set from that comfort zone. What shall I do? Make a new top and send it to Germany and hope it seats on the throne they provide? Ask the backline company for a special throne to accommodate my back issues?
Then comes the drums and cymbals provided, which are nothing like the instruments I used on the album, or now, and will create an entirely different sound field and thought process for me as I play on them. There is no way I can ship my own instruments over. The cost is incredible for such things. Can I just take a trusty ride with me? Do I have a trusty ride equal to the task of playing Legend's music in this venue? I do not. Nor are they providing it, looking at the backline list of instruments the festival rents. Pedals? Take those? Obviously my own sticks will make their way into a carry on bag. I see the list of snare drums, none of which are close to the kind I make or play. Do I get one off ebay? Something good? Just decent? I could get a piece of junk and fix it up and come pretty close to what I'd be given to use? That's time and probably some more money for parts. Makes more sense to get something better, yes? Does it matter? Who cares? Shut up and play the music.
Well, trust me. I am not the only musician on Earth that goes through this thought process for gigs. The added responsibility of being a child of God and ambassador for Christ cannot be dismissed. Not for me, anyway.
Hell (the grave) and destruction are never full and the eyes of man are never satisfied. The world can never provide the deepest desires of the human heart and mind. Only God can do that. Only the Creator can provide that through the process and experience of salvation in Christ. I have experienced that. I abide satisfied I have found the truth. The truth is my greatest treasure. Most of mankind constantly seek more possessions to fill a void only the Creator can fill. They die trying to find "the one." They spend fortunes trying. They can spend food money. Responsibility money. They can be addicted to finding "the one."
Finding the right ride cymbal?
See what I mean?
******************
36. Koufakis and Organopoulos Interviews - Nov. 2, 2019
Being a Christian for 40 years now I have developed a sense of truth and error, right and wrong, spiritual light and darkness, what makes sense and what doesn't, that continues to either strengthen or change as the circumstances of life change. Circumstances changed radically for me when I corresponded with Manos Koufakis, of Sonic Age Records, again, in January of 2019 and decided to go ahead with the reissue of From the Fjords. The invitation from Oliver Meinsheimer, one of the promoters of the Keep It True festival, in Germany, for Legend to play the album in its entirety, and the release of the album brought me into contact with a lot of different people, videos, articles, and correspondence, which actually began a couple years ago when Andreas "Neudi" Neuderth, the drummer with then touring band, Manilla Road, found me on YouTube and contacted me. He expressed a lot of different things to me about the Heavy Metal scene. At the time a possible deal was on the table to reissue the album with High Roller Records, from Germany. I put it on a back shelf because of some circumstances that arose surrounding Legend at the time.
Jump a couple years and Manos contacting me and here we are, in November, a second run printing of the album underway, and KIT drawing ever closer, and my ... uneasiness with playing that gig continues to grow, even though it also has the distinct pleasure of allowing me to meet, at least on line for the present, two very nice guys and terrific musicians that shall play the gig with me next April, Martin Andersen and Jesper Bunk, of Blindstone. I'll visit Europe for the first time; two countries, no less: Denmark and Germany. Neudi has offered to help me out in any way he can at the performance, which is really a blessing, and I look forward to meeting him, and Oliver, and I'll meet two guys that have become friends to be sure: Manos and his partner, Kostas Organopoulos.
I have written fairly honestly and extensively about my misgivings of the Heavy Metal scene and culture here on this blog. As a Christian, loving Christ my Savior, and wanting to please God, and live with Him forever through eternity, seeing the overall presentation of angst towards Christianity found throughout Metal is, obviously, disturbing to me. Why make fun of, or put down, or mock Jesus Christ and the religion He founded? It is nothing like what was in the late 60's and 70's when Black Sabbath took the field. The other day I watched an interview with Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi. He certainly seems a real gentleman, no "boogeyman" of any sort, and he made some statements that showed me how things have changed over the decades.
For all intents and purposes two things created a sound and band no one actually intended. It was almost accidental. Sabbath was a heavy Blues Rock riff band from a rough section of industrial England: the city of Birmingham. Tony had an accident at work, severing the tips of two fingers. To continue being able to play he crafted plastic tips and placed leather patches on them. He also loosened the tension on the strings of his guitar to be able to bend strings without pain. That led to a lower tone of sound. Iommi and Geezer Butler, the bassist, both liked horror movies, and marveled at people paying money to get scared. They thought it would be fun to put a horror movie vibe to Rock music, which was sprouting different branches in every direction at that time. Voila, Black Sabbath emerges with a sound unlike any other band on Earth, playing some key signatures that were dark and, well, for people listening to Cream, the Who, Deep Purple, Zeppelin and co., it was, indeed, a horror movie with lyrics to work the mood. Warner Bros. records made up a fairly mysterious and dangerous looking album jacket with a spooky looking, witch-like female on the cover and when you listen to the title song, Black Sabbath, begin; for this 15 year old, it gave me the creeps instantaneously. In headphones, no less. That said, that wasn't the only sound, per se' in their music, and I ended up owning, listening, and playing along to their first six albums. They had some real fun Rockers, some Jazzy stuff, Blues riffs, of course; very melodic, catchy riffs all around, and really engaging and beautiful acoustic pieces, as well. I never saw them in concert; just on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, on TV. Ozzie waving his peace signs, wearing his hippie shirt (or jacket), acting like the guy who wants to have fun, saying "We love you" every other song; then turns around and sings these pretty dark images. An enigma, if I ever saw one. As Bill Ward, their drummer, put it - they were morbid young men playing morbid music. But it wasn't all morbid, which caused the enigma about the band. For me, "War Pigs" may be the most true set of lyrics ever written, especially about those who create war for profit.
Black Sabbath got into interesting lyrical compositions about society; both secular and religious, pointing out a great deal of what they saw as hypocrisy. They seemed to both invite and warn listeners into and about the dark side. Which side were they on? Butler has said, whatever side you wanted them to be on. They took no side, per se.' Their life of drugs and partying, and the busting out of singer, now reality tv star, Ozzie Osborne, into more and more bizarre and self-destructive behavior, which led to his ouster from the band, created an atmosphere around these guys that no one could really figure out. As an atheist back then, it all just melted into a pot of "whatever," for me.
I basically faded from listening to Sabbath when I got into Classical/Progressive Rock more, and then into instrumental Fusion. To see what Metal was then and see what it is surrounded by now, as it developed this whole death, darkness, and hellbent attitude, was a shock to me when requests from record companies came in every year since I found out about the status of Legend in 2006. What is that all about? Why? What is the point?
Well, Manos and Kostas lived and breathed Metal as younger teenagers, and today, forming a record company catering to all genres of Metal, they have been exposed to it all, and then some. Why not ask them for their views on Heavy Metal, thought I. So, I did.
On the new page here at the site - Interview with Sonic Age Records, part 1 of the interview is up, with fascinating thoughts from Manos Koufakis. He went into more depth than I imagined and I found his answers quite insightful. Part 2 will cover thoughts from his long time friend and partner, Kostas, and I look forward to reading them.
I am still processing a great deal of information about the entire Metal scene today. I still cannot fathom how Legend and Fjords became entrenched in the genre, though some (including Manos and Kostas) do see the album in a wider vein of genre approach.
Enjoy the interviews. Maybe I will see you in Konigshofen, next April, and we can discuss some stuff. I look forward to that. Or, contact me anytime from here on the contact page and let me know what you think. I am open to honest and civil discussion with anyone. We can all learn from each other.
Until next time ...
Jump a couple years and Manos contacting me and here we are, in November, a second run printing of the album underway, and KIT drawing ever closer, and my ... uneasiness with playing that gig continues to grow, even though it also has the distinct pleasure of allowing me to meet, at least on line for the present, two very nice guys and terrific musicians that shall play the gig with me next April, Martin Andersen and Jesper Bunk, of Blindstone. I'll visit Europe for the first time; two countries, no less: Denmark and Germany. Neudi has offered to help me out in any way he can at the performance, which is really a blessing, and I look forward to meeting him, and Oliver, and I'll meet two guys that have become friends to be sure: Manos and his partner, Kostas Organopoulos.
I have written fairly honestly and extensively about my misgivings of the Heavy Metal scene and culture here on this blog. As a Christian, loving Christ my Savior, and wanting to please God, and live with Him forever through eternity, seeing the overall presentation of angst towards Christianity found throughout Metal is, obviously, disturbing to me. Why make fun of, or put down, or mock Jesus Christ and the religion He founded? It is nothing like what was in the late 60's and 70's when Black Sabbath took the field. The other day I watched an interview with Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi. He certainly seems a real gentleman, no "boogeyman" of any sort, and he made some statements that showed me how things have changed over the decades.
For all intents and purposes two things created a sound and band no one actually intended. It was almost accidental. Sabbath was a heavy Blues Rock riff band from a rough section of industrial England: the city of Birmingham. Tony had an accident at work, severing the tips of two fingers. To continue being able to play he crafted plastic tips and placed leather patches on them. He also loosened the tension on the strings of his guitar to be able to bend strings without pain. That led to a lower tone of sound. Iommi and Geezer Butler, the bassist, both liked horror movies, and marveled at people paying money to get scared. They thought it would be fun to put a horror movie vibe to Rock music, which was sprouting different branches in every direction at that time. Voila, Black Sabbath emerges with a sound unlike any other band on Earth, playing some key signatures that were dark and, well, for people listening to Cream, the Who, Deep Purple, Zeppelin and co., it was, indeed, a horror movie with lyrics to work the mood. Warner Bros. records made up a fairly mysterious and dangerous looking album jacket with a spooky looking, witch-like female on the cover and when you listen to the title song, Black Sabbath, begin; for this 15 year old, it gave me the creeps instantaneously. In headphones, no less. That said, that wasn't the only sound, per se' in their music, and I ended up owning, listening, and playing along to their first six albums. They had some real fun Rockers, some Jazzy stuff, Blues riffs, of course; very melodic, catchy riffs all around, and really engaging and beautiful acoustic pieces, as well. I never saw them in concert; just on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, on TV. Ozzie waving his peace signs, wearing his hippie shirt (or jacket), acting like the guy who wants to have fun, saying "We love you" every other song; then turns around and sings these pretty dark images. An enigma, if I ever saw one. As Bill Ward, their drummer, put it - they were morbid young men playing morbid music. But it wasn't all morbid, which caused the enigma about the band. For me, "War Pigs" may be the most true set of lyrics ever written, especially about those who create war for profit.
Black Sabbath got into interesting lyrical compositions about society; both secular and religious, pointing out a great deal of what they saw as hypocrisy. They seemed to both invite and warn listeners into and about the dark side. Which side were they on? Butler has said, whatever side you wanted them to be on. They took no side, per se.' Their life of drugs and partying, and the busting out of singer, now reality tv star, Ozzie Osborne, into more and more bizarre and self-destructive behavior, which led to his ouster from the band, created an atmosphere around these guys that no one could really figure out. As an atheist back then, it all just melted into a pot of "whatever," for me.
I basically faded from listening to Sabbath when I got into Classical/Progressive Rock more, and then into instrumental Fusion. To see what Metal was then and see what it is surrounded by now, as it developed this whole death, darkness, and hellbent attitude, was a shock to me when requests from record companies came in every year since I found out about the status of Legend in 2006. What is that all about? Why? What is the point?
Well, Manos and Kostas lived and breathed Metal as younger teenagers, and today, forming a record company catering to all genres of Metal, they have been exposed to it all, and then some. Why not ask them for their views on Heavy Metal, thought I. So, I did.
On the new page here at the site - Interview with Sonic Age Records, part 1 of the interview is up, with fascinating thoughts from Manos Koufakis. He went into more depth than I imagined and I found his answers quite insightful. Part 2 will cover thoughts from his long time friend and partner, Kostas, and I look forward to reading them.
I am still processing a great deal of information about the entire Metal scene today. I still cannot fathom how Legend and Fjords became entrenched in the genre, though some (including Manos and Kostas) do see the album in a wider vein of genre approach.
Enjoy the interviews. Maybe I will see you in Konigshofen, next April, and we can discuss some stuff. I look forward to that. Or, contact me anytime from here on the contact page and let me know what you think. I am open to honest and civil discussion with anyone. We can all learn from each other.
Until next time ...
******************
37. My Gripe with Drum Thrones ( and what I did about it) - Feb. 7, 2020
Yes, I'm a big guy. I have generally weighed over 200 lbs. since I was a teenager. I used to be just about 6'-1" tall. I'm around 5'-10" today. Back injuries.
Now being a big guy generally carries with it a certain amount of physiological presence in the central section of the anatomy. Issue number 1.
When I was a teenager I actually used a wooden chair, like the kind you might see at any dining room table, for a drum throne. I just cut the legs down. I sat really low back then. And I took all the back rest spindles out of it. It actually was an old dining room chair my parents used. While people raised an eyebrow, I sat quite comfortably when I played, for hours on end.
Issue #2. I forget how many miles of veins and arteries in our circulatory system. Lots of traffic going on throughout our bodies. The last thing you want is anything coming close to a traffic jam in that roadway system. At the very least, something goes numb (falls asleep, as we say), or worse, a blood clot, which can be deadly.
So, why do drum manufacturers and those companies making specific drum hardware items, like drum thrones, leave us all with our butt and legs hanging over a small, 13" circle, or just slightly larger bike/pseudo-tractor seat/saddle with various bumps, ridges, and shapes that, for me, either kill the lower back, force your body forward, cause pain and other concerns for the genital area, and/or cause legs to fall asleep, let alone (issue #3), force us to use more muscle energy when playing, especially double bass work? This makes no sense to me, at all. I understand the entire aspect of having things that break down for packing up and moving but, bass drums, floor toms, keyboards and amps and speaker cabs and an upright bass, etc., do not break down and drummers are generally involved in moving all that stuff, as well. Would it be any extra effort to pack up a throne seat the size of a regular chair seat? Of course not. Then, why does this situation exist?
What is the problem with having a drum throne THE SAME SIZE AS A REGULAR CHAIR? (not shouting, well ... yes, I am shouting to make that point).
So, me thinks, while traversing through an office supply store one day, back in 1991, and needing to get an office chair, "Hm. This would make a terrific drum throne." Now, back then, drum thrones were no where near as pricey as they are today. Today, a top of the line drum throne can cost twice or even three times what a basic office chair costs. I decided to see if I could find used office chairs, and indeed, I could - at second hand stores, thrift shops, used office supply stores, etc., and over the years I have used/modified a number of great, tremendously comfortable, drum thrones. If you purchase new there are literally HUNDREDS of chairs to choose from that are in the 'task chair' category, more suitable for drumming needs, or the 'ergonomic' category. You don't need to get some huge, CEO office chair. If you douibt me just take a look at what's available on the Walmart and Target websites. Not to mention office supply stores, etc. I mean hundreds of chairs with decent seat sizes of varying dimensions all bigger than typical drum thrones. BTW the so-called tractor seat design? Take a look at the Tractor Supply website and see what a real tractor seat of today looks like. It isn't the rusty old metal seat from 1950. They are mostly all regular chair seat dimensions. These people have to sit for 8-10 hours or more a day. You think they are going to sit on a bicycle seat all day long? Not a chance.
So, what do I do? Well, here's a pic of the throne/office chair I have been using for over ten years now (my main throne):
This cost me around $80, new, as I recall. It's an off white covering, 5 chrome legs, back rest, airlift, and, it spins, which makes it incredibly easy to reach things farther away, like my third floor tom and cymbals on my right, and other stuff way over on my left. Some players do not like to spin and there are plenty of office chairs that don't.
I took the wheels off, installed stove head bolts for extra height (most seats are 20"-22" to the seat top, some more, some less) and put some rubber crutch tips on them for floor protection. I removed the backrest, reshaped it, and put it back on. Works fantastic. The black towel is obviously for heat/perspiration issues, and my mom sewed onto it four facecloths for pockets that hold various brushes. I have used that towel just shy of thirty years now. I sit 24-25" high. Much higher than when I was young, and I find it much easier to play double bass at that height. Best of all: the seat is 20" wide and 18" deep - like a regular chair!!!! Imagine that innovation. Whodathunk? Not all drummers have to throw their kits in a cab in the city. I just turn my throne upside down on the passenger seat of my van. Could do the same in a car. The city players, well, use the small, typical throne and get it into the cab for your gigs. And players that like to sit on a 13" circle will always have that to use. For those who want something else?
So, why can't manufacturers of drum thrones make seats the same size and put them on a tripod stand, if they want? Well, to address that, I started making my own seat tops that do that exact thing:
Now being a big guy generally carries with it a certain amount of physiological presence in the central section of the anatomy. Issue number 1.
When I was a teenager I actually used a wooden chair, like the kind you might see at any dining room table, for a drum throne. I just cut the legs down. I sat really low back then. And I took all the back rest spindles out of it. It actually was an old dining room chair my parents used. While people raised an eyebrow, I sat quite comfortably when I played, for hours on end.
Issue #2. I forget how many miles of veins and arteries in our circulatory system. Lots of traffic going on throughout our bodies. The last thing you want is anything coming close to a traffic jam in that roadway system. At the very least, something goes numb (falls asleep, as we say), or worse, a blood clot, which can be deadly.
So, why do drum manufacturers and those companies making specific drum hardware items, like drum thrones, leave us all with our butt and legs hanging over a small, 13" circle, or just slightly larger bike/pseudo-tractor seat/saddle with various bumps, ridges, and shapes that, for me, either kill the lower back, force your body forward, cause pain and other concerns for the genital area, and/or cause legs to fall asleep, let alone (issue #3), force us to use more muscle energy when playing, especially double bass work? This makes no sense to me, at all. I understand the entire aspect of having things that break down for packing up and moving but, bass drums, floor toms, keyboards and amps and speaker cabs and an upright bass, etc., do not break down and drummers are generally involved in moving all that stuff, as well. Would it be any extra effort to pack up a throne seat the size of a regular chair seat? Of course not. Then, why does this situation exist?
What is the problem with having a drum throne THE SAME SIZE AS A REGULAR CHAIR? (not shouting, well ... yes, I am shouting to make that point).
So, me thinks, while traversing through an office supply store one day, back in 1991, and needing to get an office chair, "Hm. This would make a terrific drum throne." Now, back then, drum thrones were no where near as pricey as they are today. Today, a top of the line drum throne can cost twice or even three times what a basic office chair costs. I decided to see if I could find used office chairs, and indeed, I could - at second hand stores, thrift shops, used office supply stores, etc., and over the years I have used/modified a number of great, tremendously comfortable, drum thrones. If you purchase new there are literally HUNDREDS of chairs to choose from that are in the 'task chair' category, more suitable for drumming needs, or the 'ergonomic' category. You don't need to get some huge, CEO office chair. If you douibt me just take a look at what's available on the Walmart and Target websites. Not to mention office supply stores, etc. I mean hundreds of chairs with decent seat sizes of varying dimensions all bigger than typical drum thrones. BTW the so-called tractor seat design? Take a look at the Tractor Supply website and see what a real tractor seat of today looks like. It isn't the rusty old metal seat from 1950. They are mostly all regular chair seat dimensions. These people have to sit for 8-10 hours or more a day. You think they are going to sit on a bicycle seat all day long? Not a chance.
So, what do I do? Well, here's a pic of the throne/office chair I have been using for over ten years now (my main throne):
This cost me around $80, new, as I recall. It's an off white covering, 5 chrome legs, back rest, airlift, and, it spins, which makes it incredibly easy to reach things farther away, like my third floor tom and cymbals on my right, and other stuff way over on my left. Some players do not like to spin and there are plenty of office chairs that don't.
I took the wheels off, installed stove head bolts for extra height (most seats are 20"-22" to the seat top, some more, some less) and put some rubber crutch tips on them for floor protection. I removed the backrest, reshaped it, and put it back on. Works fantastic. The black towel is obviously for heat/perspiration issues, and my mom sewed onto it four facecloths for pockets that hold various brushes. I have used that towel just shy of thirty years now. I sit 24-25" high. Much higher than when I was young, and I find it much easier to play double bass at that height. Best of all: the seat is 20" wide and 18" deep - like a regular chair!!!! Imagine that innovation. Whodathunk? Not all drummers have to throw their kits in a cab in the city. I just turn my throne upside down on the passenger seat of my van. Could do the same in a car. The city players, well, use the small, typical throne and get it into the cab for your gigs. And players that like to sit on a 13" circle will always have that to use. For those who want something else?
So, why can't manufacturers of drum thrones make seats the same size and put them on a tripod stand, if they want? Well, to address that, I started making my own seat tops that do that exact thing:
It's 18" diameter, 1/2" plywood affixed to the 13" plywood and Gibraltar bracket the throne came as, 4" extra firm foam, some naugahyde and dozens of staples. Is there some intrinsic reason throne makers cannot do this?
So, in planning to go to the KIT festival in April, Matthias, the guy doing backline drum equipment info, has been bending over backwards trying to help me find a throne I can use. After you rupture disks three times and live with back pain every day, sitting on a 13" throne brings fire to my lower back in just a few minutes, plus, I just cannot find decent balance on such a surface and it is a lot harder to play double base. I'm using energy I should not have to. Because there is not a throne in existence Matthias can provide for me, I'll have to take my own seat to Germany. I decided to make another one. Another Gibraltar bracket I picked up on ebay, found some seat foam with an even stronger rating for firmness, and I'm making it the same size as my regular throne - 18x20". I have plenty of naugahyde left over. Not sure how I am going to pack it up for the flight. I may shrink the foam in a vacuum bag, take the components with me and just put it together when I get to Denmark for rehearsals.
Yamaha makes a decently sized throne seat for width but, the depth is only 15" and that back ridge, the same as all these other thrones out there with some kind of rectangular or saddle configuration, is just taking the extra 2" away. Why can't they make the throne seat the same size as a chair? I mean, even the smallest of players sit in chairs all day long. Furniture manufacturers do not make chairs of varying seat size for adults. Even bar stools can come 22" in diameter. The average is 17." A person sitting at the bar watching a band should sit more comfortably than the person playing the drums?
An idea came along a few years back now: placing a gap between the foam and creating two sections, which is designed to take stress off the spine. Ahead has a throne, and some other companies, and the Carmichael throne is the one made by the chiropractor that really got into this design. Here is the thing. He makes two thrones - 13' and 15." C'mon. And, they have a whopping price tag. But, you know what? The good doctor makes an office chair with his design. The seat size? 19W x 17D !!!!!!!!!!!!! Does this make sense? A person sitting at a desk requires more comfort than a person sitting at a drum set?!? How so? That is ridiculous. Somewhere along the line a 13" circle became the norm. It is no wonder drummers have so much back pain.
Well, I have my fix, and it's pretty easy. It's kind of a task to do all the stapling, and things aren't as perfect as they do it in a factory setting but, it works just fine for me. It just seems to me I should be able to purchase a throne that is actually closer to a throne, not the size of a hi-hat cymbal.
So, in planning to go to the KIT festival in April, Matthias, the guy doing backline drum equipment info, has been bending over backwards trying to help me find a throne I can use. After you rupture disks three times and live with back pain every day, sitting on a 13" throne brings fire to my lower back in just a few minutes, plus, I just cannot find decent balance on such a surface and it is a lot harder to play double base. I'm using energy I should not have to. Because there is not a throne in existence Matthias can provide for me, I'll have to take my own seat to Germany. I decided to make another one. Another Gibraltar bracket I picked up on ebay, found some seat foam with an even stronger rating for firmness, and I'm making it the same size as my regular throne - 18x20". I have plenty of naugahyde left over. Not sure how I am going to pack it up for the flight. I may shrink the foam in a vacuum bag, take the components with me and just put it together when I get to Denmark for rehearsals.
Yamaha makes a decently sized throne seat for width but, the depth is only 15" and that back ridge, the same as all these other thrones out there with some kind of rectangular or saddle configuration, is just taking the extra 2" away. Why can't they make the throne seat the same size as a chair? I mean, even the smallest of players sit in chairs all day long. Furniture manufacturers do not make chairs of varying seat size for adults. Even bar stools can come 22" in diameter. The average is 17." A person sitting at the bar watching a band should sit more comfortably than the person playing the drums?
An idea came along a few years back now: placing a gap between the foam and creating two sections, which is designed to take stress off the spine. Ahead has a throne, and some other companies, and the Carmichael throne is the one made by the chiropractor that really got into this design. Here is the thing. He makes two thrones - 13' and 15." C'mon. And, they have a whopping price tag. But, you know what? The good doctor makes an office chair with his design. The seat size? 19W x 17D !!!!!!!!!!!!! Does this make sense? A person sitting at a desk requires more comfort than a person sitting at a drum set?!? How so? That is ridiculous. Somewhere along the line a 13" circle became the norm. It is no wonder drummers have so much back pain.
Well, I have my fix, and it's pretty easy. It's kind of a task to do all the stapling, and things aren't as perfect as they do it in a factory setting but, it works just fine for me. It just seems to me I should be able to purchase a throne that is actually closer to a throne, not the size of a hi-hat cymbal.
******************
38. Monday, February 24, 2020 - Politics and Music, Anyone?
I'm 65. I have never seen the nation of America so divided. To say it has gotten ugly is a gross understatement. Bad enough the United STATES of America has a ruling class that thinks this country is the United Government of America but, even there, the two party system has failed the voters as they just kind of gelled together into Republicrats. Then came Trump. Unity? In Washington, D.C.? Forget about it.
Whatever anyone wants to think or say about the man, if nothing else he has provided the elements necessary to put, on full display, the character of those who despise him in both parties and certainly outside the parties in news media. "Fake news" is a definite reality and has been for decades, especially with global corporations owning news outlets. They no longer report news in unbiased ways. They create news, in some cases, many cases, creating something out of nothing, literally.
I often chuckle to read disparaging comments from entertainers about Trump. These are people who act for a living. They portray fake to make a living. Those that do it well get paid handsomely for it but, factually, the more fake you can become, to become more real in character, the better an actor you are. And these entertainers feel competent to say anything negative about Donald Trump, who, if nothing else, let's you know exactly where he stands, and pulls no punches in the process. The economy they make so much money from has been made better by Trump understanding government needs to get out of the way of business and let free markets control themselves. They are reaping benefits from a free market economy, and yet, they seem to want a socialist nation, where government has control of business just shy of full-blown communism. Some even want communism, despite both their histories of oppression and failure.
Yes, I cringe when Trump speaks and tweets. But, hey, he's a tough, New York businessman. If you hit him, he hits back harder. Half of America wanted someone who would fight back because they are tired and worn out from career politicians who lie (act) for a living. Trump is not the reason or the problem for current splits among Americans. That has been around for more than 40 years and just gotten worse, decade by decade. Trump is the part of the solution of getting government - elected civil servants/politicians - off the backs of the citizenry with their ever growing rules, regulations, and laws beyond number. He just has a rough around the edges approach. He turns people off. Don't kid yourself Clinton, Bush and Obama also turned off millions of people. They did it more with their actions than personalities. And anybody really watching knows things would be even better with the American economy and principles of freedom if he had the cooperation of his own party and the opposition controlling the House of Representatives. But, no. Trump must go no matter what dog and pony show used. All they have done is raise Trumps poll numbers and lower their own.
Do you know nobody in America can actually tell you how many laws there are. Look it up. Nobody knows. That is insane. Especially for a Constitutional Republic: a nation supposedly run by the rule of law by limited government. America is NOT a democracy, despite constant drum beats of that term by most politicians and talking heads. America is a Constitutional Republic. Big difference. A pure democracy - rule of the majority - is not the American system. The Founders made sure of that. That can just lead to mob rule, or the strong beating down the weak, the rich beating down the poor. In America a nobody can become rich with a good idea, a good product, common sense, and honest hard work. Freedom is always the pathway to success. But, that's all politics. The future of America is literally hanging in the balance as each election means more and more to the American system retaining its integrity, what little is left of it, and the freedom Americans of all political stripes, enjoy.
Anyway, to music.
I just read a headline that Canadian born musician, Neil Young, stated Trump is a disgrace to his country. Frankly, America has been pretty disgraceful all by itself for decades. I didn't read the article. I really don't care what Neil Young thinks. I don't really care what any entertainers think beyond what they produce for entertainment. I used to listen to Crosby, Stills and Nash a lot when I was young. When Neil Young came on board ... not so much. David Crosby has been another vocal opponent of Trump. I remember when the Dixie Chicks mouthed off about George Bush. I'm not a fan of Bush. Nor am I a fan of musicians who make a living entertaining anybody and everybody who will listen that think they have sound wisdom about how to run a nation growing worse by the movements and decisions of all politicians wrecking the country and Americanism, as a principle that changed the world. No kings, no queens, no dictators. America is free, and frankly, these musicians get to spout off because of that freedom yet, their attitude, that attitude now seen so often on college campuses, denies the right of the first amendment to those who disagree with them. That is called hypocrisy, by definition. Americans are less and less able to agree to disagree, peacefully. Especially is that the case with young people on the left.
I am on my way to Denmark and Germany. I have looked up their positions on religious freedom and such. Both nations, especially Germany, are in the same kind of upheavals as America. All of Europe is in upheaval today. Sides are developing. The anger, the hatred, the hypocrisy, the kingly power displayed by those who should have none, the lies, the mentality of people who feel they have a right to control others and just dispense or ignore the rule of law in the process? Do they think free people will just sit and do nothing forever? Apparently so. And for most of the 20th century it went that way. 1989 and the demise of Euro communism changed all that. In many countries, you disagree with government, totally secular or a combination of religio/political governance, and you get put away or killed. The West, for all its problems, gave way to a new idea - freedom, liberty, property ownership for any and all: the rule of law, not the rule of men, to keep things balanced.
Well, as the Bible predicted centuries ago, millennia ago, "Darkness covers the Earth, gross darkness the people." A darkness is obviously settling onto the world. Craziness is called common sense: common sense is called crazy. Right is now wrong. Wrong is now right. Just takes a majority to decide; not God, not the Bible, which the West is built upon for its moral and civil foundation but, how a majority decides what is right according to the ebb and flow of whims and cultural change. That is a recipe for disaster and nations are realizing it now but, many have gone too far to retrieve what they once had. They are reaping what they sowed and America shall, as well.
The only real commentary on this in music, from a viewpoint of Americanism and patriotism, seems to be heard in Country music. No other genres get into it. Other genres are promoting anything but, Americanism. There are exceptions, of course but, it is obvious in politics, in music, and in the general public how things are lining up for a final confrontation. Civil war in America, again? Frankly, I do not see how it can be avoided now. New lines drawn for states, as many want to secede from what exists. Maybe America will divide into sectors, districts, no more states. Who knows? It may not happen in my lifetime but, it will in my children's. Things are growing desperate and I hope music, all genres, reflect it in trying to keep the principles of Americanism alive and well. The world needs it. Freedom. Liberty. The rule of law. Fighting against tyranny. Speaking out against hypocrisy. Speaking out for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness with constitutionally limited government and the stopping of career politicians. The exposure and reigning in of the military industrial complex and global banksters that make war for profit and has kept America in constant wars for over two hundred years must be done.
D.C. is a swamp. It may be the most corrupt city on Earth. The necessity to drain it has never been greater. I hope and pray Trump, for any and all of his faults, can accomplish the task with help from Americans in and out of government. I hope musicians back the process with everything they can put into it. Play hard. Sing it loud.
LIMITED GOVERNMENT! FREEDOM! LIBERTY!
Whatever anyone wants to think or say about the man, if nothing else he has provided the elements necessary to put, on full display, the character of those who despise him in both parties and certainly outside the parties in news media. "Fake news" is a definite reality and has been for decades, especially with global corporations owning news outlets. They no longer report news in unbiased ways. They create news, in some cases, many cases, creating something out of nothing, literally.
I often chuckle to read disparaging comments from entertainers about Trump. These are people who act for a living. They portray fake to make a living. Those that do it well get paid handsomely for it but, factually, the more fake you can become, to become more real in character, the better an actor you are. And these entertainers feel competent to say anything negative about Donald Trump, who, if nothing else, let's you know exactly where he stands, and pulls no punches in the process. The economy they make so much money from has been made better by Trump understanding government needs to get out of the way of business and let free markets control themselves. They are reaping benefits from a free market economy, and yet, they seem to want a socialist nation, where government has control of business just shy of full-blown communism. Some even want communism, despite both their histories of oppression and failure.
Yes, I cringe when Trump speaks and tweets. But, hey, he's a tough, New York businessman. If you hit him, he hits back harder. Half of America wanted someone who would fight back because they are tired and worn out from career politicians who lie (act) for a living. Trump is not the reason or the problem for current splits among Americans. That has been around for more than 40 years and just gotten worse, decade by decade. Trump is the part of the solution of getting government - elected civil servants/politicians - off the backs of the citizenry with their ever growing rules, regulations, and laws beyond number. He just has a rough around the edges approach. He turns people off. Don't kid yourself Clinton, Bush and Obama also turned off millions of people. They did it more with their actions than personalities. And anybody really watching knows things would be even better with the American economy and principles of freedom if he had the cooperation of his own party and the opposition controlling the House of Representatives. But, no. Trump must go no matter what dog and pony show used. All they have done is raise Trumps poll numbers and lower their own.
Do you know nobody in America can actually tell you how many laws there are. Look it up. Nobody knows. That is insane. Especially for a Constitutional Republic: a nation supposedly run by the rule of law by limited government. America is NOT a democracy, despite constant drum beats of that term by most politicians and talking heads. America is a Constitutional Republic. Big difference. A pure democracy - rule of the majority - is not the American system. The Founders made sure of that. That can just lead to mob rule, or the strong beating down the weak, the rich beating down the poor. In America a nobody can become rich with a good idea, a good product, common sense, and honest hard work. Freedom is always the pathway to success. But, that's all politics. The future of America is literally hanging in the balance as each election means more and more to the American system retaining its integrity, what little is left of it, and the freedom Americans of all political stripes, enjoy.
Anyway, to music.
I just read a headline that Canadian born musician, Neil Young, stated Trump is a disgrace to his country. Frankly, America has been pretty disgraceful all by itself for decades. I didn't read the article. I really don't care what Neil Young thinks. I don't really care what any entertainers think beyond what they produce for entertainment. I used to listen to Crosby, Stills and Nash a lot when I was young. When Neil Young came on board ... not so much. David Crosby has been another vocal opponent of Trump. I remember when the Dixie Chicks mouthed off about George Bush. I'm not a fan of Bush. Nor am I a fan of musicians who make a living entertaining anybody and everybody who will listen that think they have sound wisdom about how to run a nation growing worse by the movements and decisions of all politicians wrecking the country and Americanism, as a principle that changed the world. No kings, no queens, no dictators. America is free, and frankly, these musicians get to spout off because of that freedom yet, their attitude, that attitude now seen so often on college campuses, denies the right of the first amendment to those who disagree with them. That is called hypocrisy, by definition. Americans are less and less able to agree to disagree, peacefully. Especially is that the case with young people on the left.
I am on my way to Denmark and Germany. I have looked up their positions on religious freedom and such. Both nations, especially Germany, are in the same kind of upheavals as America. All of Europe is in upheaval today. Sides are developing. The anger, the hatred, the hypocrisy, the kingly power displayed by those who should have none, the lies, the mentality of people who feel they have a right to control others and just dispense or ignore the rule of law in the process? Do they think free people will just sit and do nothing forever? Apparently so. And for most of the 20th century it went that way. 1989 and the demise of Euro communism changed all that. In many countries, you disagree with government, totally secular or a combination of religio/political governance, and you get put away or killed. The West, for all its problems, gave way to a new idea - freedom, liberty, property ownership for any and all: the rule of law, not the rule of men, to keep things balanced.
Well, as the Bible predicted centuries ago, millennia ago, "Darkness covers the Earth, gross darkness the people." A darkness is obviously settling onto the world. Craziness is called common sense: common sense is called crazy. Right is now wrong. Wrong is now right. Just takes a majority to decide; not God, not the Bible, which the West is built upon for its moral and civil foundation but, how a majority decides what is right according to the ebb and flow of whims and cultural change. That is a recipe for disaster and nations are realizing it now but, many have gone too far to retrieve what they once had. They are reaping what they sowed and America shall, as well.
The only real commentary on this in music, from a viewpoint of Americanism and patriotism, seems to be heard in Country music. No other genres get into it. Other genres are promoting anything but, Americanism. There are exceptions, of course but, it is obvious in politics, in music, and in the general public how things are lining up for a final confrontation. Civil war in America, again? Frankly, I do not see how it can be avoided now. New lines drawn for states, as many want to secede from what exists. Maybe America will divide into sectors, districts, no more states. Who knows? It may not happen in my lifetime but, it will in my children's. Things are growing desperate and I hope music, all genres, reflect it in trying to keep the principles of Americanism alive and well. The world needs it. Freedom. Liberty. The rule of law. Fighting against tyranny. Speaking out against hypocrisy. Speaking out for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness with constitutionally limited government and the stopping of career politicians. The exposure and reigning in of the military industrial complex and global banksters that make war for profit and has kept America in constant wars for over two hundred years must be done.
D.C. is a swamp. It may be the most corrupt city on Earth. The necessity to drain it has never been greater. I hope and pray Trump, for any and all of his faults, can accomplish the task with help from Americans in and out of government. I hope musicians back the process with everything they can put into it. Play hard. Sing it loud.
LIMITED GOVERNMENT! FREEDOM! LIBERTY!
******************
39. Keep It True Festival and the Coronavirus - Feb. 29, 2020
Covid-19, the Coronavirus.
I have had some people asking me if I will still be going to Europe for the KIT festival at the end of April. Yes, as of right now. What happens in April is up to the promoters of the festival. Maybe Germany will shut down their airports. Hopefully the news media generated hysteria will subside and reality checks will become normal again.
This same thing happens every time, now. Why is the news world bent on scaring people half to death? What is the point?
Nobody raises an eyebrow when 100k people die from the flu around the world each year. It's a fact of life today. Less than 3,000 have died from this new virus and "Pandemic!" is being screamed from the roof tops. What ever happened to common sense?
Based on information coming out of China, I believe China is not releasing accurate figures. Just the same, whatever the situation is there, it is not the situation anywhere else. Maybe things will get worse and the world will shut down its airports, with or without good reason. Personally, I believe things will run its course and this whole thing will die down like the last time. Life will pick up where it left off, with millions of people having boxes of masks in their closets.
We live in "perilous times." I believe the Bible points out signs of the times to let us know "the world waxes old like a garment" and the return of Christ is coming upon us at some point. That doesn't mean we should throw common sense to the wind.
I don't know what decision the KIT festival promoters will make. Err on the side of caution? Just forge ahead? I don't know. Until they announce a decision, I am planning on attending and performing. I'll keep my hands clean and away from my face, stay away from needless crowds, and live life normally, rejecting hyper responses from anyone, and ignoring the main stream news media altogether until the facts state otherwise. Obviously some nations have begun to cancel events involving crowds. Why? The CDC? The WHO? These people are called the experts. They have been wrong every time lately and the news media helps them out.
It seems obvious weather and natural disasters are getting more prevalent and violent. There is great violence among people all over the Earth. There is corruption everywhere in politics and governing bodies around the world. The love of many is waxing cold (people becoming calloused). Wars and rumors of wars abound. Never has there been a time in history when all the biblical signs have been in front of us like today. Still, not every sign is here and I am not willing to see a pandemic behind every bush. You'd think the Bubonic plague were upon us, listening to the news. Now with all the other "deniers" one side of the political spectrum likes to call out, we now have pandemic deniers? Good grief. I know we have plenty of liars. Lots of liars in politics and news reporting. Pandemics? Not so much. Unless we mean a pandemic of lying politicians and main stream news media. Yes. We have a pandemic of that.
All the claims against Trump and his inaction towards this virus are lies. He set a task force into motion to look into the virus and keep him abreast so Americans can be kept abreast of the situation weeks ago. Whatever anyone thinks of Trump, lying for political advantage helps no one in the long run, especially not the liars easily shown to be so.
I have to say, how is it one side lambasts Trump for being a "racist" to want to control and protect America's borders, yet the same people do not realize just letting anybody into your nation, at any time they feel like walking in, is an open invitation to disease and worse. Such enemies of Trump may not be racist but, they sure are hypocrites and empty of common sense. They can't blame Trump for their ignorance.
God help us, such people get to be in the highest office in the land.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
I have had some people asking me if I will still be going to Europe for the KIT festival at the end of April. Yes, as of right now. What happens in April is up to the promoters of the festival. Maybe Germany will shut down their airports. Hopefully the news media generated hysteria will subside and reality checks will become normal again.
This same thing happens every time, now. Why is the news world bent on scaring people half to death? What is the point?
Nobody raises an eyebrow when 100k people die from the flu around the world each year. It's a fact of life today. Less than 3,000 have died from this new virus and "Pandemic!" is being screamed from the roof tops. What ever happened to common sense?
Based on information coming out of China, I believe China is not releasing accurate figures. Just the same, whatever the situation is there, it is not the situation anywhere else. Maybe things will get worse and the world will shut down its airports, with or without good reason. Personally, I believe things will run its course and this whole thing will die down like the last time. Life will pick up where it left off, with millions of people having boxes of masks in their closets.
We live in "perilous times." I believe the Bible points out signs of the times to let us know "the world waxes old like a garment" and the return of Christ is coming upon us at some point. That doesn't mean we should throw common sense to the wind.
I don't know what decision the KIT festival promoters will make. Err on the side of caution? Just forge ahead? I don't know. Until they announce a decision, I am planning on attending and performing. I'll keep my hands clean and away from my face, stay away from needless crowds, and live life normally, rejecting hyper responses from anyone, and ignoring the main stream news media altogether until the facts state otherwise. Obviously some nations have begun to cancel events involving crowds. Why? The CDC? The WHO? These people are called the experts. They have been wrong every time lately and the news media helps them out.
It seems obvious weather and natural disasters are getting more prevalent and violent. There is great violence among people all over the Earth. There is corruption everywhere in politics and governing bodies around the world. The love of many is waxing cold (people becoming calloused). Wars and rumors of wars abound. Never has there been a time in history when all the biblical signs have been in front of us like today. Still, not every sign is here and I am not willing to see a pandemic behind every bush. You'd think the Bubonic plague were upon us, listening to the news. Now with all the other "deniers" one side of the political spectrum likes to call out, we now have pandemic deniers? Good grief. I know we have plenty of liars. Lots of liars in politics and news reporting. Pandemics? Not so much. Unless we mean a pandemic of lying politicians and main stream news media. Yes. We have a pandemic of that.
All the claims against Trump and his inaction towards this virus are lies. He set a task force into motion to look into the virus and keep him abreast so Americans can be kept abreast of the situation weeks ago. Whatever anyone thinks of Trump, lying for political advantage helps no one in the long run, especially not the liars easily shown to be so.
I have to say, how is it one side lambasts Trump for being a "racist" to want to control and protect America's borders, yet the same people do not realize just letting anybody into your nation, at any time they feel like walking in, is an open invitation to disease and worse. Such enemies of Trump may not be racist but, they sure are hypocrites and empty of common sense. They can't blame Trump for their ignorance.
God help us, such people get to be in the highest office in the land.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
40. March 9, 2020 - Separation is Coming
I recently read an article that stated, from a number of different people quoted, that Christianity in Europe has faded to insignificance and paganism has replaced it. For some, having the great Reformation of Europe change the world, this is tragic news. For others, for one reason or another, this is reason to rejoice. One man's freedom is another man's prison house.
I suppose one would have to come up with a definition of paganism everyone agreed to, to really delve into this situation. Suffice to say, "secularism" is probably a more concise realization of what has happened to Europe, same as it is happening all over the world.
China, for all its control over its people, is apparently experiencing the biggest revival of Christianity on the planet. So it also seems to be in Iran, based on reports coming out of these nations, and others.
How interesting the most cruel and despotic regimes have the faith of Christ most seriously building on their soil. "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the gospel." The most free and once solid of Christian nations, are regressing into ... well, what can we call it? Darkness. If Christ is the Light of the world and He is being neglected and rejected by nations, then darkness is upon them, growing more dense as the influence of Christ departs.
In once free lands, where liberty and religious freedom reigned, harassment, oppression, and outright persecution of Christians is taking place.
These are all signs that one of two things is about to happen. Either the world is about to enter another dark ages, this darkness one of spiritual confusion and total "self" above all, and mankind shall reap what he sows or, the return of Christ draws nigh and the difference between, the separation of, the demarcation of difference between those who love God and those who do not is building into a final confrontation of wills.
If you know Daniel and Revelation then you know what is coming, and how it ends. Amen to that. A storm is coming, relentless in its fury. People will be tried and tested and severely pressured to both give up there faith or, stand for Christ and His way, His truth, His life, His faith, His freedom and liberty, His victory, His eternal life.
Right now the world has entered a stage of madness over the Corona-virus. People are reacting like this is the plague and death is certain. What voices of reason can be heard above the cacophony of panic, are being touted as cruel, mean, uncaring, unfeeling, and lacking sense. Indeed. While the world is buying every mask in sight, after being told day in and day out masks do not stop the virus, and entire sectors of nations are being quarantined because of a virus 97% of people getting it recover from, those who are telling people to stay calm and get a grip are being maligned as evil.
We are living in a day when right is wrong, and wrong is right, just as the prophet Isaiah warned from God:
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
"Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
"Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
"Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
"Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel." Isaiah 5:20-24
Strong words. An accurate assessment of our times, and the same judgments are coming as a result. God is not mocked. God has infinite patience, infinite wisdom, infinite power, and is infinite love, and shall render judgment when it is needed. I am thankful He is in control regardless of the circumstances of insanity all over the place.
Here we have entire sections of nations being quarantined. Well, there is a virus at work in humanity. It is sin. God has his own methods of quarantining illness, and the sick from the healthy. Did you know that?
Do you know there are fires burning in China which can be seen from satellite imagery and are being explained by some as the Chinese government burning the bodies of the dead to control the virus? Burning the dead is a fairly common practice, historically, for fire destroys the genetic material causing the illnesses. God shall destroy all illness and sin on this world with fire someday. Now don't go yelling at me about "hell." The Bible does not teach the popular version. Study it out yourself, cover to cover, and see for yourself. It is easy to see the truth of the matter when you allow the Bible to interpret itself. That is not to say fire is not involved in the final judgment of the lost; those who rejected the Light that shines on every man that comes into the world. Fire most definitely will be involved. "Our God is a consuming fire." The unleashing of His holy and infinitely righteous presence will ignite a fire upon this Earth that shall cause it to burst into flames, evaporating the oceans, melting the mountains, and everything cursed by sin shall go up in a smoke that the prophets saw arise, seemingly, forever. But, that is not the end of the story.
The Bible says God shall recreate the Earth, and it shall be more beautiful than it was in the beginning. A fairy tale? I used to think that, as an atheist. Then a set of circumstances developed around me and I met Christ; through a study of Bible prophecy, and an empty, atheistic heart that provided no answers for much of anything, gave way to reality. I met God. I asked Him to come into my life and do whatever He wanted with it. My life dramatically changed, overnight. That was 41 years ago. It has been quite a journey, and I do not know if I shall be alive to see the return of Christ in glory and power to this wayward, rebellious planet. I just believe the day is nearing when God is going to call it a day, close up shop, and bring His people home. Then the discovery of music, the discovery of everything, is really going to begin.
I don't know what kind of percussion shall be heard in eternity. I know God likes percussion. It is heard in the heartbeat in every baby's ears in its mother's womb, and all throughout nature, and everything man does. There is rhythm, there is percussion everywhere. Whatever the percussion is out there, it will be tremendous and exciting beyond imagination.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
I suppose one would have to come up with a definition of paganism everyone agreed to, to really delve into this situation. Suffice to say, "secularism" is probably a more concise realization of what has happened to Europe, same as it is happening all over the world.
China, for all its control over its people, is apparently experiencing the biggest revival of Christianity on the planet. So it also seems to be in Iran, based on reports coming out of these nations, and others.
How interesting the most cruel and despotic regimes have the faith of Christ most seriously building on their soil. "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the gospel." The most free and once solid of Christian nations, are regressing into ... well, what can we call it? Darkness. If Christ is the Light of the world and He is being neglected and rejected by nations, then darkness is upon them, growing more dense as the influence of Christ departs.
In once free lands, where liberty and religious freedom reigned, harassment, oppression, and outright persecution of Christians is taking place.
These are all signs that one of two things is about to happen. Either the world is about to enter another dark ages, this darkness one of spiritual confusion and total "self" above all, and mankind shall reap what he sows or, the return of Christ draws nigh and the difference between, the separation of, the demarcation of difference between those who love God and those who do not is building into a final confrontation of wills.
If you know Daniel and Revelation then you know what is coming, and how it ends. Amen to that. A storm is coming, relentless in its fury. People will be tried and tested and severely pressured to both give up there faith or, stand for Christ and His way, His truth, His life, His faith, His freedom and liberty, His victory, His eternal life.
Right now the world has entered a stage of madness over the Corona-virus. People are reacting like this is the plague and death is certain. What voices of reason can be heard above the cacophony of panic, are being touted as cruel, mean, uncaring, unfeeling, and lacking sense. Indeed. While the world is buying every mask in sight, after being told day in and day out masks do not stop the virus, and entire sectors of nations are being quarantined because of a virus 97% of people getting it recover from, those who are telling people to stay calm and get a grip are being maligned as evil.
We are living in a day when right is wrong, and wrong is right, just as the prophet Isaiah warned from God:
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
"Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
"Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
"Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
"Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel." Isaiah 5:20-24
Strong words. An accurate assessment of our times, and the same judgments are coming as a result. God is not mocked. God has infinite patience, infinite wisdom, infinite power, and is infinite love, and shall render judgment when it is needed. I am thankful He is in control regardless of the circumstances of insanity all over the place.
Here we have entire sections of nations being quarantined. Well, there is a virus at work in humanity. It is sin. God has his own methods of quarantining illness, and the sick from the healthy. Did you know that?
Do you know there are fires burning in China which can be seen from satellite imagery and are being explained by some as the Chinese government burning the bodies of the dead to control the virus? Burning the dead is a fairly common practice, historically, for fire destroys the genetic material causing the illnesses. God shall destroy all illness and sin on this world with fire someday. Now don't go yelling at me about "hell." The Bible does not teach the popular version. Study it out yourself, cover to cover, and see for yourself. It is easy to see the truth of the matter when you allow the Bible to interpret itself. That is not to say fire is not involved in the final judgment of the lost; those who rejected the Light that shines on every man that comes into the world. Fire most definitely will be involved. "Our God is a consuming fire." The unleashing of His holy and infinitely righteous presence will ignite a fire upon this Earth that shall cause it to burst into flames, evaporating the oceans, melting the mountains, and everything cursed by sin shall go up in a smoke that the prophets saw arise, seemingly, forever. But, that is not the end of the story.
The Bible says God shall recreate the Earth, and it shall be more beautiful than it was in the beginning. A fairy tale? I used to think that, as an atheist. Then a set of circumstances developed around me and I met Christ; through a study of Bible prophecy, and an empty, atheistic heart that provided no answers for much of anything, gave way to reality. I met God. I asked Him to come into my life and do whatever He wanted with it. My life dramatically changed, overnight. That was 41 years ago. It has been quite a journey, and I do not know if I shall be alive to see the return of Christ in glory and power to this wayward, rebellious planet. I just believe the day is nearing when God is going to call it a day, close up shop, and bring His people home. Then the discovery of music, the discovery of everything, is really going to begin.
I don't know what kind of percussion shall be heard in eternity. I know God likes percussion. It is heard in the heartbeat in every baby's ears in its mother's womb, and all throughout nature, and everything man does. There is rhythm, there is percussion everywhere. Whatever the percussion is out there, it will be tremendous and exciting beyond imagination.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
41. March 12, 2020 - Keep It True and Covid-19 UPDATE
So, the virus has caused Germany to shut down any event with more than 1,000 people attending, until further notice. That means KIT is on hold.
I am curious to know how the 1k count was established. The virus will be less prone to travel among 999 people?
I could comment on Angela Merkel telling Germany, a nation of 80 million people, that 50-60 million of them are going to contract the virus. Seriously? In what universe is making a statement like that helpful? Especially given the FACTS. What is wrong with this picture? The fear mongering in the media is as suspicious as can possibly be.
Anyway, the Keep It True festival is an "if" and "maybe" for April. To be honest (and some people I communicate with regularly know this), I have questioned whether or not the festival would take place for seven months now because of other factors in Europe and Germany. Never considered a virus being the cause.
So, now it is a wait and see-thing. Nothing anyone can do. I am fairly certain if the festival is cancelled for April, it will be rescheduled. Time will tell.
All the money spent, all the time and efforts into dealing with plans and logistics, all for nothing? I hope not. This is happening for the entire world and frankly, there is something so nefarious feeling about this I am more than willing to believe this is not an accidental event. It is to see how much populations can be controlled by various entities: national governments, to incessant corporation news reporting (including plenty of fake news and outright lies), and right to the doorstep of pharmaceutical companies.
Conspiracy theories!!! Hey, when it walks and talks like a duck ...
All nations that have shut down their borders and set up medical inspections have successfully controlled the virus among their citizens. Nations that have not are just seeing the numbers escalate. Just a coincidence? Hardly.
So, while millions, if not over a billion people put their lives on hold or outright lock down until further notice, consider the future and what the Bible says about a time coming when no one will be able to buy or sell, save those who have the mark of the beast. No, it is not a bar code or chip implant, though bar codes have been part of our lives for decades now and chip implants may become common for people, as well. Is there enough hi-tech in our world to control buying and selling? Obviously, such as no time in human history. God sees the end from the beginning and is telling anyone who will pay attention what is coming.
No, the mark of the beast is not a stamp on the forehead or hand. It is opposite the seal of the living God. What is the seal of the living God? The issue in both Daniel and Revelation, over and over is a matter of either the authority of the law of God or the authority of the laws of man. Trust me, the law of God wins, and those who guard it shall triumph when this gig is over. Will mankind do things God's way or will it bow to the power of men? The majority are never on God's side. Never. His side will be a small remnant of people who will keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus and have His testimony. His testimony is a great Bible study. Look up the places in the NT where it states Christ testified of something. The Bible does interpret itself.
Until then, stay well. And pick up some Manuka honey. It's a great natural antiviral, antibiotic, and antiseptic. God has put things in nature, in His creation, that are there to help in any situation.
I am curious to know how the 1k count was established. The virus will be less prone to travel among 999 people?
I could comment on Angela Merkel telling Germany, a nation of 80 million people, that 50-60 million of them are going to contract the virus. Seriously? In what universe is making a statement like that helpful? Especially given the FACTS. What is wrong with this picture? The fear mongering in the media is as suspicious as can possibly be.
Anyway, the Keep It True festival is an "if" and "maybe" for April. To be honest (and some people I communicate with regularly know this), I have questioned whether or not the festival would take place for seven months now because of other factors in Europe and Germany. Never considered a virus being the cause.
So, now it is a wait and see-thing. Nothing anyone can do. I am fairly certain if the festival is cancelled for April, it will be rescheduled. Time will tell.
All the money spent, all the time and efforts into dealing with plans and logistics, all for nothing? I hope not. This is happening for the entire world and frankly, there is something so nefarious feeling about this I am more than willing to believe this is not an accidental event. It is to see how much populations can be controlled by various entities: national governments, to incessant corporation news reporting (including plenty of fake news and outright lies), and right to the doorstep of pharmaceutical companies.
Conspiracy theories!!! Hey, when it walks and talks like a duck ...
All nations that have shut down their borders and set up medical inspections have successfully controlled the virus among their citizens. Nations that have not are just seeing the numbers escalate. Just a coincidence? Hardly.
So, while millions, if not over a billion people put their lives on hold or outright lock down until further notice, consider the future and what the Bible says about a time coming when no one will be able to buy or sell, save those who have the mark of the beast. No, it is not a bar code or chip implant, though bar codes have been part of our lives for decades now and chip implants may become common for people, as well. Is there enough hi-tech in our world to control buying and selling? Obviously, such as no time in human history. God sees the end from the beginning and is telling anyone who will pay attention what is coming.
No, the mark of the beast is not a stamp on the forehead or hand. It is opposite the seal of the living God. What is the seal of the living God? The issue in both Daniel and Revelation, over and over is a matter of either the authority of the law of God or the authority of the laws of man. Trust me, the law of God wins, and those who guard it shall triumph when this gig is over. Will mankind do things God's way or will it bow to the power of men? The majority are never on God's side. Never. His side will be a small remnant of people who will keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus and have His testimony. His testimony is a great Bible study. Look up the places in the NT where it states Christ testified of something. The Bible does interpret itself.
Until then, stay well. And pick up some Manuka honey. It's a great natural antiviral, antibiotic, and antiseptic. God has put things in nature, in His creation, that are there to help in any situation.
******************
42. March 22, 2020 - Second UPDATE on Keep It True and C-19
Well, the festival was rescheduled for August 21, 22. The world has gone mad, and frankly, I am sick of even seeing the term "coronavirus" let alone reading or hearing about it. Never in my life have I seen such hysteria in America.
This is not to make light of those who have lost loved ones. It is to state great angst towards media that has blown this whole situation so far out of proportion with reality as to convince me beyond ALL possible doubt this is a man-made, engineered event being used by various entities to see just how much control they can take of humanity, if not to outright collapse the American, if not global economy for nefarious purposes.
All semblance of reality is gone. You would have to think this is the 14th century Black Death, Bubonic Plague taking place all over again. It makes me sick and incredibly disgusted inside to see news media making as huge a deal as they can about this with their constant fear mongering reporting and agenda to make Donald Trump look as bad as they possibly can, along with all the other nonsense they spout every hour of every day about him.
Hey, if you don't like Trump, so be it. You have your reasons (I'd hope) but, the media, clueless as they are, seem to be oblivious to the fact that the more they trounce Trump, the higher his polling numbers go.
All that aside, to push the world to the brink, to put small businesses and families on the edge of collapse over this is nothing more than a vile attempt at totalitarianism. "Never let a crisis go to waste." That is the mantra of Progressivism. And if they cannot find a crisis to use, they create one. This is corporate control on steroids.
The music industry is taking an enormous hit and many aspects of it will shut down well beyond the point where this fiasco calms down and things get back to normal. The ramifications of lives being ruined are inestimable.
Last I saw 67% of Americans believed this is being jerked out of reality by the news media. It should be 100%. This is on them. This is on the leaders of the WHO and CDC and any others who made this out to be the end of the world when the real numbers tell a different story; a far different story about what is actually happening. Will anyone be held accountable? No. As usual those who should be will skate away unscathed save for some bloggers and websites with enough guts to tell it like it is.
The world goes on. The virus will subside like cooler heads told us months ago. Anybody taking the time to watch the real numbers knows this is not what we are being told. I hope those who are lying and manipulating all this reap what they have sown.
This is not to make light of those who have lost loved ones. It is to state great angst towards media that has blown this whole situation so far out of proportion with reality as to convince me beyond ALL possible doubt this is a man-made, engineered event being used by various entities to see just how much control they can take of humanity, if not to outright collapse the American, if not global economy for nefarious purposes.
All semblance of reality is gone. You would have to think this is the 14th century Black Death, Bubonic Plague taking place all over again. It makes me sick and incredibly disgusted inside to see news media making as huge a deal as they can about this with their constant fear mongering reporting and agenda to make Donald Trump look as bad as they possibly can, along with all the other nonsense they spout every hour of every day about him.
Hey, if you don't like Trump, so be it. You have your reasons (I'd hope) but, the media, clueless as they are, seem to be oblivious to the fact that the more they trounce Trump, the higher his polling numbers go.
All that aside, to push the world to the brink, to put small businesses and families on the edge of collapse over this is nothing more than a vile attempt at totalitarianism. "Never let a crisis go to waste." That is the mantra of Progressivism. And if they cannot find a crisis to use, they create one. This is corporate control on steroids.
The music industry is taking an enormous hit and many aspects of it will shut down well beyond the point where this fiasco calms down and things get back to normal. The ramifications of lives being ruined are inestimable.
Last I saw 67% of Americans believed this is being jerked out of reality by the news media. It should be 100%. This is on them. This is on the leaders of the WHO and CDC and any others who made this out to be the end of the world when the real numbers tell a different story; a far different story about what is actually happening. Will anyone be held accountable? No. As usual those who should be will skate away unscathed save for some bloggers and websites with enough guts to tell it like it is.
The world goes on. The virus will subside like cooler heads told us months ago. Anybody taking the time to watch the real numbers knows this is not what we are being told. I hope those who are lying and manipulating all this reap what they have sown.
******************
43. The Virus, Music, and Freedom - March 28, 2020
As I, along with millions of other people, watch this event unfold, with all its tentacles and ramifications, it becomes as obvious as a train wreck this is a man-made event with different agendas, depending on the group using it to gain more power and control, all under the heading of "helping people."
But, putting aside all that, this is a blog about drums, drumming, music, the Christian faith, and things that intertwine with those subjects. The music world of live performance has been shut down cold. For drummers that means things like sticks and heads are lasting longer, and trying new cymbals, etc., has come to a crawl, which then effects stick makers, head manufacturers, and companies making cymbals, hardware, and all the rest, effecting untold numbers of employees, which all gathers and falls like dominoes in every direction of life. In one fell swoop people with absolutely NO authority granted by state or federal constitution are commanding people to stay home to stop the spread of the virus. It is not your freedom of choice. It is theirs, usurped, generally by "executive orders" which are a curse to any freedom loving people. And in this situation millions of people are without weekly income to pay bills and purchase needed goods, not unessential goods: needed goods.
Politicians have seized the day and are haggling over how they are going to "help" Americans they are shutting down, not the virus, to the tune of 2.2 TRILLION dollars. The Federal Reserve is printing money - LOTS of paper printing, which will devalue the dollar ever more and make your money worth less to purchase said essential and non-essential goods. The amount of money set aside for "pork," meaning special interest groups and projects, in these bills, is revolting and disgusting, and should be criminal. At the very least the news media should expose it for what it is but, they are generally in the tank for the corporate news agenda. We can expect nothing from them but, misinformation.
I find it amazing the government can come up with 2.2 trillion dollars to "help" Americans, as well as banks, and many unessential entities crammed into the pages of these bills, and yet, it has hardly a dime to enforce the American border from the invasion of illegal immigrants taxing the entire financial system of the nation, lowering the wage base in America to levels not seen in decades, and despite sincere people just trying to find a better life, allowing some of the most dangerous and vile people into the U.S. accruing a list of crimes that is beyond shocking.
But, back to music. Music is a gift. Melody, harmony, rhythm - these are life enhancing, even life changing elements in our world. Music and rhythm exists throughout God's creation, naturally. Man has been given gifts and talents to build upon that natural wonder. Let's put that together with health and freedom.
Humans develop immunity to illness after getting an illness. That immunity may be genetically passed along to the next generation. If people do not have the freedom to congregate as THEY choose, to listen to music, to go to church or prayer meetings or any other activity they choose, and "social distancing" is practiced, now mandated, who is building up an immunity to the virus? This very simple fact means something very simple: the virus perpetuates. Just like any virus it can mutate, it will mutate, at some rate, and just like people can get the flu every year, so this virus will stay around, to be used by mad, power hungry elitists to control entire populations. The human race must develop natural immunity to such viruses and keeping people apart is not the answer.
First and foremost people should stop eating junk, which is a factor of promoting the creation of less than optimal blood cells to feed the human systems with oxygen and nutrition. That is vital fact, not opinion. People with depressed immune systems are far more likely to get hit with an illness, of any kind. Vaccines are not the answer. Thousands of people vaccinated for the flu every year still get the flu. And if you are not aware of the discussion, both sides, of the vaccine scandal, check it out. No conspiracy theory there. Just things either factual or not, driving that industry.
So, people should, do have the freedom to congregate as they please here in America. The first amendment to the Constitution grants the right to assemble. Politicians do not have the right, the authority, to tell people they cannot assemble any way they so choose, at any time, any place, as long as they are civil and peaceable - period.
Around the nation musicians are not performing, people are not hearing live music, in any peaceful assembly, and the trickle down effects are costing multiplied millions of dollars. If people assemble will the virus spread? Of course it will. Should people have the freedom to assemble just the same? Of course they should! That is the whole point of freedom and liberty! People will get the virus, with the vast majority having little noticeable symptoms, others will have slightly inconvenient symptoms, other will have severe symptoms, and a very small percentage of people will succumb to variables brought on by the virus. The vast majority will develop immunity to it. The nation moves forward, working, playing, worshiping, communing, and getting stronger in the face of this man-made, engineered, power grab.
That is common sense. I do not abide by all this fear mongering; all this political manipulation by the very people who have brought most of the problems upon this nation that exist. Politicians are the problem, not the solution. They are never a solution. They are, at best, as the Founders of this nation attested to, a necessary evil. They smile, promise, and shake the hands of millions, and then stab them in the back when they vote new laws into existence outside the principles contained in the Constitution that LIMITS their authority, and holds back kingly power.
Sure, many musicians will take the time to concentrate on writing and recording new music. Many will take some time to hone new skills. Many will take the time to get together - where they can, or allowed to - with a few other musicians to jam. But the aspect of music in society, with all its blessings, has been shockingly roadblocked by politicians desiring power and control, and look at the fun they are having. They are shutting down towns, cities and states. Will the federal government shut down the nation, even when many states have hardly any cases of the virus? That remains to be seen but, if humans are not developing immunity to the virus it will just keep circulating, and then what? Then the entire nation collapses financially, outbreak of civil unrest and violence takes place, national guards and heavily armed police forces are put in place to maintain order, and in just a couple weeks or a couple months, 1984 is upon the American populace, especially those living in cities. I mean, c'mon, Hollywood has been producing movies and tv shows about such scenarios for decades. It can jump from fantasy to reality with blinding speed if conditions and circumstances are right, by accident or agenda or both. The conditions are right.
You think this cannot happen? I believe you must wake up because it can and will, if freedom and liberty are not planted in the hearts and minds of Americans, or any people of any nation where freedom and liberty are written in law.
These events take place as conditioning exercises. How far will people let elites go in taking away freedoms and liberty in small increments? Such events test the policy. The principle is the rule of law. The policy seeks to overrule the rule of law of freedom and liberty, which, in the United States of America, is recognized as coming from God, not politicians and the state. Rights of freedom and liberty and pursuit of happiness are gifts of God, not man, and the nation's Founders recognized that fact and wrote it into founding documents. It is all being squandered away for expediency. Right now, a vaccine is what the populace cries out for, while the fear mongering continues on an hourly basis. They will take the man-made vaccine in exchange for freedoms and liberty and pursuit of happiness as they see fit for their own lives, whatever the risk.
Personally, at 65, the tally of information about the virus and its effects means I am at risk, and I would rather get the illness and die than lose freedom, liberty, and the God-given right to pursue happiness as I deem fit; than see it gone by sinful, egotistical, maniacal, and depraved human politicians in more and more control. But, that's just me. I value freedom and liberty. At this point, I wonder how many Americans do as this event creeps along.
Are there enough Americans to stand up and demand their rights and hold back the agenda driven elites? Time will tell. I have grave doubts.
But, putting aside all that, this is a blog about drums, drumming, music, the Christian faith, and things that intertwine with those subjects. The music world of live performance has been shut down cold. For drummers that means things like sticks and heads are lasting longer, and trying new cymbals, etc., has come to a crawl, which then effects stick makers, head manufacturers, and companies making cymbals, hardware, and all the rest, effecting untold numbers of employees, which all gathers and falls like dominoes in every direction of life. In one fell swoop people with absolutely NO authority granted by state or federal constitution are commanding people to stay home to stop the spread of the virus. It is not your freedom of choice. It is theirs, usurped, generally by "executive orders" which are a curse to any freedom loving people. And in this situation millions of people are without weekly income to pay bills and purchase needed goods, not unessential goods: needed goods.
Politicians have seized the day and are haggling over how they are going to "help" Americans they are shutting down, not the virus, to the tune of 2.2 TRILLION dollars. The Federal Reserve is printing money - LOTS of paper printing, which will devalue the dollar ever more and make your money worth less to purchase said essential and non-essential goods. The amount of money set aside for "pork," meaning special interest groups and projects, in these bills, is revolting and disgusting, and should be criminal. At the very least the news media should expose it for what it is but, they are generally in the tank for the corporate news agenda. We can expect nothing from them but, misinformation.
I find it amazing the government can come up with 2.2 trillion dollars to "help" Americans, as well as banks, and many unessential entities crammed into the pages of these bills, and yet, it has hardly a dime to enforce the American border from the invasion of illegal immigrants taxing the entire financial system of the nation, lowering the wage base in America to levels not seen in decades, and despite sincere people just trying to find a better life, allowing some of the most dangerous and vile people into the U.S. accruing a list of crimes that is beyond shocking.
But, back to music. Music is a gift. Melody, harmony, rhythm - these are life enhancing, even life changing elements in our world. Music and rhythm exists throughout God's creation, naturally. Man has been given gifts and talents to build upon that natural wonder. Let's put that together with health and freedom.
Humans develop immunity to illness after getting an illness. That immunity may be genetically passed along to the next generation. If people do not have the freedom to congregate as THEY choose, to listen to music, to go to church or prayer meetings or any other activity they choose, and "social distancing" is practiced, now mandated, who is building up an immunity to the virus? This very simple fact means something very simple: the virus perpetuates. Just like any virus it can mutate, it will mutate, at some rate, and just like people can get the flu every year, so this virus will stay around, to be used by mad, power hungry elitists to control entire populations. The human race must develop natural immunity to such viruses and keeping people apart is not the answer.
First and foremost people should stop eating junk, which is a factor of promoting the creation of less than optimal blood cells to feed the human systems with oxygen and nutrition. That is vital fact, not opinion. People with depressed immune systems are far more likely to get hit with an illness, of any kind. Vaccines are not the answer. Thousands of people vaccinated for the flu every year still get the flu. And if you are not aware of the discussion, both sides, of the vaccine scandal, check it out. No conspiracy theory there. Just things either factual or not, driving that industry.
So, people should, do have the freedom to congregate as they please here in America. The first amendment to the Constitution grants the right to assemble. Politicians do not have the right, the authority, to tell people they cannot assemble any way they so choose, at any time, any place, as long as they are civil and peaceable - period.
Around the nation musicians are not performing, people are not hearing live music, in any peaceful assembly, and the trickle down effects are costing multiplied millions of dollars. If people assemble will the virus spread? Of course it will. Should people have the freedom to assemble just the same? Of course they should! That is the whole point of freedom and liberty! People will get the virus, with the vast majority having little noticeable symptoms, others will have slightly inconvenient symptoms, other will have severe symptoms, and a very small percentage of people will succumb to variables brought on by the virus. The vast majority will develop immunity to it. The nation moves forward, working, playing, worshiping, communing, and getting stronger in the face of this man-made, engineered, power grab.
That is common sense. I do not abide by all this fear mongering; all this political manipulation by the very people who have brought most of the problems upon this nation that exist. Politicians are the problem, not the solution. They are never a solution. They are, at best, as the Founders of this nation attested to, a necessary evil. They smile, promise, and shake the hands of millions, and then stab them in the back when they vote new laws into existence outside the principles contained in the Constitution that LIMITS their authority, and holds back kingly power.
Sure, many musicians will take the time to concentrate on writing and recording new music. Many will take some time to hone new skills. Many will take the time to get together - where they can, or allowed to - with a few other musicians to jam. But the aspect of music in society, with all its blessings, has been shockingly roadblocked by politicians desiring power and control, and look at the fun they are having. They are shutting down towns, cities and states. Will the federal government shut down the nation, even when many states have hardly any cases of the virus? That remains to be seen but, if humans are not developing immunity to the virus it will just keep circulating, and then what? Then the entire nation collapses financially, outbreak of civil unrest and violence takes place, national guards and heavily armed police forces are put in place to maintain order, and in just a couple weeks or a couple months, 1984 is upon the American populace, especially those living in cities. I mean, c'mon, Hollywood has been producing movies and tv shows about such scenarios for decades. It can jump from fantasy to reality with blinding speed if conditions and circumstances are right, by accident or agenda or both. The conditions are right.
You think this cannot happen? I believe you must wake up because it can and will, if freedom and liberty are not planted in the hearts and minds of Americans, or any people of any nation where freedom and liberty are written in law.
These events take place as conditioning exercises. How far will people let elites go in taking away freedoms and liberty in small increments? Such events test the policy. The principle is the rule of law. The policy seeks to overrule the rule of law of freedom and liberty, which, in the United States of America, is recognized as coming from God, not politicians and the state. Rights of freedom and liberty and pursuit of happiness are gifts of God, not man, and the nation's Founders recognized that fact and wrote it into founding documents. It is all being squandered away for expediency. Right now, a vaccine is what the populace cries out for, while the fear mongering continues on an hourly basis. They will take the man-made vaccine in exchange for freedoms and liberty and pursuit of happiness as they see fit for their own lives, whatever the risk.
Personally, at 65, the tally of information about the virus and its effects means I am at risk, and I would rather get the illness and die than lose freedom, liberty, and the God-given right to pursue happiness as I deem fit; than see it gone by sinful, egotistical, maniacal, and depraved human politicians in more and more control. But, that's just me. I value freedom and liberty. At this point, I wonder how many Americans do as this event creeps along.
Are there enough Americans to stand up and demand their rights and hold back the agenda driven elites? Time will tell. I have grave doubts.
******************
44. March 31, 2020 - A Word of Encouragement for D.I.Y.ers
Somewhere back in my early years I remember hearing about the first Home Depot, down in Georgia. I had relatives down there at the time and I visited them and was taken to this gargantuan house of plenty for do-it-yourselfers. It was staggering to behold. An entire universe opened up for D.I.Y.
I got into modifying drums in the early 1970's. I made my first drum set around 1990 when I found out component parts could be purchased. Now, there are those in the drumming community who believe those who make their own drums do not really make their own drums; they just put them together from component parts.
Stop the music! Stop the music!
Let us look at this with some clean, clear glasses, shall we? Those who think I just put together my own drums from component parts (which is correct for all of my various types of drums), tell me, what drum company on Earth actually makes their own drums themselves? Oh, some will say Ludwig, or Tama, or Pearl, or DW or another company that happens to make their own shells. Really?
Tell me, what drum company grows their own trees, harvests them, cuts their own flitches of veneers, manufactures their own glue for shell production, and finish materials, wraps, and manufactures their own lugs and hoops, tension rods, screws, washers, etc., and chrome plates it all in-house, plus drum heads? None, you say? Some may make some of that list but, nobody makes everything. Then truly, everybody is making drums from component parts derived from companies that provide services and materials to make drums. Nobody truly makes their own drums start to finish. They may make shells but, they do so with veneers for plywood that comes from other companies. They may have in-house machine shops for R&D but, nobody molds and forges, and casts, and machines and plates their own lugs, etc. in-house. Some custom drum makers may do that on smaller scales but, even those that go to that extent do not make everything that goes into a finished drum, even those that make solid shells get lumber from lumber yards, and the lumber yards get their lumber from harvesters and wood dressers/mills who saw it up and sell it rough or plane it all down to some extent.
So, those of you out there who, like me, like working with wood and decide to make your own drum set from component parts available, take heart - you can make your own drum set.
This all goes back to those who believe the sound of a drum is all about a drum shell. That is false, as I have addressed here and on my YT channel. The sound of a drum comes from tensioned membranes. The cylinder may color the sound in nuances and subtleties depending on shell wall density and length but, the sound waves come from striking the heads, not playing the shells.
Those companies that make their own shells and trumpet all their hype about them do not make the totality of their drums. They have some parts made by other companies or just get them in bulk from general parts suppliers, like tension rods, etc.
I got in on the D.I.Y. drum market back in the early 90's. Still, I made my own PVC octobans (tube drums) back in the 70's. Pics on this site show them. I formed my own hardware to mounts things from hardware store stuff. I've always been into making things myself, if I can. And no amount of elitist commentary dissuades me from knowing I make my own drums and they sound as good as anything out there because, making drums is not rocket science. It's pretty easy to do.
Recently I made a set of drums from garbage cans. I need to shoot a quick video and get it up on my YT channel. They sound shockingly cool. I spent next to no time on them, made "lugs" and other necessities from scrap wood and hardware stuff and drum parts lying around. They are a Frankenstein set if ever there was one but, they sound good because the heads produce the sound waves when you strike them, not the shells. As far as bearing edges, they have no bearing edges! I just used the rolled edges garbage cans come with and filed down any sharp spots. I guess they can qualify for a "baseball bat" round-over edge.
D.I.Y. is never going away. And those who are either ignorant or jealous or whatever about those who make their own drums can howl at the moon all they want. I'll have fun playing my drums; the drums I made, just like everybody else makes them - from component parts.
I got into modifying drums in the early 1970's. I made my first drum set around 1990 when I found out component parts could be purchased. Now, there are those in the drumming community who believe those who make their own drums do not really make their own drums; they just put them together from component parts.
Stop the music! Stop the music!
Let us look at this with some clean, clear glasses, shall we? Those who think I just put together my own drums from component parts (which is correct for all of my various types of drums), tell me, what drum company on Earth actually makes their own drums themselves? Oh, some will say Ludwig, or Tama, or Pearl, or DW or another company that happens to make their own shells. Really?
Tell me, what drum company grows their own trees, harvests them, cuts their own flitches of veneers, manufactures their own glue for shell production, and finish materials, wraps, and manufactures their own lugs and hoops, tension rods, screws, washers, etc., and chrome plates it all in-house, plus drum heads? None, you say? Some may make some of that list but, nobody makes everything. Then truly, everybody is making drums from component parts derived from companies that provide services and materials to make drums. Nobody truly makes their own drums start to finish. They may make shells but, they do so with veneers for plywood that comes from other companies. They may have in-house machine shops for R&D but, nobody molds and forges, and casts, and machines and plates their own lugs, etc. in-house. Some custom drum makers may do that on smaller scales but, even those that go to that extent do not make everything that goes into a finished drum, even those that make solid shells get lumber from lumber yards, and the lumber yards get their lumber from harvesters and wood dressers/mills who saw it up and sell it rough or plane it all down to some extent.
So, those of you out there who, like me, like working with wood and decide to make your own drum set from component parts available, take heart - you can make your own drum set.
This all goes back to those who believe the sound of a drum is all about a drum shell. That is false, as I have addressed here and on my YT channel. The sound of a drum comes from tensioned membranes. The cylinder may color the sound in nuances and subtleties depending on shell wall density and length but, the sound waves come from striking the heads, not playing the shells.
Those companies that make their own shells and trumpet all their hype about them do not make the totality of their drums. They have some parts made by other companies or just get them in bulk from general parts suppliers, like tension rods, etc.
I got in on the D.I.Y. drum market back in the early 90's. Still, I made my own PVC octobans (tube drums) back in the 70's. Pics on this site show them. I formed my own hardware to mounts things from hardware store stuff. I've always been into making things myself, if I can. And no amount of elitist commentary dissuades me from knowing I make my own drums and they sound as good as anything out there because, making drums is not rocket science. It's pretty easy to do.
Recently I made a set of drums from garbage cans. I need to shoot a quick video and get it up on my YT channel. They sound shockingly cool. I spent next to no time on them, made "lugs" and other necessities from scrap wood and hardware stuff and drum parts lying around. They are a Frankenstein set if ever there was one but, they sound good because the heads produce the sound waves when you strike them, not the shells. As far as bearing edges, they have no bearing edges! I just used the rolled edges garbage cans come with and filed down any sharp spots. I guess they can qualify for a "baseball bat" round-over edge.
D.I.Y. is never going away. And those who are either ignorant or jealous or whatever about those who make their own drums can howl at the moon all they want. I'll have fun playing my drums; the drums I made, just like everybody else makes them - from component parts.
******************
45. March 2, 2020 - Neil Peart
Neil Peart passed away back in January. The 7th, to be exact, and he was two years older than me. He was 67.
Over the years people have compared Legend to Rush. I never heard it. People have compared what or how I play to Neil's work with Rush. I never knew what to make of that, other then it was certainly a compliment from them. We had a love for big drum sets in common and we both wrote the lyrics for our band's music.
Neil's fans would string me up for this but, for one simple reason he was never an influence in my developing years, and really, the reason was Geddy Lee's voice.
I don't remember how I was exposed to Rush. I did have a double live album back in the 70's. The only song I remember playing to was Bastille Day, which I think was the opening song on the album, and it was very hard for me to listen to the music because Lee's voice was chalk on a black board for me. I never bought another album, and never followed the band. It really wasn't until the mid-90's that I was exposed to Rush again because of something I read about them in a Christian magazine or saw on a Christian ministry video about "the dangers of Rock music." I had just gotten a computer and gotten on the internet and did some research on the band.
Mr. Peart seemed like a very likeable, very humble, and very articulate man. Fairly shy, especially for a "Rock star," eschewing accolades and attention that comes with the territory. Well read, at least in avenues of his interest. I thought to myself then, and in the years following, when I saw him in Modern Drummer or wherever, "Man, I'd love to sit down and talk with this guy about Christ and the Christian faith and Bible prophecy."
I don't recall if he was an atheist or agnostic. I don't recall he considered himself a practitioner of any religion. If I remember correctly he was into Ayn Rand. That was my first exposure to her and her writings, and Atlas Shrugged.
Until DVDs and Youtube in the 21st century I never really had any exposure to the music of Rush and Neil's playing from a visual standpoint. He had legions of fans, many air-drumming to his parts at concerts, and believing he was THE greatest player on the planet. I have seen comments about things he originated, invented, etc., and unfortunately, his fans are incorrect on those things. Players before him were using concert toms, playing hi-hat "barks," using electronics, and using bass drums on stands. Ed Cassidy and Billy Cobham come to mind on that, and a lot of different players in Funk and Fusion were doing hi-hat things, which is where I picked it up from. He was as influenced by those players back in the 60's and 70's as I and everybody else was in that age of constant innovation and exploration of sound and genre. It was a fantastic time.
I have to say (and here is where I get hung on the nearest Oak tree by his fans) watching Neil made me uncomfortable. It had to do with his posture as he played. The way he hunched his shoulders and moved his arms. I wondered if he had some kind of accident that left him with less than total mobility. He got around his big sets quickly, for sure. No doubt he was a great player in his genre.
He was not the type of person I would think would pass away from a brain tumor. He seemed to care about his health as much as his playing. Who knows how these things develop in us. I suppose he did his fair share of drugs back in the day like most musicians but, I have no knowledge of that. Maybe he disliked drugs as much as I did. I stayed clear of drugs like the plague. Never smoked. Got drunk a couple times and that was it for me. Never had another drink the rest of my life. I never understood the purpose of getting drunk, getting sick, destroying brain cells, and acting outlandishly. Never made sense and I dropped the activity fast at 21.
Neil left a large legacy of his playing, and thoughts as a person, in his writings. He influenced multiplied tens of thousands of drummers around the globe. His loss, while not something I feel myself, per se, is incredibly deep among his fans. Reading the thoughts of those he touched and influenced, on all levels of amateur, semi-pro, and professional levels, I think the world lost a very interesting man, and he obviously passed away much too soon. It shall be one of those losses that shall be felt for many reasons, for many years.
Over the years people have compared Legend to Rush. I never heard it. People have compared what or how I play to Neil's work with Rush. I never knew what to make of that, other then it was certainly a compliment from them. We had a love for big drum sets in common and we both wrote the lyrics for our band's music.
Neil's fans would string me up for this but, for one simple reason he was never an influence in my developing years, and really, the reason was Geddy Lee's voice.
I don't remember how I was exposed to Rush. I did have a double live album back in the 70's. The only song I remember playing to was Bastille Day, which I think was the opening song on the album, and it was very hard for me to listen to the music because Lee's voice was chalk on a black board for me. I never bought another album, and never followed the band. It really wasn't until the mid-90's that I was exposed to Rush again because of something I read about them in a Christian magazine or saw on a Christian ministry video about "the dangers of Rock music." I had just gotten a computer and gotten on the internet and did some research on the band.
Mr. Peart seemed like a very likeable, very humble, and very articulate man. Fairly shy, especially for a "Rock star," eschewing accolades and attention that comes with the territory. Well read, at least in avenues of his interest. I thought to myself then, and in the years following, when I saw him in Modern Drummer or wherever, "Man, I'd love to sit down and talk with this guy about Christ and the Christian faith and Bible prophecy."
I don't recall if he was an atheist or agnostic. I don't recall he considered himself a practitioner of any religion. If I remember correctly he was into Ayn Rand. That was my first exposure to her and her writings, and Atlas Shrugged.
Until DVDs and Youtube in the 21st century I never really had any exposure to the music of Rush and Neil's playing from a visual standpoint. He had legions of fans, many air-drumming to his parts at concerts, and believing he was THE greatest player on the planet. I have seen comments about things he originated, invented, etc., and unfortunately, his fans are incorrect on those things. Players before him were using concert toms, playing hi-hat "barks," using electronics, and using bass drums on stands. Ed Cassidy and Billy Cobham come to mind on that, and a lot of different players in Funk and Fusion were doing hi-hat things, which is where I picked it up from. He was as influenced by those players back in the 60's and 70's as I and everybody else was in that age of constant innovation and exploration of sound and genre. It was a fantastic time.
I have to say (and here is where I get hung on the nearest Oak tree by his fans) watching Neil made me uncomfortable. It had to do with his posture as he played. The way he hunched his shoulders and moved his arms. I wondered if he had some kind of accident that left him with less than total mobility. He got around his big sets quickly, for sure. No doubt he was a great player in his genre.
He was not the type of person I would think would pass away from a brain tumor. He seemed to care about his health as much as his playing. Who knows how these things develop in us. I suppose he did his fair share of drugs back in the day like most musicians but, I have no knowledge of that. Maybe he disliked drugs as much as I did. I stayed clear of drugs like the plague. Never smoked. Got drunk a couple times and that was it for me. Never had another drink the rest of my life. I never understood the purpose of getting drunk, getting sick, destroying brain cells, and acting outlandishly. Never made sense and I dropped the activity fast at 21.
Neil left a large legacy of his playing, and thoughts as a person, in his writings. He influenced multiplied tens of thousands of drummers around the globe. His loss, while not something I feel myself, per se, is incredibly deep among his fans. Reading the thoughts of those he touched and influenced, on all levels of amateur, semi-pro, and professional levels, I think the world lost a very interesting man, and he obviously passed away much too soon. It shall be one of those losses that shall be felt for many reasons, for many years.
******************
46. April 4, 2020 - Christian Progressive Rock? (probably not what you think - read on )
I recently took the time to check out the music of Neal Morse. Neal is well known for his work with Spock's Beard, a Progressive Rock band, and Transatlantic, another Prog band. To be honest I have yet to hear Beard or Transatlantic.
Let me back up a bit. Back in the late 60's and 70's I was most definitely a fan of ELP, YES, Kansas, Gentle Giant, Renaissance, and a bunch of other "Classical Rock" bands. That's what I remember them called back then for the obvious reasons of their using Classical music formulas in long musical pieces that could go the length of an entire album side, and in concept, the entire length of a double LP.
When I heard the Mahavishnu Orchestra though, the world of Fusion hit me like a meteor and the entire scope and sound of it, with the masters like Cobham, White, Mouzon, Walden and others on the drums carried me off to another place. I still listened to and played along with favorite Prog live albums but, the soundscape and technical chops of Fusion players seemed a level I had to get into and my heart just remained in that mode, even though I was playing in Legend, which was a combination of just about everything out there at the time. Legend got pegged as a Metal band over time but, it was not. The three of us loved Fusion, and Prog, too, and all kinds of genres and combined it all into our sound, which was really more than what is heard on From the Fjords. But, I digress.
So, while I can watch old or even more recent live performances of Kansas and YES, etc., I never followed Prog as a genre into the 80's and 90's, especially as Hymnody became a vital force for me when I became a Christian. It was a universe away from what I was into and I found it more than captivating; truly getting into melody, harmony and rhythm, as well as lyrical content that really had a message. For me, the most important message ever given.
So, Spock's Beard was not on my radar. I had heard of Neal Morse because of his conversion to Christianity. Recently I decided to check out his music on YouTube. His band is stellar. The talent is so deep it is jaw dropping. Like Gentle Giant, these guys just pass around their instruments and everybody plays with truly impressive abilities.
So, the next step was reading about Christian Prog, meaning: Progressive Rock bands with the musical and lyrical content that match the term. Well, for me, in some cases, both are less than equaled in the examples of bands I came upon but, that is not the purpose of this blog.
I came upon an article about Neal, and the author stated Neal's conversion to Christianity is ... well, in his words "(of a sort)." One reason is because of Morse's album about Martin Luther - Sola Scriptura - and the lyrics:
"Not just from the mother but, the daughters of the harlot
Everything that comes from her, it must be left behind
Her rituals and teaching smells of death and bloody scarlet"
This particular stanza could have been written by Luther, himself, if you know anything about the history of the man and his positions on characters in Bible prophecy, particularly the antichrist, the first beast of Revelation 13, and the Great Whore of Revelation 17.
Apparently not only Morse's conversion bothered people, because of theological positions he took (and I have no idea exactly what they are and at this juncture are not really important to this blog) but, especially Sola Scriptura. I have not heard the album. I'll take a listen at some point but, it is irrelevant to this thought piece. You see, in this day and age we must all get along and not rock any boats, not point any fingers, not challenge anybody's thinking on exactly who are enemies of the Republic both Foreign and Domestic. Who are the characters of Bible prophecy; which contains some of the most startling and strong denunciations and warnings from heaven that are made anywhere in the entire Bible. For the sake of some man-made version of "unity" are we to just dispense of the need to know and identify the characters of prophecy because feelings may get hurt?
Let me ask you, would you not scream, "Fire!" if you saw a house burning, even though an occupant might slip and fall running out of the building and break their foot?
So, does this mean, as a Protestant, if I wanted to join a Christian Progressive band I would not be accepted? I have to leave my theology and convictions at the rehearsal and stage door? Seriously? Then, I must ask, seeing that every single preacher and writer in the Christian faith, for three hundred years, all saw the Papacy of the Roman Catholic Church as the only power in history that meets all the marks laid down in Scripture to identify the apostate power trying to regain the authority she had in Europe for 1300 years - what happened? The Protestant Reformation changed Europe and led to the development of the freest nation on Earth: the United States of America, which sent out missionaries to every corner of the globe. No king, no queen, no union of church and state like all nations before it but, a Republic; a constitutional Republic, not a Democracy (rule of the majority) but, a nation under the rule of law, not men; in the Sovereignty of the Ruler of the universe, the Creator, not any earthly royal house.
There is a huge difference between separation of church and state, and separation of God from state.
That is American history, despite those trying to rewrite it. America was based on the principles of the Protestant Reformation - Freedom of conscience, freedoms of speech, assembly, property ownership, and no church or individual state gains any special place in the Republic. Read the preambles of the State Constitutions. Almost every one acknowledges the Sovereign of the universe and thank Him for His great blessings to the young nation. I'm not getting into those who recklessly or perversely twist the nature of God and His word, and the premise the nation was built on. America may be, despite millions trying to get here, the most corrupt nation on Earth at this point with its deep corruption in government and modern history, and here we are, TODAY, being told by mayors, governors, and maybe the president, that people must stay home, cannot freely assemble together, cannot go to work, and the nation is on the precipice of financial and social disaster because of a corrupt government totally over-saturating the citizenry with misinformation and disinformation about this virus. So, let's not go there, at present. America has big-time problems. As it turns its back on the Creator it slides down a slope and a dumbed down citizenry just let it all happen without nary a peep. Half the nation wants government - which is just elected civil servants, politicians - taking care of them; which is the exact opposite of what the Founders of this nation designed.
So, is Neal Morse a "hater?" Does he write lyrics that are "hate speech?" I don't know if he is anti-Catholic. I know when it comes to RC doctrines, I am. I was raised Catholic. French Roman Catholic and all my relatives are Catholics. I am not. I am a Protestant. I do not hate Catholics. I reject Roman Catholicism as a system of religion. Big difference. I am free to do that in America. Well, for a time yet. It shall not be long before this homogenized version, this cafeteria style version of Christianity popular in America, shall seek to condemn anybody that says a word against any religion. Free thought, free speech, free assembly is already under attack in Europe. Christianity has all but died there. If the elitist, globalist cabal gets their way, America will become a place where Protestantism, and even Catholicism for that matter, all religions, will no longer be tolerated with freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and Declaration. Yes, they will let you go to church but, once you walk out the doors: go to your homes, keep your mouths shut, your pens dormant, and keep your religion to yourself. Can't happen in America? Are you not watching what is happening right in front of our eyes?
Sounds to me like Protestant Progressive music and lyrics are EXACTLY what is needed right now; to educate and instruct, to proclaim and warn, and to invite people back to something that was the envy of the planet; a free nation that moved forward so fast it shocked the world and did so, by and large, believing in the Sovereign of the universe, the Creator, who gave us inalienable rights. That means it is impossible to alienate you from those rights. They are intrinsic. They are non-negotiable. They are defined rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness granted by God.
Yeah, I'd say so some sophisticated Prog Rock with straight biblical messages may be just what a Doctor has ordered.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Let me back up a bit. Back in the late 60's and 70's I was most definitely a fan of ELP, YES, Kansas, Gentle Giant, Renaissance, and a bunch of other "Classical Rock" bands. That's what I remember them called back then for the obvious reasons of their using Classical music formulas in long musical pieces that could go the length of an entire album side, and in concept, the entire length of a double LP.
When I heard the Mahavishnu Orchestra though, the world of Fusion hit me like a meteor and the entire scope and sound of it, with the masters like Cobham, White, Mouzon, Walden and others on the drums carried me off to another place. I still listened to and played along with favorite Prog live albums but, the soundscape and technical chops of Fusion players seemed a level I had to get into and my heart just remained in that mode, even though I was playing in Legend, which was a combination of just about everything out there at the time. Legend got pegged as a Metal band over time but, it was not. The three of us loved Fusion, and Prog, too, and all kinds of genres and combined it all into our sound, which was really more than what is heard on From the Fjords. But, I digress.
So, while I can watch old or even more recent live performances of Kansas and YES, etc., I never followed Prog as a genre into the 80's and 90's, especially as Hymnody became a vital force for me when I became a Christian. It was a universe away from what I was into and I found it more than captivating; truly getting into melody, harmony and rhythm, as well as lyrical content that really had a message. For me, the most important message ever given.
So, Spock's Beard was not on my radar. I had heard of Neal Morse because of his conversion to Christianity. Recently I decided to check out his music on YouTube. His band is stellar. The talent is so deep it is jaw dropping. Like Gentle Giant, these guys just pass around their instruments and everybody plays with truly impressive abilities.
So, the next step was reading about Christian Prog, meaning: Progressive Rock bands with the musical and lyrical content that match the term. Well, for me, in some cases, both are less than equaled in the examples of bands I came upon but, that is not the purpose of this blog.
I came upon an article about Neal, and the author stated Neal's conversion to Christianity is ... well, in his words "(of a sort)." One reason is because of Morse's album about Martin Luther - Sola Scriptura - and the lyrics:
"Not just from the mother but, the daughters of the harlot
Everything that comes from her, it must be left behind
Her rituals and teaching smells of death and bloody scarlet"
This particular stanza could have been written by Luther, himself, if you know anything about the history of the man and his positions on characters in Bible prophecy, particularly the antichrist, the first beast of Revelation 13, and the Great Whore of Revelation 17.
Apparently not only Morse's conversion bothered people, because of theological positions he took (and I have no idea exactly what they are and at this juncture are not really important to this blog) but, especially Sola Scriptura. I have not heard the album. I'll take a listen at some point but, it is irrelevant to this thought piece. You see, in this day and age we must all get along and not rock any boats, not point any fingers, not challenge anybody's thinking on exactly who are enemies of the Republic both Foreign and Domestic. Who are the characters of Bible prophecy; which contains some of the most startling and strong denunciations and warnings from heaven that are made anywhere in the entire Bible. For the sake of some man-made version of "unity" are we to just dispense of the need to know and identify the characters of prophecy because feelings may get hurt?
Let me ask you, would you not scream, "Fire!" if you saw a house burning, even though an occupant might slip and fall running out of the building and break their foot?
So, does this mean, as a Protestant, if I wanted to join a Christian Progressive band I would not be accepted? I have to leave my theology and convictions at the rehearsal and stage door? Seriously? Then, I must ask, seeing that every single preacher and writer in the Christian faith, for three hundred years, all saw the Papacy of the Roman Catholic Church as the only power in history that meets all the marks laid down in Scripture to identify the apostate power trying to regain the authority she had in Europe for 1300 years - what happened? The Protestant Reformation changed Europe and led to the development of the freest nation on Earth: the United States of America, which sent out missionaries to every corner of the globe. No king, no queen, no union of church and state like all nations before it but, a Republic; a constitutional Republic, not a Democracy (rule of the majority) but, a nation under the rule of law, not men; in the Sovereignty of the Ruler of the universe, the Creator, not any earthly royal house.
There is a huge difference between separation of church and state, and separation of God from state.
That is American history, despite those trying to rewrite it. America was based on the principles of the Protestant Reformation - Freedom of conscience, freedoms of speech, assembly, property ownership, and no church or individual state gains any special place in the Republic. Read the preambles of the State Constitutions. Almost every one acknowledges the Sovereign of the universe and thank Him for His great blessings to the young nation. I'm not getting into those who recklessly or perversely twist the nature of God and His word, and the premise the nation was built on. America may be, despite millions trying to get here, the most corrupt nation on Earth at this point with its deep corruption in government and modern history, and here we are, TODAY, being told by mayors, governors, and maybe the president, that people must stay home, cannot freely assemble together, cannot go to work, and the nation is on the precipice of financial and social disaster because of a corrupt government totally over-saturating the citizenry with misinformation and disinformation about this virus. So, let's not go there, at present. America has big-time problems. As it turns its back on the Creator it slides down a slope and a dumbed down citizenry just let it all happen without nary a peep. Half the nation wants government - which is just elected civil servants, politicians - taking care of them; which is the exact opposite of what the Founders of this nation designed.
So, is Neal Morse a "hater?" Does he write lyrics that are "hate speech?" I don't know if he is anti-Catholic. I know when it comes to RC doctrines, I am. I was raised Catholic. French Roman Catholic and all my relatives are Catholics. I am not. I am a Protestant. I do not hate Catholics. I reject Roman Catholicism as a system of religion. Big difference. I am free to do that in America. Well, for a time yet. It shall not be long before this homogenized version, this cafeteria style version of Christianity popular in America, shall seek to condemn anybody that says a word against any religion. Free thought, free speech, free assembly is already under attack in Europe. Christianity has all but died there. If the elitist, globalist cabal gets their way, America will become a place where Protestantism, and even Catholicism for that matter, all religions, will no longer be tolerated with freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and Declaration. Yes, they will let you go to church but, once you walk out the doors: go to your homes, keep your mouths shut, your pens dormant, and keep your religion to yourself. Can't happen in America? Are you not watching what is happening right in front of our eyes?
Sounds to me like Protestant Progressive music and lyrics are EXACTLY what is needed right now; to educate and instruct, to proclaim and warn, and to invite people back to something that was the envy of the planet; a free nation that moved forward so fast it shocked the world and did so, by and large, believing in the Sovereign of the universe, the Creator, who gave us inalienable rights. That means it is impossible to alienate you from those rights. They are intrinsic. They are non-negotiable. They are defined rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness granted by God.
Yeah, I'd say so some sophisticated Prog Rock with straight biblical messages may be just what a Doctor has ordered.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
47. April 7, 2020 - Speed and the Mind
I have addressed some things about speed. Playing fast is all about practice and genetics. You can read my thoughts on that in a previous blog, if you haven't already.
There is another component to playing fast, though. The mind.
When I was a kid my father was always telling me to slow down. If I had a nickel for every time I fell down the stairs or rammed my toes into corners or furniture, I'd have enough money to pick up a new ride cymbal. I have always moved around rather quickly, thinking ahead of my actual location. I have broken toes numerous times because I am just doing what I think, moving quickly, and not paying attention to exactly where my feet are. At 65, yeah, I am slowing down, and I pay attention to where my feet are, and I still get banged up now and then.
When people ask how I could play so fast in my younger years I just shrugged my shoulders. It wasn't until my late 30's and especially into my 40's that I actually took the time to think about how I played the way I played. I found there is also, aside from a lot of practice, and my genetic makeup, the aspect of how I think. I am generally someone who can "think fast on their feet."
Comedians are some of the fastest thinking people there are. Yes, they prepare material and perform it night after night but, they also have incredibly fast minds that process information so quickly they can run with ideas and just keep flinging off thoughts, verbally, improvising, and someone like Robin Williams comes to mind as just about the fastest brain in that arena. People with a good or quick wit, a fast sense of humor, are able to think fast and produce communication from thoughts just whipping around in their minds. It is the same with physical ability.
Fast drummers are generally people who communicate quickly. Buddy Rich a great example. Very fast hands, a very fast mind. Any interview with him shows how fast his thoughts could be verbalized. Watch Buddy on the Carson Show, or Mike Douglas Show, or any of them, and you saw Buddy's speed. Fast wit. He could think with blazing speed and that went into his drumming.
Playing drums is just as much mental as it is physical. When I play drums, especially in Mileage Muzic, where it is all improvisation, I have no planned fills, no planned beats or patterns. I have to think quickly as the music changes, or change the music by changing what I do to drive the tempo and do it quickly. Tom Cranor, the guitarist I have recorded with in our multi-genre duo, being especially into chords and a more ambient vibe, just seems to cause something in me where my burners ignite as he floats along. I love the contrast. Sometimes I have plenty of time to think about what I'll do next. Sometimes not.
Playing fast patterns and fills and all is practice, of course, and the genetics of fast twitch muscles, type A and B. It is also how fast players think. They think quickly and what they produce physically follows.
A person who does not practice much may have natural, physical abilities to play fast. Practice will hone natural talent and clean it up, as it were, to keep things organized and not sloppy in execution. But, "wild" players, and where someone lays their sticks on the drum heads is pretty subjective. Nobody is on the sidelines judging where stick marks are on somebody's drum heads. There are many fast players, especially with large drum sets, that tend to have sticks marks all over the place. Why? Why aren't they micro-tuned to place their sticks in the same spot every single time? Well, why does a baseball player with a fast swing, and a great pair of eyes, that has the entire process of power down to a science, not get a hit every time at bat? I don't answer because they hit the ball right at someone every time. No. Their fast swing does not mean they can hit the ball right in the center every time. Well, of course, it's a moving target. And also, defensive players can have very fast minds and move in a flash to where a ball is hit, pick it off and throw a runner out, or whatever. That is the mind engineering their defensive moves first. Very quick reaction times.
Drums don't move. But, if someone has a drum set with 6" to 18" toms, in some configuration of lineup, being precise in hitting the same spot every time means being able to quickly adjust the arms and hands to meet the center of drums that have no consistent center of placement on a ruler. If someone has four, 10" toms in front of them, muscle memory can become fairly consistent. Most players can close their eyes and play their sets. That is matter habit. Someone with 6, 8, 10 and 12" toms in front of them, has to mentally and physically adjust on the fly, where the center of each drum is. The faster the execution of runs or especially non-linear fills, the more difficult the task. Humans are not robots and nobody has dead aim every time.
If a person does not think fast, along with the practice and genetics, their ability to move around to the instruments in front of them may not be as fast as they want, no matter how much they practice. The fastest drummers are probably the fastest thinkers. The thought comes, the execution instantly follows. It's just the way they are put together as a human being.
Once again, speed can be over-hyped. Everybody wants to play fast, as though speed means you will play musically. Not. Speed is far more athletic ability than it is musical. Doesn't matter what instrument. Playing fast scales shows ability but, not necessarily musicality. You say, How can it not be musical when they are playing a musical, a chromatic scale? Well, in a solo it may fit perfectly. In the body of a song, maybe not. It is far more important a player becomes musical in their choice of playing the drums and cymbals and percussion in front of them, rather then how how fast they can play them.
A fact of life in music. Aside from genres of Metal, most musicians don't care how fast you can play a fill. They may want a fast pattern on your ride cymbal in Jazz at times, or hand/foot combinations for beats in playing up-tempo Funk or Fusion but, in most music, no. Speed is not a requirement. Speed can even be a detriment. It can be way out of place like a fish on a bicycle.
Be as musical as you can be. That's the bottom line. That is the best way to think when it comes to music.
There is another component to playing fast, though. The mind.
When I was a kid my father was always telling me to slow down. If I had a nickel for every time I fell down the stairs or rammed my toes into corners or furniture, I'd have enough money to pick up a new ride cymbal. I have always moved around rather quickly, thinking ahead of my actual location. I have broken toes numerous times because I am just doing what I think, moving quickly, and not paying attention to exactly where my feet are. At 65, yeah, I am slowing down, and I pay attention to where my feet are, and I still get banged up now and then.
When people ask how I could play so fast in my younger years I just shrugged my shoulders. It wasn't until my late 30's and especially into my 40's that I actually took the time to think about how I played the way I played. I found there is also, aside from a lot of practice, and my genetic makeup, the aspect of how I think. I am generally someone who can "think fast on their feet."
Comedians are some of the fastest thinking people there are. Yes, they prepare material and perform it night after night but, they also have incredibly fast minds that process information so quickly they can run with ideas and just keep flinging off thoughts, verbally, improvising, and someone like Robin Williams comes to mind as just about the fastest brain in that arena. People with a good or quick wit, a fast sense of humor, are able to think fast and produce communication from thoughts just whipping around in their minds. It is the same with physical ability.
Fast drummers are generally people who communicate quickly. Buddy Rich a great example. Very fast hands, a very fast mind. Any interview with him shows how fast his thoughts could be verbalized. Watch Buddy on the Carson Show, or Mike Douglas Show, or any of them, and you saw Buddy's speed. Fast wit. He could think with blazing speed and that went into his drumming.
Playing drums is just as much mental as it is physical. When I play drums, especially in Mileage Muzic, where it is all improvisation, I have no planned fills, no planned beats or patterns. I have to think quickly as the music changes, or change the music by changing what I do to drive the tempo and do it quickly. Tom Cranor, the guitarist I have recorded with in our multi-genre duo, being especially into chords and a more ambient vibe, just seems to cause something in me where my burners ignite as he floats along. I love the contrast. Sometimes I have plenty of time to think about what I'll do next. Sometimes not.
Playing fast patterns and fills and all is practice, of course, and the genetics of fast twitch muscles, type A and B. It is also how fast players think. They think quickly and what they produce physically follows.
A person who does not practice much may have natural, physical abilities to play fast. Practice will hone natural talent and clean it up, as it were, to keep things organized and not sloppy in execution. But, "wild" players, and where someone lays their sticks on the drum heads is pretty subjective. Nobody is on the sidelines judging where stick marks are on somebody's drum heads. There are many fast players, especially with large drum sets, that tend to have sticks marks all over the place. Why? Why aren't they micro-tuned to place their sticks in the same spot every single time? Well, why does a baseball player with a fast swing, and a great pair of eyes, that has the entire process of power down to a science, not get a hit every time at bat? I don't answer because they hit the ball right at someone every time. No. Their fast swing does not mean they can hit the ball right in the center every time. Well, of course, it's a moving target. And also, defensive players can have very fast minds and move in a flash to where a ball is hit, pick it off and throw a runner out, or whatever. That is the mind engineering their defensive moves first. Very quick reaction times.
Drums don't move. But, if someone has a drum set with 6" to 18" toms, in some configuration of lineup, being precise in hitting the same spot every time means being able to quickly adjust the arms and hands to meet the center of drums that have no consistent center of placement on a ruler. If someone has four, 10" toms in front of them, muscle memory can become fairly consistent. Most players can close their eyes and play their sets. That is matter habit. Someone with 6, 8, 10 and 12" toms in front of them, has to mentally and physically adjust on the fly, where the center of each drum is. The faster the execution of runs or especially non-linear fills, the more difficult the task. Humans are not robots and nobody has dead aim every time.
If a person does not think fast, along with the practice and genetics, their ability to move around to the instruments in front of them may not be as fast as they want, no matter how much they practice. The fastest drummers are probably the fastest thinkers. The thought comes, the execution instantly follows. It's just the way they are put together as a human being.
Once again, speed can be over-hyped. Everybody wants to play fast, as though speed means you will play musically. Not. Speed is far more athletic ability than it is musical. Doesn't matter what instrument. Playing fast scales shows ability but, not necessarily musicality. You say, How can it not be musical when they are playing a musical, a chromatic scale? Well, in a solo it may fit perfectly. In the body of a song, maybe not. It is far more important a player becomes musical in their choice of playing the drums and cymbals and percussion in front of them, rather then how how fast they can play them.
A fact of life in music. Aside from genres of Metal, most musicians don't care how fast you can play a fill. They may want a fast pattern on your ride cymbal in Jazz at times, or hand/foot combinations for beats in playing up-tempo Funk or Fusion but, in most music, no. Speed is not a requirement. Speed can even be a detriment. It can be way out of place like a fish on a bicycle.
Be as musical as you can be. That's the bottom line. That is the best way to think when it comes to music.
******************
48. April 8, 2020 - C-19. Has the Tide Turned? Will Live Music Return?
I haven't written this many blogs, this close together since I began this. The days are filled with grave interest.
There's a drum forum I go to a few times a week or more. Nice bunch of people, generally. Even there it is easy to see that America, and the world, is sharply divided. Posts are put up to start threads about the virus in one capacity or another. The forum does not allow discussion of religion or politics. That is understandable. If you bring up C-19 it is rather impossible not to bring up politics, seeing as politicians have usurped the Constitutional limits placed upon them and shut down the bulk of the nation, including anything having to do with live music.
Some believe whatever "official" instructions and information come forth should be followed, regardless of the inconvenience and pain brought upon the nation. That is not my category of American. I believe all "official" explanations of anything should be taken with mistrust right off the bat because politicians continually show themselves, decade after decade, to be an untrustworthy bunch that lie as a practice for political gain. Constant scandals, constant saying whatever to get elected and especially re-elected so these "public servants" can have a career in D.C., then they just forget everything they promised and go about the corrupt business of Washington.
Nine states have refused to shut down in this "crisis," for very good, logical and legal reasons. More power to them and those elected civil servants truly serving their constituents. The governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem, held a press conference and in 4 minutes gave one of the best treatises I have ever heard on the principles of Americanism, as far as the freedoms and responsibilities of citizens, and the limits placed upon government by state and federal constitutions. It's on YouTube. Look it up. Made me want to sell and move to SD.
Mt. Rushmore is in South Dakota; possibly, if not probably, the greatest sculpture in C.E. history. When you go there the jaw dropping awe is astonishing. Freedom shouts from that mountain. The rock sings. You walk underneath it and it seems to be alive. It seems impossible such a thing can exist. It must be a constant reminder to every governor of SD the prices paid and the investment in the freedoms and liberty America is supposed to afford.
Music is so much about freedom. Freedom to compose and perform, to share and move and motivate, to excite, and in many cases to protest. Every century of American history contains songs designed to protest something. Music is a lot more than scales and notes. For me it is essential. Not to those shutting down all places where live music is heard, and recorded, for that matter, unless you do it in your home. The music industry is being decimated by this "crisis."
Reports continually come on the hour with mixed messages from "the experts" on the virus. Personally, I am completely sick of it and them. I do not believe them, because I do not trust them, especially as more and more doctors stand up against the constant fear mongering and draconian response by civil servants, local and state, and in many cases, the federal response. I feel sorry for Trump. The incessant drum beat of "gotcha" questions, the twisting of things he says, the outright lies in some cases: it is all dividing America more and more every single day. Add to that the investigative research many are doing, and as they follow the money trail it has begun to finally become clear this is a man-made, manipulated "crisis" based on the evidence, the documentation, the testimonies, and the actual statistics of this event, world-wide.
Am I, then, a conspiracy theorist? Well, if the shoe fits; if it walks and quacks, and all, then, yes - save for this one, very crucial point. Can a place arise when theory is replaced by fact? What, then, is it called? A conspiracy. No theory but, facts - born out by factors of people who dig and turn over and look under every rock and just put the pieces together. They follow the money. They follow the information tracks. A picture emerges.
It was amusing, and sad, to be called a conspiracy theorist by people on that forum. The particular thread was locked by the moderators. Too political. So, politicians are shutting down live music and we cannot discuss the ramifications of their decisions, we just have to sit and abide by their mandates and dictates because they know more than us? They know best? So, honestly, at what point does a citizen of a Constitutional Republic become a subject? When their God-given, inalienable rights are taken away, what are they? They are obviously not free. They become subjects.
I am glad, despite the fact I am livid round the clock watching this spectacle develop, that the information, the names, the dates, the places and all is getting out there now for millions to see. Things are going viral. Youtube is doing its usual best to take down videos they don't like as quickly as possible but, the horses are out of the barn now.
I'm sure you have heard the statement, "Oh, if it's on the internet it must be true," said in obvious jest and sarcasm. It was said to me, in other words, on that forum. I find it dramatically interesting that if the information highway props up their ideas, it's good instruction. If the information props up the other guy's position, it's "the internet." Indeed, that boat no longer floats. The very fact stories, even in the mainstream news, abound of various entities trying to gain control of the internet through different means, mandates and laws year after year, tells me we are smart enough to put the pieces of any puzzle together for ourselves, because the information highway, while it obviously contains things that are wild and erroneous, also contains real research and true investigative journalism that may seem wild but, is, in fact, true. The elites are afraid. They should be. The information is out there, not hiding, and just needs people to dig it up and they are. Bravo.
Case in point. I have now seen info, from various sites, even the Washington Times, that Bill Gates is up to his neck in involvement as to how this event is proceeding. "Conspiracy theorist!" No. Just reading things reporters have found out about his Foundation, ownership and investment into the drug company that has patented the virus and can create a vaccine; his buying things that have taken a dive in value since the "crisis," and other pertinent things. Money, money, money. So, Gates is all over the place, like some kind of virology expert, which he most definitely is not; some societal guru, telling us when it will be safe to go back to normal life. Why is he being paraded all over the place? Since when does a tech billionaire get to tell Americans how to live and when things are safe? Seriously?
Drs. Fauci and Birx. Lots of background info coming to light about them and their hand in all this, the connections, the stuff under the rocks that people have discovered and are reporting. Do I trust these two people? I do not. Their predictions have scared the life out of people every week and they have all crashed and burned because the virus, on a global scale, is turning now. And I ask the obvious question, how did Fauci know Trump would be hit with a global medical situation and said so back in 2017? You haven't seen his statement made back then? Look it up. While Gates tells us it may be 18 months before we can assemble together again, the actual statistics tell a very different story. The information about Gates, the WHO and its head - Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the CDC, China, Dr. Shi Zhengli, and other people and players cause me to wonder how these people have gotten away with things this far?
The lies being promulgated by the corporate owned news media and networks stagger the mind. Are they insane? They truly think they can shovel this stuff every day, every hour, and not be discovered? I say, Thank God for the internet and information highway it provides.
Hey, throw your stones. Call me what you will. I don't care. There is a cabal in this world of elites, bankers, handlers, and others that basically control the West, as much as they can, and influence much of what happens around the world. The history is there to read: names, dates, places, etc. They start constant wars for profit. They control the money, the mainstream medicine, and the mainstream media, and they want more power and more control over you. They have taken and/or invaded your privacy (or we have given it away and allowed them in) and the future shall hold more of the same. Big technology is not in the hands of good people. Not even close.
Will live music performance go back to normal; the assemblage of peaceable masses to be entertained and blessed and inspired by live music? Time will tell. We can hope leaders come back to their senses. Life changed irrevocably after 9/11 and the loss of Constitutional freedoms hoisted on Americans in the Patriot Act. Life is changing irrevocably now, which cannot be shown any more graphically than these two political cartoons and images:
There's a drum forum I go to a few times a week or more. Nice bunch of people, generally. Even there it is easy to see that America, and the world, is sharply divided. Posts are put up to start threads about the virus in one capacity or another. The forum does not allow discussion of religion or politics. That is understandable. If you bring up C-19 it is rather impossible not to bring up politics, seeing as politicians have usurped the Constitutional limits placed upon them and shut down the bulk of the nation, including anything having to do with live music.
Some believe whatever "official" instructions and information come forth should be followed, regardless of the inconvenience and pain brought upon the nation. That is not my category of American. I believe all "official" explanations of anything should be taken with mistrust right off the bat because politicians continually show themselves, decade after decade, to be an untrustworthy bunch that lie as a practice for political gain. Constant scandals, constant saying whatever to get elected and especially re-elected so these "public servants" can have a career in D.C., then they just forget everything they promised and go about the corrupt business of Washington.
Nine states have refused to shut down in this "crisis," for very good, logical and legal reasons. More power to them and those elected civil servants truly serving their constituents. The governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem, held a press conference and in 4 minutes gave one of the best treatises I have ever heard on the principles of Americanism, as far as the freedoms and responsibilities of citizens, and the limits placed upon government by state and federal constitutions. It's on YouTube. Look it up. Made me want to sell and move to SD.
Mt. Rushmore is in South Dakota; possibly, if not probably, the greatest sculpture in C.E. history. When you go there the jaw dropping awe is astonishing. Freedom shouts from that mountain. The rock sings. You walk underneath it and it seems to be alive. It seems impossible such a thing can exist. It must be a constant reminder to every governor of SD the prices paid and the investment in the freedoms and liberty America is supposed to afford.
Music is so much about freedom. Freedom to compose and perform, to share and move and motivate, to excite, and in many cases to protest. Every century of American history contains songs designed to protest something. Music is a lot more than scales and notes. For me it is essential. Not to those shutting down all places where live music is heard, and recorded, for that matter, unless you do it in your home. The music industry is being decimated by this "crisis."
Reports continually come on the hour with mixed messages from "the experts" on the virus. Personally, I am completely sick of it and them. I do not believe them, because I do not trust them, especially as more and more doctors stand up against the constant fear mongering and draconian response by civil servants, local and state, and in many cases, the federal response. I feel sorry for Trump. The incessant drum beat of "gotcha" questions, the twisting of things he says, the outright lies in some cases: it is all dividing America more and more every single day. Add to that the investigative research many are doing, and as they follow the money trail it has begun to finally become clear this is a man-made, manipulated "crisis" based on the evidence, the documentation, the testimonies, and the actual statistics of this event, world-wide.
Am I, then, a conspiracy theorist? Well, if the shoe fits; if it walks and quacks, and all, then, yes - save for this one, very crucial point. Can a place arise when theory is replaced by fact? What, then, is it called? A conspiracy. No theory but, facts - born out by factors of people who dig and turn over and look under every rock and just put the pieces together. They follow the money. They follow the information tracks. A picture emerges.
It was amusing, and sad, to be called a conspiracy theorist by people on that forum. The particular thread was locked by the moderators. Too political. So, politicians are shutting down live music and we cannot discuss the ramifications of their decisions, we just have to sit and abide by their mandates and dictates because they know more than us? They know best? So, honestly, at what point does a citizen of a Constitutional Republic become a subject? When their God-given, inalienable rights are taken away, what are they? They are obviously not free. They become subjects.
I am glad, despite the fact I am livid round the clock watching this spectacle develop, that the information, the names, the dates, the places and all is getting out there now for millions to see. Things are going viral. Youtube is doing its usual best to take down videos they don't like as quickly as possible but, the horses are out of the barn now.
I'm sure you have heard the statement, "Oh, if it's on the internet it must be true," said in obvious jest and sarcasm. It was said to me, in other words, on that forum. I find it dramatically interesting that if the information highway props up their ideas, it's good instruction. If the information props up the other guy's position, it's "the internet." Indeed, that boat no longer floats. The very fact stories, even in the mainstream news, abound of various entities trying to gain control of the internet through different means, mandates and laws year after year, tells me we are smart enough to put the pieces of any puzzle together for ourselves, because the information highway, while it obviously contains things that are wild and erroneous, also contains real research and true investigative journalism that may seem wild but, is, in fact, true. The elites are afraid. They should be. The information is out there, not hiding, and just needs people to dig it up and they are. Bravo.
Case in point. I have now seen info, from various sites, even the Washington Times, that Bill Gates is up to his neck in involvement as to how this event is proceeding. "Conspiracy theorist!" No. Just reading things reporters have found out about his Foundation, ownership and investment into the drug company that has patented the virus and can create a vaccine; his buying things that have taken a dive in value since the "crisis," and other pertinent things. Money, money, money. So, Gates is all over the place, like some kind of virology expert, which he most definitely is not; some societal guru, telling us when it will be safe to go back to normal life. Why is he being paraded all over the place? Since when does a tech billionaire get to tell Americans how to live and when things are safe? Seriously?
Drs. Fauci and Birx. Lots of background info coming to light about them and their hand in all this, the connections, the stuff under the rocks that people have discovered and are reporting. Do I trust these two people? I do not. Their predictions have scared the life out of people every week and they have all crashed and burned because the virus, on a global scale, is turning now. And I ask the obvious question, how did Fauci know Trump would be hit with a global medical situation and said so back in 2017? You haven't seen his statement made back then? Look it up. While Gates tells us it may be 18 months before we can assemble together again, the actual statistics tell a very different story. The information about Gates, the WHO and its head - Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the CDC, China, Dr. Shi Zhengli, and other people and players cause me to wonder how these people have gotten away with things this far?
The lies being promulgated by the corporate owned news media and networks stagger the mind. Are they insane? They truly think they can shovel this stuff every day, every hour, and not be discovered? I say, Thank God for the internet and information highway it provides.
Hey, throw your stones. Call me what you will. I don't care. There is a cabal in this world of elites, bankers, handlers, and others that basically control the West, as much as they can, and influence much of what happens around the world. The history is there to read: names, dates, places, etc. They start constant wars for profit. They control the money, the mainstream medicine, and the mainstream media, and they want more power and more control over you. They have taken and/or invaded your privacy (or we have given it away and allowed them in) and the future shall hold more of the same. Big technology is not in the hands of good people. Not even close.
Will live music performance go back to normal; the assemblage of peaceable masses to be entertained and blessed and inspired by live music? Time will tell. We can hope leaders come back to their senses. Life changed irrevocably after 9/11 and the loss of Constitutional freedoms hoisted on Americans in the Patriot Act. Life is changing irrevocably now, which cannot be shown any more graphically than these two political cartoons and images:
The Death of the Constitution from Covid-19 - The Babylon Bee - https://babylonbee.com/news/constitution-dies-of-coronavirus
******************
49. April 10. 2020 - C-19. The Gateway Pundit. I am Livid.
How much more BS are patriots in America going to take from the handlers of this "crisis?" How many more lies, how much more misinformation, disinformation, and lunacy are Americans going to take as tens of millions of citizens are out of a job, no money coming in for food, bills, real-world needs, let along things you just want to do? I am livid. I have written to my Congressman, John Ratcliffe. I have gotten into discussions with people in emails, or other places and the vast ignorance about what is taking place is mind-boggling. Our lives are being turned upside down based on daily nonsense and craziness, at this point.
Various Governors and Mayors are mandating things that make a former Euro police state look like Disneyland!
"Papers, please?"
Dr. Fauci states we should not shake hands anymore, even after the virus is gone!
Those tested positive should wear some kind of "scarlet A" on them to mark them off, or even ankle movement detectors!
We must stay inside and not even go into our yards!
We must not travel between residences!
Police are going into churches and even a church parking lot in Mississippi, fining members sitting in their cars, listening to a sermon by the pastor inside the church!
A California sheriff announcing his department will arrest anyone out walking or driving their cars but, wants to assure citizens he is not operating a police state. Seriously?!?
Americans must be ready to live this out for another year and half or more!
A governor who has his eye on those trying to enjoy large family gatherings on Easter!
All these supposed elected civil servants and experts, now telling people to wear masks, when they are stating this BS not wearing a mask! What, not good t.v. to wear a mask? Are we all supposed to wear rubber gloves the rest of our lives, as well? Are these people stupid? They have to be totally void of common sense.
"Executive orders" are being seen as much as "hamburger" on a menu. More, now. The restaurants are all shut down!
Is this America? Where am I living? Who is controlling 330 million people so easily? Who has the authority to demand I stay six feet apart from my neighbor? Why six feet? Airborne viruses are not bound by rulers. People are being arrested for violating this mandated distance. Are we insane to allow this? And if you speak up you are denounced as some kind of wicked person who only cares about yourself, a "hater," "conspiracy theorist,' or "Kook," as one person slammed me. This is abject ignorance on parade!
As the cast of characters responsible for this lunacy enlarges, generally along political party lines but, even within both parties, and disgusting things are being said throughout social media, like some hope Republicans get the virus and die-kind-of-thing, even stated by elected civil servants!, it is obvious as a train wreck the divisions in America are not only there but, are endless and impossible to reconnect.
Do not doubt me or others making the observation that civil unrest, even civil war could emerge from this usurpation of inalienable rights.
I would not trust these people as far as I could throw a bus. They are trying to take control, literally take control of 330 million people, prepping them for mandatory vaccines which you can be guaranteed half of Americans, scared to death by the lies and misinformation, will line up to take as the "Nanny state" takes care of them, while the other half says, "No way. You are not forcing me to put a drop of anything in my body." I am startled and amazed the pro-choice crowd, who do not want politicians telling them what to do with the body inside a woman's body, are willing to allow politicians to demand we put drugs in our bodies. Is this hypocrisy, stupidity, ignorance, lack of common sense? What is happening?
How it long it takes for this fiasco dog and pony show to get to the place where mandatory vaccination is proposed and enforced I do not know but, with people like Bill Gates having top dog opinions, it will not be long.
I am livid.
For many years I lived in a vacuum, like most Americans. The internet changed all that. The information highway is both a blessing and a curse and most everybody realizes that. Far better it stay that way than any nanny state group of people gain control of it. Corporate network news is already corrupt. The news is not reported, it is created by corporate agendas. Just today I saw an article about Amazon censoring the documentary, "Hoaxed," about corporate media and its corruptions. So, I can buy Hitler's, Mein Kampf on Amazon but, if any books or other information goes against Jeff Bezos beliefs and agenda, it gets removed. Yeah, this is definitely America - 1984 version.
My kids used to call me "Spiderman" because I spent so much time on the web doing research when I got a computer back in the 90's. Matt Drudge's site was a homepage for years. Not anymore. I am going to mention one particular web site I came upon awhile ago that has become a very serious contender for its investigative journalism - The Gateway Pundit. They have done a great deal in exposing the inconsistencies in this entire event. They have exposed the corruption, the inaccuracies, the misleading information, and the characters and players involved. Political Liberals hate the site and demean it and denounce it regularly. It is easy to see why. It exposes them for what they are - big government statists. Thankfully, it also exposes corrupt big government Republicans, as well. They investigate, educate, document, and just put the info out there. Frankly, there are many such websites now. I mention Gateway because it is the first site I go to for news each day. I don't care for some of the stories they report on that deal with the crazy things both Democrats and Republicans say. That is all predictable and why give these people any press at all to spread their personal political pollution? Their rhetoric is consistent. You know what they will say before they speak.
Reading Gateway lately has been difficult because of the larger than life lunacy being spouted by people we are being asked to trust with our lives. Not!
I am livid. If I get anymore upset at these charlatans I'm going to have to monitor my blood pressure.
Enough! Enough fear mongering. Enough wannabe dictator control freaks. Enough complacency by Americans being herded around like sheep and cattle, and corralled like horses.
Normally I stay clear of politics and actually hate politics because I cannot stand politicians. But, the fact is our lives are now being controlled by them. They are not serving the interests of the populace. They are willing to destroy the economy for their agendas. They are demanding, mandating, telling, not suggesting; ordering, not asking, totally forgetting they are servants, not kings and queens. Executive orders are a curse and should be dethroned and burned. No single person has any such power or authority provided by any state or the federal constitution. They must go around their constitutions and usurp their place to execute these orders. The populace should demand they be rescinded and civil servants be reminded of their place in our society in America. If we do not, forget concerts and festivals. Our lives will be totally dismantled, and every single citizen will become dependent upon the State, and life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness will be defined by them, not God, Who gave us these inalienable rights.
You'd better call now, write now, shout now, stand up now or it is all going to go to dust and we will watch something take place that seemed, literally, impossible to happen in the United States of America - Despotism, in the name of "helping people," "getting hold of a crisis," "exhibiting leadership," "for the good of society."
Various Governors and Mayors are mandating things that make a former Euro police state look like Disneyland!
"Papers, please?"
Dr. Fauci states we should not shake hands anymore, even after the virus is gone!
Those tested positive should wear some kind of "scarlet A" on them to mark them off, or even ankle movement detectors!
We must stay inside and not even go into our yards!
We must not travel between residences!
Police are going into churches and even a church parking lot in Mississippi, fining members sitting in their cars, listening to a sermon by the pastor inside the church!
A California sheriff announcing his department will arrest anyone out walking or driving their cars but, wants to assure citizens he is not operating a police state. Seriously?!?
Americans must be ready to live this out for another year and half or more!
A governor who has his eye on those trying to enjoy large family gatherings on Easter!
All these supposed elected civil servants and experts, now telling people to wear masks, when they are stating this BS not wearing a mask! What, not good t.v. to wear a mask? Are we all supposed to wear rubber gloves the rest of our lives, as well? Are these people stupid? They have to be totally void of common sense.
"Executive orders" are being seen as much as "hamburger" on a menu. More, now. The restaurants are all shut down!
Is this America? Where am I living? Who is controlling 330 million people so easily? Who has the authority to demand I stay six feet apart from my neighbor? Why six feet? Airborne viruses are not bound by rulers. People are being arrested for violating this mandated distance. Are we insane to allow this? And if you speak up you are denounced as some kind of wicked person who only cares about yourself, a "hater," "conspiracy theorist,' or "Kook," as one person slammed me. This is abject ignorance on parade!
As the cast of characters responsible for this lunacy enlarges, generally along political party lines but, even within both parties, and disgusting things are being said throughout social media, like some hope Republicans get the virus and die-kind-of-thing, even stated by elected civil servants!, it is obvious as a train wreck the divisions in America are not only there but, are endless and impossible to reconnect.
Do not doubt me or others making the observation that civil unrest, even civil war could emerge from this usurpation of inalienable rights.
I would not trust these people as far as I could throw a bus. They are trying to take control, literally take control of 330 million people, prepping them for mandatory vaccines which you can be guaranteed half of Americans, scared to death by the lies and misinformation, will line up to take as the "Nanny state" takes care of them, while the other half says, "No way. You are not forcing me to put a drop of anything in my body." I am startled and amazed the pro-choice crowd, who do not want politicians telling them what to do with the body inside a woman's body, are willing to allow politicians to demand we put drugs in our bodies. Is this hypocrisy, stupidity, ignorance, lack of common sense? What is happening?
How it long it takes for this fiasco dog and pony show to get to the place where mandatory vaccination is proposed and enforced I do not know but, with people like Bill Gates having top dog opinions, it will not be long.
I am livid.
For many years I lived in a vacuum, like most Americans. The internet changed all that. The information highway is both a blessing and a curse and most everybody realizes that. Far better it stay that way than any nanny state group of people gain control of it. Corporate network news is already corrupt. The news is not reported, it is created by corporate agendas. Just today I saw an article about Amazon censoring the documentary, "Hoaxed," about corporate media and its corruptions. So, I can buy Hitler's, Mein Kampf on Amazon but, if any books or other information goes against Jeff Bezos beliefs and agenda, it gets removed. Yeah, this is definitely America - 1984 version.
My kids used to call me "Spiderman" because I spent so much time on the web doing research when I got a computer back in the 90's. Matt Drudge's site was a homepage for years. Not anymore. I am going to mention one particular web site I came upon awhile ago that has become a very serious contender for its investigative journalism - The Gateway Pundit. They have done a great deal in exposing the inconsistencies in this entire event. They have exposed the corruption, the inaccuracies, the misleading information, and the characters and players involved. Political Liberals hate the site and demean it and denounce it regularly. It is easy to see why. It exposes them for what they are - big government statists. Thankfully, it also exposes corrupt big government Republicans, as well. They investigate, educate, document, and just put the info out there. Frankly, there are many such websites now. I mention Gateway because it is the first site I go to for news each day. I don't care for some of the stories they report on that deal with the crazy things both Democrats and Republicans say. That is all predictable and why give these people any press at all to spread their personal political pollution? Their rhetoric is consistent. You know what they will say before they speak.
Reading Gateway lately has been difficult because of the larger than life lunacy being spouted by people we are being asked to trust with our lives. Not!
I am livid. If I get anymore upset at these charlatans I'm going to have to monitor my blood pressure.
Enough! Enough fear mongering. Enough wannabe dictator control freaks. Enough complacency by Americans being herded around like sheep and cattle, and corralled like horses.
Normally I stay clear of politics and actually hate politics because I cannot stand politicians. But, the fact is our lives are now being controlled by them. They are not serving the interests of the populace. They are willing to destroy the economy for their agendas. They are demanding, mandating, telling, not suggesting; ordering, not asking, totally forgetting they are servants, not kings and queens. Executive orders are a curse and should be dethroned and burned. No single person has any such power or authority provided by any state or the federal constitution. They must go around their constitutions and usurp their place to execute these orders. The populace should demand they be rescinded and civil servants be reminded of their place in our society in America. If we do not, forget concerts and festivals. Our lives will be totally dismantled, and every single citizen will become dependent upon the State, and life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness will be defined by them, not God, Who gave us these inalienable rights.
You'd better call now, write now, shout now, stand up now or it is all going to go to dust and we will watch something take place that seemed, literally, impossible to happen in the United States of America - Despotism, in the name of "helping people," "getting hold of a crisis," "exhibiting leadership," "for the good of society."
******************
50. April 13, 2020 - A Darkness Descends
I do not celebrate "Easter" for a number of historical and theological reasons. That said, it is a very important day for many Christians in their theology; as the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, the Creator, the Savior of mankind from the penalty and power of sin, is remembered in a more concentrated way.
Atheism has grown by leaps and bounds in America. There are obvious reasons for that but, considering the history of faith in America and the impact of Christianity in the West: the impact of Protestantism in the West and in the establishment of the United States, am I wrong to think that it is not normal for various elected civil servants from state after state to mandate that churches must shut down and abortion clinics should remain open? Is that not "off the wall?" I mean, think of this.
Easter, whatever your theology, is a day that pays attention to life. Abortion pays attention to death. Regardless of your position on abortion, to tell Americans they cannot gather together in hope and praise and remembrance of the Son of God's passion for saving humanity from itself, because it is "unessential," in the time of this medical "crisis," while abortion clinics, which take life every single day to the tune of hundreds of thousands of babies every year are "essential," is strange and dark; a darkness of great density.
"Darkness covers the Earth, and gross darkness the people." That statement, from the book of Isaiah, seems to be taking on more and more impact each passing year. Darkness. Spiritual darkness. Christ said before He returns a sign of His return shall be "the love of many waxing cold." Waxing is an old English term for becoming calloused, hard, or unfeeling. Is that happening? Seriously. Is a spiritual darkness descending on America and the world? When life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness means aborting babies as essential but, the Constitutional freedom to assemble, to remember the resurrection of Christ, is unessential: something is very wrong, and very dark in this world. Especially in states where babies can now be killed up to the moment of birth and if the abortion fails, the baby can be left to die, unattended, unloved, and thought of, alone, by just God and the angels, while a place for that helpless child is prepared in eternity.
If you can kill a baby anywhere in a nine month time span how can an abortion be "essential" from the outset of the mandated lock downs? Well, somebody says, it may be the 8th or 9th month when the lock downs began. Do you see any type of details regarding timing in any of these mandates? No. Abortion clinics are just termed essential services and allowed to continue taking life, while tens of millions of Americans were told they could not freely assemble to remember life, even if they intended to do so from their cars in the parking lots of churches throughout America!
Well, today is Monday. Easter has come and gone. States with civil servants that maintain some semblance of common sense said and did nothing while Christians went to church in some capacity. Millions of Americans continue to be locked down based on ridiculous models and proclamations of death by mouthpieces for elements of medical and political corruption and control. They are a collective of dark voices with nefarious agendas. As more and more of that information arises and is placed before Americans, I hope light descends and these chains of control are burst asunder and the dark voices are held accountable for their fear mongering.
Darkness: morbid, creepy, weird, sick darkness is covering the nation, and the world, and it is a sign that the end of all things is at hand.
Christ did rise from the dead and He shall return someday, potentially in my lifetime.
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Close up shop, and call it a day on this sick, rebellious, dark and dying world.
Atheism has grown by leaps and bounds in America. There are obvious reasons for that but, considering the history of faith in America and the impact of Christianity in the West: the impact of Protestantism in the West and in the establishment of the United States, am I wrong to think that it is not normal for various elected civil servants from state after state to mandate that churches must shut down and abortion clinics should remain open? Is that not "off the wall?" I mean, think of this.
Easter, whatever your theology, is a day that pays attention to life. Abortion pays attention to death. Regardless of your position on abortion, to tell Americans they cannot gather together in hope and praise and remembrance of the Son of God's passion for saving humanity from itself, because it is "unessential," in the time of this medical "crisis," while abortion clinics, which take life every single day to the tune of hundreds of thousands of babies every year are "essential," is strange and dark; a darkness of great density.
"Darkness covers the Earth, and gross darkness the people." That statement, from the book of Isaiah, seems to be taking on more and more impact each passing year. Darkness. Spiritual darkness. Christ said before He returns a sign of His return shall be "the love of many waxing cold." Waxing is an old English term for becoming calloused, hard, or unfeeling. Is that happening? Seriously. Is a spiritual darkness descending on America and the world? When life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness means aborting babies as essential but, the Constitutional freedom to assemble, to remember the resurrection of Christ, is unessential: something is very wrong, and very dark in this world. Especially in states where babies can now be killed up to the moment of birth and if the abortion fails, the baby can be left to die, unattended, unloved, and thought of, alone, by just God and the angels, while a place for that helpless child is prepared in eternity.
If you can kill a baby anywhere in a nine month time span how can an abortion be "essential" from the outset of the mandated lock downs? Well, somebody says, it may be the 8th or 9th month when the lock downs began. Do you see any type of details regarding timing in any of these mandates? No. Abortion clinics are just termed essential services and allowed to continue taking life, while tens of millions of Americans were told they could not freely assemble to remember life, even if they intended to do so from their cars in the parking lots of churches throughout America!
Well, today is Monday. Easter has come and gone. States with civil servants that maintain some semblance of common sense said and did nothing while Christians went to church in some capacity. Millions of Americans continue to be locked down based on ridiculous models and proclamations of death by mouthpieces for elements of medical and political corruption and control. They are a collective of dark voices with nefarious agendas. As more and more of that information arises and is placed before Americans, I hope light descends and these chains of control are burst asunder and the dark voices are held accountable for their fear mongering.
Darkness: morbid, creepy, weird, sick darkness is covering the nation, and the world, and it is a sign that the end of all things is at hand.
Christ did rise from the dead and He shall return someday, potentially in my lifetime.
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Close up shop, and call it a day on this sick, rebellious, dark and dying world.
******************
51. April 19, 2020 - Any Protest Songs Yet?
Protests have begun. God bless the courageous people rising up against the "medically" mandated tyranny around the world.
I'm a Protestant. Many people do not know the Protestant Reformation was not really about Martin Luther, per se.' Many called for reforms before him. It was about the protest of the evangelical princes in Germany, at the Diet of Spires, in 1529, some years after Luther wrote his 95 theses for reform, in 1517. The princes protested two basic things. The Church (at that time the Roman Catholic Church was in power), has no authority to stop the preaching of God's word. God's word is His authority, not the visible church. And second, the State has no authority to interfere in the preaching of God's word, either. God is ultimate Sovereign, not kings or queens. Those two principles gave rise to the most explosive religious movement in the second millennium - The Protestant Reformation. I read with gratification Germans in Berlin have risen up to protest the German lock down response to this medical "crisis." May God bless them. May more citizens in more cities rise up.
Factually, there would be no United States of America were it not for the Protestant Reformation and its principles. It's spread to Great Britain launched those ships filled with people who came to America to be able to worship God according to the dictates of conscience, not the mandates of the Church of England. In the New World, Roger Williams, founder of the little state of Rhode Island, wanted a place where all men were free to worship according to the dictates of conscience, not the dictates of pastors who were also mayors and governors threatening to fine or throw people in the stocks for not going to church on Sunday and other such mandates. I kid you not. A 1610 law in Connecticut stated if you missed church three weeks in a row you were fined a week's wages, then end up in the stocks, and could be given the death penalty for week three's absence from church services. Men with principles like those of later statesmen James Madison, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and others rose up against such Puritanical tyranny and thankfully that law was never carried out towards anyone, as far as written history tells us. The young nation had much to learn and darkness to leave, and light to walk into.
The USA was established and founded as a Constitutional Republic. The Bill of Rights grants citizens "inalienable" rights. This man-made, manipulated medical pandemic "crisis" is now causing people around the nation to rise up and peaceably assemble and protest, which is their God-given, inalienable right. May God bless them in their stand. The time has come, finally.
I mentioned how I got shot down for stating some things about freedom at the drum forum I frequent. Because I have done my research, as all Americans should, to understand how this pandemic originated and why the response is so strict, I don't mind being called a "kook," or whatever. I have the facts and truth on my side. When you have that being called names is pretty moot and meaningless.
My wife has been communicating with people who do not have the facts and are very scared because of the incessant fear mongering and predictions of doom by "experts," and the mainstream media outlets; the msm. I came across an article written by a patriot about the rule of law and the rights of Americans being trampled in this "crisis." Many such articles are being written. Many such videos are going up on YT, Brighteon, Vimeo and other platforms, and, of course, YT is censoring some, as is their usual Google policy to protect the Progressive agenda. Anyway, in this one particular article was posted this:
I'm a Protestant. Many people do not know the Protestant Reformation was not really about Martin Luther, per se.' Many called for reforms before him. It was about the protest of the evangelical princes in Germany, at the Diet of Spires, in 1529, some years after Luther wrote his 95 theses for reform, in 1517. The princes protested two basic things. The Church (at that time the Roman Catholic Church was in power), has no authority to stop the preaching of God's word. God's word is His authority, not the visible church. And second, the State has no authority to interfere in the preaching of God's word, either. God is ultimate Sovereign, not kings or queens. Those two principles gave rise to the most explosive religious movement in the second millennium - The Protestant Reformation. I read with gratification Germans in Berlin have risen up to protest the German lock down response to this medical "crisis." May God bless them. May more citizens in more cities rise up.
Factually, there would be no United States of America were it not for the Protestant Reformation and its principles. It's spread to Great Britain launched those ships filled with people who came to America to be able to worship God according to the dictates of conscience, not the mandates of the Church of England. In the New World, Roger Williams, founder of the little state of Rhode Island, wanted a place where all men were free to worship according to the dictates of conscience, not the dictates of pastors who were also mayors and governors threatening to fine or throw people in the stocks for not going to church on Sunday and other such mandates. I kid you not. A 1610 law in Connecticut stated if you missed church three weeks in a row you were fined a week's wages, then end up in the stocks, and could be given the death penalty for week three's absence from church services. Men with principles like those of later statesmen James Madison, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and others rose up against such Puritanical tyranny and thankfully that law was never carried out towards anyone, as far as written history tells us. The young nation had much to learn and darkness to leave, and light to walk into.
The USA was established and founded as a Constitutional Republic. The Bill of Rights grants citizens "inalienable" rights. This man-made, manipulated medical pandemic "crisis" is now causing people around the nation to rise up and peaceably assemble and protest, which is their God-given, inalienable right. May God bless them in their stand. The time has come, finally.
I mentioned how I got shot down for stating some things about freedom at the drum forum I frequent. Because I have done my research, as all Americans should, to understand how this pandemic originated and why the response is so strict, I don't mind being called a "kook," or whatever. I have the facts and truth on my side. When you have that being called names is pretty moot and meaningless.
My wife has been communicating with people who do not have the facts and are very scared because of the incessant fear mongering and predictions of doom by "experts," and the mainstream media outlets; the msm. I came across an article written by a patriot about the rule of law and the rights of Americans being trampled in this "crisis." Many such articles are being written. Many such videos are going up on YT, Brighteon, Vimeo and other platforms, and, of course, YT is censoring some, as is their usual Google policy to protect the Progressive agenda. Anyway, in this one particular article was posted this:
May we look at this point by point?
"I wish to protect my family." That is admirable. And this person is free to do that in any way he or she chooses to do so, within the rule of law, within the principles of God's laws, which this nation was founded under. If you doubt that just do a little research about the founding principles of America, and also, read the Constitution of your particular state. Almost all of them thank God for His blessings to be a free people. There is a huge difference between the separation of church and state, and separation of God from state. This nation never wandered into the latter at its founding. Quite the contrary. If people choose to stay home, so be it.
"from this deadly virus" Now, here we begin to insert the facts. The greatest of them all is that every population always has a majority of people who have natural immunity to any virus. That has been the case in every epidemic or pandemic records have been kept of. Next is the fact that the majority of people that have this particular strain of virus do not even know it. Next is the fact that most who do are suffering very mild symptoms lasting 24-48 hours; maybe a slight headache, a little chest congestion, etc. Next are those who are suffering more severe symptoms like a nasty cold or flu and are down for a week or two. Next are the very small number of people suffering more severe symptoms requiring more serious hospital care, and are recovering. Last, the smallest percentage of people, world-wide, with a median age of 70, with weakened immune systems from pre-existing conditions, known or unknown, who are succumbing to complications created by the virus, such as Pneumonia. Out of 7.5 BILLION people, 162,000 have now died. Do the math. Death is always painful for those left behind to mourn their passing. That said, your chances of getting cancer and dying are exponentially greater than getting this virus and dying from it. Those are the facts gleaned thus far. And really, nobody knows the exact number of deaths caused by complications from the virus because, in America anyway, death certificates are being signed, by mandate from the CDC, by doctors willing to cooperate, stating the reason for death being Covid-19 even if the patient was never tested for it!
Thankfully doctors around the nation are rising up to expose and protest this corruption. The likelihood of you getting this virus and dying from it is now shown, by the data, to be remote.
"you have no rights" Excuse me? Why would, how could anyone living in America state such a thing? Says who? Not God. Not the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Who says I have no rights?
"to disobey instructed government orders" !!!!!!! Since when did instructed government orders displace the Constitution and Bill of Rights? This is not a dictatorship. This is not a Communist nation. There are no kings or queens. This is not even a true Democracy: the rule of the majority. It is a Constitutional Republic: the Rule of Law. Just laws. Laws that are of, by, and for the people. Elected civil servants cannot just give orders citizens must obey. People have said to me, "It's a national emergency!" "It's a pandemic!" So? I see nothing in the Constitution that says we have God given, inalienable rights until a pandemic comes along; until a national emergency comes along. No, what we DO see are "executive orders" coming from governors and mayors (and POTUS), and if people say nothing, do nothing, such dictates are cooperated with because most people are willing to cooperate in a real crisis. But, as the facts get out about this event, as the data gets out and accumulated, people are seeing this crisis is not, and "executive orders" are to be risen up against. It is a man-made, manipulated event, and protesting is now developing and taking place, rightly so. It was one thing when elected civil servants made suggestions as to how to deal with this event. Mandating that people, citizens, snitch on their fellow citizen, threatening, fining, or placing people under arrest for not wearing masks, or out and about, alone, for a walk or ride in their cars, or meeting for worship in cars in church parking lots, or now exercising their right to protest and address grievances, and the list grows ever larger of tyrannical, draconian mandates and "orders." This is lunacy on parade!
"to assist in protecting all" Indeed! Thousands of businesses are being laid waste. 22 MILLION people are out of work filing for unemployment checks, placing a strain in the national treasury already at the tipping point of collapse because of the national debt, and trillions have now been added to it. THAT is not assisting or protecting. That is creating dependency and destroying freedom. People need to wake up and protest! People in America have a right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness as they see fit, including gainful employment.
Where are the songs of protest? They should be coming from song writers and musicians all over the world! The drum beat of protest should be heard everywhere. Elected Civil servants should be put on notice: they are not rulers. They are servants.
The lies, the conniving, the manipulation, the fear mongering. Keep it up. Americans will get pushed around just so far before civil disobedience becomes the norm, not the extreme. That is Americanism. A good healthy dose of it needs to rise up and elected civil servants best take notice. The election cycle will have its say. Those who hold freedom and liberty and common sense dear will be rewarded. Those who act like wannabe kings and queens, I expect their days as civil servants they were elected to be, to be numbered. Unless, of course, America has ceased to be America, and is now just ... something else, unworthy of those who serve and die to keep America free: to truly assist and protect Americans from nonsensical, if not dangerous tyranny and despotism.
"it's a pandemic!" So they say. Who are "they?" The Chinese backed World Health Organization and its leader, now being asked to resign by people all over the world. The Center for Disease Control. "Experts" lying through their teeth. The corporate media prostitutes fear mongering 24/7. Globalists and elites and money handlers hoping to cash in on vaccine creation, running around telling the world it may need to be shut down until 2022!!! That's who "they" are.
They need to be told to go pound sand. Politicians, anybody in a position of responsibility, only get away with what the people allow them to get away with.
Somebody write a song. Somebody sing out the protest and inspire people to rise up and say, "Enough."
All those afraid of this event? We will share with you the facts to help alleviate your fears. We will stand next to you and protect your right to stay home and isolate yourselves if you choose to. Please do not become livid with us if we choose to go about our daily lives because we know the facts, and refuse to be shut down by "executive orders" with no true authority, and certainly no facts behind them.
Protests coast to coast, border to border. I hope I see it now, or, the wannabe little dictators come to their senses and apologize for their foolishness, if not outright agenda-driven despotism. Americans willingly forgive. Or, vote.
"I wish to protect my family." That is admirable. And this person is free to do that in any way he or she chooses to do so, within the rule of law, within the principles of God's laws, which this nation was founded under. If you doubt that just do a little research about the founding principles of America, and also, read the Constitution of your particular state. Almost all of them thank God for His blessings to be a free people. There is a huge difference between the separation of church and state, and separation of God from state. This nation never wandered into the latter at its founding. Quite the contrary. If people choose to stay home, so be it.
"from this deadly virus" Now, here we begin to insert the facts. The greatest of them all is that every population always has a majority of people who have natural immunity to any virus. That has been the case in every epidemic or pandemic records have been kept of. Next is the fact that the majority of people that have this particular strain of virus do not even know it. Next is the fact that most who do are suffering very mild symptoms lasting 24-48 hours; maybe a slight headache, a little chest congestion, etc. Next are those who are suffering more severe symptoms like a nasty cold or flu and are down for a week or two. Next are the very small number of people suffering more severe symptoms requiring more serious hospital care, and are recovering. Last, the smallest percentage of people, world-wide, with a median age of 70, with weakened immune systems from pre-existing conditions, known or unknown, who are succumbing to complications created by the virus, such as Pneumonia. Out of 7.5 BILLION people, 162,000 have now died. Do the math. Death is always painful for those left behind to mourn their passing. That said, your chances of getting cancer and dying are exponentially greater than getting this virus and dying from it. Those are the facts gleaned thus far. And really, nobody knows the exact number of deaths caused by complications from the virus because, in America anyway, death certificates are being signed, by mandate from the CDC, by doctors willing to cooperate, stating the reason for death being Covid-19 even if the patient was never tested for it!
Thankfully doctors around the nation are rising up to expose and protest this corruption. The likelihood of you getting this virus and dying from it is now shown, by the data, to be remote.
"you have no rights" Excuse me? Why would, how could anyone living in America state such a thing? Says who? Not God. Not the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Who says I have no rights?
"to disobey instructed government orders" !!!!!!! Since when did instructed government orders displace the Constitution and Bill of Rights? This is not a dictatorship. This is not a Communist nation. There are no kings or queens. This is not even a true Democracy: the rule of the majority. It is a Constitutional Republic: the Rule of Law. Just laws. Laws that are of, by, and for the people. Elected civil servants cannot just give orders citizens must obey. People have said to me, "It's a national emergency!" "It's a pandemic!" So? I see nothing in the Constitution that says we have God given, inalienable rights until a pandemic comes along; until a national emergency comes along. No, what we DO see are "executive orders" coming from governors and mayors (and POTUS), and if people say nothing, do nothing, such dictates are cooperated with because most people are willing to cooperate in a real crisis. But, as the facts get out about this event, as the data gets out and accumulated, people are seeing this crisis is not, and "executive orders" are to be risen up against. It is a man-made, manipulated event, and protesting is now developing and taking place, rightly so. It was one thing when elected civil servants made suggestions as to how to deal with this event. Mandating that people, citizens, snitch on their fellow citizen, threatening, fining, or placing people under arrest for not wearing masks, or out and about, alone, for a walk or ride in their cars, or meeting for worship in cars in church parking lots, or now exercising their right to protest and address grievances, and the list grows ever larger of tyrannical, draconian mandates and "orders." This is lunacy on parade!
"to assist in protecting all" Indeed! Thousands of businesses are being laid waste. 22 MILLION people are out of work filing for unemployment checks, placing a strain in the national treasury already at the tipping point of collapse because of the national debt, and trillions have now been added to it. THAT is not assisting or protecting. That is creating dependency and destroying freedom. People need to wake up and protest! People in America have a right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness as they see fit, including gainful employment.
Where are the songs of protest? They should be coming from song writers and musicians all over the world! The drum beat of protest should be heard everywhere. Elected Civil servants should be put on notice: they are not rulers. They are servants.
The lies, the conniving, the manipulation, the fear mongering. Keep it up. Americans will get pushed around just so far before civil disobedience becomes the norm, not the extreme. That is Americanism. A good healthy dose of it needs to rise up and elected civil servants best take notice. The election cycle will have its say. Those who hold freedom and liberty and common sense dear will be rewarded. Those who act like wannabe kings and queens, I expect their days as civil servants they were elected to be, to be numbered. Unless, of course, America has ceased to be America, and is now just ... something else, unworthy of those who serve and die to keep America free: to truly assist and protect Americans from nonsensical, if not dangerous tyranny and despotism.
"it's a pandemic!" So they say. Who are "they?" The Chinese backed World Health Organization and its leader, now being asked to resign by people all over the world. The Center for Disease Control. "Experts" lying through their teeth. The corporate media prostitutes fear mongering 24/7. Globalists and elites and money handlers hoping to cash in on vaccine creation, running around telling the world it may need to be shut down until 2022!!! That's who "they" are.
They need to be told to go pound sand. Politicians, anybody in a position of responsibility, only get away with what the people allow them to get away with.
Somebody write a song. Somebody sing out the protest and inspire people to rise up and say, "Enough."
All those afraid of this event? We will share with you the facts to help alleviate your fears. We will stand next to you and protect your right to stay home and isolate yourselves if you choose to. Please do not become livid with us if we choose to go about our daily lives because we know the facts, and refuse to be shut down by "executive orders" with no true authority, and certainly no facts behind them.
Protests coast to coast, border to border. I hope I see it now, or, the wannabe little dictators come to their senses and apologize for their foolishness, if not outright agenda-driven despotism. Americans willingly forgive. Or, vote.
******************
52. Thursday April 30, 2020 - Alt Music, Alt Politicians, and Alt News
This "pandemic" has shown Americans some very specific things.
Politicians can not be trusted.
Politicians have become bold enough to just wear their ideology on the shirtsleeves.
Politicians do not care about the Rule of Law, the Constitution they took oaths to protect, Americans, the American economy, the principles of personal responsibility, freedom, liberty, God, life, truth, and other things millions of citizens of the United States of America do care about and hold sacred, like making a living to eat and pay bills and survive as they choose to fight the good fight of faith.
What we know politicians do care about is POWER, CONTROL, and making CORRUPTION acceptable by never letting a crisis go to waste. If you do not have a crisis to use, create one.
From the beginning of this situation back in January, there were voices of warning, voices of reason, and Americans who observed and concluded something was "off," and common sense told them this "crisis" was not.
Back in the 1960's and 70's I remember music artists like The Velvet Underground, Lou Reed, and others which were considered "unorthodox." They were alternatives to popular music. Punk Rock was "Alt Rock." Of course, compared to previous generations Rock and Roll was unorthodox and alternative. Big Band was unorthodox. Jazz, itself, was unorthodox. Classical music, and Gospel music were the orthodox genres. Hymnody was orthodox. Hymnals contained the popular music of American culture. Right now hymnals are sitting in pew racks unused because churches are empty as politicians have closed churches, violating the inalienable rights of millions of people who have the freedom, well, should have it, without threat of police force and interference, to worship when, where, why, and how they chose.
"Congress shall make NO LAW respecting an establishment of religion, or PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE PEACEABLY TO ASSEMBLE, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
The current "alternative" politician somehow believes they have the right to bypass the laws and rights they swore oaths to protect. Millions of people in every state should rise up, assemble, and address these alt politicians, these elected civil servants, with civil disobedience. Protests began a couple weeks ago but, nowhere near what it needs to be to show these alt politicians their actual place in the fabric of American society. Right now many are sending in their troops to arrest protesters and take away their constitutional right to assemble and redress grievances. By definition, that is a "police state." One must wonder how many in police forces all over America are torn by these double standards and acts of despotism, while they just want to do their job as they took oaths to do.
"Alternative" music ultimately became Pop music in the 90's. It just morphed as the suits found ways to make it palatable and sell it to the general population of youth. Alt politicians have been made palatable to millions of Americans by the support of the main stream media suits, who want their big government ideas and plans to control those who vehemently disagree with them.
When voices began to announce the facts, the data, the history, and the truth of this entire virus situation the tech giants began to censor them right away. Today, they have just come right out and said they will censor and shut down anything that is not in harmony with World Health Organization recommendations. I specifically refer to the CEO of Youtube. So, the ideology of alt politicians and their supporters: main stream news outlets and Hollywood, have taken control of tens of millions of people living in their pseudo-kingdoms. What is wrong with this picture?
The voices that began to speak out, otherwise known as "Alternative News," are mostly conservative, libertarian, constitution supporting outlets that have sought to do research, investigation, and then report what they have found about this virus "crisis."
Now, I am not in harmony with everything these sites report on. Frankly, I have no use or need to know the foolish statements of radical Progressives who can be counted on to say the same things day in and day out. They are more predictable than a dog and a bone ten feet away from it. They pounce on the same rhetoric every time a microphone is put to their face. For me, some of these sites would do well to refrain from words of description they place upon those who they see as negative influences on the nation, be they politicians or others. It does not help in reporting news. Many would turn away in anger to see people they trust, however misguidedly, written about in such demeaning and pejorative ways.
That said, dozens of alt news sites now exist. They are giving Americans the truth based on evidence, based on serious investigation and research. I keep coming upon more and more of them every single week. Some of them have become influential enough that the main stream news outlets call them fake news, conspiracy theorists, unprofessional, and, well, not main stream. Good for them. They have shown the current medical fiasco for what it is - a man-made, manipulated event, becoming more manipulated with each passing day.
These are some that I generally refer to each day for the news, as much as I can take before my blood pressure rises. Because they all believe in the efficacy and necessity of the Constitution they take to task any that stand against its principles, regardless of position or party affiliation. As far as I can tell they are not run by billionaire elitists with agendas to further and press upon Americans. Indeed, some of them have been censored by YT, FB, and other social platforms, which can be taken as a badge of honor, all things considered.
The Gateway Pundit
Breitbart News
Whatfinger News
Zero Hedge
The Liberty Daily
OAN (One America News Network)
and so many others.
And while FOX News has obviously become main stream and run, behind the scenes, by those opposed to the principles it once stood for, Tucker Carlson can generally be expected to present opinion wholly in harmony with Constitutional provisions of freedom and liberty, and expose those who stand against, or try to run around those provisions for their own political ends. He's a likeable guy and doesn't cause me to recoil like hearing chalk on a blackboard.
I don't watch any of these outlets or people on television, those that are. I'm thankful for the internet and its open path to discovering truth at my own pace and perseverance.
You will notice there are no sites here that have nothing better to report but, attacks on Trump 24/7, attacks on his supporters 24/7, attacks on anybody disagreeing with them 24/7, and always fail to hold Democrats to the same standards as they hold Republicans, in flagrantly repulsive ways. And this is not to say there are not sites that do not sidestep exposing corruption where it is found. There are. For me the problem is just plain ideological, agenda driven policy: most are just big government, liberal, progressive medias that do not hold to traditional American principles and standards. They are fine with exposing the military industrial complex but, refuse to expose corruption of politicians they support, that act with the same policy as the m.i.c., and generally show malice towards those who also expose the m.i.c. and anything or anybody standing against the principles of Americanism and traditional cultural standards regardless of who they are.
The current, obvious case in point is the charge of sexual impropriety of the Democrat candidate for the presidency. The main stream media refuses to investigate and report on it. Yet, where is the trumpet call of "all women must be heard and believed!" Well, that only seems to apply to Republicans or people Trump nominates for positions of responsibility. To the contrary these outlets will attack women who oppose their agenda, showing the matter has nothing to do with protecting women. The hypocrisy screams so loudly it is deafening.
For those who might be reading this and offended by my positions, honestly, I feel sorry for you. Millions of Americans will believe anything they are told by any "official" source. The same goes for Europe and people of other nations, as well. They have been programmed to do so by a century of modern education, corporate controlled media outlets, and chosen spokespeople who can influence others with acidic tongues, sharp quips and sound bites, and/or poetic rhetoric.
I was never a fan of "alternative" music. I am obviously not a fan of alternative politicians trampling on inalienable rights. I can only hope alternative news sites maintain integrity and not become corrupted. That is the test, and the task. Time will tell if they can hold on against temptation or forces bent on their silence.
Politicians can not be trusted.
Politicians have become bold enough to just wear their ideology on the shirtsleeves.
Politicians do not care about the Rule of Law, the Constitution they took oaths to protect, Americans, the American economy, the principles of personal responsibility, freedom, liberty, God, life, truth, and other things millions of citizens of the United States of America do care about and hold sacred, like making a living to eat and pay bills and survive as they choose to fight the good fight of faith.
What we know politicians do care about is POWER, CONTROL, and making CORRUPTION acceptable by never letting a crisis go to waste. If you do not have a crisis to use, create one.
From the beginning of this situation back in January, there were voices of warning, voices of reason, and Americans who observed and concluded something was "off," and common sense told them this "crisis" was not.
Back in the 1960's and 70's I remember music artists like The Velvet Underground, Lou Reed, and others which were considered "unorthodox." They were alternatives to popular music. Punk Rock was "Alt Rock." Of course, compared to previous generations Rock and Roll was unorthodox and alternative. Big Band was unorthodox. Jazz, itself, was unorthodox. Classical music, and Gospel music were the orthodox genres. Hymnody was orthodox. Hymnals contained the popular music of American culture. Right now hymnals are sitting in pew racks unused because churches are empty as politicians have closed churches, violating the inalienable rights of millions of people who have the freedom, well, should have it, without threat of police force and interference, to worship when, where, why, and how they chose.
"Congress shall make NO LAW respecting an establishment of religion, or PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE PEACEABLY TO ASSEMBLE, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
The current "alternative" politician somehow believes they have the right to bypass the laws and rights they swore oaths to protect. Millions of people in every state should rise up, assemble, and address these alt politicians, these elected civil servants, with civil disobedience. Protests began a couple weeks ago but, nowhere near what it needs to be to show these alt politicians their actual place in the fabric of American society. Right now many are sending in their troops to arrest protesters and take away their constitutional right to assemble and redress grievances. By definition, that is a "police state." One must wonder how many in police forces all over America are torn by these double standards and acts of despotism, while they just want to do their job as they took oaths to do.
"Alternative" music ultimately became Pop music in the 90's. It just morphed as the suits found ways to make it palatable and sell it to the general population of youth. Alt politicians have been made palatable to millions of Americans by the support of the main stream media suits, who want their big government ideas and plans to control those who vehemently disagree with them.
When voices began to announce the facts, the data, the history, and the truth of this entire virus situation the tech giants began to censor them right away. Today, they have just come right out and said they will censor and shut down anything that is not in harmony with World Health Organization recommendations. I specifically refer to the CEO of Youtube. So, the ideology of alt politicians and their supporters: main stream news outlets and Hollywood, have taken control of tens of millions of people living in their pseudo-kingdoms. What is wrong with this picture?
The voices that began to speak out, otherwise known as "Alternative News," are mostly conservative, libertarian, constitution supporting outlets that have sought to do research, investigation, and then report what they have found about this virus "crisis."
Now, I am not in harmony with everything these sites report on. Frankly, I have no use or need to know the foolish statements of radical Progressives who can be counted on to say the same things day in and day out. They are more predictable than a dog and a bone ten feet away from it. They pounce on the same rhetoric every time a microphone is put to their face. For me, some of these sites would do well to refrain from words of description they place upon those who they see as negative influences on the nation, be they politicians or others. It does not help in reporting news. Many would turn away in anger to see people they trust, however misguidedly, written about in such demeaning and pejorative ways.
That said, dozens of alt news sites now exist. They are giving Americans the truth based on evidence, based on serious investigation and research. I keep coming upon more and more of them every single week. Some of them have become influential enough that the main stream news outlets call them fake news, conspiracy theorists, unprofessional, and, well, not main stream. Good for them. They have shown the current medical fiasco for what it is - a man-made, manipulated event, becoming more manipulated with each passing day.
These are some that I generally refer to each day for the news, as much as I can take before my blood pressure rises. Because they all believe in the efficacy and necessity of the Constitution they take to task any that stand against its principles, regardless of position or party affiliation. As far as I can tell they are not run by billionaire elitists with agendas to further and press upon Americans. Indeed, some of them have been censored by YT, FB, and other social platforms, which can be taken as a badge of honor, all things considered.
The Gateway Pundit
Breitbart News
Whatfinger News
Zero Hedge
The Liberty Daily
OAN (One America News Network)
and so many others.
And while FOX News has obviously become main stream and run, behind the scenes, by those opposed to the principles it once stood for, Tucker Carlson can generally be expected to present opinion wholly in harmony with Constitutional provisions of freedom and liberty, and expose those who stand against, or try to run around those provisions for their own political ends. He's a likeable guy and doesn't cause me to recoil like hearing chalk on a blackboard.
I don't watch any of these outlets or people on television, those that are. I'm thankful for the internet and its open path to discovering truth at my own pace and perseverance.
You will notice there are no sites here that have nothing better to report but, attacks on Trump 24/7, attacks on his supporters 24/7, attacks on anybody disagreeing with them 24/7, and always fail to hold Democrats to the same standards as they hold Republicans, in flagrantly repulsive ways. And this is not to say there are not sites that do not sidestep exposing corruption where it is found. There are. For me the problem is just plain ideological, agenda driven policy: most are just big government, liberal, progressive medias that do not hold to traditional American principles and standards. They are fine with exposing the military industrial complex but, refuse to expose corruption of politicians they support, that act with the same policy as the m.i.c., and generally show malice towards those who also expose the m.i.c. and anything or anybody standing against the principles of Americanism and traditional cultural standards regardless of who they are.
The current, obvious case in point is the charge of sexual impropriety of the Democrat candidate for the presidency. The main stream media refuses to investigate and report on it. Yet, where is the trumpet call of "all women must be heard and believed!" Well, that only seems to apply to Republicans or people Trump nominates for positions of responsibility. To the contrary these outlets will attack women who oppose their agenda, showing the matter has nothing to do with protecting women. The hypocrisy screams so loudly it is deafening.
For those who might be reading this and offended by my positions, honestly, I feel sorry for you. Millions of Americans will believe anything they are told by any "official" source. The same goes for Europe and people of other nations, as well. They have been programmed to do so by a century of modern education, corporate controlled media outlets, and chosen spokespeople who can influence others with acidic tongues, sharp quips and sound bites, and/or poetic rhetoric.
I was never a fan of "alternative" music. I am obviously not a fan of alternative politicians trampling on inalienable rights. I can only hope alternative news sites maintain integrity and not become corrupted. That is the test, and the task. Time will tell if they can hold on against temptation or forces bent on their silence.
******************
53. Having a "Voice" - May 6, 2020
With the continued hysteria over the virus and nations shut down, musicians and others are holding various online gatherings and showing presentations. The Keep It True festival, while no final, official announcement has been made, looks canceled for 2020. The promoters decided to put together some video of various bands and musicians and others that have played KIT or been associated with it. They posted them in three parts on their YT channel over the weekend the festival was originally scheduled.
Legend has no concert or rehearsal footage so Martin, Jesper and I made some short videos of our own, we sent them to Manos Koufakis at Sonic Age Records and he graciously stitched them together for us and placed a Legend logo at the end. Well done. Thank you, Manos. It's pretty short. If interested it is found here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcLZ2KOpCo4 at 1:59:12 in.
Because of the sum total of its parts LEGEND was fortunate to have a fairly unique sound that fans found a bit difficult to categorize. We did not consciously set out to sound different. We just sounded that way because that's how the music developed around the individual voices we had at our instruments, and certainly Kevin's voice in singing lyrics.
The idea of having a "voice" as a musician was instilled in my mind by reading an interview with Ginger Baker over fifty years ago. As the drummer for Cream, he literally exploded onto the music scene, though he was in some notable bands before that time. Cream was touted as the first "supergroup." Their mix of sounds: Blues, Jazz, Rock is so easily identifiable it can be used as a Class 101 example of bands achieving an individual voice.
In this interview Baker stated he knew players could play faster than him, or had better technique but, no one played like him. That was a mountainous fact. He had a style and sound that is recognizable. Put him in any band from Cream, Blind Faith, Airforce, the Baker-Gurvitz Army, or any Jazz outfit he played with and you can hear him. You don't just hear drums and cymbals, you hear Ginger Baker's "voice" at the instrument. To me, that principle became ingrained in my mind at such a young age. I have written about having your own voice so, I will not belabor it here. What I did want to mention was this segment of the KIT presentation. A live chat was opened. I did not watch the video when it went live. I watched it later and read chat comments in the replay.
One comment was made that, of all the comments and things written or said about my playing in LEGEND, stands out for me with real satisfaction. Someone wrote, "Just hearing the tom sound and you know the band!"
For me, such a comment offers great satisfaction. I mean, there are only just so many ways you can choose and tension drum heads for sound and pitch, and then play them with whatever touch you have, with whatever rudiments, and make a musical statement. For someone to recognize my playing just by the sound is a reward greater than any accolades I could be given.
It isn't about technique or speed or twirling sticks and all, as much as all of that is important or entertaining. It's about somehow, someway approaching your chosen instrument and having a voice that people may recognize. I truly believe that is the greatest thing a musician can achieve.
Legend has no concert or rehearsal footage so Martin, Jesper and I made some short videos of our own, we sent them to Manos Koufakis at Sonic Age Records and he graciously stitched them together for us and placed a Legend logo at the end. Well done. Thank you, Manos. It's pretty short. If interested it is found here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcLZ2KOpCo4 at 1:59:12 in.
Because of the sum total of its parts LEGEND was fortunate to have a fairly unique sound that fans found a bit difficult to categorize. We did not consciously set out to sound different. We just sounded that way because that's how the music developed around the individual voices we had at our instruments, and certainly Kevin's voice in singing lyrics.
The idea of having a "voice" as a musician was instilled in my mind by reading an interview with Ginger Baker over fifty years ago. As the drummer for Cream, he literally exploded onto the music scene, though he was in some notable bands before that time. Cream was touted as the first "supergroup." Their mix of sounds: Blues, Jazz, Rock is so easily identifiable it can be used as a Class 101 example of bands achieving an individual voice.
In this interview Baker stated he knew players could play faster than him, or had better technique but, no one played like him. That was a mountainous fact. He had a style and sound that is recognizable. Put him in any band from Cream, Blind Faith, Airforce, the Baker-Gurvitz Army, or any Jazz outfit he played with and you can hear him. You don't just hear drums and cymbals, you hear Ginger Baker's "voice" at the instrument. To me, that principle became ingrained in my mind at such a young age. I have written about having your own voice so, I will not belabor it here. What I did want to mention was this segment of the KIT presentation. A live chat was opened. I did not watch the video when it went live. I watched it later and read chat comments in the replay.
One comment was made that, of all the comments and things written or said about my playing in LEGEND, stands out for me with real satisfaction. Someone wrote, "Just hearing the tom sound and you know the band!"
For me, such a comment offers great satisfaction. I mean, there are only just so many ways you can choose and tension drum heads for sound and pitch, and then play them with whatever touch you have, with whatever rudiments, and make a musical statement. For someone to recognize my playing just by the sound is a reward greater than any accolades I could be given.
It isn't about technique or speed or twirling sticks and all, as much as all of that is important or entertaining. It's about somehow, someway approaching your chosen instrument and having a voice that people may recognize. I truly believe that is the greatest thing a musician can achieve.
******************
54. Drum Forums - May 19, 2020
This will be a tricky one. I'm not going to shy away from conviction here. I just need to be careful. I mean no offense to anyone. That said, I know some will be offended. Having already addressed the subject of "offense" in another blog entry, I'll just state, again, No one has a right not to be offended. We should not needlessly offend anyone. That's useless and just creates bad feelings that hurts communication. I just believe being honest is important to any discussion and generally that means someone will be offended. It is unavoidable, especially these days.
Many of the Forums I used to frequent are gone now. Each one had a "flavor," a slant, a focus and such. There's only one I frequent, semi-regularly now, and after all these years of being a member on many forums ... I think I'm about done. This corona virus situation has really reached every corner of thought and society, much like Trump's election. The nation is sorely, irrevocably divided, and that includes drum forums.
Most forums demand - No politics. No religion. The reason is heat, flaming, pejorative, vitriolic, verbal warfare that can erupt over such matters. Personally, I find that a cop-out. Music engages political commentary and religion. There are music genres specifically related to politics/patriotism, and religion. Why should drummers be gagged when it comes to these subjects? Moderators exist to calmly keep things civil if incivility breaks out. Forum administrators just see it as easier for them if they just keep those subjects off the board. I think that's sad. Just because some incivility may take place, which can be moderated and controlled, musicians cannot discuss a subject that is effecting all our musical lives? I cannot think of something more unreasonable.
This C-19 fiasco is pretty volatile, especially as more and more information developed. It is now easy to see, for those who have done their "homework," that this is a man-made, manipulated event designed for a number things, last of which is actually protecting people from the illness. That's just the excuse for control freak people in positions of responsibility - elected civil servants, and some not elected but, somehow being given tremendous power and authority - to see how far they can push citizens; globalism, new world order and all. Protests around the nation and around the world show these wannabe dictators have reached the wall. So now, they are showing their true colors; making outrageous threats, engaging police (those that are cooperating with the tyranny), to harass and arrest people for not obeying ridiculous and draconian executive orders. Thankfully doctors, police, sheriffs, judges, and elected civil servants are speaking out against the tyranny in one measured response after another, doubling week by week. And, of course, the tech giants are censoring everything they find that does not follow their agenda. Welcome to Amerika.
A microcosm of this can be seen at the forum I go to. Threads about the C-19 event develop, for obvious reasons, not the least of which is the shut down of the entire live music industry. That ALONE should have caused musicians to ask themselves what is going on after awhile. Such has generally not been the case. Like others they have just believed the "official" story, the so-called "experts," with nary a raised eyebrow. I cannot help the ignorance of those who refuse to educate themselves about what is happening. With the internet at anyone's disposal the information is now everywhere. I might expect musicians to honor the role of freedom that music and musicians have almost always enjoyed, unless tyranny shuts them down. That is not the case. I have posted things about the event and been attacked pretty hard. I don't get angry or offended. I know the truth. Truth is a shield. I just believe it is sad people remain ignorant, and thereby under the heels of an agenda that is most definitely hurting the nation in ways the virus could never do. These are matters that musicians; drummers, should be able to openly discuss because it effects their lives in every way: as Americans, as musicians, as merchants, as parents, as children, as family and friends.
Some cities have seen a rise in suicides, one at 300%.
Domestic abuse has skyrocketed everywhere.
A great rise in depression among people with mounting pressures upon them.
I have a neighbor. I was out cutting grass in my field and he came over and we talked awhile. He makes saddles for a living. He used to run horses and cattle. Now he just makes saddles for those who do the ranching. A county health inspector went to his house based on a snitch report he received that my neighbor was operating his business. The fact is, my neighbor does not sell saddles from his home. He ships them out or takes them to various markets and fairs and such. Thankfully my neighbor read the riot act to this busybody public "servant" and the guy left with his tail between his legs. Such should be taking place coast to coast. If you do not stand up for your rights and freedoms someone will try to take them away.
The entire quagmire of civil servants deciding what is "essential" and what is not has made it essential and necessary for people to protest the lop-sided lunacy.
As my neighbor and I discussed the entire fiasco facing the nation, he told me about corna-viruses that are naturally present in cattle. And, as anyone knows, rancher or otherwise, you quarantine sick animals and people. You do not quarantine the healthy. WHY are the healthy being locked down around the world? Sweden did not lock down. Sweden is fine. North Dakota did not lock down. ND is fine. We were told we had to flatten the curve of the rising wave of death. That happened a month ago. Now we are being told we must stay locked down until a vaccine is made available. Did you know that a member of the Italian parliament called for Bill Gates to be arrested for crimes against humanity? Yeah, look that video up if you can find it. It's being censored just like the growing multitude of others that expose this for what it is - a power grab. Follow the money trail.
All of this information should be allowed at a drummer forum, any forum, where discussion as anything, musicians or otherwise, takes place. This is effecting everybody, not just political junkies or religious people.
The last post I put up, replying to someone who robustly attacked not only my previous post but, someone even attacked a previous post from another C-19 thread that was shut down, simply stated; my freedom does not end at your fear.
The subject matter was a concert in Arkansas that promoters were going ahead with, even creating measures to insure the greatly reduced audience would all stay 6' apart from each other. The governor threatened them in no uncertain terms and said he hoped common sense would keep things from getting out of hand. The governor is out of hand, overreaching his authority, like most other governors in the nation. I posted I hoped common sense could prevail to motivate 1100 people (apparently the capacity crowd for the venue) to show up, stand shoulder to shoulder and show the governor he has abused his authority. That brought on the attacks.
It is interesting to see the posts of those who state they go to the forum to just talks drums, not get into other stuff. Considering how this event effects live music and drummers with no places to play out live, I logically conclude anything and everything about this event should be welcomed at the forum. Especially is that the case when the same kinds of people will state, if you don't like this or that, don't watch it, don't read it. If they don't want to discuss C-19 leave it be. Let others who want to discuss it do so.
Oddly enough there is a long running thread on Covid-19 jokes. I cannot imagine how such a thread would not contain something that will offend people. I haven't looked at it. I guess that is the nature of discussion in America. Entertain me, make me laugh but, don't ask me to actually think through a tough situation that may cost me something, like my freedom. Are people that tired and burned out? Do that many Americans have bank accounts they can empty without concern? Millions of Americans go week to week and this is literally doing far more damage to them than the virus ever could.
Now, to be fair, some at the forum have given me a thumbs up for posts I have placed there about this event. I appreciate their positive outlook. But, you know, life is too short, and it is so easy for faceless people to attack others. As a Christian, and as someone now 65 years old, I have learned to choose my battles. Life is short. Stress abounds. When you are attacked at a forum for just taking a stand for freedom, liberty, and facts and data, it is time to just seek other places to hang out.
Yes, I am a Christian, and I seek, as an "ambassador for Christ," to defuse situations, and in other matters on the forum, and other forums, I have generally been able to make friends of people who jump on me hard for something I write. Civilized people should have civilized discussion, and we may agree to disagree but, things can be kept adult and even keeled. In this case, because America is so divided and you just cannot get people to rationally sit down and discuss things, you have to leave people to their own gig and move along. Calling people "conspiracy theorist!," "hateful," "selfish," and every other typical stone that can be thrown just shows the level of discussion people are actually willing to engage in. I'll discuss anything with anyone. I know what I know, and why I know it, and that is all I know. What I do not know I ask and study so I can know, if it is something that is important, and this event is most decidedly important. It is the biggest event of this type in human history. No nations have ever shut down because of a virus. Not that I am aware of. The healthy always carry on because they must. Sooner or later those with natural immunity bring things back to normal. In this case I cry, FOUL!
Despots with seriously flawed thinking and decisions brought the nation to the brink, are ruining their states, ruining music careers and the livelihoods of multiplied thousands of people who work in the live music industry. At the very least they must be told they have abused their authority and should be ignored, if not deposed and removed from their offices. THAT is the America history saw the rise of. Just because I am a Christian, and an ambassador for Christ, does not remove my being a citizen, not only of heaven but, a citizen of America, as well, with the freedom to speak out against tyranny. Can I fellowship with people on a forum who believe tyranny is okay; that lives can be destroyed by the decisions of people never given such authority to tell free citizens what they can and cannot do, where they can and cannot go, and how they have to go and what to do if allowed? Allowed? In America? I'm sorry but, drums are not thicker than freedom.
Drum forums come and go. Freedom and liberty must never be lost.
Many of the Forums I used to frequent are gone now. Each one had a "flavor," a slant, a focus and such. There's only one I frequent, semi-regularly now, and after all these years of being a member on many forums ... I think I'm about done. This corona virus situation has really reached every corner of thought and society, much like Trump's election. The nation is sorely, irrevocably divided, and that includes drum forums.
Most forums demand - No politics. No religion. The reason is heat, flaming, pejorative, vitriolic, verbal warfare that can erupt over such matters. Personally, I find that a cop-out. Music engages political commentary and religion. There are music genres specifically related to politics/patriotism, and religion. Why should drummers be gagged when it comes to these subjects? Moderators exist to calmly keep things civil if incivility breaks out. Forum administrators just see it as easier for them if they just keep those subjects off the board. I think that's sad. Just because some incivility may take place, which can be moderated and controlled, musicians cannot discuss a subject that is effecting all our musical lives? I cannot think of something more unreasonable.
This C-19 fiasco is pretty volatile, especially as more and more information developed. It is now easy to see, for those who have done their "homework," that this is a man-made, manipulated event designed for a number things, last of which is actually protecting people from the illness. That's just the excuse for control freak people in positions of responsibility - elected civil servants, and some not elected but, somehow being given tremendous power and authority - to see how far they can push citizens; globalism, new world order and all. Protests around the nation and around the world show these wannabe dictators have reached the wall. So now, they are showing their true colors; making outrageous threats, engaging police (those that are cooperating with the tyranny), to harass and arrest people for not obeying ridiculous and draconian executive orders. Thankfully doctors, police, sheriffs, judges, and elected civil servants are speaking out against the tyranny in one measured response after another, doubling week by week. And, of course, the tech giants are censoring everything they find that does not follow their agenda. Welcome to Amerika.
A microcosm of this can be seen at the forum I go to. Threads about the C-19 event develop, for obvious reasons, not the least of which is the shut down of the entire live music industry. That ALONE should have caused musicians to ask themselves what is going on after awhile. Such has generally not been the case. Like others they have just believed the "official" story, the so-called "experts," with nary a raised eyebrow. I cannot help the ignorance of those who refuse to educate themselves about what is happening. With the internet at anyone's disposal the information is now everywhere. I might expect musicians to honor the role of freedom that music and musicians have almost always enjoyed, unless tyranny shuts them down. That is not the case. I have posted things about the event and been attacked pretty hard. I don't get angry or offended. I know the truth. Truth is a shield. I just believe it is sad people remain ignorant, and thereby under the heels of an agenda that is most definitely hurting the nation in ways the virus could never do. These are matters that musicians; drummers, should be able to openly discuss because it effects their lives in every way: as Americans, as musicians, as merchants, as parents, as children, as family and friends.
Some cities have seen a rise in suicides, one at 300%.
Domestic abuse has skyrocketed everywhere.
A great rise in depression among people with mounting pressures upon them.
I have a neighbor. I was out cutting grass in my field and he came over and we talked awhile. He makes saddles for a living. He used to run horses and cattle. Now he just makes saddles for those who do the ranching. A county health inspector went to his house based on a snitch report he received that my neighbor was operating his business. The fact is, my neighbor does not sell saddles from his home. He ships them out or takes them to various markets and fairs and such. Thankfully my neighbor read the riot act to this busybody public "servant" and the guy left with his tail between his legs. Such should be taking place coast to coast. If you do not stand up for your rights and freedoms someone will try to take them away.
The entire quagmire of civil servants deciding what is "essential" and what is not has made it essential and necessary for people to protest the lop-sided lunacy.
As my neighbor and I discussed the entire fiasco facing the nation, he told me about corna-viruses that are naturally present in cattle. And, as anyone knows, rancher or otherwise, you quarantine sick animals and people. You do not quarantine the healthy. WHY are the healthy being locked down around the world? Sweden did not lock down. Sweden is fine. North Dakota did not lock down. ND is fine. We were told we had to flatten the curve of the rising wave of death. That happened a month ago. Now we are being told we must stay locked down until a vaccine is made available. Did you know that a member of the Italian parliament called for Bill Gates to be arrested for crimes against humanity? Yeah, look that video up if you can find it. It's being censored just like the growing multitude of others that expose this for what it is - a power grab. Follow the money trail.
All of this information should be allowed at a drummer forum, any forum, where discussion as anything, musicians or otherwise, takes place. This is effecting everybody, not just political junkies or religious people.
The last post I put up, replying to someone who robustly attacked not only my previous post but, someone even attacked a previous post from another C-19 thread that was shut down, simply stated; my freedom does not end at your fear.
The subject matter was a concert in Arkansas that promoters were going ahead with, even creating measures to insure the greatly reduced audience would all stay 6' apart from each other. The governor threatened them in no uncertain terms and said he hoped common sense would keep things from getting out of hand. The governor is out of hand, overreaching his authority, like most other governors in the nation. I posted I hoped common sense could prevail to motivate 1100 people (apparently the capacity crowd for the venue) to show up, stand shoulder to shoulder and show the governor he has abused his authority. That brought on the attacks.
It is interesting to see the posts of those who state they go to the forum to just talks drums, not get into other stuff. Considering how this event effects live music and drummers with no places to play out live, I logically conclude anything and everything about this event should be welcomed at the forum. Especially is that the case when the same kinds of people will state, if you don't like this or that, don't watch it, don't read it. If they don't want to discuss C-19 leave it be. Let others who want to discuss it do so.
Oddly enough there is a long running thread on Covid-19 jokes. I cannot imagine how such a thread would not contain something that will offend people. I haven't looked at it. I guess that is the nature of discussion in America. Entertain me, make me laugh but, don't ask me to actually think through a tough situation that may cost me something, like my freedom. Are people that tired and burned out? Do that many Americans have bank accounts they can empty without concern? Millions of Americans go week to week and this is literally doing far more damage to them than the virus ever could.
Now, to be fair, some at the forum have given me a thumbs up for posts I have placed there about this event. I appreciate their positive outlook. But, you know, life is too short, and it is so easy for faceless people to attack others. As a Christian, and as someone now 65 years old, I have learned to choose my battles. Life is short. Stress abounds. When you are attacked at a forum for just taking a stand for freedom, liberty, and facts and data, it is time to just seek other places to hang out.
Yes, I am a Christian, and I seek, as an "ambassador for Christ," to defuse situations, and in other matters on the forum, and other forums, I have generally been able to make friends of people who jump on me hard for something I write. Civilized people should have civilized discussion, and we may agree to disagree but, things can be kept adult and even keeled. In this case, because America is so divided and you just cannot get people to rationally sit down and discuss things, you have to leave people to their own gig and move along. Calling people "conspiracy theorist!," "hateful," "selfish," and every other typical stone that can be thrown just shows the level of discussion people are actually willing to engage in. I'll discuss anything with anyone. I know what I know, and why I know it, and that is all I know. What I do not know I ask and study so I can know, if it is something that is important, and this event is most decidedly important. It is the biggest event of this type in human history. No nations have ever shut down because of a virus. Not that I am aware of. The healthy always carry on because they must. Sooner or later those with natural immunity bring things back to normal. In this case I cry, FOUL!
Despots with seriously flawed thinking and decisions brought the nation to the brink, are ruining their states, ruining music careers and the livelihoods of multiplied thousands of people who work in the live music industry. At the very least they must be told they have abused their authority and should be ignored, if not deposed and removed from their offices. THAT is the America history saw the rise of. Just because I am a Christian, and an ambassador for Christ, does not remove my being a citizen, not only of heaven but, a citizen of America, as well, with the freedom to speak out against tyranny. Can I fellowship with people on a forum who believe tyranny is okay; that lives can be destroyed by the decisions of people never given such authority to tell free citizens what they can and cannot do, where they can and cannot go, and how they have to go and what to do if allowed? Allowed? In America? I'm sorry but, drums are not thicker than freedom.
Drum forums come and go. Freedom and liberty must never be lost.
******************
55. Keep It True Festival Update #3 - May 19, 2020
I did not get a personal announcement, though Oliver Meinsheimer, the promoter of the festival, has communicated with me about the situation but, looking at KIT's facebook page it appears the announcement is official: KIT 2020 has been canceled irrevocably and is being scheduled for April 2021, with an extra day added.
I'm not much a planner for future things a year out. After communicating some with Martin about it and thinking things over I decided to go ahead and accept the invitation for Legend to play in 2021.
Frankly, the wind has gone out of my sails. I'm honestly not excited about this.
Despite protesting in Germany that nation remains under lock downs for large events until the end of August. I am really saddened by all of this. Honestly, the way things have gone, and will probably go in the future, politicians around the world now see how easy it is to control their populations, and what would stand in the way of festivals and other large gatherings being shut down because of the whims of leaders with more power than actual kings and queens of old?
What will the world be like one year from now? I do not know but, I can imagine. I will not be surprised if KIT and every other festival, never takes place again. Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Music, whatever shape and form it takes, for better or worse, makes people happy. You cannot have happy people. You must have scared people to control. They must fear an enemy, real or imaginary.
A virus now controls planet Earth. I take that back. The virus is not controlling the world. Manipulation of information about the virus is controlling the world. Calamity howling and fear mongering of a second outbreak is being predicted on all msm outlets now. Have to keep the populations scared. Bold-faced lies are being pronounced by news outlets about a rise of cases in Texas because of the decision to open back up for business. I live in Texas. What they are not saying is, the rise of cases is the result of a dramatic rise in testing. Just because more people are found to have the virus does not mean they are all automatically sick. Most people that have the virus do not even know it, and those that do have mild symptoms. Facts the handlers of lies most definitely do not want people to know.
Maybe enough millions will wake up and realize what has been done to them and the fear factor will subside. Of course, if the millions do nothing when the next shut down is ordered, it really does not mean much if people are awake and still submit to tyranny.
Anyway, there is the update: Keep It True and Legend's performance there (the 23rd), is tentatively scheduled for April 22-24, 2021.
Let's watch what happens.
I'm not much a planner for future things a year out. After communicating some with Martin about it and thinking things over I decided to go ahead and accept the invitation for Legend to play in 2021.
Frankly, the wind has gone out of my sails. I'm honestly not excited about this.
Despite protesting in Germany that nation remains under lock downs for large events until the end of August. I am really saddened by all of this. Honestly, the way things have gone, and will probably go in the future, politicians around the world now see how easy it is to control their populations, and what would stand in the way of festivals and other large gatherings being shut down because of the whims of leaders with more power than actual kings and queens of old?
What will the world be like one year from now? I do not know but, I can imagine. I will not be surprised if KIT and every other festival, never takes place again. Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Music, whatever shape and form it takes, for better or worse, makes people happy. You cannot have happy people. You must have scared people to control. They must fear an enemy, real or imaginary.
A virus now controls planet Earth. I take that back. The virus is not controlling the world. Manipulation of information about the virus is controlling the world. Calamity howling and fear mongering of a second outbreak is being predicted on all msm outlets now. Have to keep the populations scared. Bold-faced lies are being pronounced by news outlets about a rise of cases in Texas because of the decision to open back up for business. I live in Texas. What they are not saying is, the rise of cases is the result of a dramatic rise in testing. Just because more people are found to have the virus does not mean they are all automatically sick. Most people that have the virus do not even know it, and those that do have mild symptoms. Facts the handlers of lies most definitely do not want people to know.
Maybe enough millions will wake up and realize what has been done to them and the fear factor will subside. Of course, if the millions do nothing when the next shut down is ordered, it really does not mean much if people are awake and still submit to tyranny.
Anyway, there is the update: Keep It True and Legend's performance there (the 23rd), is tentatively scheduled for April 22-24, 2021.
Let's watch what happens.
******************
56. Does America Have the Will? - May 24, 2020
Americans who understand the principles of freedom and liberty and inalienable rights granted by God cheer on those people in the world who are under the control of tyrants and make moves towards freedom for themselves. We hope and pray they succeed through peaceful efforts. If civil disobedience is not enough to change things and the power of the state bears down to crush the lovers of liberty's efforts and they take to the streets by the millions and physically tear down their oppressors, we applaud and cheer and know the cry for freedom that rises in every human heart must be fulfilled. The world watched it take place in Eastern Europe and the USSR thirty years ago.
Tyrants shall never be eradicated from the Earth until Christ returns. Tyranny shall ever be a threat to free people because evil exists and darkness exists in human hearts and minds, and control of others is the warped desire that consumes their souls.
What we are seeing in America and the world, with lock downs and shut downs with no data or evidence to back up the draconian efforts to control people, is a repeat of history; from the fall of Lucifer to today. The cycles repeat, over and over. Often oppressors think they are doing God's service in their warped sense of wicked righteousness. If they do not think it, they use it and tell those they serve as leaders of people who freely elect them that they do what they do for the good of the people. It is a lie as old as the first one told - Gen 3:4,5 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Satan is called the Father of lies in the Bible. It is what he does, because it is what he is - a liar and the father of lying.
The truth is available to anyone seeking it. Truth can never be stopped. It may be blocked time and time again but, it cannot be stopped. The Sovereign of the universe sees to its advancement, century after century. The very fact Christians are now the most persecuted group on the planet shows the unbridled hatred that exists in the hearts of those who are not free. They must attempt to stomp out the truth. If they were truly free they would have no need, no desire to harm those who do not believe as they do. This condition effects those who profess Christianity, as well, perhaps even more than those who make no profession of faith. History has its many examples of religious tyranny in the name of Christ.
Christ said truth shall make people free and free, indeed. Free people, truly free people, spirit, soul, and body, will never seek to control others. Freedom is too precious. Respect for the freedom of all, even if we see them as wrong in their beliefs, is essential to a peaceful society.
The thing is, freedom is never free. It always costs something, even life, itself. The quest for freedom took the lives of the Founders of the United States of America in a revolution against tyranny. It has taken millions of lives since.
I wonder what price current Americans are willing to pay to retain the rights and freedoms God granted them. We hope the Chinese people can ultimately obtain their freedom and liberty whatever the cost. We hope it for all oppressed people but, the ultimate cost. How few Americans know the Declaration of Independence and the principles contained therein. How few young citizens know their nation's history as institutions of learning dumb them down for easier control. They know no real cost for the freedoms they enjoy to protest whatever they like.
No, it isn't muskets and cannons anymore. The technology of war, the technology of policing the state is beyond nightmare status now. It is a frightening thought to imagine tyrants in control of such power, regardless of whether or not they have the authority to use such power against a free people.
When people are threatened with arrest for just wanting to go to church, Americans should know America is on the brink of collapse. We hope and even expect people in other lands to rise up and take back their freedom from tyrants and despots. Americans have been great at writing songs of freedom, protesting tyranny and fascism but, does it have the will to literally tear down strongholds again, if necessary? Do they have the faith to turn over the tables of moneychangers as Christ did 2000 years ago?
Catholic nations of Europe sought to denounce and crush the freedom of the gospel centuries ago. Wars were fought, beyond the pulpit, to secure freedom and liberty in nation after nation turning Protestant. Look at Europe today. Christianity is all but dead, Islam is marching into nation after nation, and the nations are too weak to stop the invasion, and not a shot is being fired.
America is collapsing. We are watching it happen. "Blue" states are being run by tyrants, and churches, fearful of a "virus" anyone could have learned from the start was NOT what Americans were being told day in, day out, twenty-four hours a day, allowed the tyrants to control them, take away their God given rights, and sat paralyzed for months. Finally, as the truth gets out, past the efforts of those trying to block it, states are opening back up, and churches are gathering again but, in the states where tyrants reign, the people have yet to truly rise up and take back their freedoms and churches are still under lock down. The President has stated the churches must be opened but, he has no real authority to open them. The civil war was fought over state's rights, not slavery. Slavery was the catalyst for the war. State's rights was the actual issue. Lincoln by-passed Constitutional limits more than once during the war. Churches were caught in a crossfire. Wanting to preach peace and unity they saw their houses of worship burned down, or destroyed by cannon balls if they took stands against slavery or for slavery, in warped theology. The savagery knew no bounds. This past week a church was burned down because it refused to be under the heel of tyranny. Where are we?
If we hope and expect the Chinese, the North Koreans, the Iranians, the Sudanese, the Indians, and others to rise up, should we not have the courage to rise up in America? If people do not, this is just the beginning.
Kristi Noem, governor of South Dakota, should receive a medal of freedom for sticking with Constitutional limits upon her administration throughout this man-made, manipulated "crisis." Trump has singled out Ron DeSantis, in Florida, for standing up against the battering and incessant fake news media fear mongering this event in his state and around the nation. Others must rise. Rise they must while there is still time.
Marching to the beat of the American historical drummer is now needed more than ever, or the freedom and ability to write songs and perform them, even the profuse availability of musical instruments in America, is all on the block if fascism gains control, if socialism is allowed a foothold, if tyrants are allowed to rule, not serve.
We reap what we sow.
Are Americans learning that complacency is dangerous to freedom? Will American pulpits ring with sermons of freedom, not only in Christ but, inalienable rights granted us by our Creator? If millions of Eastern Europeans were willing to march in the streets and take down tyranny, do Americans have the will, or shall America be lost?
Tyrants shall never be eradicated from the Earth until Christ returns. Tyranny shall ever be a threat to free people because evil exists and darkness exists in human hearts and minds, and control of others is the warped desire that consumes their souls.
What we are seeing in America and the world, with lock downs and shut downs with no data or evidence to back up the draconian efforts to control people, is a repeat of history; from the fall of Lucifer to today. The cycles repeat, over and over. Often oppressors think they are doing God's service in their warped sense of wicked righteousness. If they do not think it, they use it and tell those they serve as leaders of people who freely elect them that they do what they do for the good of the people. It is a lie as old as the first one told - Gen 3:4,5 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Satan is called the Father of lies in the Bible. It is what he does, because it is what he is - a liar and the father of lying.
The truth is available to anyone seeking it. Truth can never be stopped. It may be blocked time and time again but, it cannot be stopped. The Sovereign of the universe sees to its advancement, century after century. The very fact Christians are now the most persecuted group on the planet shows the unbridled hatred that exists in the hearts of those who are not free. They must attempt to stomp out the truth. If they were truly free they would have no need, no desire to harm those who do not believe as they do. This condition effects those who profess Christianity, as well, perhaps even more than those who make no profession of faith. History has its many examples of religious tyranny in the name of Christ.
Christ said truth shall make people free and free, indeed. Free people, truly free people, spirit, soul, and body, will never seek to control others. Freedom is too precious. Respect for the freedom of all, even if we see them as wrong in their beliefs, is essential to a peaceful society.
The thing is, freedom is never free. It always costs something, even life, itself. The quest for freedom took the lives of the Founders of the United States of America in a revolution against tyranny. It has taken millions of lives since.
I wonder what price current Americans are willing to pay to retain the rights and freedoms God granted them. We hope the Chinese people can ultimately obtain their freedom and liberty whatever the cost. We hope it for all oppressed people but, the ultimate cost. How few Americans know the Declaration of Independence and the principles contained therein. How few young citizens know their nation's history as institutions of learning dumb them down for easier control. They know no real cost for the freedoms they enjoy to protest whatever they like.
No, it isn't muskets and cannons anymore. The technology of war, the technology of policing the state is beyond nightmare status now. It is a frightening thought to imagine tyrants in control of such power, regardless of whether or not they have the authority to use such power against a free people.
When people are threatened with arrest for just wanting to go to church, Americans should know America is on the brink of collapse. We hope and even expect people in other lands to rise up and take back their freedom from tyrants and despots. Americans have been great at writing songs of freedom, protesting tyranny and fascism but, does it have the will to literally tear down strongholds again, if necessary? Do they have the faith to turn over the tables of moneychangers as Christ did 2000 years ago?
Catholic nations of Europe sought to denounce and crush the freedom of the gospel centuries ago. Wars were fought, beyond the pulpit, to secure freedom and liberty in nation after nation turning Protestant. Look at Europe today. Christianity is all but dead, Islam is marching into nation after nation, and the nations are too weak to stop the invasion, and not a shot is being fired.
America is collapsing. We are watching it happen. "Blue" states are being run by tyrants, and churches, fearful of a "virus" anyone could have learned from the start was NOT what Americans were being told day in, day out, twenty-four hours a day, allowed the tyrants to control them, take away their God given rights, and sat paralyzed for months. Finally, as the truth gets out, past the efforts of those trying to block it, states are opening back up, and churches are gathering again but, in the states where tyrants reign, the people have yet to truly rise up and take back their freedoms and churches are still under lock down. The President has stated the churches must be opened but, he has no real authority to open them. The civil war was fought over state's rights, not slavery. Slavery was the catalyst for the war. State's rights was the actual issue. Lincoln by-passed Constitutional limits more than once during the war. Churches were caught in a crossfire. Wanting to preach peace and unity they saw their houses of worship burned down, or destroyed by cannon balls if they took stands against slavery or for slavery, in warped theology. The savagery knew no bounds. This past week a church was burned down because it refused to be under the heel of tyranny. Where are we?
If we hope and expect the Chinese, the North Koreans, the Iranians, the Sudanese, the Indians, and others to rise up, should we not have the courage to rise up in America? If people do not, this is just the beginning.
Kristi Noem, governor of South Dakota, should receive a medal of freedom for sticking with Constitutional limits upon her administration throughout this man-made, manipulated "crisis." Trump has singled out Ron DeSantis, in Florida, for standing up against the battering and incessant fake news media fear mongering this event in his state and around the nation. Others must rise. Rise they must while there is still time.
Marching to the beat of the American historical drummer is now needed more than ever, or the freedom and ability to write songs and perform them, even the profuse availability of musical instruments in America, is all on the block if fascism gains control, if socialism is allowed a foothold, if tyrants are allowed to rule, not serve.
We reap what we sow.
Are Americans learning that complacency is dangerous to freedom? Will American pulpits ring with sermons of freedom, not only in Christ but, inalienable rights granted us by our Creator? If millions of Eastern Europeans were willing to march in the streets and take down tyranny, do Americans have the will, or shall America be lost?
******************
57. Entertaining Church Youth - May 30, 2020
I read an article today. I am not familiar with the band or its lead singer; Hawk Nelson and Jonathan Steingard respectively.
Jonathan has apparently come out and stated he no longer believes in God, no longer believes the Bible is God's Word, and it seems plain this young man was exposed to about as much theology as an ice cream cone will last on a Texas parking lot in August.
The article I read is found here:
https://onenewsnow.com/church/2020/05/29/now-faithless-singer-a-lesson-on-feel-good-sermons-shallow-theology
I became a Christian in 1979. By 1990 seeing the trend in churches to entertain, rather than instruct, was pretty obvious and believers did not have to wait long to see the results on church youth throughout the nation.
The youth already face tremendous pressures in modern culture. Not the least of which is the story of evolution. If everything can come from nothing, as various naturalists and materialists proclaim, there is no room or reason for a Creator. I reject materialism on the grounds of common sense and simple observations, let alone the actual scientific problems with Neo-Darwinism and the Big Bang. But, the youth have been contaminated by the public school system's entrenched agenda to see to it that anything about the Deity the Founders of this nation respected, and State Constitutions thanked for our freedoms, is never allowed in the door. Even professed Christian schools have taken in aspects of materialism and naturalism, as well as secular philosophies and ideology. Confusion abounds, which is why the Bible calls it spiritual, prophetic "Babylon," in the book of Revelation. Compare it to things in Daniel and you have insights that open up why things are the way they are and what is coming, and why Jonathan should most definitely believe in and trust God. God has shown us the end, from the beginning. Believer's misplace no confidence placing their trust is His Word.
The youth are pressured about drugs, sex, and the usual types of having to be cool, like the cool kids. I never understood that one. When I was in High School there were definitely cliques. Nerds, athletes, artists and musicians, brainiacs, bikers, etc., and yet, I also remember overlapping as well. Nothing was exclusive. There were no cool kids who had inordinate amounts of influence. And regardless of media tending to show the "cool kids" falling flat on their faces in their arrogance, or having changes of heart through tough love, and certainly changes for the kids who followed their influence and get burned doing so, the pressures of life all the way down to grammar school today is turning out children and youth who not only do not believe in God but, deride and hate those who do. For believing youth it can be daily harassment and oppression to overcome.
We all know suicide rates for youth are through the roof. Honestly? If ever there was a time to tell it straight to kids, it is today. They do not need to be entertained. They need truth. They need God. They need guidance, not pampering. But, hey. Today children can sue their parents. Nosy neighbors can wreak havoc on a family calling CPS in their ignorance and busibodying, and all of it has parents nervous about how they raise their children. Satan is busy. Darkness is covering the earth, gross darkness the people. We are not going to escape the fact that, according to the Bible, we are living in the last days. This is not just a repeat of pagan Rome. This is the final showdown between righteousness and wickedness. Good is bad. Evil is good. Everything is turned on its head and abomination has become normality for tens of millions in just a couple generations.
Frankly, I am glad I do not have young kids in school today. I feel for parents. Pressures on both youth and their parents, if they are fortunate enough to know both parents, is overwhelming without an anchor in this storm.
You cannot entertain people into heaven. Nor can you scare them through the gates. Connecting with God, through Christ, through His word, and abiding in that connection, no matter what the cost, because you know and love God, you trust Him, you know what you know is the truth: that is the only way. Christ said He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is our Creator. He is our Redeemer, our Saviour. He is our elder Brother. He is our coming King. That last one seems to be a weak point for many. They cannot or do not read the signs of our times. They are too busy being engulfed by fashion trends, sports, or whatever is on TV.
I have been marching for 41 years now. I'd be a billionaire if I had a nickel for every time I have fallen, through the sins that so easily beset me. Were it not for God's grace and knowledge of His word, I'd have given up marching long ago. I am my worst enemy. Some days my head is not even above water. Were it not for that heavenly hand reaching down to pull me back up, I'd have drowned in the depths of this world already.
The youth need to understand what the facts are. This is a literal war for the mind. Their frontal lobes are under attack every single day. All of us are under that attack. Only the armor of God can protect us. This is a race; an endurance race. The youth have their entire lives ahead of them, unless Christ returns to limit that but, then comes eternity and nothing in this world, nothing in this life is worth more than 1 second of experiencing eternity and immortality. We cannot imagine what is coming for those who love God and stay focused. This is a fight: a literal fight against the power of "self," in an age when "self" is the normal way to look at things.
This is not a game. We are not players or pieces on a board. We are either under the control of God or by default, under the control of Satan and forces beyond our comprehension set out to destroy us through deceptions of every form wickedness can conjure up. Satan's power to deceive grows exponentially with each passing decade. God has a thousand ways of which we do not know to save us and keep us close, under His protection and watchcare. But that truth is not a promise we shall not have a hard path to walk. The toughest people on planet Earth are those who follow Christ. Are you kidding me? Read Hebrews 11 and see what the greatest people of faith in biblical history had to live through and did so through faith. Read the history of Europe and see what people lived through for just wanting to own and live by the teachings of Scripture over the traditions of men. This is no dog and pony show. This is not a stage play. Reality check. You will suffer pain. You will suffer rejection. You will suffer harassment, oppression and maybe even persecution like followers now experience all over the globe. With all the persecution in China the fastest growing church in the world is in that nation. How can that be? "The blood of martyrs is the seed of the gospel." The reality of Christ in the mind and life for the one who cries out for Him to save them from the penalty and power of sin is an unbelievable "peace that passes all understanding." It is power, it is purpose, it is strength and joy that nothing else on Earth comes close to experiencing. But, you have to experience it. If you do, you will not be afraid what man can do to you. God sustains. God enlivens. God entrenches the soul to stand fast.
I must seriously doubt Jonathan Steingard ever experienced being born again through the impress and action of the Holy Spirit. If he did experience that peace, he did not abide in it. It is not a one moment decision. It is a moment by moment string of decisions through life to keep marching, studying to know the truth, to know God, to trust Him, and let Him guide your life. It can be difficult. It can be disappointing and discouraging when you cannot see what God sees. It can be confusing. It can be disheartening and depressing but, when those times come God has a way. It can be people, experiences, object lessons, an unending train of God's ability, as God, to be God, if we will let Him show us the way and deliver us from every trauma.
Life is decisions. Tens of thousands of them. Decisions have consequences. Accountability, responsibility face us all the time. It may seem no decision can be made to save us from ourselves and the growing evil in this world but, that is wrong. It is not true. The great I AM provided a way before Earth came into being.
I love music. I love percussion. And I look forward to seeing what is on the other side when it comes to those things but, music does not save anyone. Musical instruments cannot save anyone. It may all encourage or cause us to ponder and think on things. They can be used to teach but, teach the word and its principles. And that is all periphery. Connecting with Iesou Christos and staying connected is the only thing that can save us. The youth need that message more than ever. Entertaining them to keep them in church does more harm than good. It perverts the truth. It weakens their need of Christ, and certainly their resolve to stay connected to Him.
Experience the Messiah. Come to know the Anointed One. Follow Him, no matter what anybody thinks, or says, or does. A battle and a march. A battle and a march. There are peaceful meadows. There are grand vistas. There is love. There is joy. And there is fun, as well but, never be confused about the difference between joy and fun. Fun is fleeting. Joy is eternal. And no matter what kinds of blessings we enjoy, it is war, my friend. Never forget it. It is not A battle. It is THE battle. The youth cannot leave church events where they had fun and then get slapped around by the devil and wonder what is going on. Open to commentary there are plenty of agents of darkness to suggest a "better" way. Well, the fact is, there is a better way. Entertainment is not the way. Christ is the way.
Whatever we go through in life God shall more than make it up to us when we see His Face and travel the universe, as children in His backyard, forevermore. It will take eternity to see and experience it all.
I hope Jonathan finds his way back to the Lord and we meet in eternity, by God's grace. I hope the same for all those youth confused by a church that seems to be floating on a sea without chart or compass.
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
Jonathan has apparently come out and stated he no longer believes in God, no longer believes the Bible is God's Word, and it seems plain this young man was exposed to about as much theology as an ice cream cone will last on a Texas parking lot in August.
The article I read is found here:
https://onenewsnow.com/church/2020/05/29/now-faithless-singer-a-lesson-on-feel-good-sermons-shallow-theology
I became a Christian in 1979. By 1990 seeing the trend in churches to entertain, rather than instruct, was pretty obvious and believers did not have to wait long to see the results on church youth throughout the nation.
The youth already face tremendous pressures in modern culture. Not the least of which is the story of evolution. If everything can come from nothing, as various naturalists and materialists proclaim, there is no room or reason for a Creator. I reject materialism on the grounds of common sense and simple observations, let alone the actual scientific problems with Neo-Darwinism and the Big Bang. But, the youth have been contaminated by the public school system's entrenched agenda to see to it that anything about the Deity the Founders of this nation respected, and State Constitutions thanked for our freedoms, is never allowed in the door. Even professed Christian schools have taken in aspects of materialism and naturalism, as well as secular philosophies and ideology. Confusion abounds, which is why the Bible calls it spiritual, prophetic "Babylon," in the book of Revelation. Compare it to things in Daniel and you have insights that open up why things are the way they are and what is coming, and why Jonathan should most definitely believe in and trust God. God has shown us the end, from the beginning. Believer's misplace no confidence placing their trust is His Word.
The youth are pressured about drugs, sex, and the usual types of having to be cool, like the cool kids. I never understood that one. When I was in High School there were definitely cliques. Nerds, athletes, artists and musicians, brainiacs, bikers, etc., and yet, I also remember overlapping as well. Nothing was exclusive. There were no cool kids who had inordinate amounts of influence. And regardless of media tending to show the "cool kids" falling flat on their faces in their arrogance, or having changes of heart through tough love, and certainly changes for the kids who followed their influence and get burned doing so, the pressures of life all the way down to grammar school today is turning out children and youth who not only do not believe in God but, deride and hate those who do. For believing youth it can be daily harassment and oppression to overcome.
We all know suicide rates for youth are through the roof. Honestly? If ever there was a time to tell it straight to kids, it is today. They do not need to be entertained. They need truth. They need God. They need guidance, not pampering. But, hey. Today children can sue their parents. Nosy neighbors can wreak havoc on a family calling CPS in their ignorance and busibodying, and all of it has parents nervous about how they raise their children. Satan is busy. Darkness is covering the earth, gross darkness the people. We are not going to escape the fact that, according to the Bible, we are living in the last days. This is not just a repeat of pagan Rome. This is the final showdown between righteousness and wickedness. Good is bad. Evil is good. Everything is turned on its head and abomination has become normality for tens of millions in just a couple generations.
Frankly, I am glad I do not have young kids in school today. I feel for parents. Pressures on both youth and their parents, if they are fortunate enough to know both parents, is overwhelming without an anchor in this storm.
You cannot entertain people into heaven. Nor can you scare them through the gates. Connecting with God, through Christ, through His word, and abiding in that connection, no matter what the cost, because you know and love God, you trust Him, you know what you know is the truth: that is the only way. Christ said He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is our Creator. He is our Redeemer, our Saviour. He is our elder Brother. He is our coming King. That last one seems to be a weak point for many. They cannot or do not read the signs of our times. They are too busy being engulfed by fashion trends, sports, or whatever is on TV.
I have been marching for 41 years now. I'd be a billionaire if I had a nickel for every time I have fallen, through the sins that so easily beset me. Were it not for God's grace and knowledge of His word, I'd have given up marching long ago. I am my worst enemy. Some days my head is not even above water. Were it not for that heavenly hand reaching down to pull me back up, I'd have drowned in the depths of this world already.
The youth need to understand what the facts are. This is a literal war for the mind. Their frontal lobes are under attack every single day. All of us are under that attack. Only the armor of God can protect us. This is a race; an endurance race. The youth have their entire lives ahead of them, unless Christ returns to limit that but, then comes eternity and nothing in this world, nothing in this life is worth more than 1 second of experiencing eternity and immortality. We cannot imagine what is coming for those who love God and stay focused. This is a fight: a literal fight against the power of "self," in an age when "self" is the normal way to look at things.
This is not a game. We are not players or pieces on a board. We are either under the control of God or by default, under the control of Satan and forces beyond our comprehension set out to destroy us through deceptions of every form wickedness can conjure up. Satan's power to deceive grows exponentially with each passing decade. God has a thousand ways of which we do not know to save us and keep us close, under His protection and watchcare. But that truth is not a promise we shall not have a hard path to walk. The toughest people on planet Earth are those who follow Christ. Are you kidding me? Read Hebrews 11 and see what the greatest people of faith in biblical history had to live through and did so through faith. Read the history of Europe and see what people lived through for just wanting to own and live by the teachings of Scripture over the traditions of men. This is no dog and pony show. This is not a stage play. Reality check. You will suffer pain. You will suffer rejection. You will suffer harassment, oppression and maybe even persecution like followers now experience all over the globe. With all the persecution in China the fastest growing church in the world is in that nation. How can that be? "The blood of martyrs is the seed of the gospel." The reality of Christ in the mind and life for the one who cries out for Him to save them from the penalty and power of sin is an unbelievable "peace that passes all understanding." It is power, it is purpose, it is strength and joy that nothing else on Earth comes close to experiencing. But, you have to experience it. If you do, you will not be afraid what man can do to you. God sustains. God enlivens. God entrenches the soul to stand fast.
I must seriously doubt Jonathan Steingard ever experienced being born again through the impress and action of the Holy Spirit. If he did experience that peace, he did not abide in it. It is not a one moment decision. It is a moment by moment string of decisions through life to keep marching, studying to know the truth, to know God, to trust Him, and let Him guide your life. It can be difficult. It can be disappointing and discouraging when you cannot see what God sees. It can be confusing. It can be disheartening and depressing but, when those times come God has a way. It can be people, experiences, object lessons, an unending train of God's ability, as God, to be God, if we will let Him show us the way and deliver us from every trauma.
Life is decisions. Tens of thousands of them. Decisions have consequences. Accountability, responsibility face us all the time. It may seem no decision can be made to save us from ourselves and the growing evil in this world but, that is wrong. It is not true. The great I AM provided a way before Earth came into being.
I love music. I love percussion. And I look forward to seeing what is on the other side when it comes to those things but, music does not save anyone. Musical instruments cannot save anyone. It may all encourage or cause us to ponder and think on things. They can be used to teach but, teach the word and its principles. And that is all periphery. Connecting with Iesou Christos and staying connected is the only thing that can save us. The youth need that message more than ever. Entertaining them to keep them in church does more harm than good. It perverts the truth. It weakens their need of Christ, and certainly their resolve to stay connected to Him.
Experience the Messiah. Come to know the Anointed One. Follow Him, no matter what anybody thinks, or says, or does. A battle and a march. A battle and a march. There are peaceful meadows. There are grand vistas. There is love. There is joy. And there is fun, as well but, never be confused about the difference between joy and fun. Fun is fleeting. Joy is eternal. And no matter what kinds of blessings we enjoy, it is war, my friend. Never forget it. It is not A battle. It is THE battle. The youth cannot leave church events where they had fun and then get slapped around by the devil and wonder what is going on. Open to commentary there are plenty of agents of darkness to suggest a "better" way. Well, the fact is, there is a better way. Entertainment is not the way. Christ is the way.
Whatever we go through in life God shall more than make it up to us when we see His Face and travel the universe, as children in His backyard, forevermore. It will take eternity to see and experience it all.
I hope Jonathan finds his way back to the Lord and we meet in eternity, by God's grace. I hope the same for all those youth confused by a church that seems to be floating on a sea without chart or compass.
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
******************
58. Gary Hendrickson - America the Beautiful - May 31, 2020
Gary Hendrickson is a patriot. He also plays incredible guitar and is a master at music production. If you do not remember, Gary was one of the guitarists that auditioned for the spot for the Legend performance at Keep It True. We have become friends and I hope to work with Gary in the near future on creating music.
Right now, today, at this moment, as the cities of America smolder and shocked citizens of every color and every creed look on in horror as riots are taking place, I post this, and believe it is THE type of remedy America needs right now.
God bless you, Gary.
Right now, today, at this moment, as the cities of America smolder and shocked citizens of every color and every creed look on in horror as riots are taking place, I post this, and believe it is THE type of remedy America needs right now.
God bless you, Gary.
******************
59. George Floyd, Riots, and Christ - June 4, 2020
Almost 250 cities and towns in America are currently seeing protests over the George Floyd killing.
George was a Bible-believing Christian who was a very humble man, and a leader in a rough area of Houston. I've read stories about his influence there, and the tragedy of this situation is beyond credulity. There is no possible just reason for such a thing to happen, even if George was in the act of committing a crime. And, full disclosure, George passed a couple fake $20 bills, which caused a store clerk to call police to begin with, and an autopsy revealed drugs in his system. He also had some other activity on his record that shows he was not a man without reason for having a criminal record.
That stated, nobody with sanity, nobody with any sense of justice and decency would or could endorse the way the police handled the situation. That is one story. There is another now.
Protests are not new. They are built into the Bill Rights. Rioting, looting, destruction of property, public or private is another situation altogether. Enough information, videos, and investigation has taken place to show these riots are planned, with supply lines of bricks, bottles, gasoline and other incendiaries being sent and staged in cities for antagonistic groups, like Antifa, to use to incite mayhem and chaos everywhere. Even Europe is now seeing riots. Manos Koufakis, of Sonic Age Records, is seeing the turmoil develop in Greece.
George Floyd? All this is about George Floyd? It is not. Enough people who knew George have stated he would never have endorsed such a situation. Historically, when Martin Luther King was assassinated no such situation developed. He would never have endorsed such violence and unmitigated hatred towards the police, most of who just want to do their job right; of protecting and serving.
"Rogue" exists in every, single sector of society. You cannot find one where a rogue agent of some kind does not exist. Rogue cops exist. Cops "on the edge" every day because of the potential for this kind of situation to take place can be moved to do stupid things despite their training.
From the sham of a "pandemic:" a man-made, manipulated event and shutting down the world, to now using the Floyd killing to stage riots, this is ALL part of a scheme, an agenda, to place global tyranny upon the world. The rioters in control know exactly what they are doing. Those who are caught up in it are doing the bidding of those who are going to use this as an excuse to once again, shut everything down and try to gain ultimate control. The "useful idiots" destroying property and hurting, even killing people, including totally innocent bystanders, as well as police, are playing right into the hands of those who want to control everything. Call them elites, call them globalists, call them the Handlers, the Cabal, whatever you want. They exist, they have more money than anybody could count in a lifetime, and their aim is power. They do not care how they get it. They could not care less how many cities burn down. They do not care and often incite civil war or international war to dismantle nations. They own the media and control the flow of information. You cannot trust the main stream media to tell the truth. It is not about reporting news. It is about creating news, creating division, creating anarchy that will then have to be controlled, and they shall do it.
It is astounding to watch. It is worse to listen to or read of voices in media calling all this "protests" when it is no such thing, and they know it. They will not, cannot report it as such, according to their instructions and the agenda.
We are half-way into 2020. What next? Should we be surprised to see an attempt on the president's life? I am surprised it hasn't already happened. The elites must be careful there because, his popularity with half the nation cannot be pushed aside easily. If you want to start situations for a purpose you have to be able to control outcomes. An assassination of a president with such a huge following would be a tiger to try and hold by the tail. Just the same, I sense blood in the water and a feeding frenzy of lunacy is coming. I do not believe these handlers can control their anger and hatred any longer. They work to dismantle religion, especially Christianity. They work to dismantle the rule of law, especially the U.S. Constitution. They work to dismantle the traditional family and traditional values, and turn the world into a Sodom and Gomorrah, a Nineveh, a Babylon they can control.
If ever there was a time for patriotism it is now. If ever there was a time for people of common sense to stand up and say, 'Enough,' it is now.
Then there is the bottom line of Bible prophecy and last day events. "Perilous times shall come." "Darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people." "The love of many shall wax cold."
The world is not going to get better. It is going to get worse because the power of sin is increasing. It is enveloping the planet: a world "waxing old like a garment." "Waxing" is an old, English word that means hardened or calloused. The world is getting harder, calloused, unfeeling, depraved, blunted to eternal reality.
The end of all things is going to happen. Nobody knows when. We have been warned when it is close. According to the evidence, it is getting closer by the day, it seems. But, the end is not yet. Prophetic events are still to transpire.
When I did evangelism and spoke on last day events I told of the coin drop often seen in malls. Shaped like a cone, or funnel, a coin was dropped in and slowly circled the opening. As it descended its speed would increase. It finally circled in a flash and dropped through the hole, money for whatever charity it was set up to support.
That is our current world: a coin moving through a funnel, increasing in speed as it descends. Things will ultimately move with lightning speed and the final events will be rapid ones. The coin is moving. Christ is returning. Count on it. Believe it. We can see it developing, for those watching, as Christ instructed.
Music is very important in the Bible. It was used for all kinds of things. It was used in ancient Babylon to maneuver people to obedience, as seen in Daniel, chapter three. It is mentioned as one of the things God will take down in judgment against spiritual/prophetic Babylon, seen in Revelation 18. Music is being used to train people to rebel against the will of God on Earth. Any and all genres can be used. Satan doesn't care. The tracks of truth and error lie close together, as it is said. In Revelation we have the redeemed singing the Song of Moses, and the Lamb. The children of Israel sang as they marched through the waters millennia ago. There was Asaph, and his sons, the great music directors in King David's court, and of course, the Psalmists, themselves. An entire book of lyrics put to music of some kind, in ancient and modern times. David, himself, the sweet singer in Israel, wrote lyrics almost the whole world knows from one source or another, and his son, Solomon, wrote words even Rockers, like The Byrds, used. The apostle Paul told believers to comfort themselves with psalms and spiritual songs.
I love music. It has been a big part of my life. When I became a Christian I spent many days writing lyrics and Scripture songs. I even rewrote all the lyrics to the songs on "From the Fjords." I am currently writing lyrics to encourage patriots to wake up and take a stand for freedom and liberty and the vital principles of Americanism. I am sharing things with guitarist Gary Hendrickson and we are pondering the aspects of recording together.
Two songs are developing. The final song of rebellion, and the final song of deliverance.
I don't know what happens next in America or the world. I don't know how much time is left. I just know the coin is moving faster down the funnel.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
George was a Bible-believing Christian who was a very humble man, and a leader in a rough area of Houston. I've read stories about his influence there, and the tragedy of this situation is beyond credulity. There is no possible just reason for such a thing to happen, even if George was in the act of committing a crime. And, full disclosure, George passed a couple fake $20 bills, which caused a store clerk to call police to begin with, and an autopsy revealed drugs in his system. He also had some other activity on his record that shows he was not a man without reason for having a criminal record.
That stated, nobody with sanity, nobody with any sense of justice and decency would or could endorse the way the police handled the situation. That is one story. There is another now.
Protests are not new. They are built into the Bill Rights. Rioting, looting, destruction of property, public or private is another situation altogether. Enough information, videos, and investigation has taken place to show these riots are planned, with supply lines of bricks, bottles, gasoline and other incendiaries being sent and staged in cities for antagonistic groups, like Antifa, to use to incite mayhem and chaos everywhere. Even Europe is now seeing riots. Manos Koufakis, of Sonic Age Records, is seeing the turmoil develop in Greece.
George Floyd? All this is about George Floyd? It is not. Enough people who knew George have stated he would never have endorsed such a situation. Historically, when Martin Luther King was assassinated no such situation developed. He would never have endorsed such violence and unmitigated hatred towards the police, most of who just want to do their job right; of protecting and serving.
"Rogue" exists in every, single sector of society. You cannot find one where a rogue agent of some kind does not exist. Rogue cops exist. Cops "on the edge" every day because of the potential for this kind of situation to take place can be moved to do stupid things despite their training.
From the sham of a "pandemic:" a man-made, manipulated event and shutting down the world, to now using the Floyd killing to stage riots, this is ALL part of a scheme, an agenda, to place global tyranny upon the world. The rioters in control know exactly what they are doing. Those who are caught up in it are doing the bidding of those who are going to use this as an excuse to once again, shut everything down and try to gain ultimate control. The "useful idiots" destroying property and hurting, even killing people, including totally innocent bystanders, as well as police, are playing right into the hands of those who want to control everything. Call them elites, call them globalists, call them the Handlers, the Cabal, whatever you want. They exist, they have more money than anybody could count in a lifetime, and their aim is power. They do not care how they get it. They could not care less how many cities burn down. They do not care and often incite civil war or international war to dismantle nations. They own the media and control the flow of information. You cannot trust the main stream media to tell the truth. It is not about reporting news. It is about creating news, creating division, creating anarchy that will then have to be controlled, and they shall do it.
It is astounding to watch. It is worse to listen to or read of voices in media calling all this "protests" when it is no such thing, and they know it. They will not, cannot report it as such, according to their instructions and the agenda.
We are half-way into 2020. What next? Should we be surprised to see an attempt on the president's life? I am surprised it hasn't already happened. The elites must be careful there because, his popularity with half the nation cannot be pushed aside easily. If you want to start situations for a purpose you have to be able to control outcomes. An assassination of a president with such a huge following would be a tiger to try and hold by the tail. Just the same, I sense blood in the water and a feeding frenzy of lunacy is coming. I do not believe these handlers can control their anger and hatred any longer. They work to dismantle religion, especially Christianity. They work to dismantle the rule of law, especially the U.S. Constitution. They work to dismantle the traditional family and traditional values, and turn the world into a Sodom and Gomorrah, a Nineveh, a Babylon they can control.
If ever there was a time for patriotism it is now. If ever there was a time for people of common sense to stand up and say, 'Enough,' it is now.
Then there is the bottom line of Bible prophecy and last day events. "Perilous times shall come." "Darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people." "The love of many shall wax cold."
The world is not going to get better. It is going to get worse because the power of sin is increasing. It is enveloping the planet: a world "waxing old like a garment." "Waxing" is an old, English word that means hardened or calloused. The world is getting harder, calloused, unfeeling, depraved, blunted to eternal reality.
The end of all things is going to happen. Nobody knows when. We have been warned when it is close. According to the evidence, it is getting closer by the day, it seems. But, the end is not yet. Prophetic events are still to transpire.
When I did evangelism and spoke on last day events I told of the coin drop often seen in malls. Shaped like a cone, or funnel, a coin was dropped in and slowly circled the opening. As it descended its speed would increase. It finally circled in a flash and dropped through the hole, money for whatever charity it was set up to support.
That is our current world: a coin moving through a funnel, increasing in speed as it descends. Things will ultimately move with lightning speed and the final events will be rapid ones. The coin is moving. Christ is returning. Count on it. Believe it. We can see it developing, for those watching, as Christ instructed.
Music is very important in the Bible. It was used for all kinds of things. It was used in ancient Babylon to maneuver people to obedience, as seen in Daniel, chapter three. It is mentioned as one of the things God will take down in judgment against spiritual/prophetic Babylon, seen in Revelation 18. Music is being used to train people to rebel against the will of God on Earth. Any and all genres can be used. Satan doesn't care. The tracks of truth and error lie close together, as it is said. In Revelation we have the redeemed singing the Song of Moses, and the Lamb. The children of Israel sang as they marched through the waters millennia ago. There was Asaph, and his sons, the great music directors in King David's court, and of course, the Psalmists, themselves. An entire book of lyrics put to music of some kind, in ancient and modern times. David, himself, the sweet singer in Israel, wrote lyrics almost the whole world knows from one source or another, and his son, Solomon, wrote words even Rockers, like The Byrds, used. The apostle Paul told believers to comfort themselves with psalms and spiritual songs.
I love music. It has been a big part of my life. When I became a Christian I spent many days writing lyrics and Scripture songs. I even rewrote all the lyrics to the songs on "From the Fjords." I am currently writing lyrics to encourage patriots to wake up and take a stand for freedom and liberty and the vital principles of Americanism. I am sharing things with guitarist Gary Hendrickson and we are pondering the aspects of recording together.
Two songs are developing. The final song of rebellion, and the final song of deliverance.
I don't know what happens next in America or the world. I don't know how much time is left. I just know the coin is moving faster down the funnel.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
60. What Lives Matter? - June 6, 2020
Black lives matter.
I must also ask; do not all "Red" lives matter? All "Yellow" lives matter"? All "Brown" lives?
I logically must ask the question, why are people being harassed for stating All lives matter? Don't all lives matter? Did not Christ die for all lives, which means all men should be respected and treated equally?
I would also ask; why don't police lives matter? "Blue" lives. Has a study been done to show all police are corrupt and dangerous to all lives, especially Black lives? No. To the contrary. So, why is the life of a policeman, or the harm done to police, both men and women, of no matter in this current news cycle? Why is it only Black lives matter but, not the life of Black police men and women?
I would also ask; why don't babies lives in the womb matter?
I must ask, why don't Christian's lives matter, when stores, bars, restaurants, and other places could be called essential, can open but, churches must stay closed? Who was given the authority to override the Bill of Rights and deem convocation of believers in a time of crisis, nonessential?
I logically ask, why have people minding their own business been arrested for not wearing a face mask, when thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands around the world rioting, destroying, and even harming and killing are just "protesting" and it's okay? Face masks not necessary. Social distancing not necessary.
I would also ask, who began definition of the introduction of "races"? By observation, no man is "white." No man is "black." No man is red. No man is yellow. All mankind is a shade of brown. Find me someone who isn't. The amount of melanin in skin cells does not make a "race" different from "another." There is only the human race. There are no genetic differences of any significance between the "races." Therefore, do not all lives matter?
Who is trying to divide the human race? Police? Politicians? Scientists? Doctors? Philosophers? Wealthy elites?
I saw a statement made by the owners of a Youtube channel, which is about drums and drumming, regarding the current situation. They stated this:
"... has always been about community and sharing fact-based information and experience through entertaining, informative demonstration while fostering open conversation among all who wish to participate regardless of experience, profession, age, gender, race, nationality or any other defining trait. We are all human and we thrive on our diversity. We will not tolerate anything or anyone who puts this at risk.
"While the focus of this channel is and will remain centered around drums and percussion, we cannot simply remain silent given the current events and so we knew that this needed to be shared. We all have different perspectives and these may inform different opinions but the following needs to be recognized by all:
Racism is wrong
Police brutality is wrong
Black Lives Matter
This doesn’t discount adversity towards any other population nor does it minimize injustices of any sort. Music, through all of its inherent diversity, has brought us together. We must fight to protect this diversity and those who continue to be discriminated against." "
I must ask this question. Why do you suppose "religion" was not expressly mentioned with the others but, is apparently referred to as "any other defining trait?" Religion is something expressly mentioned in the first amendment.
I'll tell you how diversity in music is NOT inherently unifying. When one artist/band writes music/lyrics denouncing someone's religious faith, or their patriotism, or their convictions on any subject, like politics, and freedom and liberty and the Bill of Rights, unity in diversity is not attained. It is destroyed. There is no such thing as inherent diversity bringing people together. Music may be a "universal language" but, when it speaks it can divide humans as easily as any other cause for division. There is no music that "inherently" always brings all people together. Far from it.
I happen to believe all lives matter. How much would you like to wager that if I placed that comment on their channel I would be denounced by some? Apparently, if you state, outright, "all lives matter" it means you do not believe black lives matter. The logic in such an assessment is proven, how? It is foolishness. Well, it must be so because someone(s) behind the divisions has taken control of the narrative and claimed it so. Who did that? Who are they? Why are they intent on dividing people into categories and pitting them against each other?
"Racism is wrong." Does anyone not ask if there would be any "racism" if no one ever created "race" categories to begin with?
"Police brutality is wrong." ALL brutality is wrong. I must ask, will the same YT channel write out a statement about political brutality practiced in North Korea, China or other nations towards people of faith right now, today? What about radical militant Muslim or Hindu brutality towards people of other faiths, not theirs happening right now, today? Can any diversity of any music of any culture bring about safety for people of faith in brutal nations that care not about all lives matter? No.
"Black lives matter." Of course they do. Because all lives matter. I reject the social engineering taken place, that has caused more disruption of unity among human beings in the last 400 years than anything else mankind faces. If their were no "races," there would be no "racism."
Factually, "race" can be categorized from 3 (Caucasoid, Negroid, Mongoloid) to 60 different examples, depending on the anthropologists commenting on the subject. No distinct list has ever been agreed upon. There are no genetic "races." There is only the human race with very slight cosmetic differences making up less than 2% of what makes a human, a human. The belief in materialism, naturalism, Darwinism, etc., has brought about this mess.
Many people do not know the full title of Charles Darwin's book:
“The Origin of Species
by means of Natural Selection
or
the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life”
Preservation of Favoured Races? Well, if you believe humans evolved from apelike creatures. Which ones seem closest to their animal ancestors? Do you see the absolute evil in this categorization at the hands of sinners who hate God? If I had no other reason to believe in special creation, that would be enough.
History shows those who struggled to remove God from the equation are the ones who began categorization of the human race. "Race" is an attempt at social engineering designed to classify human beings by man-made decisions and human observations of human existence. It is despicable.
Is it logical to protest what was done four centuries ago and blame people four centuries later, and destroy property, even of people in your own "race"? Every society in history has had "slaves," or at the very least, "servants" taken from conquered peoples. That is the history of the world. Nations conquering nations. It is the outworking of self and the arrogance of man desiring power. Europe and America were no different in their neglect of human rights. It is often forgotten or ignored that African tribal chiefs themselves were paid, and cooperated in the catching and removal of Africans to other nations. There was no innocency in African slave trade on either side of the Atlantic.
In the Bible servitude of Israelites or conquered people by the Israelite nation, in a very desperate and dangerous world, was actually a blessing to those who would be left to fend for themselves after their own depraved nations were taken down for their outrageous rebellion and sin. After a time they must be allowed to go free unless they chose to stay with their masters. In the ancient world freedom could be a death sentence, especially for unmarried women. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul was not led to totally disrupt the culture of Roman society but, instructed and admonished his readers: servants and owners, to love each other, as Christ loved them. God worked with people in the conditions they were in, and their ability to understand and accept light and truth. Ultimately, in the book of Revelation, at the close of the first century, slavery is denounced, condemned, and judged (Revelation 18:11-13), 1600 years before newly arrived Europeans in America began slave trade. God spoke. Man disregarded. We see the results.
What has time developed? A "half-black" President of the United States. A "black" man on the Supreme Court of the United States, "blacks" in every role in society, "blacks" in a majority in certain professional sports, a "black" television network, the biggest names in Hollywood, educators, lawyers, judges, doctors, there is no place "Black" lives have not entered or mattered in America. How is the death of George Floyd being used to override all that? Who are the instigators?
Riots will not only not change human hearts but, harden them to what has been attained.
Anywhere the Creator and Sovereign of the human race, and His message to humanity, is left out, put aside, perverted, neglected, or rejected; black lives matter or, all lives matter will never be attained.
I must also ask; do not all "Red" lives matter? All "Yellow" lives matter"? All "Brown" lives?
I logically must ask the question, why are people being harassed for stating All lives matter? Don't all lives matter? Did not Christ die for all lives, which means all men should be respected and treated equally?
I would also ask; why don't police lives matter? "Blue" lives. Has a study been done to show all police are corrupt and dangerous to all lives, especially Black lives? No. To the contrary. So, why is the life of a policeman, or the harm done to police, both men and women, of no matter in this current news cycle? Why is it only Black lives matter but, not the life of Black police men and women?
I would also ask; why don't babies lives in the womb matter?
I must ask, why don't Christian's lives matter, when stores, bars, restaurants, and other places could be called essential, can open but, churches must stay closed? Who was given the authority to override the Bill of Rights and deem convocation of believers in a time of crisis, nonessential?
I logically ask, why have people minding their own business been arrested for not wearing a face mask, when thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands around the world rioting, destroying, and even harming and killing are just "protesting" and it's okay? Face masks not necessary. Social distancing not necessary.
I would also ask, who began definition of the introduction of "races"? By observation, no man is "white." No man is "black." No man is red. No man is yellow. All mankind is a shade of brown. Find me someone who isn't. The amount of melanin in skin cells does not make a "race" different from "another." There is only the human race. There are no genetic differences of any significance between the "races." Therefore, do not all lives matter?
Who is trying to divide the human race? Police? Politicians? Scientists? Doctors? Philosophers? Wealthy elites?
I saw a statement made by the owners of a Youtube channel, which is about drums and drumming, regarding the current situation. They stated this:
"... has always been about community and sharing fact-based information and experience through entertaining, informative demonstration while fostering open conversation among all who wish to participate regardless of experience, profession, age, gender, race, nationality or any other defining trait. We are all human and we thrive on our diversity. We will not tolerate anything or anyone who puts this at risk.
"While the focus of this channel is and will remain centered around drums and percussion, we cannot simply remain silent given the current events and so we knew that this needed to be shared. We all have different perspectives and these may inform different opinions but the following needs to be recognized by all:
Racism is wrong
Police brutality is wrong
Black Lives Matter
This doesn’t discount adversity towards any other population nor does it minimize injustices of any sort. Music, through all of its inherent diversity, has brought us together. We must fight to protect this diversity and those who continue to be discriminated against." "
I must ask this question. Why do you suppose "religion" was not expressly mentioned with the others but, is apparently referred to as "any other defining trait?" Religion is something expressly mentioned in the first amendment.
I'll tell you how diversity in music is NOT inherently unifying. When one artist/band writes music/lyrics denouncing someone's religious faith, or their patriotism, or their convictions on any subject, like politics, and freedom and liberty and the Bill of Rights, unity in diversity is not attained. It is destroyed. There is no such thing as inherent diversity bringing people together. Music may be a "universal language" but, when it speaks it can divide humans as easily as any other cause for division. There is no music that "inherently" always brings all people together. Far from it.
I happen to believe all lives matter. How much would you like to wager that if I placed that comment on their channel I would be denounced by some? Apparently, if you state, outright, "all lives matter" it means you do not believe black lives matter. The logic in such an assessment is proven, how? It is foolishness. Well, it must be so because someone(s) behind the divisions has taken control of the narrative and claimed it so. Who did that? Who are they? Why are they intent on dividing people into categories and pitting them against each other?
"Racism is wrong." Does anyone not ask if there would be any "racism" if no one ever created "race" categories to begin with?
"Police brutality is wrong." ALL brutality is wrong. I must ask, will the same YT channel write out a statement about political brutality practiced in North Korea, China or other nations towards people of faith right now, today? What about radical militant Muslim or Hindu brutality towards people of other faiths, not theirs happening right now, today? Can any diversity of any music of any culture bring about safety for people of faith in brutal nations that care not about all lives matter? No.
"Black lives matter." Of course they do. Because all lives matter. I reject the social engineering taken place, that has caused more disruption of unity among human beings in the last 400 years than anything else mankind faces. If their were no "races," there would be no "racism."
Factually, "race" can be categorized from 3 (Caucasoid, Negroid, Mongoloid) to 60 different examples, depending on the anthropologists commenting on the subject. No distinct list has ever been agreed upon. There are no genetic "races." There is only the human race with very slight cosmetic differences making up less than 2% of what makes a human, a human. The belief in materialism, naturalism, Darwinism, etc., has brought about this mess.
Many people do not know the full title of Charles Darwin's book:
“The Origin of Species
by means of Natural Selection
or
the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life”
Preservation of Favoured Races? Well, if you believe humans evolved from apelike creatures. Which ones seem closest to their animal ancestors? Do you see the absolute evil in this categorization at the hands of sinners who hate God? If I had no other reason to believe in special creation, that would be enough.
History shows those who struggled to remove God from the equation are the ones who began categorization of the human race. "Race" is an attempt at social engineering designed to classify human beings by man-made decisions and human observations of human existence. It is despicable.
Is it logical to protest what was done four centuries ago and blame people four centuries later, and destroy property, even of people in your own "race"? Every society in history has had "slaves," or at the very least, "servants" taken from conquered peoples. That is the history of the world. Nations conquering nations. It is the outworking of self and the arrogance of man desiring power. Europe and America were no different in their neglect of human rights. It is often forgotten or ignored that African tribal chiefs themselves were paid, and cooperated in the catching and removal of Africans to other nations. There was no innocency in African slave trade on either side of the Atlantic.
In the Bible servitude of Israelites or conquered people by the Israelite nation, in a very desperate and dangerous world, was actually a blessing to those who would be left to fend for themselves after their own depraved nations were taken down for their outrageous rebellion and sin. After a time they must be allowed to go free unless they chose to stay with their masters. In the ancient world freedom could be a death sentence, especially for unmarried women. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul was not led to totally disrupt the culture of Roman society but, instructed and admonished his readers: servants and owners, to love each other, as Christ loved them. God worked with people in the conditions they were in, and their ability to understand and accept light and truth. Ultimately, in the book of Revelation, at the close of the first century, slavery is denounced, condemned, and judged (Revelation 18:11-13), 1600 years before newly arrived Europeans in America began slave trade. God spoke. Man disregarded. We see the results.
What has time developed? A "half-black" President of the United States. A "black" man on the Supreme Court of the United States, "blacks" in every role in society, "blacks" in a majority in certain professional sports, a "black" television network, the biggest names in Hollywood, educators, lawyers, judges, doctors, there is no place "Black" lives have not entered or mattered in America. How is the death of George Floyd being used to override all that? Who are the instigators?
Riots will not only not change human hearts but, harden them to what has been attained.
Anywhere the Creator and Sovereign of the human race, and His message to humanity, is left out, put aside, perverted, neglected, or rejected; black lives matter or, all lives matter will never be attained.
******************
61. Your Attacks Don't Change the Facts - June 13, 2020
Your attacks don't change the facts.
Sounds like a good title for a song?
We are witnessing the largest display of common sense loss in the history of America. A politicized, man-made, manipulated "plandemic," which now sees evidence the Chinese were dealing with it last summer. A study done of satellite photos shows a burst of activity in hospital parking lots in Wuhan province last summer. Proof? Maybe not. Common sense, all things considered? I believe so.
Churches cannot be allowed to have full attendance because of the virus but, tens of thousands packed into city streets, standing inches apart, no masks, that's okay. Common sense loses to hypocrisy and political Marxism, and frankly, just plain evil.
America is a Constitutional Republic, not a pure Democracy. Politicians love to call it a Democracy but, it is not. It is a nation that runs by the rule of law, not the whims of the majority, which is what a democracy is: rule of the majority.
A nation run by the rule of law, defunding or abolishing police departments?!? An entire district in Seattle blocking itself off and the police told to stand down and leave this sector, now run by total anarchists and uber-radicals, to exist unmolested? Such a dramatic loss of common sense is lunacy by definition. I read the leaders of this lunacy want to have their own autonomy, including currency, within their "borders." Maybe that is disinformation, I don't know. I do know reducing or removing police departments on the basis of "racism" is not only a mistake but, based on the actual data of police brutality and racism in America, a total lie. Insanity based on lies, ignorance of the truth, or maybe simple ignoring the truth because it is not in harmony with your political agenda, is bound to lead to chaos and destruction but, that is what these radicals want. It is what they are being led and even paid to do.
Not to get political but, it is interesting all these cities now experiencing upheaval through riots (not Constitutional provisions for protest), are all run by Democrats. Coincidence? No. Design. By design a democracy will always become a situation of mob rule, which is exactly why the Founders rejected that mode of governance. It lacks common sense. Fine when the majority protects your stuff and your rights. What if the tide turns?
Barack Obama became the nation's highest law enforcement officer when he became President. Being half black, it was seen as a triumphant moment in American history. Barack Obama said he wanted to fundamentally change America. He is obviously getting his wish as we see what his version of a Constitutional Republic looks like. It is certainly not mine.
Los Angeles, St. Louis, Baltimore, Chicago, NYC, Atlanta, DFW, Houston, Seattle ... . A long list of American cities all run by Democrat administrations for decades are the ones seeing total upheaval and destruction everywhere and we are being told this is all American; as American as the Boston Tea Party. The actual comparisons of the historic events bares little resemblance. Again, more lies.
Why do Americans put up with lies and liars? Why do we expect politicians to lie and therefore allow them to do so, without reproach, unless our wallets are infringed upon: then Americans get upset? The amount of outright, bold-faced lying that is taking place since January is astonishing: absolutely astounding.
Americans have been educated to NOT think for themselves: to allow others to think for them; whether elected civil servants, teachers (especially in institutions of "higher learning"), entertainers ... an endless list of mouthpieces with an agenda to 'dumb down' the nation so it can be overcome with Marxism. And to secure that end, follow the "Rules for Radicals" (1971), espoused by Saul Alinsky, and the writings and policies of other Marxists down through the decades.
Saul Alinsky, the "community organizer" wrote an acknowledgment in the front of his book, not only a dedication to his wife, Irene but:
“Lest we forget at least an over-the-shoulder acknowledgment to the very first Radical: from all our legends, mythology and history (and who is to know where mythology leaves off and history begins — or which is which), the first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom - Lucifer”
Democrats, Liberal/Progressives, atheists, etc., pounce on anyone with the convictions to state that fact, and they pursue the Alinsky policy/rule of marginalizing anyone who looks at the facts, the data, and uses common sense to see when an enemy is at the gates. Nothing can be done about that. America has a Bill of Rights and freedom of speech is the first amendment to the Constitution. Attack they will but, it does not change the truth of who and what Saul Alinsky was and wrote. He wholeheartedly believed the ends justifies almost any means and stated so in "Rules," in his list of Ethics of Means and Ends:
3. “In war the ends justify almost any means.”
If you are not familiar with Alinsky's 13 rules for radicals, here they are:
1. “Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have.”
Rule #1 - Create an illusion. Control money, control people.
2. “Never go outside the expertise of your people.”
Rule #2 - Only work with those who agree with you.
3. “Whenever possible, go outside the expertise of the enemy.”
Rule #3 - If the enemy has the data and facts, find an "expert" who disagrees with them.
4. “Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.” .
Rule #4 - Overwhelm the enemy by expanding on their own policies to your advantage. Get your way, any way you can.
5. “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.”
Rule #5 - Speaks for itself, and to the low nature of man: Ridicule your opponent. Make them look as bad as possible.
6. “A good tactic is one your people enjoy.”
Rule #6 - Regardless of principle, if people enjoy the outcome of a tactic, use it, if it hurts your opponent and people enjoy seeing them hurt. Right back to the Coliseum, lions and Christians we go.
7. “A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag.”
Rule #7 - Russia became old, tired news, filled with lies and distortions, exposed by a real Press not run by corporations bent on globalism. Move to something else. How about a pandemic with totally false predictions based on totally bogus models? Not going well after awhile? How about aggravating "racism"? Keep changing the tactics.
8. “Keep the pressure on. Never let up.”
Rule #8 - Speaks for itself. Whatever you have to do, do not stop doing it until you are successful at defeating your opponent. Hit them with new things relentlessly. Sound familiar? All of this is the epitome of today's Democrat Party and main stream news media projecting against the current president and anyone he chooses for his administration, SCOTUS, etc.
9. “The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.”
Rule #9 - Fear Monger. Scare people to death. Make the tactic entity seem as dangerous as possible. Fear works better than truth.
10. "The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition."
Rule #10 - Well organized, constant pressure secures success.
11. “If you push a negative hard enough, it will push through and become a positive.”
Rule #11 - No matter what light truth shines upon you, make sure you are the underdog. Lie as much as you must, cry as much as you must, be a victim as much as you can and turn your lies into the public's truth.
12. “The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative.”
Rule #12 - Herein the current pack of Alinskyites falters heavily because they have had control of American cities for a century and they have done nothing for the people they claim to help and protect. They have only made them dependent on government, i.e. politicians. Thankfully, many have woken up to that fact.
13. “Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.”
Rule #13 - Marginalize your target opponent and hurt them as badly as possible until they back down. The only actual way you can accomplish that is with people with no principles they live by, no God they trust in, no absolute truth they live by; which is the face of the current America.
These rules, these policies, have been used since Lucifer rebelled in heaven. The only difference? God did not put up with it and cast Lucifer out. Patriots should not put up with what is now happening. It is easy to see and expose and stand against. Shine light on rats and they scatter.
Does this come at a sacrifice? Probably. Defending truth has always come at great sacrifice. The nation was built by Founders who sacrificed all. Cemeteries are filled with headstones of those who sacrificed all. Standing for truth in a world run by the father of lies, the prince of this world, the murderer from the beginning, is a war not many take on for a lifetime. It is taxing, wearing, painful, and maybe even deadly. I thank God He promises to make it up to His children beyond the wildest imaginations of what He has prepared and is saving for those that love Him and are called according to His purposes.
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8:18.
Initially these rules were not necessarily meant to be hi-jacked by the Democrat Party. They were meant to fight any entities in power at the weakness of a populace in any community. I am not just placing rules for radicals upon Democrats. Nay. All politicians will use one or more of these "rules" to win an election and stay in office. Career politicians are produced using rules like the above. Democrats just use the rules to their advantage in a continually obvious pattern. The corporate news entities use these rules every day. They do not report news so much as create news, or magnify aspects news to their Liberal advantage before the general public; doing all they can to sway opinion. Their tactics have become so obvious they have become fodder for even some Liberal commentators and a few late-night comedians. Their hypocrisy has become so blatant hardly anyone watches them anymore. Even people who dislike Trump for one reason or another have become grossly tired of the incessant spin put on every story, every, single day.
It has become easy for radicals to change things, as more and more citizens do not understand why they are Americans, based on principle, not by birth. The same can be said for any organization, including churches. America's churches have been on a steady course to disaster since the 1900's. Few people, from any denomination, can tell you why they are members of any church based on principles of truth. To the contrary. "Doctrine" has become a dirty word to today's believers, leaving people to wonder what they actually believe in.
I have been effected in the culture war. Few have not. The remedy for this has generally been persecution, down through time. I suspect the same remedy is not far ahead. For many in our world it already exists, as corruption exists, nation by nation. Christians are being mercilessly persecuted around the world, at the hands of Islamists, atheists, and radicals of one stripe another. Satan only likes one outcome, one freedom - his control. God allows it to prove a point, proven at the cross of Calvary. The point is being proven in America today. Anyone disagreeing with the upheaval and change must not be allowed to speak, to write, to present anything that stands in the way of their victory.
No, I do not defend police brutality and don't know anyone who does. I do not defend American corruptions, foreign or domestic. I do not defend endless war for profit started and perpetuated by banksters, the military industrial complex, and nefarious personages holding all the money and wanting more. I do not defend politicians as though they are royalty. Far from it. They are servants and should be constantly reminded of that fact. I do not defend racism, and frankly, the America I have lived in, in seven states, has changed such a great deal in my lifetime, calling America racist by nature is simply stupid. Living in Texas I have seen more "inter-racial" couples than anywhere else I have lived. Those who follow and practice Rules for Radicals show themselves lying radicals who can only scream and hurl expletives when confronted with facts and data, or stealthily work to silence you any way they are enabled.
America is anything but, perfect. That said, why do millions from across the planet do everything they can to get here, year after year, decade after decade? Free stuff? Maybe. Probably, definitely for some but, most want freedom and liberty and rights afforded by this Constitutional Republic, which, in fact, were stated by the Founders to come from God.
Our Constitutional Republic is under attack by forces bent on its destruction.
Only God knows how successful they shall be.
Sounds like a good title for a song?
We are witnessing the largest display of common sense loss in the history of America. A politicized, man-made, manipulated "plandemic," which now sees evidence the Chinese were dealing with it last summer. A study done of satellite photos shows a burst of activity in hospital parking lots in Wuhan province last summer. Proof? Maybe not. Common sense, all things considered? I believe so.
Churches cannot be allowed to have full attendance because of the virus but, tens of thousands packed into city streets, standing inches apart, no masks, that's okay. Common sense loses to hypocrisy and political Marxism, and frankly, just plain evil.
America is a Constitutional Republic, not a pure Democracy. Politicians love to call it a Democracy but, it is not. It is a nation that runs by the rule of law, not the whims of the majority, which is what a democracy is: rule of the majority.
A nation run by the rule of law, defunding or abolishing police departments?!? An entire district in Seattle blocking itself off and the police told to stand down and leave this sector, now run by total anarchists and uber-radicals, to exist unmolested? Such a dramatic loss of common sense is lunacy by definition. I read the leaders of this lunacy want to have their own autonomy, including currency, within their "borders." Maybe that is disinformation, I don't know. I do know reducing or removing police departments on the basis of "racism" is not only a mistake but, based on the actual data of police brutality and racism in America, a total lie. Insanity based on lies, ignorance of the truth, or maybe simple ignoring the truth because it is not in harmony with your political agenda, is bound to lead to chaos and destruction but, that is what these radicals want. It is what they are being led and even paid to do.
Not to get political but, it is interesting all these cities now experiencing upheaval through riots (not Constitutional provisions for protest), are all run by Democrats. Coincidence? No. Design. By design a democracy will always become a situation of mob rule, which is exactly why the Founders rejected that mode of governance. It lacks common sense. Fine when the majority protects your stuff and your rights. What if the tide turns?
Barack Obama became the nation's highest law enforcement officer when he became President. Being half black, it was seen as a triumphant moment in American history. Barack Obama said he wanted to fundamentally change America. He is obviously getting his wish as we see what his version of a Constitutional Republic looks like. It is certainly not mine.
Los Angeles, St. Louis, Baltimore, Chicago, NYC, Atlanta, DFW, Houston, Seattle ... . A long list of American cities all run by Democrat administrations for decades are the ones seeing total upheaval and destruction everywhere and we are being told this is all American; as American as the Boston Tea Party. The actual comparisons of the historic events bares little resemblance. Again, more lies.
Why do Americans put up with lies and liars? Why do we expect politicians to lie and therefore allow them to do so, without reproach, unless our wallets are infringed upon: then Americans get upset? The amount of outright, bold-faced lying that is taking place since January is astonishing: absolutely astounding.
Americans have been educated to NOT think for themselves: to allow others to think for them; whether elected civil servants, teachers (especially in institutions of "higher learning"), entertainers ... an endless list of mouthpieces with an agenda to 'dumb down' the nation so it can be overcome with Marxism. And to secure that end, follow the "Rules for Radicals" (1971), espoused by Saul Alinsky, and the writings and policies of other Marxists down through the decades.
Saul Alinsky, the "community organizer" wrote an acknowledgment in the front of his book, not only a dedication to his wife, Irene but:
“Lest we forget at least an over-the-shoulder acknowledgment to the very first Radical: from all our legends, mythology and history (and who is to know where mythology leaves off and history begins — or which is which), the first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom - Lucifer”
Democrats, Liberal/Progressives, atheists, etc., pounce on anyone with the convictions to state that fact, and they pursue the Alinsky policy/rule of marginalizing anyone who looks at the facts, the data, and uses common sense to see when an enemy is at the gates. Nothing can be done about that. America has a Bill of Rights and freedom of speech is the first amendment to the Constitution. Attack they will but, it does not change the truth of who and what Saul Alinsky was and wrote. He wholeheartedly believed the ends justifies almost any means and stated so in "Rules," in his list of Ethics of Means and Ends:
3. “In war the ends justify almost any means.”
If you are not familiar with Alinsky's 13 rules for radicals, here they are:
1. “Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have.”
Rule #1 - Create an illusion. Control money, control people.
2. “Never go outside the expertise of your people.”
Rule #2 - Only work with those who agree with you.
3. “Whenever possible, go outside the expertise of the enemy.”
Rule #3 - If the enemy has the data and facts, find an "expert" who disagrees with them.
4. “Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.” .
Rule #4 - Overwhelm the enemy by expanding on their own policies to your advantage. Get your way, any way you can.
5. “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.”
Rule #5 - Speaks for itself, and to the low nature of man: Ridicule your opponent. Make them look as bad as possible.
6. “A good tactic is one your people enjoy.”
Rule #6 - Regardless of principle, if people enjoy the outcome of a tactic, use it, if it hurts your opponent and people enjoy seeing them hurt. Right back to the Coliseum, lions and Christians we go.
7. “A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag.”
Rule #7 - Russia became old, tired news, filled with lies and distortions, exposed by a real Press not run by corporations bent on globalism. Move to something else. How about a pandemic with totally false predictions based on totally bogus models? Not going well after awhile? How about aggravating "racism"? Keep changing the tactics.
8. “Keep the pressure on. Never let up.”
Rule #8 - Speaks for itself. Whatever you have to do, do not stop doing it until you are successful at defeating your opponent. Hit them with new things relentlessly. Sound familiar? All of this is the epitome of today's Democrat Party and main stream news media projecting against the current president and anyone he chooses for his administration, SCOTUS, etc.
9. “The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.”
Rule #9 - Fear Monger. Scare people to death. Make the tactic entity seem as dangerous as possible. Fear works better than truth.
10. "The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition."
Rule #10 - Well organized, constant pressure secures success.
11. “If you push a negative hard enough, it will push through and become a positive.”
Rule #11 - No matter what light truth shines upon you, make sure you are the underdog. Lie as much as you must, cry as much as you must, be a victim as much as you can and turn your lies into the public's truth.
12. “The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative.”
Rule #12 - Herein the current pack of Alinskyites falters heavily because they have had control of American cities for a century and they have done nothing for the people they claim to help and protect. They have only made them dependent on government, i.e. politicians. Thankfully, many have woken up to that fact.
13. “Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.”
Rule #13 - Marginalize your target opponent and hurt them as badly as possible until they back down. The only actual way you can accomplish that is with people with no principles they live by, no God they trust in, no absolute truth they live by; which is the face of the current America.
These rules, these policies, have been used since Lucifer rebelled in heaven. The only difference? God did not put up with it and cast Lucifer out. Patriots should not put up with what is now happening. It is easy to see and expose and stand against. Shine light on rats and they scatter.
Does this come at a sacrifice? Probably. Defending truth has always come at great sacrifice. The nation was built by Founders who sacrificed all. Cemeteries are filled with headstones of those who sacrificed all. Standing for truth in a world run by the father of lies, the prince of this world, the murderer from the beginning, is a war not many take on for a lifetime. It is taxing, wearing, painful, and maybe even deadly. I thank God He promises to make it up to His children beyond the wildest imaginations of what He has prepared and is saving for those that love Him and are called according to His purposes.
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8:18.
Initially these rules were not necessarily meant to be hi-jacked by the Democrat Party. They were meant to fight any entities in power at the weakness of a populace in any community. I am not just placing rules for radicals upon Democrats. Nay. All politicians will use one or more of these "rules" to win an election and stay in office. Career politicians are produced using rules like the above. Democrats just use the rules to their advantage in a continually obvious pattern. The corporate news entities use these rules every day. They do not report news so much as create news, or magnify aspects news to their Liberal advantage before the general public; doing all they can to sway opinion. Their tactics have become so obvious they have become fodder for even some Liberal commentators and a few late-night comedians. Their hypocrisy has become so blatant hardly anyone watches them anymore. Even people who dislike Trump for one reason or another have become grossly tired of the incessant spin put on every story, every, single day.
It has become easy for radicals to change things, as more and more citizens do not understand why they are Americans, based on principle, not by birth. The same can be said for any organization, including churches. America's churches have been on a steady course to disaster since the 1900's. Few people, from any denomination, can tell you why they are members of any church based on principles of truth. To the contrary. "Doctrine" has become a dirty word to today's believers, leaving people to wonder what they actually believe in.
I have been effected in the culture war. Few have not. The remedy for this has generally been persecution, down through time. I suspect the same remedy is not far ahead. For many in our world it already exists, as corruption exists, nation by nation. Christians are being mercilessly persecuted around the world, at the hands of Islamists, atheists, and radicals of one stripe another. Satan only likes one outcome, one freedom - his control. God allows it to prove a point, proven at the cross of Calvary. The point is being proven in America today. Anyone disagreeing with the upheaval and change must not be allowed to speak, to write, to present anything that stands in the way of their victory.
No, I do not defend police brutality and don't know anyone who does. I do not defend American corruptions, foreign or domestic. I do not defend endless war for profit started and perpetuated by banksters, the military industrial complex, and nefarious personages holding all the money and wanting more. I do not defend politicians as though they are royalty. Far from it. They are servants and should be constantly reminded of that fact. I do not defend racism, and frankly, the America I have lived in, in seven states, has changed such a great deal in my lifetime, calling America racist by nature is simply stupid. Living in Texas I have seen more "inter-racial" couples than anywhere else I have lived. Those who follow and practice Rules for Radicals show themselves lying radicals who can only scream and hurl expletives when confronted with facts and data, or stealthily work to silence you any way they are enabled.
America is anything but, perfect. That said, why do millions from across the planet do everything they can to get here, year after year, decade after decade? Free stuff? Maybe. Probably, definitely for some but, most want freedom and liberty and rights afforded by this Constitutional Republic, which, in fact, were stated by the Founders to come from God.
Our Constitutional Republic is under attack by forces bent on its destruction.
Only God knows how successful they shall be.
******************
62. I Remember Better Times ... I Think - June 18, 2020
I was born in 1954. The Korean War had recently ended. Rock and Roll was the rage. Though, I never heard much of it unless I was somewhere where it got played. My parents weren't into it. There's was the Big Band Era, and the era of the "Crooners," singers that actually sang fluidly and intelligibly. The 60's were turbulent times. Lots of change. Weird stuff happened. Music changed radically. Exploration began and all genres began to fuse together to one degree or another, producing sound never heard before. Music reflected the political scene of the times. The Vietnam War began. Protesting then began, as the ludicrous nature of everything the "war" was about became obvious to millions.
I remember visiting my cousin's in Rhode Island in the summer of '66 and we heard on the radio the White Tower shooting at the University of Texas. We never heard such a thing. It scared us all. Someone up in a tower, shooting innocent people? We sat in a bedroom, radio on, as live reports kept us riveted to the voices reporting the scene. My youngest cousin began to cry. Scary stuff for children. Today? Mass shootings are almost common.
The other day, for some odd reason, the Mamas and Papas came into my mind. Cass Elliot, Michelle Phillips, Denny Doherty, and John Phillips sang a smooth Folk Rock vibe in the 60's. Impeccable harmonies. Laid back, very catchy melodies. The memory hit me so hard I went on ebay and bought a "Best of" CD. It's on the way as I type.
I also thought of the original Chicago Transit Authority, known as Chicago by their second album, when the Authority did not take kindly to the band using its title. Their first two albums were ground breaking, fusing horns with a Rock vibe. Yeah, I also ordered their first two records off ebay as well. At the same time Blood, Sweat and Tears, Lighthouse, Dreams, and other Jazz/Rock horn bands hit the scene.
Cass Elliot passed away of a heart attack in '74, health related: complications from her obesity. Jimi Hendrix had died, Janis Joplin. John Bonham would pass away in 1980. All deaths related to drugs or drinking. Which is not to mention the lives of countless young people from those times whose lives were messed up or ruined from drinking and drugs. It was everywhere and remains so to this day but, even though drugs had been around and used by musicians and artists for decades, nothing existed like the burst of that activity that took place in the 60's and 70's. From there it all went downhill.
The times, drenched with stress from various upheavals, found its outlet in the music of those times. As musical as the music was (and by that I mean melody and harmony and rhythm all worked in a balance that defined each group, band, and artist as unique and individual), there was no in your face aggression, by and large, until Punk came along. Punk changed everything. Punk was violence and aggression and a type of rebellion that left everything before it in the dust. Melody and harmony was not important. Rhythm was. Yes, Pete Townsend smashed his guitars on stage and Moonie smashed his drums in rather foolish youthful rebellion but, Punk was a smashing of everything, including the band members themselves. From there a lot changed. Especially was this the case in Metal. It became very aggressive and "mosh pits" raged as participants got bruised and bloodied "for fun." The 80's, though, became cold, musically, with more and more electronics creating everything in sound. Musical exploration, for those of us who lived in the 60's and 70's and experienced it, drifted into meaningless synth work; repetitiveness became the pin the industry wallets went with. Grunge came along, dark, moody, self-destructive. Rap came with its total lack of music (by definition) and expressed itself in rhymes which demeaned females, preached violence towards the police and "white" people, in general.
I had become in Christian in '79 and went another direction in life, leaving Legend and all, and then got the news Kevin has passed away in his sleep in 1983. A real loss to the community of guitarists. Kevin was incredible.
Kevin had gotten into drug use. I was totally naive to it. I had no idea. I have also been told Kevin died of a broken heart. That came as no surprise. He was apparently walking a rough road at the time. Either way, his death was a loss still felt 40 years later.
I have written about all that stuff before.
Let's jump 40 years. While the 60's and 70's saw its share of protests and riots it all pales in comparison to what we are watching today, as I type. Cities are burning. Mob rule has created an atmosphere of fear where people are literally afraid to exercise freedom of speech because an entire career can be gone in hours of saying something the mob doesn't like. It seems impossible any music can actually reflect what is happening, especially if anything is sung which stands against the mob. It is a mob. By definition it is a mob, not people peaceably protesting but, destroying anything that strikes their fancy to do so, looting along the way. This is all being dismissed by the MSM and some elected civil servants as necessary to get a point across: exploding with natural anxiety over years of oppression. Even if that was true, that is no reason to excuse lawlessness. But, as Bible students know, Christ said lawlessness would be a sign of His return. In a nation which was founded on the principle of the rule of law we now see coast to coast lawlessness. Objectively? Indeed. A strong sign of our times. I'd have to park common sense outside my brain to see it any other way.
Here's the thing. When you look at the sports page, with team sports, you used to see this team beat that team, this team over that team by such and such a score, maybe this team pounded another team if the score was really lopsided but, that all began to change, and the change has made it into all commentary about politics, as two distinct sides are vying for survival in America. I see words every day that reflect some kind of violence towards another human being, even if just spoken. "Destroys, Blasts, Bombs, Pounds, Crushes, Burns, On Fire, Fumes, Torches, Scorches, Take a flame thrower to, Eviscerates, Excoriates, Rips, Scathing, Tears Into ... and when you go to read the story you realize the headline was all hype, distorted. Either that or people have become so super sensitive anyone disagreeing with another person or group, with any conviction and passion, is seen as volatile aggression, like everything is about winning at all costs. Well, to a very literal degree, as far as America is concerned, that is the case but, violence is now being promoted. The pot is boiling. It is going to boil over.
The Rodney King statement from 1992 - "Can't we all just get along?" - has become a resounding, NO! Voices that promote trying to discuss and dialogue and reason are drowned out by two sides in a contest for an entire nation. Sixty percent of Americans recently surveyed believe civil war is on the near horizon. I've been watching this and discussing the possibility for years now. Already armed civilians are beginning to hold their ground against the mob in places where firearms are as common as hamburgers and hot dogs. The police are calling in sick now that violence against them is just being ignored. Add to that the entire dismantling of police forces altogether and I must ask myself, where am I living? This is raving madness.
Effigies of Bush and Trump, hung, shot, bloodied in some way, had/have become common. That's all okay for one side. Say anything against the Obama administration or the Clinton's and it was a call to war for the MSM and minions to destroy anyone making such commentary. And so the nation, and the world, drags on.
There is no such thing as a perfect world, a perfect nation, absolute harmony and peace to be found in any land. As long as Satan exists and human hearts are sinful, problems shall arise: rogues can be found in any group, even those who swear to "protect and serve."
When I see the mob tearing down statues of men who actually fought to end slavery, to truly abide in the principle that all men are created equal, I know this is not about police brutality, as real as that may be. This is about a mob mentality influenced and paid for by enemies of America, to totally dismantle and topple it. Billionaire, George Soros comes instantly to mind as more and more independent, alternative investigative reporting shows his money and influence in all the conflagration. Philanthropist? Indeed, for left wing radicals and their causes.
At this point it seems music has taken a real back seat. People seem too shocked to make musical commentary, especially if it has a patriotic, rule of law bent. Recently the drummer from the band, System of a Down, John Dolmayan, was in the news because he is, indeed, a patriot who sees the rule of law and the Constitution as things that must be allowed to control the cowardly mob, as he calls them. He supports the efforts of Trump to bring back American sovereignty and strength. He doesn't care about backlash. Frankly, many more should speak out as he has, few there may be in the general music community, which has often been on the Liberal/Progressive side of things.
Most musicians try to stay clear of politics, and religion, as well, in any kind of 'preachy' way. You can't run the risk of offending fans and lose record sales and concert ticket sales. Many Metal bands flagrantly speak against religion, especially the Christian faith, and openly praise Satan and "Hell." Nobody makes much of a fuss about it. Yet, back in the 60's and 70's musicians took it as, almost a calling to state their convictions through song about the society they lived in, with any and all problems they saw in it. I remember the flack when Seals and Crofts came out against abortion. Today, it is easy to denounce Trump because he is everybody's punching bag, despite his polls numbers being higher than Obama's at the same period in his presidency. Supporters of Trump: the "deplorables," those the left wishes would not just go away but, be killed by the mob, the C-19 virus, and other methods meeting their satisfaction, which they just proudly state on social media or interviews - do not riot, do not hold up bloody heads, do not create videos of a president's death. They silently watch knowing a day of reckoning shall come in the election booth, the way the rule of law is supposed to function. Only now, it is dubious if free and honest elections will ever take place again in America, as it more and more reflects the scene of becoming a third world nation, a banana republic regime, or a typical socialist/communist nation, if one side gets their way. Thousands of dead people are voting more and more in American elections. Quite the trick. More and more boxes of ballots are "found" after election day. Near as I can read, all Democrat ballots; while other ballots, like military ones, are lost. Conspiracy theories? No. Just plain old conspiracies backed by facts, not theories.
Violence has always existed on Earth since Cain killed his brother Able. Yet God has taken special notice of violence when it extended and saturated any society which led to their demise at His Sovereign decision, or their own foolishness. The days of Noah was one time violence was singled out as a sign. The days of Noah were singled out by Christ as a sign of what things will be like when He returns. Objectively, it has become obvious the signs of the times, predicting the return of Christ to Earth, are building to a tremendous climax. Violence seems to be in the very air we breathe. I suppose it is not much to sing about, is it?
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
I remember visiting my cousin's in Rhode Island in the summer of '66 and we heard on the radio the White Tower shooting at the University of Texas. We never heard such a thing. It scared us all. Someone up in a tower, shooting innocent people? We sat in a bedroom, radio on, as live reports kept us riveted to the voices reporting the scene. My youngest cousin began to cry. Scary stuff for children. Today? Mass shootings are almost common.
The other day, for some odd reason, the Mamas and Papas came into my mind. Cass Elliot, Michelle Phillips, Denny Doherty, and John Phillips sang a smooth Folk Rock vibe in the 60's. Impeccable harmonies. Laid back, very catchy melodies. The memory hit me so hard I went on ebay and bought a "Best of" CD. It's on the way as I type.
I also thought of the original Chicago Transit Authority, known as Chicago by their second album, when the Authority did not take kindly to the band using its title. Their first two albums were ground breaking, fusing horns with a Rock vibe. Yeah, I also ordered their first two records off ebay as well. At the same time Blood, Sweat and Tears, Lighthouse, Dreams, and other Jazz/Rock horn bands hit the scene.
Cass Elliot passed away of a heart attack in '74, health related: complications from her obesity. Jimi Hendrix had died, Janis Joplin. John Bonham would pass away in 1980. All deaths related to drugs or drinking. Which is not to mention the lives of countless young people from those times whose lives were messed up or ruined from drinking and drugs. It was everywhere and remains so to this day but, even though drugs had been around and used by musicians and artists for decades, nothing existed like the burst of that activity that took place in the 60's and 70's. From there it all went downhill.
The times, drenched with stress from various upheavals, found its outlet in the music of those times. As musical as the music was (and by that I mean melody and harmony and rhythm all worked in a balance that defined each group, band, and artist as unique and individual), there was no in your face aggression, by and large, until Punk came along. Punk changed everything. Punk was violence and aggression and a type of rebellion that left everything before it in the dust. Melody and harmony was not important. Rhythm was. Yes, Pete Townsend smashed his guitars on stage and Moonie smashed his drums in rather foolish youthful rebellion but, Punk was a smashing of everything, including the band members themselves. From there a lot changed. Especially was this the case in Metal. It became very aggressive and "mosh pits" raged as participants got bruised and bloodied "for fun." The 80's, though, became cold, musically, with more and more electronics creating everything in sound. Musical exploration, for those of us who lived in the 60's and 70's and experienced it, drifted into meaningless synth work; repetitiveness became the pin the industry wallets went with. Grunge came along, dark, moody, self-destructive. Rap came with its total lack of music (by definition) and expressed itself in rhymes which demeaned females, preached violence towards the police and "white" people, in general.
I had become in Christian in '79 and went another direction in life, leaving Legend and all, and then got the news Kevin has passed away in his sleep in 1983. A real loss to the community of guitarists. Kevin was incredible.
Kevin had gotten into drug use. I was totally naive to it. I had no idea. I have also been told Kevin died of a broken heart. That came as no surprise. He was apparently walking a rough road at the time. Either way, his death was a loss still felt 40 years later.
I have written about all that stuff before.
Let's jump 40 years. While the 60's and 70's saw its share of protests and riots it all pales in comparison to what we are watching today, as I type. Cities are burning. Mob rule has created an atmosphere of fear where people are literally afraid to exercise freedom of speech because an entire career can be gone in hours of saying something the mob doesn't like. It seems impossible any music can actually reflect what is happening, especially if anything is sung which stands against the mob. It is a mob. By definition it is a mob, not people peaceably protesting but, destroying anything that strikes their fancy to do so, looting along the way. This is all being dismissed by the MSM and some elected civil servants as necessary to get a point across: exploding with natural anxiety over years of oppression. Even if that was true, that is no reason to excuse lawlessness. But, as Bible students know, Christ said lawlessness would be a sign of His return. In a nation which was founded on the principle of the rule of law we now see coast to coast lawlessness. Objectively? Indeed. A strong sign of our times. I'd have to park common sense outside my brain to see it any other way.
Here's the thing. When you look at the sports page, with team sports, you used to see this team beat that team, this team over that team by such and such a score, maybe this team pounded another team if the score was really lopsided but, that all began to change, and the change has made it into all commentary about politics, as two distinct sides are vying for survival in America. I see words every day that reflect some kind of violence towards another human being, even if just spoken. "Destroys, Blasts, Bombs, Pounds, Crushes, Burns, On Fire, Fumes, Torches, Scorches, Take a flame thrower to, Eviscerates, Excoriates, Rips, Scathing, Tears Into ... and when you go to read the story you realize the headline was all hype, distorted. Either that or people have become so super sensitive anyone disagreeing with another person or group, with any conviction and passion, is seen as volatile aggression, like everything is about winning at all costs. Well, to a very literal degree, as far as America is concerned, that is the case but, violence is now being promoted. The pot is boiling. It is going to boil over.
The Rodney King statement from 1992 - "Can't we all just get along?" - has become a resounding, NO! Voices that promote trying to discuss and dialogue and reason are drowned out by two sides in a contest for an entire nation. Sixty percent of Americans recently surveyed believe civil war is on the near horizon. I've been watching this and discussing the possibility for years now. Already armed civilians are beginning to hold their ground against the mob in places where firearms are as common as hamburgers and hot dogs. The police are calling in sick now that violence against them is just being ignored. Add to that the entire dismantling of police forces altogether and I must ask myself, where am I living? This is raving madness.
Effigies of Bush and Trump, hung, shot, bloodied in some way, had/have become common. That's all okay for one side. Say anything against the Obama administration or the Clinton's and it was a call to war for the MSM and minions to destroy anyone making such commentary. And so the nation, and the world, drags on.
There is no such thing as a perfect world, a perfect nation, absolute harmony and peace to be found in any land. As long as Satan exists and human hearts are sinful, problems shall arise: rogues can be found in any group, even those who swear to "protect and serve."
When I see the mob tearing down statues of men who actually fought to end slavery, to truly abide in the principle that all men are created equal, I know this is not about police brutality, as real as that may be. This is about a mob mentality influenced and paid for by enemies of America, to totally dismantle and topple it. Billionaire, George Soros comes instantly to mind as more and more independent, alternative investigative reporting shows his money and influence in all the conflagration. Philanthropist? Indeed, for left wing radicals and their causes.
At this point it seems music has taken a real back seat. People seem too shocked to make musical commentary, especially if it has a patriotic, rule of law bent. Recently the drummer from the band, System of a Down, John Dolmayan, was in the news because he is, indeed, a patriot who sees the rule of law and the Constitution as things that must be allowed to control the cowardly mob, as he calls them. He supports the efforts of Trump to bring back American sovereignty and strength. He doesn't care about backlash. Frankly, many more should speak out as he has, few there may be in the general music community, which has often been on the Liberal/Progressive side of things.
Most musicians try to stay clear of politics, and religion, as well, in any kind of 'preachy' way. You can't run the risk of offending fans and lose record sales and concert ticket sales. Many Metal bands flagrantly speak against religion, especially the Christian faith, and openly praise Satan and "Hell." Nobody makes much of a fuss about it. Yet, back in the 60's and 70's musicians took it as, almost a calling to state their convictions through song about the society they lived in, with any and all problems they saw in it. I remember the flack when Seals and Crofts came out against abortion. Today, it is easy to denounce Trump because he is everybody's punching bag, despite his polls numbers being higher than Obama's at the same period in his presidency. Supporters of Trump: the "deplorables," those the left wishes would not just go away but, be killed by the mob, the C-19 virus, and other methods meeting their satisfaction, which they just proudly state on social media or interviews - do not riot, do not hold up bloody heads, do not create videos of a president's death. They silently watch knowing a day of reckoning shall come in the election booth, the way the rule of law is supposed to function. Only now, it is dubious if free and honest elections will ever take place again in America, as it more and more reflects the scene of becoming a third world nation, a banana republic regime, or a typical socialist/communist nation, if one side gets their way. Thousands of dead people are voting more and more in American elections. Quite the trick. More and more boxes of ballots are "found" after election day. Near as I can read, all Democrat ballots; while other ballots, like military ones, are lost. Conspiracy theories? No. Just plain old conspiracies backed by facts, not theories.
Violence has always existed on Earth since Cain killed his brother Able. Yet God has taken special notice of violence when it extended and saturated any society which led to their demise at His Sovereign decision, or their own foolishness. The days of Noah was one time violence was singled out as a sign. The days of Noah were singled out by Christ as a sign of what things will be like when He returns. Objectively, it has become obvious the signs of the times, predicting the return of Christ to Earth, are building to a tremendous climax. Violence seems to be in the very air we breathe. I suppose it is not much to sing about, is it?
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
63. Racism? - June 20, 2020
Racist. Racism. The words used to be defined as someone who believes their race is superior and convocates with those who believe the same. Today? Do you know what 'racism' means in today's current flow of discussion, turmoil, and upheaval? I don't. The terms are used and defined any way people feel like using and defining them.
When I played in Little League I had a baseball coach that was "Black," Mr. Green. He had only one arm, and was one of the most inspirational, and beloved men in my young life. I shall always remember him fondly.
Today, if I support Trump, I must be a racist. If I say, All lives matter, regardless of the reasons and principles why, I must be racist. If I state the genetic evidence that does away with "races," I must be racist. If I say the Rule of Law must be held firm and violent mobs must be stopped, I must be racist. That is all political pandering and shallow political theater void of intelligent reason and common sense.
Do you know any racists? I don't. I have met a few down through the years but, condemning "white Americans" as inherently racist is so divisive and without any proof, it is mockery of sound minds.
Do you know of any racist music? So many of my favorite bands and groups back in the 60's and 70's had multi-racial line-ups it would be, again, senseless to say, "Racism is systemic in America." Well, someone is saying it every, single day now. I do not have "white" guilt. Nor should I, especially for things done a century and a half and beyond ago.
Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Brothers, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever, Weather Report, Jean Luc Ponty's bands ... most Fusion bands were multi-racial, multi-ethnic, and seriously multi-talented. Jazz and Fusion still reflects the same thing today. If racism is systemic in America someone needs to tell musicians. They missed the memo.
Now, I have heard "black" Rappers, or read their lyrics which say things against "white" people. Isn't that racism? I don't consider early Rap, music, by definition but, as a popular mode of communication that has evolved into many different styles it certainly has its fans, and they have been exposed to such racism in Rap lyrics for 30 years. How is it that is acceptable? Of course, all melanin communities have spoken out against amoral Rap to one degree or another but, it just kept getting bigger and bigger as a genre. It's "stars" all live the "American Dream."
God is looking upon a planetary population literally losing its mind. I am not surprised because I believe Bible prophecy predicted the chaos taking place. It is going to get worse. Then, at some point, in some way, the world will believe they have solved their problems, and cries of "Peace and Safety" will ring out. Then, sudden destruction will come upon the Earth because their false peace and security will have come by way of rebelling against the plain testimony of God in His Word and turning on God's people, moving to strike them down. Planetary rebellion. Planetary judgement. Such as it was in the days of Noah, such as it was in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, so shall it be when Christ returns. A planet judged and destroyed by the inundation of water, which God promised would never happen again; and some cities destroyed by inferno so devastating all trace of those cities became ash. That judgment is what Christ and the prophets say is coming again. When Christ returns he shall return with an army of angels so vast they shall not have a countable number. The glory of Christ, the Creator, will seem as tempestuous fire and everything and everyone clinging to sin, selfishness and rebellion will be destroyed by the unfathomable power and brightness of Christ's coming.
You may think that is a fairy tale. Time will tell, sometime in the not too distant future.
In the Christian faith people of all melanin hues sing the same hymns, in the same buildings, or in homes, under trees, on mountains, shorelines, fields and forests all over the planet. I mean true Christianity, not the fake stuff gilded with claims of making money through the gospel, or so "man-made" it can only resemble something that is the antithesis of Christianity. True Christianity; where adherents have experienced being born again: radically changed and given new minds and hearts and a feeling of love and respect for all humanity: that Christianity is what I speak of.
The Bible states that heaven will be made up of citizens from every nation, language, and people. No problems of "racism."
So how is it people of all skin colors can get along because of one, single Hebrew Person in their lives? Why are He and His followers so hated all over the Earth, century after century, harassed, oppressed, persecuted? They don't burn down buildings. They don't turn into mobs. They don't speak anarchy.
Did you ever notice atheists, agnostics, and people of other faiths in America all say, "Jesus Christ" when they get upset or angry? Why is that? They do not believe in Him. They have no respect for things He said or the life He lived, according to the Gospels. They may affirm He was a good man, and had good teachings but, that does not stop them from using His name as the most common form of cursing in the English language. I don't factually know but, I'm guessing it is the same in other lands, as well. It is not an American phenomena.
Of course, when Christmas comes, all of a sudden everybody is singing songs that are specifically about His birth, including His name or title. Sound confusing? I mean, seriously, if some aliens came here from another world and observed this, would they not think the human species is pretty messed up? They sing joyfully about someone they also curse with. What's with that?
Music is called the universal language. How is it it has lost all sense of influence on populations for the sake of good and harmony? We hear a lot of chanting these days. Not much music associated with riots and destruction. Maybe Heavy Metal. That's the vibe, right? Walls of crushing guitars and pounding drums. C'mon. You know it's true. You cannot evade it. I know all Metal is not anti-christian. Nothing on Earth is 100% anything when humans are involved. Just the same, the world of Metal cast its own form with its predominant philosophy of Halloween 24/7, if not much darker essence of existence; decidedly anti-christian.
If you didn't play Metal during a riot, what would you play? Oddly enough, Metal is generally a "white" man's music. I mean, would I expect to hear James Brown, the Fifth Dimension, Earth Wind and Fire, The Supremes, Max Roach, Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, Louie Armstrong, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Bo Diddley, B.B. King, Chuck Berry, Richie Havens, Sly Stone, Tina Turner, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday, Prince, Michael Jackson, Jay-Z, Miles, Stevie, Ray Charles or any of hundreds of other "Black" artists, all skin colors have enjoyed and listened to for a hundred years, playing in the background of riots in progress? No. All those artists would find current events reprehensible. Despite any hardships they lived with in America, as far as I am aware none of them stood for anarchy and destruction of public and private property, and innocent lives.
What happened to "I Have a Dream" and judging men by their character, not the color of their skin? Well, just the other day a "white," female politician stated the Democrat candidate for president should not pick a running mate based on character but, skin color!
So, Martin Luther King lived and died for nothing? Everything he stood for is now moot?
Yeah, I'd say aliens would think this world was run by people with scant intelligence, zero common sense, and a pretty bleak, self-destructive future.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
When I played in Little League I had a baseball coach that was "Black," Mr. Green. He had only one arm, and was one of the most inspirational, and beloved men in my young life. I shall always remember him fondly.
Today, if I support Trump, I must be a racist. If I say, All lives matter, regardless of the reasons and principles why, I must be racist. If I state the genetic evidence that does away with "races," I must be racist. If I say the Rule of Law must be held firm and violent mobs must be stopped, I must be racist. That is all political pandering and shallow political theater void of intelligent reason and common sense.
Do you know any racists? I don't. I have met a few down through the years but, condemning "white Americans" as inherently racist is so divisive and without any proof, it is mockery of sound minds.
Do you know of any racist music? So many of my favorite bands and groups back in the 60's and 70's had multi-racial line-ups it would be, again, senseless to say, "Racism is systemic in America." Well, someone is saying it every, single day now. I do not have "white" guilt. Nor should I, especially for things done a century and a half and beyond ago.
Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Brothers, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever, Weather Report, Jean Luc Ponty's bands ... most Fusion bands were multi-racial, multi-ethnic, and seriously multi-talented. Jazz and Fusion still reflects the same thing today. If racism is systemic in America someone needs to tell musicians. They missed the memo.
Now, I have heard "black" Rappers, or read their lyrics which say things against "white" people. Isn't that racism? I don't consider early Rap, music, by definition but, as a popular mode of communication that has evolved into many different styles it certainly has its fans, and they have been exposed to such racism in Rap lyrics for 30 years. How is it that is acceptable? Of course, all melanin communities have spoken out against amoral Rap to one degree or another but, it just kept getting bigger and bigger as a genre. It's "stars" all live the "American Dream."
God is looking upon a planetary population literally losing its mind. I am not surprised because I believe Bible prophecy predicted the chaos taking place. It is going to get worse. Then, at some point, in some way, the world will believe they have solved their problems, and cries of "Peace and Safety" will ring out. Then, sudden destruction will come upon the Earth because their false peace and security will have come by way of rebelling against the plain testimony of God in His Word and turning on God's people, moving to strike them down. Planetary rebellion. Planetary judgement. Such as it was in the days of Noah, such as it was in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, so shall it be when Christ returns. A planet judged and destroyed by the inundation of water, which God promised would never happen again; and some cities destroyed by inferno so devastating all trace of those cities became ash. That judgment is what Christ and the prophets say is coming again. When Christ returns he shall return with an army of angels so vast they shall not have a countable number. The glory of Christ, the Creator, will seem as tempestuous fire and everything and everyone clinging to sin, selfishness and rebellion will be destroyed by the unfathomable power and brightness of Christ's coming.
You may think that is a fairy tale. Time will tell, sometime in the not too distant future.
In the Christian faith people of all melanin hues sing the same hymns, in the same buildings, or in homes, under trees, on mountains, shorelines, fields and forests all over the planet. I mean true Christianity, not the fake stuff gilded with claims of making money through the gospel, or so "man-made" it can only resemble something that is the antithesis of Christianity. True Christianity; where adherents have experienced being born again: radically changed and given new minds and hearts and a feeling of love and respect for all humanity: that Christianity is what I speak of.
The Bible states that heaven will be made up of citizens from every nation, language, and people. No problems of "racism."
So how is it people of all skin colors can get along because of one, single Hebrew Person in their lives? Why are He and His followers so hated all over the Earth, century after century, harassed, oppressed, persecuted? They don't burn down buildings. They don't turn into mobs. They don't speak anarchy.
Did you ever notice atheists, agnostics, and people of other faiths in America all say, "Jesus Christ" when they get upset or angry? Why is that? They do not believe in Him. They have no respect for things He said or the life He lived, according to the Gospels. They may affirm He was a good man, and had good teachings but, that does not stop them from using His name as the most common form of cursing in the English language. I don't factually know but, I'm guessing it is the same in other lands, as well. It is not an American phenomena.
Of course, when Christmas comes, all of a sudden everybody is singing songs that are specifically about His birth, including His name or title. Sound confusing? I mean, seriously, if some aliens came here from another world and observed this, would they not think the human species is pretty messed up? They sing joyfully about someone they also curse with. What's with that?
Music is called the universal language. How is it it has lost all sense of influence on populations for the sake of good and harmony? We hear a lot of chanting these days. Not much music associated with riots and destruction. Maybe Heavy Metal. That's the vibe, right? Walls of crushing guitars and pounding drums. C'mon. You know it's true. You cannot evade it. I know all Metal is not anti-christian. Nothing on Earth is 100% anything when humans are involved. Just the same, the world of Metal cast its own form with its predominant philosophy of Halloween 24/7, if not much darker essence of existence; decidedly anti-christian.
If you didn't play Metal during a riot, what would you play? Oddly enough, Metal is generally a "white" man's music. I mean, would I expect to hear James Brown, the Fifth Dimension, Earth Wind and Fire, The Supremes, Max Roach, Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, Louie Armstrong, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Bo Diddley, B.B. King, Chuck Berry, Richie Havens, Sly Stone, Tina Turner, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday, Prince, Michael Jackson, Jay-Z, Miles, Stevie, Ray Charles or any of hundreds of other "Black" artists, all skin colors have enjoyed and listened to for a hundred years, playing in the background of riots in progress? No. All those artists would find current events reprehensible. Despite any hardships they lived with in America, as far as I am aware none of them stood for anarchy and destruction of public and private property, and innocent lives.
What happened to "I Have a Dream" and judging men by their character, not the color of their skin? Well, just the other day a "white," female politician stated the Democrat candidate for president should not pick a running mate based on character but, skin color!
So, Martin Luther King lived and died for nothing? Everything he stood for is now moot?
Yeah, I'd say aliens would think this world was run by people with scant intelligence, zero common sense, and a pretty bleak, self-destructive future.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
63. "No One is Above the Law." - June 21, 2020
"No one is above the law."
How many times have you heard that in your lifetime? Regardless of political party, regardless of station in life, their job or position, that statement has been made millions of times since the Republic began. We have heard it non-stop since Trump was elected but, plenty of times during the Clinton, Bush, and Obama years, as well.
The statement is based on a principle, based on the Founder's understanding of freedom, liberty, conscience, actions, and order under the Sovereignty of God. Everyone is equal, based on the designs of the Creator, and the rule of law, therefore, no one is above the law.
Do you remember Jim Morrison being arrested for on stage antics? Didn't matter if he was a popular singer, fronting The Doors. Other musicians have been arrested for things they have done in public or private. Popularity does not matter.
Now, today, these past weeks, these past years we have seen unbridled corruption take place in Washington, D.C. with elected civil servants bypassing the Constitution, and for political gain, the judges on the Supreme Court, rather than decide if laws made by Congress are Constitutional, are legislating from the bench, as are judges throughout America. Some politicians have obviously lived above the law, others, not so much.
On the streets of America, right now, today, thousands are living so far above the law they can do ANYTHING they want and NO ONE is doing ANYTHING to stop them. Cowardice on parade. Abandonment of principle, and even common sense, thrown out the window with the bath water.
My father fought in a world war for this? Americans are dying around the world "for their country" for this? You expect people who took an oath to protect and serve to go out there and die at the hands of mobs with almost no swift retribution, city to city on fire but, actual affinity for the mob from elected civil servants hired by the people to protect them and their property?
I am watching insanity coast to coast. I am beholding, not only the love of many waxing cold but, the minds of people either propelled by violence or being silenced by fear.
HOW can civil war NOT take place?
The North and South fought a disgusting, pulverizing, bloody war over State's rights, with slavery as the catalyst. Slavery was outlawed. Is America about to enter a second physical civil war over some rogue cops? Is this possible? That tells me Americans have gone mad OR, this is not about rogue cops. This is about the destruction of America at the hands of people being used by those who hate America, because it is in the way of totalitarianism.
When someone knows what they believe and why they believe it, they are not afraid to stand up for it. I would not give you a dime for all of Congress but, it is obvious Democrats believe they should do anything, anything to remove Donald Trump from office, and Republicans are afraid of their own shadows and do not believe a single word of the oaths they took, nor the platform of their political party. I am convinced if the Founder's were alive these scalawags and cowards would be rounded up at gunpoint and marched out of their offices and tried for treason. What else can this total lack of rule of law response from them be seen as? Trump, for all his braggadocios, is doing nothing. His threats are empty. He rallies in Tulsa, telling stories. He is the top law enforcement officer of the nation. He has done nothing but, threaten. He claims to love America, love the police, love the military, and is doing nothing to stop the carnage on American streets.
This is why I hate politics: because I cannot stand politicians. They are all professional liars. What few seem like decent men and women are drowned out by a chorus of weakness and spite and recalcitrance by their fellows, both sides of the isle.
If this is the beginning of a revolution; if this is the beginning of a physical civil war to coincide with the cultural civil war America has been fighting for decades, where will you and I stand? If we do not stand for the rule of law, there is NO UNITED STATES of AMERICA. Our borders already mean nothing. Laws about our borders mean nothing to politicians not living on them, in fear of their property and their very lives, watching all kinds of standards and the marketplace change because of millions of people in this nation, illegally. If border laws mean nothing, and laws regarding violence and destruction of public and private property mean nothing, and people can be harmed, even killed and nobody moves a finger to stop it, unless you are shot by a cop, regardless of it being a sound decision made by the cop or not, we are now living in the UNUNITED STATES of CHAOS and ANARCHY. Does that sit well with you? If you think this will not effect you, because you do not live in a big city, think again. When the time is right the totalitarians will step in and take total control and your freedoms and liberties, what is left of them, will be gone forever.
If we are not willing to stand up for the rule of law, we do not deserve to live under its protections, and those cowards in public service certainly do not warrant reelection. Are you certain we shall even have free elections this November? I have no confidence it will take place if what is happening continues on till then.
Our currency is being devalued. Our nation is being run by treasonous rogues in the "Deep State." We were lied to about a virus no worse than a nasty flu. We are being lied to about the factual number of deaths attributed to complications from the virus. We are watching America cities, run by Democrats, being torched and demolished, and Republicans too afraid to speak out. Madness!
Those behind this must be salivating because they know the end is near: the time to rejoice for the success of their totalitarian plans are soon to come to complete fruition.
I don't hear any sounds of different drums rapping out rudiments to come to our senses, save from a few Conservative pundits, basically powerless to stop what is happening. They can talk all they want. Why do they not run for office and actually do something than offer opinions?
Hey, I believe the end of the world is coming because I am a Christian, I believe the Bible, and believe Christ is going to return someday, sooner than later but, to watch our nation implode?
God help us.
How many times have you heard that in your lifetime? Regardless of political party, regardless of station in life, their job or position, that statement has been made millions of times since the Republic began. We have heard it non-stop since Trump was elected but, plenty of times during the Clinton, Bush, and Obama years, as well.
The statement is based on a principle, based on the Founder's understanding of freedom, liberty, conscience, actions, and order under the Sovereignty of God. Everyone is equal, based on the designs of the Creator, and the rule of law, therefore, no one is above the law.
Do you remember Jim Morrison being arrested for on stage antics? Didn't matter if he was a popular singer, fronting The Doors. Other musicians have been arrested for things they have done in public or private. Popularity does not matter.
Now, today, these past weeks, these past years we have seen unbridled corruption take place in Washington, D.C. with elected civil servants bypassing the Constitution, and for political gain, the judges on the Supreme Court, rather than decide if laws made by Congress are Constitutional, are legislating from the bench, as are judges throughout America. Some politicians have obviously lived above the law, others, not so much.
On the streets of America, right now, today, thousands are living so far above the law they can do ANYTHING they want and NO ONE is doing ANYTHING to stop them. Cowardice on parade. Abandonment of principle, and even common sense, thrown out the window with the bath water.
My father fought in a world war for this? Americans are dying around the world "for their country" for this? You expect people who took an oath to protect and serve to go out there and die at the hands of mobs with almost no swift retribution, city to city on fire but, actual affinity for the mob from elected civil servants hired by the people to protect them and their property?
I am watching insanity coast to coast. I am beholding, not only the love of many waxing cold but, the minds of people either propelled by violence or being silenced by fear.
HOW can civil war NOT take place?
The North and South fought a disgusting, pulverizing, bloody war over State's rights, with slavery as the catalyst. Slavery was outlawed. Is America about to enter a second physical civil war over some rogue cops? Is this possible? That tells me Americans have gone mad OR, this is not about rogue cops. This is about the destruction of America at the hands of people being used by those who hate America, because it is in the way of totalitarianism.
When someone knows what they believe and why they believe it, they are not afraid to stand up for it. I would not give you a dime for all of Congress but, it is obvious Democrats believe they should do anything, anything to remove Donald Trump from office, and Republicans are afraid of their own shadows and do not believe a single word of the oaths they took, nor the platform of their political party. I am convinced if the Founder's were alive these scalawags and cowards would be rounded up at gunpoint and marched out of their offices and tried for treason. What else can this total lack of rule of law response from them be seen as? Trump, for all his braggadocios, is doing nothing. His threats are empty. He rallies in Tulsa, telling stories. He is the top law enforcement officer of the nation. He has done nothing but, threaten. He claims to love America, love the police, love the military, and is doing nothing to stop the carnage on American streets.
This is why I hate politics: because I cannot stand politicians. They are all professional liars. What few seem like decent men and women are drowned out by a chorus of weakness and spite and recalcitrance by their fellows, both sides of the isle.
If this is the beginning of a revolution; if this is the beginning of a physical civil war to coincide with the cultural civil war America has been fighting for decades, where will you and I stand? If we do not stand for the rule of law, there is NO UNITED STATES of AMERICA. Our borders already mean nothing. Laws about our borders mean nothing to politicians not living on them, in fear of their property and their very lives, watching all kinds of standards and the marketplace change because of millions of people in this nation, illegally. If border laws mean nothing, and laws regarding violence and destruction of public and private property mean nothing, and people can be harmed, even killed and nobody moves a finger to stop it, unless you are shot by a cop, regardless of it being a sound decision made by the cop or not, we are now living in the UNUNITED STATES of CHAOS and ANARCHY. Does that sit well with you? If you think this will not effect you, because you do not live in a big city, think again. When the time is right the totalitarians will step in and take total control and your freedoms and liberties, what is left of them, will be gone forever.
If we are not willing to stand up for the rule of law, we do not deserve to live under its protections, and those cowards in public service certainly do not warrant reelection. Are you certain we shall even have free elections this November? I have no confidence it will take place if what is happening continues on till then.
Our currency is being devalued. Our nation is being run by treasonous rogues in the "Deep State." We were lied to about a virus no worse than a nasty flu. We are being lied to about the factual number of deaths attributed to complications from the virus. We are watching America cities, run by Democrats, being torched and demolished, and Republicans too afraid to speak out. Madness!
Those behind this must be salivating because they know the end is near: the time to rejoice for the success of their totalitarian plans are soon to come to complete fruition.
I don't hear any sounds of different drums rapping out rudiments to come to our senses, save from a few Conservative pundits, basically powerless to stop what is happening. They can talk all they want. Why do they not run for office and actually do something than offer opinions?
Hey, I believe the end of the world is coming because I am a Christian, I believe the Bible, and believe Christ is going to return someday, sooner than later but, to watch our nation implode?
God help us.
******************
65. Like I Said ... July 6, 2020
Like I said ... when I first heard of this virus, back in January, the smell test failed, miserably. I knew this was not what the news media was making it out to be. Now, thankfully past a July 4th with no major outbreaks of nation-destroying lunacy, we have the WHO telling us asymptomatic people will not transfer the virus.
https://mobile.twitter.com/JohnBWellsCTM/status/1279036203451416576
All along, all the mouths in media, all the mouths from the WHO, the CDC, Fauci, Birx and co., Gates, and others did everything possible to scare the United States of America to death. The same for other nations. The entire world shut down for what amounts to a worse than normal flu season.
If nations just carried on as normal, using precautions like people should make in any flu season, none of this hysteria had to take place. Even now, while the corporate run media is doing all it can to shake people up with numbers of new cases (while knowing the death counts are constantly going down), Americans are waking up to what has happened. Like I said ... this was a man-made, manipulated event geared towards totalitarian muscle building.
While people I know and don't personally know said I was just a conspiracy theorist, the facts were there all along. The data was there, as well, and common sense was there, too. The fact is, all of it is still there and building; that the major players in this event manipulated, lied, and should be held accountable. I doubt they will be. Americans have no more voice for justice in D.C. Politicians are void of love for the Constitution and Rule of Law. All they care about is getting re-elected. There is no evidence to change that view. In some cases, absolute radicals are dropping hints the Constitution is just an old, worthless document that should be abandoned for more "modern" thought and polity. The more pressing issue would be those, a much larger number, who feel the same way but, won't say it until it is politically correct to do so.
Democrats, Republicans. That is America's choice every cycle. So, America no longer has a choice because both parties, even with their differences, are radical do-somethings or weak do-nothings and the nation is going down as liars lie and everything is about a photo-op or sound-byte.
I read an article where Fauci stated 15 years ago Chloroquine could be used for Covid viruses.
https://truepundit.com/deadly-cover-up-fauci-approved-hydroxychloroquine-15-years-ago-to-cure-coronaviruses-nobody-needed-to-die/
If you believe Fauci is just a nice old guy, you are unaware of facts surrounding him. Same for most of these players. They are part of a global movement to control humanity.
One of the reasons things like this seem far too "out there" to believe is because people basically think the better of people until given reason to think otherwise.
My wife and I, and a former family member, were just ripped off of money we gave to help a family member out. We thought the best of an individual. He seemed nice. He seemed straight. He seemed like he had the best interest of a family member at heart. Come to find out he is a con-man, with a long record, and apparently has a gambling problem. We found that out when money given to him to help someone did not reach them and we did some investigating. I told my wife, even though he seems like a nice guy I had doubts swirling around in my head. They have been validated.
Life tells me not to trust anyone but, God. People will consistently let us down. The Bible tells us not to put confidence in man: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and will lean his arm of flesh upon him, while his heart departs from the Lord." Jeremiah 17:1
"For the godly is perished from the earth; and there is none among men that orders his way aright: they all quarrel even to blood: they grievously afflict every one his neighbour:
they prepare their hands for mischief, the prince asks a reward, and the judge speaks flattering words; it is the desire of their soul:
therefore I will take away their goods as a devouring moth, and as one who acts by a rigid rule in a day of visitation. Woe, woe, thy times of vengeance are come; now shall be their lamentations.
Trust not in friends, and confide not in guides: beware of thy wife, so as not to commit anything to her.
For the son dishonours his father, the daughter will rise up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law: those in his house shall be all a man's enemies.
But I will look to the Lord; I will wait upon God my Saviour: my God will hearken to me. Micah 7:2-7.
This was direction given when Israel was in a very bad way of rebellion and apostasy. That said, does this not depict America, today? Christ quoted these words in His own ministry. They are applicable in any time when the circumstances are met. Well, the fact is, the Bible is filled with such counsel for such a time as this. People do not read it, let alone actually study it, so, counsel for such times is just languishing, and America, founded on belief in a Sovereign of the Universe, the Judge of all the World, is growing darker by the day.
If we really woke up to reality, facts, truth and principle, we could easily see what is happening. Even then, such knowledge does not give people bravery or courage to stand up and speak up.
My wife has a very close friend outside Atlanta. She is frightened. One thousand heavily armed members of Antifa went to Stone Mountain and confronted armed patriots there to see to it the mountain was not endangered of defacing by mobs. Nothing happened but, to say civil war is not possible in modern America is foolishness beyond incredibility. I've been to Stone Mountain. It's pretty amazing. I am not a Southerner. I was raised in Connecticut. I believe all men are created, literally, equal. Melanin in skin means nothing but, shade differences. Everyone is a shade of brown. I state it again: There is only one race, the human race.
The Bible predicted the rising gain of power at the hands of the weak, especially in regards to the marketplace and labor:
"Come now, rich ones, weep, howling over your hardships coming on.
Your riches have rotted, and your garments have become moth-eaten.
Your gold and silver have rusted over, and their poison will be a testimony to you, and will eat your flesh as fire. You heaped treasure in the last days.
Behold, the wages of the workmen who have reaped your fields cry out, being kept back by you. And the cries of the ones who have reaped have entered "into the ears of the Lord of Hosts."
You lived luxuriously on the earth, and lived for self-pleasure; you nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter;
you condemned; you murdered the righteous; he does not resist you." James 5:1-6
Think of Google, FaceBook, Apple, Micro-soft, and all the other huge tech companies out there. They are more and more controlling the planet by controlling the flow of information. They are run by billionaires. A smaller and smaller group of people are gaining more and more control. It is positively Orwellian. It is "1984."
What is happening today is all man-made, manipulated, using "useful idiots" to do things they do not even understand when asked. This has nothing to do with any kind of police brutality. This has nothing to do with George Floyd. This has nothing to do with slavery. This has everything to do with fundamentally changing America by destroying its past, mob-modifying its present, and controlling its future by force of elitists who could not care less about George Floyd, deaths from any virus, or "racism." ALL they care about is money, power, control. Period. And this means globally, not just America.
2020 seems to be make or break for the Republic. America certainly has its problems on its best days. Godless people are in control. Many are afraid of "godly" people because the past shows professed godly people can incite persecution, right quick, on whom they consider the godless.
Read Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. Read Genesis 6. Even if you don't understand everything, just read them and ask yourself if we are not living in the days Christ said the world would be like when He returns. In times past, over the centuries, really bad things happened. There have always been bad things happening. The question is, has it all been happening at the same time as Christ predicted? I think not. It is all happening, and the day of the return of Jesus Christ to this world draws closer and closer.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
https://mobile.twitter.com/JohnBWellsCTM/status/1279036203451416576
All along, all the mouths in media, all the mouths from the WHO, the CDC, Fauci, Birx and co., Gates, and others did everything possible to scare the United States of America to death. The same for other nations. The entire world shut down for what amounts to a worse than normal flu season.
If nations just carried on as normal, using precautions like people should make in any flu season, none of this hysteria had to take place. Even now, while the corporate run media is doing all it can to shake people up with numbers of new cases (while knowing the death counts are constantly going down), Americans are waking up to what has happened. Like I said ... this was a man-made, manipulated event geared towards totalitarian muscle building.
While people I know and don't personally know said I was just a conspiracy theorist, the facts were there all along. The data was there, as well, and common sense was there, too. The fact is, all of it is still there and building; that the major players in this event manipulated, lied, and should be held accountable. I doubt they will be. Americans have no more voice for justice in D.C. Politicians are void of love for the Constitution and Rule of Law. All they care about is getting re-elected. There is no evidence to change that view. In some cases, absolute radicals are dropping hints the Constitution is just an old, worthless document that should be abandoned for more "modern" thought and polity. The more pressing issue would be those, a much larger number, who feel the same way but, won't say it until it is politically correct to do so.
Democrats, Republicans. That is America's choice every cycle. So, America no longer has a choice because both parties, even with their differences, are radical do-somethings or weak do-nothings and the nation is going down as liars lie and everything is about a photo-op or sound-byte.
I read an article where Fauci stated 15 years ago Chloroquine could be used for Covid viruses.
https://truepundit.com/deadly-cover-up-fauci-approved-hydroxychloroquine-15-years-ago-to-cure-coronaviruses-nobody-needed-to-die/
If you believe Fauci is just a nice old guy, you are unaware of facts surrounding him. Same for most of these players. They are part of a global movement to control humanity.
One of the reasons things like this seem far too "out there" to believe is because people basically think the better of people until given reason to think otherwise.
My wife and I, and a former family member, were just ripped off of money we gave to help a family member out. We thought the best of an individual. He seemed nice. He seemed straight. He seemed like he had the best interest of a family member at heart. Come to find out he is a con-man, with a long record, and apparently has a gambling problem. We found that out when money given to him to help someone did not reach them and we did some investigating. I told my wife, even though he seems like a nice guy I had doubts swirling around in my head. They have been validated.
Life tells me not to trust anyone but, God. People will consistently let us down. The Bible tells us not to put confidence in man: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and will lean his arm of flesh upon him, while his heart departs from the Lord." Jeremiah 17:1
"For the godly is perished from the earth; and there is none among men that orders his way aright: they all quarrel even to blood: they grievously afflict every one his neighbour:
they prepare their hands for mischief, the prince asks a reward, and the judge speaks flattering words; it is the desire of their soul:
therefore I will take away their goods as a devouring moth, and as one who acts by a rigid rule in a day of visitation. Woe, woe, thy times of vengeance are come; now shall be their lamentations.
Trust not in friends, and confide not in guides: beware of thy wife, so as not to commit anything to her.
For the son dishonours his father, the daughter will rise up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law: those in his house shall be all a man's enemies.
But I will look to the Lord; I will wait upon God my Saviour: my God will hearken to me. Micah 7:2-7.
This was direction given when Israel was in a very bad way of rebellion and apostasy. That said, does this not depict America, today? Christ quoted these words in His own ministry. They are applicable in any time when the circumstances are met. Well, the fact is, the Bible is filled with such counsel for such a time as this. People do not read it, let alone actually study it, so, counsel for such times is just languishing, and America, founded on belief in a Sovereign of the Universe, the Judge of all the World, is growing darker by the day.
If we really woke up to reality, facts, truth and principle, we could easily see what is happening. Even then, such knowledge does not give people bravery or courage to stand up and speak up.
My wife has a very close friend outside Atlanta. She is frightened. One thousand heavily armed members of Antifa went to Stone Mountain and confronted armed patriots there to see to it the mountain was not endangered of defacing by mobs. Nothing happened but, to say civil war is not possible in modern America is foolishness beyond incredibility. I've been to Stone Mountain. It's pretty amazing. I am not a Southerner. I was raised in Connecticut. I believe all men are created, literally, equal. Melanin in skin means nothing but, shade differences. Everyone is a shade of brown. I state it again: There is only one race, the human race.
The Bible predicted the rising gain of power at the hands of the weak, especially in regards to the marketplace and labor:
"Come now, rich ones, weep, howling over your hardships coming on.
Your riches have rotted, and your garments have become moth-eaten.
Your gold and silver have rusted over, and their poison will be a testimony to you, and will eat your flesh as fire. You heaped treasure in the last days.
Behold, the wages of the workmen who have reaped your fields cry out, being kept back by you. And the cries of the ones who have reaped have entered "into the ears of the Lord of Hosts."
You lived luxuriously on the earth, and lived for self-pleasure; you nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter;
you condemned; you murdered the righteous; he does not resist you." James 5:1-6
Think of Google, FaceBook, Apple, Micro-soft, and all the other huge tech companies out there. They are more and more controlling the planet by controlling the flow of information. They are run by billionaires. A smaller and smaller group of people are gaining more and more control. It is positively Orwellian. It is "1984."
What is happening today is all man-made, manipulated, using "useful idiots" to do things they do not even understand when asked. This has nothing to do with any kind of police brutality. This has nothing to do with George Floyd. This has nothing to do with slavery. This has everything to do with fundamentally changing America by destroying its past, mob-modifying its present, and controlling its future by force of elitists who could not care less about George Floyd, deaths from any virus, or "racism." ALL they care about is money, power, control. Period. And this means globally, not just America.
2020 seems to be make or break for the Republic. America certainly has its problems on its best days. Godless people are in control. Many are afraid of "godly" people because the past shows professed godly people can incite persecution, right quick, on whom they consider the godless.
Read Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. Read Genesis 6. Even if you don't understand everything, just read them and ask yourself if we are not living in the days Christ said the world would be like when He returns. In times past, over the centuries, really bad things happened. There have always been bad things happening. The question is, has it all been happening at the same time as Christ predicted? I think not. It is all happening, and the day of the return of Jesus Christ to this world draws closer and closer.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
66. July 6, 2020 - Music for Patriots is Coming
In the midst of all that has and is happening, I have written a few thoughts on the need for music that inspires patriotism. Even though I love more "modern" music and genres, I still love hymns, and I still love the music of John Phillip Sousa. You generally only hear it during the days of July 4th celebration. Fireworks displays and parades and all. It's just fun, energizing stuff.
The song, "God Bless the USA," by Lee Greenwood, has been a mainstay for years now. Many have recorded it. It gets better and better by use of modern recording tech and imagination for making it as "big" as possible, or as beautiful as possible.
Well, with all that has been happening, the lyric stick hit me on the head and I have been writing lyrics focusing on patriotism, American history, and current events. What to do with them? I send them to Gary Henderson: guitarist, song writer, producer extraordinaire. I mentioned Gary a few blogs back about his rendition of "America the Beautiful." Like I mentioned before, I already knew his talents from meeting him during the Legend auditions. His latest album, The Gift, is a real tour de force.
Gary and I share the same feelings and concerns for America. The more we communicated and got to know each other the more these concerns came to light. And frankly, his own lyrical journey on his previous recordings show some of his contempt for those who are trying to ruin the nation and using people to do it.
So, thus far I've sent Gary lyrics for 15 songs to choose from to put his magic upon. He sent me a rough demo of one, so far: " Liberty." It is Goosebump City. The guy is just a one-man marvel. When you hear your lyrics made into song structure, especially like this, it really is a rush.
Gary records projects by himself these days. He isn't just multi-talented when it comes to chromatic instruments, he also plays a mean set of keyboard/software drums. Really great rhythms and beats within the context of his musical adventures.
I am thrilled to be working with him, and hopefully, when things gel and some logistics are worked out, I look forward to getting the opportunity to do my thing and record the drum tracks for the songs we put together for an album.
I feel deeply, as does Gary, this is a "for such a time as this" effort. Some music is able to transcend genre preferences by music lovers. I already mentioned Sousa. Think of the times you have heard "Amazing Grace" used by all kinds of artists. Obviously, include "Christmas" music; songs with lyrics, some centuries old now, speaking about a Person who so many of the people who sing them do not even really believe in. That's quite a testament to the power of music, very old music, at that. Then the more secular seasonal songs sung by people who would never relate to such music at other times of the year.
What Gary and I are working on will hopefully make a small dent into that arena. Songs of honor, faith, encouragement, history, and straight in-your-face commentary, no apologies for believing the way we do songs.
America has been a marvel of the nations. A grand experiment. The nation millions upon millions want to get to, any way they can because freedom, liberty, rights and equality shocked the world two hundred and fifty years ago. The Declaration of Independence, 1776, one of the most fantastic documents in human history. The ratification of the Constitution of the United States, 1789. THE premier, man-made document of the last 2000 years. No kings or queens. No ruling class of any kind. Anyone can excel. Anyone can be involved in the governance of citizens. Anyone can catapult and ascend to do great things because of FREEDOM.
I believe the "American empire" has committed atrocities. Many in positions of power have abused it. I believe those who do not love the principles of Americanism and actually hate America, are radically trying to dismantle and destroy it. Their thinking is so flawed and demented they should leave the Republic and go somewhere where their ideas of government control are more easily encountered. Of course, when they get there they would not be in control, and rather voiceless, and that means they would suffer what all citizens of any nation suffer where any kind of democratic majority rule, or domination of the few over the many exists; where the wealthy control those beneath them, and force holds power and authority; where "God" means men; and life means next to nothing. I say, Go. Leave. Be happy somewhere else. You are obviously miserable here. You hate Americans who love the principles of Americanism. Everything to you is about melanin - skin color. Everything to you is about social engineering. Everything to you is about an equality that betrays human need to excel and develop and rise above the din of man-made controls that darkens everything it touches. You need to leave the United States of America and go somewhere else where you can contribute to an all-powerful government run by those who believe force is the best way to get things done. Oh, we're getting there in America. The United States of America is swiftly becoming the United Federal Government of America. United only in the make-up of bullies and cowards.
Music is just music. It can inspire, certainly. It can encourage. It can cause us to think and ruminate. It can do a lot of positive things. It can also be background noise. It can be meaningless entertainment that dumbs people down. It can be used to rally darkness. It can be used to rally light. Hopefully the latter is what Gary and I will present, if things work out as we hope.
Until then, think for yourself because, if you do not, someone else will be glad to think for you.
Courage in the Lord, my friends.
The song, "God Bless the USA," by Lee Greenwood, has been a mainstay for years now. Many have recorded it. It gets better and better by use of modern recording tech and imagination for making it as "big" as possible, or as beautiful as possible.
Well, with all that has been happening, the lyric stick hit me on the head and I have been writing lyrics focusing on patriotism, American history, and current events. What to do with them? I send them to Gary Henderson: guitarist, song writer, producer extraordinaire. I mentioned Gary a few blogs back about his rendition of "America the Beautiful." Like I mentioned before, I already knew his talents from meeting him during the Legend auditions. His latest album, The Gift, is a real tour de force.
Gary and I share the same feelings and concerns for America. The more we communicated and got to know each other the more these concerns came to light. And frankly, his own lyrical journey on his previous recordings show some of his contempt for those who are trying to ruin the nation and using people to do it.
So, thus far I've sent Gary lyrics for 15 songs to choose from to put his magic upon. He sent me a rough demo of one, so far: " Liberty." It is Goosebump City. The guy is just a one-man marvel. When you hear your lyrics made into song structure, especially like this, it really is a rush.
Gary records projects by himself these days. He isn't just multi-talented when it comes to chromatic instruments, he also plays a mean set of keyboard/software drums. Really great rhythms and beats within the context of his musical adventures.
I am thrilled to be working with him, and hopefully, when things gel and some logistics are worked out, I look forward to getting the opportunity to do my thing and record the drum tracks for the songs we put together for an album.
I feel deeply, as does Gary, this is a "for such a time as this" effort. Some music is able to transcend genre preferences by music lovers. I already mentioned Sousa. Think of the times you have heard "Amazing Grace" used by all kinds of artists. Obviously, include "Christmas" music; songs with lyrics, some centuries old now, speaking about a Person who so many of the people who sing them do not even really believe in. That's quite a testament to the power of music, very old music, at that. Then the more secular seasonal songs sung by people who would never relate to such music at other times of the year.
What Gary and I are working on will hopefully make a small dent into that arena. Songs of honor, faith, encouragement, history, and straight in-your-face commentary, no apologies for believing the way we do songs.
America has been a marvel of the nations. A grand experiment. The nation millions upon millions want to get to, any way they can because freedom, liberty, rights and equality shocked the world two hundred and fifty years ago. The Declaration of Independence, 1776, one of the most fantastic documents in human history. The ratification of the Constitution of the United States, 1789. THE premier, man-made document of the last 2000 years. No kings or queens. No ruling class of any kind. Anyone can excel. Anyone can be involved in the governance of citizens. Anyone can catapult and ascend to do great things because of FREEDOM.
I believe the "American empire" has committed atrocities. Many in positions of power have abused it. I believe those who do not love the principles of Americanism and actually hate America, are radically trying to dismantle and destroy it. Their thinking is so flawed and demented they should leave the Republic and go somewhere where their ideas of government control are more easily encountered. Of course, when they get there they would not be in control, and rather voiceless, and that means they would suffer what all citizens of any nation suffer where any kind of democratic majority rule, or domination of the few over the many exists; where the wealthy control those beneath them, and force holds power and authority; where "God" means men; and life means next to nothing. I say, Go. Leave. Be happy somewhere else. You are obviously miserable here. You hate Americans who love the principles of Americanism. Everything to you is about melanin - skin color. Everything to you is about social engineering. Everything to you is about an equality that betrays human need to excel and develop and rise above the din of man-made controls that darkens everything it touches. You need to leave the United States of America and go somewhere else where you can contribute to an all-powerful government run by those who believe force is the best way to get things done. Oh, we're getting there in America. The United States of America is swiftly becoming the United Federal Government of America. United only in the make-up of bullies and cowards.
Music is just music. It can inspire, certainly. It can encourage. It can cause us to think and ruminate. It can do a lot of positive things. It can also be background noise. It can be meaningless entertainment that dumbs people down. It can be used to rally darkness. It can be used to rally light. Hopefully the latter is what Gary and I will present, if things work out as we hope.
Until then, think for yourself because, if you do not, someone else will be glad to think for you.
Courage in the Lord, my friends.
******************
67. Stop Singing? - July 9, 2020
You know, if you are going to ban church attendance you probably shouldn't encourage tens of thousands of people marching shoulder to shoulder, you know what I mean? It looks pretty hypocritical. It even looks, at the very least, very ignorant of political theater, which politicians thrive in. If professional politicians live by the rule of taking polls or surveys to find out what people feel about everything from their hair styles, to their clothes, to their verbiage, and their policies; banning church while allowing thousands to march seems less than honest. It's actually kind of stupid. Unless, of course, you are trying to divide and conquer.
Now, the governor of California, Gavin Newsome, may hate religion and any type of worship towards a deity. I don't know, and he has that right. He can be totally atheist if he wants. Personally, given California's State Constitution's Preamble, I find it odd anyone with that kind of attitude towards religion would be elected to such a position. Maybe you do not know what it states. Look it up.
"We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure and perpetuate its blessings, do establish this Constitution."
Article 1 states this:
"All people are by nature free and independent and have inalienable rights. Among these are enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety, happiness, and privacy."
In harmony with the First Amendment to the Nation's Constitution, our Bill of Rights, it seems pretty obvious no governor has the right or authority to be telling anybody anything about their religious practices.
So, the governor now tells worshipers in California they can go back to church but, they cannot sing. Wear masks. No singing.
Now, if people are, by nature, free and independent, and pursuing and obtaining safety is an inalienable right, it should be up to citizens to decide how they care about their health. If congregants of any faith want to sing to the Almighty God California admits is responsible for their freedom, and the blessings that come from the rule of law in their Constitution, they should have that right, and nobody in any elected civil servant position can abridge that inalienable right. That's plain English giving them those rights. So, sing!
I know, based on the overwhelming data available, this virus is most definitely not, what health "experts," health organizations like the WHO, main stream media outlets and many politicians are stating. They are lying. I mean, the number of alternative news outlets now carrying investigative facts about this fiasco are all over the globe. I have not and will not wear a mask, and certainly would not, unless I were sick and did not want to spread illness to my wife. Obviously, if I were seriously sick I'd stay home and in a room until I got better. And I'd be outside getting as much fresh air and sunshine as possible. That is common sense. Mandates, such as all these executive orders coast to coast, are not there to protect anyone. They are there to see how much control can be had over the populace, including most of the rest of the civilized nations of the world. All of this is a fear mongering power grab and finally, people are waking up to this subversive dog and pony show. Those civil servants who bought into the lies and hysteria can be forgiven but, seriously? They have no excuse. They are supposed to be adhering to the rule of law for a free people.
You see, that is the principle of the Rule of Law. If you sidestep it, "kingly power" steps in quickly. We see how quickly it has stepped in in this situation with nary a peep out of the populace, scared to even breathe fresh air!
I have seen articles from California news agencies already pitting citizens against citizens by claiming "Conservatives" are unhappy with this decision to ban singing in religious services.
I am generally too liberal for conservatives and too conservative for liberals. Square peg, round holes all over the place. I don't fit, and that's fine with me. I am a Bible believing Christian and that is my worldview. I make no apologies for that. And based on California's State Constitution, and the United States Constitution, if I lived in California, I'd be singing, loudly, God's praises, and encouraging every other believer of any faith in that state to do the same. It is an issue far bigger than individual religions. It is an issue of separation of church and state. It is an issue of freedom, liberty, and inalienable rights: rights you cannot be alienated from.
Honestly, if professed Christians, or any people of any professed faith in any deity, or for that matter, any people of no faith that just believe in the Rule of Law and guaranteed Rights, do not rise up against such despotism you deserve no freedom or blessings. For those who do not believe in God; if you truly believe in nothing you should at least understand the principles of freedom your fellow citizens enjoy, by rights, and stand with them, in principle, alone. Without the rule of law, without long established rights millions of this nation died to protect, their can be no peace, no harmony, no kinship of anything on any common basis. Their can only be chaos, and that is what we are beholding day after day now.
There are forces at work to divide Americans from each other and from their God-given rights and blessings. They should and must be exposed and stopped. If millions rise up, the bullying will cease. When the next election comes around, you replace despots and dictators with servants who will actually serve the laws they take oaths to protect, thereby protecting the citizenry. It is the lack of people understanding what is at stake that drives this perilous vehicle towards the cliff.
Those voices now feeling bold enough to actually state, out loud, they want to topple the American system, are traitors and should be addressed as such. Insurrection is a crime and should be addressed, and those who are fomenting this rebellion against sound morals and both public and private property and even life, are breaking the law should be arrested.
If people do not like the national or state constitutions where they live, they should leave the state and nation and live somewhere else. Engage in civil service and engage in a process to modify the Constitution to meet demands of inalienable rights more effectively, if you choose. To work to REMOVE those rights is treason, and such offenders should be arrested, tried, and locked up. I will sit down and talk with anyone. Start telling me my rights are meaningless and I see, right quick, you have no reason, nor even decency in you, and you need to be stopped.
I am an American. I believe in the principles of Americanism. I believe in nature's God Who granted this nation blessings and principles of governance that work just fine when everybody abides by them. Why will all citizens not abide by them? Because some are evil. It is as simple as that.
To think of evil as something so dark and nefarious as to be "satanic" in nature, just something so wicked it is unimaginable is, unfortunately, not how God defines it. A little Bible lesson here. Just hang in there for a moment. I'm not going to be preaching at you.
Genesis 6:5 And the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
So, at the time of the Flood (and it does not matter to our subject whether you believe in a global deluge or not), the description of all mankind was one of evil. The English translation is from the Hebrew word "ra," pronounced "raw." It literally means 'bad.' That's all. The Hebrew word it comes from "ra ah," which means "to spoil."
Evil is just intent to spoil things, to ruin things, to make things bad. That's evil. Evil is badness. Those who seek to spoil America, to ruin it, to tear it down, to disparage its principles and selected history, ("bad" as things may have been at times that America grew out of and changed from), are not Americans in principle. They are either ignorant of history and principles and/or they are just traitors; no matter what their profession of loving America. They are liars. They do not love America. They hate America and want to tear it down and replace it with something other than God-given freedoms, liberties, rights and principles all may enjoy, if we abide by the rule of law.
Those who do not abide by the rule of law, in ANY position in society, should be replaced, if not removed from free society. But, you do not replace the American system of being a Constitutional Republic with Socialism, Fascism, Communism, or any kind of anarchy that history has shown ALWAYS fails. Always. Equal rights under the law is the only proven way to maintain any semblance of free order. Unless we have a theocracy but, even there, 1500 years of Israel's showed mankind, with the best possible system, men, if their hearts are evil, will ruin things.
So, in the end it is a heart matter, isn't it? As John Adams, America's second President stated:
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
If America is in turmoil it seems obvious a significant number of citizens are not moral or religious. What are they, then? Immoral and irreligious. I believe, in principle, Adams was correct. The current system is inadequate for the current mob mentality raging on America's streets, and the evil at work in civil service offices throughout the land, in just about every state in the ... well, what used to be a "Union."
A sign of the times.
Sing! Sing faith. Sing freedom and liberty. Sing rights. Sing blessings. Just sing and let no man or group of men stop you. God is on His throne.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Now, the governor of California, Gavin Newsome, may hate religion and any type of worship towards a deity. I don't know, and he has that right. He can be totally atheist if he wants. Personally, given California's State Constitution's Preamble, I find it odd anyone with that kind of attitude towards religion would be elected to such a position. Maybe you do not know what it states. Look it up.
"We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure and perpetuate its blessings, do establish this Constitution."
Article 1 states this:
"All people are by nature free and independent and have inalienable rights. Among these are enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety, happiness, and privacy."
In harmony with the First Amendment to the Nation's Constitution, our Bill of Rights, it seems pretty obvious no governor has the right or authority to be telling anybody anything about their religious practices.
So, the governor now tells worshipers in California they can go back to church but, they cannot sing. Wear masks. No singing.
Now, if people are, by nature, free and independent, and pursuing and obtaining safety is an inalienable right, it should be up to citizens to decide how they care about their health. If congregants of any faith want to sing to the Almighty God California admits is responsible for their freedom, and the blessings that come from the rule of law in their Constitution, they should have that right, and nobody in any elected civil servant position can abridge that inalienable right. That's plain English giving them those rights. So, sing!
I know, based on the overwhelming data available, this virus is most definitely not, what health "experts," health organizations like the WHO, main stream media outlets and many politicians are stating. They are lying. I mean, the number of alternative news outlets now carrying investigative facts about this fiasco are all over the globe. I have not and will not wear a mask, and certainly would not, unless I were sick and did not want to spread illness to my wife. Obviously, if I were seriously sick I'd stay home and in a room until I got better. And I'd be outside getting as much fresh air and sunshine as possible. That is common sense. Mandates, such as all these executive orders coast to coast, are not there to protect anyone. They are there to see how much control can be had over the populace, including most of the rest of the civilized nations of the world. All of this is a fear mongering power grab and finally, people are waking up to this subversive dog and pony show. Those civil servants who bought into the lies and hysteria can be forgiven but, seriously? They have no excuse. They are supposed to be adhering to the rule of law for a free people.
You see, that is the principle of the Rule of Law. If you sidestep it, "kingly power" steps in quickly. We see how quickly it has stepped in in this situation with nary a peep out of the populace, scared to even breathe fresh air!
I have seen articles from California news agencies already pitting citizens against citizens by claiming "Conservatives" are unhappy with this decision to ban singing in religious services.
I am generally too liberal for conservatives and too conservative for liberals. Square peg, round holes all over the place. I don't fit, and that's fine with me. I am a Bible believing Christian and that is my worldview. I make no apologies for that. And based on California's State Constitution, and the United States Constitution, if I lived in California, I'd be singing, loudly, God's praises, and encouraging every other believer of any faith in that state to do the same. It is an issue far bigger than individual religions. It is an issue of separation of church and state. It is an issue of freedom, liberty, and inalienable rights: rights you cannot be alienated from.
Honestly, if professed Christians, or any people of any professed faith in any deity, or for that matter, any people of no faith that just believe in the Rule of Law and guaranteed Rights, do not rise up against such despotism you deserve no freedom or blessings. For those who do not believe in God; if you truly believe in nothing you should at least understand the principles of freedom your fellow citizens enjoy, by rights, and stand with them, in principle, alone. Without the rule of law, without long established rights millions of this nation died to protect, their can be no peace, no harmony, no kinship of anything on any common basis. Their can only be chaos, and that is what we are beholding day after day now.
There are forces at work to divide Americans from each other and from their God-given rights and blessings. They should and must be exposed and stopped. If millions rise up, the bullying will cease. When the next election comes around, you replace despots and dictators with servants who will actually serve the laws they take oaths to protect, thereby protecting the citizenry. It is the lack of people understanding what is at stake that drives this perilous vehicle towards the cliff.
Those voices now feeling bold enough to actually state, out loud, they want to topple the American system, are traitors and should be addressed as such. Insurrection is a crime and should be addressed, and those who are fomenting this rebellion against sound morals and both public and private property and even life, are breaking the law should be arrested.
If people do not like the national or state constitutions where they live, they should leave the state and nation and live somewhere else. Engage in civil service and engage in a process to modify the Constitution to meet demands of inalienable rights more effectively, if you choose. To work to REMOVE those rights is treason, and such offenders should be arrested, tried, and locked up. I will sit down and talk with anyone. Start telling me my rights are meaningless and I see, right quick, you have no reason, nor even decency in you, and you need to be stopped.
I am an American. I believe in the principles of Americanism. I believe in nature's God Who granted this nation blessings and principles of governance that work just fine when everybody abides by them. Why will all citizens not abide by them? Because some are evil. It is as simple as that.
To think of evil as something so dark and nefarious as to be "satanic" in nature, just something so wicked it is unimaginable is, unfortunately, not how God defines it. A little Bible lesson here. Just hang in there for a moment. I'm not going to be preaching at you.
Genesis 6:5 And the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
So, at the time of the Flood (and it does not matter to our subject whether you believe in a global deluge or not), the description of all mankind was one of evil. The English translation is from the Hebrew word "ra," pronounced "raw." It literally means 'bad.' That's all. The Hebrew word it comes from "ra ah," which means "to spoil."
Evil is just intent to spoil things, to ruin things, to make things bad. That's evil. Evil is badness. Those who seek to spoil America, to ruin it, to tear it down, to disparage its principles and selected history, ("bad" as things may have been at times that America grew out of and changed from), are not Americans in principle. They are either ignorant of history and principles and/or they are just traitors; no matter what their profession of loving America. They are liars. They do not love America. They hate America and want to tear it down and replace it with something other than God-given freedoms, liberties, rights and principles all may enjoy, if we abide by the rule of law.
Those who do not abide by the rule of law, in ANY position in society, should be replaced, if not removed from free society. But, you do not replace the American system of being a Constitutional Republic with Socialism, Fascism, Communism, or any kind of anarchy that history has shown ALWAYS fails. Always. Equal rights under the law is the only proven way to maintain any semblance of free order. Unless we have a theocracy but, even there, 1500 years of Israel's showed mankind, with the best possible system, men, if their hearts are evil, will ruin things.
So, in the end it is a heart matter, isn't it? As John Adams, America's second President stated:
"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
If America is in turmoil it seems obvious a significant number of citizens are not moral or religious. What are they, then? Immoral and irreligious. I believe, in principle, Adams was correct. The current system is inadequate for the current mob mentality raging on America's streets, and the evil at work in civil service offices throughout the land, in just about every state in the ... well, what used to be a "Union."
A sign of the times.
Sing! Sing faith. Sing freedom and liberty. Sing rights. Sing blessings. Just sing and let no man or group of men stop you. God is on His throne.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
68. Don Lemon and Jesus Christ - July 10, 2020
Well, this is going to be another blog that has nothing to do with music. That said, here we go.
This is from the CNN transcript site:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/2007/06/cnnt.01.html
I have seen this all over the place but, I want it in context. You should want it in context, too.
CNN's Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo:
"But here's the thing, Jesus Christ, if you believe -- if that's what you believe in, Jesus Christ, admittedly was not perfect when he was here on this earth. So why are we defying the fathers of this country? Many of whom owned slaves and, in the Constitution, the original one, they didn't want -- they put slavery in there, that slavery should be abolished because it was the way the king wanted.
And then the Congress said, no way. And so they had to come up with an alternative about three-fifths of a man and on and on and on.
CUOMO: Well, they knew, they knew that they had an inconsistency with the logic.
LEMON: There you go. All men are not perfect.
(CROSSTALK)
CUOMO: All men are created equal, except these men.
LEMON: They're not perfect. We have to stop defying them and saying, yes, they did some great things and they created a Constitution. And a, you know, a blueprint for us that it wasn't perfect at the time, and that's good. But they weren't perfect either. And so, as Americans, all of us should come together and have these conversations and get together and stop letting someone divide us. No one is perfect. Nothing is perfect not even the founding fathers.
CUOMO: Nothing human is perfect.
LEMON: Yes.
CUOMO: We are all fallible, especially people are limited by their time. There's no question about that. But here's the good news. Clarity is a good thing, OK?
Now, honestly, I have no use for Don Lemon or Chris Cuomo. None. I have no use for CNN. For that matter I have no use for any cable news network. I have no trust in news corporations owned by larger corporations deciding what is news and opinion. Far too often these corporations do not report news, they create news. Agenda-driven news.
As far as the context of the glaringly foolish comments by Don Lemon, I am compelled to comment.
Let's take this one at a time.
But here's the thing, Jesus Christ, if you believe -- if that's what you believe in, Jesus Christ, admittedly was not perfect when he was here on this earth.
Should that not be; "If that's Who you believe in?" I believe in Jesus Christ. The Bible is the book that states the most about Christ. Other writings from the times mention Him, so, we know He really existed, and He was really here. Christ is not a myth. If you want some facts on that go here:
http://reasonsforjesus.com/a-list-of-extra-biblical-sources-for-the-historical-jesus/
With that out of the way, we move on to to what the Bible says about Christ.
He is the Creator.
He is the Saviour of fallen creation.
He is a King of a kingdom not of this world.
He said He is "I Am," which is to say, He is divine. He is Deity.
The Bible states it plainly: "God was manifested in the flesh." God, the Creator, became a baby, a child, an adolescent, a man; to live as a perfect life example, to die as a perfect sacrifice, a "propitiation" for sin, which is: a stand-in. He stands in the place of the sinner deserving death.
By the way, the term anticrhist; "antechristos," means - to stand in place of Christ. Just something to keep in mind.
Christ came and He promised to return, and signs of the times given throughout the Bible show that day is ahead. Nobody knows the date. We can know the events leading up to it. Christ is coming back again to save His people from a world gone rebelliously mad.
Now, that is what I believe. All professed Christian churches and people I know of, based on their statements of belief, believe these basic things about Jesus Christ. Hundreds of millions, if not some billions down through the last 2000 years believed it.
Mr. Lemon said, If that is what you believe - meaning, I assume, if you believe the Christian faith; the religion surrounding Jesus Christ, which I do.
"Admittedly." Lemon does not state where Christ ever admitted He was not perfect. The fact is Christ never said anything about His sinlessness, save to ask what sin anyone could accuse Him of. You will not see a sin committed by Him in the Gospels, nor any other writing of the New Testament. Biblically, sin is transgression of God's law, which we have all done. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God," the apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans. Christ never broke the law. If Christ admitted He sinned, then we have no Saviour, no religion, nothing. It is all nothing. Maybe some nice concepts and ideas to live by. "Do unto others," and all.
The entire plan of salvation is based on the premise that Someone must and will stand in the place of the sinner before the judgment seat of God. We cannot save ourselves with any possible string of good works in a lifetime. Not possible. So, if Christ did not live a perfect life of sinlessness, the world is lost. Period. Whatever your reaction to that, that is the premise of the biblical plan of salvation. You are a sinner. You need salvation or you will die in your sins. The Creator paid the price: death, for your sins. Jesus Christ, the Creator, died so you do not have to die the second death. Everybody dies once but, that is not the end of the biblical plan. Christ died the second death. The end. Finished. Total, complete, separation from the Father. Done. If He were not sinless, no resurrection. No eternal life.
I am unaware of any religion in the history of the world that states the Creator died for His creation. The religion of the Bible is unique in that. The world's gods do not become men and die for them. The Christian faith is based on a premise that shocked the world then, and continues to. Even growing up a young Catholic I was not aware that Christ is the Creator of the universe. God became a man, fully human, fully divine and died in my place to save me from the penalty of sin. What I understood of the Christian religion as a boy turned me into an atheist. I remained one until I was exposed to biblical truth at 24 when I was born-again.
So, Christ never admitted He was imperfect when He was on Earth. No other biblical writer admitted it. What on earth was Don lemon talking about last night? He does not know what he is talking about. His ignorance of the subject screams at us. His knowledge of the subject is, by his own statement, zero, empty, void of understanding the basics of the Christian faith. I would expect him to offer some kind of "apology" today or soon, as the trumpet of truth blares long and loud about this.
"So why are we deifying the fathers of this country?"
Who deifies the Founding Fathers? I know of no one who has ever, ever deified the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. Comparing Christ to any man or group of men is absolute nonsense to any professed Christian that knows anything about the faith. Any true Christian, by biblical standards of doctrine and belief, would never compare Christ to any man or group of men, anymore than one would compare Einstein to an ant.
Now, men are to compare themselves to Christ, like looking into a mirror and seeing how filthy we are, how messed up we are, how much need we have. Once you do, you would never compare yourself to Christ as an equal. It is just ridiculous. Nobody should or could compare Christ to the Founding Fathers. The concept is the epitome of absurdity. Don Lemon did it. As pious and righteous as many of those men were in their personal lives, that lived by faith, nobody claims they were perfect. Nobody deifies them.
I know of none in history who ever stated the Founding Fathers were perfect. This may be the biggest red herring, straw man ever stated in pundit politics. It is the biggest nonsensical statement I have ever heard made by a news person. I cannot think of one more radically foolish.
Lemon's argument, whatever he is about to say, falls flat on its face by virtue of ignorance.
Because we know the Founding Fathers were not perfect; because we know they were sinners like ever other human in history, and some owned slaves, that gives people the right to topple public property with nary a word of discussion?!? Because we have an opinion about past people, we can destroy public property? We give mobs a pass because some statues depicting people who, beyond their sins, did fantastic things in history, including working to stop slavery and freeing slaves (the height of mob ignorance is glaringly bright here), had slaves?
Reality check. If you do something great in your life and some people decide to put up a statue in honor of your accomplishments, we should tear it down because you are a sinner. Own it. Regardless of anything you could do to change mankind's way of life, you are a sinner with a pile of sins that would reach the moon and back so, no marble, granite, or bronze for you.
The ignorance of that discussion between Lemon and Cuomo, is so grippingly repugnant to common sense it causes me to dislike corporation news even more. Talking heads talk. It is most certain they do not say intelligent things every time they talk.
I could get into the whole "three fifths of a man" aspect of the Constitution but, that is another issue which many minds smarter than mine have admirably tackled. Go here for the truth on the subject of the "three-fifths" attack on the Constitution:
https://www.theusconstitution.org/news/understanding-the-three-fifths-compromise/
"And so, as Americans, all of us should come together and have these conversations and get together and stop letting someone divide us. No one is perfect. Nothing is perfect not even the founding fathers.
CUOMO: Nothing human is perfect.
Giving mobs a pass, for any reason, is ignorance of the necessities of the rule of law and common sense. For Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo, it shows their hatred for American history and common sense. What else can I conclude? I see no semblance of common sense in their rhetoric, mostly designed to place some kind of negative weight on Donald Trump, and Conservatives, and those Americans who support the rule of law and history.
Mobs cannot be allowed to destroy public and private property because they are ticked off at early Americans!
Lemon and Cuomo are not trying to come together with anyone that disagrees with them. They attack the President all day long, every day, and have for four years now, pre and post Trump's election. These men are absolute hypocrites, by definition.
Mr Lemon and Mr. Cuomo, because you are not perfect, admittedly so, it seems logical to me, by your assessments, that you should not be allowed to represent the Press night after night; which is supposed to tell the truth, and report news to Americans, and hold ALL elected civil servants accountable to the Constitution they swear oaths to protect, not just the ones you hate. You should be canceled, torn down. I doubt anyone deifies you. You need not concern yourself with that. I doubt anyone will make a statue of you in honor of your achievements but, if mobs can break the law because the Declaration, Constitution and Bill of Rights were not composed by perfect men and therefore are not perfect in content, all hopes of discussion in this nation are gone. It is impossible to discuss things with that kind of ignorance, is it not? What place of common sense, logic, law, and history shall we find common ground on to see America come together? You are driving the dissent against the rule of law with your rhetoric and ignorance every day. You are paid to drive that agenda. It is your job description at CNN to divide Americans. CNN's agenda has been documented. I believe what I have seen about CNN. It is fast becoming the Communist News Network. It may already be, behind closed doors. It certainly seems wed to globalism.
Should it be torn down by mobs?
This is from the CNN transcript site:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/2007/06/cnnt.01.html
I have seen this all over the place but, I want it in context. You should want it in context, too.
CNN's Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo:
"But here's the thing, Jesus Christ, if you believe -- if that's what you believe in, Jesus Christ, admittedly was not perfect when he was here on this earth. So why are we defying the fathers of this country? Many of whom owned slaves and, in the Constitution, the original one, they didn't want -- they put slavery in there, that slavery should be abolished because it was the way the king wanted.
And then the Congress said, no way. And so they had to come up with an alternative about three-fifths of a man and on and on and on.
CUOMO: Well, they knew, they knew that they had an inconsistency with the logic.
LEMON: There you go. All men are not perfect.
(CROSSTALK)
CUOMO: All men are created equal, except these men.
LEMON: They're not perfect. We have to stop defying them and saying, yes, they did some great things and they created a Constitution. And a, you know, a blueprint for us that it wasn't perfect at the time, and that's good. But they weren't perfect either. And so, as Americans, all of us should come together and have these conversations and get together and stop letting someone divide us. No one is perfect. Nothing is perfect not even the founding fathers.
CUOMO: Nothing human is perfect.
LEMON: Yes.
CUOMO: We are all fallible, especially people are limited by their time. There's no question about that. But here's the good news. Clarity is a good thing, OK?
Now, honestly, I have no use for Don Lemon or Chris Cuomo. None. I have no use for CNN. For that matter I have no use for any cable news network. I have no trust in news corporations owned by larger corporations deciding what is news and opinion. Far too often these corporations do not report news, they create news. Agenda-driven news.
As far as the context of the glaringly foolish comments by Don Lemon, I am compelled to comment.
Let's take this one at a time.
But here's the thing, Jesus Christ, if you believe -- if that's what you believe in, Jesus Christ, admittedly was not perfect when he was here on this earth.
Should that not be; "If that's Who you believe in?" I believe in Jesus Christ. The Bible is the book that states the most about Christ. Other writings from the times mention Him, so, we know He really existed, and He was really here. Christ is not a myth. If you want some facts on that go here:
http://reasonsforjesus.com/a-list-of-extra-biblical-sources-for-the-historical-jesus/
With that out of the way, we move on to to what the Bible says about Christ.
He is the Creator.
He is the Saviour of fallen creation.
He is a King of a kingdom not of this world.
He said He is "I Am," which is to say, He is divine. He is Deity.
The Bible states it plainly: "God was manifested in the flesh." God, the Creator, became a baby, a child, an adolescent, a man; to live as a perfect life example, to die as a perfect sacrifice, a "propitiation" for sin, which is: a stand-in. He stands in the place of the sinner deserving death.
By the way, the term anticrhist; "antechristos," means - to stand in place of Christ. Just something to keep in mind.
Christ came and He promised to return, and signs of the times given throughout the Bible show that day is ahead. Nobody knows the date. We can know the events leading up to it. Christ is coming back again to save His people from a world gone rebelliously mad.
Now, that is what I believe. All professed Christian churches and people I know of, based on their statements of belief, believe these basic things about Jesus Christ. Hundreds of millions, if not some billions down through the last 2000 years believed it.
Mr. Lemon said, If that is what you believe - meaning, I assume, if you believe the Christian faith; the religion surrounding Jesus Christ, which I do.
"Admittedly." Lemon does not state where Christ ever admitted He was not perfect. The fact is Christ never said anything about His sinlessness, save to ask what sin anyone could accuse Him of. You will not see a sin committed by Him in the Gospels, nor any other writing of the New Testament. Biblically, sin is transgression of God's law, which we have all done. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God," the apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans. Christ never broke the law. If Christ admitted He sinned, then we have no Saviour, no religion, nothing. It is all nothing. Maybe some nice concepts and ideas to live by. "Do unto others," and all.
The entire plan of salvation is based on the premise that Someone must and will stand in the place of the sinner before the judgment seat of God. We cannot save ourselves with any possible string of good works in a lifetime. Not possible. So, if Christ did not live a perfect life of sinlessness, the world is lost. Period. Whatever your reaction to that, that is the premise of the biblical plan of salvation. You are a sinner. You need salvation or you will die in your sins. The Creator paid the price: death, for your sins. Jesus Christ, the Creator, died so you do not have to die the second death. Everybody dies once but, that is not the end of the biblical plan. Christ died the second death. The end. Finished. Total, complete, separation from the Father. Done. If He were not sinless, no resurrection. No eternal life.
I am unaware of any religion in the history of the world that states the Creator died for His creation. The religion of the Bible is unique in that. The world's gods do not become men and die for them. The Christian faith is based on a premise that shocked the world then, and continues to. Even growing up a young Catholic I was not aware that Christ is the Creator of the universe. God became a man, fully human, fully divine and died in my place to save me from the penalty of sin. What I understood of the Christian religion as a boy turned me into an atheist. I remained one until I was exposed to biblical truth at 24 when I was born-again.
So, Christ never admitted He was imperfect when He was on Earth. No other biblical writer admitted it. What on earth was Don lemon talking about last night? He does not know what he is talking about. His ignorance of the subject screams at us. His knowledge of the subject is, by his own statement, zero, empty, void of understanding the basics of the Christian faith. I would expect him to offer some kind of "apology" today or soon, as the trumpet of truth blares long and loud about this.
"So why are we deifying the fathers of this country?"
Who deifies the Founding Fathers? I know of no one who has ever, ever deified the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. Comparing Christ to any man or group of men is absolute nonsense to any professed Christian that knows anything about the faith. Any true Christian, by biblical standards of doctrine and belief, would never compare Christ to any man or group of men, anymore than one would compare Einstein to an ant.
Now, men are to compare themselves to Christ, like looking into a mirror and seeing how filthy we are, how messed up we are, how much need we have. Once you do, you would never compare yourself to Christ as an equal. It is just ridiculous. Nobody should or could compare Christ to the Founding Fathers. The concept is the epitome of absurdity. Don Lemon did it. As pious and righteous as many of those men were in their personal lives, that lived by faith, nobody claims they were perfect. Nobody deifies them.
I know of none in history who ever stated the Founding Fathers were perfect. This may be the biggest red herring, straw man ever stated in pundit politics. It is the biggest nonsensical statement I have ever heard made by a news person. I cannot think of one more radically foolish.
Lemon's argument, whatever he is about to say, falls flat on its face by virtue of ignorance.
Because we know the Founding Fathers were not perfect; because we know they were sinners like ever other human in history, and some owned slaves, that gives people the right to topple public property with nary a word of discussion?!? Because we have an opinion about past people, we can destroy public property? We give mobs a pass because some statues depicting people who, beyond their sins, did fantastic things in history, including working to stop slavery and freeing slaves (the height of mob ignorance is glaringly bright here), had slaves?
Reality check. If you do something great in your life and some people decide to put up a statue in honor of your accomplishments, we should tear it down because you are a sinner. Own it. Regardless of anything you could do to change mankind's way of life, you are a sinner with a pile of sins that would reach the moon and back so, no marble, granite, or bronze for you.
The ignorance of that discussion between Lemon and Cuomo, is so grippingly repugnant to common sense it causes me to dislike corporation news even more. Talking heads talk. It is most certain they do not say intelligent things every time they talk.
I could get into the whole "three fifths of a man" aspect of the Constitution but, that is another issue which many minds smarter than mine have admirably tackled. Go here for the truth on the subject of the "three-fifths" attack on the Constitution:
https://www.theusconstitution.org/news/understanding-the-three-fifths-compromise/
"And so, as Americans, all of us should come together and have these conversations and get together and stop letting someone divide us. No one is perfect. Nothing is perfect not even the founding fathers.
CUOMO: Nothing human is perfect.
Giving mobs a pass, for any reason, is ignorance of the necessities of the rule of law and common sense. For Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo, it shows their hatred for American history and common sense. What else can I conclude? I see no semblance of common sense in their rhetoric, mostly designed to place some kind of negative weight on Donald Trump, and Conservatives, and those Americans who support the rule of law and history.
Mobs cannot be allowed to destroy public and private property because they are ticked off at early Americans!
Lemon and Cuomo are not trying to come together with anyone that disagrees with them. They attack the President all day long, every day, and have for four years now, pre and post Trump's election. These men are absolute hypocrites, by definition.
Mr Lemon and Mr. Cuomo, because you are not perfect, admittedly so, it seems logical to me, by your assessments, that you should not be allowed to represent the Press night after night; which is supposed to tell the truth, and report news to Americans, and hold ALL elected civil servants accountable to the Constitution they swear oaths to protect, not just the ones you hate. You should be canceled, torn down. I doubt anyone deifies you. You need not concern yourself with that. I doubt anyone will make a statue of you in honor of your achievements but, if mobs can break the law because the Declaration, Constitution and Bill of Rights were not composed by perfect men and therefore are not perfect in content, all hopes of discussion in this nation are gone. It is impossible to discuss things with that kind of ignorance, is it not? What place of common sense, logic, law, and history shall we find common ground on to see America come together? You are driving the dissent against the rule of law with your rhetoric and ignorance every day. You are paid to drive that agenda. It is your job description at CNN to divide Americans. CNN's agenda has been documented. I believe what I have seen about CNN. It is fast becoming the Communist News Network. It may already be, behind closed doors. It certainly seems wed to globalism.
Should it be torn down by mobs?
******************
69. Why Is There So Much FEAR? - July 12, 2020
So, here's what's happening in Texas. Gov. Abbott gives an executive order that all Texans in counties with more than 20 active cases of C-19 have to wear a mask.
Seventy-eight counties have opted out, others, even those that have more than 20 cases, are not enforcing the order, and other county sheriffs have stated they will not enforce the order. The ultimate authority for anyone's heath is their own.
Back in Feb/March we were told masks were not effective, wear them if you want. Now, it's a mandate. We were told back then we just needed to flatten the curve. Here we are in July and watching the news or reading main stream news feeds, it isn't going to stop anytime soon.
I was asked to wear a mask when I went into a store the other day. I told the woman I am a free American, I'm not wearing a mask, and we need to have some common sense. Yes, I was upset. I spoke with solid determination, other employees looked at me and nobody said anything. I got my groceries, paid and left; aggravated and disgusted.
My wife's son is going to nursing school. He's generally up on all the things swirling around about this event. He says studies have shown wearing an approved mask helps. I emailed him studies that state otherwise, as well as info about this entire event. At this point you can find all kinds of conflicting information about the virus' history, effects, cures, prevention, masks, and executive orders/governmental authority. If nothing else is obvious, confusion is. There is no unity on any of these subjects. "Experts" disagree. My wife's other son felt sick, went to the doctor, got tested twice, which came back negative but, his doctor said he had a "feeling" he had the virus and told him to quarantine himself till he felt better! Since when are "feelings" medical science?
I find it fascinating and also repugnant, that nobody wants to tell anyone they cannot kill a baby inside a woman's womb because it is a woman's body but, elected civil servants believe they have the authority to tell all of us we must wear a mask so we cannot make anyone sick. We can kill babies. We cannot be allowed to, possibly, make anyone sick. Do you see the insanity here? The outrageous lack of common sense in this is mind-boggling.
Not only that but, if you want to discuss mask wearing, even the corrupt WHO has stated if you are asymptomatic, even if you are carrying the virus you cannot infect others. Did you get that? So, we are back to the same old adage - you quarantine the sick, not the healthy but, in the land of free home of the brave FEAR is the deciding factor. People are afraid if they go into a store and someone is not wearing a mask they might get sick ... and DIE, even though 99% of the people who contract the virus to any serious extent, live.
FEAR is now running the home of the brave. FEAR is being allowed to control people to the point common sense, facts, data, and truth come second, or third, or not considered, at all.
FEAR is now driving the bus. The bus is destined to crash because FEAR is not being in control. FEAR has no cognizance. FEAR is an emotional response to a situation that should easily be addressed without any. WHY are people so afraid? WHO is responsible for promoting all the FEAR?
Labs in the USA working with these viruses started this problem. A national moratorium shut them down. A Chinese scientist left America and went back to China to continue working with the virus. As of this point in time, NO NATURAL source has been discovered for the virus. This is a man-made manipulated virus and a man-made, manipulated event China started, in some fashion or way, well back in 2019. Some claim evidence back into August of 2019. China knew the matter at hand while it allowed tens of thousands of people to fly all over the world, infecting it. The World Health Organization worked with the Chinese on damage control, lied to the world, continues to lie to the world, and is now joined by the Center for Disease Control and their mandates on how to list victims of the virus: even if they have no symptoms! How many doctors have to speak out about that fact? The corporate controlled news cares not for truth. They lie about everything in this event, only trumpeting numbers that NO ONE knows the accuracy of. Cooperating "experts" continue to spout wrong predictions and waffle back and forth on advice. Maniacal governors, mayors, and county officials have gone off the deep end, either in ignorance or by design and in defiance of the First Amendment to the Constitution, are producing draconian mandates like kings and queens in the Dark Ages.
Where am I living? This is not America. Who stole America and put this charlatan, this fake, this imposter, this tyrant in its place?
The entire civilized world is living in FEAR started and promoted by a corrupt, lying cabal of players all spouting a vaccine must come to save the world!!! Bill Gates has somehow gone from 1's and 0's to being the expert on viruses and medicine! We must have a vaccine!!!
Do you know what is put in vaccines? Do you know anything about vaccines? Do you know any alternative explanation for this event? Is all you know based on CNN and the other alphabet news outlets? Then you are living in a world controlled by people who want to see you submit to ANYTHING they come up with for population control. You think the New World Order is just a "conspiracy theory?" In America all of this, everything happening is about stopping Trump from being elected. But, this virus is a world-wide event. It is, in fact, the Chinese Wuhan virus. The whole world is in FEAR.
I marvel to read comments after news stories and see the FEAR in responses, and also the virtue shaming and castigation of those who not only want their freedom to choose for themselves how to address this event but, also know the facts relating the virus, itself. You cannot reason with those who refuse to educate themselves. The level of FEAR promoted by the main stream media is incredible. People just see big numbers or ANY numbers thrown around and people are afraid they are going to die.
What does common sense state? You quarantine the sick, not the healthy. Viruses are out there, all day, every day. God gave us an immune system to deal with them. Some people have weakened immune systems because of various circumstances, like pre-existing conditions. They need protection. They should stay home if they are sick. Anyone afraid should stay home. Common sense dictates caution if anyone with a compromised immune system lives in their home. Our freedom cannot be cut off by your FEAR. Do you understand that principle? You cannot shame me successfully by telling me I should show respect to those with possible impairment by wearing a mask in 100 degree heat, when fresh air is God's remedy for just about every single illness man-kind has ever known! Seeing people wearing masks outdoors is insanity. I am seeing comments from people all over Texas that wearing a mask gives them a headache and they feel they cannot breathe. DUH!
Then there are those who like to say, I deserve what I get and they hope I die, or do not take up a hospital bed. Are you aware 1 million people die from things they get while IN a hospital every year? Upwards of 100,000 people die in hospitals every year from things they catch while in the place. So, no, if I do get the virus I'm not going to a hospital. It will be very interesting to see the numbers when this is all over of how many actually died as a result of complications brought on by the virus. We already know the numbers are not accurate because of CDC policies.
Have you heard anything about the flu this year? If doctors aren't sure, if tests can give positive results for a negative condition, if policy and politics are running numbers through the roof, will we ever know how many people went to a hospital feeling sick and died from the flu? Back in March, the flu had infected 20-40,000,000 people and claimed around 20-40,000 lives. Why the disparaging numbers? Because death can be very tricky to pinpoint and a doctor's discretion is called upon to fill out a death certificate for primary and secondary causes of death. A flu season can easily claim twice that number, and in some years three times that number. Thus far the C-19 virus has effected a little beyond 3.2 million people in the USA, and a little under 135,000 have died. That's a really bad flu season for a death count. Why is the world FEARING for life as though this is the Bubonic Plague? Why is there so much FEAR? It's bad enough a quarter of the world number of deaths (565,000) are from America. The world's wealthiest nation. Twenty-five percent of the deaths, if you believe the numbers (I do not)? Why?
I wear masks all the time in my shop. I know what wearing a mask for any length of time can do. I know to wear a mask if working with toxic fumes or toxic dust from certain woods. After less than an hour I need fresh air! I am not wearing a mask because of this virus. I refuse to breath stale air all day long. Give me a break. Are people just plain stupid? Please forgive my strong attitude at this juncture. I cannot tell you how weary I am of watching this dog and pony show continue with no protest from elected civil servants all on board with kingly power syndrome. Or, FEARFUL of speaking out, lest they have to actually tell people the truth, the facts, and the data. Easier to just keep people living in FEAR. They are easier to control.
Between hysteria and politics this event is being driven by people I would not trust as far as I could throw a bull. And there's plenty of bull being thrown around.
God bless Kristi Noem up in South Dakota. God bless the doctors speaking out. God bless alternative news outlets for speaking out. God bless those elected civil servants who understand principles of liberty. God bless sheriffs faithful to the rule of law. God bless free Americans for speaking out and standing up against tyranny and ignorance and FEAR.
The real problem in America is just plain old, poor health, in general.
NEW START is an acronym for a health program found in natural, holistic treatment of illness. I recall it was started by a place out in Washington state that treats illness in natural ways.
N - Nutrition
E - Exercise
W- Water
S- Sunshine
T- Temperance
A- Air
R- Rest
T- Trust in God
Proper nutrition, daily exercise, clean pure water inside and out, plenty of sunshine, moderation even in good things, plenty of fresh air, adequate rest, and trust in our Creator are His natural building blocks for a healthy, strong immune system and fighting off illness.
Most Americans consume more "junk" food and beverages, and things that cannot even be called food, by definition, and consume more "white death" - sugar, salt, flour, rice - than could erect 20 Mt. Everest's. Tens of millions of Americans live to eat and drink junk. We are a very sick nation as a result.
The main reason people are getting seriously sick from this illness is because they are already ill. They are already sick and weakened by ineffective immune systems. From the youngest child to the oldest person walking, unless you have a genetic cast iron stomach and constitution, people get sick every single minute of every single day because their immune systems are shot. This virus is no more dangerous to a healthy person than the flu. I cannot remember the last time I had the flu. I cannot even remember the last time I was really sick. I do care about my immune system.
If nothing else, every single news outlet should be screaming the need for people to think clearly about their anatomies and their personal control and authority over their bodies as far as what goes into them. Until people get a grip on their health, viruses like this will continue to be used by wicked despots to control humanity, along with their vaccination cures, which will make the situation much worse. Yes, it is a tragedy people are dying. No, many did not have to if they had a healthy immune system. Yes, the elderly (of which I am now considered, at 65) run a higher risk of contracting the illness if their immune system is compromised. They should be protected with common sense. I can tell you placing thousands of elderly victims in nursing homes in NY and making more sick and die, to the tally of 9,500 citizens, ought not a to get a pass from the press or justice department but, the place is run by less than tried and true rule of law patriots. They do not even back their police force, the largest on earth. What can you expect?
If things keep going under man-made mandates, natural immunity is not going to happen for the majority populace. This thing will just mutate and travel round and round and FEAR will keep this situation perpetuated.
People need to wake up. This is all happening way too easily for the cabal to pull off.
FEAR should go to hell where it belongs.
2Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Hebrews 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
1John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.
Psalm 43:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Psalm 67:2 That Your way may be known upon earth, Your saving health among all nations.
3John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.
Seventy-eight counties have opted out, others, even those that have more than 20 cases, are not enforcing the order, and other county sheriffs have stated they will not enforce the order. The ultimate authority for anyone's heath is their own.
Back in Feb/March we were told masks were not effective, wear them if you want. Now, it's a mandate. We were told back then we just needed to flatten the curve. Here we are in July and watching the news or reading main stream news feeds, it isn't going to stop anytime soon.
I was asked to wear a mask when I went into a store the other day. I told the woman I am a free American, I'm not wearing a mask, and we need to have some common sense. Yes, I was upset. I spoke with solid determination, other employees looked at me and nobody said anything. I got my groceries, paid and left; aggravated and disgusted.
My wife's son is going to nursing school. He's generally up on all the things swirling around about this event. He says studies have shown wearing an approved mask helps. I emailed him studies that state otherwise, as well as info about this entire event. At this point you can find all kinds of conflicting information about the virus' history, effects, cures, prevention, masks, and executive orders/governmental authority. If nothing else is obvious, confusion is. There is no unity on any of these subjects. "Experts" disagree. My wife's other son felt sick, went to the doctor, got tested twice, which came back negative but, his doctor said he had a "feeling" he had the virus and told him to quarantine himself till he felt better! Since when are "feelings" medical science?
I find it fascinating and also repugnant, that nobody wants to tell anyone they cannot kill a baby inside a woman's womb because it is a woman's body but, elected civil servants believe they have the authority to tell all of us we must wear a mask so we cannot make anyone sick. We can kill babies. We cannot be allowed to, possibly, make anyone sick. Do you see the insanity here? The outrageous lack of common sense in this is mind-boggling.
Not only that but, if you want to discuss mask wearing, even the corrupt WHO has stated if you are asymptomatic, even if you are carrying the virus you cannot infect others. Did you get that? So, we are back to the same old adage - you quarantine the sick, not the healthy but, in the land of free home of the brave FEAR is the deciding factor. People are afraid if they go into a store and someone is not wearing a mask they might get sick ... and DIE, even though 99% of the people who contract the virus to any serious extent, live.
FEAR is now running the home of the brave. FEAR is being allowed to control people to the point common sense, facts, data, and truth come second, or third, or not considered, at all.
FEAR is now driving the bus. The bus is destined to crash because FEAR is not being in control. FEAR has no cognizance. FEAR is an emotional response to a situation that should easily be addressed without any. WHY are people so afraid? WHO is responsible for promoting all the FEAR?
Labs in the USA working with these viruses started this problem. A national moratorium shut them down. A Chinese scientist left America and went back to China to continue working with the virus. As of this point in time, NO NATURAL source has been discovered for the virus. This is a man-made manipulated virus and a man-made, manipulated event China started, in some fashion or way, well back in 2019. Some claim evidence back into August of 2019. China knew the matter at hand while it allowed tens of thousands of people to fly all over the world, infecting it. The World Health Organization worked with the Chinese on damage control, lied to the world, continues to lie to the world, and is now joined by the Center for Disease Control and their mandates on how to list victims of the virus: even if they have no symptoms! How many doctors have to speak out about that fact? The corporate controlled news cares not for truth. They lie about everything in this event, only trumpeting numbers that NO ONE knows the accuracy of. Cooperating "experts" continue to spout wrong predictions and waffle back and forth on advice. Maniacal governors, mayors, and county officials have gone off the deep end, either in ignorance or by design and in defiance of the First Amendment to the Constitution, are producing draconian mandates like kings and queens in the Dark Ages.
Where am I living? This is not America. Who stole America and put this charlatan, this fake, this imposter, this tyrant in its place?
The entire civilized world is living in FEAR started and promoted by a corrupt, lying cabal of players all spouting a vaccine must come to save the world!!! Bill Gates has somehow gone from 1's and 0's to being the expert on viruses and medicine! We must have a vaccine!!!
Do you know what is put in vaccines? Do you know anything about vaccines? Do you know any alternative explanation for this event? Is all you know based on CNN and the other alphabet news outlets? Then you are living in a world controlled by people who want to see you submit to ANYTHING they come up with for population control. You think the New World Order is just a "conspiracy theory?" In America all of this, everything happening is about stopping Trump from being elected. But, this virus is a world-wide event. It is, in fact, the Chinese Wuhan virus. The whole world is in FEAR.
I marvel to read comments after news stories and see the FEAR in responses, and also the virtue shaming and castigation of those who not only want their freedom to choose for themselves how to address this event but, also know the facts relating the virus, itself. You cannot reason with those who refuse to educate themselves. The level of FEAR promoted by the main stream media is incredible. People just see big numbers or ANY numbers thrown around and people are afraid they are going to die.
What does common sense state? You quarantine the sick, not the healthy. Viruses are out there, all day, every day. God gave us an immune system to deal with them. Some people have weakened immune systems because of various circumstances, like pre-existing conditions. They need protection. They should stay home if they are sick. Anyone afraid should stay home. Common sense dictates caution if anyone with a compromised immune system lives in their home. Our freedom cannot be cut off by your FEAR. Do you understand that principle? You cannot shame me successfully by telling me I should show respect to those with possible impairment by wearing a mask in 100 degree heat, when fresh air is God's remedy for just about every single illness man-kind has ever known! Seeing people wearing masks outdoors is insanity. I am seeing comments from people all over Texas that wearing a mask gives them a headache and they feel they cannot breathe. DUH!
Then there are those who like to say, I deserve what I get and they hope I die, or do not take up a hospital bed. Are you aware 1 million people die from things they get while IN a hospital every year? Upwards of 100,000 people die in hospitals every year from things they catch while in the place. So, no, if I do get the virus I'm not going to a hospital. It will be very interesting to see the numbers when this is all over of how many actually died as a result of complications brought on by the virus. We already know the numbers are not accurate because of CDC policies.
Have you heard anything about the flu this year? If doctors aren't sure, if tests can give positive results for a negative condition, if policy and politics are running numbers through the roof, will we ever know how many people went to a hospital feeling sick and died from the flu? Back in March, the flu had infected 20-40,000,000 people and claimed around 20-40,000 lives. Why the disparaging numbers? Because death can be very tricky to pinpoint and a doctor's discretion is called upon to fill out a death certificate for primary and secondary causes of death. A flu season can easily claim twice that number, and in some years three times that number. Thus far the C-19 virus has effected a little beyond 3.2 million people in the USA, and a little under 135,000 have died. That's a really bad flu season for a death count. Why is the world FEARING for life as though this is the Bubonic Plague? Why is there so much FEAR? It's bad enough a quarter of the world number of deaths (565,000) are from America. The world's wealthiest nation. Twenty-five percent of the deaths, if you believe the numbers (I do not)? Why?
I wear masks all the time in my shop. I know what wearing a mask for any length of time can do. I know to wear a mask if working with toxic fumes or toxic dust from certain woods. After less than an hour I need fresh air! I am not wearing a mask because of this virus. I refuse to breath stale air all day long. Give me a break. Are people just plain stupid? Please forgive my strong attitude at this juncture. I cannot tell you how weary I am of watching this dog and pony show continue with no protest from elected civil servants all on board with kingly power syndrome. Or, FEARFUL of speaking out, lest they have to actually tell people the truth, the facts, and the data. Easier to just keep people living in FEAR. They are easier to control.
Between hysteria and politics this event is being driven by people I would not trust as far as I could throw a bull. And there's plenty of bull being thrown around.
God bless Kristi Noem up in South Dakota. God bless the doctors speaking out. God bless alternative news outlets for speaking out. God bless those elected civil servants who understand principles of liberty. God bless sheriffs faithful to the rule of law. God bless free Americans for speaking out and standing up against tyranny and ignorance and FEAR.
The real problem in America is just plain old, poor health, in general.
NEW START is an acronym for a health program found in natural, holistic treatment of illness. I recall it was started by a place out in Washington state that treats illness in natural ways.
N - Nutrition
E - Exercise
W- Water
S- Sunshine
T- Temperance
A- Air
R- Rest
T- Trust in God
Proper nutrition, daily exercise, clean pure water inside and out, plenty of sunshine, moderation even in good things, plenty of fresh air, adequate rest, and trust in our Creator are His natural building blocks for a healthy, strong immune system and fighting off illness.
Most Americans consume more "junk" food and beverages, and things that cannot even be called food, by definition, and consume more "white death" - sugar, salt, flour, rice - than could erect 20 Mt. Everest's. Tens of millions of Americans live to eat and drink junk. We are a very sick nation as a result.
The main reason people are getting seriously sick from this illness is because they are already ill. They are already sick and weakened by ineffective immune systems. From the youngest child to the oldest person walking, unless you have a genetic cast iron stomach and constitution, people get sick every single minute of every single day because their immune systems are shot. This virus is no more dangerous to a healthy person than the flu. I cannot remember the last time I had the flu. I cannot even remember the last time I was really sick. I do care about my immune system.
If nothing else, every single news outlet should be screaming the need for people to think clearly about their anatomies and their personal control and authority over their bodies as far as what goes into them. Until people get a grip on their health, viruses like this will continue to be used by wicked despots to control humanity, along with their vaccination cures, which will make the situation much worse. Yes, it is a tragedy people are dying. No, many did not have to if they had a healthy immune system. Yes, the elderly (of which I am now considered, at 65) run a higher risk of contracting the illness if their immune system is compromised. They should be protected with common sense. I can tell you placing thousands of elderly victims in nursing homes in NY and making more sick and die, to the tally of 9,500 citizens, ought not a to get a pass from the press or justice department but, the place is run by less than tried and true rule of law patriots. They do not even back their police force, the largest on earth. What can you expect?
If things keep going under man-made mandates, natural immunity is not going to happen for the majority populace. This thing will just mutate and travel round and round and FEAR will keep this situation perpetuated.
People need to wake up. This is all happening way too easily for the cabal to pull off.
FEAR should go to hell where it belongs.
2Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Hebrews 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
1John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.
Psalm 43:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Psalm 67:2 That Your way may be known upon earth, Your saving health among all nations.
3John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.
******************
70. The Religion of "Expertism." - July 15, 2020
Experts. The definition of an expert is :
"One with the special skill or knowledge representing mastery of a particular subject." Merriam-Webster
You all know I am a Christian with a biblical worldview. I do not consider myself a theologian or an expert on anything about the Bible. I have studied it for 41 years and I know far less about it than can be known. It's a lifetime endeavor.
I do not consider myself an expert at drumming or drum making. I do both well enough but, my inadequacies of both are obvious to those with greater knowledge and skills.
I am not an expert at anything. I'm am on the side of "jack of all trades, master of none." Jack of some trades, master of none, would be the truth of the matter.
I know enough about and from the aforementioned subjects that I have general distrust of "experts," especially when it comes to marketed products, politics, health/medicine, and religion. If I don't know about something I read about it. I research. I try to educate myself. Admittedly, reading takes one into the field of experts so, I try to use common sense to distinguish fact from fiction.
There are "experts" in the field of drum making that are considered the finger of god in granite when they state something. It is considered fact just because they wrote or said it, not because they proved it with anything scientifically observable. And I do not mean using technology to analyze sound. The only thing a player needs to analyze the sound of drums is their ears because that is all they are ever going to hear with. Laboratory analysis means nothing to the practical sound of a drum.
I have no need to name names here. I always have people wanting me to do that. I leave the information as is because in the field of drum manufacturing the hype is so ridiculous the "experts" proposing such ultra-hype are obvious to anyone with common sense, discernment, and living life observing things, which I have in playing drums for 55 years and making them for the last 30 years and lots experience messing around with them in the 1970's. I have been videoing my beliefs on this subject with 13 videos thus far on my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnmLVURn6hk&list=PLRvd-mVMdjwLmAPgUesHnoSPlHvvXhalx
Experts. I am grossly tired of experts. Experts have shut down the world. They are globally trusted. They should not be trusted at all.
Take a look at this statement:
"If one assumes that the number of asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic cases is several times as high as the number of reported cases, the case fatality rate may be considerably less than 1%. This suggests that the overall clinical consequences of Covid-19 may ultimately be more akin to those of a severe seasonal influenza (which has a case fatality rate of approximately 0.1%) or a pandemic influenza (similar to those in 1957 and 1968) rather than a disease similar to SARS or MERS, which have had case fatality rates of 9 to 10% and 36%, respectively.2 [emphasis supplied]
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejme2002387
February 28, 2020, at NEJM.org.
Do you know who authored that? The same man who testified before Congress eleven days later that Covid-19 is "at least ten times more lethal than the flu." Anthony S. Fauci, MD. (???!!!???)
Right now, as I type, people are worshiping (bowing down to) the ground this "expert" walks on. He is quoted incessantly about the virus and what is expected to happen. As I have stated previously, I most certainly do not worship the ground he walks on, nor respect anything he says because he has been wrong on every prediction, has a history intimately involved with this virus situation, is a major pusher of vaccinations for all, and waffles on almost everything when he is cornered. He has given Americans zero reason to trust him.
Expertism. The religion of worshiping "experts."
Nobody blames expert meteorologists when they get the weather wrong. Just about every state I have lived in has the saying - "Don't like the weather? Wait a minute." Nobody gets angry with meteorologists because everybody knows predicting weather, even with the best science, is trying to predict how nature works, which cannot be done with 100% accuracy because things can literally change in minutes. But, when it comes to shutting down the entire world because of telling it a killer pandemic is loose and we must shut down everything, you'd better be close to 100% right to make such a demand. Well, Fauci and company have been so wrong they should be totally disregarded, ignored, and, if investigated, locked up for conspiracy and fraud.
I've had "expert" plumbers come into my home and totally disagree with each other about a problem. Everybody knows to get at least a couple opinions when a serious medical matter faces you. Only 11% of Americans trust Congress. Why on Earth do so many people trust Anthony Fauci? Well, thankfully, more and more Americans do not and are speaking out, and they should before America is completely destroyed, which is the anti-American, globalist agenda.
I am most definitely not a dyed-in-the-wool Trump supporter. Common sense tells me, has told me for the last four years, everything being said, done, predicted, opined, written, conjectured, and lied about is for one reason only - Stop Donald Trump's administration and see to it he cannot get reelected.
Watch the probable, biggest political landslide in history take place on November 3rd.
But, hey, I'm no expert.
"One with the special skill or knowledge representing mastery of a particular subject." Merriam-Webster
You all know I am a Christian with a biblical worldview. I do not consider myself a theologian or an expert on anything about the Bible. I have studied it for 41 years and I know far less about it than can be known. It's a lifetime endeavor.
I do not consider myself an expert at drumming or drum making. I do both well enough but, my inadequacies of both are obvious to those with greater knowledge and skills.
I am not an expert at anything. I'm am on the side of "jack of all trades, master of none." Jack of some trades, master of none, would be the truth of the matter.
I know enough about and from the aforementioned subjects that I have general distrust of "experts," especially when it comes to marketed products, politics, health/medicine, and religion. If I don't know about something I read about it. I research. I try to educate myself. Admittedly, reading takes one into the field of experts so, I try to use common sense to distinguish fact from fiction.
There are "experts" in the field of drum making that are considered the finger of god in granite when they state something. It is considered fact just because they wrote or said it, not because they proved it with anything scientifically observable. And I do not mean using technology to analyze sound. The only thing a player needs to analyze the sound of drums is their ears because that is all they are ever going to hear with. Laboratory analysis means nothing to the practical sound of a drum.
I have no need to name names here. I always have people wanting me to do that. I leave the information as is because in the field of drum manufacturing the hype is so ridiculous the "experts" proposing such ultra-hype are obvious to anyone with common sense, discernment, and living life observing things, which I have in playing drums for 55 years and making them for the last 30 years and lots experience messing around with them in the 1970's. I have been videoing my beliefs on this subject with 13 videos thus far on my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnmLVURn6hk&list=PLRvd-mVMdjwLmAPgUesHnoSPlHvvXhalx
Experts. I am grossly tired of experts. Experts have shut down the world. They are globally trusted. They should not be trusted at all.
Take a look at this statement:
"If one assumes that the number of asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic cases is several times as high as the number of reported cases, the case fatality rate may be considerably less than 1%. This suggests that the overall clinical consequences of Covid-19 may ultimately be more akin to those of a severe seasonal influenza (which has a case fatality rate of approximately 0.1%) or a pandemic influenza (similar to those in 1957 and 1968) rather than a disease similar to SARS or MERS, which have had case fatality rates of 9 to 10% and 36%, respectively.2 [emphasis supplied]
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejme2002387
February 28, 2020, at NEJM.org.
Do you know who authored that? The same man who testified before Congress eleven days later that Covid-19 is "at least ten times more lethal than the flu." Anthony S. Fauci, MD. (???!!!???)
Right now, as I type, people are worshiping (bowing down to) the ground this "expert" walks on. He is quoted incessantly about the virus and what is expected to happen. As I have stated previously, I most certainly do not worship the ground he walks on, nor respect anything he says because he has been wrong on every prediction, has a history intimately involved with this virus situation, is a major pusher of vaccinations for all, and waffles on almost everything when he is cornered. He has given Americans zero reason to trust him.
Expertism. The religion of worshiping "experts."
Nobody blames expert meteorologists when they get the weather wrong. Just about every state I have lived in has the saying - "Don't like the weather? Wait a minute." Nobody gets angry with meteorologists because everybody knows predicting weather, even with the best science, is trying to predict how nature works, which cannot be done with 100% accuracy because things can literally change in minutes. But, when it comes to shutting down the entire world because of telling it a killer pandemic is loose and we must shut down everything, you'd better be close to 100% right to make such a demand. Well, Fauci and company have been so wrong they should be totally disregarded, ignored, and, if investigated, locked up for conspiracy and fraud.
I've had "expert" plumbers come into my home and totally disagree with each other about a problem. Everybody knows to get at least a couple opinions when a serious medical matter faces you. Only 11% of Americans trust Congress. Why on Earth do so many people trust Anthony Fauci? Well, thankfully, more and more Americans do not and are speaking out, and they should before America is completely destroyed, which is the anti-American, globalist agenda.
I am most definitely not a dyed-in-the-wool Trump supporter. Common sense tells me, has told me for the last four years, everything being said, done, predicted, opined, written, conjectured, and lied about is for one reason only - Stop Donald Trump's administration and see to it he cannot get reelected.
Watch the probable, biggest political landslide in history take place on November 3rd.
But, hey, I'm no expert.
******************
71. Why Me? Why Now? - July 16, 2020
I know not many people come to my site and read these thought pieces. Most come here doing a search for Legend and see my site; otherwise, I am about as important to what's going on as a Pelican to building an aircraft carrier.
That said, at 65, I remember days when America was a lot different. Each generation preceding me would say the same, even when times were far more rough than right now. America was all about individual liberties and responsibility, and the free blessing of helping others in need by choice, not taxation.
Growing up I could not care less about politics and civic matters. Not until I became a Christian, at 24, did my focus turn to civic matters, mostly because of Bible prophecy. I never voted in elections, as I have previously mentioned. I hate politics because I cannot stand politicians. Simple as that. But, that attitude, which most of my generation had, has led to what we see today: a coming collapse of the American nation.
The thing is, I now see America in such a decline, a dangerous decline; not just major problems but, actual lifeline problems, existence problems, that I feel compelled to write what I am observing, reading, researching, well beyond drums and drumming because in the final analysis those are nothing to matters of freedom and liberty. Drums mean nothing to what is happening right now in America and the world. People who do think they mean something are blind; blinded by something(s) in their lives that keeps them from seeing reality.
Music is about liberty and freedom, is it not? I don't mean patriotic music. I mean music as an art form. It's about freedom and liberty to express yourself. In some nations that is not allowed. The State controls music and art. Is that possible to happen in America? Yes! That is the point many in my age bracket and even much younger see developing. Tyrants and tyranny do not develop overnight. It takes time to weaken the resolve of any group of people, especially those, like Americans, who have only known freedom and liberty. Aside from those who fled religious persecution and came to America to begin with, and those that followed them that decided to fight a war against the most powerful nation on Earth to rid themselves of tyranny and the tyrant ruling Great Britain and the American colonies, Americans have only known freedom. It takes time to get Americans, who, in their past and present, have been willing to die to protect freedoms we have, to lose sight of them. A tyrant cannot just raise up by force in such a land. Deception must take place.
Weakening resolve by various means takes time. People have said, If you write this stuff you will lose popularity, maybe lose recording and performance opportunities. How many MILLIONS have lost their businesses because of this "pandemic?" That includes professionals in the entire music industry, mostly those running businesses not related to actual stage performing but, supplying things for those performers or performances. People involved in mandating what Americans must do MUST be held accountable for the results. If not, any group of "experts" or prominent people, or elected civil servants, can do whatever they collectively want, to control a populace.
Have you noticed all the articles now coming out against Dr. Anthony Fauci? Why is he not threatening lawsuits against these writers and news outlets for slander or libel? For one thing, he is a very isolated individual among the elite of American shakers and movers and has little to fear from articles only read by small sectors of society. The corporation run news networks will not touch the information because he and they are on the same page. But, also, because writers and commenters have done investigation into this situation and can plainly see where the doctor fits into it all, and can easily spread it like wildfire if he sues someone and they get their day in court. As more and more information about the actual factual data of this virus gets out and is spread, Americans are being shown the true nature of the event. It has nothing to do with health. If it did, NO PROTESTS and certainly no riots would be tolerated. What do we see? Continued weeks of protests and riots; no six foot distancing, no masks, only anger and shouting and destruction of private and public property. Health of citizens is not in the mix, at all, especially hurt and dead policemen the corporate news refuses to cover the stories about what is happening at the hands of the mob. It is all a fraudulent dog and pony show being used to get Americans to comply with mandates, as though elected civil servants have rights and authority to dictate the health standards Americans must follow. Right now it is masks. Then comes gloves, glasses, outer clothing, screens and shields and a total takeover of American life. If you doubt this can happen you have been living under a rock since September 11, 2001 and the continual loss of freedoms since that event.
I do not care about popularity. Do you know what Christ said about popularity?
Luke 16:15 And he said to them, You are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Popularity is not on my radar. My freedom is. Drums and drumming mean nothing if we lose our freedoms and liberty and the very real threat of a majority of Americans gaining power in America, and dissenting voices will not be tolerated, and shut down. We are watching that development right now and have been for the last few years with big tech censoring anything they deem harmful to their agenda; the same as schools, and even businesses firing people for holding to a certain worldview not popular with management. Fear drives everything now. Madness is in control, in the form of very deliberate, agenda-driven scenarios.
Privacy is moot now. Technology has rendered it null and void. Our lives are little more than statistics to those with technology and power. All they care about is control. Power and control. It means nothing they have no authority. They could not care less because too few are rising up to demand they stay within Constitutional limits. Tech has no limits. Their entire outlook and existence is based on no limits. Technology to control our destiny. For the convenience of technology we have surrendered rights, freedoms, liberties, privacy, and yes, power to control our own lives and property. America has gone from individual liberty to collective hive mentality. What few voices in government protest is meaningless now. It's all just more soundbites, easily relegated to yesterday's news. Society has become a perverted game of seek and destroy.
My father would be sick to his stomach to see what America has become; that he fought a world war for this mess. Most all veterans have become sick to see what they have risked their lives for. Why should policemen and women continue to risk their lives with no support from their own city officials? Why should people who care about Americanism run for office when their voices are a BB against a battleship?
I have to say something. I write, I email things, I talk to neighbors, I share. I have to. My nation is under attack by insidious forces bent on her demise. She has "enemies, foreign and domestic."
I wish I took notice and began speaking out long time ago.
That said, at 65, I remember days when America was a lot different. Each generation preceding me would say the same, even when times were far more rough than right now. America was all about individual liberties and responsibility, and the free blessing of helping others in need by choice, not taxation.
Growing up I could not care less about politics and civic matters. Not until I became a Christian, at 24, did my focus turn to civic matters, mostly because of Bible prophecy. I never voted in elections, as I have previously mentioned. I hate politics because I cannot stand politicians. Simple as that. But, that attitude, which most of my generation had, has led to what we see today: a coming collapse of the American nation.
The thing is, I now see America in such a decline, a dangerous decline; not just major problems but, actual lifeline problems, existence problems, that I feel compelled to write what I am observing, reading, researching, well beyond drums and drumming because in the final analysis those are nothing to matters of freedom and liberty. Drums mean nothing to what is happening right now in America and the world. People who do think they mean something are blind; blinded by something(s) in their lives that keeps them from seeing reality.
Music is about liberty and freedom, is it not? I don't mean patriotic music. I mean music as an art form. It's about freedom and liberty to express yourself. In some nations that is not allowed. The State controls music and art. Is that possible to happen in America? Yes! That is the point many in my age bracket and even much younger see developing. Tyrants and tyranny do not develop overnight. It takes time to weaken the resolve of any group of people, especially those, like Americans, who have only known freedom and liberty. Aside from those who fled religious persecution and came to America to begin with, and those that followed them that decided to fight a war against the most powerful nation on Earth to rid themselves of tyranny and the tyrant ruling Great Britain and the American colonies, Americans have only known freedom. It takes time to get Americans, who, in their past and present, have been willing to die to protect freedoms we have, to lose sight of them. A tyrant cannot just raise up by force in such a land. Deception must take place.
Weakening resolve by various means takes time. People have said, If you write this stuff you will lose popularity, maybe lose recording and performance opportunities. How many MILLIONS have lost their businesses because of this "pandemic?" That includes professionals in the entire music industry, mostly those running businesses not related to actual stage performing but, supplying things for those performers or performances. People involved in mandating what Americans must do MUST be held accountable for the results. If not, any group of "experts" or prominent people, or elected civil servants, can do whatever they collectively want, to control a populace.
Have you noticed all the articles now coming out against Dr. Anthony Fauci? Why is he not threatening lawsuits against these writers and news outlets for slander or libel? For one thing, he is a very isolated individual among the elite of American shakers and movers and has little to fear from articles only read by small sectors of society. The corporation run news networks will not touch the information because he and they are on the same page. But, also, because writers and commenters have done investigation into this situation and can plainly see where the doctor fits into it all, and can easily spread it like wildfire if he sues someone and they get their day in court. As more and more information about the actual factual data of this virus gets out and is spread, Americans are being shown the true nature of the event. It has nothing to do with health. If it did, NO PROTESTS and certainly no riots would be tolerated. What do we see? Continued weeks of protests and riots; no six foot distancing, no masks, only anger and shouting and destruction of private and public property. Health of citizens is not in the mix, at all, especially hurt and dead policemen the corporate news refuses to cover the stories about what is happening at the hands of the mob. It is all a fraudulent dog and pony show being used to get Americans to comply with mandates, as though elected civil servants have rights and authority to dictate the health standards Americans must follow. Right now it is masks. Then comes gloves, glasses, outer clothing, screens and shields and a total takeover of American life. If you doubt this can happen you have been living under a rock since September 11, 2001 and the continual loss of freedoms since that event.
I do not care about popularity. Do you know what Christ said about popularity?
Luke 16:15 And he said to them, You are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Popularity is not on my radar. My freedom is. Drums and drumming mean nothing if we lose our freedoms and liberty and the very real threat of a majority of Americans gaining power in America, and dissenting voices will not be tolerated, and shut down. We are watching that development right now and have been for the last few years with big tech censoring anything they deem harmful to their agenda; the same as schools, and even businesses firing people for holding to a certain worldview not popular with management. Fear drives everything now. Madness is in control, in the form of very deliberate, agenda-driven scenarios.
Privacy is moot now. Technology has rendered it null and void. Our lives are little more than statistics to those with technology and power. All they care about is control. Power and control. It means nothing they have no authority. They could not care less because too few are rising up to demand they stay within Constitutional limits. Tech has no limits. Their entire outlook and existence is based on no limits. Technology to control our destiny. For the convenience of technology we have surrendered rights, freedoms, liberties, privacy, and yes, power to control our own lives and property. America has gone from individual liberty to collective hive mentality. What few voices in government protest is meaningless now. It's all just more soundbites, easily relegated to yesterday's news. Society has become a perverted game of seek and destroy.
My father would be sick to his stomach to see what America has become; that he fought a world war for this mess. Most all veterans have become sick to see what they have risked their lives for. Why should policemen and women continue to risk their lives with no support from their own city officials? Why should people who care about Americanism run for office when their voices are a BB against a battleship?
I have to say something. I write, I email things, I talk to neighbors, I share. I have to. My nation is under attack by insidious forces bent on her demise. She has "enemies, foreign and domestic."
I wish I took notice and began speaking out long time ago.
******************
72. Filters: Music and Masks - July 17, 2020
Filters. We all have them. In some cases, many of them. Filters for heating and air systems. Whole house dust filtering systems or machines for rooms. Water filtration systems for an entire house or just a single faucet, or just a water pitcher. We have filters in vacuum systems and single machines. We have oil and fuel filters in our vehicles. We have lots of filters. They are all designed to trap something. Small things, tiny things, microscopic things.
I have previously mentioned I wear filters in my shop. Yes, I wear filters, which are masks. That's what a mask is: a filter. I have simple ones to trap dust and a more sophisticated one to trap toxic fumes given off by various finishing or cleaning products. Everybody has seen hazmat workers wearing the most sophisticated air filtration systems money can by. In my shop I know I can only wear a mask for around 15 minutes before I must remove it and take a breath of fresh air. The longer I use one, the less fresh air gets through. Why? Because it clogs. Simple, yes?
Musicians and recording enthusiasts know what their filters are. They trap frequencies. They allow some to pass through, some are trapped, some are enhanced, some are modified in so many other ways, they seem infinite in their applications to sound. Watching Tom do his thing on our recordings I have seen him have fun and abide in great frustration using these intense filters. I'll tell you a far greater frustration happening, that is trapping a billion people around the world.
Right now the world is being asked or forced to wear face filters. That's what a mask is. It is supposed to keep microscopic things from getting into your nose or mouth or from getting past your nose and mouth. It traps things; every breath, every minute, every hour. When I see people wearing a face mask outside I want to literally scream. The stupidity of this is unmatched in modern times. Has the human race lost common sense? People driving around in their cars, by themselves, wearing masks. People wearing masks over their mouth but, not their nose. Some states are now telling people to wear masks in their homes! Sure, if you live with someone at risk. Otherwise, open the windows and doors and let some fresh air inside!
The use of masks, let alone the mandates of mask wearing, is a 20' pole nobody wants to take total and final responsibility for in the field of "experts." Disclaimers are now showing up on more and more web articles. A Disclaimer is a filter. It traps responsibility so no one can be blamed if their information ends up being wrong or someone getting harmed by it. It traps false information from causing problems, and everybody knows, or should know, medical science, all sciences, change their "facts" constantly as new research develops information that can totally do away with previously held "truth."
Studies are conclusive: masks do not work 100% of the time. They cannot for various reasons. Web articles, quoting dozens of studies, are all over the map as to whether masks are helping in this current event. Why?
You can only manufacture or weave a mask to certain dimensions. The smallest opening in the best masks is 0.3 microns. That is, indeed, microscopically small which is why many people simply cannot breathe when wearing them, especially in certain temperatures and humidity, like here in Texas. The passage of air is diminished. Just how much Co2 do you want to breathe every minute of every day?
What is the size of the Covid-19 virion (particle)? It averages around 0.125 microns. Well, well. Masks that stop particles 0.3 microns or bigger catch a lot of stuff. Smaller than that? I do not need to be a PhD to figure this out. Masks may stop some but, cannot possibly stop all particles from passing through.
Well, the virtue shamers tell us, you should wear one even if you just catch a certain percentage. You should wear one to make other people feel safe. You should wear one because the law says so. Law? What laws? There are no laws mandating mask wearing. "Executive orders" from governors and mayors are not law. Legislatures make laws. Laws are made by those elected to make them through discussion and voting, not pen and ink signatures by governors or mayors. People acquiesce their freedoms to governors or mayors when supposed emergency measures warrant executive orders. THIS is NOT such a situation. This is THE biggest fraud ever perpetuated on the human race by people in positions of authority that should have been removed from months ago when they messed up the planet with their hysterical predictions.
The corruptions now documented that exist in the WHO, the CDC, the "experts" controlling the White House narrative on this for months, as well as the fear mongering from main stream media outlets can be stacked through the roof! None of these entities should have a word more to say about this fiasco, this criminal activity. Yes, it is criminal. People are calling for criminal investigations into the instructions given by various political representatives during this "crisis." Recall process has begun for various politicians by citizens of their states. Lawsuits are stacking up against politicians that are destroying their states and stomping on Constitutional freedoms.
Here's another virtue shaming reason we should wear masks.
You should wear one even of it is just a panacea or talisman. You doubt the term "talisman" was used in medical literature?
This is an article posted by the New England Journal of Medicine, April 1, 2020. Read the whole thing. I am posting a few paragraphs: [emphasis supplied]
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2006372?query=TOC
"We know that wearing a mask outside health care facilities offers little, if any, protection from infection. Public health authorities define a significant exposure to Covid-19 as face-to-face contact within 6 feet with a patient with symptomatic Covid-19 that is sustained for at least a few minutes (and some say more than 10 minutes or even 30 minutes). The chance of catching Covid-19 from a passing interaction in a public space is therefore minimal. In many cases, the desire for widespread masking is a reflexive reaction to anxiety over the pandemic.
"What is clear, however, is that universal masking alone is not a panacea. A mask will not protect providers caring for a patient with active Covid-19 if it’s not accompanied by meticulous hand hygiene, eye protection, gloves, and a gown. A mask alone will not prevent health care workers with early Covid-19 from contaminating their hands and spreading the virus to patients and colleagues. Focusing on universal masking alone may, paradoxically, lead to more transmission of Covid-19 if it diverts attention from implementing more fundamental infection-control measures.
"It is also clear that masks serve symbolic roles. Masks are not only tools, they are also talismans that may help increase health care workers’ perceived sense of safety, well-being, and trust in their hospitals. Although such reactions may not be strictly logical, we are all subject to fear and anxiety, especially during times of crisis. One might argue that fear and anxiety are better countered with data and education than with a marginally beneficial mask, particularly in light of the worldwide mask shortage, but it is difficult to get clinicians to hear this message in the heat of the current crisis.""
Now, here we have point blank medical testimony masks do not work outside medical facilities, or inside where other preventative actions are not put together with it: gloves, glasses, and gowns. Is that next? Logically, yes. If elected civil servants can sign a piece of paper and force people to wear masks, why not glasses and gloves?
But, look, masks are a talisman. Do you know what a talisman is?
1: an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune
2: something producing apparently magical or miraculous effects
Now, there is some straight medical science if you ever saw it. We should wear masks and believe they magically or miraculously keep us safe!
I refuse to wear a mask. I'll shop online and wait for sanity and common sense to return, if it ever does. I don't hold out much hope.
Masks do not work. They cannot work for this event. People can develop breathing issues using them for hours at work or shopping or going anywhere for any length of time. My wife told me of one man that crashed his car passing out wearing his mask! Headaches and dizziness result for many. They end up breathing back in a collection filter of junk that can harm healthy people. Hypoxia can result for some people wearing masks. People adjust their masks constantly. They are putting their hands all over these filters and then placing their hands all over products where cashiers handle them, bag them and people take them home or, worse, they put them back on a shelf for someone else to touch after they just adjusted their mask and compounded the problem. As soon as a mask is adjusted whatever is in the air gets through. You pull through a fast food drive in. All the employees are wearing masks, touching their masks, and touching your food!, or at the very least food containers. Reason upon reason, both medical and common sense, rise up to tell citizens to STOP WEARING MASKS! It will not, it cannot help in the larger scheme of things. The populace needs immunity. Masks cannot help achieve that.
Write or call your governor's office, mayor's office, whoever is in a position of authority and tell them, demand they rescind their foolish and hysterical executive orders, or just disregard these abusive mandates altogether and live your life as you wish, not as an elected civil servant demands. If you want to wear a mask, wear one. Nobody will stop you. Wear gloves and glasses, too. Forcing free Americans to wear them? Abuse of authority on parade.
And look, private business is private business. If Walmart or any other place of business demands you wear a mask, regardless of their ignorance, they have a right. They can tell everybody, only customers wearing Walmart ball caps can enter the store. It's a privately held company. They can do what they want. They cannot tell some customers to wear one and others do not have to. They can have no justification under the law to do that. But, they can create any kind of across the boards entrance policy they want to and bear the responsibility of how it effects business.
I can only hope people come to their senses. That elected civil servants come to their senses. That they educate themselves and stop the madness over something little worse than a bad flu season.
God help a nation of, by, and for the people, saturated with citizens so willing to surrender their rights and ability to think and act for themselves. There are no excuses when the truth is everywhere to see for ourselves.
We, the people, are in control of our own lives, period.
May God be merciful to the ignorant and to the agenda-driven liars propelling this madness.
UPDATE - July 18, 2020. I came across this just now, after leaving an email site, from its news feed:
"Emerging evidence from clinical and laboratory studies has shown that cloth face coverings reduce the spray of respiratory droplets when worn properly, which can help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others. To help slow the spread of the coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people wear face coverings in public and when around people outside their household, especially in circumstances where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
As the coronavirus continues to spread in the U.S., several states and major cities are now requiring people to wear masks in public — and some are implementing hefty fines for violators."
I added emphasis, and look at it closely. "Violators?"
#1 - There is NO "emerging evidence" masks are helping and the caveat is, "when worn properly." Wearing a proper mask, properly, means nothing when people are continually touching it, rearranging a loose fit, etc, and then placing their hands all over things that just touched a cesspool of germs on their mask. No gloves, no help.
#2. Truly stated, masks are for people WITH the illness to keep from spreading it by coughing or sneezing. WHY are all people being asked to wear a mask when the vast, overwhelming majority of the populace does not have the virus??? Oh, someone says, to keep from getting it. That should be a citizen's choice, not government's, not politicians, not elected civil servants acting as baby sitters and tyrants "for the good of the people."
#3. Why is it the CDC "recommends" people wear a mask but, the State is "requiring," demanding people wear them under penalty of a fine, in some cases, up to $5000 in Maryland!!!, $2500 in Kansas!, $1250 in Oregon, $1000 in Minnesota, $500 in Louisiana, $250 all over the place here in Texas, and in some states, jail time!!! Mayors and governors have gone to the dark side. People being sent to jail for being "violators?" Violators of what? Single person mandates. That is not the rule of law. That is complete authoritarian, tyrannical, kingly power, exuding from "executive orders" regarding a fraud "emergency" over an illness a little worse than the flu! Wake up!
If you cannot see the problem here you need a class in civic government and authoritarianism. This is an abomination of State control over supposedly free people. If you are not indignant, if not outraged, question your understanding of a Constitutional Republic with limited government, and your patriotism. Seriously.
If you are offended by that, consider this quote from American author, Frederick Douglas (1818-1895):
"Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will."
and another:
"The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the limits of those they oppress."
What is your limit?
I have previously mentioned I wear filters in my shop. Yes, I wear filters, which are masks. That's what a mask is: a filter. I have simple ones to trap dust and a more sophisticated one to trap toxic fumes given off by various finishing or cleaning products. Everybody has seen hazmat workers wearing the most sophisticated air filtration systems money can by. In my shop I know I can only wear a mask for around 15 minutes before I must remove it and take a breath of fresh air. The longer I use one, the less fresh air gets through. Why? Because it clogs. Simple, yes?
Musicians and recording enthusiasts know what their filters are. They trap frequencies. They allow some to pass through, some are trapped, some are enhanced, some are modified in so many other ways, they seem infinite in their applications to sound. Watching Tom do his thing on our recordings I have seen him have fun and abide in great frustration using these intense filters. I'll tell you a far greater frustration happening, that is trapping a billion people around the world.
Right now the world is being asked or forced to wear face filters. That's what a mask is. It is supposed to keep microscopic things from getting into your nose or mouth or from getting past your nose and mouth. It traps things; every breath, every minute, every hour. When I see people wearing a face mask outside I want to literally scream. The stupidity of this is unmatched in modern times. Has the human race lost common sense? People driving around in their cars, by themselves, wearing masks. People wearing masks over their mouth but, not their nose. Some states are now telling people to wear masks in their homes! Sure, if you live with someone at risk. Otherwise, open the windows and doors and let some fresh air inside!
The use of masks, let alone the mandates of mask wearing, is a 20' pole nobody wants to take total and final responsibility for in the field of "experts." Disclaimers are now showing up on more and more web articles. A Disclaimer is a filter. It traps responsibility so no one can be blamed if their information ends up being wrong or someone getting harmed by it. It traps false information from causing problems, and everybody knows, or should know, medical science, all sciences, change their "facts" constantly as new research develops information that can totally do away with previously held "truth."
Studies are conclusive: masks do not work 100% of the time. They cannot for various reasons. Web articles, quoting dozens of studies, are all over the map as to whether masks are helping in this current event. Why?
You can only manufacture or weave a mask to certain dimensions. The smallest opening in the best masks is 0.3 microns. That is, indeed, microscopically small which is why many people simply cannot breathe when wearing them, especially in certain temperatures and humidity, like here in Texas. The passage of air is diminished. Just how much Co2 do you want to breathe every minute of every day?
What is the size of the Covid-19 virion (particle)? It averages around 0.125 microns. Well, well. Masks that stop particles 0.3 microns or bigger catch a lot of stuff. Smaller than that? I do not need to be a PhD to figure this out. Masks may stop some but, cannot possibly stop all particles from passing through.
Well, the virtue shamers tell us, you should wear one even if you just catch a certain percentage. You should wear one to make other people feel safe. You should wear one because the law says so. Law? What laws? There are no laws mandating mask wearing. "Executive orders" from governors and mayors are not law. Legislatures make laws. Laws are made by those elected to make them through discussion and voting, not pen and ink signatures by governors or mayors. People acquiesce their freedoms to governors or mayors when supposed emergency measures warrant executive orders. THIS is NOT such a situation. This is THE biggest fraud ever perpetuated on the human race by people in positions of authority that should have been removed from months ago when they messed up the planet with their hysterical predictions.
The corruptions now documented that exist in the WHO, the CDC, the "experts" controlling the White House narrative on this for months, as well as the fear mongering from main stream media outlets can be stacked through the roof! None of these entities should have a word more to say about this fiasco, this criminal activity. Yes, it is criminal. People are calling for criminal investigations into the instructions given by various political representatives during this "crisis." Recall process has begun for various politicians by citizens of their states. Lawsuits are stacking up against politicians that are destroying their states and stomping on Constitutional freedoms.
Here's another virtue shaming reason we should wear masks.
You should wear one even of it is just a panacea or talisman. You doubt the term "talisman" was used in medical literature?
This is an article posted by the New England Journal of Medicine, April 1, 2020. Read the whole thing. I am posting a few paragraphs: [emphasis supplied]
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2006372?query=TOC
"We know that wearing a mask outside health care facilities offers little, if any, protection from infection. Public health authorities define a significant exposure to Covid-19 as face-to-face contact within 6 feet with a patient with symptomatic Covid-19 that is sustained for at least a few minutes (and some say more than 10 minutes or even 30 minutes). The chance of catching Covid-19 from a passing interaction in a public space is therefore minimal. In many cases, the desire for widespread masking is a reflexive reaction to anxiety over the pandemic.
"What is clear, however, is that universal masking alone is not a panacea. A mask will not protect providers caring for a patient with active Covid-19 if it’s not accompanied by meticulous hand hygiene, eye protection, gloves, and a gown. A mask alone will not prevent health care workers with early Covid-19 from contaminating their hands and spreading the virus to patients and colleagues. Focusing on universal masking alone may, paradoxically, lead to more transmission of Covid-19 if it diverts attention from implementing more fundamental infection-control measures.
"It is also clear that masks serve symbolic roles. Masks are not only tools, they are also talismans that may help increase health care workers’ perceived sense of safety, well-being, and trust in their hospitals. Although such reactions may not be strictly logical, we are all subject to fear and anxiety, especially during times of crisis. One might argue that fear and anxiety are better countered with data and education than with a marginally beneficial mask, particularly in light of the worldwide mask shortage, but it is difficult to get clinicians to hear this message in the heat of the current crisis.""
Now, here we have point blank medical testimony masks do not work outside medical facilities, or inside where other preventative actions are not put together with it: gloves, glasses, and gowns. Is that next? Logically, yes. If elected civil servants can sign a piece of paper and force people to wear masks, why not glasses and gloves?
But, look, masks are a talisman. Do you know what a talisman is?
1: an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune
2: something producing apparently magical or miraculous effects
Now, there is some straight medical science if you ever saw it. We should wear masks and believe they magically or miraculously keep us safe!
I refuse to wear a mask. I'll shop online and wait for sanity and common sense to return, if it ever does. I don't hold out much hope.
Masks do not work. They cannot work for this event. People can develop breathing issues using them for hours at work or shopping or going anywhere for any length of time. My wife told me of one man that crashed his car passing out wearing his mask! Headaches and dizziness result for many. They end up breathing back in a collection filter of junk that can harm healthy people. Hypoxia can result for some people wearing masks. People adjust their masks constantly. They are putting their hands all over these filters and then placing their hands all over products where cashiers handle them, bag them and people take them home or, worse, they put them back on a shelf for someone else to touch after they just adjusted their mask and compounded the problem. As soon as a mask is adjusted whatever is in the air gets through. You pull through a fast food drive in. All the employees are wearing masks, touching their masks, and touching your food!, or at the very least food containers. Reason upon reason, both medical and common sense, rise up to tell citizens to STOP WEARING MASKS! It will not, it cannot help in the larger scheme of things. The populace needs immunity. Masks cannot help achieve that.
Write or call your governor's office, mayor's office, whoever is in a position of authority and tell them, demand they rescind their foolish and hysterical executive orders, or just disregard these abusive mandates altogether and live your life as you wish, not as an elected civil servant demands. If you want to wear a mask, wear one. Nobody will stop you. Wear gloves and glasses, too. Forcing free Americans to wear them? Abuse of authority on parade.
And look, private business is private business. If Walmart or any other place of business demands you wear a mask, regardless of their ignorance, they have a right. They can tell everybody, only customers wearing Walmart ball caps can enter the store. It's a privately held company. They can do what they want. They cannot tell some customers to wear one and others do not have to. They can have no justification under the law to do that. But, they can create any kind of across the boards entrance policy they want to and bear the responsibility of how it effects business.
I can only hope people come to their senses. That elected civil servants come to their senses. That they educate themselves and stop the madness over something little worse than a bad flu season.
God help a nation of, by, and for the people, saturated with citizens so willing to surrender their rights and ability to think and act for themselves. There are no excuses when the truth is everywhere to see for ourselves.
We, the people, are in control of our own lives, period.
May God be merciful to the ignorant and to the agenda-driven liars propelling this madness.
UPDATE - July 18, 2020. I came across this just now, after leaving an email site, from its news feed:
"Emerging evidence from clinical and laboratory studies has shown that cloth face coverings reduce the spray of respiratory droplets when worn properly, which can help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others. To help slow the spread of the coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people wear face coverings in public and when around people outside their household, especially in circumstances where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
As the coronavirus continues to spread in the U.S., several states and major cities are now requiring people to wear masks in public — and some are implementing hefty fines for violators."
I added emphasis, and look at it closely. "Violators?"
#1 - There is NO "emerging evidence" masks are helping and the caveat is, "when worn properly." Wearing a proper mask, properly, means nothing when people are continually touching it, rearranging a loose fit, etc, and then placing their hands all over things that just touched a cesspool of germs on their mask. No gloves, no help.
#2. Truly stated, masks are for people WITH the illness to keep from spreading it by coughing or sneezing. WHY are all people being asked to wear a mask when the vast, overwhelming majority of the populace does not have the virus??? Oh, someone says, to keep from getting it. That should be a citizen's choice, not government's, not politicians, not elected civil servants acting as baby sitters and tyrants "for the good of the people."
#3. Why is it the CDC "recommends" people wear a mask but, the State is "requiring," demanding people wear them under penalty of a fine, in some cases, up to $5000 in Maryland!!!, $2500 in Kansas!, $1250 in Oregon, $1000 in Minnesota, $500 in Louisiana, $250 all over the place here in Texas, and in some states, jail time!!! Mayors and governors have gone to the dark side. People being sent to jail for being "violators?" Violators of what? Single person mandates. That is not the rule of law. That is complete authoritarian, tyrannical, kingly power, exuding from "executive orders" regarding a fraud "emergency" over an illness a little worse than the flu! Wake up!
If you cannot see the problem here you need a class in civic government and authoritarianism. This is an abomination of State control over supposedly free people. If you are not indignant, if not outraged, question your understanding of a Constitutional Republic with limited government, and your patriotism. Seriously.
If you are offended by that, consider this quote from American author, Frederick Douglas (1818-1895):
"Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will."
and another:
"The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the limits of those they oppress."
What is your limit?
******************
73. The Silence of the Organs. Why? - July 18, 2020
Most churches have organs. Small ones, enormous pipe organs, or at least a piano of some kind; an electronic keyboard, or acoustic guitar players. It's something even the smallest of congregations work towards. Music, the Hebrew faith, and Christianity are joined at the hip. Psalms in the Old Testament. The song Mariam and the women sang as they played their tambourines in celebration of crossing the Red Sea. David, the sweet singer of Israel, who taught the use of the bow to his people. While most see that bow as the weapon, others see it as the bow used to play stringed instruments. David was a vital musical force in Israel; a song writer, and a pageant creator. The great Asaph, the composer and player of cymbals, with his sons in that music ministry, serving in the court of king David. The musical celebrations of David's son, king Solomon. Numerous references to singing in the New Testament. Most religions enjoy their worship to their deity, their faith, and their services in harmony with music of some kind. It's as ancient a practice as anything known to man.
In some churches the organs have grown silent.
Bad enough the First Amendment has been radically violated by misguided or agenda-driven tyrants across the nation and the organs have grown silent because of that.
Why am I reading about churches being burned down in America? A 249 year old church outside Los Angeles. A long standing landmark, preparing for a 250 year event. One in San Diego, as well. Another in Holly Springs, MS. Another in Florida. Catholic statues being burned. A statue of Christ beheaded! Do you remember, back in the 80's when the crucifix in a glass of urine was called art? Feces all over a painting of Mary, the mother of Christ, was called art? A radical feminist sculpting a crucifix with breasts was called art? People of all faiths were aghast and offended. Did anybody beyond professed Christians and people of taste and common sense care? Not really. Did Christians march and riot and destroy public and private property? No. Now, the churches are being burned down in protest. Protest of what, actually? And what has been the response of people of faith? Prayer. Asking the police to investigate and bring perpetrators to justice. Is that not reasonable? No protests. No riots. Asking for and allowing the system to work and do its job.
Well, the mob says the system is broken and not doing its job. That is obvious in many respects, in many places. So, they destroy private property, and harm, even kill innocent citizens and police officers, and claim that is necessary? It is their way of just saying, Stop and listen, because Black lives matter? In what other nation would such atrocious behavior be allowed? In any nation without a backbone, or a nation with an agenda to see that nation collapse for some nefarious reason.
As I have stated, I am not a Catholic and must stand against doctrines of Catholicism, as a Bible-believing Protestant but, seriously? This Constitutional Republic protects all people and their property. Everybody knows the history of professed Christianity over the last 2000 years and there are plenty of dark spots and abominations. That said, "Peaceful" protests burning down peaceful churches and destroying private property, where people of all international and human backgrounds get together to sing and praise God as they understand Christian faith? Why has the msm been virtually silent? Obviously because they support the mob agenda. No surprise there but, what does Protestantism or Catholicism have to do with the death of George Floyd? Nothing.
The mob is evil. BLM/Antifa influenced arsonists are burning down churches, one an historic "black" church in San Diego. What's with that? One of their leaders has fomented such hatred that any "White looking" statue of Christ or Mary to be destroyed as symbols of European white supremacy.
I am sick of this. I am disgusted that elected civil servants are allowing, even standing down their police forces to accommodate this insanity. Any politician supporting this mob should be removed from office. They are enemies of the rule of law, enemies of America, enemies of Americans, and enemies of common sense. What other conclusion can be drawn? There is no other logical conclusion to draw.
How many more churches are going to burn down? How many more organs shall go silent in black and gray ashes before elected civil servants with some guts say, 'Enough!' I expect this in foreign lands where Christians are being persecuted by radical, militant Islamists or Hindis, or communist China or North Korea. America? An odd circumstance now and then, sadly but, as part of a national agenda? An agenda supported by politicians, media, and far too many "Americans" to count? How can this be? Churches today, believers soon to come? Any voices rising to withstand these haters of America and Americans: these dark forces on "a mission," will have to be silenced? You think that is not going to happen? Wake up!
America IS UNDER ATTACK. What will it take for elected civil servants to do their jobs and protect their citizens and their property? I reckon nothing, unless, of course, their lives or property come into jeopardy. Yes, then, we will see changed attitudes, like Seattle; when the mob said they were going after the mayor's property. Then the nation of CHAZ/CHOP came down. Until then, they will let America burn. Some of these politicians seem to think it is useless to try and stop this: they will just let people work off some heat and steam and then things will settle down. Movements designed to topple governments do not settle down. They have to be put down. The stated agendas of Antifa and the BLM organization is to bring down America and run it as they believe it should be run. With all America's problems, if you believe their alternative is worthy of consideration ... you should leave America because, this is not about changing things that need to be changed. This is about the destruction of the entire Republic and replacing it with socialism, communism, globalism, any "ism" but, a Constitutional Republic with a rule of law designed to protect all citizens. If that system is not working in some places, you work to remedy that place. You do not destroy the entire system and replace it with tired, despotic, historically failed ones. Why should Americans have any respect for anyone or any group that would torch a church; that would destroy small businesses because of big corporate corruptions? That is not a failure of capitalism and free markets, as a principle. That is the failure of people to use the system to offer better alternatives in the free marketplace. Free speech is being destroyed by big tech and the mob mentality of dissidents towards freedom, liberty, and common sense. They claim they are just protesting corruption. Some may be sincerely doing that. Others are way beyond that, and say so, in bold terms. This is anarchy on parade.
At any other time in history, if hundreds of armed people, all dressed in black, many wearing body armor, marched into a city and threatened it or attacked it, this would be seen as an act of aggression that would immediately be withstood and stopped. Today? These hordes are destroying cities, and officials stand and watch. Some are having the unmitigated gall and audacity to now ask for federal funding to rebuild what they sat and watched destroyed!
If this is all done while America is working, what will happen when the economy crashes and most people are out of work, losing their homes, their ability to eat and live? What kind of nation will we see then? A hopeless, dystopian miasma of depression and despondency; people losing their minds, violence everywhere; armed conflict and death everywhere. Oh, you say, that sounds like civil war or some movie or t.v. program. That sounds apocalyptic. Yes, it does. Quite. Just as the Bible predicts the entire world will become. Thousands of organs are going to go silent.
Nero let Rome burn; blamed it on Christians. Fierce persecution arose. Are we on the precipice as the American empire crumbles? If it does, international dominoes will fall in every direction.
Is the end of all things finally here? Are we on a doorstep of no return? Maybe so. Probably so. Definitely so.
God help us.
In some churches the organs have grown silent.
Bad enough the First Amendment has been radically violated by misguided or agenda-driven tyrants across the nation and the organs have grown silent because of that.
Why am I reading about churches being burned down in America? A 249 year old church outside Los Angeles. A long standing landmark, preparing for a 250 year event. One in San Diego, as well. Another in Holly Springs, MS. Another in Florida. Catholic statues being burned. A statue of Christ beheaded! Do you remember, back in the 80's when the crucifix in a glass of urine was called art? Feces all over a painting of Mary, the mother of Christ, was called art? A radical feminist sculpting a crucifix with breasts was called art? People of all faiths were aghast and offended. Did anybody beyond professed Christians and people of taste and common sense care? Not really. Did Christians march and riot and destroy public and private property? No. Now, the churches are being burned down in protest. Protest of what, actually? And what has been the response of people of faith? Prayer. Asking the police to investigate and bring perpetrators to justice. Is that not reasonable? No protests. No riots. Asking for and allowing the system to work and do its job.
Well, the mob says the system is broken and not doing its job. That is obvious in many respects, in many places. So, they destroy private property, and harm, even kill innocent citizens and police officers, and claim that is necessary? It is their way of just saying, Stop and listen, because Black lives matter? In what other nation would such atrocious behavior be allowed? In any nation without a backbone, or a nation with an agenda to see that nation collapse for some nefarious reason.
As I have stated, I am not a Catholic and must stand against doctrines of Catholicism, as a Bible-believing Protestant but, seriously? This Constitutional Republic protects all people and their property. Everybody knows the history of professed Christianity over the last 2000 years and there are plenty of dark spots and abominations. That said, "Peaceful" protests burning down peaceful churches and destroying private property, where people of all international and human backgrounds get together to sing and praise God as they understand Christian faith? Why has the msm been virtually silent? Obviously because they support the mob agenda. No surprise there but, what does Protestantism or Catholicism have to do with the death of George Floyd? Nothing.
The mob is evil. BLM/Antifa influenced arsonists are burning down churches, one an historic "black" church in San Diego. What's with that? One of their leaders has fomented such hatred that any "White looking" statue of Christ or Mary to be destroyed as symbols of European white supremacy.
I am sick of this. I am disgusted that elected civil servants are allowing, even standing down their police forces to accommodate this insanity. Any politician supporting this mob should be removed from office. They are enemies of the rule of law, enemies of America, enemies of Americans, and enemies of common sense. What other conclusion can be drawn? There is no other logical conclusion to draw.
How many more churches are going to burn down? How many more organs shall go silent in black and gray ashes before elected civil servants with some guts say, 'Enough!' I expect this in foreign lands where Christians are being persecuted by radical, militant Islamists or Hindis, or communist China or North Korea. America? An odd circumstance now and then, sadly but, as part of a national agenda? An agenda supported by politicians, media, and far too many "Americans" to count? How can this be? Churches today, believers soon to come? Any voices rising to withstand these haters of America and Americans: these dark forces on "a mission," will have to be silenced? You think that is not going to happen? Wake up!
America IS UNDER ATTACK. What will it take for elected civil servants to do their jobs and protect their citizens and their property? I reckon nothing, unless, of course, their lives or property come into jeopardy. Yes, then, we will see changed attitudes, like Seattle; when the mob said they were going after the mayor's property. Then the nation of CHAZ/CHOP came down. Until then, they will let America burn. Some of these politicians seem to think it is useless to try and stop this: they will just let people work off some heat and steam and then things will settle down. Movements designed to topple governments do not settle down. They have to be put down. The stated agendas of Antifa and the BLM organization is to bring down America and run it as they believe it should be run. With all America's problems, if you believe their alternative is worthy of consideration ... you should leave America because, this is not about changing things that need to be changed. This is about the destruction of the entire Republic and replacing it with socialism, communism, globalism, any "ism" but, a Constitutional Republic with a rule of law designed to protect all citizens. If that system is not working in some places, you work to remedy that place. You do not destroy the entire system and replace it with tired, despotic, historically failed ones. Why should Americans have any respect for anyone or any group that would torch a church; that would destroy small businesses because of big corporate corruptions? That is not a failure of capitalism and free markets, as a principle. That is the failure of people to use the system to offer better alternatives in the free marketplace. Free speech is being destroyed by big tech and the mob mentality of dissidents towards freedom, liberty, and common sense. They claim they are just protesting corruption. Some may be sincerely doing that. Others are way beyond that, and say so, in bold terms. This is anarchy on parade.
At any other time in history, if hundreds of armed people, all dressed in black, many wearing body armor, marched into a city and threatened it or attacked it, this would be seen as an act of aggression that would immediately be withstood and stopped. Today? These hordes are destroying cities, and officials stand and watch. Some are having the unmitigated gall and audacity to now ask for federal funding to rebuild what they sat and watched destroyed!
If this is all done while America is working, what will happen when the economy crashes and most people are out of work, losing their homes, their ability to eat and live? What kind of nation will we see then? A hopeless, dystopian miasma of depression and despondency; people losing their minds, violence everywhere; armed conflict and death everywhere. Oh, you say, that sounds like civil war or some movie or t.v. program. That sounds apocalyptic. Yes, it does. Quite. Just as the Bible predicts the entire world will become. Thousands of organs are going to go silent.
Nero let Rome burn; blamed it on Christians. Fierce persecution arose. Are we on the precipice as the American empire crumbles? If it does, international dominoes will fall in every direction.
Is the end of all things finally here? Are we on a doorstep of no return? Maybe so. Probably so. Definitely so.
God help us.
******************
74. Am I Heartless? - July 19, 2020
For those who say I am heartless in my seeming disregard of the number of deaths from this virus, I would say, Prove that number is accurate. Can you? Not only can you not prove that number is accurate, much evidence now exists that case and death numbers have been enormously inflated by virtue of how they are tallied. I have seen estimates the actual number of deaths, directly attributed to complications from the virus, may be 40% or less of the claimed number. So, once again, we are back to a statistic of a flu season.
Those are facts established by investigation from news outlets and real journalists that smelled something rotten fairly quickly into this entire situation. From the beginning; China, the WHO, then the CDC, and then hospital administrators and doctors all became guilty of fudging numbers either to create fear, get away from responsibility and keep the numbers and fear rising so people look away from culprits, and also money going into hospitals depending on case and death counts. Indeed. For more money deaths have been attributed to people already dying of severe illnesses. Literally hundreds and thousands of health professionals are speaking out around the world. But, you do not hear that from the msm.
Most Americans of my generation woke up too late to see what was happening. We waffled civic responsibility in our teens and 20's. Most generations do but, look out and who do you see destroying cities right now? Young people in their 20's mostly. Oh yes, 30's, 40's, and some older than that are involved but, mostly it is the young destroying the cities. That is simply because parents waffled on their responsibility to educate their children on the principles of Americanism and expected the school systems to do it but, they indoctrinated the youth into ideologies of socialism, communism, entitlement, and anything but, personal responsibility, hard work, and character.
I want you to understand, I do not believe in political activism. As a Christian, the Bible teaches I am an ambassador for Christ. I am a citizen of a "kingdom not of this world." Being an American is a secondary citizenship and concern BUT, freedom, liberty, pursuit of happiness granted by the Creator are intimately linked to principles of freedom taught in Scripture so, while I am never going to go out and knock on doors for a political candidate, I will state my case about what Americanism is, and why it must be defended.
I am a Bible-believing Protestant. As such, I have absolutely no problem with anyone protesting anything that hides truth and takes away freedom and liberty. Calling weeks of constant destruction of cities "peaceful protesting" is an ignorance beyond credibility. Liars and ruination of America-agenda-driven hordes and elected civil servants and news corporations, unworthy to stand on the same floor as those who gave their life for freedom and liberty, are now in control because those professing belief in the principles of Americanism are either afraid or downright hypocrites. Such a small number of true statesmen and patriots exist in D.C. and their political appendages, they are almost totally out of sight.
I love God. I love America; the principles of Americanism. I love the concept of a Constitutional Republic and the rule of law. I love freedom, liberty, and rights granted by God. I love all people because Christ died for all people and all people deserve respect. If you have a problem with that, calling me heartless because I believe this virus fiasco is way past the point of common sense and medical science, is a waste of your time. Telling me, If you love America you will wear a mask, is the biggest bunch of barn yard defecation for a slogan in my lifetime. It wreaks of Progressivism and "It takes a village." It is pure Marxism, hive mentality. It is Orwellian "1984" propaganda. I totally and unequivocally reject it.
So, here I stand. I can do no other.
What next? What next for Americans sick and tired of elected civil servants tearing the nation down year by year with gutless, spineless, hateful contempt for the Constitution and limits placed upon them? What comes from voting scalawags and pirates into office year after year? What happens when liars and flagrantly untrustworthy people have control of America? We see the answer on American streets, the nightly and cable news, and the classrooms turning out apostates and immature narcissists by the hundreds of thousands every year. And it goes all way to first grade now. Make that millions who are being twisted to hate what God hath wrought.
I reiterate the words of John Adams - "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
Go to this website and read quotes from the Founders on freedom and liberty:
https://ammo.com/articles/founding-fathers-quotes-liberty-freedom-america
Dozens of quotes from the men who changed planet Earth by forming a government that allows people freedom to make personal, individual decisions about their own lives that do not infringe on the rights of others.
You want me to wear a mask? Prove the virus requires them. Prove they work. Prove they will not possibly harm me to wear one for hours every day. Prove the word of governors and mayors is law. Good luck with that.
You want me to support the BLM organization and these so-called "peaceful protests?" You need to tell its leaders to stop spouting hate towards America and citizens that disagree with their understanding of freedom and liberty, and the rule of law, let alone cranking off about bringing down the entire national government. Hey! I'm all for smaller government. Tearing it down and replacing it with "do it our way or you die?" I don't think so.
Why is Nick Cannon apologizing for his disgusting rant about Jews but, offered no apologies for his insane statements about "white" people, and the msm is silent? You want me to support the BLM movement/organization, tell me how to see any balance and patriotism, and scientific reasoning, or any semblance of common sense in such off-the-wall, babbling, bombastic, baloney Cannon hurled into the airwaves, or BLM leaders and promoters are coughing up every day. Seriously?
Hey, he has freedom to spout hate. That is the principle of freedom of speech. Don't ask me to support such foolish ranting. The same goes for those demanding I wear a mask, even out in the fresh air, or I am a "violator" and need to be fined or jailed for my disobedience, my violation of an "executive order" born from anything but, facts and truth.
I thank God to know what I know, to have learned what I have learned, and reached an age and point in life where I demand reasons and truth for your actions.
I'm just telling you honestly and up front: my freedom does not end at your fear. It certainly does not end at your support of tyranny.
If you do not understand that freedom entails risks, please, go read some American history. And don't bother talking to me about slavery. America ended it in 1865. Millions of "whites" were taken into slavery by Barbary pirates that wreaked havoc upon coastal Europe for centuries. "Whites" in America were given over to indentured servitude until it was stopped. But, you didn't learn that in your schooling, did you? And don't bother talking to me about racism when I believe in ONE race; the human race. Melanin means nothing to character, and all living "black" people and all Americans should know that, if they know anything about Martin Luther King Jr., right? I don't see much character on the streets of American cities. I see screaming hate, fires, devilish destruction, animalism, harm and bloodshed of the innocent, and people drunk with power, or scared to death, putting up with it.
Of course I am upset. Aren't you? Why not?
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Those are facts established by investigation from news outlets and real journalists that smelled something rotten fairly quickly into this entire situation. From the beginning; China, the WHO, then the CDC, and then hospital administrators and doctors all became guilty of fudging numbers either to create fear, get away from responsibility and keep the numbers and fear rising so people look away from culprits, and also money going into hospitals depending on case and death counts. Indeed. For more money deaths have been attributed to people already dying of severe illnesses. Literally hundreds and thousands of health professionals are speaking out around the world. But, you do not hear that from the msm.
Most Americans of my generation woke up too late to see what was happening. We waffled civic responsibility in our teens and 20's. Most generations do but, look out and who do you see destroying cities right now? Young people in their 20's mostly. Oh yes, 30's, 40's, and some older than that are involved but, mostly it is the young destroying the cities. That is simply because parents waffled on their responsibility to educate their children on the principles of Americanism and expected the school systems to do it but, they indoctrinated the youth into ideologies of socialism, communism, entitlement, and anything but, personal responsibility, hard work, and character.
I want you to understand, I do not believe in political activism. As a Christian, the Bible teaches I am an ambassador for Christ. I am a citizen of a "kingdom not of this world." Being an American is a secondary citizenship and concern BUT, freedom, liberty, pursuit of happiness granted by the Creator are intimately linked to principles of freedom taught in Scripture so, while I am never going to go out and knock on doors for a political candidate, I will state my case about what Americanism is, and why it must be defended.
I am a Bible-believing Protestant. As such, I have absolutely no problem with anyone protesting anything that hides truth and takes away freedom and liberty. Calling weeks of constant destruction of cities "peaceful protesting" is an ignorance beyond credibility. Liars and ruination of America-agenda-driven hordes and elected civil servants and news corporations, unworthy to stand on the same floor as those who gave their life for freedom and liberty, are now in control because those professing belief in the principles of Americanism are either afraid or downright hypocrites. Such a small number of true statesmen and patriots exist in D.C. and their political appendages, they are almost totally out of sight.
I love God. I love America; the principles of Americanism. I love the concept of a Constitutional Republic and the rule of law. I love freedom, liberty, and rights granted by God. I love all people because Christ died for all people and all people deserve respect. If you have a problem with that, calling me heartless because I believe this virus fiasco is way past the point of common sense and medical science, is a waste of your time. Telling me, If you love America you will wear a mask, is the biggest bunch of barn yard defecation for a slogan in my lifetime. It wreaks of Progressivism and "It takes a village." It is pure Marxism, hive mentality. It is Orwellian "1984" propaganda. I totally and unequivocally reject it.
So, here I stand. I can do no other.
What next? What next for Americans sick and tired of elected civil servants tearing the nation down year by year with gutless, spineless, hateful contempt for the Constitution and limits placed upon them? What comes from voting scalawags and pirates into office year after year? What happens when liars and flagrantly untrustworthy people have control of America? We see the answer on American streets, the nightly and cable news, and the classrooms turning out apostates and immature narcissists by the hundreds of thousands every year. And it goes all way to first grade now. Make that millions who are being twisted to hate what God hath wrought.
I reiterate the words of John Adams - "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
Go to this website and read quotes from the Founders on freedom and liberty:
https://ammo.com/articles/founding-fathers-quotes-liberty-freedom-america
Dozens of quotes from the men who changed planet Earth by forming a government that allows people freedom to make personal, individual decisions about their own lives that do not infringe on the rights of others.
You want me to wear a mask? Prove the virus requires them. Prove they work. Prove they will not possibly harm me to wear one for hours every day. Prove the word of governors and mayors is law. Good luck with that.
You want me to support the BLM organization and these so-called "peaceful protests?" You need to tell its leaders to stop spouting hate towards America and citizens that disagree with their understanding of freedom and liberty, and the rule of law, let alone cranking off about bringing down the entire national government. Hey! I'm all for smaller government. Tearing it down and replacing it with "do it our way or you die?" I don't think so.
Why is Nick Cannon apologizing for his disgusting rant about Jews but, offered no apologies for his insane statements about "white" people, and the msm is silent? You want me to support the BLM movement/organization, tell me how to see any balance and patriotism, and scientific reasoning, or any semblance of common sense in such off-the-wall, babbling, bombastic, baloney Cannon hurled into the airwaves, or BLM leaders and promoters are coughing up every day. Seriously?
Hey, he has freedom to spout hate. That is the principle of freedom of speech. Don't ask me to support such foolish ranting. The same goes for those demanding I wear a mask, even out in the fresh air, or I am a "violator" and need to be fined or jailed for my disobedience, my violation of an "executive order" born from anything but, facts and truth.
I thank God to know what I know, to have learned what I have learned, and reached an age and point in life where I demand reasons and truth for your actions.
I'm just telling you honestly and up front: my freedom does not end at your fear. It certainly does not end at your support of tyranny.
If you do not understand that freedom entails risks, please, go read some American history. And don't bother talking to me about slavery. America ended it in 1865. Millions of "whites" were taken into slavery by Barbary pirates that wreaked havoc upon coastal Europe for centuries. "Whites" in America were given over to indentured servitude until it was stopped. But, you didn't learn that in your schooling, did you? And don't bother talking to me about racism when I believe in ONE race; the human race. Melanin means nothing to character, and all living "black" people and all Americans should know that, if they know anything about Martin Luther King Jr., right? I don't see much character on the streets of American cities. I see screaming hate, fires, devilish destruction, animalism, harm and bloodshed of the innocent, and people drunk with power, or scared to death, putting up with it.
Of course I am upset. Aren't you? Why not?
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
75. Portland, Oregon. Am I Missing Something? - July20, 2020
Portland, Oregon has a long history of protesting. Seattle, Washington. Hollywood even made a movie about a mix of protestors and those trying to keep things under control: Battle in Seattle. Is there something about Washington and Oregon, the northwest portion of the country? Is there something in the Pine sap that gets into the air out there?
Portland is now seven weeks into violent protests about the death of George Floyd and police brutality. The cities are literally being ruined by mobs and hordes of young people supposedly peacefully protesting and expecting the world to just sit back and watch as a couple American cities burn and crack and crumble.
The msm is all over the line of moms, arms interlocked, protesting federal police sent in to stop the violence. The liberal media is all over Trump being a Hitler, sending in Brown shirts, jackbooted thugs, and wardrobed criminals to make sure Trump's quest for power is secured. To listen to Democrats, Trump will cease total control and keep November's election from taking place. Hey, honestly? Plenty of Republicans thought the same about Obama. That is the entire point of the Constitution, which elected civil servants take an oath to protect, from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Limited government; not able to take over by kingly power.
There are those, like Dr. Michael Savage, author and radio talk-show host, who believe liberalism is a mental illness. I see what is happening in Portland and Seattle and logically, the premise makes a lot of sense.
Cities are being torched, small businesses destroyed, people being brutally beat up my mobs, even members of the press are being attacked, and when help arrives, you complain they are being too rough on the perpetrators. You tell them to leave. You would rather see your city torched than the criminal activity stopped? People are shouting insurrection, revolution, taking down America as we know it, acting violently and the President is just supposed to what: say, Okay. You can tear down history, religion, education, protections, the economy and all the rest and we will just go quietly into the night?
I am going to guess these moms are not too savvy about the stated ends of the BLM organization, the Antifa agenda, and the foreign money, from the likes of globalist extreme, billionaire George Soros, flowing into the coffers of these criminals, which has now been shown to flow into the coffers of the Democrat Party. Just one, big cozy family. If they are aware, I feel sorry for them.
Am I missing something? You would rather see the police, apparently anyone in uniform, harmed by flying rocks, bottles, cans, bricks, pipes, and other objects being flung by radical leftists, supposedly protesting the death of George Floyd? That's okay but, under the rule of law, sending in federal police, because the local departments have been told to stand down, while precincts are literally under attack, to stop the criminal activity with force, is wrong? Either people have lost all common sense or had none to begin with. Are they hoping the violence will just fade away; burn itself out for lack of fuel to burn, both physically and ideologically? I state again, Antifa and the BLM organization have a stated agenda: to tear down every vestige of Americanism and replace it with mob rule: i.e. a pure democracy. They do not work for all. That is why the Founders put together a Constitutional Republic with freedoms and liberty granted by God, to all men. Tear that down and all hell will continue to break loose every time a group of people get ticked off about something.
The dichotomy between two sides of America and their sub-sets is now so far apart, how can there be any hope of any kind of unity? Babies and children are being gunned down by lunatics in American cities and what is being done? A bunch of screaming at Trump, blaming him, or other Americans telling him to do something, as the top law enforcement officer in the nation. His job is to protect Americans from dangerous elements. He sends in armed protectors that mean business and people are now protesting any kind of rule of law that upsets their values of letting children run riot with accountability.
As I have discussed this event with my wife and neighbors and others, I was not comfortable with Trump stating if the Democrat run cities and states want to ruin themselves, let them go ahead and do it. In principle, I believed that was wrong. Practically speaking, you go in armed to fight criminal activity, and you get castigated for it, the young people start crying, mommy jumps in, and the entire mess is so startling, Yes! Leave these unfortuneate souls to themselves and let them reap what they are sowing.
Well, you say, What about those fearful of their lives, afraid to go out of their houses, their homes and businesses, even their lives threatened by mobs? Indeed. The eggs are quite scrambled and you would not want to be in Trump's shoes, trust me. He's damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.
I see no way, unless God steps in, that America can saved saved from Balkanization: dividing, sub-dividing, and people making choices where they shall live based on two totally different ideas of what the nation of the United States of America should be. It is no longer the United Sates. What is it, then? A set of divided states, literally at war over control. Can it survive? Should it survive? That may be a more pertinent question. Can the world survive without America, this current America? Maybe. Freedom may not.
They are waving American flags in Hong Kong trying to maintain freedom and liberty from Chinese aggression. Here? The flags is being burned. Go figure.
Seems logical to me a huge crop of Americans should be harvested and just sent to China. Let them see what real government brutality is all about. Let them experience what tryanny sowed, reaps. I don't know. I guess they'd love it, seeing some leaders of these groups are avowed Communists. You can't make this stuff up.
Today I see articles on the Chinese government telling citizens they must take down any representations of Christ in their homes. So, yes, gather up all these people who want socialism and communism and set them on sail for China and see what they think even before the boats land and they are put in the cauldron of control.
When I was young I used to think the sign - America. Love it or leave it. - was pretty shallow. Today? Not so much. It just depends on which America you love. It is obvious which one, one side hates.
Portland is now seven weeks into violent protests about the death of George Floyd and police brutality. The cities are literally being ruined by mobs and hordes of young people supposedly peacefully protesting and expecting the world to just sit back and watch as a couple American cities burn and crack and crumble.
The msm is all over the line of moms, arms interlocked, protesting federal police sent in to stop the violence. The liberal media is all over Trump being a Hitler, sending in Brown shirts, jackbooted thugs, and wardrobed criminals to make sure Trump's quest for power is secured. To listen to Democrats, Trump will cease total control and keep November's election from taking place. Hey, honestly? Plenty of Republicans thought the same about Obama. That is the entire point of the Constitution, which elected civil servants take an oath to protect, from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Limited government; not able to take over by kingly power.
There are those, like Dr. Michael Savage, author and radio talk-show host, who believe liberalism is a mental illness. I see what is happening in Portland and Seattle and logically, the premise makes a lot of sense.
Cities are being torched, small businesses destroyed, people being brutally beat up my mobs, even members of the press are being attacked, and when help arrives, you complain they are being too rough on the perpetrators. You tell them to leave. You would rather see your city torched than the criminal activity stopped? People are shouting insurrection, revolution, taking down America as we know it, acting violently and the President is just supposed to what: say, Okay. You can tear down history, religion, education, protections, the economy and all the rest and we will just go quietly into the night?
I am going to guess these moms are not too savvy about the stated ends of the BLM organization, the Antifa agenda, and the foreign money, from the likes of globalist extreme, billionaire George Soros, flowing into the coffers of these criminals, which has now been shown to flow into the coffers of the Democrat Party. Just one, big cozy family. If they are aware, I feel sorry for them.
Am I missing something? You would rather see the police, apparently anyone in uniform, harmed by flying rocks, bottles, cans, bricks, pipes, and other objects being flung by radical leftists, supposedly protesting the death of George Floyd? That's okay but, under the rule of law, sending in federal police, because the local departments have been told to stand down, while precincts are literally under attack, to stop the criminal activity with force, is wrong? Either people have lost all common sense or had none to begin with. Are they hoping the violence will just fade away; burn itself out for lack of fuel to burn, both physically and ideologically? I state again, Antifa and the BLM organization have a stated agenda: to tear down every vestige of Americanism and replace it with mob rule: i.e. a pure democracy. They do not work for all. That is why the Founders put together a Constitutional Republic with freedoms and liberty granted by God, to all men. Tear that down and all hell will continue to break loose every time a group of people get ticked off about something.
The dichotomy between two sides of America and their sub-sets is now so far apart, how can there be any hope of any kind of unity? Babies and children are being gunned down by lunatics in American cities and what is being done? A bunch of screaming at Trump, blaming him, or other Americans telling him to do something, as the top law enforcement officer in the nation. His job is to protect Americans from dangerous elements. He sends in armed protectors that mean business and people are now protesting any kind of rule of law that upsets their values of letting children run riot with accountability.
As I have discussed this event with my wife and neighbors and others, I was not comfortable with Trump stating if the Democrat run cities and states want to ruin themselves, let them go ahead and do it. In principle, I believed that was wrong. Practically speaking, you go in armed to fight criminal activity, and you get castigated for it, the young people start crying, mommy jumps in, and the entire mess is so startling, Yes! Leave these unfortuneate souls to themselves and let them reap what they are sowing.
Well, you say, What about those fearful of their lives, afraid to go out of their houses, their homes and businesses, even their lives threatened by mobs? Indeed. The eggs are quite scrambled and you would not want to be in Trump's shoes, trust me. He's damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.
I see no way, unless God steps in, that America can saved saved from Balkanization: dividing, sub-dividing, and people making choices where they shall live based on two totally different ideas of what the nation of the United States of America should be. It is no longer the United Sates. What is it, then? A set of divided states, literally at war over control. Can it survive? Should it survive? That may be a more pertinent question. Can the world survive without America, this current America? Maybe. Freedom may not.
They are waving American flags in Hong Kong trying to maintain freedom and liberty from Chinese aggression. Here? The flags is being burned. Go figure.
Seems logical to me a huge crop of Americans should be harvested and just sent to China. Let them see what real government brutality is all about. Let them experience what tryanny sowed, reaps. I don't know. I guess they'd love it, seeing some leaders of these groups are avowed Communists. You can't make this stuff up.
Today I see articles on the Chinese government telling citizens they must take down any representations of Christ in their homes. So, yes, gather up all these people who want socialism and communism and set them on sail for China and see what they think even before the boats land and they are put in the cauldron of control.
When I was young I used to think the sign - America. Love it or leave it. - was pretty shallow. Today? Not so much. It just depends on which America you love. It is obvious which one, one side hates.
******************
76. "Negro" - July 20, 2020
Just a quick thought on something.
Roger Stone, a friend of the president and a long time conservative/libertarian political commentator, recently had his sentence commuted by Trump. He had a gag order placed on him after his arrest but, now he is speaking out. But, this is not about that.
I left an email account this afternoon and saw something in their news feed about Roger Stone referring to a radio host as a "Negro." That did not seem right but, as usual, I search and see for myself. I have zero trust for corporate run main stream news.
Eight pages of hits; all "liberal, leftist, progressive" sites carrying the story and dozens of radio stations basically repeating what comes across the AP, etc. Not a single hit on any news sites, not liberal. At least, after eight pages of hits.
I went to all the alternative news sites I frequent and not a single one had anything about this story. Odd.
I go to the site carrying the radio program, listen, and about 15 minutes into the interview you can hear the term "Negro" pretty plainly. The word "argue" seems plain, as well. The sounds on Stone's end sound like a bad or lost connection coming in and out. Maybe he had his hand over his phone, talking to people in the room. The host questions him, and when Stone is back clearly, he totally denies use of the word. Maybe someone else close to him in the room said it? I don't know. What can be heard would seem to rule that out. Maybe Stone did not realize he said it? Maybe he just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
Subsequently Stone has stated he did not say it, and it is not a insulting term, even if he did, and uses "The United Negro College Fund" as an example."
The term "negro" means "black" or "dark" in some languages. The term "Negroid" is used to describe one of the three "races" anthropology classed humans by: Negroid, Caucasoid, Mongoloid.
For some reason Negroes do not want those not Negro to use the term. They consider it a racial slur if it is used by non-negroes. Oddly enough, news stories are out there today that Joe Biden used the term 13 times in Senate hearings back in 1985, well beyond the civil rights movement. Nobody is castigating Joe Biden as a racist. The leftist corporate news media has given Biden passes on just about everything his long career in politics has experienced or promoted.
Hypocrisy aside, and Stone's foolishness in using the word in current society, why do "Black" people, who are not black but, various shades of brown, just like every other human being on the planet, reject the use of a word that means "black?" I don't get it. I understand not saying "nigger," the dreaded "N"-word, which is a take on the word Negro. Although Blacks use it of themselves often enough, and proof of that is found throughout all media: print, film, and recordings. So, they can use the word about themselves but, not anyone else.
If you come here and read you know I consider myself a child of Adam. Everybody on Earth is descended from Adam and Eve, not apes or some creature thereof from the evolutionist's tree of life. I believe there is one race; the human race. There are no white, black, red, or yellow humans. One person suggested there should be an ALM: Adamic Lives Matter. But, consider that supposed "experts," men of "science" and "philosophy," categorize human beings based on groups with slightly differing physical characteristics, or in a more general sense; culture, region, etc. I've mentioned this before.
Do you see the confusion "experts" bring upon society? Do see why the Bible states, "Beware of science, falsely so-called?"
Science, social engineering, sophistry of philosophy and its terms and concepts, create so much confusion a word that means exactly what some humans want to be called cannot be used. I have seen people from India with much darker skin than any "African American" I have ever seen. I have seen Italian Americans with darker skin than some African Americans.
Why do people want to be called "black" but, not "negro," which means "black?"
The entire national diatribe about racism from the leftists in America is an empty suit. Its purpose is to create division. It's purpose is to create tension. Its purpose is to create conflict. There is no common sense to any of it. It is an emotional situation void of facts. Nobody denies slavery in America. America outlawed slavery. Nobody denies some people are racist; meaning, they believe they are better than people with darker skin than they have, OR have lighter skin than they have. That is total ignorance BUT! Ignorance is not against the law. Stupidity is not a crime. Class warfare, race warfare being instigated and agitated by the left has led to criminal actions we have been watching in riots for decades. George Floyd was not killed because he was Black. George Floyd tried to pass counterfeit money, high as a kite on something, and according to police transcripts of the event, became unmanageable. Enough that three cops should have knelt on him? I don't know. It was their call. But, the autopsy shows the cop and his knee on Floyd's neck did not kill him. He was already greatly impaired because of the drugs in his system.
And here we are, burned down cities later.
I must ask if a 6'6" person of another lighter shade of brown, passing counterfeit money, high on drugs, and unmanageable had three cops on him and he died, would there be riots? Yet statistics show the police kill far more people of the "white" race, per capita, than black people. Those are facts. Rogue, carnally-minded, brute police officers? Certainly. Things can always be done better so the few do not spoil the whole. But, all this madness over George Floyd's death? No. I do not believe it. An enormous agenda is behind all this and Floyd's death was used as a catalyst for it.
If humans continue to allow "race baiters," social engineers, and radicals who reject common sense, to have any influence on national dialogue, there is no hope for America. None. I do not want to discuss the color of a person's melanin content. Nor any other physical features. I refuse. I am not white, especially in the summer. If Americans are systemically racist why is 80% of the population trying to be more brown every summer for the last 80 years or more of summer sunbathing? Please, do let us have common sense!
You know, as a musician, many drummers who have influenced my playing are Negroes: Americans of varying darker skin shade. Now, think of how stupid that statement is on the face of it. What does the melanin content of someone's skin have to do with playing drums? Nothing. No thing. It's nonsense. It's ridiculous. World music influences, by continent? Sure. Skin color, hair features, facial features? Ridiculous. Everybody bleeds red. Everybody is created by semen far more white than any human you have ever seen.
Race is a total false premise genetically, culturally, socially; and is being used to just incite trouble in America, and anywhere else this lie of "race" has been accepted.
We cannot allow this to continue in the face of reason, and genetics, if you want to go there. It is just wrong. You are either an American or you are not. I need no other categorization of humanity beyond that. Political categorization, itself, can be off, though today, there are definitely left and right political concepts. But, here is a good example I recently came upon.
I saw an old interview with John Wayne on the Phil Donahue show from the late 70's. Wayne was 69 at the time. I may have seen it when it aired back then, I don't remember. It was interesting. The "Duke" was supposed to be a real right-wing, conservative Republican, and Donahue brought that up. Wayne said he voted for four Democrats and four Republicans, and considered himself a Liberal. Donahue sat there stunned. Wayne said, his understanding of a 'liberal' is someone who listens to all sides and then draws a conclusion. Well said. Is that not the point of a "liberal arts" education? A well-rounded, being exposed to all points of view, education? Is that what exists in America today? Not even close. Both major parties are corrupt. Those on the left want huge government. Those on the right want small government. Those in the middle in D.C. are happy with the current status quo ruining the nation. Today's Republican Party is most assuredly NOT the GOP of John Wayne's lifetime, and it was a mess back then. But, JFK was nowhere near the radical of today's Democrat Party.
One of the very few men in the audience rose up and stated he was a Republican working in the Party and asked Wayne if he would state he will remain a loyal, or something to that equivalent, Republican. Wayne said he would stay loyal to being an American and supporting those he felt would do the best job in supporting America. Well said. Millions of people think of John Wayne as one of the most Conservative people who ever lived in the USA. Wayne was a patriot. Wayne loved America and Americanism. He was married to a Hispanic woman. He dated a number of Hispanic women in his life. He was hardly a "racist" but, astoundingly, those charges rise today! Why? Because liars are controlling, or trying to control, the narrative.
Honestly? Frankly? People are stupid. Just plain ignorant, or wicked; evil, and they do not have to be. It isn't a crime. It sure is detrimental to progress, peace, and harmony.
Where does it go from here?
Roger Stone, a friend of the president and a long time conservative/libertarian political commentator, recently had his sentence commuted by Trump. He had a gag order placed on him after his arrest but, now he is speaking out. But, this is not about that.
I left an email account this afternoon and saw something in their news feed about Roger Stone referring to a radio host as a "Negro." That did not seem right but, as usual, I search and see for myself. I have zero trust for corporate run main stream news.
Eight pages of hits; all "liberal, leftist, progressive" sites carrying the story and dozens of radio stations basically repeating what comes across the AP, etc. Not a single hit on any news sites, not liberal. At least, after eight pages of hits.
I went to all the alternative news sites I frequent and not a single one had anything about this story. Odd.
I go to the site carrying the radio program, listen, and about 15 minutes into the interview you can hear the term "Negro" pretty plainly. The word "argue" seems plain, as well. The sounds on Stone's end sound like a bad or lost connection coming in and out. Maybe he had his hand over his phone, talking to people in the room. The host questions him, and when Stone is back clearly, he totally denies use of the word. Maybe someone else close to him in the room said it? I don't know. What can be heard would seem to rule that out. Maybe Stone did not realize he said it? Maybe he just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
Subsequently Stone has stated he did not say it, and it is not a insulting term, even if he did, and uses "The United Negro College Fund" as an example."
The term "negro" means "black" or "dark" in some languages. The term "Negroid" is used to describe one of the three "races" anthropology classed humans by: Negroid, Caucasoid, Mongoloid.
For some reason Negroes do not want those not Negro to use the term. They consider it a racial slur if it is used by non-negroes. Oddly enough, news stories are out there today that Joe Biden used the term 13 times in Senate hearings back in 1985, well beyond the civil rights movement. Nobody is castigating Joe Biden as a racist. The leftist corporate news media has given Biden passes on just about everything his long career in politics has experienced or promoted.
Hypocrisy aside, and Stone's foolishness in using the word in current society, why do "Black" people, who are not black but, various shades of brown, just like every other human being on the planet, reject the use of a word that means "black?" I don't get it. I understand not saying "nigger," the dreaded "N"-word, which is a take on the word Negro. Although Blacks use it of themselves often enough, and proof of that is found throughout all media: print, film, and recordings. So, they can use the word about themselves but, not anyone else.
If you come here and read you know I consider myself a child of Adam. Everybody on Earth is descended from Adam and Eve, not apes or some creature thereof from the evolutionist's tree of life. I believe there is one race; the human race. There are no white, black, red, or yellow humans. One person suggested there should be an ALM: Adamic Lives Matter. But, consider that supposed "experts," men of "science" and "philosophy," categorize human beings based on groups with slightly differing physical characteristics, or in a more general sense; culture, region, etc. I've mentioned this before.
Do you see the confusion "experts" bring upon society? Do see why the Bible states, "Beware of science, falsely so-called?"
Science, social engineering, sophistry of philosophy and its terms and concepts, create so much confusion a word that means exactly what some humans want to be called cannot be used. I have seen people from India with much darker skin than any "African American" I have ever seen. I have seen Italian Americans with darker skin than some African Americans.
Why do people want to be called "black" but, not "negro," which means "black?"
The entire national diatribe about racism from the leftists in America is an empty suit. Its purpose is to create division. It's purpose is to create tension. Its purpose is to create conflict. There is no common sense to any of it. It is an emotional situation void of facts. Nobody denies slavery in America. America outlawed slavery. Nobody denies some people are racist; meaning, they believe they are better than people with darker skin than they have, OR have lighter skin than they have. That is total ignorance BUT! Ignorance is not against the law. Stupidity is not a crime. Class warfare, race warfare being instigated and agitated by the left has led to criminal actions we have been watching in riots for decades. George Floyd was not killed because he was Black. George Floyd tried to pass counterfeit money, high as a kite on something, and according to police transcripts of the event, became unmanageable. Enough that three cops should have knelt on him? I don't know. It was their call. But, the autopsy shows the cop and his knee on Floyd's neck did not kill him. He was already greatly impaired because of the drugs in his system.
And here we are, burned down cities later.
I must ask if a 6'6" person of another lighter shade of brown, passing counterfeit money, high on drugs, and unmanageable had three cops on him and he died, would there be riots? Yet statistics show the police kill far more people of the "white" race, per capita, than black people. Those are facts. Rogue, carnally-minded, brute police officers? Certainly. Things can always be done better so the few do not spoil the whole. But, all this madness over George Floyd's death? No. I do not believe it. An enormous agenda is behind all this and Floyd's death was used as a catalyst for it.
If humans continue to allow "race baiters," social engineers, and radicals who reject common sense, to have any influence on national dialogue, there is no hope for America. None. I do not want to discuss the color of a person's melanin content. Nor any other physical features. I refuse. I am not white, especially in the summer. If Americans are systemically racist why is 80% of the population trying to be more brown every summer for the last 80 years or more of summer sunbathing? Please, do let us have common sense!
You know, as a musician, many drummers who have influenced my playing are Negroes: Americans of varying darker skin shade. Now, think of how stupid that statement is on the face of it. What does the melanin content of someone's skin have to do with playing drums? Nothing. No thing. It's nonsense. It's ridiculous. World music influences, by continent? Sure. Skin color, hair features, facial features? Ridiculous. Everybody bleeds red. Everybody is created by semen far more white than any human you have ever seen.
Race is a total false premise genetically, culturally, socially; and is being used to just incite trouble in America, and anywhere else this lie of "race" has been accepted.
We cannot allow this to continue in the face of reason, and genetics, if you want to go there. It is just wrong. You are either an American or you are not. I need no other categorization of humanity beyond that. Political categorization, itself, can be off, though today, there are definitely left and right political concepts. But, here is a good example I recently came upon.
I saw an old interview with John Wayne on the Phil Donahue show from the late 70's. Wayne was 69 at the time. I may have seen it when it aired back then, I don't remember. It was interesting. The "Duke" was supposed to be a real right-wing, conservative Republican, and Donahue brought that up. Wayne said he voted for four Democrats and four Republicans, and considered himself a Liberal. Donahue sat there stunned. Wayne said, his understanding of a 'liberal' is someone who listens to all sides and then draws a conclusion. Well said. Is that not the point of a "liberal arts" education? A well-rounded, being exposed to all points of view, education? Is that what exists in America today? Not even close. Both major parties are corrupt. Those on the left want huge government. Those on the right want small government. Those in the middle in D.C. are happy with the current status quo ruining the nation. Today's Republican Party is most assuredly NOT the GOP of John Wayne's lifetime, and it was a mess back then. But, JFK was nowhere near the radical of today's Democrat Party.
One of the very few men in the audience rose up and stated he was a Republican working in the Party and asked Wayne if he would state he will remain a loyal, or something to that equivalent, Republican. Wayne said he would stay loyal to being an American and supporting those he felt would do the best job in supporting America. Well said. Millions of people think of John Wayne as one of the most Conservative people who ever lived in the USA. Wayne was a patriot. Wayne loved America and Americanism. He was married to a Hispanic woman. He dated a number of Hispanic women in his life. He was hardly a "racist" but, astoundingly, those charges rise today! Why? Because liars are controlling, or trying to control, the narrative.
Honestly? Frankly? People are stupid. Just plain ignorant, or wicked; evil, and they do not have to be. It isn't a crime. It sure is detrimental to progress, peace, and harmony.
Where does it go from here?
******************
77. Song #2 - July 21,2020
I've been writing lyrics as long as I can remember; from way back in my early teens. By the time I started Legend I had notebooks of lyrics. Dozens of coinciding melodies to go with them. As I've mentioned before, Legend had a good 4 or 5 albums worth of material on paper, and a two and half-hour performance for use. We hit the ground running.
When I became a Christian, I began writing lyrics in harmony with that experience; as well as putting Scripture to melody. So many issues began to rise up I never had time to develop any of it but, I think a lot of it is still on cassette tapes, in storage. I have no idea of any of it is viable, especially sitting in the heat of Texas. They are probably all gone, for all intents and purposes.
When Gary Hendrickson and I decided to work together to produce "Patriot Prog," I'll call it, I was inspired by my own research into American history, the principles of Americanism, and the upheavals taking place, building in intensity year by year, especially in the last few years. Not that the upheavals inspired me. Necessity to expose my understanding of our existence as Americans, in response to the upheavals, inspired me.
I mentioned I have sent Gary lyrics for him to read and come up with whatever hits him inside. His first effort, Liberty, made me want to jump up to my set and play. It's a fantastic piece of music.
Hearing my words set to music is a humbling, yet exciting thing. You put your thoughts, yourself, really, on paper, or digital form, as the case may be, and another person reads them and is moved to create music around them, and you wait and see what the bridge between those two persons is. Is there any connection? Does the story get captured in the music? Does the message come through? Are you "on the same page?"
Gary sent me a rough file (if this is rough, I cannot imagine finished), of the second song he has worked on. He sent me the file a few days ago, and I did not check my email all that day and did not hear his effort until the next morning. He let me know not hearing from me right away was making him age, lol. Did I not like the song? Well, I listened and literally wanted to scream. If my wife were not still sleeping I would have. As it was, I raised my arms and silently shouted. It is a brilliant piece of music that perfectly captures the intent of the lyrics.
Gary informed me it was a "Rocker." Indeed; a Rocker a la Gary Hendrickson, which means it is anything but, a typical Rock song. The combination of musical elements Gary composes are unique. If its contemporary is out there, I have not heard it. He can compose Progressive Rock with the best of them. He makes it all his own. Just like Prog bands back in the day, all easily recognizable for the character and personality of each band's music, Gary has the same facets and quality to what he does. It is Gary Hendrickson. That thrills me because most music today, for decades, has become cookie cutter, corporate controlled banality. I just stopped listening, even to my favorite genre, Fusion, because the elements of actual song structure: melody, harmony and rhythm are missing.
When one listens to 60's and 70's Fusion and Progressive (what was originally called Classical Rock), one hears pieces of music, constructed around themes. Bands had musical personalities that you recognized by their sound, their compositional styles. So much of that got lost somehow. Today's Fusion does not have the elements of song composition of a Corea, Ponty, McLaughlin, or the Prog of ELP, YES, Kansas and all the bands and composers changing the world of music back then. Today, things are boringly unrefreshing; to me, anyway. Same ol', same ol'. A quick melody line, and then a bunch of soloing, back to the melody, more solos, etc. I just stopped purchasing and listening to Fusion. Prog has drifted into so much Metal I lost reason to listen to that, as well. Early Metal was as melodic as anything else, even though it got into "darker" key signatures and all. Today, I don't know what Metal is. A wall of dense sound.
Most Pop music is just some repetitive electronic chirping and people singing the most useless lyrics ever written, over it all. Sorry if that offends anybody but, music when I was young had thought to it. I just don't hear that today and I admit to not knowing very much about what is out there. I only know I hear a lot of retro music when I walk into stores these days (60's, 70's), and the difference between that and modern stuff is like night and day. One is music, the other is noise, by definition. It gives me a headache.
Everybody knows there are only just so many combinations of rhyming words to use, and just so many notes in a key signature you can imaginatively string together in solo after solo. What is left? As I have written before, maybe humanity has reached its limits, musically speaking. That would actually make sense, all things considered, from a biblical worldview and the times we live in.
Those musicians and composers actually 'composing' 'music' in our day are to be commended, regardless of the styles or genres. That is the category I place Gary Hendrickson in. He's definitely a thinking man's Rocker. He has lived a lot of life; been through hard times, come out on the other end of the tunnel and is producing a unique blend of that life in sound. He's a humble guy, a straight shooter, and knows what he knows and why he knows it. Listening to older recordings there is no doubt about that. He's standing in more light these days and that experience is reflected in his music but, he isn't losing his core. He is more known in the Metal community from his stuff back in the 80's but, I believe Gary is going to become far more broadly known for what he is writing today. His time has come.
When I became a Christian, I began writing lyrics in harmony with that experience; as well as putting Scripture to melody. So many issues began to rise up I never had time to develop any of it but, I think a lot of it is still on cassette tapes, in storage. I have no idea of any of it is viable, especially sitting in the heat of Texas. They are probably all gone, for all intents and purposes.
When Gary Hendrickson and I decided to work together to produce "Patriot Prog," I'll call it, I was inspired by my own research into American history, the principles of Americanism, and the upheavals taking place, building in intensity year by year, especially in the last few years. Not that the upheavals inspired me. Necessity to expose my understanding of our existence as Americans, in response to the upheavals, inspired me.
I mentioned I have sent Gary lyrics for him to read and come up with whatever hits him inside. His first effort, Liberty, made me want to jump up to my set and play. It's a fantastic piece of music.
Hearing my words set to music is a humbling, yet exciting thing. You put your thoughts, yourself, really, on paper, or digital form, as the case may be, and another person reads them and is moved to create music around them, and you wait and see what the bridge between those two persons is. Is there any connection? Does the story get captured in the music? Does the message come through? Are you "on the same page?"
Gary sent me a rough file (if this is rough, I cannot imagine finished), of the second song he has worked on. He sent me the file a few days ago, and I did not check my email all that day and did not hear his effort until the next morning. He let me know not hearing from me right away was making him age, lol. Did I not like the song? Well, I listened and literally wanted to scream. If my wife were not still sleeping I would have. As it was, I raised my arms and silently shouted. It is a brilliant piece of music that perfectly captures the intent of the lyrics.
Gary informed me it was a "Rocker." Indeed; a Rocker a la Gary Hendrickson, which means it is anything but, a typical Rock song. The combination of musical elements Gary composes are unique. If its contemporary is out there, I have not heard it. He can compose Progressive Rock with the best of them. He makes it all his own. Just like Prog bands back in the day, all easily recognizable for the character and personality of each band's music, Gary has the same facets and quality to what he does. It is Gary Hendrickson. That thrills me because most music today, for decades, has become cookie cutter, corporate controlled banality. I just stopped listening, even to my favorite genre, Fusion, because the elements of actual song structure: melody, harmony and rhythm are missing.
When one listens to 60's and 70's Fusion and Progressive (what was originally called Classical Rock), one hears pieces of music, constructed around themes. Bands had musical personalities that you recognized by their sound, their compositional styles. So much of that got lost somehow. Today's Fusion does not have the elements of song composition of a Corea, Ponty, McLaughlin, or the Prog of ELP, YES, Kansas and all the bands and composers changing the world of music back then. Today, things are boringly unrefreshing; to me, anyway. Same ol', same ol'. A quick melody line, and then a bunch of soloing, back to the melody, more solos, etc. I just stopped purchasing and listening to Fusion. Prog has drifted into so much Metal I lost reason to listen to that, as well. Early Metal was as melodic as anything else, even though it got into "darker" key signatures and all. Today, I don't know what Metal is. A wall of dense sound.
Most Pop music is just some repetitive electronic chirping and people singing the most useless lyrics ever written, over it all. Sorry if that offends anybody but, music when I was young had thought to it. I just don't hear that today and I admit to not knowing very much about what is out there. I only know I hear a lot of retro music when I walk into stores these days (60's, 70's), and the difference between that and modern stuff is like night and day. One is music, the other is noise, by definition. It gives me a headache.
Everybody knows there are only just so many combinations of rhyming words to use, and just so many notes in a key signature you can imaginatively string together in solo after solo. What is left? As I have written before, maybe humanity has reached its limits, musically speaking. That would actually make sense, all things considered, from a biblical worldview and the times we live in.
Those musicians and composers actually 'composing' 'music' in our day are to be commended, regardless of the styles or genres. That is the category I place Gary Hendrickson in. He's definitely a thinking man's Rocker. He has lived a lot of life; been through hard times, come out on the other end of the tunnel and is producing a unique blend of that life in sound. He's a humble guy, a straight shooter, and knows what he knows and why he knows it. Listening to older recordings there is no doubt about that. He's standing in more light these days and that experience is reflected in his music but, he isn't losing his core. He is more known in the Metal community from his stuff back in the 80's but, I believe Gary is going to become far more broadly known for what he is writing today. His time has come.
******************
78. Go Ahead; Draw The Lines - July 22,2020
I look at headlines at a bunch of alternative news sites every day. Sometimes in the morning, sometimes at night. I don't know what to think. The nation is split; viciously split in many cases; with the most harsh, vitriolic, acidic statements going back and forth. "A shining city on a hill?" No. America must now seem a cesspool of fecal matter in the eyes of the world, and yet, millions still desire to come here, year after year. Logically, that means it is, at least perceived to be, even worse in the nations they live in. The world is coming unglued. America seems the place to go. America is coming unglued. What's left?
I don't really know what compels me to write these blogs so frequently now, especially being about matters unrelated to music. I do love America and the principles of Americanism, and hate to see the nation so split. I am certain, of the few who come here every week, I am probably offending half of them, or at least some, and will not see them again. I cannot help that, nor stop commenting.
When Rodney King said, Can't we all get along?, everybody knew exactly what he meant. How could you not, after seeing what happened in those conflagrations back in the 80's. If you're too young to remember, it was another "police brutality" situation. King did not want to see the riots taking place. I am certain George Floyd, after reading about his life, rough as it was, would not want to see the rioting taking place today. People who want to destroy things to make a point are imbalanced. They cannot articulate their feelings or belief in a rational way so they strike out and get physical, violent; especially when motivated to be so by those whose agenda it is to cause as much chaos as possible. They are just evil and I can only hope they wake up to greater realities than power on Earth. The angry, the frustrated; I have not walked a mile in their shoes. I do not know what it's like to have dark skin and be treated differently because of that. I do know this. When people are nice, nice begets nice. When people are kind, kindness begets kindness. All humans could, indeed, get along, if the principle of: Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you, were followed by everyone. But, it isn't.
Why are people racist? I think of a man, who is one of the most friendly, helpful, cheerful, good guys I ever met. Just a fine neighbor and man. One day in conversation it became evident he does not like "Black" people. This seemed impossible to comprehend. I questioned his feelings. He said he never used to be but, he had experiences in the military that totally changed him. He didn't get into specifics but, he came out of the military not liking ....... . For him, his experience with "Black" people, at a very impressionable time of life, colored his glasses to see problems with some group of Americans the rest of his life. That's pretty heavy.
We know there are just as many, per capita, "Black" people who do not like "White" people. "Racism" hardly has a one-sided pool in America. The same can be said for "Brown" and "Red" people.
Why is it every nation in the history of the world, including some existing right now, practiced indentured servitude and slavery, and everything in America is about things that happened centuries ago and stopped in 1865? Why is it the history of the world is constantly increasing territory and engaging in war to do it: attackers/defenders; some attackers win, some attackers lose, the centuries wear on, and people make the history of America worse than any other nation in world history? Not only did Native Americans, battling themselves, practicing slavery themselves, lose when they fought American forces but, those same victorious Americans proudly display Native American symbols on their sports gear in honor of the intensity of the Native American warrior to fight for victory! But, no, teams now have to remove it all because some are offended in some odd way, misunderstanding the entire point of using Native American symbolism in sports. One of my closest friends in life, David Yeagley, a Comanche, was brilliant at explaining all this. Look him up. He passed away from cancer years ago now but, his writings and thoughts are still on line.
I'll be honest. I never met a "White" person in my life who did not like Denzel Washington or James Earl Jones or Ernie Banks or Willie Mays. Why? These men carried themselves with dignity. They gained respect because of their character and achievements regardless of skin color. They were/are nice people and the color of their skin means zero to multiplied millions of Americans who knew/know anything about them. Dignity begets dignity. Respect begets respect.
I remember the times when Hank Aaron passed Babe Ruth's home run record. Most of America were awestruck by the man's ability with a baseball bat. Yes, some showed their true colors with their racist attitudes. It exists, for whatever reasons and you will never totally remove it from society, especially as Americans are watching their cities burning down, police just trying to do their jobs, assaulted, and murdered just because they are police men and women. And that goes for the "Whites," too. In many cases, far more "White" people are involved in all this violence and we can know this has NOTHING to do with skin color and EVERYTHING to do with radicalism wanting to topple America and remold it into a Socialist/Communist nation. They somehow do not realize, it somehow does not dawn on them the very fact they can peacefully protest in America, freely, is reason enough to NOT want to see Communism gain control. The ONLY way Communism works is through force. It cannot work any other way because there will always be people who believe work begets gain. If hard work begets nothing but whatever the government deems you are worth, people grow sullen, despondent, then, finally violent, and the system is overthrown. China will, someday, fall apart. People have an innate desire to be free. A need for freedom. People must be free as long as they remain civil towards their fellow citizen. Then the need for order comes in. The rule of law is designed to protect freedom and liberty and stop incivility. Argue with your fellow citizen all you want. Punch him in the face and the rule of law steps in, unless you are defending yourself.
Because there are corrupt people, dishonest people of no character, in every society on Earth, you cannot possibly have complete harmony. It is impossible. The problems on Earth are ALWAYS matters of human character flaws; always.
Lucifer said, in Heaven, "I would be like the Most High." Something happened within this majestic angel, created perfect. His mind warped. His thinking darkened. It is the mystery of iniquity. How could an angel, next to the thrown of God, beholding God face to Face, in the presence of pure, divine Love, rebel? How is that possible? Well, we can wait until Heaven to truly understand what happened but, Lucifer's desire for control, for power, using deceit, sophistry, lies and manipulation caused war in Heaven and a third of the angelic host followed him. They were cast out of Heaven and Earth is the battlefield for the mind.
No, if you are an atheist, and think man is just a descendant of an apelike creature, and morality is just what any society determines it to be, you are hopeless creature. What can you have hope in? Mankind? Seriously? Based on what track record? You are of little use to the protection of Americanism; built on the premise God not only exists but, has granted us inalienable rights. As John Adams said, the Constitution can only work with a religious, moral people. It cannot work with those who do not believe or understand principles of freedom and liberty from their source.
After stating all this, again, the purpose of my thoughts today is to simply say, Draw the lines. Remap America into two nations. Divide it. Somehow, someway, somewhere, because there is no possible way America can survive the way things are. If you see my understanding as radical, as unworthy of respect, as a danger to society and its children, okay. You have made your point. Draw the lines. Create the new borders. I am more than willing to move to a nation that understands freedom, liberty, inalienable rights granted by God; where character means more than money and power, where skin color is only a matter of God's design, not material nature; where people are free to advance by their own desires and hard work; where helping others is a matter of principle, not taxation; where people understand that God is the Sovereign of the universe and His place in the principles of law and government are vital to the success of any nation, because there is a huge difference between the separation of church and state, and God from state. If God is removed from state affairs, state affairs corrupt quickly. If God's power and authority are put aside - absolute power corrupts, absolutely. And here we are.
I know there are millions of Americans who will gladly live in a nation where it is understood all men are created equal. It will not be perfect. If I am a citizen it could not be perfect. If you are a citizen, it could not be perfect but, it could be civil, it could be functional under the rule of law, it could workable, dependable, protective of rights, amiable, decent, logical, and employ the most necessary element of life - common sense.
I'll move there, tough as it would be on the nation. I'll live there. And, invite anyone who wants to abide by the same ethics and ideals to live with me and millions of others who want the madness to stop.
Maybe, at this point, it is impossible, because Christ is returning, the world is growing old as a garment, the final events are gaining ground, and the end of all things is at hand. That is fine with me, too. What is coming next will be light years beyond anything man can make for his peace and harmony. No sin. Just living in a place with no sin will be paradise. Take all the rest away: the tree of life growing a different fruit every month for eternity; traveling the universe and seeing what is out there; pursuing anything and having eternity to master everything we pursue, and it only gets better with the next day's entrance, and does so, forever. If struggling to make America Socialist/Communist or any other failed "ist" or "ism" is worth missing out on that, have at it. You have gotten your reward. For me, I'll take hope, promised by God. I'll take peace, promised by God. I'll take harmony, promised by God. More music than man can conceive, promised by God.
Impossible you, say? With men, yes. With the infinite God, no. More than possible. Promised. Guaranteed. Zero doubts, at least, for those that love the truth.
I don't really know what compels me to write these blogs so frequently now, especially being about matters unrelated to music. I do love America and the principles of Americanism, and hate to see the nation so split. I am certain, of the few who come here every week, I am probably offending half of them, or at least some, and will not see them again. I cannot help that, nor stop commenting.
When Rodney King said, Can't we all get along?, everybody knew exactly what he meant. How could you not, after seeing what happened in those conflagrations back in the 80's. If you're too young to remember, it was another "police brutality" situation. King did not want to see the riots taking place. I am certain George Floyd, after reading about his life, rough as it was, would not want to see the rioting taking place today. People who want to destroy things to make a point are imbalanced. They cannot articulate their feelings or belief in a rational way so they strike out and get physical, violent; especially when motivated to be so by those whose agenda it is to cause as much chaos as possible. They are just evil and I can only hope they wake up to greater realities than power on Earth. The angry, the frustrated; I have not walked a mile in their shoes. I do not know what it's like to have dark skin and be treated differently because of that. I do know this. When people are nice, nice begets nice. When people are kind, kindness begets kindness. All humans could, indeed, get along, if the principle of: Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you, were followed by everyone. But, it isn't.
Why are people racist? I think of a man, who is one of the most friendly, helpful, cheerful, good guys I ever met. Just a fine neighbor and man. One day in conversation it became evident he does not like "Black" people. This seemed impossible to comprehend. I questioned his feelings. He said he never used to be but, he had experiences in the military that totally changed him. He didn't get into specifics but, he came out of the military not liking ....... . For him, his experience with "Black" people, at a very impressionable time of life, colored his glasses to see problems with some group of Americans the rest of his life. That's pretty heavy.
We know there are just as many, per capita, "Black" people who do not like "White" people. "Racism" hardly has a one-sided pool in America. The same can be said for "Brown" and "Red" people.
Why is it every nation in the history of the world, including some existing right now, practiced indentured servitude and slavery, and everything in America is about things that happened centuries ago and stopped in 1865? Why is it the history of the world is constantly increasing territory and engaging in war to do it: attackers/defenders; some attackers win, some attackers lose, the centuries wear on, and people make the history of America worse than any other nation in world history? Not only did Native Americans, battling themselves, practicing slavery themselves, lose when they fought American forces but, those same victorious Americans proudly display Native American symbols on their sports gear in honor of the intensity of the Native American warrior to fight for victory! But, no, teams now have to remove it all because some are offended in some odd way, misunderstanding the entire point of using Native American symbolism in sports. One of my closest friends in life, David Yeagley, a Comanche, was brilliant at explaining all this. Look him up. He passed away from cancer years ago now but, his writings and thoughts are still on line.
I'll be honest. I never met a "White" person in my life who did not like Denzel Washington or James Earl Jones or Ernie Banks or Willie Mays. Why? These men carried themselves with dignity. They gained respect because of their character and achievements regardless of skin color. They were/are nice people and the color of their skin means zero to multiplied millions of Americans who knew/know anything about them. Dignity begets dignity. Respect begets respect.
I remember the times when Hank Aaron passed Babe Ruth's home run record. Most of America were awestruck by the man's ability with a baseball bat. Yes, some showed their true colors with their racist attitudes. It exists, for whatever reasons and you will never totally remove it from society, especially as Americans are watching their cities burning down, police just trying to do their jobs, assaulted, and murdered just because they are police men and women. And that goes for the "Whites," too. In many cases, far more "White" people are involved in all this violence and we can know this has NOTHING to do with skin color and EVERYTHING to do with radicalism wanting to topple America and remold it into a Socialist/Communist nation. They somehow do not realize, it somehow does not dawn on them the very fact they can peacefully protest in America, freely, is reason enough to NOT want to see Communism gain control. The ONLY way Communism works is through force. It cannot work any other way because there will always be people who believe work begets gain. If hard work begets nothing but whatever the government deems you are worth, people grow sullen, despondent, then, finally violent, and the system is overthrown. China will, someday, fall apart. People have an innate desire to be free. A need for freedom. People must be free as long as they remain civil towards their fellow citizen. Then the need for order comes in. The rule of law is designed to protect freedom and liberty and stop incivility. Argue with your fellow citizen all you want. Punch him in the face and the rule of law steps in, unless you are defending yourself.
Because there are corrupt people, dishonest people of no character, in every society on Earth, you cannot possibly have complete harmony. It is impossible. The problems on Earth are ALWAYS matters of human character flaws; always.
Lucifer said, in Heaven, "I would be like the Most High." Something happened within this majestic angel, created perfect. His mind warped. His thinking darkened. It is the mystery of iniquity. How could an angel, next to the thrown of God, beholding God face to Face, in the presence of pure, divine Love, rebel? How is that possible? Well, we can wait until Heaven to truly understand what happened but, Lucifer's desire for control, for power, using deceit, sophistry, lies and manipulation caused war in Heaven and a third of the angelic host followed him. They were cast out of Heaven and Earth is the battlefield for the mind.
No, if you are an atheist, and think man is just a descendant of an apelike creature, and morality is just what any society determines it to be, you are hopeless creature. What can you have hope in? Mankind? Seriously? Based on what track record? You are of little use to the protection of Americanism; built on the premise God not only exists but, has granted us inalienable rights. As John Adams said, the Constitution can only work with a religious, moral people. It cannot work with those who do not believe or understand principles of freedom and liberty from their source.
After stating all this, again, the purpose of my thoughts today is to simply say, Draw the lines. Remap America into two nations. Divide it. Somehow, someway, somewhere, because there is no possible way America can survive the way things are. If you see my understanding as radical, as unworthy of respect, as a danger to society and its children, okay. You have made your point. Draw the lines. Create the new borders. I am more than willing to move to a nation that understands freedom, liberty, inalienable rights granted by God; where character means more than money and power, where skin color is only a matter of God's design, not material nature; where people are free to advance by their own desires and hard work; where helping others is a matter of principle, not taxation; where people understand that God is the Sovereign of the universe and His place in the principles of law and government are vital to the success of any nation, because there is a huge difference between the separation of church and state, and God from state. If God is removed from state affairs, state affairs corrupt quickly. If God's power and authority are put aside - absolute power corrupts, absolutely. And here we are.
I know there are millions of Americans who will gladly live in a nation where it is understood all men are created equal. It will not be perfect. If I am a citizen it could not be perfect. If you are a citizen, it could not be perfect but, it could be civil, it could be functional under the rule of law, it could workable, dependable, protective of rights, amiable, decent, logical, and employ the most necessary element of life - common sense.
I'll move there, tough as it would be on the nation. I'll live there. And, invite anyone who wants to abide by the same ethics and ideals to live with me and millions of others who want the madness to stop.
Maybe, at this point, it is impossible, because Christ is returning, the world is growing old as a garment, the final events are gaining ground, and the end of all things is at hand. That is fine with me, too. What is coming next will be light years beyond anything man can make for his peace and harmony. No sin. Just living in a place with no sin will be paradise. Take all the rest away: the tree of life growing a different fruit every month for eternity; traveling the universe and seeing what is out there; pursuing anything and having eternity to master everything we pursue, and it only gets better with the next day's entrance, and does so, forever. If struggling to make America Socialist/Communist or any other failed "ist" or "ism" is worth missing out on that, have at it. You have gotten your reward. For me, I'll take hope, promised by God. I'll take peace, promised by God. I'll take harmony, promised by God. More music than man can conceive, promised by God.
Impossible you, say? With men, yes. With the infinite God, no. More than possible. Promised. Guaranteed. Zero doubts, at least, for those that love the truth.
******************
79. America's Frontline Doctors. - July 28, 2020
I live in Texas. Big state. The Lone Star State. I live in the north east portion. I do not like Texas. The heat and humidity are, literally, sickening to me. The dirt. You wash your vehicle and in two days it's covered with dirt. Dirt is in the air here. There are other reasons I don't like Texas, not the least of which are scorpions, snakes, spiders, enormous bees and wasps, just the proliferation of them of any size, and other things that can really make your life miserable. And having been stung by scorpions since being here, I know whereof I speak. I have been bitten by more spiders living in Texas than my entire life. It is literally a weekly thing. You cannot walk in the grass barefooted. Fire ants, velvet ants, and other things can just ruin your day. Cracks in the Earth during dry spells can become so large small dogs can fall into them. Children have fallen into them. I measured some at one house we lived at five feet deep. They can go twice that. When you were raised and lived in New England, Texas is like living on another planet.
Aside from some nice sunsets, and basic freedoms living outside city limits (which are changing), I can say I hate Texas. I really do. Don't ask why I am here. Ask when I hope to leave.
Well, I am receiving messages from people I know, even in Europe, asking me how I'm doing because I live in Texas and Texas is being inundated with Covid-19 "cases" and "deaths." "Another record broken," the news reports, like this is some kind of sporting event. Well, for Democrats and scared Republicans, it is a sporting event. This entire dog and pony show is a sporting event for them, and the team to beat is Donald Trump.
Because I live in Texas I can talk to Texans living here. I also can read things on a local level the world is not reading. TRUST ME. Just because "cases" are rising does not mean people are dropping like flies. Just because deaths are rising does not mean Texas is experiencing a plague.
"Cases" rise because testing rises. Obviously the more you test, the positive cases show up. But, more and more reports are showing up stating testing is becoming nefarious for poor results. My own step son had such an experience. Of course, as I mentioned previously, his doctor told him to isolate because he had a gut feeling my step son had the virus. A gut feeling. That is considered the practice of medicine now.
Deaths rise because almost any reason for a death, LITERALLY, including gun shot wounds and auto accidents, are marked as Covid-19 death. You doubt that? Then you are not reading all the investigative journalism putting these numbers together with the facts of how and why doctors are marking everything as a covid-19 death. Follow the money.
An outfit called "America's Frontline Doctors," representing thousands of physicians in America, held a live press conference on Capitol Hill yesterday (July 27th) speaking out against the disinformation, the fear mongering, the tyranny, and draconian measures taken by cities and states shutting down the nation and the economy. It was shown live on their Facebook page. They had 185,000 people watching and Facebook shut it down. They had OVER 17 million views of the video taped event and Google/Youtube censored it. Twitter deletes links to it. Why? Because they dared to go against the "experts."
A few blogs ago I wrote about the religion of expertism. There is a statement at the America's Frontline Doctors website:
"American life has fallen casualty to a massive disinformation campaign. We can speculate on how this has happened, and why it has continued, but the purpose of the inaugural White Coat Summit is to empower Americans to stop living in fear.
If Americans continue to let so-called experts and media personalities make their decisions, the great American experiment of a Constitutional Republic with Representative Democracy, will cease."
I say, Amen to their bravery. You can still see their press conference on their site as a Vimeo video. Breitbart News site also has it.
May God protect these brave men and women when the mob descends upon them, threatens them, seeks to harm them and their families.
A couple gym owners, in New Jersey, were arrested for opening their gym, in defiance of the governor's shut down order. Since June, 13,000 people have been to that gym and not a single case of C-19 has been reported. Why? Because people that exercise generally have healthy immune systems and people with healthy immune systems do not get get sick. Is that too complicated for tyrants to understand? No. It just goes against the "destroy Trump" agenda. The gym owners refuse to bend to tyrants. Good for them. As one of them said on the Tucker Carlson program, tyrants only succeed because no one stands up against them. I have stated the same here for months now. If millions of Americans stood up against these despotic shut downs and mask measures, that would end it, overnight. They know this so, they pump the fear mongering numbers incessantly, 24/7. That is ALL they have - fear. That is all tyrants ever have. Fear through force. Push back, they crumble. Bullies crumble when you fight back.
I do not use drugs. I do not even use aspirin. That said, Hydroxychloroquine, a drug used for treatment of various illnesses for 70 years, is being used all over the world to stop this virus in sick patients. Here in America? No, no. Trump mentioned it, therefore it is bad, and must be put down at all costs. Some of the EXPERTS are telling Americans Hydroxy is not useful, untrustworthy, even deadly. They are complicit in keeping Americans under their control. They are technically complicit in deaths from complications of the virus that could have been prevented.
Death means nothing to these people. The destruction of the economy means nothing to them. The destruction of America means nothing to them as long as, when the dust settles, they are in control. They are devils (which is not to say literally but, by their actions? Close enough). To say they are not true Americans goes without saying. They are elitists, socialists, communists, globalist control freaks. Spiritually speaking, they are under the control of Satan. They are the Devil's disciples. There is NO other logical conclusion I can come to. They hate America. They hate Americans. They hate themselves, for that matter. They have a mental illness called, Progressivism, Liberalism, the illness of quest for power and control over others.
Of course America has it flaws, faults, crimes and sins. No nation ever existed that didn't and doesn't. Burning it down and intimidating all who disagree with you is most definitely not the answer, if freedom and liberty mean anything to these monsters. It only means something to them, for them; not for any who disagree. THAT is the definition of tyranny.
I cannot speak strongly enough about this situation in America. Good is bad. Bad is good. Right is wrong. Wrong is right. Light is darkness. Darkness is light. Men can be women. Women can be men. Children should be adults. Adults have become children. Truth and facts are erroneous. Lies can be stated as truth and facts. Violence and riots are peaceful protest. Peaceful prayerful protest is violence against whoever is offended by it. This is insanity on parade.
People with bullhorns shouting out to intimidate anyone speaking out against the rioting, the insanity. Intimidation. The tactic of despots and tyrants. Communism on parade.
A recent poll showed 77% of Republicans are afraid to speak out their beliefs in public. The fear is apparently working.
Patriots have died to secure freedom. Freedom gained must be maintained. It is not a given. If 77% of Republicans are not willing to stand up and face the mob, the mob wins and we reap what we sow - despotism, tyranny, men in control of every, single facet of our lives. That is what is standing right in front of us now.
Fear only works when people refuse to educate themselves and stand up for principle, because truth ignites strength. Truth is always more powerful than lies when people rise up to tell it, no matter what the cost.
Well, it is going to get worse.
I am thankful God is on His throne. All that remains to be seen is whether or not He allows America to fully reap what it has sown.
UPDATE: This is your America, my friends. One where technology giants can control the flow of information and take down anything that does not ascribe to their agenda. Google/Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, even VIMEO, apparently. Vimeo took down the America's Frontline Doctors Summit video. The company that offers space for websites; Squarespace, took down America's Frontline Doctors website! Poof! Gone. In 24 hours, less than 24 hours, tech giants have attempted to remove the very presence of AFD's existence from the internet.
If that is not Orwellian 1984, tell me, what is?
Will Weebly take down my site and any other for mentioning this situation? Will any and all Americans trying to exercise Free Speech according to the First Amendment have those rights negated because they do so on internet platforms controlled by Progressives, and most platforms are.
Some of the doctors that took part in the summit have come under attack. Their own, personal websites have been scrubbed by their platform owners.
If enough people speak up, reversal may take place. They do this, then state some kind of error took place, apologize, and do it all over again when the dust settles.
The entire civilized world has placed their lives on the world wide web to one degree or another, and all of it is controlled by mega-giant companies and corporations that can delete you with a click.
This is our world now. This is our reality. This is our future.
UPDATE - If you are not aware, Simone Gold, one of the doctors seen and heard on the America's Frontline Doctors videos, has been fired from her position at the hospital she was employed by for taking part in the press conference. That's sad and very unfortunate, and a sign of what is coming for everybody not in the mob or intimidated by the mob in "cancel culture."
Aside from some nice sunsets, and basic freedoms living outside city limits (which are changing), I can say I hate Texas. I really do. Don't ask why I am here. Ask when I hope to leave.
Well, I am receiving messages from people I know, even in Europe, asking me how I'm doing because I live in Texas and Texas is being inundated with Covid-19 "cases" and "deaths." "Another record broken," the news reports, like this is some kind of sporting event. Well, for Democrats and scared Republicans, it is a sporting event. This entire dog and pony show is a sporting event for them, and the team to beat is Donald Trump.
Because I live in Texas I can talk to Texans living here. I also can read things on a local level the world is not reading. TRUST ME. Just because "cases" are rising does not mean people are dropping like flies. Just because deaths are rising does not mean Texas is experiencing a plague.
"Cases" rise because testing rises. Obviously the more you test, the positive cases show up. But, more and more reports are showing up stating testing is becoming nefarious for poor results. My own step son had such an experience. Of course, as I mentioned previously, his doctor told him to isolate because he had a gut feeling my step son had the virus. A gut feeling. That is considered the practice of medicine now.
Deaths rise because almost any reason for a death, LITERALLY, including gun shot wounds and auto accidents, are marked as Covid-19 death. You doubt that? Then you are not reading all the investigative journalism putting these numbers together with the facts of how and why doctors are marking everything as a covid-19 death. Follow the money.
An outfit called "America's Frontline Doctors," representing thousands of physicians in America, held a live press conference on Capitol Hill yesterday (July 27th) speaking out against the disinformation, the fear mongering, the tyranny, and draconian measures taken by cities and states shutting down the nation and the economy. It was shown live on their Facebook page. They had 185,000 people watching and Facebook shut it down. They had OVER 17 million views of the video taped event and Google/Youtube censored it. Twitter deletes links to it. Why? Because they dared to go against the "experts."
A few blogs ago I wrote about the religion of expertism. There is a statement at the America's Frontline Doctors website:
"American life has fallen casualty to a massive disinformation campaign. We can speculate on how this has happened, and why it has continued, but the purpose of the inaugural White Coat Summit is to empower Americans to stop living in fear.
If Americans continue to let so-called experts and media personalities make their decisions, the great American experiment of a Constitutional Republic with Representative Democracy, will cease."
I say, Amen to their bravery. You can still see their press conference on their site as a Vimeo video. Breitbart News site also has it.
May God protect these brave men and women when the mob descends upon them, threatens them, seeks to harm them and their families.
A couple gym owners, in New Jersey, were arrested for opening their gym, in defiance of the governor's shut down order. Since June, 13,000 people have been to that gym and not a single case of C-19 has been reported. Why? Because people that exercise generally have healthy immune systems and people with healthy immune systems do not get get sick. Is that too complicated for tyrants to understand? No. It just goes against the "destroy Trump" agenda. The gym owners refuse to bend to tyrants. Good for them. As one of them said on the Tucker Carlson program, tyrants only succeed because no one stands up against them. I have stated the same here for months now. If millions of Americans stood up against these despotic shut downs and mask measures, that would end it, overnight. They know this so, they pump the fear mongering numbers incessantly, 24/7. That is ALL they have - fear. That is all tyrants ever have. Fear through force. Push back, they crumble. Bullies crumble when you fight back.
I do not use drugs. I do not even use aspirin. That said, Hydroxychloroquine, a drug used for treatment of various illnesses for 70 years, is being used all over the world to stop this virus in sick patients. Here in America? No, no. Trump mentioned it, therefore it is bad, and must be put down at all costs. Some of the EXPERTS are telling Americans Hydroxy is not useful, untrustworthy, even deadly. They are complicit in keeping Americans under their control. They are technically complicit in deaths from complications of the virus that could have been prevented.
Death means nothing to these people. The destruction of the economy means nothing to them. The destruction of America means nothing to them as long as, when the dust settles, they are in control. They are devils (which is not to say literally but, by their actions? Close enough). To say they are not true Americans goes without saying. They are elitists, socialists, communists, globalist control freaks. Spiritually speaking, they are under the control of Satan. They are the Devil's disciples. There is NO other logical conclusion I can come to. They hate America. They hate Americans. They hate themselves, for that matter. They have a mental illness called, Progressivism, Liberalism, the illness of quest for power and control over others.
Of course America has it flaws, faults, crimes and sins. No nation ever existed that didn't and doesn't. Burning it down and intimidating all who disagree with you is most definitely not the answer, if freedom and liberty mean anything to these monsters. It only means something to them, for them; not for any who disagree. THAT is the definition of tyranny.
I cannot speak strongly enough about this situation in America. Good is bad. Bad is good. Right is wrong. Wrong is right. Light is darkness. Darkness is light. Men can be women. Women can be men. Children should be adults. Adults have become children. Truth and facts are erroneous. Lies can be stated as truth and facts. Violence and riots are peaceful protest. Peaceful prayerful protest is violence against whoever is offended by it. This is insanity on parade.
People with bullhorns shouting out to intimidate anyone speaking out against the rioting, the insanity. Intimidation. The tactic of despots and tyrants. Communism on parade.
A recent poll showed 77% of Republicans are afraid to speak out their beliefs in public. The fear is apparently working.
Patriots have died to secure freedom. Freedom gained must be maintained. It is not a given. If 77% of Republicans are not willing to stand up and face the mob, the mob wins and we reap what we sow - despotism, tyranny, men in control of every, single facet of our lives. That is what is standing right in front of us now.
Fear only works when people refuse to educate themselves and stand up for principle, because truth ignites strength. Truth is always more powerful than lies when people rise up to tell it, no matter what the cost.
Well, it is going to get worse.
I am thankful God is on His throne. All that remains to be seen is whether or not He allows America to fully reap what it has sown.
UPDATE: This is your America, my friends. One where technology giants can control the flow of information and take down anything that does not ascribe to their agenda. Google/Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, even VIMEO, apparently. Vimeo took down the America's Frontline Doctors Summit video. The company that offers space for websites; Squarespace, took down America's Frontline Doctors website! Poof! Gone. In 24 hours, less than 24 hours, tech giants have attempted to remove the very presence of AFD's existence from the internet.
If that is not Orwellian 1984, tell me, what is?
Will Weebly take down my site and any other for mentioning this situation? Will any and all Americans trying to exercise Free Speech according to the First Amendment have those rights negated because they do so on internet platforms controlled by Progressives, and most platforms are.
Some of the doctors that took part in the summit have come under attack. Their own, personal websites have been scrubbed by their platform owners.
If enough people speak up, reversal may take place. They do this, then state some kind of error took place, apologize, and do it all over again when the dust settles.
The entire civilized world has placed their lives on the world wide web to one degree or another, and all of it is controlled by mega-giant companies and corporations that can delete you with a click.
This is our world now. This is our reality. This is our future.
UPDATE - If you are not aware, Simone Gold, one of the doctors seen and heard on the America's Frontline Doctors videos, has been fired from her position at the hospital she was employed by for taking part in the press conference. That's sad and very unfortunate, and a sign of what is coming for everybody not in the mob or intimidated by the mob in "cancel culture."
******************
80. Peaceful Protests? Yes. Police Brutality? Yes. - July 28,2020
Nobody has to show me videos of peaceful protests. Obviously they exist all over the nation. Untold collective numbers of people have gathered together to sing, pray, listen to speeches, march, and stand still holding signs about the situation of police brutality in America, mostly in cities. I believe in the Bill of Rights and the first amendment right to peaceably assemble and protest whatever one or many believes is government overreach, corruption, criminal activity, or whatever. That includes police brutality.
Do I believe every single account given of a policeman or woman using unwarranted force? No. Facts tend to come out that stand against accusations. That said, of course instances exist where police have used force beyond necessary means to control a situation.
Police work is human work. Humans make mistakes, especially under stress. Policing in American cities is stressful. Bad things, tragic things can and have happened.
A case in point. Just watch this video I just watched on twitter:
https://twitter.com/__dianeedun/status/1286414043788410882
A woman is on her knees on the side of a car. A policeman appears to kick her in the head. Her children start screaming in the back of the car. Another officer has his gun drawn as he yells at the children. The woman, now flat on the ground, is dragged on the pavement by the first officer about ten to fifteen feet to the cop car. She is then roughly stood up. Whoever is shooting the video, stops.
I do not know the circumstances. I do not know what she did to break the law in the assessment of the police officers. I do know what I watched certainly seemed like police brutality. An unarmed woman, kneeling on the pavement, showing no resistance, is kicked and dragged and roughly man-handled as she is stood up. In such a time as this in current America, an officer pulls a stunt like that? Bad enough at any time but, in this time?
In certain communities this kind of "police work" is said to take place on a daily basis, especially towards "Black" citizens. I do know that facts state such circumstances happen towards "white" people more often, per capita, especially lethal police shootings. Just the same, a compliant person on their knees treated like that is a crime, in and of itself. Maybe she was speaking rudely to the officer. That is not a reason to treat someone like that. The officer must stay calm and logical. That officer should be investigated and some kind of penalty should be given him, according to the infraction, including criminal punishment, if warranted. The police dept. states it is investigating. Patience is required.
Now, should peaceful protests develop from this incident? If people feel compelled to do so.
Should rioting, looting, destruction of private and public property, and harm to citizens, having nothing to do with the incident, be initiated and perpetuated? Absolutely not.
Someone says, "You don't know what it's like to see people treated like that every day." No, I do not. That has nothing to do with it. The rule of law in a Constitutional Republic employing aspects of a Representative Democracy to address civil service and civil servants to administer the rule of law MUST remain intact, or anarchy develops. Once that takes place, then people really begin to die.
I'm going to state something that should be obvious to all Americans. There are more firearms in America than people. The vast majority of those firearms are owned by citizens who believe in the rule of law. If the rule of law breaks down and those citizens start firing back, who loses? Not the people defending themselves from anarchists. The rioting anarchist, domestic terrorists lose.
As the instigating anarchists continue to destroy cities, and people get pushed to a breaking point, and the pot boils over, do you suppose if the majority with the guns open fire, that the minority will scream for the police to protect them? Indeed, they would. The irony of it. The police have a thankless job, do they not? Damned if they do, damned if they don't.
Frankly, while I am believing some sort of physical civil war is going to take place in spots around America, I certainly hope I am wrong and it doesn't. But, look, if people will not use the Representative Democracy available to address problems, to peaceably protest, to stand right in the doorway of state houses, police precincts, and yes, even on the doorsteps of those in positions of civil responsibility, and patiently wait for things to change, the only thing that can possibly happen is for anarchy to be put down by firepower. The entire premise of the rule of law and equality of citizens was designed by the Founders to keep bloodshed from happening, and they shed their blood to divorce themselves from a tyrant king who used force to try and bring the early Americans to heel. This nation was founded because kingly power forced people to fight back against its despotism and tyranny.
Rogue cops are not tyranny. A local precinct is not tyranny. Endorsement by a Mayor or governor is. They should be removed from office if they will not do their job and reign in rogue cops.
How is it this principle of history is so lost on those creating riots today? British brutality gave birth to America.
Now, please, do not even try to tell me destroying private property, looting, and harming innocent people has anything to do with protesting police brutality and protesting tyranny. That is total BS. THAT, in and of ITSELF is reason for a police force of any city to think they have to use force to protect themselves and innocent citizens from a mob! Well, police forces are being told to stand down, as Democrat politicians lie through their teeth about what is happening around the nation.
Fire police commissioners that refuse to do something about their departments. The rule of law is on the side of the populace, not the police. Tearing down historic statues will not change a thing. It will only make it worse. George Washington was tyrannical? How stupid can people be? Fools, literal fools are shooting themselves in the feet with such activity because it is not protest of police brutality. It is an obvious take down of American history, and American principles of the rule of law. This is not about police brutality. Anarchists are using that to take things to a final end - the destruction of the Republic.
If millions of Americans went back to work, went about their business, being allowed to decide for themselves what they want to do to address this virus and what they believe is its impact on their health, all oppressive, draconian measures would stop tomorrow. Done. What will mayors and governors do? Arrest millions of people? Use some common sense, here.
If you were alive and old enough to watch what happened in Eastern Europe in 1989, you saw multiplied millions of people go into the streets and take a stand against tyranny and almost overnight it was gone. It spilled into the Soviet Union and it came down. No shots were fired. People did not destroy their neighbor's businesses and homes. They concentrated on the tyranny and stopped it. It was heroic and an intensely historic event.
If millions of people working in civil service offices all said, 'Today we stop working until mayors, governors, police commissioners, etc., DO SOMETHING about rogue cops,' this would all stop. If all citizens of any city marched into a precinct, a city hall, etc., and said, We, the people, order you to stop this tyranny now, it would stop. What will the mayors do? Arrest everybody? Elected civil servants are elected civil servants of the people. They are not kings and queens. They are employees of the people, paid by the people to serve the public interest in protecting the Constitution from ALL enemies, foreign AND domestic. Rogue cops are enemies of the people. So are rogue mayors, governors, congressman, senators, and presidents when the shoe fits. A lying press is certainly an enemy of the people.
Civil disobedience towards enemies of the rule of law is not criminal activity to one's neighbor. It is standing up for principles that must be honored.
Burning down a fast food restaurant, breaking storm windows and looting shops will not only not stop the problem, it will exacerbate it. It is seen for what it is: criminal activity which should be stopped; quickly, forcibly, definitely. If it isn't, this will spill into smaller towns and areas where people WILL defend their property and lives, where jellied mayors and weak-kneed governors will have zero influence because of their denials and recalcitrance. The firepower will fire and at that point ... well, you tell me. How does that end? Not well for those who hate the rule of law.
Do I believe every single account given of a policeman or woman using unwarranted force? No. Facts tend to come out that stand against accusations. That said, of course instances exist where police have used force beyond necessary means to control a situation.
Police work is human work. Humans make mistakes, especially under stress. Policing in American cities is stressful. Bad things, tragic things can and have happened.
A case in point. Just watch this video I just watched on twitter:
https://twitter.com/__dianeedun/status/1286414043788410882
A woman is on her knees on the side of a car. A policeman appears to kick her in the head. Her children start screaming in the back of the car. Another officer has his gun drawn as he yells at the children. The woman, now flat on the ground, is dragged on the pavement by the first officer about ten to fifteen feet to the cop car. She is then roughly stood up. Whoever is shooting the video, stops.
I do not know the circumstances. I do not know what she did to break the law in the assessment of the police officers. I do know what I watched certainly seemed like police brutality. An unarmed woman, kneeling on the pavement, showing no resistance, is kicked and dragged and roughly man-handled as she is stood up. In such a time as this in current America, an officer pulls a stunt like that? Bad enough at any time but, in this time?
In certain communities this kind of "police work" is said to take place on a daily basis, especially towards "Black" citizens. I do know that facts state such circumstances happen towards "white" people more often, per capita, especially lethal police shootings. Just the same, a compliant person on their knees treated like that is a crime, in and of itself. Maybe she was speaking rudely to the officer. That is not a reason to treat someone like that. The officer must stay calm and logical. That officer should be investigated and some kind of penalty should be given him, according to the infraction, including criminal punishment, if warranted. The police dept. states it is investigating. Patience is required.
Now, should peaceful protests develop from this incident? If people feel compelled to do so.
Should rioting, looting, destruction of private and public property, and harm to citizens, having nothing to do with the incident, be initiated and perpetuated? Absolutely not.
Someone says, "You don't know what it's like to see people treated like that every day." No, I do not. That has nothing to do with it. The rule of law in a Constitutional Republic employing aspects of a Representative Democracy to address civil service and civil servants to administer the rule of law MUST remain intact, or anarchy develops. Once that takes place, then people really begin to die.
I'm going to state something that should be obvious to all Americans. There are more firearms in America than people. The vast majority of those firearms are owned by citizens who believe in the rule of law. If the rule of law breaks down and those citizens start firing back, who loses? Not the people defending themselves from anarchists. The rioting anarchist, domestic terrorists lose.
As the instigating anarchists continue to destroy cities, and people get pushed to a breaking point, and the pot boils over, do you suppose if the majority with the guns open fire, that the minority will scream for the police to protect them? Indeed, they would. The irony of it. The police have a thankless job, do they not? Damned if they do, damned if they don't.
Frankly, while I am believing some sort of physical civil war is going to take place in spots around America, I certainly hope I am wrong and it doesn't. But, look, if people will not use the Representative Democracy available to address problems, to peaceably protest, to stand right in the doorway of state houses, police precincts, and yes, even on the doorsteps of those in positions of civil responsibility, and patiently wait for things to change, the only thing that can possibly happen is for anarchy to be put down by firepower. The entire premise of the rule of law and equality of citizens was designed by the Founders to keep bloodshed from happening, and they shed their blood to divorce themselves from a tyrant king who used force to try and bring the early Americans to heel. This nation was founded because kingly power forced people to fight back against its despotism and tyranny.
Rogue cops are not tyranny. A local precinct is not tyranny. Endorsement by a Mayor or governor is. They should be removed from office if they will not do their job and reign in rogue cops.
How is it this principle of history is so lost on those creating riots today? British brutality gave birth to America.
Now, please, do not even try to tell me destroying private property, looting, and harming innocent people has anything to do with protesting police brutality and protesting tyranny. That is total BS. THAT, in and of ITSELF is reason for a police force of any city to think they have to use force to protect themselves and innocent citizens from a mob! Well, police forces are being told to stand down, as Democrat politicians lie through their teeth about what is happening around the nation.
Fire police commissioners that refuse to do something about their departments. The rule of law is on the side of the populace, not the police. Tearing down historic statues will not change a thing. It will only make it worse. George Washington was tyrannical? How stupid can people be? Fools, literal fools are shooting themselves in the feet with such activity because it is not protest of police brutality. It is an obvious take down of American history, and American principles of the rule of law. This is not about police brutality. Anarchists are using that to take things to a final end - the destruction of the Republic.
If millions of Americans went back to work, went about their business, being allowed to decide for themselves what they want to do to address this virus and what they believe is its impact on their health, all oppressive, draconian measures would stop tomorrow. Done. What will mayors and governors do? Arrest millions of people? Use some common sense, here.
If you were alive and old enough to watch what happened in Eastern Europe in 1989, you saw multiplied millions of people go into the streets and take a stand against tyranny and almost overnight it was gone. It spilled into the Soviet Union and it came down. No shots were fired. People did not destroy their neighbor's businesses and homes. They concentrated on the tyranny and stopped it. It was heroic and an intensely historic event.
If millions of people working in civil service offices all said, 'Today we stop working until mayors, governors, police commissioners, etc., DO SOMETHING about rogue cops,' this would all stop. If all citizens of any city marched into a precinct, a city hall, etc., and said, We, the people, order you to stop this tyranny now, it would stop. What will the mayors do? Arrest everybody? Elected civil servants are elected civil servants of the people. They are not kings and queens. They are employees of the people, paid by the people to serve the public interest in protecting the Constitution from ALL enemies, foreign AND domestic. Rogue cops are enemies of the people. So are rogue mayors, governors, congressman, senators, and presidents when the shoe fits. A lying press is certainly an enemy of the people.
Civil disobedience towards enemies of the rule of law is not criminal activity to one's neighbor. It is standing up for principles that must be honored.
Burning down a fast food restaurant, breaking storm windows and looting shops will not only not stop the problem, it will exacerbate it. It is seen for what it is: criminal activity which should be stopped; quickly, forcibly, definitely. If it isn't, this will spill into smaller towns and areas where people WILL defend their property and lives, where jellied mayors and weak-kneed governors will have zero influence because of their denials and recalcitrance. The firepower will fire and at that point ... well, you tell me. How does that end? Not well for those who hate the rule of law.
******************
81. The Mighty World of Snare Drums - July 29, 2020
Back on Jan. 16, 2018, I began a series of videos on my Youtube channel about drum shells and ultra-hype in the drum manufacturing industry about them. I've written a few blogs about the subject here (# 9, 23, 25). The response has been over 95% positive and I'm really grateful for those who have told me the videos have been a real help to them in thinking about the drum sets they have and those they are thinking of purchasing. I've got a few more videos to make on the subject. You can see the whole playlist here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnmLVURn6hk&list=PLRvd-mVMdjwLmAPgUesHnoSPlHvvXhalx&index=1
The last one I posted, #13, on June 16, was the second to address snare drums. Those two garnered interesting responses. I definitely hit a nerve. I believe I proved my point. The sound of a drum is the heads, not the shell. Change the heads, change the sound of a drum, even snare drums, which tend to involve the shell material more because the heads are generally under greater tension than toms and bass drums, which reduces the character and personality of what the heads throw off in sound waves when struck. Even with all the variables involved in snare drums, the overall sound, drum to drum, is so close you cannot tell the difference when everything is tuned up the same.
I always acknowledge nuances and subtleties that a whole drum, as a unit, can sound like but, again, does it match the super-hype in the industry about plywood shells? Not even close, in my book. Take any drum set, high end or otherwise, throw it into a band and what you'll hear because of drum shells comes down to volume, basically, and in today's world, save for small club settings, mics and sound systems can take any set and blow the walls out of any building they are placed in. The same goes for recording equipment and software. You can literally make a set of cardboard boxes sound like a drum. There are videos showing how it's done.
I get comments about using the capsule mics on the camera verses using close mic'ing. I get into that issue, and frankly, when the band cranks up all around you, it is a moot point. Unless someone proves otherwise, I remain committed to my observations and experience after making drums for 30 years and messing around with them for 55.The sound of a drum is the heads. The drum manufacturing industry is so wed to marketing hype about their shells it's embarrassing.
That said, as I mention in the video series, however players want to spend their money is up to them. When it comes to snare drums, even though I tend to believe, based on the evidence of my own experience and use of them, and making them over the years, they sound so close to each other regardless of shell material, snare drum art is a truly fantastic collection of drums from around the world. What makers are willing to put into snare drums, as far as time, materials, attention to details, and outrageous cosmetics is literally jaw dropping. I am a total hack compared to what some makers out there have come up with when they engage the benefits of real wood shops and tools that make working with wood a complete pleasure.
There are two things in this world I automatically see out of the corners of my eyes: signs for PIZZA, and Drums. Those of us into drums can see them anywhere, even if they are half buried by other stuff. We just hone in like radar, right? Well, what makers have done with snare drums is so cool, and in some cases, so original, there should be awards just for that: originality.
Lathes and shell profiles. All kinds of wood species, and construction techniques. Custom made lugs of varying materials and radical designs. Finishes; an alarming array of those; everything from clear coats, to exotic wraps, exotic veneers, wood burned, carved, engraved, painted, marquetry; anything you can think of. And that goes for both wood and metal hoops, as well. It is the epitome of drum candy.
When it comes to time, materials, and cosmetics, what makers choose to charge for those things is an open field. Personally, spending that kind of money on one drum is not my thing, even if I had money to spend for such artistic works. I love to look. Buying, especially when sound is my bottom line, is another matter. What I have made over the years or purchased, works perfectly, for me.
Just the same, for those of you who love to look, as well, and would think of buying, too, check out this page on Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/travisgraham83/creative-snare/
There are around 300 pictures of drums that deliver the goods on what is being done out there. Some are truly amazing. Seriously. If you have never really looked into this, as far as what is being done, prepare to be impressed, especially those of you who are DIYers like me. Sometimes, well, for drummers, all the time, it's just fun to look.
Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnmLVURn6hk&list=PLRvd-mVMdjwLmAPgUesHnoSPlHvvXhalx&index=1
The last one I posted, #13, on June 16, was the second to address snare drums. Those two garnered interesting responses. I definitely hit a nerve. I believe I proved my point. The sound of a drum is the heads, not the shell. Change the heads, change the sound of a drum, even snare drums, which tend to involve the shell material more because the heads are generally under greater tension than toms and bass drums, which reduces the character and personality of what the heads throw off in sound waves when struck. Even with all the variables involved in snare drums, the overall sound, drum to drum, is so close you cannot tell the difference when everything is tuned up the same.
I always acknowledge nuances and subtleties that a whole drum, as a unit, can sound like but, again, does it match the super-hype in the industry about plywood shells? Not even close, in my book. Take any drum set, high end or otherwise, throw it into a band and what you'll hear because of drum shells comes down to volume, basically, and in today's world, save for small club settings, mics and sound systems can take any set and blow the walls out of any building they are placed in. The same goes for recording equipment and software. You can literally make a set of cardboard boxes sound like a drum. There are videos showing how it's done.
I get comments about using the capsule mics on the camera verses using close mic'ing. I get into that issue, and frankly, when the band cranks up all around you, it is a moot point. Unless someone proves otherwise, I remain committed to my observations and experience after making drums for 30 years and messing around with them for 55.The sound of a drum is the heads. The drum manufacturing industry is so wed to marketing hype about their shells it's embarrassing.
That said, as I mention in the video series, however players want to spend their money is up to them. When it comes to snare drums, even though I tend to believe, based on the evidence of my own experience and use of them, and making them over the years, they sound so close to each other regardless of shell material, snare drum art is a truly fantastic collection of drums from around the world. What makers are willing to put into snare drums, as far as time, materials, attention to details, and outrageous cosmetics is literally jaw dropping. I am a total hack compared to what some makers out there have come up with when they engage the benefits of real wood shops and tools that make working with wood a complete pleasure.
There are two things in this world I automatically see out of the corners of my eyes: signs for PIZZA, and Drums. Those of us into drums can see them anywhere, even if they are half buried by other stuff. We just hone in like radar, right? Well, what makers have done with snare drums is so cool, and in some cases, so original, there should be awards just for that: originality.
Lathes and shell profiles. All kinds of wood species, and construction techniques. Custom made lugs of varying materials and radical designs. Finishes; an alarming array of those; everything from clear coats, to exotic wraps, exotic veneers, wood burned, carved, engraved, painted, marquetry; anything you can think of. And that goes for both wood and metal hoops, as well. It is the epitome of drum candy.
When it comes to time, materials, and cosmetics, what makers choose to charge for those things is an open field. Personally, spending that kind of money on one drum is not my thing, even if I had money to spend for such artistic works. I love to look. Buying, especially when sound is my bottom line, is another matter. What I have made over the years or purchased, works perfectly, for me.
Just the same, for those of you who love to look, as well, and would think of buying, too, check out this page on Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/travisgraham83/creative-snare/
There are around 300 pictures of drums that deliver the goods on what is being done out there. Some are truly amazing. Seriously. If you have never really looked into this, as far as what is being done, prepare to be impressed, especially those of you who are DIYers like me. Sometimes, well, for drummers, all the time, it's just fun to look.
Enjoy.
******************
82. I Told You So ... July 30, 2020
In no uncertain terms do I mind telling you, "I told you so," in regards to the maniacal medical "experts" influencing and in control of the nation.
As I stated previously, if they have the power to force mask wearing, then they have the power to force glasses, gloves, and garments. You doubt me?
https://nationalfile.com/fauci-now-pushing-people-to-wear-goggles-for-the-scamdemic/
Dr. Anthony Fauci to @DrJAshton: "If you have goggles or an eye shield, you should use it. It's not universally recommended, but if you really want to be complete, you should probably use it if you can." https://t.co/3B7YOTueKi pic.twitter.com/ROjmoqUS4n
— ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) July 29, 2020
Fauci spoke at the AFT conference today. This is what he said. Dr Fauci just said teachers at a minimum should wear masks, eye shields and gloves. He also stated wearing some sort of over garment that can be removed disposed or cleaned after class would be good.
— Good Trouble (@antiorange45) July 29, 2020
"As you try to get back to school, we're going to be learning about that," he said. "In many respects, unfortunately, though this may sound a little scary and harsh--I don't mean it to be that way—is that you're going to actually be part of the experiment of the learning curve of what we need to know. Remember, early on when we shut down the country as it were, the schools were shut down, so we don't know the full impact, we don't have the total database of knowing what there is to expect."
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teaching_now/2020/07/anthony_fauci_to_teachers_youll_be_part_of_the_experiment_in_reopening_schools.html?cmp=RSS-FEED
Of course he means it to be scary. That has been the agenda all along! There is no experiment, no learning curve. The rest of the world have reopened their schools with no ill effects. Other nations shall when the new school year normally begins. The DATA screams this man is lying and manipulating. There is no, "as it were." The nation was shut down on his recommendation! The total database is out there for anyone to see for themselves. The virus is NOT a death sentence to everybody, most, or even many. Hydroxychloroquine works to prevent and treat early conditions of the illness, schools are definitely safe to reopen, and Dr. Anythony Fauci is a nefarious agent of manipulative fear mongering, speaking against anything not in his agenda.
It should now be expected despots controlling the various cities and states by "executive orders" will require, under penalty of "violation," that people wear these other methods of stopping this "killer" virus, as "case numbers" go up, the "record" death counts go up (or down, doesn't matter), and we wait for a vaccine(s) to arrive from one of Bill Gate's Foundation supported/invested in vaccine companies. That isn't looking too good for Mr. Gates, as testing on Africans is not going well with 80% having side effects.
So, Dr. Anthony Fauci, photographed hypocrite (no mask on at the ballpark, along with a woman sitting in the seat next to him without a mask), now seeks to recommend, though not "universally," that hospital procedures used in the confines of those buildings by health care professionals, in concentrated germ atmospheres, should be used by everybody, regardless of confines, especially teachers: goggles, gloves and garments. The rest of the civilized world have reopened schools because the data says it is safe to do so, or will open them soon but, in America? No. The teacher's union is standing against it because teachers are supposedly afraid they might get the illness, when not a single known case of a child passing it to an adult exists. So, is it true ignorance or, corruption of principle and fighting against the data because a much greater angenda exists: ruin Trump, even if the nation crumbles. Destroy Donald J. Trump. Destroy traditional life in America. Destroy the principles of Americanism.
Saying this is beyond ridiculous should be a given. I just reference it today because it will become mandated madness in states where the ignorant or nefarious are in control. Goggles, gloves, and throw-away garments.
"Cases" mean nothing. If 330,000,000 people in America were tested positive, all that means is the virus is in them. It DOES NOT mean they will show any symptoms, get seriously sick in any way, or die.
The data remains the same. Those with pre-existing conditions that weaken the immune system are most at risk. Age remains a factor (55 and older, and the older you get, the higher the risk if you have any conditions weakening your immune system). Those with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc. are at greater risk. Otherwise you may have the virus and not even know it. Your "case" is moot. New cases are irrelevant.
No American can even trust test results at this point, and no American can trust the death count; as anything and everything people are dying from daily, is being recorded as a Covid-19 death. It means funding for hospitals. Hey, why not? It's just taxpayer money. Everybody else gets it. Why not those in the hospital business, too?
At some point, criminal investigation, responsibility and accountability should, must take place for all those purposefully fear mongering this event, and corrupting data. This is a hundred times worse than shouting "Fire" in a crowded building.
As more and more people wake up, stand up, and seek to remove those in positions of authority abusing it, and take back their lives, maybe the madness will subside sooner than later.
Honestly, I trust no one in Washington, DC, and I mean, no one. It may be the most corrupt city on the planet at this time. That may sound drastic but, every single day hypocrisy is being exposed, lies and contempt of the Constitution are being revealed, Democrats, especially, are acting the part of actual dictators and secret police (the A.G. hearings with Barr, a total rudeness-on-parade, talking points fiasco example). But, GOP representatives, as well, all showing signs of 'all talk and no action.' Looking at DC is like reading Genesis 6 and the conditions of humanity at the time of the Flood.
Well, you know my convictions and position. These are signs of the times telling us what is building and coming.
I hear the term "systemic racism" in America. I believe system corruption saturates the seat of government in America. Three hundred and thirty million people may all rise up and tell politicians everywhere to back off, and they might back off, and that will change nothing because power, moving both ways, does not make anyone honest, does not give anyone character, does not help anyone (but whoever wields the power for the moment), and does not reinforce the rule of law. It just reinforces the policy of power.
"Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely."
As I stated previously, if they have the power to force mask wearing, then they have the power to force glasses, gloves, and garments. You doubt me?
https://nationalfile.com/fauci-now-pushing-people-to-wear-goggles-for-the-scamdemic/
Dr. Anthony Fauci to @DrJAshton: "If you have goggles or an eye shield, you should use it. It's not universally recommended, but if you really want to be complete, you should probably use it if you can." https://t.co/3B7YOTueKi pic.twitter.com/ROjmoqUS4n
— ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) July 29, 2020
Fauci spoke at the AFT conference today. This is what he said. Dr Fauci just said teachers at a minimum should wear masks, eye shields and gloves. He also stated wearing some sort of over garment that can be removed disposed or cleaned after class would be good.
— Good Trouble (@antiorange45) July 29, 2020
"As you try to get back to school, we're going to be learning about that," he said. "In many respects, unfortunately, though this may sound a little scary and harsh--I don't mean it to be that way—is that you're going to actually be part of the experiment of the learning curve of what we need to know. Remember, early on when we shut down the country as it were, the schools were shut down, so we don't know the full impact, we don't have the total database of knowing what there is to expect."
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teaching_now/2020/07/anthony_fauci_to_teachers_youll_be_part_of_the_experiment_in_reopening_schools.html?cmp=RSS-FEED
Of course he means it to be scary. That has been the agenda all along! There is no experiment, no learning curve. The rest of the world have reopened their schools with no ill effects. Other nations shall when the new school year normally begins. The DATA screams this man is lying and manipulating. There is no, "as it were." The nation was shut down on his recommendation! The total database is out there for anyone to see for themselves. The virus is NOT a death sentence to everybody, most, or even many. Hydroxychloroquine works to prevent and treat early conditions of the illness, schools are definitely safe to reopen, and Dr. Anythony Fauci is a nefarious agent of manipulative fear mongering, speaking against anything not in his agenda.
It should now be expected despots controlling the various cities and states by "executive orders" will require, under penalty of "violation," that people wear these other methods of stopping this "killer" virus, as "case numbers" go up, the "record" death counts go up (or down, doesn't matter), and we wait for a vaccine(s) to arrive from one of Bill Gate's Foundation supported/invested in vaccine companies. That isn't looking too good for Mr. Gates, as testing on Africans is not going well with 80% having side effects.
So, Dr. Anthony Fauci, photographed hypocrite (no mask on at the ballpark, along with a woman sitting in the seat next to him without a mask), now seeks to recommend, though not "universally," that hospital procedures used in the confines of those buildings by health care professionals, in concentrated germ atmospheres, should be used by everybody, regardless of confines, especially teachers: goggles, gloves and garments. The rest of the civilized world have reopened schools because the data says it is safe to do so, or will open them soon but, in America? No. The teacher's union is standing against it because teachers are supposedly afraid they might get the illness, when not a single known case of a child passing it to an adult exists. So, is it true ignorance or, corruption of principle and fighting against the data because a much greater angenda exists: ruin Trump, even if the nation crumbles. Destroy Donald J. Trump. Destroy traditional life in America. Destroy the principles of Americanism.
Saying this is beyond ridiculous should be a given. I just reference it today because it will become mandated madness in states where the ignorant or nefarious are in control. Goggles, gloves, and throw-away garments.
"Cases" mean nothing. If 330,000,000 people in America were tested positive, all that means is the virus is in them. It DOES NOT mean they will show any symptoms, get seriously sick in any way, or die.
The data remains the same. Those with pre-existing conditions that weaken the immune system are most at risk. Age remains a factor (55 and older, and the older you get, the higher the risk if you have any conditions weakening your immune system). Those with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc. are at greater risk. Otherwise you may have the virus and not even know it. Your "case" is moot. New cases are irrelevant.
No American can even trust test results at this point, and no American can trust the death count; as anything and everything people are dying from daily, is being recorded as a Covid-19 death. It means funding for hospitals. Hey, why not? It's just taxpayer money. Everybody else gets it. Why not those in the hospital business, too?
At some point, criminal investigation, responsibility and accountability should, must take place for all those purposefully fear mongering this event, and corrupting data. This is a hundred times worse than shouting "Fire" in a crowded building.
As more and more people wake up, stand up, and seek to remove those in positions of authority abusing it, and take back their lives, maybe the madness will subside sooner than later.
Honestly, I trust no one in Washington, DC, and I mean, no one. It may be the most corrupt city on the planet at this time. That may sound drastic but, every single day hypocrisy is being exposed, lies and contempt of the Constitution are being revealed, Democrats, especially, are acting the part of actual dictators and secret police (the A.G. hearings with Barr, a total rudeness-on-parade, talking points fiasco example). But, GOP representatives, as well, all showing signs of 'all talk and no action.' Looking at DC is like reading Genesis 6 and the conditions of humanity at the time of the Flood.
Well, you know my convictions and position. These are signs of the times telling us what is building and coming.
I hear the term "systemic racism" in America. I believe system corruption saturates the seat of government in America. Three hundred and thirty million people may all rise up and tell politicians everywhere to back off, and they might back off, and that will change nothing because power, moving both ways, does not make anyone honest, does not give anyone character, does not help anyone (but whoever wields the power for the moment), and does not reinforce the rule of law. It just reinforces the policy of power.
"Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely."
******************
83. Covid-1984 - July 31, 2020
I cannot tell you how much I appreciate common sense. I also appreciate facts, data, and rational, reasonable, truthful information.
I do not generally copy and paste entire articles here but, in this case I make an exception.
I am not a Republican, nor Democrat, nor a member of any other political party. If I were to be a member of one, it would be the Constitution Party. That said, this article, while having definite political elements, is more about common sense and facts; as well as freedom, liberty, and individual choices when it comes to our health.
As many hundreds and thousands are now publicly stating - this is a man-made, manipulated event with a distinctive globalist and most definite national agenda here in America.
I've linked it so, you can see it for yourself if you want.
Photographs did not paste, per Weebly formatting, and are not important to the information expressed.
**************************************************************************************************************
Sorry, Wearing Masks Is Anything but Harmless. Here are 5 Reasons Why
Posted at 10:00 am on July 31, 2020 by Michael Thau
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
When someone pushes for a radical departure from ordinary custom by asking “What harm could it do?” you can be pretty sure he’s made no serious effort to find out.
It’s the kind of justification you hear from someone with no interest in exploring the pros and cons of some new craze because he’s decided it’s just easier to go along with the crowd.
Conservatives especially ought to smell trouble when this empty rationale starts popping up.
Failing to understand that in a complex world seemingly trivial changes are liable to have momentous unforeseen consequences is, after all, a hallmark of most of the disastrous policies well-meaning liberals have inflicted on us (back in the good old days when most liberals were still well-meaning and didn’t simply want us dead).
So it’s particularly disheartening to see people who ought to know better insist that we all need to start wearing masks because, well, “what could possibly go wrong?”
"Mask wearing isn’t some novel idea they came up with to control us
Surgeons,nurses & dentists have used them forever to protect patients & themselves.
If it doesn’t work,what’s the harm?
And if it has a 10% chance of getting us back to school,sports & life why not do it?"
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 16, 2020
Pretty much everything can and will go wrong if we all start wearing masks.
Here are 5 reasons why masks are anything but harmless and, indeed, will only make everything we’re enduring now even worse.
I’ll be ignoring the studies indicating masks are ineffective as well as the CDC’s own memory-holed conclusion that there’s no evidence they work against the flu and just assume for the sake of argument that it’s 100% certain they impede the transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
But please try to keep in mind that it by no means is.
1. Wearing masks prolongs the amount of time the virus stays around by slowing down its infection rate WITHOUT decreasing the number of people who ultimately have to get it before it fades away.
One assumption that most mask advocates (who aren’t being disingenuous) seem to be making is that after some fixed amount of time, like maybe a few months, voilà, the virus will just disappear regardless of how few people wind up catching it.
But that simply isn’t so.
Viruses don’t just lose their power to reproduce after a few months and vanish. It isn’t going away till a certain percentage of us have acquired immunity, either thru infection or the advent of a vaccine. The COVID virus will continue to cause problems until the number of infections reaches whatever its threshold for herd immunity or burnout is.
This same misconception was ubiquitous concerning social distancing. It was only ever supposed to slow down the rate of infection so our hospitals weren’t overrun. Lockdowns were never meant to prevent people from ultimately becoming infected. They were only supposed to make us get sick later rather than sooner.
As Dr. Lisa Maragakis, Senior Director of Infection Prevention at Johns Hopkins Medical School explained, flattening the curve means that “the same large number of patients arrived at the hospital at a slower rate. [emphasis mine]”
The same is true for wearing masks. The only reason for healthy young people to engage in either practice is if there’s a danger of running out of medical resources. In the absence of any such danger, all you’re doing is prolonging the amount of time til herd immunity or burnout and, hence, making sure the virus sticks around longer.
Like maybe right up till the November election.
Wear a mask. Pass it on. https://t.co/mEovJq6MMR
— Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) June 30, 2020
2. Um, nothing that restricts your breathing during a brutal heatwave is harmless.
You may not have heard that one of the Navy honor guards at Rep. John Lewis’s funeral passed out. One can only imagine the deluge of alarmist headlines we’d be drowning in had COVID-19 been the culprit.
But since the virus wasn’t involved, publicizing that a young man in peak physical condition passed out on the concrete while wearing a mask during a seemingly interminable heatwave would have only made everyone wake up and realize what an obviously terrible idea it is.
"Some go to the hospital for wearing a mask.. https://t.co/yNce64MxQF
— BlondeAmericanChick ╰დ╮╭დ╯ (@PonyGirl_04) July 28, 2020
If you need to see a scientific study showing that “ventilation, cardiopulmonary exercise capacity and comfort are reduced by surgical masks and highly impaired,” here’s a link. (h/t RedState reader KurtUSA)
But really. It’s been almost a hundred degrees in large patches of the country for weeks now. Anyone pushing us to wear masks during this heatwave is either depraved or deranged.
3. Everyone walking around in public wearing surgical masks feeds the fear and panic over a virus that’s less harmful to young and healthy people than the flu and delays our urgently needed return to normalcy.
The establishment media makes it a point to run headlines containing meaningless scary-sounding factoids and manipulative stories about those who’ve allegedly succumbed to the virus.
When its supposed death tally was climbing, we couldn’t escape hearing about it. As it started to fall, they started ignoring the number of deaths and shifted over to reporting about rising cases, also neglecting to mention that rising cases and falling deaths is a good thing.
The media has done nothing to make the public aware that a local CBS affiliate looked into 589 alleged Palm Beach fatalities and discovered that far less than a third (169) had actually died of the virus.
Nor have they reported that the COVID-19 death tally they terrorized the nation with for months includes motor-cycle fatalities and gunshot victims.
Most people who did hear about these stories were shocked. But, if the press had been doing its job, they wouldn’t have been. Another crucial fact of which they’ve failed to inform the public is that counting vast numbers who didn’t die from COVID-19 among its fatalities is a feature, not a bug.
Everyone who dies with the virus is being counted as dying from it. Both Fauci and Birx have told us that’s the official policy. They’ve practically bragged about it. So, of course, there will be gunshot victims, motor-cycle accident casualties, and fatalities from every other imaginable cause of death taking up a lot and very likely the vast majority of the positions in COVID-19’s official death tally.
Finally, though it’s by no means the only other disgraceful example of the national media’s failure to report anything that would stop the panic, even if we foolishly take the massively inflated death count used to scare us seriously, the median age of reported COVID-19 fatalities in the U.S. is 80!
And that’s the lowest median fatality age in any of the ten countries for which data is available. In Sweden, which avoided panicking its citizens to an early grave with a lockdown, the average fatality is 86.
The COVID virus is no more dangerous to young and healthy people than the flu and is likely even less so.
"for the young, covid is no more and perhaps less dangerous than a flu. less than 1% of US deaths are under 45. there are basically none under 25.
so why this endless attack on 20 and 30 somethings that want to go out?
they are not and were never at risk." pic.twitter.com/PM0V0vsA2i
— el gato malo (@boriquagato) May 26, 2020
Data released by the Texas Department of Health a couple of weeks ago shows that COVID-19 is less lethal, regardless of age, than the flu was just two seasons back.
Thousands of working physicians who are seeing the awful toll this needless panic is taking every day have signed an open letter to the President warning in no uncertain terms that the panic, not the virus, is a mass casualty incident.
It would be hard to come up with a better way to bolster the catastrophic delusion most Americans are operating under that COVID-19 is causing some unprecedented public health crisis than having the entire population walking around in public needlessly wearing surgical masks.
It’s the panic that’s crushing all the life out of America, not the virus. And by acquiescing to the demand that we irrationally wear surgical masks in public, your only causing more misery and death and further delaying our return to any semblance of normal life.
4. No one has a clue what deleterious results will follow from depriving people of emotionally connecting with each other via facial cues.
Human beings communicate a lot tacitly via facial expressions — since we only speak with a fraction of the people we encounter, more than we do explicitly using words. Masks create a barrier between people and nobody knows what the effect will be on levels of violence, depression, and other social pathologies if everyone starts wearing one.
Again, conservatives shouldn’t have to be told this.
Human beings are unbelievably complex animals and human societies that much more complex. We have little more understanding of the factors influencing how we react to our environment than does a gnat.
The idea that depriving everyone of the ability to see anyone else’s face couldn’t possibly have any negative consequences is preposterous. Conservatives are supposed to understand the paramount importance of intellectual humility about the way seemingly unimportant features of our everyday life may very well turn out to be the glue that’s holding everything together.
5. You should never let anyone bully you into behaving irrationally. Especially the state.
As Theodore Dalrymple observed:
“Political correctness is communist propaganda writ small. In my study of communist societies, I came to the conclusion that the purpose of communist propaganda was not to persuade or convince, nor to inform, but to humiliate; and therefore, the less it corresponded to reality the better. When people are forced to remain silent when they are being told the most obvious lies, or even worse when they are forced to repeat the lies themselves, they lose once and for all their sense of probity. To assent to obvious lies is to co-operate with evil, and in some small way to become evil oneself. One’s standing to resist anything is thus eroded, and even destroyed. A society of emasculated liars is easy to control. I think if you examine political correctness, it has the same effect and is intendended to.”
Dalrymple’s brilliant observation applies to engaging in absurd behavior as well as repeating absurd lies. Any situation in which the powers that be are putting immense pressure on you to do or say something irrational is one in which giving in means eroding your sense of reality and ability to tell right from wrong.
The fact that they’re irrationally demanding we wear masks, bombarding us with propaganda designed to make us comply, and comparing people who don’t to murderers provides the strongest possible reason to tell them to go pound sand.
6. Additional bonus reason not to wear a mask: Please consider who’s insisting that you do.
The unjustified panic started out with articles in the Washington Post and New York Times peddling information that turned out to be completely bogus. It’s been pushed by corrupt Democrats like Jerry Nadler and Eric Swalwell and members of the permanent federal bureaucracy who would gladly sacrifice the lives of as many American citizens as you care to name if it gave them more power or a means to damage Donald Trump.
I’m talking about the Russian collusion hoax.
At present, the most important difference between it and COVID-1984 is that, while our enemies stand united in promoting both, the conservative side is divided when it comes to the latter.
For whatever reason, apart from an occasional remark or retweet, the President has hitched his wagon to Fauci. Most of his base sees clearly that COVID-1984 is just like the other successive deep state plots to destroy him apart from obliterating our economy and creating a mass casualty incident. But a significant percentage of Trump’s supporters have, to one degree or another, been taken in.
The data, however, is clear. COVID-19 is no more dangerous than the flu. When you take into account the extent to which the death count has been inflated, it’s clearly significantly less deadly.
Any conservatives afraid to look at the data and form their own judgment ought to instead, look at the people who they’re standing with when they dutifully put on a mask or continue to believe that the economic and social catastrophes inflicted on us had any justification whatsoever.
It’s understandable why so many conservatives can’t quite accept how much of a hoax it’s all been. As Tucker Carlson observed a few nights back about its Democrat perpetrators:
"This is not the Democratic Party you remember — dopey liberals with flaccid ideas that you probably had contempt for but in the end, could live with.
"No, these are radicals. They despise the country they seek to govern. They claim to remake it completely. These people want power with an intensity that you, as a normal, well-adjusted person cannot even begin to understand.
"They will do anything for control. So the question is, what are they doing to win? Well, they are working the right track-wrong track numbers. Democrats understand that the unhappier Americans become, the more likely they are to win. Unhappy people want change.
"It’s not complicated. So every ominous headline about the state of the country makes it more likely that Donald Trump will lose his job. The more the people suffer, the greater Joe Biden’s advantage. Democrats have a strong incentive, therefore, to inflict as much pain as they can, and that’s what they are doing.""
It’s hard for a normal well-adjusted person to believe that anyone could be so depraved that they’d create a fake medical crisis to inflict the equivalent of a massive bombing campaign on the American people in order to create enough misery to unseat the President.
Or that they’d insist everyone needlessly wear surgical masks in public to keep the crisis going till November.
But, when you find yourself on the same side as Jerry Nadler, Eric Swalwell, the rest of the Democrats, the New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN, and Hollywood; all of them insisting that there’s some horrible threat to America we need to take extreme actions against as they ignore the obvious terrible costs, suppress all evidence to the contrary, and flood us with propaganda that would’ve made the Soviet’s envious, you might want to consider whether you’ve maybe gone astray somewhere.
"We haven't beaten COVID19 yet. As cases drop around the world, they're going back up in America. As contact tracing and testing capacity expands, please continue to wear masks and observe social distancing.
We cannot give up on fighting this pandemic.https://t.co/vUIeANWMJe
— Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) June 19, 2020
https://www.redstate.com/michael_thau/2020/07/31/sorry-no-masks-arent-harmless/
I do not generally copy and paste entire articles here but, in this case I make an exception.
I am not a Republican, nor Democrat, nor a member of any other political party. If I were to be a member of one, it would be the Constitution Party. That said, this article, while having definite political elements, is more about common sense and facts; as well as freedom, liberty, and individual choices when it comes to our health.
As many hundreds and thousands are now publicly stating - this is a man-made, manipulated event with a distinctive globalist and most definite national agenda here in America.
I've linked it so, you can see it for yourself if you want.
Photographs did not paste, per Weebly formatting, and are not important to the information expressed.
**************************************************************************************************************
Sorry, Wearing Masks Is Anything but Harmless. Here are 5 Reasons Why
Posted at 10:00 am on July 31, 2020 by Michael Thau
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
When someone pushes for a radical departure from ordinary custom by asking “What harm could it do?” you can be pretty sure he’s made no serious effort to find out.
It’s the kind of justification you hear from someone with no interest in exploring the pros and cons of some new craze because he’s decided it’s just easier to go along with the crowd.
Conservatives especially ought to smell trouble when this empty rationale starts popping up.
Failing to understand that in a complex world seemingly trivial changes are liable to have momentous unforeseen consequences is, after all, a hallmark of most of the disastrous policies well-meaning liberals have inflicted on us (back in the good old days when most liberals were still well-meaning and didn’t simply want us dead).
So it’s particularly disheartening to see people who ought to know better insist that we all need to start wearing masks because, well, “what could possibly go wrong?”
"Mask wearing isn’t some novel idea they came up with to control us
Surgeons,nurses & dentists have used them forever to protect patients & themselves.
If it doesn’t work,what’s the harm?
And if it has a 10% chance of getting us back to school,sports & life why not do it?"
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) July 16, 2020
Pretty much everything can and will go wrong if we all start wearing masks.
Here are 5 reasons why masks are anything but harmless and, indeed, will only make everything we’re enduring now even worse.
I’ll be ignoring the studies indicating masks are ineffective as well as the CDC’s own memory-holed conclusion that there’s no evidence they work against the flu and just assume for the sake of argument that it’s 100% certain they impede the transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
But please try to keep in mind that it by no means is.
1. Wearing masks prolongs the amount of time the virus stays around by slowing down its infection rate WITHOUT decreasing the number of people who ultimately have to get it before it fades away.
One assumption that most mask advocates (who aren’t being disingenuous) seem to be making is that after some fixed amount of time, like maybe a few months, voilà, the virus will just disappear regardless of how few people wind up catching it.
But that simply isn’t so.
Viruses don’t just lose their power to reproduce after a few months and vanish. It isn’t going away till a certain percentage of us have acquired immunity, either thru infection or the advent of a vaccine. The COVID virus will continue to cause problems until the number of infections reaches whatever its threshold for herd immunity or burnout is.
This same misconception was ubiquitous concerning social distancing. It was only ever supposed to slow down the rate of infection so our hospitals weren’t overrun. Lockdowns were never meant to prevent people from ultimately becoming infected. They were only supposed to make us get sick later rather than sooner.
As Dr. Lisa Maragakis, Senior Director of Infection Prevention at Johns Hopkins Medical School explained, flattening the curve means that “the same large number of patients arrived at the hospital at a slower rate. [emphasis mine]”
The same is true for wearing masks. The only reason for healthy young people to engage in either practice is if there’s a danger of running out of medical resources. In the absence of any such danger, all you’re doing is prolonging the amount of time til herd immunity or burnout and, hence, making sure the virus sticks around longer.
Like maybe right up till the November election.
Wear a mask. Pass it on. https://t.co/mEovJq6MMR
— Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) June 30, 2020
2. Um, nothing that restricts your breathing during a brutal heatwave is harmless.
You may not have heard that one of the Navy honor guards at Rep. John Lewis’s funeral passed out. One can only imagine the deluge of alarmist headlines we’d be drowning in had COVID-19 been the culprit.
But since the virus wasn’t involved, publicizing that a young man in peak physical condition passed out on the concrete while wearing a mask during a seemingly interminable heatwave would have only made everyone wake up and realize what an obviously terrible idea it is.
"Some go to the hospital for wearing a mask.. https://t.co/yNce64MxQF
— BlondeAmericanChick ╰დ╮╭დ╯ (@PonyGirl_04) July 28, 2020
If you need to see a scientific study showing that “ventilation, cardiopulmonary exercise capacity and comfort are reduced by surgical masks and highly impaired,” here’s a link. (h/t RedState reader KurtUSA)
But really. It’s been almost a hundred degrees in large patches of the country for weeks now. Anyone pushing us to wear masks during this heatwave is either depraved or deranged.
3. Everyone walking around in public wearing surgical masks feeds the fear and panic over a virus that’s less harmful to young and healthy people than the flu and delays our urgently needed return to normalcy.
The establishment media makes it a point to run headlines containing meaningless scary-sounding factoids and manipulative stories about those who’ve allegedly succumbed to the virus.
When its supposed death tally was climbing, we couldn’t escape hearing about it. As it started to fall, they started ignoring the number of deaths and shifted over to reporting about rising cases, also neglecting to mention that rising cases and falling deaths is a good thing.
The media has done nothing to make the public aware that a local CBS affiliate looked into 589 alleged Palm Beach fatalities and discovered that far less than a third (169) had actually died of the virus.
Nor have they reported that the COVID-19 death tally they terrorized the nation with for months includes motor-cycle fatalities and gunshot victims.
Most people who did hear about these stories were shocked. But, if the press had been doing its job, they wouldn’t have been. Another crucial fact of which they’ve failed to inform the public is that counting vast numbers who didn’t die from COVID-19 among its fatalities is a feature, not a bug.
Everyone who dies with the virus is being counted as dying from it. Both Fauci and Birx have told us that’s the official policy. They’ve practically bragged about it. So, of course, there will be gunshot victims, motor-cycle accident casualties, and fatalities from every other imaginable cause of death taking up a lot and very likely the vast majority of the positions in COVID-19’s official death tally.
Finally, though it’s by no means the only other disgraceful example of the national media’s failure to report anything that would stop the panic, even if we foolishly take the massively inflated death count used to scare us seriously, the median age of reported COVID-19 fatalities in the U.S. is 80!
And that’s the lowest median fatality age in any of the ten countries for which data is available. In Sweden, which avoided panicking its citizens to an early grave with a lockdown, the average fatality is 86.
The COVID virus is no more dangerous to young and healthy people than the flu and is likely even less so.
"for the young, covid is no more and perhaps less dangerous than a flu. less than 1% of US deaths are under 45. there are basically none under 25.
so why this endless attack on 20 and 30 somethings that want to go out?
they are not and were never at risk." pic.twitter.com/PM0V0vsA2i
— el gato malo (@boriquagato) May 26, 2020
Data released by the Texas Department of Health a couple of weeks ago shows that COVID-19 is less lethal, regardless of age, than the flu was just two seasons back.
Thousands of working physicians who are seeing the awful toll this needless panic is taking every day have signed an open letter to the President warning in no uncertain terms that the panic, not the virus, is a mass casualty incident.
It would be hard to come up with a better way to bolster the catastrophic delusion most Americans are operating under that COVID-19 is causing some unprecedented public health crisis than having the entire population walking around in public needlessly wearing surgical masks.
It’s the panic that’s crushing all the life out of America, not the virus. And by acquiescing to the demand that we irrationally wear surgical masks in public, your only causing more misery and death and further delaying our return to any semblance of normal life.
4. No one has a clue what deleterious results will follow from depriving people of emotionally connecting with each other via facial cues.
Human beings communicate a lot tacitly via facial expressions — since we only speak with a fraction of the people we encounter, more than we do explicitly using words. Masks create a barrier between people and nobody knows what the effect will be on levels of violence, depression, and other social pathologies if everyone starts wearing one.
Again, conservatives shouldn’t have to be told this.
Human beings are unbelievably complex animals and human societies that much more complex. We have little more understanding of the factors influencing how we react to our environment than does a gnat.
The idea that depriving everyone of the ability to see anyone else’s face couldn’t possibly have any negative consequences is preposterous. Conservatives are supposed to understand the paramount importance of intellectual humility about the way seemingly unimportant features of our everyday life may very well turn out to be the glue that’s holding everything together.
5. You should never let anyone bully you into behaving irrationally. Especially the state.
As Theodore Dalrymple observed:
“Political correctness is communist propaganda writ small. In my study of communist societies, I came to the conclusion that the purpose of communist propaganda was not to persuade or convince, nor to inform, but to humiliate; and therefore, the less it corresponded to reality the better. When people are forced to remain silent when they are being told the most obvious lies, or even worse when they are forced to repeat the lies themselves, they lose once and for all their sense of probity. To assent to obvious lies is to co-operate with evil, and in some small way to become evil oneself. One’s standing to resist anything is thus eroded, and even destroyed. A society of emasculated liars is easy to control. I think if you examine political correctness, it has the same effect and is intendended to.”
Dalrymple’s brilliant observation applies to engaging in absurd behavior as well as repeating absurd lies. Any situation in which the powers that be are putting immense pressure on you to do or say something irrational is one in which giving in means eroding your sense of reality and ability to tell right from wrong.
The fact that they’re irrationally demanding we wear masks, bombarding us with propaganda designed to make us comply, and comparing people who don’t to murderers provides the strongest possible reason to tell them to go pound sand.
6. Additional bonus reason not to wear a mask: Please consider who’s insisting that you do.
The unjustified panic started out with articles in the Washington Post and New York Times peddling information that turned out to be completely bogus. It’s been pushed by corrupt Democrats like Jerry Nadler and Eric Swalwell and members of the permanent federal bureaucracy who would gladly sacrifice the lives of as many American citizens as you care to name if it gave them more power or a means to damage Donald Trump.
I’m talking about the Russian collusion hoax.
At present, the most important difference between it and COVID-1984 is that, while our enemies stand united in promoting both, the conservative side is divided when it comes to the latter.
For whatever reason, apart from an occasional remark or retweet, the President has hitched his wagon to Fauci. Most of his base sees clearly that COVID-1984 is just like the other successive deep state plots to destroy him apart from obliterating our economy and creating a mass casualty incident. But a significant percentage of Trump’s supporters have, to one degree or another, been taken in.
The data, however, is clear. COVID-19 is no more dangerous than the flu. When you take into account the extent to which the death count has been inflated, it’s clearly significantly less deadly.
Any conservatives afraid to look at the data and form their own judgment ought to instead, look at the people who they’re standing with when they dutifully put on a mask or continue to believe that the economic and social catastrophes inflicted on us had any justification whatsoever.
It’s understandable why so many conservatives can’t quite accept how much of a hoax it’s all been. As Tucker Carlson observed a few nights back about its Democrat perpetrators:
"This is not the Democratic Party you remember — dopey liberals with flaccid ideas that you probably had contempt for but in the end, could live with.
"No, these are radicals. They despise the country they seek to govern. They claim to remake it completely. These people want power with an intensity that you, as a normal, well-adjusted person cannot even begin to understand.
"They will do anything for control. So the question is, what are they doing to win? Well, they are working the right track-wrong track numbers. Democrats understand that the unhappier Americans become, the more likely they are to win. Unhappy people want change.
"It’s not complicated. So every ominous headline about the state of the country makes it more likely that Donald Trump will lose his job. The more the people suffer, the greater Joe Biden’s advantage. Democrats have a strong incentive, therefore, to inflict as much pain as they can, and that’s what they are doing.""
It’s hard for a normal well-adjusted person to believe that anyone could be so depraved that they’d create a fake medical crisis to inflict the equivalent of a massive bombing campaign on the American people in order to create enough misery to unseat the President.
Or that they’d insist everyone needlessly wear surgical masks in public to keep the crisis going till November.
But, when you find yourself on the same side as Jerry Nadler, Eric Swalwell, the rest of the Democrats, the New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN, and Hollywood; all of them insisting that there’s some horrible threat to America we need to take extreme actions against as they ignore the obvious terrible costs, suppress all evidence to the contrary, and flood us with propaganda that would’ve made the Soviet’s envious, you might want to consider whether you’ve maybe gone astray somewhere.
"We haven't beaten COVID19 yet. As cases drop around the world, they're going back up in America. As contact tracing and testing capacity expands, please continue to wear masks and observe social distancing.
We cannot give up on fighting this pandemic.https://t.co/vUIeANWMJe
— Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) June 19, 2020
https://www.redstate.com/michael_thau/2020/07/31/sorry-no-masks-arent-harmless/
******************
84. Two Great Articles on the Covid-19 Event - July 31, 2020
Someone fairly close to me (extended family), asked me to stop sending them info and articles about Covid-19 because I cannot distinguish between facts and opinions. Interesting.
I have sent out general emails to people sharing info I am finding. That info has links to medical journals, professionals in fields of medicine, as well as those who are professionals in aspects of ethics and law, especially Constitutional law. If people want to remain unaware of others, from all these fields, who somewhat or absolutlely and completely disagree with the way this entire event is being handled, so be it.
These two articles are well researched and address this event, with plenty of links and resources, showing things most Americans (if we should believe the polls on the fear factor at play), are not hearing from whatever sources of information they use and trust to be, well, informative. If CNN and the other alphabet networks are your main source of news ... I am saddened by the probable effect upon your being.
For those open to things that disagree with the "official" positions, check these out. They are long but, pretty much look under all the stones, not just some of them.
I rarely agree with 100% of things I read. In this case, I'm pretty close to that. It's about more than masks, that's for sure.
I have to admit, I love this quote:
"In a July 1 article, Beda M Stadler, former director of the Institute for Immunology at the University of Bern [Switzerland], goes so far as to proclaim,
“The virus is gone for now. It will probably come back in winter, but it won’t be a second wave, but just a cold. Those young and healthy people who currently walk around with a mask on their faces would be better off wearing a helmet instead, because the risk of something falling on their head is greater than that of getting a serious case of Covid-19.”
Read and you decide the efficacy of the articles for what politicians are putting us through based on one-sided medical advice and recommendations.
https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/explosion-in-mandatory-masking-isnt-driven-by-science-but-fear
https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/explosion-in-mandatory-masking-isnt-driven-by-science-but-fear-part-ii
I have sent out general emails to people sharing info I am finding. That info has links to medical journals, professionals in fields of medicine, as well as those who are professionals in aspects of ethics and law, especially Constitutional law. If people want to remain unaware of others, from all these fields, who somewhat or absolutlely and completely disagree with the way this entire event is being handled, so be it.
These two articles are well researched and address this event, with plenty of links and resources, showing things most Americans (if we should believe the polls on the fear factor at play), are not hearing from whatever sources of information they use and trust to be, well, informative. If CNN and the other alphabet networks are your main source of news ... I am saddened by the probable effect upon your being.
For those open to things that disagree with the "official" positions, check these out. They are long but, pretty much look under all the stones, not just some of them.
I rarely agree with 100% of things I read. In this case, I'm pretty close to that. It's about more than masks, that's for sure.
I have to admit, I love this quote:
"In a July 1 article, Beda M Stadler, former director of the Institute for Immunology at the University of Bern [Switzerland], goes so far as to proclaim,
“The virus is gone for now. It will probably come back in winter, but it won’t be a second wave, but just a cold. Those young and healthy people who currently walk around with a mask on their faces would be better off wearing a helmet instead, because the risk of something falling on their head is greater than that of getting a serious case of Covid-19.”
Read and you decide the efficacy of the articles for what politicians are putting us through based on one-sided medical advice and recommendations.
https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/explosion-in-mandatory-masking-isnt-driven-by-science-but-fear
https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/explosion-in-mandatory-masking-isnt-driven-by-science-but-fear-part-ii
!************************!
85. Beyond Creepy, Outrageous, and Sick. Vaccine Coercion - August 2, 2020
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04460703?term=Vaccine&cond=Covid19&cntry=US&draw=2
That's the link. Go there. Read it for yourself. And if you are not disgusted, outraged, and sickened by such information, why not?
The National Institute of Health, the National Library of Medicine, Yale University. Clinical trials which began July 3rd. Four thousand participants, recruited online, are tested. Tested for what? To see what the best approach is to convince people to receive a C-19 vaccine when one is available, and how participants will feel if people do not. Nefarious yet? Read.
Here are the test approaches used:
Other: Control message
Other: Baseline message
Other: Personal freedom message
Other: Economic freedom message
Other: Self-interest message
Other: Community interest message
Other: Economic benefit message
Other: Guilt message
Other: Embarrassment message
Other: Anger message
Other: Trust in science message
Other: Not bravery message
1/15 of the 4000 tested to see how they respond to each approach. GUILT. EMBARRASSMENT. ANGER. NOT BRAVE.
TRUST IN SCIENCE. Seriously? The science that told people all over the world to stay indoors or they will die! The science that has used almost countless garbage studies, some of them retracted for their abysmal process and predictions, used to scare people half to death? That science? The science that causes Anthony Fauci to testify that he warned Trump not to hold rallies but, refuses to condemn tens of thousands of people gathered for protests, marches and rioting, standing shoulder to shoulder? HYPOCRISY! That science? Trust that science?
2/15 of the participants are shown about the costs and benefits to bird feeding. "See the nice birdies? See how cool it is to feed them and watch them in your yard and out your windows. It doesn't cost that much to have this enjoyment. Well, taking the vaccine is the same thing." (Gag and Vomit)
3/15 are shown information about the safety of vaccines. Go talk to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about that one. Read what he has researched, written about, spoken upon, and been descended upon by the Pharmaceutical companies and their minions for being bold enough to proclaim.
Here is what the info states about some of these approaches:
Other: Self-interest message
1/15 of the sample will be assigned to this intervention, which is a message that COVID-19 presents a real danger to one's health, even if one is young and healthy. Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the best way to prevent oneself from getting sick.
That is an absolute lie.
Other: Guilt message
1/15 of the sample will be assigned to this message. The message is about the danger that COVID-19 presents to the health of one's family and community. The best way to protect them is by getting vaccinated and society must work together to get enough people vaccinated. Then it asks the participant to imagine the guilt they will feel if they don't get vaccinated and spread the disease.
I cannot even begin to state my outrage about such a devilish approach.
Other: Embarrassment message
1/15 of the sample will be assigned to this message. The message is about the danger that COVID-19 presents to the health of one's family and community. The best way to protect them is by getting vaccinated and by working together to make sure that enough people get vaccinated. Then it asks the participant to imagine the embarrassment they will feel if they don't get vaccinated and spread the disease.
Are you shocked yet? Angry? Well, see if the anger approach works for you:
Other: Anger message
1/15 of the sample will be assigned to this message. The message is about the danger that COVID-19 presents to the health of one's family and community. The best way to protect them is by getting vaccinated and by working together to make sure that enough people get vaccinated. Then it asks the participant to imagine the anger they will feel if they don't get vaccinated and spread the disease.
Are you angry now? Or, are you ignorant enough, stupid enough, mindlessly numbed as a societal robot enough to accept this BS? Seriously. A ten year old could see through this. I sound angry, you say? Ya think? Are you offended? Good. PROVE me wrong. Am I trying to provoke you? Of course I am! Never have I seen America at such a brink and precipice.
Other: Trust in science message
1/15 of the sample will be assigned to this message about how getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the most effective way of protecting one's community. Vaccination is backed by science. If one doesn't get vaccinated that means that one doesn't understand how infections are spread or who ignores science.
The principle of a vaccination is simple, and a process used by naturopaths for a long time. It is a process designed to strengthen one's immune system towards whatever violation of cells tries to take over. The patient accepts a tiny amount of the violator and the immune system attacks it, removes it, and immunity is gained. Simple? Yes.
Do you know what is in vaccines? Do you know the statistics behind them; how well they work, how they harm people, how some do untold damgage to an immune system? You owe it to yourself to educate yourself about modern vaccines. When you do, the idea of being compelled, in any way, coerced in any way, to take a vaccine is wickedness: just straight out evil.
This last one ... this is just so disgusting 300,000,000 Americans should rise up and protest in so loud a way the entire planet would physically hear it.
Other: Not bravery message
1/15 of the sample will be assigned to this message which describes how firefighters, doctors, and front line medical workers are brave. Those who choose not to get vaccinated against COVID-19 are not brave.
If you will not accept a vaccine, you are a coward!
I went to Walmart this morning. My wife got us a couple masks. We've been buying groceries and picking them up through the Walmart Pick-Up process in another town. The one in our town is not doing it. They are really not set up for it. This morning, though, I needed things not available for pick-up. As I walked through the parking lot, a big guy, 6'5", 350 lbs, and his young daughter walked in front of me. No masks. He had some kind of wrap around his neck. I wondered if he would pull it up. He didn't.
I walked in, with a mask on. In less than five minutes I began to feel warm. I could feel my head getting warm. I had to pull the mask down to breathe through my nose. I began to perspire. I thought to myself, If someone put a heat gun to my head they'd think I was sick as a dog and run me out of the place. By the time I bought my stuff and went to the water dispenser to fill a couple 5 gallon jugs, I just pulled the mask down, completely. I was done. DONE!
The guy and his daughter passed me at the water dispenser. No mask. The last time I went to Walmart I was that brave. This time, I acquiesced, just to get along. THAT is what they want. Just throw up the hands and say, I surrender. That is what these control freaks want from all of us. Surrender. Trust them. Do the right thing, as they define it. Be a nice, good member of the hive.
I've had it. Totally. If you cannot see the nefarious nature of this entire event by now, something is quite wrong with you. If that offends you, good. PROVE me wrong. Prove it. You want me to comply? PROVE I am wrong with facts, data, and truth.
Secondary Outcome Measures :
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04460703?term=Vaccine&cond=Covid19&cntry=US&draw=2
Nothing like pitting Americans against Americans. That is the agenda. Divide and conquer; as old a policy as any in world history. God have mercy on us if Americans accept this pile of barn yard defecation. I am amazed this can found so easily on the web. They are not hiding it. They have nothing to hide. For them, this all makes sense. YOU MUST take the vaccine. What's the best approach to bypass your frontal lobes and common sense, so you will take it?
If this is not an open attack on freedom, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, nothing is.
Wake up. If you are, tell others. Challenge others with the truth, the data, the facts, the numbers of medical professionals and others in positions of responsibility speaking out. We stand up now or America is toast. Literally.
That's the link. Go there. Read it for yourself. And if you are not disgusted, outraged, and sickened by such information, why not?
The National Institute of Health, the National Library of Medicine, Yale University. Clinical trials which began July 3rd. Four thousand participants, recruited online, are tested. Tested for what? To see what the best approach is to convince people to receive a C-19 vaccine when one is available, and how participants will feel if people do not. Nefarious yet? Read.
Here are the test approaches used:
Other: Control message
Other: Baseline message
Other: Personal freedom message
Other: Economic freedom message
Other: Self-interest message
Other: Community interest message
Other: Economic benefit message
Other: Guilt message
Other: Embarrassment message
Other: Anger message
Other: Trust in science message
Other: Not bravery message
1/15 of the 4000 tested to see how they respond to each approach. GUILT. EMBARRASSMENT. ANGER. NOT BRAVE.
TRUST IN SCIENCE. Seriously? The science that told people all over the world to stay indoors or they will die! The science that has used almost countless garbage studies, some of them retracted for their abysmal process and predictions, used to scare people half to death? That science? The science that causes Anthony Fauci to testify that he warned Trump not to hold rallies but, refuses to condemn tens of thousands of people gathered for protests, marches and rioting, standing shoulder to shoulder? HYPOCRISY! That science? Trust that science?
2/15 of the participants are shown about the costs and benefits to bird feeding. "See the nice birdies? See how cool it is to feed them and watch them in your yard and out your windows. It doesn't cost that much to have this enjoyment. Well, taking the vaccine is the same thing." (Gag and Vomit)
3/15 are shown information about the safety of vaccines. Go talk to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about that one. Read what he has researched, written about, spoken upon, and been descended upon by the Pharmaceutical companies and their minions for being bold enough to proclaim.
Here is what the info states about some of these approaches:
Other: Self-interest message
1/15 of the sample will be assigned to this intervention, which is a message that COVID-19 presents a real danger to one's health, even if one is young and healthy. Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the best way to prevent oneself from getting sick.
That is an absolute lie.
Other: Guilt message
1/15 of the sample will be assigned to this message. The message is about the danger that COVID-19 presents to the health of one's family and community. The best way to protect them is by getting vaccinated and society must work together to get enough people vaccinated. Then it asks the participant to imagine the guilt they will feel if they don't get vaccinated and spread the disease.
I cannot even begin to state my outrage about such a devilish approach.
Other: Embarrassment message
1/15 of the sample will be assigned to this message. The message is about the danger that COVID-19 presents to the health of one's family and community. The best way to protect them is by getting vaccinated and by working together to make sure that enough people get vaccinated. Then it asks the participant to imagine the embarrassment they will feel if they don't get vaccinated and spread the disease.
Are you shocked yet? Angry? Well, see if the anger approach works for you:
Other: Anger message
1/15 of the sample will be assigned to this message. The message is about the danger that COVID-19 presents to the health of one's family and community. The best way to protect them is by getting vaccinated and by working together to make sure that enough people get vaccinated. Then it asks the participant to imagine the anger they will feel if they don't get vaccinated and spread the disease.
Are you angry now? Or, are you ignorant enough, stupid enough, mindlessly numbed as a societal robot enough to accept this BS? Seriously. A ten year old could see through this. I sound angry, you say? Ya think? Are you offended? Good. PROVE me wrong. Am I trying to provoke you? Of course I am! Never have I seen America at such a brink and precipice.
Other: Trust in science message
1/15 of the sample will be assigned to this message about how getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the most effective way of protecting one's community. Vaccination is backed by science. If one doesn't get vaccinated that means that one doesn't understand how infections are spread or who ignores science.
The principle of a vaccination is simple, and a process used by naturopaths for a long time. It is a process designed to strengthen one's immune system towards whatever violation of cells tries to take over. The patient accepts a tiny amount of the violator and the immune system attacks it, removes it, and immunity is gained. Simple? Yes.
Do you know what is in vaccines? Do you know the statistics behind them; how well they work, how they harm people, how some do untold damgage to an immune system? You owe it to yourself to educate yourself about modern vaccines. When you do, the idea of being compelled, in any way, coerced in any way, to take a vaccine is wickedness: just straight out evil.
This last one ... this is just so disgusting 300,000,000 Americans should rise up and protest in so loud a way the entire planet would physically hear it.
Other: Not bravery message
1/15 of the sample will be assigned to this message which describes how firefighters, doctors, and front line medical workers are brave. Those who choose not to get vaccinated against COVID-19 are not brave.
If you will not accept a vaccine, you are a coward!
I went to Walmart this morning. My wife got us a couple masks. We've been buying groceries and picking them up through the Walmart Pick-Up process in another town. The one in our town is not doing it. They are really not set up for it. This morning, though, I needed things not available for pick-up. As I walked through the parking lot, a big guy, 6'5", 350 lbs, and his young daughter walked in front of me. No masks. He had some kind of wrap around his neck. I wondered if he would pull it up. He didn't.
I walked in, with a mask on. In less than five minutes I began to feel warm. I could feel my head getting warm. I had to pull the mask down to breathe through my nose. I began to perspire. I thought to myself, If someone put a heat gun to my head they'd think I was sick as a dog and run me out of the place. By the time I bought my stuff and went to the water dispenser to fill a couple 5 gallon jugs, I just pulled the mask down, completely. I was done. DONE!
The guy and his daughter passed me at the water dispenser. No mask. The last time I went to Walmart I was that brave. This time, I acquiesced, just to get along. THAT is what they want. Just throw up the hands and say, I surrender. That is what these control freaks want from all of us. Surrender. Trust them. Do the right thing, as they define it. Be a nice, good member of the hive.
I've had it. Totally. If you cannot see the nefarious nature of this entire event by now, something is quite wrong with you. If that offends you, good. PROVE me wrong. Prove it. You want me to comply? PROVE I am wrong with facts, data, and truth.
Secondary Outcome Measures :
- Vaccine confidence scale [ Time Frame: Immediately after intervention, in the same survey in which the intervention message is provided ]
This is a validated scale. This scale will be used to assess the impact of the messages on vaccine confidence. (Outcome assessed only for the half of the sample that answers these items post-treatment) - Persuade others item [ Time Frame: Immediately after intervention, in the same survey in which the intervention message is provided ]
This is a measure of a willingness to persuade others to take the COVID-19 vaccine. - Fear of those who have not been vaccinated [ Time Frame: Immediately after intervention, in the same survey in which the intervention message is provided ]
This is a measure of a comfort with an unvaccinated individual visiting an elderly friend after a vaccine becomes available - Social judgment of those who do not vaccinate [ Time Frame: Immediately after intervention, in the same survey in which the intervention message is provided ]
This is a scale composed of 4 items measuring the trustworthiness, selfishness, likeableness, and competence of those who choose not to get vaccinated after a vaccine becomes available
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04460703?term=Vaccine&cond=Covid19&cntry=US&draw=2
Nothing like pitting Americans against Americans. That is the agenda. Divide and conquer; as old a policy as any in world history. God have mercy on us if Americans accept this pile of barn yard defecation. I am amazed this can found so easily on the web. They are not hiding it. They have nothing to hide. For them, this all makes sense. YOU MUST take the vaccine. What's the best approach to bypass your frontal lobes and common sense, so you will take it?
If this is not an open attack on freedom, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, nothing is.
Wake up. If you are, tell others. Challenge others with the truth, the data, the facts, the numbers of medical professionals and others in positions of responsibility speaking out. We stand up now or America is toast. Literally.
******************
86. Burning Bibles Now - August 2, 2020
So, I just watched a short video, posted on Twitter, of protesters burning Bibles. That's where we are now. Burning Bibles. They are "racist." Never mind Moses was married to a black woman. Never mind Simon carried Christ's cross when he fell down from the agony and burden. Forget those things. They get in the way of the narrative being vomited up by radicals in control of their mob. Forget MLK. He's in the way. Forget multiplied millions of "black" Christians reading their Bibles every day. They are in the way. Certainly not only forget but, attack any "black" supporters of the president. They are definitely in the way.
Personally, I believe it's wrong and offensive to burn the American Flag. That's another discussion but, burning Bibles??? In America???
https://twitter.com/Shelldrayk/status/1289481822414413827
What makes this so ridiculous is the fact that we can see photographs with George Floyd holding up a Bible, standing with fellow believers, when he lived in Houston. Every day now it becomes more and more obvious this all has less and less, if anything at all, to do with George Floyd and everything to do with taking down America and its fabric of Judeo/Christian culture and society.
Another video down the page shows a small groups of protesters with bullhorns, shouting at Christian church goers as they walk into a church; what looks like a city church, right on the sidewalk, stairs to walk up. One woman, a young mother with two small boys and baby, is being screamed at by these ignorant minions of "change" and "reimagining" police departments and America. When she makes it onto and up the steps, some men come out and stand at the bottom of the stairs to keep the protesters from going further. These imaginative, selfless young protesters begin chanting "Save those kids! Save those kids!" I asked myslf, From what? Them, for sure.
Over and over they tried to instigate and intimidate the men standing on the steps. One wisely checks his ear plugs. Always handy to have when protesters with bullhorns, protesting police brutality, show up in front of a church to harrass people going in.
Threats to call CPS cast at the mother. "This is no house of God!," one propels his intelligence out through his bull horn. I marveled at the ignorance as the video progressed. If nothing else, their mothers never taught them, or tried to and it went nowhere, about manners, civility and common decency.
Some of the protesters wore masks. Makes sense in this casse, seeing they were acting like criminals.
They blocked the bottom of the stairs so no one could pass, which is against the law. Of course, the rule of law means nothing to those who hate it and live to rebel against it.
I'd be curious to know if such protesters would stand in front of a mosque and go through such histrionics. I doubt it. These days, protesting Christians; harrassing, oppressing, even persecuting them is common sport among radical leftists. Yes, yes, I know professed Christians can get pretty devilish at times, cursing people to "hell" and all. Some of the comments below put that on display. Just the same, I have never heard of professed Christians burning other religious books; unless we look back at the dark ages and RCC activity, when not only the writings of protestants but, protestant translations of the Bible were burned, as well as the protestants, themselves. And history showed the attitudes of Protestants towards their own fellows, holding different beliefs, could get pretty ugly and dangerous for those in the minority. Fault on both sides. But, again, the Reformation was light pouring into the Darkness. Lots of superstition and tradition to walk away from. Of course, Catholics didn't see it that way. Just the same, "Mother" worked hard to keep her "daughters" close, by any means necessary.
My point is, today's American protesters, if asked, have no, real idea what they are protesting about. Police brutality? If that was truly the spark, that is long past. Now it is protesting against "RACISM!"
The msm has taught these mindless minions how to use that as a weapon. Anything "white" and not with them, is the racist enemy. Interesting how "White privilege" and "racism" evaporates when "whites" are on their side. In some cases, more "whites" can be seen "peacefully" protesting (rioting), than "blacks."
Man, how stupid it is to talk in terms of piano keys.
An explosion is coming. If you say, "It has happened. It is happening." No, no. The explosion of response, retaliation, defense, the last drop of patience is yet to come. Of course, it will not happen until the hordes move from the big cities to the small ones, and towns. If it does, then the explosion will take place. A literal explosion. Right now it is citizens against statues, window panes, granite walls, and things not fighting back. When the onslaught meets the human wall ... well, by then, anarchy will be but a step away. Protecting one's property will not be a matter for police departments but the average American, that cannot wait for a cop car to show up; when the mobs are walking towards your place of business or your home, your wife, your children and grandchildren. Once again, what does logic tell you is going to happen?
I hear an explosion coming.
God help America.
Personally, I believe it's wrong and offensive to burn the American Flag. That's another discussion but, burning Bibles??? In America???
https://twitter.com/Shelldrayk/status/1289481822414413827
What makes this so ridiculous is the fact that we can see photographs with George Floyd holding up a Bible, standing with fellow believers, when he lived in Houston. Every day now it becomes more and more obvious this all has less and less, if anything at all, to do with George Floyd and everything to do with taking down America and its fabric of Judeo/Christian culture and society.
Another video down the page shows a small groups of protesters with bullhorns, shouting at Christian church goers as they walk into a church; what looks like a city church, right on the sidewalk, stairs to walk up. One woman, a young mother with two small boys and baby, is being screamed at by these ignorant minions of "change" and "reimagining" police departments and America. When she makes it onto and up the steps, some men come out and stand at the bottom of the stairs to keep the protesters from going further. These imaginative, selfless young protesters begin chanting "Save those kids! Save those kids!" I asked myslf, From what? Them, for sure.
Over and over they tried to instigate and intimidate the men standing on the steps. One wisely checks his ear plugs. Always handy to have when protesters with bullhorns, protesting police brutality, show up in front of a church to harrass people going in.
Threats to call CPS cast at the mother. "This is no house of God!," one propels his intelligence out through his bull horn. I marveled at the ignorance as the video progressed. If nothing else, their mothers never taught them, or tried to and it went nowhere, about manners, civility and common decency.
Some of the protesters wore masks. Makes sense in this casse, seeing they were acting like criminals.
They blocked the bottom of the stairs so no one could pass, which is against the law. Of course, the rule of law means nothing to those who hate it and live to rebel against it.
I'd be curious to know if such protesters would stand in front of a mosque and go through such histrionics. I doubt it. These days, protesting Christians; harrassing, oppressing, even persecuting them is common sport among radical leftists. Yes, yes, I know professed Christians can get pretty devilish at times, cursing people to "hell" and all. Some of the comments below put that on display. Just the same, I have never heard of professed Christians burning other religious books; unless we look back at the dark ages and RCC activity, when not only the writings of protestants but, protestant translations of the Bible were burned, as well as the protestants, themselves. And history showed the attitudes of Protestants towards their own fellows, holding different beliefs, could get pretty ugly and dangerous for those in the minority. Fault on both sides. But, again, the Reformation was light pouring into the Darkness. Lots of superstition and tradition to walk away from. Of course, Catholics didn't see it that way. Just the same, "Mother" worked hard to keep her "daughters" close, by any means necessary.
My point is, today's American protesters, if asked, have no, real idea what they are protesting about. Police brutality? If that was truly the spark, that is long past. Now it is protesting against "RACISM!"
The msm has taught these mindless minions how to use that as a weapon. Anything "white" and not with them, is the racist enemy. Interesting how "White privilege" and "racism" evaporates when "whites" are on their side. In some cases, more "whites" can be seen "peacefully" protesting (rioting), than "blacks."
Man, how stupid it is to talk in terms of piano keys.
An explosion is coming. If you say, "It has happened. It is happening." No, no. The explosion of response, retaliation, defense, the last drop of patience is yet to come. Of course, it will not happen until the hordes move from the big cities to the small ones, and towns. If it does, then the explosion will take place. A literal explosion. Right now it is citizens against statues, window panes, granite walls, and things not fighting back. When the onslaught meets the human wall ... well, by then, anarchy will be but a step away. Protecting one's property will not be a matter for police departments but the average American, that cannot wait for a cop car to show up; when the mobs are walking towards your place of business or your home, your wife, your children and grandchildren. Once again, what does logic tell you is going to happen?
I hear an explosion coming.
God help America.
******************
87. Medical Disclaimer? - August 3, 2020
Frigon, what are you doing with a Medical Disclaimer on your website? You are not a doctor. You have nothing to do with the world of medicine.
So true, so true.
Do you know disclaimers like that are found all over the internet; medical sites addressing issues in ways not necessarily in total, 100% harmony and lockstep with the American Medical Association? The AMA, being as powerful as it is, will sue you in a heartbeat or you'll find yourself pursued or sued by an entity associated with it, etc., if you put any kind of medical advice, opinions, anything really that they do not endorse, in print. You can say whatever you want in public, as long as you state it is your opinion or something to the effect - "This is what I would do if I were in your place, or faced with the same choices," etc.
That's our world. I comment on Covid-19, people involved, situations and there are eyes watching or eyes of those who will report back and create a world of trouble for you if you do not have such disclaimers on your site.
The entire world of natural remedies is plagued by this situation in America. Naturopathic doctors, chiropractors, anybody treating illness is up for trouble if they do not go along with everything the AMA has control over. And they have a tremendous amount of control and political clout. If you want to diverge and treat illness in ways people have for centuries, millennia, even, you must tell the world you do not endorse what you are stating. Make sense? Welcome to America in the 20th and 21st centuries.
The rest of the world offers Hydroxychloroquine as an over the counter remedy for malaria. It's been around for 60-70 years, depending on who you listen to or read from. It is an old drug, stated to be harmless with no adverse side effects that are severe in any way, to read or listen to those who have and do use it. When doctors cannot use such a drug for treating Covids, and when people mentioning it on their websites risk legal backlash, we are right to question where we live: free America, or some nation under dictatorship, totalitarian control, or something defined by such terms.
POTUS mentions HCQ as a possible treatment and remedy and the msm has a fit. No investigation of the drug's history or usage; just tell the world Trump is nuts and a dangerous person and should be impeached. People will die!!! He's telling them to inject bleach into their veins!!! When did Americans become so ... unAmerican to just believe such drivel and accept it without actual proof? Such and such news network said it so, it must be true. When did this shift takes place? It took place over time, as Americans became more interested in sports and Hollywood than their freedoms and future.
Are you not sick of the main stream media's fear mongering? Oddly enough, only about a million or two people watch any of these nighttime political programs on cable. I guess Tucker Carlson and maybe one or two others have higher aiudiences that that but, most are not on the schedule of Americans. Good or bad, that's the fact. I don't know how many watch the network news programs. It seems like nowhere enough to be able to convince anyone of anything. Frankly, I wish conservative newsites would stop giving exposure to everything stated by radical leftists. We know they are radical. We get it. We know the kind of things they state. We know their complete and abject hatred for Trump. Why give them any exposure and repeat things they say? How is it news? Same old, same old.
Anyway, because I have been placing commentary and opinion here about this virus event, I put up the disclaimer, not only to do what others have done to protect themselves but, also to expose the nature of the totalitarian nation we have become.
I whole heartedly endorse the use of alternative, natural remedies rather than pharmaceuticals. I have for over 40 years now. I endorse a plant-based diet. I stand against a lot of things I consider less than optimum to achieve better health when sick, or more deeply, finding out what makes us sick and why, and addressing things at the source, not the symptoms.
As this situation continues, the players on the side of freedom verses those on the side of control will become more and more obvious.
Will free speech and the rest of the Bill of Rights get stronger or weaker? That depends on who ends up in positions of elected civil servant responsibility. I do not hold out much hope for the Constitution and Bill of Rights. I just don't; not observing everything taking place in the nation's capitol.
It can take centuries for a nation to collapse. America is a few centuries into this, historically speaking, and technically, since 1789 and the ratification of the Constitution. We are reaching a point of no return. Nations fall, others take control of them, or they divide. I tend to think division is what's coming.
You might see that as a huge leap from a situation requiring medical disclaimers because of the power of the AMA. I don't. Personal health is as personal a responsibility and right as a human can have. When any entity comes along with such power they can control the flow of information about health, and control the dispensing of treatments, you can know things are very, very bad in such a nation. We really have no freedom at all when you cannot just go out and get an over the counter drug used around the world, also being successfully used by doctors throughout America right now to treat C-19, because a power controlling authority says no; whether state legislatures, or politically motivated entities. Take your pick. It's a long list of those standing aganst HCQ.
Logically, when a known remedy is available and people in positions of influence and power keep it from citizens, they are responsible for the deaths of those who may have been greatly helped by those remedies, especially when those entities know full well the truth about those remedies.
Everybody has to face God someday. We all have lives of failure to account for. I cannot imagine what current talking heads and people of influence, and those elected civil servants will tell God when He asks why they stood in the way of helping sick people, and even placed them in environments where their demise was assured.
Well, as the months and years move along we shall, as Americans, get to see something not many generations behold: the fall of an empire.
So true, so true.
Do you know disclaimers like that are found all over the internet; medical sites addressing issues in ways not necessarily in total, 100% harmony and lockstep with the American Medical Association? The AMA, being as powerful as it is, will sue you in a heartbeat or you'll find yourself pursued or sued by an entity associated with it, etc., if you put any kind of medical advice, opinions, anything really that they do not endorse, in print. You can say whatever you want in public, as long as you state it is your opinion or something to the effect - "This is what I would do if I were in your place, or faced with the same choices," etc.
That's our world. I comment on Covid-19, people involved, situations and there are eyes watching or eyes of those who will report back and create a world of trouble for you if you do not have such disclaimers on your site.
The entire world of natural remedies is plagued by this situation in America. Naturopathic doctors, chiropractors, anybody treating illness is up for trouble if they do not go along with everything the AMA has control over. And they have a tremendous amount of control and political clout. If you want to diverge and treat illness in ways people have for centuries, millennia, even, you must tell the world you do not endorse what you are stating. Make sense? Welcome to America in the 20th and 21st centuries.
The rest of the world offers Hydroxychloroquine as an over the counter remedy for malaria. It's been around for 60-70 years, depending on who you listen to or read from. It is an old drug, stated to be harmless with no adverse side effects that are severe in any way, to read or listen to those who have and do use it. When doctors cannot use such a drug for treating Covids, and when people mentioning it on their websites risk legal backlash, we are right to question where we live: free America, or some nation under dictatorship, totalitarian control, or something defined by such terms.
POTUS mentions HCQ as a possible treatment and remedy and the msm has a fit. No investigation of the drug's history or usage; just tell the world Trump is nuts and a dangerous person and should be impeached. People will die!!! He's telling them to inject bleach into their veins!!! When did Americans become so ... unAmerican to just believe such drivel and accept it without actual proof? Such and such news network said it so, it must be true. When did this shift takes place? It took place over time, as Americans became more interested in sports and Hollywood than their freedoms and future.
Are you not sick of the main stream media's fear mongering? Oddly enough, only about a million or two people watch any of these nighttime political programs on cable. I guess Tucker Carlson and maybe one or two others have higher aiudiences that that but, most are not on the schedule of Americans. Good or bad, that's the fact. I don't know how many watch the network news programs. It seems like nowhere enough to be able to convince anyone of anything. Frankly, I wish conservative newsites would stop giving exposure to everything stated by radical leftists. We know they are radical. We get it. We know the kind of things they state. We know their complete and abject hatred for Trump. Why give them any exposure and repeat things they say? How is it news? Same old, same old.
Anyway, because I have been placing commentary and opinion here about this virus event, I put up the disclaimer, not only to do what others have done to protect themselves but, also to expose the nature of the totalitarian nation we have become.
I whole heartedly endorse the use of alternative, natural remedies rather than pharmaceuticals. I have for over 40 years now. I endorse a plant-based diet. I stand against a lot of things I consider less than optimum to achieve better health when sick, or more deeply, finding out what makes us sick and why, and addressing things at the source, not the symptoms.
As this situation continues, the players on the side of freedom verses those on the side of control will become more and more obvious.
Will free speech and the rest of the Bill of Rights get stronger or weaker? That depends on who ends up in positions of elected civil servant responsibility. I do not hold out much hope for the Constitution and Bill of Rights. I just don't; not observing everything taking place in the nation's capitol.
It can take centuries for a nation to collapse. America is a few centuries into this, historically speaking, and technically, since 1789 and the ratification of the Constitution. We are reaching a point of no return. Nations fall, others take control of them, or they divide. I tend to think division is what's coming.
You might see that as a huge leap from a situation requiring medical disclaimers because of the power of the AMA. I don't. Personal health is as personal a responsibility and right as a human can have. When any entity comes along with such power they can control the flow of information about health, and control the dispensing of treatments, you can know things are very, very bad in such a nation. We really have no freedom at all when you cannot just go out and get an over the counter drug used around the world, also being successfully used by doctors throughout America right now to treat C-19, because a power controlling authority says no; whether state legislatures, or politically motivated entities. Take your pick. It's a long list of those standing aganst HCQ.
Logically, when a known remedy is available and people in positions of influence and power keep it from citizens, they are responsible for the deaths of those who may have been greatly helped by those remedies, especially when those entities know full well the truth about those remedies.
Everybody has to face God someday. We all have lives of failure to account for. I cannot imagine what current talking heads and people of influence, and those elected civil servants will tell God when He asks why they stood in the way of helping sick people, and even placed them in environments where their demise was assured.
Well, as the months and years move along we shall, as Americans, get to see something not many generations behold: the fall of an empire.
******************
88. WAR - August 5, 2020
War.
Do you remember "War Pigs," by Black Sabbath? A Heavy Metal staple back then. Lots of people protesting the Vietnam "War" and war, in general, back in those days. People of all ages protested, mostly the young, seeing they have more energy to keep it up.
America has been at war with some entity for all but, five (or seven depending on who you ask), years of its existence. Let that sink in. America has always been at war, including its own Civil War, and one preparing as I type. There's even a web site devoted to news that shows a Civil War is coming: civilwar.news
Why is America constantly at war? Mostly PROFITS. War makes a lot of money for people invested in arms development, manufacture and sales. It makes a lot of money for world bankers, lending money to nations so they can fight their wars. It always seems to work for politicians speaking to their bases, either hawks (pro-war) or doves (con-war), in election cycles.
In my lifetime I have seen:
The War on poverty.
The War on drugs.
The War on Communism.
The Cold War.
The War on cancer.
The War on terrorism.
Celebrities get into "wars" on Twitter. Same for politicians. That's how the media likes to describe it.
Sports teams go to "war" when the final games of a season take place, if you read sports news or listen to anything about sports.
War, war, war.
Are Americans addicted to war? It would seem so, if the term can be attached to so many things and not many say, "Wait. What?"
Poverty is worse now, especially after shutting down the nation because of this man-made, manipulated virus event. Same for the failure of the war on drugs. Communism is back, not so much outside America as voices inside America. Our fathers warned us of this. Mine did, anyway, and my wife has mentioned the same warnings coming from her father. They could see it coming because America was changing and they saw the difference between the America they grew up in, and the America we were growing up in.
Right about now I'd say the majority of Americans are totally tired of "war," mentally, emotionally, financially, and any other way you want to address it, and well they should be. We are now fighting a war (on terrorism) that will never end, for various reasons. That works well for those involved in the making of and financing war, who work to perpetuate them.
I have mentioned before that President Eisenhower warned Americans about the military industrial complex in his last address to the American people at the end of his time in office. It's on Youtube. I was shocked when I saw it a little over ten years ago now. My father never mentioned it. Nobody ever mentioned it. The very first time I heard of it was back around 2009. How can a president make such a public declaration and it gets ... wiped away? Forgotten? Censored from view?
Nobody but, God knows what is going to happen in our world, in the Divided States of America. Balkinization? That seems the most likely because the two worldviews at war right now are never going to see the same on just about every possible matter and issue facing us. They think I am a radical and I believe they are radicals. The other day I watched as two Congressmen got into it. Have you ever seen recent footage of legislators in other nations getting to fist fights, even throwing chairs at each other? Entire legislative bodies involved in chaos? Are you thinking that could never happen in Washington, D.C.? I believe I will see it well before I die. I'd say we are on the verge.
Something is very wrong with our world. It is at war with God. The Bible states there was war in heaven. Just one. The losers were tossed out and this world is now the battlefield: for our minds.
War is mentioned a lot in the Bible. Wars among nations. War with forces of wickedness, between good and evil, light and darkness, truth and lies, right and wrong, on and on it goes; year after year, decade after decade, century after century, millennia after millennia. One of the more ominous statements is found in Revelation 13:
Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Who shall be able to make war with the beast? That obviously describes an entity with, beyond tremendous wealth, power, and influence. No joke, and nobody living when that war takes place will escape it. Two sides, that's it. Every person on the planet on one side or the other. Hard to imagine? Indeed. There is actually a greater war than that one predicted, one that will benefit one side to be victorious.
When Christ said to take up our crosses and follow Him, few realize that war, that battle, with self, is the bravest, most intense war any human can be involved in. Seriously. Nothing comes close to the war within self: thinking, saying, doing things we do not want to do and experiencing an internal fight to allow God control, in and over our lives, every moment of every day. No war possibly comes close to that war. It does not involve guns and bombs. It involves our brains and bodies. If you can remove the reasons for that war, you can remove the necessity to fight it, and that is what the enemy does in his part of his war with Heaven: lie about God, about anything associated with God, so most people in the world have no idea about this greatest of wars, and never even think to fight it. Even some professed believers in Christ do not bother with it. In all these cases, the enemy has already won or, is winning, anyway.
I'm tired of all wars. Seriously. I just want Christ to return and end the madness, the darkness, the wickedness encompassing the planet. He'll return. It will be a surprise to the vast majority of the human race who decided not to pay attention to what was told them in a final movement of God on Earth; such as the world has never seen.
The final battle in the war is coming.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Do you remember "War Pigs," by Black Sabbath? A Heavy Metal staple back then. Lots of people protesting the Vietnam "War" and war, in general, back in those days. People of all ages protested, mostly the young, seeing they have more energy to keep it up.
America has been at war with some entity for all but, five (or seven depending on who you ask), years of its existence. Let that sink in. America has always been at war, including its own Civil War, and one preparing as I type. There's even a web site devoted to news that shows a Civil War is coming: civilwar.news
Why is America constantly at war? Mostly PROFITS. War makes a lot of money for people invested in arms development, manufacture and sales. It makes a lot of money for world bankers, lending money to nations so they can fight their wars. It always seems to work for politicians speaking to their bases, either hawks (pro-war) or doves (con-war), in election cycles.
In my lifetime I have seen:
The War on poverty.
The War on drugs.
The War on Communism.
The Cold War.
The War on cancer.
The War on terrorism.
Celebrities get into "wars" on Twitter. Same for politicians. That's how the media likes to describe it.
Sports teams go to "war" when the final games of a season take place, if you read sports news or listen to anything about sports.
War, war, war.
Are Americans addicted to war? It would seem so, if the term can be attached to so many things and not many say, "Wait. What?"
Poverty is worse now, especially after shutting down the nation because of this man-made, manipulated virus event. Same for the failure of the war on drugs. Communism is back, not so much outside America as voices inside America. Our fathers warned us of this. Mine did, anyway, and my wife has mentioned the same warnings coming from her father. They could see it coming because America was changing and they saw the difference between the America they grew up in, and the America we were growing up in.
Right about now I'd say the majority of Americans are totally tired of "war," mentally, emotionally, financially, and any other way you want to address it, and well they should be. We are now fighting a war (on terrorism) that will never end, for various reasons. That works well for those involved in the making of and financing war, who work to perpetuate them.
I have mentioned before that President Eisenhower warned Americans about the military industrial complex in his last address to the American people at the end of his time in office. It's on Youtube. I was shocked when I saw it a little over ten years ago now. My father never mentioned it. Nobody ever mentioned it. The very first time I heard of it was back around 2009. How can a president make such a public declaration and it gets ... wiped away? Forgotten? Censored from view?
Nobody but, God knows what is going to happen in our world, in the Divided States of America. Balkinization? That seems the most likely because the two worldviews at war right now are never going to see the same on just about every possible matter and issue facing us. They think I am a radical and I believe they are radicals. The other day I watched as two Congressmen got into it. Have you ever seen recent footage of legislators in other nations getting to fist fights, even throwing chairs at each other? Entire legislative bodies involved in chaos? Are you thinking that could never happen in Washington, D.C.? I believe I will see it well before I die. I'd say we are on the verge.
Something is very wrong with our world. It is at war with God. The Bible states there was war in heaven. Just one. The losers were tossed out and this world is now the battlefield: for our minds.
War is mentioned a lot in the Bible. Wars among nations. War with forces of wickedness, between good and evil, light and darkness, truth and lies, right and wrong, on and on it goes; year after year, decade after decade, century after century, millennia after millennia. One of the more ominous statements is found in Revelation 13:
Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Who shall be able to make war with the beast? That obviously describes an entity with, beyond tremendous wealth, power, and influence. No joke, and nobody living when that war takes place will escape it. Two sides, that's it. Every person on the planet on one side or the other. Hard to imagine? Indeed. There is actually a greater war than that one predicted, one that will benefit one side to be victorious.
When Christ said to take up our crosses and follow Him, few realize that war, that battle, with self, is the bravest, most intense war any human can be involved in. Seriously. Nothing comes close to the war within self: thinking, saying, doing things we do not want to do and experiencing an internal fight to allow God control, in and over our lives, every moment of every day. No war possibly comes close to that war. It does not involve guns and bombs. It involves our brains and bodies. If you can remove the reasons for that war, you can remove the necessity to fight it, and that is what the enemy does in his part of his war with Heaven: lie about God, about anything associated with God, so most people in the world have no idea about this greatest of wars, and never even think to fight it. Even some professed believers in Christ do not bother with it. In all these cases, the enemy has already won or, is winning, anyway.
I'm tired of all wars. Seriously. I just want Christ to return and end the madness, the darkness, the wickedness encompassing the planet. He'll return. It will be a surprise to the vast majority of the human race who decided not to pay attention to what was told them in a final movement of God on Earth; such as the world has never seen.
The final battle in the war is coming.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
89. The Future? - August 6, 2020
What is coming? Near future? Distant future?
This is where someone's world view really comes into play.
I was asked by someone who wants to purchase tickets and attend the Keep It True festival next April, in Germany, what my gut feeling is about it. Wll it happen?
Looking at everything taking place, if it happens, I doubt a Legend performance will be happening.
Germany is having its own struggles which, all things considered, might not hamper the festival, per se but, time will tell. The other thing is, what will be happening in other nations where attendees and bands will be traveling in from? What will be happening in those nations next year that may effect travel plans?
You might not think Dr. Anthony Fauci has anything to do with the music industry and directly, that would be correct, as far as I know. What you may not know, and what I did not know until this morning, is that Fauci received money from Bill Gates to study vaccines and do research, ten years ago. He was put on the leadership council of that project, which is a branch of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Fauci basically works for Gates. And you wonder why HCQ is being denied Americans when it is working so well around the globe?
Like everybody says - Follow the money. Here's a link to the article which has plenty of links to sites making it all pretty plain:
https://www.thedailyfodder.com/2020/08/dr-fauci-received-money-from-one-man.html?utm_source=whatfinger
So, Dr. Anthony Fauci is a member of the Gates Foundation, basically through a side door. Investigation has already uncovered, months ago, that Gates is into funding vaccine companies, and has some ownership stuff with at least one of them. Gates has left no question to his desire that every person on the planet gets vaccinated. The amount of money he would stand to make if such a mandate could be locked down would make his profits from Microsoft seem like pocket change by comparison, and the same for Dr. Anthony Fauci, who also has investments in one these companies, in particular.
What does this have to do with the Keep It True festival?
If nations go rogue and mandate vanccinations, and nations decide who may come into their nation's, by virtue of vaccination proof, I would not be able to enter Germany next April. I will never take a vaccine. I have read too much, seen too much, and know people, personally, who had vaccination's for their children ruin their health. It is not difficult to prove all this, if you read what's out there. Research papers exist. Whistle blowers. I have previously mentioned Robert Kennedy Jr. and his work of investigations into vaccines. So, I will not receive a vaccine and probably will not be allowed into Germany if all this can be nailed down by these nefarious forces by 2021.
People who think this virus event is just some naturally occuring thing are so incredibly wrong you want to shake them. Wake UP! The virus was developed in an American lab, went to China - after an American moritorium was placed on the research of these dangerous, man-made entities - into a lab in Wuhan. How it got out is yet to be established. It did get out, and here we are; China knowingly allowing tens of thousands of people to leave Wuhan for parts known, including America.
Ten years ago the Rockefeller Foundation released a report/study on how to address a pandemic and it reads like watching CNN today. This is an event that has all the earmarks of being man-made and manipulated for a very distinct end goal - population control.
Don't even think to harass me with "conspiracy theory" attacks. Grow up. If that ever worked, it no longer does for those who care about truth. Just because it is out there, ad infinitem, does not mean it works anymore, at least to muzzle those who care about freedom and liberty, and America, or their own nations around the world looking into this. They are, too, because this event has effected the entire civilized world. Well, that was the plan. Infect, then come out with "the cure." Devils as angels. Hegelianism. Works all the time and has been used as a policy throughout history. Cause the problem, then come up with the solution. Makes a lot of money for those involved in such dark operations, which, in some cases, by design, can take decades, even centuries to pull off.
I am seeing news - California, Florida, London, Paris, other places, where mask shamers are getting into people's faces because, being healthy, they choose not to wear a mask (if they live in places where mandates are not applied, and in some cases, where they are). My wife came home from Walmart yesterday and said, "Never again," when she walked in the door. She wore a mask, and within minutes began to get a headache, and felt like she could not breath. She had to pull and tug on the mask to get a passage of fresh air to come in.
If someone comes up to me and says anything about putting a mask on, if they remain rational, which is dubious by the fact they are not minding their own business, I will educate them on the major STUPIDITY of healthy people wearing a mask. Maybe when they actually hear facts and truth they will relent. If not, I'll just go about my business. You can lead a horse to water. You cannot make it drink.
New York, and NYC, its governor and mayor, are destroying the place. The governor is actually begging the rich to return. They are moving out, logically. They are taking their money and tax revenue for the state and city with them. Common sense should tell all these governors and mayors, intent on, literally diabolical control, they are doing things to destroy their states and cities within them. Nope. If they get it, doesn't matter. The goal is to control information; keep people angry, frustrated, depressed, discouraged, confused, scared, especially scared, and make sure, as they look for people to blame, Donald Trump is first on the list. Unfortunately for them, Trump is steadily polling between 40-50% approval and as these dictators continue to mismanage their cities and states, those numbers are going to stay right where they are because, despite the FEAR factor: people, at least 40-50% of them, are not stupid. Thank God.
The immediate future of American cities does not look good. I suppose these old cities may pass away and new ones will develop and rise up. Nothing is written in stone that these cities have to remain viable. If their leaders cause collapse by their nonsense, and citizens allow it, so be it.
So, what does the immediate and distant future hold? Trouble. Unending trouble. That's what the Bible predicted millennia ago. That's my truth source and worldview foundation. Trouble is coming. It will become greater and greater. Then, through events yet to be perfectly understood, a time of "peace and safety" will be proclaimed. Then, the whole gig collapses. Then Christ returns.
Now, if you believe science has the answers to the world's troubles ... vaccines, more drugs; with who knows what in them, save for their creators and those in the need-to-know ranks. More diseases will come, more vaccinations, more toxic drugs, with drug companies needing to spend money for entire pages of info of warnings on them in magazines, and voice overs for commericals on tv trying to mask what these things can do to us, will plaster the media. More war. Bigger armies. Famine. More factory, man-made "food." Natural disasters. Man-made disasters science will have no answers for. Industry will go mostly robotic and AI. Humanity will become a problem. Depopulation programs put into effect. Gates, if he's still alive, and people like him so "concerned" about humanity, with ideas for population control that will be made to seem necessary and even merciful.
From there, well, just look at what Hollywood has been tossing up for decades about a dystopian future. Both television and films depicting a world, very dark, very grey, very bleak. The elite sectors of societies living in relative comfort, with exponentially expanding modernization at their fingertips, will be the norm. That is not fantasy. That is not imagination. That is the program coming, and humanity is being prepped for it. That is what I believe.
All things considered, the live music industry may just collapse altogether, as far as human participation. Even sports, the coloseums of the modern age, are falling into disarray because of societal stressors and politics. Both the NBA and MLB are tanking in ratings. Hey, if you want to support rioting and anti-Americanism, what did they expect when 40-50% of people supporting Trump are the majority of people into sports in this nation!
You cannot give common sense to people. It is something people have who were raised to use it when young. Trying to give it to adults ... not likely.
People defending themselves and their property are being arrested. Criminals are going free. It is absolute madness.
For all the people who put down Trump with such vitriol and hatefulness it consumes them, you would not want to be in his shoes right now, trying to put out fires in every direction, casused by haters of America. You could not come close to carrying the pressures that man is under. The same can be said for most presidents. America has been divided for decades and the worse it gets, the more difficult being POTUS becomes. One has to wonder about the future of the presidency. Will the Constitution be scrapped? When, is the more logical question. Will some kind of ruling council take control? Would I be surprised to see it? Nope.
At this point, nothing will surprise me that the future holds.
The only hope now, as always, is God; our Creator and Sovereign of this universe.
This is where someone's world view really comes into play.
I was asked by someone who wants to purchase tickets and attend the Keep It True festival next April, in Germany, what my gut feeling is about it. Wll it happen?
Looking at everything taking place, if it happens, I doubt a Legend performance will be happening.
Germany is having its own struggles which, all things considered, might not hamper the festival, per se but, time will tell. The other thing is, what will be happening in other nations where attendees and bands will be traveling in from? What will be happening in those nations next year that may effect travel plans?
You might not think Dr. Anthony Fauci has anything to do with the music industry and directly, that would be correct, as far as I know. What you may not know, and what I did not know until this morning, is that Fauci received money from Bill Gates to study vaccines and do research, ten years ago. He was put on the leadership council of that project, which is a branch of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Fauci basically works for Gates. And you wonder why HCQ is being denied Americans when it is working so well around the globe?
Like everybody says - Follow the money. Here's a link to the article which has plenty of links to sites making it all pretty plain:
https://www.thedailyfodder.com/2020/08/dr-fauci-received-money-from-one-man.html?utm_source=whatfinger
So, Dr. Anthony Fauci is a member of the Gates Foundation, basically through a side door. Investigation has already uncovered, months ago, that Gates is into funding vaccine companies, and has some ownership stuff with at least one of them. Gates has left no question to his desire that every person on the planet gets vaccinated. The amount of money he would stand to make if such a mandate could be locked down would make his profits from Microsoft seem like pocket change by comparison, and the same for Dr. Anthony Fauci, who also has investments in one these companies, in particular.
What does this have to do with the Keep It True festival?
If nations go rogue and mandate vanccinations, and nations decide who may come into their nation's, by virtue of vaccination proof, I would not be able to enter Germany next April. I will never take a vaccine. I have read too much, seen too much, and know people, personally, who had vaccination's for their children ruin their health. It is not difficult to prove all this, if you read what's out there. Research papers exist. Whistle blowers. I have previously mentioned Robert Kennedy Jr. and his work of investigations into vaccines. So, I will not receive a vaccine and probably will not be allowed into Germany if all this can be nailed down by these nefarious forces by 2021.
People who think this virus event is just some naturally occuring thing are so incredibly wrong you want to shake them. Wake UP! The virus was developed in an American lab, went to China - after an American moritorium was placed on the research of these dangerous, man-made entities - into a lab in Wuhan. How it got out is yet to be established. It did get out, and here we are; China knowingly allowing tens of thousands of people to leave Wuhan for parts known, including America.
Ten years ago the Rockefeller Foundation released a report/study on how to address a pandemic and it reads like watching CNN today. This is an event that has all the earmarks of being man-made and manipulated for a very distinct end goal - population control.
Don't even think to harass me with "conspiracy theory" attacks. Grow up. If that ever worked, it no longer does for those who care about truth. Just because it is out there, ad infinitem, does not mean it works anymore, at least to muzzle those who care about freedom and liberty, and America, or their own nations around the world looking into this. They are, too, because this event has effected the entire civilized world. Well, that was the plan. Infect, then come out with "the cure." Devils as angels. Hegelianism. Works all the time and has been used as a policy throughout history. Cause the problem, then come up with the solution. Makes a lot of money for those involved in such dark operations, which, in some cases, by design, can take decades, even centuries to pull off.
I am seeing news - California, Florida, London, Paris, other places, where mask shamers are getting into people's faces because, being healthy, they choose not to wear a mask (if they live in places where mandates are not applied, and in some cases, where they are). My wife came home from Walmart yesterday and said, "Never again," when she walked in the door. She wore a mask, and within minutes began to get a headache, and felt like she could not breath. She had to pull and tug on the mask to get a passage of fresh air to come in.
If someone comes up to me and says anything about putting a mask on, if they remain rational, which is dubious by the fact they are not minding their own business, I will educate them on the major STUPIDITY of healthy people wearing a mask. Maybe when they actually hear facts and truth they will relent. If not, I'll just go about my business. You can lead a horse to water. You cannot make it drink.
New York, and NYC, its governor and mayor, are destroying the place. The governor is actually begging the rich to return. They are moving out, logically. They are taking their money and tax revenue for the state and city with them. Common sense should tell all these governors and mayors, intent on, literally diabolical control, they are doing things to destroy their states and cities within them. Nope. If they get it, doesn't matter. The goal is to control information; keep people angry, frustrated, depressed, discouraged, confused, scared, especially scared, and make sure, as they look for people to blame, Donald Trump is first on the list. Unfortunately for them, Trump is steadily polling between 40-50% approval and as these dictators continue to mismanage their cities and states, those numbers are going to stay right where they are because, despite the FEAR factor: people, at least 40-50% of them, are not stupid. Thank God.
The immediate future of American cities does not look good. I suppose these old cities may pass away and new ones will develop and rise up. Nothing is written in stone that these cities have to remain viable. If their leaders cause collapse by their nonsense, and citizens allow it, so be it.
So, what does the immediate and distant future hold? Trouble. Unending trouble. That's what the Bible predicted millennia ago. That's my truth source and worldview foundation. Trouble is coming. It will become greater and greater. Then, through events yet to be perfectly understood, a time of "peace and safety" will be proclaimed. Then, the whole gig collapses. Then Christ returns.
Now, if you believe science has the answers to the world's troubles ... vaccines, more drugs; with who knows what in them, save for their creators and those in the need-to-know ranks. More diseases will come, more vaccinations, more toxic drugs, with drug companies needing to spend money for entire pages of info of warnings on them in magazines, and voice overs for commericals on tv trying to mask what these things can do to us, will plaster the media. More war. Bigger armies. Famine. More factory, man-made "food." Natural disasters. Man-made disasters science will have no answers for. Industry will go mostly robotic and AI. Humanity will become a problem. Depopulation programs put into effect. Gates, if he's still alive, and people like him so "concerned" about humanity, with ideas for population control that will be made to seem necessary and even merciful.
From there, well, just look at what Hollywood has been tossing up for decades about a dystopian future. Both television and films depicting a world, very dark, very grey, very bleak. The elite sectors of societies living in relative comfort, with exponentially expanding modernization at their fingertips, will be the norm. That is not fantasy. That is not imagination. That is the program coming, and humanity is being prepped for it. That is what I believe.
All things considered, the live music industry may just collapse altogether, as far as human participation. Even sports, the coloseums of the modern age, are falling into disarray because of societal stressors and politics. Both the NBA and MLB are tanking in ratings. Hey, if you want to support rioting and anti-Americanism, what did they expect when 40-50% of people supporting Trump are the majority of people into sports in this nation!
You cannot give common sense to people. It is something people have who were raised to use it when young. Trying to give it to adults ... not likely.
People defending themselves and their property are being arrested. Criminals are going free. It is absolute madness.
For all the people who put down Trump with such vitriol and hatefulness it consumes them, you would not want to be in his shoes right now, trying to put out fires in every direction, casused by haters of America. You could not come close to carrying the pressures that man is under. The same can be said for most presidents. America has been divided for decades and the worse it gets, the more difficult being POTUS becomes. One has to wonder about the future of the presidency. Will the Constitution be scrapped? When, is the more logical question. Will some kind of ruling council take control? Would I be surprised to see it? Nope.
At this point, nothing will surprise me that the future holds.
The only hope now, as always, is God; our Creator and Sovereign of this universe.
******************
90. Why I Believe in Creation - August 8, 2020
Why Do I Believe in Creation?
Surveys and polls change but, normally around fifty percent of Americans asked, say they believe the universe is created. I am in that group.
In looking into the matter of UFO's/UAP's I came upon a interview on the Joe Rogan YT channel; an interview with Dr. Steven Greer, someone into the whole UFO subject for many years; a Rogan program from back in 2013. At one point Rogan states that 51% of Americans believe the Earth was created within the last 10,000 years and does so in a way that obviousaly betrays a rolling of the eyes attitude to that belief. Dr. Greer, someone who believes he communicates with "ET" on a regular basis, echoed that attitude himself, when he stated Christians need to "Get over it;" that such a belief is obviously ridiculous because ET's have been here for millions of years and have all these advanced civilizations throughout the universe. Rogan later corrected his number to 46%.
I have already stated on this blog that I believe the universe is populated. I base that on the Bible, not science. I have no problem with civilizations better off than Earthlings. No doubt in my mind.
Obviously if around 50% of Americans believe everything is created by a Supreme Being, 50% do not. If I sat and rolled my eyes at the 50% who do not, Rogan would consider me a fool, twice around.
The Bible states, "The fool has said in His heart; there is no God." A man might not say it with his mouth but, he believes it internally. Today, fools trumpet it with abandon. There is no end to attacks on believers and their faith in the Bible, or any other religious source of information deemed higher than men, for that matter. No one who believes in a deity escapes the supposed higher reasoning of the more intelligent class among us. I only believe in ONE DEITY, the God of the Bible. That is my inteeligent choice, based on evidence.
Of course, many professed Christians, as well, do not believe the Genesis account of creation. They believe in something in between Naturalism and Materialism. They believe God used "evolution" to bring everything into being. That divides the 50% who do not believe in the Genesis account as it's written. Keep that in mind. That 50% are not unified in their disbelief of Genesis: believing everything came into being from a single event known as the Big Bang: No Supreme Being. No supernatural power; just material expanding from a single dot of matter. That is no more popular than what I believe. Either God did that and maintains it all or not but, the Genesis account cannot be taken as a historical statement from the only Witness who was there to see it at the time, and those called "the sons of God," and "the morning stars" who shouted and sang at the events during creation week. Of course, they are not a source of information. The Source just states they were there to see it all. The Source of the Creation is the only Witness to tell us what took place, what happened, and why, if we read His entire testimony to us: the Word of God. But, that "foot" must never be allowed "in the door" of science. Cannot have it. Such a belief is simply stupid.
Don't call me stupid just yet.
Well, you know the drill. Where did the dot of matter come from; etc., etc., etc. Science has no answer to those questions. They have formulas on blackboards.
Why do I believe in creation? I wasn't there. Nobody living now, was. All scientists look at the same "evidence." Everybody has the same stars, rocks, life: matter to look at. Everybody uses the same languages, and mathematics. Both sides have PhDs. It means nothing to say most are on the side of Materialism. Numeric consenus does not establish facts or truth.
Two very distinct paradigms and world views are at play. One says Deity did it. The other says, literally, nothing did it. Literally. Everything came from nothing. And you might roll your eyes at me? Really?
I have my biblical and observational reasons to explain why these two factions (and factions within them) find no lasting union. For me, though, I believe in creation for a few simple reasons.
1. The Bible states it as history, and is used throughout the Bible, from various writers and personages, as literal history; not fables, myths, allegorical stories, etc. It was a fact to those who wrote the books and letters of the Bible, and those who lived in those four thousand years of human history. God uses the information to establish His authority. The fourth commandment is based on a literal interpretation of the Genesis account.
2. That branch of science that runs as observational science: testing, repeating, observing, and going where the evidence leads to sound conclusions, based on that process, see that things are designed and so complex, the entire paradigm of everything we see coming from chance, is a number with so many zeros, it becomes a statistical impossibility. Matter, space, and time being the result of natural, material processes is not observable. Life from non-life is not observable. If all the scientists on planet Earth could be put in one building, with the finest equipment and materials known to man, they could not produce life from chemicals. That is under supremely optimal conditions, with intelligence working round the clock to pull it off. To say it all came into being by accident is just not a scientific conclusion. It is every bit as much a story as belief in the Genesis account is, and you must exercise faith to believe it. Time is the deity of Naturalism and its adherents. Materialism is a religion like any other, with a deity we cannot see, or talk to directly, and must be trusted to provide answers at some point in the future. Time has done everything, naturally. They cannot prove it with empirical science but, they believe it.
3. Having been an atheist, I now see it took me much more faith to believe in Materialism and Naturalism, and chance macro-evolution, than it does to believe a Supreme Being created everything. Common sense tells me that now. Why did it not tell me when I was an atheist? Because the Cause was never really considered.
I was raised Roman Catholic. Catholicism teaches the first 11 chapters of the Bible are not to be taken literally. It states the last book of the Bible cannot be taken for what it is: past, present, and future events that can be deciphered by matching it all to other information in the Bible, and human, history itself. So, at 13 years of age, picking up the family Bible and reading the opening chapters of Genesis and being laughingly startled; then going to the Apocalypse (Revelation) and reading the things in it; I could only feel immeasurably sorry for anyone who believed such fairy tales. What happened to change my thinking, at 24 years of age? Bible prophecy.
There are predictions made in prophecy, centuries, millennia before events took place, that are dramatic, to say the least. Prophecies concerning the march of nations, their kings, and the King of peace, Himself, Jesus Christ, that are more than astonishing. It caused me to trust the Bible, and believe it has an Author, who guided men to recount and foretell what God told them, through inspiration. These writers, from all backgrounds of life, education, and experience, wrote what they lived, what they saw, what they saw in visions and dreams, what they remembered from conversations, and events they beheld, and 66 separate pieces of literature were compiled over centuries to give us a book unlike any other in the history of literature.
The same Deity who predicted future events, tells us what took place in the beginning. I believe it. Common sense tells me to believe it. because God tells the end from the beginning. Drastic, dramatic changes to my life tell me to believe it because no amounts of chemical reactions in my brain could move me from atheism to Christianity. Such an idea is absurd. Believing in Materialism makes absolutely no sense. I had an experience one evening, at 24 years of age that was supernatural, regardless of chemicals. If you believe we are just a bag of chemicals, as I once did, your inability to address real life is so diminished; if I look at such a position pragmatically, you become almost useless to society. Let me explain.
If someone sends me a text that says, "Come quickly. I need your HELP now!," how a cell phone works is not an issue. Science creates ways to make a smart phone. Science cannot address what is in my heart, what I feel, what I sense, when a loved one calls for help. Science does not want to deal with feelings and morality because it flat out cannot deal with thoughts, feelings and morality. It has no basis to deal with it. It has no foundation to deal with it, to even address it, save to state it is not a realm of science, except for brain research. Brain research can only make observations of areas of the brain and chemical processes that cannot address deeper issues of human behavior, especially morality. Just the fact of memories remains illusive to science. Bags of chemicals do not have a basis for memories or morality. Bags of chemicals do not think or reason or make selfless choices. They do not make selfish choices, either. They just react under different environments. Right and wrong are not established by chemicals. Well, then, what good is science when it comes to explaining beginnings, origins, when scientists did not see it, cannot reproduce it in a lab, cannot then test it, repeat, and conclude? Who are they to tell me a hummingbird is a series of chance accidents? The fossil record is of no help to them. Quite the opposite.
Who is anyone to tell me tears, the system of tears, is a system born of mutations? If you know what tears are, and how they work, both as physical lubrication machinery for the eyes, and a release valve of pressure, from both positive and negative experiences humans have; you want me to be an imbocile to believe that system is a development of accidents? Seriously? I mean, seriously!?
If you ask me, from my point of view, scientists who reject the Genesis account have no authority to tell me anything, as far as what I should do and believe about anything, including origins.
Anybody who knows what DNA is and what it does, and how it does it, and tells me such a radically complex information system can arise through chance, is being ridiculously off the wall. What information has mankind ever been exposed to that does not have an informant? Information comes from intelligence. Books do not write themselves. A restaurant menu does not write itself. Instructions for playing games do not write themselves. You want me to believe DNA developed by chance? A system of information so complex it reads itself forwards, backwards, reversed, flipped, having billions of possible instructional characters, and it is all a matter of chance? Why would I believe such nonsense? Seriously. That is a paramount of nonsensical thinking. Where is the reasoning to such a position?
The complexity of everything, EVERYTHING, screams a Designer, a Creator, an Overseer of such power and intelligence it is beyond human comprehension. The magnitude of what we can see, tells us there is a Creator we cannot see. To not believe in such a Being is an utter lack of common sense, based on the evidence.
Nobody could ever believe the laptop I am typing on could possibly come into being by a series of accidents but, most scientists want me to believe the complexities of all in existence came into being by accidents: things so complex they make a laptop computer seem like a child's crayon drawing. And even that. If I was walking along and saw a crayon on the ground, I would immediately believe it was a product of design, made by something, someone. A crayon! You want me to believe the complexity of the first cell, like a living microscopic city, came into being by accident? Why should I believe such a story? I have not the faith to believe such a thing.
I believe the Bible's account of creation. It makes so much more sense in explaining everything, than a mathematician's formula that says everything could come from nothing. Everything from nothing: No thing.
That is the big issue in science right now: observational science versus mathematical equations. That is not proof of anything, when observation is your bottom line, and that is what science used to be - observation. That has been changing.
I care not for formulas of numbers to explain how things got here. Those are ideas, not reality. To tell me I am in some less than intelligent class of people to believe God created our galaxy, our solar system, and all living things in it in six literal days makes eminently less sense than numbers on a blackboard, is radically foolish. When PhD's in all branches of science, also believe observational science backs the Genesis creation account, I'm in fine company. I've been watching their presentations for over ten years now, reading their scientific investigations and research, and the evidence mounts year by year as real science. Observational science truly speaks.
If you want to believe the numbers on the blackboard, and that everything came from nothing, you go right ahead. For me, creation meets the demand for seeing, sensing, observing and predicting what is and what will come, in a world running down like an old car, rusting away out in the woods.
No, I obviously do not have all the answers. I have enough to get me by until the day arrives when I will be given all the answers. That day cannot come soon enough for me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Surveys and polls change but, normally around fifty percent of Americans asked, say they believe the universe is created. I am in that group.
In looking into the matter of UFO's/UAP's I came upon a interview on the Joe Rogan YT channel; an interview with Dr. Steven Greer, someone into the whole UFO subject for many years; a Rogan program from back in 2013. At one point Rogan states that 51% of Americans believe the Earth was created within the last 10,000 years and does so in a way that obviousaly betrays a rolling of the eyes attitude to that belief. Dr. Greer, someone who believes he communicates with "ET" on a regular basis, echoed that attitude himself, when he stated Christians need to "Get over it;" that such a belief is obviously ridiculous because ET's have been here for millions of years and have all these advanced civilizations throughout the universe. Rogan later corrected his number to 46%.
I have already stated on this blog that I believe the universe is populated. I base that on the Bible, not science. I have no problem with civilizations better off than Earthlings. No doubt in my mind.
Obviously if around 50% of Americans believe everything is created by a Supreme Being, 50% do not. If I sat and rolled my eyes at the 50% who do not, Rogan would consider me a fool, twice around.
The Bible states, "The fool has said in His heart; there is no God." A man might not say it with his mouth but, he believes it internally. Today, fools trumpet it with abandon. There is no end to attacks on believers and their faith in the Bible, or any other religious source of information deemed higher than men, for that matter. No one who believes in a deity escapes the supposed higher reasoning of the more intelligent class among us. I only believe in ONE DEITY, the God of the Bible. That is my inteeligent choice, based on evidence.
Of course, many professed Christians, as well, do not believe the Genesis account of creation. They believe in something in between Naturalism and Materialism. They believe God used "evolution" to bring everything into being. That divides the 50% who do not believe in the Genesis account as it's written. Keep that in mind. That 50% are not unified in their disbelief of Genesis: believing everything came into being from a single event known as the Big Bang: No Supreme Being. No supernatural power; just material expanding from a single dot of matter. That is no more popular than what I believe. Either God did that and maintains it all or not but, the Genesis account cannot be taken as a historical statement from the only Witness who was there to see it at the time, and those called "the sons of God," and "the morning stars" who shouted and sang at the events during creation week. Of course, they are not a source of information. The Source just states they were there to see it all. The Source of the Creation is the only Witness to tell us what took place, what happened, and why, if we read His entire testimony to us: the Word of God. But, that "foot" must never be allowed "in the door" of science. Cannot have it. Such a belief is simply stupid.
Don't call me stupid just yet.
Well, you know the drill. Where did the dot of matter come from; etc., etc., etc. Science has no answer to those questions. They have formulas on blackboards.
Why do I believe in creation? I wasn't there. Nobody living now, was. All scientists look at the same "evidence." Everybody has the same stars, rocks, life: matter to look at. Everybody uses the same languages, and mathematics. Both sides have PhDs. It means nothing to say most are on the side of Materialism. Numeric consenus does not establish facts or truth.
Two very distinct paradigms and world views are at play. One says Deity did it. The other says, literally, nothing did it. Literally. Everything came from nothing. And you might roll your eyes at me? Really?
I have my biblical and observational reasons to explain why these two factions (and factions within them) find no lasting union. For me, though, I believe in creation for a few simple reasons.
1. The Bible states it as history, and is used throughout the Bible, from various writers and personages, as literal history; not fables, myths, allegorical stories, etc. It was a fact to those who wrote the books and letters of the Bible, and those who lived in those four thousand years of human history. God uses the information to establish His authority. The fourth commandment is based on a literal interpretation of the Genesis account.
2. That branch of science that runs as observational science: testing, repeating, observing, and going where the evidence leads to sound conclusions, based on that process, see that things are designed and so complex, the entire paradigm of everything we see coming from chance, is a number with so many zeros, it becomes a statistical impossibility. Matter, space, and time being the result of natural, material processes is not observable. Life from non-life is not observable. If all the scientists on planet Earth could be put in one building, with the finest equipment and materials known to man, they could not produce life from chemicals. That is under supremely optimal conditions, with intelligence working round the clock to pull it off. To say it all came into being by accident is just not a scientific conclusion. It is every bit as much a story as belief in the Genesis account is, and you must exercise faith to believe it. Time is the deity of Naturalism and its adherents. Materialism is a religion like any other, with a deity we cannot see, or talk to directly, and must be trusted to provide answers at some point in the future. Time has done everything, naturally. They cannot prove it with empirical science but, they believe it.
3. Having been an atheist, I now see it took me much more faith to believe in Materialism and Naturalism, and chance macro-evolution, than it does to believe a Supreme Being created everything. Common sense tells me that now. Why did it not tell me when I was an atheist? Because the Cause was never really considered.
I was raised Roman Catholic. Catholicism teaches the first 11 chapters of the Bible are not to be taken literally. It states the last book of the Bible cannot be taken for what it is: past, present, and future events that can be deciphered by matching it all to other information in the Bible, and human, history itself. So, at 13 years of age, picking up the family Bible and reading the opening chapters of Genesis and being laughingly startled; then going to the Apocalypse (Revelation) and reading the things in it; I could only feel immeasurably sorry for anyone who believed such fairy tales. What happened to change my thinking, at 24 years of age? Bible prophecy.
There are predictions made in prophecy, centuries, millennia before events took place, that are dramatic, to say the least. Prophecies concerning the march of nations, their kings, and the King of peace, Himself, Jesus Christ, that are more than astonishing. It caused me to trust the Bible, and believe it has an Author, who guided men to recount and foretell what God told them, through inspiration. These writers, from all backgrounds of life, education, and experience, wrote what they lived, what they saw, what they saw in visions and dreams, what they remembered from conversations, and events they beheld, and 66 separate pieces of literature were compiled over centuries to give us a book unlike any other in the history of literature.
The same Deity who predicted future events, tells us what took place in the beginning. I believe it. Common sense tells me to believe it. because God tells the end from the beginning. Drastic, dramatic changes to my life tell me to believe it because no amounts of chemical reactions in my brain could move me from atheism to Christianity. Such an idea is absurd. Believing in Materialism makes absolutely no sense. I had an experience one evening, at 24 years of age that was supernatural, regardless of chemicals. If you believe we are just a bag of chemicals, as I once did, your inability to address real life is so diminished; if I look at such a position pragmatically, you become almost useless to society. Let me explain.
If someone sends me a text that says, "Come quickly. I need your HELP now!," how a cell phone works is not an issue. Science creates ways to make a smart phone. Science cannot address what is in my heart, what I feel, what I sense, when a loved one calls for help. Science does not want to deal with feelings and morality because it flat out cannot deal with thoughts, feelings and morality. It has no basis to deal with it. It has no foundation to deal with it, to even address it, save to state it is not a realm of science, except for brain research. Brain research can only make observations of areas of the brain and chemical processes that cannot address deeper issues of human behavior, especially morality. Just the fact of memories remains illusive to science. Bags of chemicals do not have a basis for memories or morality. Bags of chemicals do not think or reason or make selfless choices. They do not make selfish choices, either. They just react under different environments. Right and wrong are not established by chemicals. Well, then, what good is science when it comes to explaining beginnings, origins, when scientists did not see it, cannot reproduce it in a lab, cannot then test it, repeat, and conclude? Who are they to tell me a hummingbird is a series of chance accidents? The fossil record is of no help to them. Quite the opposite.
Who is anyone to tell me tears, the system of tears, is a system born of mutations? If you know what tears are, and how they work, both as physical lubrication machinery for the eyes, and a release valve of pressure, from both positive and negative experiences humans have; you want me to be an imbocile to believe that system is a development of accidents? Seriously? I mean, seriously!?
If you ask me, from my point of view, scientists who reject the Genesis account have no authority to tell me anything, as far as what I should do and believe about anything, including origins.
Anybody who knows what DNA is and what it does, and how it does it, and tells me such a radically complex information system can arise through chance, is being ridiculously off the wall. What information has mankind ever been exposed to that does not have an informant? Information comes from intelligence. Books do not write themselves. A restaurant menu does not write itself. Instructions for playing games do not write themselves. You want me to believe DNA developed by chance? A system of information so complex it reads itself forwards, backwards, reversed, flipped, having billions of possible instructional characters, and it is all a matter of chance? Why would I believe such nonsense? Seriously. That is a paramount of nonsensical thinking. Where is the reasoning to such a position?
The complexity of everything, EVERYTHING, screams a Designer, a Creator, an Overseer of such power and intelligence it is beyond human comprehension. The magnitude of what we can see, tells us there is a Creator we cannot see. To not believe in such a Being is an utter lack of common sense, based on the evidence.
Nobody could ever believe the laptop I am typing on could possibly come into being by a series of accidents but, most scientists want me to believe the complexities of all in existence came into being by accidents: things so complex they make a laptop computer seem like a child's crayon drawing. And even that. If I was walking along and saw a crayon on the ground, I would immediately believe it was a product of design, made by something, someone. A crayon! You want me to believe the complexity of the first cell, like a living microscopic city, came into being by accident? Why should I believe such a story? I have not the faith to believe such a thing.
I believe the Bible's account of creation. It makes so much more sense in explaining everything, than a mathematician's formula that says everything could come from nothing. Everything from nothing: No thing.
That is the big issue in science right now: observational science versus mathematical equations. That is not proof of anything, when observation is your bottom line, and that is what science used to be - observation. That has been changing.
I care not for formulas of numbers to explain how things got here. Those are ideas, not reality. To tell me I am in some less than intelligent class of people to believe God created our galaxy, our solar system, and all living things in it in six literal days makes eminently less sense than numbers on a blackboard, is radically foolish. When PhD's in all branches of science, also believe observational science backs the Genesis creation account, I'm in fine company. I've been watching their presentations for over ten years now, reading their scientific investigations and research, and the evidence mounts year by year as real science. Observational science truly speaks.
If you want to believe the numbers on the blackboard, and that everything came from nothing, you go right ahead. For me, creation meets the demand for seeing, sensing, observing and predicting what is and what will come, in a world running down like an old car, rusting away out in the woods.
No, I obviously do not have all the answers. I have enough to get me by until the day arrives when I will be given all the answers. That day cannot come soon enough for me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
91. Live Music Only When A Vaccine Arrives? - August 10, 2020
I'm looking at articles addressing the return of live music. Live music accounts for 50% of the total revenue professional musicians make. I actually thought it was more than that these days. Either way, right now, it accounts for zero percent of what professional musicians and those involved with it, make.
Because of everything that goes into live shows, on stage, and back stage, and the impossibility of "social-distancing," which is no longer social distancing but, mandated distancing, forced distancing, with no scientific evidence to back it up, putting on live shows cannot be allowed. You have no choice in the matter. Well, you'd have the choice not to attend a live show. You have no choice to attend one. Nobody is being given the choice to put any on.
The thing I found most disturbing is the FEAR involved. Bands stating, even if the choice was their's, they would not perform, for fear of getting the virus, or putting others at risk. Fans would not attend for the same reasons. The FEAR factor, regardless of all the facts and data about what this virus is and does, and who it does it to, remains, somehow, elusively in corners. That tells me right off the bat the music industry is made up of mostly Liberals and Progressives and those who only get their news and information from CNN and other fear mongering outlets. That is incredibly sad. Predictable but, sad.
It does not seem to matter to people in the music industry to ask themselves common sense questions. One person interviewed mentioned how people are afraid if they see people without masks! Afraid! Literally fearing for their health, if not their very lives, if they see people not wearing a mask??? That is not just hysteria. Hysteria was emptying the shelves of toilet paper months ago. This is now deep-seated mental numbness setting in. That's what FEAR does. It wears people down. Common sense just fades away.
There are 7.5 BILLION people on the planet. Thus far, 732,000 deaths. Even if that number was accurate (which it is most assuredly not, being inflated by corruption of data collection), your chances of dying from complications of this virus remain so low, your chances of dying from almost anything else people die from, are through the roof higher! Every year TENS of MILLIONS of people die. In 2015, 57 million people died. That is 156,164 people a DAY. Nobody blinks an eye, save for those who lost loved ones.
We are now 5 months into this "pandemic" and so far, out of 7.5 billion people, we are at 4800 people a day dying, again, going by "official" numbers, which we know cannot be trusted. The majority of those are people above 55 years of age and/or people with compromised immune systems. It seems like, no matter how much that fact is put out there it is like BB's off a battleship.
I fear for the death of humanity's intellectual capacity far more than anything this pandemic can do.
For people NOT to rise up and asert their personal freedom and liberty over this situation, is so destructive: people waiting and hoping for a vaccine they do not need, and time will show, should not have, is a darkness that is truly mind-blowing.
It is astounding to me. The history of Rock music is about rebellion to authority. That is the bones the meat of the music industry was placed on in the 50's and 60's. Rebellion against parents, government, societal norms, whatever, there it was. That penchant for freedom from authority and to do your own thing never left the basis of music for the second half of the 20th century. Even a genre like Country music got bawdy and boistrous and broke away from its moorings and went Rock, full tilt. How did this virus manage to turn an entire industry and its fans into frightened rabbits, cowering in corners? How did this happen? How could it happen? Any other facet of society maybe but, the music industry and its fan base: young people, being the most scared? This is flat out weird. I can see a bunch of aged Rockers being concerned. I doubt many have very strong immune systems after all the garbage most put into their blood streams all their lives. That does not account for the young, though.
People are afraid of this virus. People are afraid of Antifa and BLM coming into their neighborhoods. FEAR is everywhere. It does not seem to dawn on people something is very wrong. None of this is natural.
Have you seen the videos of the Beirut explosion? It is jaw dropping. Are the people afraid? No, the shock wore off pretty quickly and hundreds of thousands are now in the streets protesting against a government so foolish they allowed fireworks to be stored with ammonium nitrate for years. You can see the fireworks shooting off before the explosion. What morons were responsible for that? One hundred and thirty dead, over 4000 injured.
Here, in America, MILLIONS of lives are being destroyed by shutdowns, literally millions, as untold numbers of women and children are being abused in skyrocketing numbers, crime skyrocketing, businesses closing, never to return, and those in charge just say, you must do this, and offer no other facts to back up their pronouncements but, FEAR, and savage abuse of authority. And the majority of Americans continue to buy this snake oil. How is this possible?
I can only shake my head.
I am glad to see some churches and ministries are finally standing up. One church said, Hey, if we can't meet in our house of worship, let's meet in Walmart! Have you seen the video? Very cool. Another decided to meet in a casino!
Would that all believers stand up against Caesar and say, No more. Enough. Would that all Americans did that. If they do not ...
Live music, and everything that works in and around it, may not return for who knows how long.
Because of everything that goes into live shows, on stage, and back stage, and the impossibility of "social-distancing," which is no longer social distancing but, mandated distancing, forced distancing, with no scientific evidence to back it up, putting on live shows cannot be allowed. You have no choice in the matter. Well, you'd have the choice not to attend a live show. You have no choice to attend one. Nobody is being given the choice to put any on.
The thing I found most disturbing is the FEAR involved. Bands stating, even if the choice was their's, they would not perform, for fear of getting the virus, or putting others at risk. Fans would not attend for the same reasons. The FEAR factor, regardless of all the facts and data about what this virus is and does, and who it does it to, remains, somehow, elusively in corners. That tells me right off the bat the music industry is made up of mostly Liberals and Progressives and those who only get their news and information from CNN and other fear mongering outlets. That is incredibly sad. Predictable but, sad.
It does not seem to matter to people in the music industry to ask themselves common sense questions. One person interviewed mentioned how people are afraid if they see people without masks! Afraid! Literally fearing for their health, if not their very lives, if they see people not wearing a mask??? That is not just hysteria. Hysteria was emptying the shelves of toilet paper months ago. This is now deep-seated mental numbness setting in. That's what FEAR does. It wears people down. Common sense just fades away.
There are 7.5 BILLION people on the planet. Thus far, 732,000 deaths. Even if that number was accurate (which it is most assuredly not, being inflated by corruption of data collection), your chances of dying from complications of this virus remain so low, your chances of dying from almost anything else people die from, are through the roof higher! Every year TENS of MILLIONS of people die. In 2015, 57 million people died. That is 156,164 people a DAY. Nobody blinks an eye, save for those who lost loved ones.
We are now 5 months into this "pandemic" and so far, out of 7.5 billion people, we are at 4800 people a day dying, again, going by "official" numbers, which we know cannot be trusted. The majority of those are people above 55 years of age and/or people with compromised immune systems. It seems like, no matter how much that fact is put out there it is like BB's off a battleship.
I fear for the death of humanity's intellectual capacity far more than anything this pandemic can do.
For people NOT to rise up and asert their personal freedom and liberty over this situation, is so destructive: people waiting and hoping for a vaccine they do not need, and time will show, should not have, is a darkness that is truly mind-blowing.
It is astounding to me. The history of Rock music is about rebellion to authority. That is the bones the meat of the music industry was placed on in the 50's and 60's. Rebellion against parents, government, societal norms, whatever, there it was. That penchant for freedom from authority and to do your own thing never left the basis of music for the second half of the 20th century. Even a genre like Country music got bawdy and boistrous and broke away from its moorings and went Rock, full tilt. How did this virus manage to turn an entire industry and its fans into frightened rabbits, cowering in corners? How did this happen? How could it happen? Any other facet of society maybe but, the music industry and its fan base: young people, being the most scared? This is flat out weird. I can see a bunch of aged Rockers being concerned. I doubt many have very strong immune systems after all the garbage most put into their blood streams all their lives. That does not account for the young, though.
People are afraid of this virus. People are afraid of Antifa and BLM coming into their neighborhoods. FEAR is everywhere. It does not seem to dawn on people something is very wrong. None of this is natural.
Have you seen the videos of the Beirut explosion? It is jaw dropping. Are the people afraid? No, the shock wore off pretty quickly and hundreds of thousands are now in the streets protesting against a government so foolish they allowed fireworks to be stored with ammonium nitrate for years. You can see the fireworks shooting off before the explosion. What morons were responsible for that? One hundred and thirty dead, over 4000 injured.
Here, in America, MILLIONS of lives are being destroyed by shutdowns, literally millions, as untold numbers of women and children are being abused in skyrocketing numbers, crime skyrocketing, businesses closing, never to return, and those in charge just say, you must do this, and offer no other facts to back up their pronouncements but, FEAR, and savage abuse of authority. And the majority of Americans continue to buy this snake oil. How is this possible?
I can only shake my head.
I am glad to see some churches and ministries are finally standing up. One church said, Hey, if we can't meet in our house of worship, let's meet in Walmart! Have you seen the video? Very cool. Another decided to meet in a casino!
Would that all believers stand up against Caesar and say, No more. Enough. Would that all Americans did that. If they do not ...
Live music, and everything that works in and around it, may not return for who knows how long.
******************
92. What Race Was Christ? - August 10, 2020
So. I just came upon an article quoting a comedian, John Fugelsang, about who killed Christ.
I have no idea who Mr. Fugelsang is. I do have an idea he is incredibly wrong in the comment he made, which is this:
‘The Only White People In The Bible Are The Ones Who Executed Jesus’https://www.dailywire.com/news/john-fugelsang-the-only-white-people-in-the-bible-are-the-ones-who-executed-jesus
That statement is pretty loaded. It's also quite wrong. Most people with a small amount of knowledge about the Gospels know the Romans crucified Christ. Italians would be considered Caucasians by the social engineering standards of "experts," in the field of genetics? No, no. Anthropology. The term anthropology means - the study of mankind. Geneticists know there are no, significant differences between humans. There us ONE RACE: the human race.
So, once again, I state that because that is what I believe. God made the parents of the human race and everything has come down through time from them. If you want to believe you are the descendant of some ape-like creature, descended from something before it, descended from some chemicals in some hot ooze some-odd billions of years ago, that is your choice. I do not know what Mr. Fugelsang believes about that but, I do know races are not mentioned in the Bible. Ethnic groups are. Cultural groups. Geographic groups certainly are. Races based on skin pigmentation and cosmetic features? No.
First, I am sure you are aware that Italians can have very different amounts of melanine in their skin. So, the idea they are all "white," or were all "white" in ancient Rome is kind of silly, really. Plenty of Jews are lighter skinned than Italians can be.
Second, the book of Luke and Acts, were written by a Greek disciple. Luke would be considered, "white."
Third, so many Gentiles are mentioned in the Bible, from all over Europe, as well as the Middle-East, who would be considered Caucasians by anthropologists, places Mr. Fugelsang's comment in the trash, as worthless nonsense.
Here's another point. The Bible states, more than once, the Jews were responsible for having Christ put to death. The leaders and people cried out to Crucify Him. They said, Let His blood be on our heads, and We have no king but, Caesar. The Romans carried out a request of the Jewish people who chose Barabbas to go free, a common criminal, insurrectionist, and revolutionist, rather than their Messiah. Of course, they rejected Jesus as their Christ so, that point is moot but, to the issue of who killed Christ, it is quite important.
I can add to that a couple powerful statements from the apostle Peter:
Act 3:12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
Act 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
Act 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
Act 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Act 3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Act 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
Act 4:9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
Act 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
I imagine Mr. Fugelsang is ignorant of these facts. Now, I do not place these here to have a Bible study, per se. I place this here because ignorant people make ignorant statements and ignorant people believe those statements and ignorance becomes a perpetuating revolving door because people will not take the time to actually read things for themselves. Those who trust Mr. Fugelsang's knowledge of biblical history (or will just use his statement to push their own agenda), and his obvious virtue signaling against "White privilege," do a lot of damage, not only to correct theology but, society, in general.
"Ignorance" has an etymology linking it to "ignore." Same Latin background. That is the problem, and is always the problem when erroneous information, disinformation, or misinformation are disseminated. People just throw things out there, casting, spreading their seeds of chaos and disaffection, and not only make fools of themselves but, make fools of others who ignore truth. Doesn't matter the subject. Throw Covid-19 in here. Throw whatever you want in here. It's all the same thing. Lies can only work when people are iognorant of the truth. People are ignorant of the truth because they ignore things readily available to educate them to what the truth is.
I am certain Mr. Fugelsang will receive a large backlash from people who do know the truth of the matter. Unfortunately, most of those people do not have the platform and influence he apparently has. That's a shame.
I fully realize there are depictions of Christ that make him very Caucasian looking. I have also seen depictions making Christ out to be very dark. Neither are correct. Nobody knows what amount of melanine Christ had in His skin. It is unlikely he would look any different than any Jew living today. Historically, Judaism has a long history of interpopulation with surrounding nations. Semites, Europeans. Frankly, it is all moot to me. I do not worship Christ because of his melanine content, whatever it was. I worship Him because He is the Creator and Saviour of the world. His character and life, are what is important. Not any anthrolpological classification.
The fact is, my sins made it necessary for Christ to die in my place. My sins killed Christ, as did yours. That is far more important to the discussion than Jews and Romans.
America is not better off thinking or believing "ignorance is bliss." Ignorance is destroying America. Shall it throughly succeed? I hope not.
I have no idea who Mr. Fugelsang is. I do have an idea he is incredibly wrong in the comment he made, which is this:
‘The Only White People In The Bible Are The Ones Who Executed Jesus’https://www.dailywire.com/news/john-fugelsang-the-only-white-people-in-the-bible-are-the-ones-who-executed-jesus
That statement is pretty loaded. It's also quite wrong. Most people with a small amount of knowledge about the Gospels know the Romans crucified Christ. Italians would be considered Caucasians by the social engineering standards of "experts," in the field of genetics? No, no. Anthropology. The term anthropology means - the study of mankind. Geneticists know there are no, significant differences between humans. There us ONE RACE: the human race.
So, once again, I state that because that is what I believe. God made the parents of the human race and everything has come down through time from them. If you want to believe you are the descendant of some ape-like creature, descended from something before it, descended from some chemicals in some hot ooze some-odd billions of years ago, that is your choice. I do not know what Mr. Fugelsang believes about that but, I do know races are not mentioned in the Bible. Ethnic groups are. Cultural groups. Geographic groups certainly are. Races based on skin pigmentation and cosmetic features? No.
First, I am sure you are aware that Italians can have very different amounts of melanine in their skin. So, the idea they are all "white," or were all "white" in ancient Rome is kind of silly, really. Plenty of Jews are lighter skinned than Italians can be.
Second, the book of Luke and Acts, were written by a Greek disciple. Luke would be considered, "white."
Third, so many Gentiles are mentioned in the Bible, from all over Europe, as well as the Middle-East, who would be considered Caucasians by anthropologists, places Mr. Fugelsang's comment in the trash, as worthless nonsense.
Here's another point. The Bible states, more than once, the Jews were responsible for having Christ put to death. The leaders and people cried out to Crucify Him. They said, Let His blood be on our heads, and We have no king but, Caesar. The Romans carried out a request of the Jewish people who chose Barabbas to go free, a common criminal, insurrectionist, and revolutionist, rather than their Messiah. Of course, they rejected Jesus as their Christ so, that point is moot but, to the issue of who killed Christ, it is quite important.
I can add to that a couple powerful statements from the apostle Peter:
Act 3:12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
Act 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
Act 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
Act 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Act 3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Act 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
Act 4:9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
Act 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
I imagine Mr. Fugelsang is ignorant of these facts. Now, I do not place these here to have a Bible study, per se. I place this here because ignorant people make ignorant statements and ignorant people believe those statements and ignorance becomes a perpetuating revolving door because people will not take the time to actually read things for themselves. Those who trust Mr. Fugelsang's knowledge of biblical history (or will just use his statement to push their own agenda), and his obvious virtue signaling against "White privilege," do a lot of damage, not only to correct theology but, society, in general.
"Ignorance" has an etymology linking it to "ignore." Same Latin background. That is the problem, and is always the problem when erroneous information, disinformation, or misinformation are disseminated. People just throw things out there, casting, spreading their seeds of chaos and disaffection, and not only make fools of themselves but, make fools of others who ignore truth. Doesn't matter the subject. Throw Covid-19 in here. Throw whatever you want in here. It's all the same thing. Lies can only work when people are iognorant of the truth. People are ignorant of the truth because they ignore things readily available to educate them to what the truth is.
I am certain Mr. Fugelsang will receive a large backlash from people who do know the truth of the matter. Unfortunately, most of those people do not have the platform and influence he apparently has. That's a shame.
I fully realize there are depictions of Christ that make him very Caucasian looking. I have also seen depictions making Christ out to be very dark. Neither are correct. Nobody knows what amount of melanine Christ had in His skin. It is unlikely he would look any different than any Jew living today. Historically, Judaism has a long history of interpopulation with surrounding nations. Semites, Europeans. Frankly, it is all moot to me. I do not worship Christ because of his melanine content, whatever it was. I worship Him because He is the Creator and Saviour of the world. His character and life, are what is important. Not any anthrolpological classification.
The fact is, my sins made it necessary for Christ to die in my place. My sins killed Christ, as did yours. That is far more important to the discussion than Jews and Romans.
America is not better off thinking or believing "ignorance is bliss." Ignorance is destroying America. Shall it throughly succeed? I hope not.
******************
93. Who Really Runs America? - August 16, 2020
You should ask yourself that question. You probably have. I have. It isn't Trump. It isn't Congress. It isn't governors and mayors and state legislatures. That is obvious. Something far more nefarious runs it all.
At this point is seems Anthony Fauci is running America, along with the CDC, and the WHO. I cannot tell you how sick I am of Covid-19 and the needless tens of thousands of deaths because of the way this situation has been handled. The only thing that keeps the players in control out of jail is whoever runs the USA and their being used to bring America down.
China owns so much of America, and the nation has such a huge debt with China, maybe they are in control. I mean, even the NBA bows to China. The Chinese Communist Party is a thoroughly disgusting regime that imprisons or kills anyone in its way, anyone who says anything against it, anyone who wants to be free. How on Earth did America become so indebted to such a despotic group of tyrants?
Anyway, China owns a lot of the U.S. but, doesn't really run the place, regardless of influence it has in D.C. and control of supply and demand of goods they send over here.
No, apparently the cabal that runs America is a group of independent contractors: businesses and corporations that are run by people deeper than deep state; who control the entire flow of information; control the military industrial complex; have access to every piece of information sent by emails, texts and phone calls: all of technology that the world now functions in. It is housed in massive buildings with more servers, wall to wall, than anything on the planet. Some, overseas, in Europe. People bought and paid for. People who tell elected civil servants what they can and cannot do because every single possible piece of information about every single elected civil servant is on their servers and it all hangs over each and every one, who lives can be destroyed at the click of a mouse.
The video link to it explains it all. Quite a production. The woman responsible for it was arrested yesterday. Surprise, surprise. Her name is Millie Weaver. I had never heard of her. She's an investigative reporter at InfoWars. Big support base on Youtube. I'm not a big fan of Alex Jones. I can appreciate some things he has exposed over the years. That said, on the face of it, it already appears Ms. Weaver has been arrested, by a SWAT team, no less, on what are certainly bogus charges. Apparently her husband was arrested, as well. It's all over independent news media. She obviously ticked somebody off. Welcome to Amerika.
The video has over a million views in just the last couple days. I'd expect it to be taken down soon. I'm surprised it hasn't been already. That means it will be on one of the other video sites that actually believes in freedom of speech, the press, and information.
Every American should see it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HFxVvrXjCg&feature=youtu.be
There comes a point where drums, music, entertainment, all of it becomes meaningless if America loses what America is; a land where "we, the people," have control of our own lives and property. That is fading so fast it is alarming, it is outrageous, it is criminal, and it may win if Americans do not stand up against it.
UPDATE - This is an apparently fast moving story. Last I have read, Millie Weaver and her husband were basically abducted, not arrested, and she is being held for questioning. In America!!!
Her documentary, ShadowGate, about who really controls America; by the use of various contractors who control the flow of information, etc., was going to be sent out free. Rumors began flying that her "arrest" was just a fake promo for her video. No. She's in custody. People have already called the police dept in Ohio where she was originally taken. All the details are not yet known and frankly, they can only get worse and become immaterial when a husband and wife can just be hauled out of their home like this, no charges given.
She is known as "Millennial Millie" on Youtube. Watching the documentary, it's quite eye-opening. Watching the two minute video she did with her phone, of her arrest, does not show SWAT showing up. Just seems like a couple cops. Officers talking about a grand jury indictment? No papers shown to her. Being arrested for burglary? No cuffs? Just told to get in a car? Was she arrested or not? As haphazard a moment as you can picture.
Something seems so far out of whack, it's ridiculous.
Amerika - 1984.
UPDATE - Nobody is surprised both Facebook and YT have taken down the documentary. It can still be found at Bitchute and Brighteon. The supposed "official charges" against Weaver are - robbery, tampering with evidence, obstruction justice, and domestic violence. I can't wait to hear the details constructed for this gig.
One thing you will notice. While the documentary was taken down, DOZENS of videos have appeared from Youtubers, looking into her arrest. She is apparently a lot more well-known than I realized.
I'm not on Facebook. I got off many years ago after reading things about the company and its ties to government agencies. If I could find a way to transfer all my videos off YT and onto another platform, I would. YT has never caused me any problems, nor would they; given my posts are just about drums and drumming. For me, though, it is the principle involved: free speech. Only an enemy of the United States Constitution would use such censorship and have such heavy-handed, arbitrary policies. Facebook, Twitter, Youtube ... so unAmerican they may as well be run by the Chinese Communist Party. They are not run by people who are Democrats. The Democrat Party, far as I know, has never rescinded stated positions in their party platform that allow for censorship. Just because they support the Democrat Party does not make them Democrats. Their actions of censorship are not democratic. They are totalitarian. But, even though I am far from being a political junkie, I have enough intertest to obviously see the Democrat Party of today is not anywhere close to the Party my parents supported up to the JFK administration. My father began to see changes with Carter. He died in '85. He would not recognize today's Democrat Party. For that matter, he would not recognize America right now.
I saw a headline of a Seattle cop who told someone, on camera, he's leaving the force because the protestors have won. I believe that is a lopsided characterization of the situation. The protestors have not won. This entire situation is a planned event, with execution tied to the very facts displayed in the Weaver video. Powers behind the scenes controlling things with technology that literally, psychologically controls masses of people. It's pretty fascinating, if not mind-boggling and frightening.
Watch it. You'll see.
I've never really done any research into Weebly. I suspect they have the same types of people running them as Facebook and Youtube and Twitter, etc. I have never seen their company involved in any kind of censorship. Perhaps the majority of users are businesses and don't venture into political opinion. That said, will users of Weebly with political beliefs opposite their choices come under scrutiny with lopsided policy and censure? I suppose I would quickly find out if I had thousands of hits and people were being influenced.
Yeah, America is a mess.
UPDATE - Robbery charge and domestic violence. Tampering with evidence. It looks like she had an argument with her mother and took her mother's phone. Her mother had no desire to cause a fuss over it. The people in charge, though, spent a month getting a warrant. Weaver went before a judge yesterday. He sent her home. Unless I missed something, the judge just threw it out of his sight. Smart judge.
And the battle rages on.
At this point is seems Anthony Fauci is running America, along with the CDC, and the WHO. I cannot tell you how sick I am of Covid-19 and the needless tens of thousands of deaths because of the way this situation has been handled. The only thing that keeps the players in control out of jail is whoever runs the USA and their being used to bring America down.
China owns so much of America, and the nation has such a huge debt with China, maybe they are in control. I mean, even the NBA bows to China. The Chinese Communist Party is a thoroughly disgusting regime that imprisons or kills anyone in its way, anyone who says anything against it, anyone who wants to be free. How on Earth did America become so indebted to such a despotic group of tyrants?
Anyway, China owns a lot of the U.S. but, doesn't really run the place, regardless of influence it has in D.C. and control of supply and demand of goods they send over here.
No, apparently the cabal that runs America is a group of independent contractors: businesses and corporations that are run by people deeper than deep state; who control the entire flow of information; control the military industrial complex; have access to every piece of information sent by emails, texts and phone calls: all of technology that the world now functions in. It is housed in massive buildings with more servers, wall to wall, than anything on the planet. Some, overseas, in Europe. People bought and paid for. People who tell elected civil servants what they can and cannot do because every single possible piece of information about every single elected civil servant is on their servers and it all hangs over each and every one, who lives can be destroyed at the click of a mouse.
The video link to it explains it all. Quite a production. The woman responsible for it was arrested yesterday. Surprise, surprise. Her name is Millie Weaver. I had never heard of her. She's an investigative reporter at InfoWars. Big support base on Youtube. I'm not a big fan of Alex Jones. I can appreciate some things he has exposed over the years. That said, on the face of it, it already appears Ms. Weaver has been arrested, by a SWAT team, no less, on what are certainly bogus charges. Apparently her husband was arrested, as well. It's all over independent news media. She obviously ticked somebody off. Welcome to Amerika.
The video has over a million views in just the last couple days. I'd expect it to be taken down soon. I'm surprised it hasn't been already. That means it will be on one of the other video sites that actually believes in freedom of speech, the press, and information.
Every American should see it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HFxVvrXjCg&feature=youtu.be
There comes a point where drums, music, entertainment, all of it becomes meaningless if America loses what America is; a land where "we, the people," have control of our own lives and property. That is fading so fast it is alarming, it is outrageous, it is criminal, and it may win if Americans do not stand up against it.
UPDATE - This is an apparently fast moving story. Last I have read, Millie Weaver and her husband were basically abducted, not arrested, and she is being held for questioning. In America!!!
Her documentary, ShadowGate, about who really controls America; by the use of various contractors who control the flow of information, etc., was going to be sent out free. Rumors began flying that her "arrest" was just a fake promo for her video. No. She's in custody. People have already called the police dept in Ohio where she was originally taken. All the details are not yet known and frankly, they can only get worse and become immaterial when a husband and wife can just be hauled out of their home like this, no charges given.
She is known as "Millennial Millie" on Youtube. Watching the documentary, it's quite eye-opening. Watching the two minute video she did with her phone, of her arrest, does not show SWAT showing up. Just seems like a couple cops. Officers talking about a grand jury indictment? No papers shown to her. Being arrested for burglary? No cuffs? Just told to get in a car? Was she arrested or not? As haphazard a moment as you can picture.
Something seems so far out of whack, it's ridiculous.
Amerika - 1984.
UPDATE - Nobody is surprised both Facebook and YT have taken down the documentary. It can still be found at Bitchute and Brighteon. The supposed "official charges" against Weaver are - robbery, tampering with evidence, obstruction justice, and domestic violence. I can't wait to hear the details constructed for this gig.
One thing you will notice. While the documentary was taken down, DOZENS of videos have appeared from Youtubers, looking into her arrest. She is apparently a lot more well-known than I realized.
I'm not on Facebook. I got off many years ago after reading things about the company and its ties to government agencies. If I could find a way to transfer all my videos off YT and onto another platform, I would. YT has never caused me any problems, nor would they; given my posts are just about drums and drumming. For me, though, it is the principle involved: free speech. Only an enemy of the United States Constitution would use such censorship and have such heavy-handed, arbitrary policies. Facebook, Twitter, Youtube ... so unAmerican they may as well be run by the Chinese Communist Party. They are not run by people who are Democrats. The Democrat Party, far as I know, has never rescinded stated positions in their party platform that allow for censorship. Just because they support the Democrat Party does not make them Democrats. Their actions of censorship are not democratic. They are totalitarian. But, even though I am far from being a political junkie, I have enough intertest to obviously see the Democrat Party of today is not anywhere close to the Party my parents supported up to the JFK administration. My father began to see changes with Carter. He died in '85. He would not recognize today's Democrat Party. For that matter, he would not recognize America right now.
I saw a headline of a Seattle cop who told someone, on camera, he's leaving the force because the protestors have won. I believe that is a lopsided characterization of the situation. The protestors have not won. This entire situation is a planned event, with execution tied to the very facts displayed in the Weaver video. Powers behind the scenes controlling things with technology that literally, psychologically controls masses of people. It's pretty fascinating, if not mind-boggling and frightening.
Watch it. You'll see.
I've never really done any research into Weebly. I suspect they have the same types of people running them as Facebook and Youtube and Twitter, etc. I have never seen their company involved in any kind of censorship. Perhaps the majority of users are businesses and don't venture into political opinion. That said, will users of Weebly with political beliefs opposite their choices come under scrutiny with lopsided policy and censure? I suppose I would quickly find out if I had thousands of hits and people were being influenced.
Yeah, America is a mess.
UPDATE - Robbery charge and domestic violence. Tampering with evidence. It looks like she had an argument with her mother and took her mother's phone. Her mother had no desire to cause a fuss over it. The people in charge, though, spent a month getting a warrant. Weaver went before a judge yesterday. He sent her home. Unless I missed something, the judge just threw it out of his sight. Smart judge.
And the battle rages on.
******************
94. Why Does This Linger? - August 18, 2020
Why does it linger?
I just watched a video of what Austin, TX looks like. Boarded up windows. A young woman shooting up drugs in a doorway right on the main, what was once the popular, drag. The apparent horrific odor of urine and feces in the river flowing through the city. Few cars, few people walking around.
I've not been to Austin. It's supposed to be the hippest place in Texas. No thanks.
NYC videos show Manhattan to be a basic ghost town. Blocks of the biggest named stores in the world all boarded up.
Chicago, worse than ever. LA? Non-stop ruination by "peaceful protests." Every big city in America still being laid waste by riots. George Floyd's death? Of course not. Long since past.
Why does this continue on? Why does this linger? At what time in American history did such rioting take place for so long, spread out so far and wide? Never.
What city ever changed for the better with such wanton destruction and mayhem? Not one.
Hatred for Donald Trump, Americanism, and honestly, hatred of self, continues to propel people to astound the world with dangerous, child-like tantrums; and city officials, elected to serve citizens and protect them, leave their cities to be destroyed and citizens hurt by the thousands now, including hundreds of police casualities. "Peaceful protests" with rocks, bricks, frozen water bottles, pipes (anything with some weight to it that can be thrown and cause damage or injury), lazers to the eyes, fire bombs, and firearms. Yeah. The stuff of every peaceful protest I can recall.
Anyone with common sense could see this entire attack on reason and the rule of law is backfiring. Anyone with reason can see the more they prolong this violent attack on America the more people are going to be disgusted and rise up against it because, at some point, fear will give way to necessary defensive action. Even the strictest and most powerful elements of government force, tyranny, despotism, maniacal dictatorships one day face the wall of resistance of people fed up. That is history. Nothing has changed.
The world is getting worse, overall, as predicted in Bible prophecy. Nothing will change that, either. The thing is, there is zero intelligence involved in destroying small businesses. They are the engine that provides and drives an economy. Destroy them, there is nothing for government to prey upon for more tax money to prop up its socialism or communism. Going after the big money makers never works because there aren't enough of them. That fountain dries up fast. Then what? Starving people create incredibly angry people. Then the toppling begins, always. That is history.
If this continues to November, as hundreds of thousands of people continue to move out of these cities, desiring safety, employment, and just peace from the atrocious activities of fools, what will be left in cities will be literal, starving masses. Who in their right mind would want to be a mayor of such a situation? Who would want to be a governor of such a state? Does any of this make sense?
I don't always read news stories. I just look at the headlines at various news sites I frequent. Today, I did read a quick story and watched a short video of Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, stand up for her slot in the Democrat National Convention and literally say, "This is shark week [mouthing] "motherf------s."
If you are old enough, you remember a time when no male, let alone a female, would use such a phrase, let alone in front of people, let alone before the entire nation, live, on camera. You dropped jaw if you watched it. I did. If you tell me such an act is no big deal than you prove my point, and the Bible's prediction; Darkness covers the Earth; and gross darkness the people. The prediction continues to be thoroughly justified.
This kind of language. I used plenty of foul language growing up. I never used the term, nor did any of my friends, as I recall. To watch a woman use it, in front of the entire nation? Please, do let us have common sense. Something is wrong, big-time, with the moral fiber of this nation. Just that one statement, stated in such a cavalier manner, would have been enough to get Whitmer removed from office not that long ago. Today? It's laughed at and applauded. At least, by those who think language does not matter in a civil society. It does not matter anymore, does it? It is a sign that things are moving towards an end. I mean, if you can abort, kill babies at the moment of birth, see them birthed and just place them on a cold, steel table to cry and die, and that is considered a "mother's" choice, moral and civil behavior? America may just get what it absolutely deserves.
Speakers at the convention stated radical things that would have totally shocked any Democrat twenty years ago. The "Destruction of Capitalism?" Seriously? Spoken by someone at a national convention for President of the United States of America? Democrat small business owners are going to rally around that kind of philosophy? Can they be that ignorant? Even Bernie stated what things were considered radical not that long ago are considered mainstream today. Indeed. Within the Democrat Party, anyway. He stated the very world is on the line if Trump is reelected! Democracy would be destroyed! Apparently no Democrat speaker said a word about the Republic. Well, they do not want a Constitutional Republic. They want a pure Democracy. Actually, no. They want Socialism, then Communism. They want Totalitarianism because, after all, these elitists know better than us how our lives and a nation should function.
And that was just Day 1. Don't expect any daily reports. I remain someone who hates politics because, I cannot stand politicians.
Sharks? Sharks should be offended to be lumped with such humans.
I just watched a video of what Austin, TX looks like. Boarded up windows. A young woman shooting up drugs in a doorway right on the main, what was once the popular, drag. The apparent horrific odor of urine and feces in the river flowing through the city. Few cars, few people walking around.
I've not been to Austin. It's supposed to be the hippest place in Texas. No thanks.
NYC videos show Manhattan to be a basic ghost town. Blocks of the biggest named stores in the world all boarded up.
Chicago, worse than ever. LA? Non-stop ruination by "peaceful protests." Every big city in America still being laid waste by riots. George Floyd's death? Of course not. Long since past.
Why does this continue on? Why does this linger? At what time in American history did such rioting take place for so long, spread out so far and wide? Never.
What city ever changed for the better with such wanton destruction and mayhem? Not one.
Hatred for Donald Trump, Americanism, and honestly, hatred of self, continues to propel people to astound the world with dangerous, child-like tantrums; and city officials, elected to serve citizens and protect them, leave their cities to be destroyed and citizens hurt by the thousands now, including hundreds of police casualities. "Peaceful protests" with rocks, bricks, frozen water bottles, pipes (anything with some weight to it that can be thrown and cause damage or injury), lazers to the eyes, fire bombs, and firearms. Yeah. The stuff of every peaceful protest I can recall.
Anyone with common sense could see this entire attack on reason and the rule of law is backfiring. Anyone with reason can see the more they prolong this violent attack on America the more people are going to be disgusted and rise up against it because, at some point, fear will give way to necessary defensive action. Even the strictest and most powerful elements of government force, tyranny, despotism, maniacal dictatorships one day face the wall of resistance of people fed up. That is history. Nothing has changed.
The world is getting worse, overall, as predicted in Bible prophecy. Nothing will change that, either. The thing is, there is zero intelligence involved in destroying small businesses. They are the engine that provides and drives an economy. Destroy them, there is nothing for government to prey upon for more tax money to prop up its socialism or communism. Going after the big money makers never works because there aren't enough of them. That fountain dries up fast. Then what? Starving people create incredibly angry people. Then the toppling begins, always. That is history.
If this continues to November, as hundreds of thousands of people continue to move out of these cities, desiring safety, employment, and just peace from the atrocious activities of fools, what will be left in cities will be literal, starving masses. Who in their right mind would want to be a mayor of such a situation? Who would want to be a governor of such a state? Does any of this make sense?
I don't always read news stories. I just look at the headlines at various news sites I frequent. Today, I did read a quick story and watched a short video of Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, stand up for her slot in the Democrat National Convention and literally say, "This is shark week [mouthing] "motherf------s."
If you are old enough, you remember a time when no male, let alone a female, would use such a phrase, let alone in front of people, let alone before the entire nation, live, on camera. You dropped jaw if you watched it. I did. If you tell me such an act is no big deal than you prove my point, and the Bible's prediction; Darkness covers the Earth; and gross darkness the people. The prediction continues to be thoroughly justified.
This kind of language. I used plenty of foul language growing up. I never used the term, nor did any of my friends, as I recall. To watch a woman use it, in front of the entire nation? Please, do let us have common sense. Something is wrong, big-time, with the moral fiber of this nation. Just that one statement, stated in such a cavalier manner, would have been enough to get Whitmer removed from office not that long ago. Today? It's laughed at and applauded. At least, by those who think language does not matter in a civil society. It does not matter anymore, does it? It is a sign that things are moving towards an end. I mean, if you can abort, kill babies at the moment of birth, see them birthed and just place them on a cold, steel table to cry and die, and that is considered a "mother's" choice, moral and civil behavior? America may just get what it absolutely deserves.
Speakers at the convention stated radical things that would have totally shocked any Democrat twenty years ago. The "Destruction of Capitalism?" Seriously? Spoken by someone at a national convention for President of the United States of America? Democrat small business owners are going to rally around that kind of philosophy? Can they be that ignorant? Even Bernie stated what things were considered radical not that long ago are considered mainstream today. Indeed. Within the Democrat Party, anyway. He stated the very world is on the line if Trump is reelected! Democracy would be destroyed! Apparently no Democrat speaker said a word about the Republic. Well, they do not want a Constitutional Republic. They want a pure Democracy. Actually, no. They want Socialism, then Communism. They want Totalitarianism because, after all, these elitists know better than us how our lives and a nation should function.
And that was just Day 1. Don't expect any daily reports. I remain someone who hates politics because, I cannot stand politicians.
Sharks? Sharks should be offended to be lumped with such humans.
******************
95. Here It Comes. The Great American Rebellion - August 19, 2020
Like I have been saying. There comes a point where people of common sense reach their limit. They have had enough. They rise up. They begin to tell the elected civil servants their role in life. If the ECS's do not listen, they then stage their protests. If that doesn't work they just outright defy tyranny and go about their lives exactly as they want to. Then the ECS's make a decision to either back down or forge ahead with police force tactics to quell rebellion through intimidation. Pick off the leaders. When that does not work it has come down to physical rebellion, civil war, whatever but, we are now seeing the beginnings of a movement risiing up, and it's about time.
Four things that cause me to be sick and excited.
My wife has a gift subscription to a health magazine. I open it up and I see an ad for masks. The first line? Masks are necessary. The second line. They are also a fashion accessory! About a half dozen masks are shown. I drop my head and shake it, close the magazine and throw it in the trash. Tyranny has become fashionable now. The new normal. The sheeple will be happy if we give them bright colors, slogans, patterns, whatever it takes to keep them in line, as long as they continue to march according to the beat of the elistist's drummer. I have seen the same at Conservative news sites. Make your statement against tyranny as you wear your mask. This nonsense swings in all directions.
American ingenuity. My wife comes home from Walmart. She watches different channels on Youtube and one of the people she watches came up with or was sharing an idea about masks; how to wear them so you can breathe! You twist the elastic bands into a loop, which puckers the masks when you put it on, leaving a passage of air on each side. The entire point of the mask is defeated (not they they work to begin with), and the multiplied millions of people who DO NOT NEED TO WEAR THEM get to do so without as much hassle and headache. I am guessing that video will go like the wind in viral necessity.
Have I already mentioned dentists are now coming out against the use of long-term mask wearing? Oh, yes. Wearing a mask can give you halitosis and other oral hygeine problems. My wife works in the dental industry and when I brought that up the other day she quickly concurred. Dentists, assistants, and hygienists are always pulling their mask or removing them to grab some fresh air. The hits just keep on coming.
Here, in Texas, Governor Abbott, thought to be a Conservative patriot, has completely caved to the tyranical crowd in Austin and now says all people should be wearing masks, even outside in their back yards!!! We must stop this deadly virus!!! The stupidity of that is beyond commentary and I must let it go. Otherwise I will type things I may regret. Suffice to say, anyone ignorant enough to follow such intelligent instruction deserves a headache and bad breath.
I sold some things the other day. A couple guys came to pick them up. They had a truck and trailer to do so. They came to the door, both wearing masks. It's 96 degrees, mind you. We go into the back yard where the tank was. It took a fair amount of physical strength to get it on the trailer. The two guys, one older, one younger. May have been father and son, I don't know. As we worked, they were tugging at their masks; to speak or just breathe, or constantly reposition them, as everybody does. Ultimately they both took their masks off. Common sense prevailed.
Wearing a mask outside in the summer, breathing back in your own stale air, when fresh air is everywhere, has to be the most ridiculous thing a person can suggest or do. Yet, millions are doing it. They just accept the headache. They just tell themselves the "experts" know best. They just bow down to the medical tyranny and cabal, and man-made hysteria and tell themselves they are keeping themselves and others safe. They are not sick. They are asymptomatic. They have an immune system God has given them to prevent attacks from making them sick. Yet healthy people with virtually no chance of getting sick or getting seriously ill, are walking around breathing stale air! It is absolutely incredible to watch.
Lastly, a county Board of Selectmen meeting in Northern California. Basically an empty room. One person at a time allowed in to speak for three minutes. Everybody else held outside the building. A veteran and business owner, Carlos Zapata, goes to the mic and delivers two and half minutes of blistering rebuke and warning to the masked overlords. I have been waiting to see it, and it has arrived. Rebellion. Apparently, dozens of people took their turn. Ultimately, people just walked in and waited to speak. Many used their cell phones for telepromters. Some were right to the point. Others were nervous but, got it out. That one county meeting represents TENS of MILLIONS of people totally fed up!
Already the entire Zapata video is difficult to find. The Twitter account used in news articles no longer has it up. YT has some channels that copied it. It's a little fuzzy but, viewable. I expect YT to ban them.
This is truly the fight for America. This virus, the riots, a developing coup by manical Democrats to do everything they can to steal the November elections. For them, this is a do or die situation. If Trump wins by a landslide, it's another four years of fighting to bring him down, while he just puts on the gloves and brawls with people trying to do so. More, complete, soap opera politics for the world to see but, at least America has another four years before the socialists and communists get to totally take over, and civil war, literal civil war, breaks out, everywhere patriots take a stand.
If Trump wins, the lunatics set out to destroy the nation, coast to coast. If the Democrats win, it means civil disobedience and more than likely, civil war. Make no mistake it can happen again.
Look, just look at the scenario. First civil war - State's Rights and racism/slavery were the issues. Today? Citizen's rights and racism the issue but, this time, the aspects are different. The slavery is upon those who reject tyranny, regardless of skin color but, the active ingredient is skin color, is it not? BLM, joined with Antifa; rioting, tearing down the nation's history, get rid of police departments; versus Americans who believe the principles of Americanism and the Constitution allowing for the development of a more perfect Union, and will fight to preserve it. Carlos Zapata stated that clearly for himself. Others did, as well. Millions are doing so everywhere, now. The time has come.
Moments like this seem like dreams. Can't be real. Such a confrontation in 2020 America? After everything this nation has been through? Yes.
I believe America has a place in Bible prophecy. It has a prophetic destiny. It will complete its role, unfortunate as that will be at the end of time. As painful as what is coming shall be, it shall have to take place.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Four things that cause me to be sick and excited.
My wife has a gift subscription to a health magazine. I open it up and I see an ad for masks. The first line? Masks are necessary. The second line. They are also a fashion accessory! About a half dozen masks are shown. I drop my head and shake it, close the magazine and throw it in the trash. Tyranny has become fashionable now. The new normal. The sheeple will be happy if we give them bright colors, slogans, patterns, whatever it takes to keep them in line, as long as they continue to march according to the beat of the elistist's drummer. I have seen the same at Conservative news sites. Make your statement against tyranny as you wear your mask. This nonsense swings in all directions.
American ingenuity. My wife comes home from Walmart. She watches different channels on Youtube and one of the people she watches came up with or was sharing an idea about masks; how to wear them so you can breathe! You twist the elastic bands into a loop, which puckers the masks when you put it on, leaving a passage of air on each side. The entire point of the mask is defeated (not they they work to begin with), and the multiplied millions of people who DO NOT NEED TO WEAR THEM get to do so without as much hassle and headache. I am guessing that video will go like the wind in viral necessity.
Have I already mentioned dentists are now coming out against the use of long-term mask wearing? Oh, yes. Wearing a mask can give you halitosis and other oral hygeine problems. My wife works in the dental industry and when I brought that up the other day she quickly concurred. Dentists, assistants, and hygienists are always pulling their mask or removing them to grab some fresh air. The hits just keep on coming.
Here, in Texas, Governor Abbott, thought to be a Conservative patriot, has completely caved to the tyranical crowd in Austin and now says all people should be wearing masks, even outside in their back yards!!! We must stop this deadly virus!!! The stupidity of that is beyond commentary and I must let it go. Otherwise I will type things I may regret. Suffice to say, anyone ignorant enough to follow such intelligent instruction deserves a headache and bad breath.
I sold some things the other day. A couple guys came to pick them up. They had a truck and trailer to do so. They came to the door, both wearing masks. It's 96 degrees, mind you. We go into the back yard where the tank was. It took a fair amount of physical strength to get it on the trailer. The two guys, one older, one younger. May have been father and son, I don't know. As we worked, they were tugging at their masks; to speak or just breathe, or constantly reposition them, as everybody does. Ultimately they both took their masks off. Common sense prevailed.
Wearing a mask outside in the summer, breathing back in your own stale air, when fresh air is everywhere, has to be the most ridiculous thing a person can suggest or do. Yet, millions are doing it. They just accept the headache. They just tell themselves the "experts" know best. They just bow down to the medical tyranny and cabal, and man-made hysteria and tell themselves they are keeping themselves and others safe. They are not sick. They are asymptomatic. They have an immune system God has given them to prevent attacks from making them sick. Yet healthy people with virtually no chance of getting sick or getting seriously ill, are walking around breathing stale air! It is absolutely incredible to watch.
Lastly, a county Board of Selectmen meeting in Northern California. Basically an empty room. One person at a time allowed in to speak for three minutes. Everybody else held outside the building. A veteran and business owner, Carlos Zapata, goes to the mic and delivers two and half minutes of blistering rebuke and warning to the masked overlords. I have been waiting to see it, and it has arrived. Rebellion. Apparently, dozens of people took their turn. Ultimately, people just walked in and waited to speak. Many used their cell phones for telepromters. Some were right to the point. Others were nervous but, got it out. That one county meeting represents TENS of MILLIONS of people totally fed up!
Already the entire Zapata video is difficult to find. The Twitter account used in news articles no longer has it up. YT has some channels that copied it. It's a little fuzzy but, viewable. I expect YT to ban them.
This is truly the fight for America. This virus, the riots, a developing coup by manical Democrats to do everything they can to steal the November elections. For them, this is a do or die situation. If Trump wins by a landslide, it's another four years of fighting to bring him down, while he just puts on the gloves and brawls with people trying to do so. More, complete, soap opera politics for the world to see but, at least America has another four years before the socialists and communists get to totally take over, and civil war, literal civil war, breaks out, everywhere patriots take a stand.
If Trump wins, the lunatics set out to destroy the nation, coast to coast. If the Democrats win, it means civil disobedience and more than likely, civil war. Make no mistake it can happen again.
Look, just look at the scenario. First civil war - State's Rights and racism/slavery were the issues. Today? Citizen's rights and racism the issue but, this time, the aspects are different. The slavery is upon those who reject tyranny, regardless of skin color but, the active ingredient is skin color, is it not? BLM, joined with Antifa; rioting, tearing down the nation's history, get rid of police departments; versus Americans who believe the principles of Americanism and the Constitution allowing for the development of a more perfect Union, and will fight to preserve it. Carlos Zapata stated that clearly for himself. Others did, as well. Millions are doing so everywhere, now. The time has come.
Moments like this seem like dreams. Can't be real. Such a confrontation in 2020 America? After everything this nation has been through? Yes.
I believe America has a place in Bible prophecy. It has a prophetic destiny. It will complete its role, unfortunate as that will be at the end of time. As painful as what is coming shall be, it shall have to take place.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
96. Maine and Sweden - August 21, 2020
Do you laugh? Do you cry? Do you just hang your head and shake it in disbelief?
I used to live in Maine. Fourteen years of bugs and ten feet of snow every year. Three thousand miles of interesting shoreline. Islands. Lots of islands. I spoke on one small one a couple times. Quaint little church. The other time we just held a church service out on the rocks. Nice ferry ride out to the island. Very pleasant times.
Maine is generally known, much like New Hampshire and Vermont, as a state with practical, pragmatic people. Hard workers, kind of tough. Rocky soil, hard winters, and more types of biting bugs than racked up balls in a bowling alley, make people that way.
Over the years the State has gotten more and more ... shall I say, government controlled. Recently the current governor has decided ... well, just read this headline:
Governor of Maine Orders Restaurant Staff to Wear COVID Visors Like Dog Cones
“Must now wear them upside down so that they are attached at the collar instead of the forehead.”
Admittedly, the headline is from a Conservative news site. The story though, quotes the governor enough to realise these people lack, even a modicum of common sense.
The governor, Janet Mills, is referring to people wearing those clear face sheilds. Of course, the shields have open bottoms. Air can obviously pass right out through the bottom. Can't have that. Too dangerous. So, let's use dog cone-type things so the air goes upward because, we know once it goes upward it will never drift or settle back down. Those nasty virus particles the entire populace of Maine has within them will just float away and not harm anyone. They will stick to the ceilings of all the restaurants.
This kind of ignorance is so greivous you don't know whether to laugh or cry at it. It staggers the mind. I shake my head and think, How could such a person be elected to the office of governor? How is that possible? It is impossible for me to believe this person did not show signs of such intelligence before she was elected.
Sweden. Like Maine, long hard winters. Huge country. The size of the US, east of the Mississippi. 10.3 million people. Not a lot for it's size. Just the same, they chose to NOT lock down, NOT stop people from going about their daily business, and NOT force people to wear masks. Sweden's economy remains intanct, and virus numbers are now a trickle. Why?
The answer to that question is simply, herd immunity. The vast majority were not be effected by the virus. Those that were, had mild symptoms, and the typical age-related/weakened immune system standards hit their country less hard because they believed, rightly so, immunity is nature's way of protecting populations. I would understand that as God, the Creator's way of protecting His children. Pay attention to your health; your body fights off attacks every, single day from outside microscopic invaders in the air, on surfaces, etc. Sweden's decision to remain "normal," with logical precausions, and despite attacks from the elites of the world, who even lied about her statistics through the event, worked out okay.
South Dakota continues to be okay; Kristi Noem, SD's governor, not imposing government restrictions on the citizens but, just rehearsing constant common sense safety standards to people: Keep your hands clean, keep them away from your face, be careful around those who are supceptible to the more dangerous aspects of the virus, and choose your own way of handling that: masks, whatever. SD's numbers remained less than just about every other state. Why? Herd immunity.
You cannot stop microscopic viruses with masks. You actually make things worse, person to person. THAT is the science, the data, the fact of the matter. Viruses are everywhere, all the time. This one was worse because it is a man-made virus. The FEAR mongering causing hysteria, which remains all over America, is not only repuslive and disgusting, it is criminal, in my opinion.
The new, updated documentary; Plandemic, should be seen by every American.
https://freedomplatform.tv/plandemic-indoctornation-world-premiere/#popup1
It is jaw dropping in some places. The documentation just keeps coming at you and the players behind this dog and pony show ... well, just watch it and see that this planned event is not going away anytime soon, if the people behind it have their way. In a sane world, Mr. Bill Gates would be history, null and void, toast, if everybody watched this documentary. His entire scheme and desire to vaccinate the world would be cast down as abject villainy. But, I am not sure we live in a sane world anymore. Attacks on the video, the producers, the people interviewed in it, have all been launched. The usual leftist, elitist stuff. What can I say? The nation, the world, is divided. I'm really going to say it is divided between those who have common sense, and those who do not. It's really that simple. Those who want to live according to principle, and those who want to live according to policy, made by "leaders," blind guides, leading blind people over cliffs, seem to be the two, developed categories of humanity.
Logic tells me the former will make it through what is coming. The latter? Their day of reckoning will eventually come. Hopefully, in my lifetime. If not, it will still come. It cannot be escaped.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
I used to live in Maine. Fourteen years of bugs and ten feet of snow every year. Three thousand miles of interesting shoreline. Islands. Lots of islands. I spoke on one small one a couple times. Quaint little church. The other time we just held a church service out on the rocks. Nice ferry ride out to the island. Very pleasant times.
Maine is generally known, much like New Hampshire and Vermont, as a state with practical, pragmatic people. Hard workers, kind of tough. Rocky soil, hard winters, and more types of biting bugs than racked up balls in a bowling alley, make people that way.
Over the years the State has gotten more and more ... shall I say, government controlled. Recently the current governor has decided ... well, just read this headline:
Governor of Maine Orders Restaurant Staff to Wear COVID Visors Like Dog Cones
“Must now wear them upside down so that they are attached at the collar instead of the forehead.”
Admittedly, the headline is from a Conservative news site. The story though, quotes the governor enough to realise these people lack, even a modicum of common sense.
The governor, Janet Mills, is referring to people wearing those clear face sheilds. Of course, the shields have open bottoms. Air can obviously pass right out through the bottom. Can't have that. Too dangerous. So, let's use dog cone-type things so the air goes upward because, we know once it goes upward it will never drift or settle back down. Those nasty virus particles the entire populace of Maine has within them will just float away and not harm anyone. They will stick to the ceilings of all the restaurants.
This kind of ignorance is so greivous you don't know whether to laugh or cry at it. It staggers the mind. I shake my head and think, How could such a person be elected to the office of governor? How is that possible? It is impossible for me to believe this person did not show signs of such intelligence before she was elected.
Sweden. Like Maine, long hard winters. Huge country. The size of the US, east of the Mississippi. 10.3 million people. Not a lot for it's size. Just the same, they chose to NOT lock down, NOT stop people from going about their daily business, and NOT force people to wear masks. Sweden's economy remains intanct, and virus numbers are now a trickle. Why?
The answer to that question is simply, herd immunity. The vast majority were not be effected by the virus. Those that were, had mild symptoms, and the typical age-related/weakened immune system standards hit their country less hard because they believed, rightly so, immunity is nature's way of protecting populations. I would understand that as God, the Creator's way of protecting His children. Pay attention to your health; your body fights off attacks every, single day from outside microscopic invaders in the air, on surfaces, etc. Sweden's decision to remain "normal," with logical precausions, and despite attacks from the elites of the world, who even lied about her statistics through the event, worked out okay.
South Dakota continues to be okay; Kristi Noem, SD's governor, not imposing government restrictions on the citizens but, just rehearsing constant common sense safety standards to people: Keep your hands clean, keep them away from your face, be careful around those who are supceptible to the more dangerous aspects of the virus, and choose your own way of handling that: masks, whatever. SD's numbers remained less than just about every other state. Why? Herd immunity.
You cannot stop microscopic viruses with masks. You actually make things worse, person to person. THAT is the science, the data, the fact of the matter. Viruses are everywhere, all the time. This one was worse because it is a man-made virus. The FEAR mongering causing hysteria, which remains all over America, is not only repuslive and disgusting, it is criminal, in my opinion.
The new, updated documentary; Plandemic, should be seen by every American.
https://freedomplatform.tv/plandemic-indoctornation-world-premiere/#popup1
It is jaw dropping in some places. The documentation just keeps coming at you and the players behind this dog and pony show ... well, just watch it and see that this planned event is not going away anytime soon, if the people behind it have their way. In a sane world, Mr. Bill Gates would be history, null and void, toast, if everybody watched this documentary. His entire scheme and desire to vaccinate the world would be cast down as abject villainy. But, I am not sure we live in a sane world anymore. Attacks on the video, the producers, the people interviewed in it, have all been launched. The usual leftist, elitist stuff. What can I say? The nation, the world, is divided. I'm really going to say it is divided between those who have common sense, and those who do not. It's really that simple. Those who want to live according to principle, and those who want to live according to policy, made by "leaders," blind guides, leading blind people over cliffs, seem to be the two, developed categories of humanity.
Logic tells me the former will make it through what is coming. The latter? Their day of reckoning will eventually come. Hopefully, in my lifetime. If not, it will still come. It cannot be escaped.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
97. Think About This - August 22, 2020
You know I'm a professed Christian. You know I believe Christ came once and is coming again. You know I believe signs of the times referrence that event. I've mentioned all that in previous blogs.
Think about this, just objectively.
The current pandemic. Whatever you believe about it, it is real, people are getting sick and dying.
Riots. Most cities have calmed down. Some remain getting ransacked, looted and destroyed, like Seattle, Portland, Chicago, etc. Any police event can now trigger more rioting and it is allowed and even encouraged by various politicians and prominent voices throughout the land.
There are protests and riots taking place all over the globe. Humanity is anything but, satisfied.
The DNC finished, after revealing the largest set of leftist radicals and radical agenda ever seen by Democrats and the nation.
Atheism has grown by leaps and bounds in America; once called a 'Christian Nation' by the Supreme Court.
Persecution of Christians rapidly increases as the most persecuted group on the globe.
Morality in America is collapsing. Hollywood no longer has bounderies they will not cross.
The Homosexual/alt sexual agenda is the most fierce and influential in the USA right now.
Pedophilia is an international criminal activity and blight on the planet. Sex slavery exists as a criminal enterprise on every continent.
Two abortions take place every second somewhere on Earth, 40-50 million a year.
20 adults, per minute, are physically abused every day in America. That is 10 million women and men every year.
ONE in FIVE women have been raped in their lifetime in America, according to national statistics.
700,000 children are abused in America every year.
The American economy, strong just months ago, still has a debt of such astronomical proportions hanging over it, a collapse has been predicted by voices in the financial industries for the last 15 years or more, and a day of reckoning must come. When it does, the entire world economy will shake if not collapse with it.
China owns so much American debt, and land and businesses, America may as well be a subsidiary of China. The same goes for India and other nations buying up land and business.
The world has never been so close to a globalist, totalitarian government.
Right now, an unprecidented number of wildfires are burning west of the Mississippi.
The recent Derecho in the Mid-west wiped out 10 million acres of crops. Expect a rise in food prices.
Africa recently experienced unprecidented locust invasions. Common enough there. When they hit with greater force than normal, what can that mean?
TWO storms have formed in the Atlantic and may develop into hurricanes when they reach the Gulf of Mexico, at close to the same time. Very unusual.
We are already half way through the named storm season and the most active portion has just begun. A very active hurricane season had been predicted. Record storm formation keeps occuring this year.
8 million metric tons of plastic and trash is dumped into the world's oceans every year. Even whales have died getting caught in it. Some of it rivals actual land mass.
The Yellowstone coldera remains an active hotspot. Though nobody would ever make a prediction for an eruption, because when it does, it will wreak havoc and major destruction over a huge portion of the nation, and nobody wants to be responsible for freaking out millions of people. It is unlikely if they knew it was going to erupt in days, weeks or even months they would tell the American people. In the event they did warn the nation, where would millions of people in the enormous blast zone go?
When Christ predicted earthquakes in different places He was not so much speaking about frequency, as the places they happen. Could one around Yellowstone trigger the coldera?
When was the last time you heard about an earthquake in the mountains of North Carolina? I used to live 20 minutes from Sparta, in Independence, VA. Not an area known for earthquakes, that's for sure.
The Pentagon admits to the existence of UFO's, or UAP's as they now refer to them. Frequency of sightings has dramatically increased all around the world. What's that all about?
America now has a Space Force. Have Americans been told what the weaponry of this new force is; its capacity for destruction?
The world now has the capacity to destroy itself. Wars cover the globe. Wars have always been around, though. Man's ability to assure mutual destructuion and send the planet into a literal dark age? No.
The Bible stated long ago the world would grow old like a garment. It's wearing out. The love of many would become calloused. Do people seem to be more hardened than ever? Stressed out? Under more tension? An alarming 25% of people, aged 18-24, surveyed in America stated they have thought about suicide recently. It was 16% for the next age bracket up. Stress, anyone? The global lockdowns have done far more damage than good. Exponentially more for body, soul, and spirit.
So, think about all this: what makes up our world. Nature, humanity, the functions of mankind. Objectively look at the world. Ask yourself if "normality" is present, and present for any decent length of time before upheaval hits again.
I make no predictions for the return of Christ. I do predict more of the same we are now seeing across the globe. Stress, tensions, tearing, ripping, collapse, destruction; both natural and man-made.
Just objectively watch, my friends. Conclude what you will.
I believe Christ is going to return soon enough. The biggest event in human history is going to take place. The last event of running human history. The cataclysmic event of human history. When? I do not know and cannot know. We can only know of its approach. That much information we have been given. The day, week, month, year? No.
The earth is experiencing labor pains. They shall get more and more intense. They shall develop more closely together. When the pain seems beyond endurance, the baby shall come forth, and joy shall fill the morning of those longing for the baby's arrival. That "birth" shall be the return of Christ to the world, not as a babe in a manger but, the King, in all His power and glory, with an unnumerable army of angels all blowing the trumpets of heaven. Oh, yeah. We're talking loud. We're talking an event of such majesty it is impossible to portray with pen, brush, or film. No CGI of the greatest computer artists on the planet could capture it. Nothing can portray what is coming.
You think I'm crazy? So be it. I stand with millions of others. I am not alone. If I were alone, I'd still believe it because Christ changed my heart and mind 41 years ago. If all I had was that, I'd still believe the Bible but, God has given us so much more to believe in Him, as He has told the end, from the beginning.
Choices. Who will make choices for yay or nay? Time will tell.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Think about this, just objectively.
The current pandemic. Whatever you believe about it, it is real, people are getting sick and dying.
Riots. Most cities have calmed down. Some remain getting ransacked, looted and destroyed, like Seattle, Portland, Chicago, etc. Any police event can now trigger more rioting and it is allowed and even encouraged by various politicians and prominent voices throughout the land.
There are protests and riots taking place all over the globe. Humanity is anything but, satisfied.
The DNC finished, after revealing the largest set of leftist radicals and radical agenda ever seen by Democrats and the nation.
Atheism has grown by leaps and bounds in America; once called a 'Christian Nation' by the Supreme Court.
Persecution of Christians rapidly increases as the most persecuted group on the globe.
Morality in America is collapsing. Hollywood no longer has bounderies they will not cross.
The Homosexual/alt sexual agenda is the most fierce and influential in the USA right now.
Pedophilia is an international criminal activity and blight on the planet. Sex slavery exists as a criminal enterprise on every continent.
Two abortions take place every second somewhere on Earth, 40-50 million a year.
20 adults, per minute, are physically abused every day in America. That is 10 million women and men every year.
ONE in FIVE women have been raped in their lifetime in America, according to national statistics.
700,000 children are abused in America every year.
The American economy, strong just months ago, still has a debt of such astronomical proportions hanging over it, a collapse has been predicted by voices in the financial industries for the last 15 years or more, and a day of reckoning must come. When it does, the entire world economy will shake if not collapse with it.
China owns so much American debt, and land and businesses, America may as well be a subsidiary of China. The same goes for India and other nations buying up land and business.
The world has never been so close to a globalist, totalitarian government.
Right now, an unprecidented number of wildfires are burning west of the Mississippi.
The recent Derecho in the Mid-west wiped out 10 million acres of crops. Expect a rise in food prices.
Africa recently experienced unprecidented locust invasions. Common enough there. When they hit with greater force than normal, what can that mean?
TWO storms have formed in the Atlantic and may develop into hurricanes when they reach the Gulf of Mexico, at close to the same time. Very unusual.
We are already half way through the named storm season and the most active portion has just begun. A very active hurricane season had been predicted. Record storm formation keeps occuring this year.
8 million metric tons of plastic and trash is dumped into the world's oceans every year. Even whales have died getting caught in it. Some of it rivals actual land mass.
The Yellowstone coldera remains an active hotspot. Though nobody would ever make a prediction for an eruption, because when it does, it will wreak havoc and major destruction over a huge portion of the nation, and nobody wants to be responsible for freaking out millions of people. It is unlikely if they knew it was going to erupt in days, weeks or even months they would tell the American people. In the event they did warn the nation, where would millions of people in the enormous blast zone go?
When Christ predicted earthquakes in different places He was not so much speaking about frequency, as the places they happen. Could one around Yellowstone trigger the coldera?
When was the last time you heard about an earthquake in the mountains of North Carolina? I used to live 20 minutes from Sparta, in Independence, VA. Not an area known for earthquakes, that's for sure.
The Pentagon admits to the existence of UFO's, or UAP's as they now refer to them. Frequency of sightings has dramatically increased all around the world. What's that all about?
America now has a Space Force. Have Americans been told what the weaponry of this new force is; its capacity for destruction?
The world now has the capacity to destroy itself. Wars cover the globe. Wars have always been around, though. Man's ability to assure mutual destructuion and send the planet into a literal dark age? No.
The Bible stated long ago the world would grow old like a garment. It's wearing out. The love of many would become calloused. Do people seem to be more hardened than ever? Stressed out? Under more tension? An alarming 25% of people, aged 18-24, surveyed in America stated they have thought about suicide recently. It was 16% for the next age bracket up. Stress, anyone? The global lockdowns have done far more damage than good. Exponentially more for body, soul, and spirit.
So, think about all this: what makes up our world. Nature, humanity, the functions of mankind. Objectively look at the world. Ask yourself if "normality" is present, and present for any decent length of time before upheaval hits again.
I make no predictions for the return of Christ. I do predict more of the same we are now seeing across the globe. Stress, tensions, tearing, ripping, collapse, destruction; both natural and man-made.
Just objectively watch, my friends. Conclude what you will.
I believe Christ is going to return soon enough. The biggest event in human history is going to take place. The last event of running human history. The cataclysmic event of human history. When? I do not know and cannot know. We can only know of its approach. That much information we have been given. The day, week, month, year? No.
The earth is experiencing labor pains. They shall get more and more intense. They shall develop more closely together. When the pain seems beyond endurance, the baby shall come forth, and joy shall fill the morning of those longing for the baby's arrival. That "birth" shall be the return of Christ to the world, not as a babe in a manger but, the King, in all His power and glory, with an unnumerable army of angels all blowing the trumpets of heaven. Oh, yeah. We're talking loud. We're talking an event of such majesty it is impossible to portray with pen, brush, or film. No CGI of the greatest computer artists on the planet could capture it. Nothing can portray what is coming.
You think I'm crazy? So be it. I stand with millions of others. I am not alone. If I were alone, I'd still believe it because Christ changed my heart and mind 41 years ago. If all I had was that, I'd still believe the Bible but, God has given us so much more to believe in Him, as He has told the end, from the beginning.
Choices. Who will make choices for yay or nay? Time will tell.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
98. Ah, The Footnotes! - August 25, 2020
Tucker Carlson had an opening monologue the 24th; one of his better ones, for sure, imho. I don't watch his televised programs. I watch some of his segments when they appear online, linked from various newssites. He mentioned the C-19 situation, and the injected climate change agenda of the elitists controlling the C-19 event have come up with. He mentioned a CDC release of July 31st and a footnote about masks. He asked why it wasn't headline news. Well, that's obvious, if any info stands against the corporate run media and America hating elitist's agenda.
I decided to hunt the footnote down.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/public-health-recommendations.html
Well, well. Here is one, and just read it nonchalantly and see what a footnote can do for an overall understanding of the agenda in place. Emphasis supplied:
** Data to inform the definition of close contact are limited. Factors to consider when defining close contact include proximity, the duration of exposure (e.g., longer exposure time likely increases exposure risk), and whether the exposure was to a person with symptoms (e.g., coughing likely increases exposure risk). While research indicates masks may help those who are infected from spreading the infection, there is less information regarding whether masks offer any protection for a contact exposed to a symptomatic or asymptomatic patient. Therefore, the determination of close contact should be made irrespective of whether the person with COVID-19 or the contact was wearing a mask. Because the general public has not received training on proper selection and use of respiratory PPE, it cannot be certain whether respiratory PPE worn during contact with an individual with COVID-19 infection protected them from exposure. Therefore, as a conservative approach, the determination of close contact should generally be made irrespective of whether the contact was wearing respiratory PPE, which is recommended for health care personnel and other trained users, or a mask recommended for the general public."
After all this time, months and months of shutdowns, months and months of mandates, months of months of dictatorial tyranny, months and months of telling people distance and masks are essential, the CDC states it cannot really define "close contact," "masks may help" infected people from spreading the disease, and there's "less information" [read little to none] of whether or not masks can offer any protection at all for people with symptoms or no symptoms!
I went to Walmart yesterday morning. I wore a mask just to not have any hassles with anyone. I pulled it down and took it off before leaving the building. I went to another Walmart in another town later in the day. I didn't bother wearing a mask. The couple in front of me were not wearing masks. No one said a word. 98% of people walking around, outside, as well, were wearing masks. Why? Because Americans are being told it is essential. It must be done, while the CDC is putting footnotes in their daily briefings that distance contact has yet to be definitively known, and masks are not even certain to help patients with the illness from spreading it or whether or not masks have any protection to keep from getting it!!!
How about the next footnote:
***Data are insufficient to precisely define the duration of time that constitutes a prolonged exposure. Recommendations vary on the length of time of exposure, but 15 minutes of close exposure can be used as an operational definition. Brief interactions are less likely to result in transmission; however, symptoms and the type of interaction (e.g., did the infected person cough directly into the face of the exposed individual) remain important."
Not only is distance foggy, and masks are foggy, time duration is foggy, as well.
So, how many people stand around talking to anyone for 15 minutes, in close proximity to anyone at Walmart!!!
Your chances of contracting this illness, in any enclosed public place, are about as good as getting hit by a meteorite. Outside, nill. The data has shown, world-wide, the majority of people getting the illness get it at home, passed from one infected person to another, in the confines of the typical home atmosphere. You do NOT get it out in the fresh air. You do not get it walking around in enormous buildings, like Walmart, walking at a pace to just do your business and leave. The data shows almost a statistical zero for that kind of exposure.
This, all of this, every bit of it, could be seen and determined in January when this news broke. It smelled of an agenda, a ruse, a media-created fear and hysteria event even back then. If you know anything about corporate control of media, you can see this stuff, you can smell it almost instantly. I have watched this thing build into THE biggest power grab in American history and sit shocked that Americans have drunk the koolaid.
The time has certainly come for civil disobedience on this elitist dog and pony show. Literally thousands of doctors around the world are speaking out against shutdowns, incessant mask wearing and everybody walking around looking like bank robbers, social distancing, increases in every known social probem mankind has and yet, in America, land of the free, home of the brave, the sheeple just do whatever they are told, even though enough information to fill a football stadium exists to show exactly what is true, what is not, and what is not fully known about this disease. Numbers cannot be trusted; not testing results, not case numbers, and most definitely NOT death statistics. They have been manipulated since the beginning. At this point there is no evidence, none, that this is a naturally occuring virus. It is a man-made, manipulated virus and event.
Yeah, time to stand our ground and go back to normal life, as normal was, not the new normal alarmist climate radicals want.
I read the other day Virginia will mandate vaccines for all citizens when one is available. I used to live in VA, in the south western mountains. Good luck with pulling that coming mandate off with freedom and liberty lovers living down there. I reckon the same will be said for most people living outside Richmond and other large cities. But, who knows? Maybe the majority of the Virginia and American population have truly lost common sense and ability to discern danger right in our faces. Maybe the television generations have been dumbed down so much they can be controlled as easily as we have seen the last 6 months.
This is exactly what causes civil disobedience, insurrection, and civil war: elected civil servants telling people what they can and cannot do, outside the parameters of their authority. Oh, well, the head health guy in VA claims he has the authority to mandate vaccinations in an emergency. Good luck turning the current data into an emergency when a vaccine is finally available. The virus is winding down, quite expectedly. By 2021, the only thing elitists will have is what they are now proposing: Hey look, since we shut down there is less carbon emmissions in the air. Let's stay closed down so we can breathe cleaner air again!' Even though the smoke stacks of China are largely responsible for creating the pollution in the planet's atmosphere, few in media will tell us that. Everybody from the NBA to Bill Gates, to the WHO, to Biden and co., think China is the greatest thing since ice cream. Doesn't matter they persecute Christians and any other people of faith or rebellion to communist tyranny. THE American cabal will persecute Christians if they get the power they want in November.
Biden wants to mandate masks for all Americans. Biden would shut down the entire nation if "scientists" recommend it. For him to come right out and say that, at this point in time, shows a confidence in tyranny that is astounding.
Most times it hardly matters who you vote for. It's all corrupt in DC. In this case, while Trump certainly has his faults, past and present, voting for Biden or any Democrat in any election, is total, national suicide for freedom, liberty, and the rule of Constitutional law of our Republic.
They are burning the cities down. They will ruin the nation if they gain control, and, matter of fact, it is obvious if Trump wins, they will seek to burn down the entire nation even more so, coast to coast, border to border.
Masks will not help in what is coming. Only courage will.
I decided to hunt the footnote down.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/public-health-recommendations.html
Well, well. Here is one, and just read it nonchalantly and see what a footnote can do for an overall understanding of the agenda in place. Emphasis supplied:
** Data to inform the definition of close contact are limited. Factors to consider when defining close contact include proximity, the duration of exposure (e.g., longer exposure time likely increases exposure risk), and whether the exposure was to a person with symptoms (e.g., coughing likely increases exposure risk). While research indicates masks may help those who are infected from spreading the infection, there is less information regarding whether masks offer any protection for a contact exposed to a symptomatic or asymptomatic patient. Therefore, the determination of close contact should be made irrespective of whether the person with COVID-19 or the contact was wearing a mask. Because the general public has not received training on proper selection and use of respiratory PPE, it cannot be certain whether respiratory PPE worn during contact with an individual with COVID-19 infection protected them from exposure. Therefore, as a conservative approach, the determination of close contact should generally be made irrespective of whether the contact was wearing respiratory PPE, which is recommended for health care personnel and other trained users, or a mask recommended for the general public."
After all this time, months and months of shutdowns, months and months of mandates, months of months of dictatorial tyranny, months and months of telling people distance and masks are essential, the CDC states it cannot really define "close contact," "masks may help" infected people from spreading the disease, and there's "less information" [read little to none] of whether or not masks can offer any protection at all for people with symptoms or no symptoms!
I went to Walmart yesterday morning. I wore a mask just to not have any hassles with anyone. I pulled it down and took it off before leaving the building. I went to another Walmart in another town later in the day. I didn't bother wearing a mask. The couple in front of me were not wearing masks. No one said a word. 98% of people walking around, outside, as well, were wearing masks. Why? Because Americans are being told it is essential. It must be done, while the CDC is putting footnotes in their daily briefings that distance contact has yet to be definitively known, and masks are not even certain to help patients with the illness from spreading it or whether or not masks have any protection to keep from getting it!!!
How about the next footnote:
***Data are insufficient to precisely define the duration of time that constitutes a prolonged exposure. Recommendations vary on the length of time of exposure, but 15 minutes of close exposure can be used as an operational definition. Brief interactions are less likely to result in transmission; however, symptoms and the type of interaction (e.g., did the infected person cough directly into the face of the exposed individual) remain important."
Not only is distance foggy, and masks are foggy, time duration is foggy, as well.
So, how many people stand around talking to anyone for 15 minutes, in close proximity to anyone at Walmart!!!
Your chances of contracting this illness, in any enclosed public place, are about as good as getting hit by a meteorite. Outside, nill. The data has shown, world-wide, the majority of people getting the illness get it at home, passed from one infected person to another, in the confines of the typical home atmosphere. You do NOT get it out in the fresh air. You do not get it walking around in enormous buildings, like Walmart, walking at a pace to just do your business and leave. The data shows almost a statistical zero for that kind of exposure.
This, all of this, every bit of it, could be seen and determined in January when this news broke. It smelled of an agenda, a ruse, a media-created fear and hysteria event even back then. If you know anything about corporate control of media, you can see this stuff, you can smell it almost instantly. I have watched this thing build into THE biggest power grab in American history and sit shocked that Americans have drunk the koolaid.
The time has certainly come for civil disobedience on this elitist dog and pony show. Literally thousands of doctors around the world are speaking out against shutdowns, incessant mask wearing and everybody walking around looking like bank robbers, social distancing, increases in every known social probem mankind has and yet, in America, land of the free, home of the brave, the sheeple just do whatever they are told, even though enough information to fill a football stadium exists to show exactly what is true, what is not, and what is not fully known about this disease. Numbers cannot be trusted; not testing results, not case numbers, and most definitely NOT death statistics. They have been manipulated since the beginning. At this point there is no evidence, none, that this is a naturally occuring virus. It is a man-made, manipulated virus and event.
Yeah, time to stand our ground and go back to normal life, as normal was, not the new normal alarmist climate radicals want.
I read the other day Virginia will mandate vaccines for all citizens when one is available. I used to live in VA, in the south western mountains. Good luck with pulling that coming mandate off with freedom and liberty lovers living down there. I reckon the same will be said for most people living outside Richmond and other large cities. But, who knows? Maybe the majority of the Virginia and American population have truly lost common sense and ability to discern danger right in our faces. Maybe the television generations have been dumbed down so much they can be controlled as easily as we have seen the last 6 months.
This is exactly what causes civil disobedience, insurrection, and civil war: elected civil servants telling people what they can and cannot do, outside the parameters of their authority. Oh, well, the head health guy in VA claims he has the authority to mandate vaccinations in an emergency. Good luck turning the current data into an emergency when a vaccine is finally available. The virus is winding down, quite expectedly. By 2021, the only thing elitists will have is what they are now proposing: Hey look, since we shut down there is less carbon emmissions in the air. Let's stay closed down so we can breathe cleaner air again!' Even though the smoke stacks of China are largely responsible for creating the pollution in the planet's atmosphere, few in media will tell us that. Everybody from the NBA to Bill Gates, to the WHO, to Biden and co., think China is the greatest thing since ice cream. Doesn't matter they persecute Christians and any other people of faith or rebellion to communist tyranny. THE American cabal will persecute Christians if they get the power they want in November.
Biden wants to mandate masks for all Americans. Biden would shut down the entire nation if "scientists" recommend it. For him to come right out and say that, at this point in time, shows a confidence in tyranny that is astounding.
Most times it hardly matters who you vote for. It's all corrupt in DC. In this case, while Trump certainly has his faults, past and present, voting for Biden or any Democrat in any election, is total, national suicide for freedom, liberty, and the rule of Constitutional law of our Republic.
They are burning the cities down. They will ruin the nation if they gain control, and, matter of fact, it is obvious if Trump wins, they will seek to burn down the entire nation even more so, coast to coast, border to border.
Masks will not help in what is coming. Only courage will.
******************
99. Sri Lankan Music Lover - August 27, 2020
About a month ago I received a contact message from a young person in Sri Lanka. The name seemed feminine but, turns out the person is a 16 year old, very well-mannered, articulate young man taking issue with some things I have written here about Heavy Metal or seen in interviews.
If you have been reading these blogs for awhile you know, since the Legend reissue, I have had grave misgivings about the Metal music scene when I began to get offers to reissue From the Fjords over the last decade. I'd go to the websites of these record labels, see the names of bands, look at the album covers, hit YT and listen to tracks and stand totally and thoroughly aghast that Legend has been categorized with these bands.
I will not repeat things I have written about the Heavy Metal scene. #32, 33, 34, and 36 probably have the most of what I have written, as well as interviews I've given, and info on other pages on my site. Legend was not a Heavy Metal band. Legend played some heavy stuff, yes but, we also played other things leaning towards other genres, and put the tracks on the album to display that variety. People into Metal liked the band, as well as Hard Rockers, Prog lovers, and even Fusion players. All of that, and more influenced us as musicians and came out in our musical repertoire, because that was the 60's and 70's: a mixture of crossing over of musical exploration and experimentation and expression.
I believe Metal changed, from whatever you define it as, from the 70's to decades following its inception. It has gotten darker, more aggressive, definitely anti-christian, in some cases even misogynist in nature. Not that of hating women but, certainly demeaning them as purely sexual objects. A great deal of Rock music, in general, has gotten into that attitude but, album artwork I have seen in the catelogs of Heavy Metal labels certainly back the claim. Whether a Christian or not, that kind of attitude always bothered me. It should disgust anyone. Aside from that attiude in RAP, which draws criticism for it, why is there so little criticism for Metal that has gotten into it?
Look, I realize women perform in Metal. In some cases they dress with more feminine modesty and beauty than traditional Rockers and many of the prominent females in Top40 today. The vocalists have wonderful voices and sing better than most, if not just about all male vocalists out there, in all of Rock, which will allow just about any lack of quality in a voice to front a band. So, please, don't come at me with straw man arguments. I base my convictions on what I have observed, yay or nay.
Now, Shailo, my young friend in Sri Lanka, has done his best to convince me otherwise about my convictions of what Metal has become over the decades, by sending me many links to different bands on YT, to demonstrate his case that Metal is not as dark as I believe. I share back why I believe his examples fail to convince me and demonstrate I am wrong on the matter. Back and forth we have gone, openly and honestly sharing, and the discussion, from a 16 year old, no less, shows me an intelligent, dispassionate discussion can take place; that people can reason and have logical communication, and rational interaction on the subject. Would that such interaction could be experienced on all subjects aggitating the world today.
I know music is so subjective it can be almost impossible to discuss. People get very passionate about the impact of music on their lives and society. Rock has become mainstream from a time when the Beatles were seen as the end of the world. Early Rock and Roll artists seem like choir boys and girl scouts compared to today. Little Richard, one of the more wild early R&R personalities, struggled with many issues throughout his life, including Christianity.
Richard Penniman died May 9, at the age of 88. I watched one of the last interviews he gave. He sounded like a preacher, well-versed in Scripture, appealing to the audience to live for Christ because that is the bottom line and all that really matters. He had often, over the years, given his testimony about his life in R&R and his struggles in it, and what the industry is like, from a moral standpoint. He was a Seventh-day Adventist. I used to be a member of that denomination for 12 years, and stayed active on the outskirts of it for another 10. I know it's history and doctrines well. Most Christian churhes denounced Rock music. For that matter, aside from Hymnody and Classical music, most denominations have denounced most popular music that has come along since the 19th century. They have all had their reasons. I have no burden to retrace any of that.
The American culture, Western culture, perhaps all cultures, have been influenced by Western popular music in one form or another, to the chagrin of each older generation watching the effects of the music drastically change their culture's morals and integrity. Let's be real and honest here. The late 60's and 70's brought forth a music industry that showed performers parading themselves on stage in ways that would have gotten them arrested for indecent exposure not that many years previous. Things have stayed the same and with MTV and music video industry, gotten a whole lot worse, depending on your world view.
Today, I see that degradation taking place in what is being said about political figures. The things said about President Trump, and especially the First Lady, Melania, have been so disgusting and reprehensive it is shocking to people with any sense of propriety and morals. The complete lack of denunciation by people on the Left towards these attacks speaks volumes of where the Left is at; politically, morally, culturally. It seems void of common sense.
Gross stuff in the Metal music scene is just an outgrowth of a much larger problem the planet is facing: "darkness covers the Earth and gross darkness the people." That's from a verse in the book of Isaiah. Just looking at the 20th century, objectively, anyone with any modicum of observation skills can see how things degraded in all areas of life. I make observations about Metal the same as anything else. I single it out only in the sense it seems to have more anger, aggression, and malice towards traditional values than other genres, though I could easily name performers in other genres who are the epitome of foul-mouthed raunchiness and on stage antics. Is there even anything foul-mouthed anymore? For the vast majority of people, the F-bomb is no longer a bomb. It isn't even a fire cracker. It's common, everyday language. And therein is my point.
Whatever Metal is, in general, that same downward trend into amoral thinking and acting can be seen across the entire "entertainment" industry. The difference with Metal is the darker energy, malice, aggression, and attitudes. When animalistic growling and screaming at the top of someone's lungs is seen as singing, as entertainment, common sense tells me something is wrong.
My young friend and I will go back and forth until the subject has faded. Matter of fact, last time he asked me to share examples of 70's Fusion with him. He had the idea Fusion is a type of "lounge" music. I have no idea where he got such an idea but, 70's Fusion was anything but, lounge music.
Like I said, music is so subjective. How do you argue about what speaks to people? I'm not looking at music, as much as what is on its periphery and how its performers portray their music. Metal is what it was and has become. All popular forms of music are the same, really. Whatever they were and have become all shows a downward trend, culturally speaking. Even Country music has its bawdy performers now. It isn't Country, it's Southern Rock, some a whole lot more radical than any Southern Rock band popular in the 60's and 70's got into.
The young only see what is front of them. They don't have a past to make observations from. The older you get, the more you have for observational reference. At my age, indeed, I see changes, dark changes.
Such as it was in the days of Noah and Lot, so shall the coming of the Son of man be.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
If you have been reading these blogs for awhile you know, since the Legend reissue, I have had grave misgivings about the Metal music scene when I began to get offers to reissue From the Fjords over the last decade. I'd go to the websites of these record labels, see the names of bands, look at the album covers, hit YT and listen to tracks and stand totally and thoroughly aghast that Legend has been categorized with these bands.
I will not repeat things I have written about the Heavy Metal scene. #32, 33, 34, and 36 probably have the most of what I have written, as well as interviews I've given, and info on other pages on my site. Legend was not a Heavy Metal band. Legend played some heavy stuff, yes but, we also played other things leaning towards other genres, and put the tracks on the album to display that variety. People into Metal liked the band, as well as Hard Rockers, Prog lovers, and even Fusion players. All of that, and more influenced us as musicians and came out in our musical repertoire, because that was the 60's and 70's: a mixture of crossing over of musical exploration and experimentation and expression.
I believe Metal changed, from whatever you define it as, from the 70's to decades following its inception. It has gotten darker, more aggressive, definitely anti-christian, in some cases even misogynist in nature. Not that of hating women but, certainly demeaning them as purely sexual objects. A great deal of Rock music, in general, has gotten into that attitude but, album artwork I have seen in the catelogs of Heavy Metal labels certainly back the claim. Whether a Christian or not, that kind of attitude always bothered me. It should disgust anyone. Aside from that attiude in RAP, which draws criticism for it, why is there so little criticism for Metal that has gotten into it?
Look, I realize women perform in Metal. In some cases they dress with more feminine modesty and beauty than traditional Rockers and many of the prominent females in Top40 today. The vocalists have wonderful voices and sing better than most, if not just about all male vocalists out there, in all of Rock, which will allow just about any lack of quality in a voice to front a band. So, please, don't come at me with straw man arguments. I base my convictions on what I have observed, yay or nay.
Now, Shailo, my young friend in Sri Lanka, has done his best to convince me otherwise about my convictions of what Metal has become over the decades, by sending me many links to different bands on YT, to demonstrate his case that Metal is not as dark as I believe. I share back why I believe his examples fail to convince me and demonstrate I am wrong on the matter. Back and forth we have gone, openly and honestly sharing, and the discussion, from a 16 year old, no less, shows me an intelligent, dispassionate discussion can take place; that people can reason and have logical communication, and rational interaction on the subject. Would that such interaction could be experienced on all subjects aggitating the world today.
I know music is so subjective it can be almost impossible to discuss. People get very passionate about the impact of music on their lives and society. Rock has become mainstream from a time when the Beatles were seen as the end of the world. Early Rock and Roll artists seem like choir boys and girl scouts compared to today. Little Richard, one of the more wild early R&R personalities, struggled with many issues throughout his life, including Christianity.
Richard Penniman died May 9, at the age of 88. I watched one of the last interviews he gave. He sounded like a preacher, well-versed in Scripture, appealing to the audience to live for Christ because that is the bottom line and all that really matters. He had often, over the years, given his testimony about his life in R&R and his struggles in it, and what the industry is like, from a moral standpoint. He was a Seventh-day Adventist. I used to be a member of that denomination for 12 years, and stayed active on the outskirts of it for another 10. I know it's history and doctrines well. Most Christian churhes denounced Rock music. For that matter, aside from Hymnody and Classical music, most denominations have denounced most popular music that has come along since the 19th century. They have all had their reasons. I have no burden to retrace any of that.
The American culture, Western culture, perhaps all cultures, have been influenced by Western popular music in one form or another, to the chagrin of each older generation watching the effects of the music drastically change their culture's morals and integrity. Let's be real and honest here. The late 60's and 70's brought forth a music industry that showed performers parading themselves on stage in ways that would have gotten them arrested for indecent exposure not that many years previous. Things have stayed the same and with MTV and music video industry, gotten a whole lot worse, depending on your world view.
Today, I see that degradation taking place in what is being said about political figures. The things said about President Trump, and especially the First Lady, Melania, have been so disgusting and reprehensive it is shocking to people with any sense of propriety and morals. The complete lack of denunciation by people on the Left towards these attacks speaks volumes of where the Left is at; politically, morally, culturally. It seems void of common sense.
Gross stuff in the Metal music scene is just an outgrowth of a much larger problem the planet is facing: "darkness covers the Earth and gross darkness the people." That's from a verse in the book of Isaiah. Just looking at the 20th century, objectively, anyone with any modicum of observation skills can see how things degraded in all areas of life. I make observations about Metal the same as anything else. I single it out only in the sense it seems to have more anger, aggression, and malice towards traditional values than other genres, though I could easily name performers in other genres who are the epitome of foul-mouthed raunchiness and on stage antics. Is there even anything foul-mouthed anymore? For the vast majority of people, the F-bomb is no longer a bomb. It isn't even a fire cracker. It's common, everyday language. And therein is my point.
Whatever Metal is, in general, that same downward trend into amoral thinking and acting can be seen across the entire "entertainment" industry. The difference with Metal is the darker energy, malice, aggression, and attitudes. When animalistic growling and screaming at the top of someone's lungs is seen as singing, as entertainment, common sense tells me something is wrong.
My young friend and I will go back and forth until the subject has faded. Matter of fact, last time he asked me to share examples of 70's Fusion with him. He had the idea Fusion is a type of "lounge" music. I have no idea where he got such an idea but, 70's Fusion was anything but, lounge music.
Like I said, music is so subjective. How do you argue about what speaks to people? I'm not looking at music, as much as what is on its periphery and how its performers portray their music. Metal is what it was and has become. All popular forms of music are the same, really. Whatever they were and have become all shows a downward trend, culturally speaking. Even Country music has its bawdy performers now. It isn't Country, it's Southern Rock, some a whole lot more radical than any Southern Rock band popular in the 60's and 70's got into.
The young only see what is front of them. They don't have a past to make observations from. The older you get, the more you have for observational reference. At my age, indeed, I see changes, dark changes.
Such as it was in the days of Noah and Lot, so shall the coming of the Son of man be.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
******************
100. 1,000 Subscribers - August 27, 2020
I received an email from Youtube, informing me I reached 1000 subscribers. On the entire field of YT that isn't much, is it? Nonetheless, I have to admit, I am gratified that many people see what I contribute and put out there is considered worthy of their notification when new videos are posted. For various reasons I don't post anywhere near as often as most, and not even what I'd like to. I plod along, though.
I have come to see a lot of people subscribe on YT only hoping you will do the same for their channels; a scratch your back, please scratch mine kind-of-thing.
The video on my test of 8 bass drum pedals vastly eclipses everything else I've posted, at 231,000 views. Nothing else comes anywhere close. My series on ultra-hype in the drum manufacturing industry (13 videos thus far) has garnered the most commentary. Thankfully, 98% has been positive, and I have had interesting discussion with the 2% who are less than impressed, even turning some of them around.
Most of my early videos have a very limited number of views, save for one, a video I made soloing to the Jeff Beck number, Led Boots, playing in my mind. I tend to think people hit YT videos and watch whatever they see in the sidebar, or that someone shares with them but, not many people check out the contents of an entire channel.
Youtube has become the most vast education platform on the planet. There is nothing you cannot learn about on that site. It's pretty amazing. Why the curators of the site would risk losing posters because of their obvious political posturing is odd to me. Maybe it's simply a numbers thing. So many millions use it, so many billions of videos exist on it, on every subject imaginable, losing users because of their censorship of anything opposed to the Leftist agenda, drawing attention, doesn't make much difference to them. Tens of thousands of videos continue to be posted every hour, of every day. The time it takes to upload a video has increased so much it has become a hassle, really, especially if your computer is set to any kind of time shut down. You have to just leave it on, walk away, and come back hours later to see where you're at in the upload. What used to take minutes now takes hours.
Youtube is a Google product. Google has become one of the most dangerous tech outfits in the world. For many commentators, it is THE most dangerous. It's influence on society, and the way they control search data, and censor anything not in accordance with their vague rules, and obviously slanted political views, that gains an audience of any dramatic size, causes me to wonder why everybody uses it. I mean, seriously. I guess if a person, like myself, is not posting anything political, it's no skin off our nose to keep posting. The thing is, it isn't just political. If anyone makes a complaint about a video posted, the gatekeepers descend and you can be censored for almost anything posted. This goes back to my thoughts on "offense," #26. Nobody has a right not to be offended. Where did this hysteria come from? I imagine the American education system, as well as what children learn at home, by design or by default, is as much responsible.
Why is it, if people are offended about television programs and complain, the answer is generally, "If you don't like it, change the channel." Is that what YT and its posters do? No. They warn you or just shut you down with no warning. I have come to see the Leftist agenda as so offensive, I reckon if they could shut your tv down, they would; and in the future, depending on how things go, they may just have the tech and power to do that.
I was raised by Democrat parents. Probably would be considered Moderate Catholics, with more Conservative political views. They certainly were not Liberals. I know if they were alive they would not be Democrats today. My father fought in a world war to fight to protect the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Today's Left makes war on the Constitution and Americanism, and obviously cities now being looted, burned, and ransacked that show any signs of American capitalism, history, or support of the rule of law. Well, actually, seeing they are encouraged by the Leftists who run these cities to go ahead and get their frustrations out on anything they want, the rule of law means nothing to these elected civil servants just serving themselves and their political agenda to blame Trump for everything. That means everything.
I do wonder, out of those 1000 subscribers how many are Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Liberal, Conservative, Moderates, Christians, other faiths, atheists, and how all of that effects how they play a set of drums, and the bands they may be in. I wonder about the music they are into, as well as their place in the world.
I've had people close to me tell me I should have a channel where I share biblical subjects. Bible studies, things on prophecy and last day events, etc. With all that is on YT, it's already on there. Maybe some day, as time moves along, it will become obvious religious views will become far more important than my being into making and playing a set of drums, and millions, billions of people will be looking for answers to address what is coming on the Earth; and putting a channel devoted to faith and the search for truth will become an imperative. Right now, I do not feel led to do so.
2020 will be remembered as an historic year, by any standards of historical reckoning, and we've a long way to go till December 31st. The destructive power of hurricane Laura may be nothing compared to what is on the horizon in this nation and on this world.
Nothing we can do but, watch. Oh, yes, we can pray, too. That is what Jesus said to do: watch and pray. And, we can take stands on matters long put aside, lest we totally lose freedoms and liberty, long bestowed and enjoyed in so blessed a nation, cracking at the seams.
Hang in there.
I have come to see a lot of people subscribe on YT only hoping you will do the same for their channels; a scratch your back, please scratch mine kind-of-thing.
The video on my test of 8 bass drum pedals vastly eclipses everything else I've posted, at 231,000 views. Nothing else comes anywhere close. My series on ultra-hype in the drum manufacturing industry (13 videos thus far) has garnered the most commentary. Thankfully, 98% has been positive, and I have had interesting discussion with the 2% who are less than impressed, even turning some of them around.
Most of my early videos have a very limited number of views, save for one, a video I made soloing to the Jeff Beck number, Led Boots, playing in my mind. I tend to think people hit YT videos and watch whatever they see in the sidebar, or that someone shares with them but, not many people check out the contents of an entire channel.
Youtube has become the most vast education platform on the planet. There is nothing you cannot learn about on that site. It's pretty amazing. Why the curators of the site would risk losing posters because of their obvious political posturing is odd to me. Maybe it's simply a numbers thing. So many millions use it, so many billions of videos exist on it, on every subject imaginable, losing users because of their censorship of anything opposed to the Leftist agenda, drawing attention, doesn't make much difference to them. Tens of thousands of videos continue to be posted every hour, of every day. The time it takes to upload a video has increased so much it has become a hassle, really, especially if your computer is set to any kind of time shut down. You have to just leave it on, walk away, and come back hours later to see where you're at in the upload. What used to take minutes now takes hours.
Youtube is a Google product. Google has become one of the most dangerous tech outfits in the world. For many commentators, it is THE most dangerous. It's influence on society, and the way they control search data, and censor anything not in accordance with their vague rules, and obviously slanted political views, that gains an audience of any dramatic size, causes me to wonder why everybody uses it. I mean, seriously. I guess if a person, like myself, is not posting anything political, it's no skin off our nose to keep posting. The thing is, it isn't just political. If anyone makes a complaint about a video posted, the gatekeepers descend and you can be censored for almost anything posted. This goes back to my thoughts on "offense," #26. Nobody has a right not to be offended. Where did this hysteria come from? I imagine the American education system, as well as what children learn at home, by design or by default, is as much responsible.
Why is it, if people are offended about television programs and complain, the answer is generally, "If you don't like it, change the channel." Is that what YT and its posters do? No. They warn you or just shut you down with no warning. I have come to see the Leftist agenda as so offensive, I reckon if they could shut your tv down, they would; and in the future, depending on how things go, they may just have the tech and power to do that.
I was raised by Democrat parents. Probably would be considered Moderate Catholics, with more Conservative political views. They certainly were not Liberals. I know if they were alive they would not be Democrats today. My father fought in a world war to fight to protect the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Today's Left makes war on the Constitution and Americanism, and obviously cities now being looted, burned, and ransacked that show any signs of American capitalism, history, or support of the rule of law. Well, actually, seeing they are encouraged by the Leftists who run these cities to go ahead and get their frustrations out on anything they want, the rule of law means nothing to these elected civil servants just serving themselves and their political agenda to blame Trump for everything. That means everything.
I do wonder, out of those 1000 subscribers how many are Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Liberal, Conservative, Moderates, Christians, other faiths, atheists, and how all of that effects how they play a set of drums, and the bands they may be in. I wonder about the music they are into, as well as their place in the world.
I've had people close to me tell me I should have a channel where I share biblical subjects. Bible studies, things on prophecy and last day events, etc. With all that is on YT, it's already on there. Maybe some day, as time moves along, it will become obvious religious views will become far more important than my being into making and playing a set of drums, and millions, billions of people will be looking for answers to address what is coming on the Earth; and putting a channel devoted to faith and the search for truth will become an imperative. Right now, I do not feel led to do so.
2020 will be remembered as an historic year, by any standards of historical reckoning, and we've a long way to go till December 31st. The destructive power of hurricane Laura may be nothing compared to what is on the horizon in this nation and on this world.
Nothing we can do but, watch. Oh, yes, we can pray, too. That is what Jesus said to do: watch and pray. And, we can take stands on matters long put aside, lest we totally lose freedoms and liberty, long bestowed and enjoyed in so blessed a nation, cracking at the seams.
Hang in there.