tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41358405178274174632024-03-13T11:22:00.934-04:00Notebook WriterNotebook Writer: poetry, music, photography and writing of Mike MarcellinoAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-5158243936447784552013-05-03T19:55:00.001-04:002013-05-03T23:01:02.888-04:00Underground lyrical poetry music draws folks from around the world<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BF8X_AyRXMg/Swi7RCdx7gI/AAAAAAAAAGg/XA5wDDh56so/s1600/thelastminutesurf.jpg+1024%25C3%2597683+pixels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BF8X_AyRXMg/Swi7RCdx7gI/AAAAAAAAAGg/XA5wDDh56so/s400/thelastminutesurf.jpg+1024%25C3%2597683+pixels.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bondi Beach, Australia surf (photo by Duncan Rawlinson)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As I thought you might be wondering why folks around the world are listening to and liking our new lyrical poetry music, here's where we're most popular and a sampling of comments from folks about our songs. <br />
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In the past week folks from cities around the US and world and talking about our music on Facebook: <br />
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Saint Augustine, FL</div>
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London, England, United Kingdom<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
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Cleveland, OH<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
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Ypsilanti, MI<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
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Apple Valley, CA<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
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Saint Louis, MO<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
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Elazıg, Elazig, Turkey</div>
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Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Espirito Santo, Brazil<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
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Omagh, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
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Saint Augustine Beach, FL<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
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San Francisco, CA<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
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Tietê, São Paulo, Brazil<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
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Scottsdale, AZ<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
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Santa Barbara, CA<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
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New York, NY<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
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Berlin, Germany</div>
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El Paso, TX<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
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Elgin, IL<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
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Knoxville, TN</div>
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Where is our music most popular? While our underground poetry music isn't drawing tons of folks, people listen from all over the world. The following are the top countries of fans of our music on our Facebook page (you're welcome to join them):</div>
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<br />
I also want to share with you some of our many listener comments and reviews of our music:<br />
<br />
<i>"I continue to be amazed by your remarkable talent and the beautiful
artistry of your lyrics. Such a refreshing musical experience!
"</i>
- Chrystee McCabe, author, journalist, Manhattan<br />
<br />
<i> "A superb song (Woody Blues) and a great salute to Woody Guthrie!"</i>
- <br />
Graham Butterfield, #1 Folk Music Artist, Exeter, UK<br />
<br />
<i>"When spoken-word merges with music, hip-hop is just one of the ways it
can come out. If the poet doesn't go for the verbal athletics of
speaking on the beat, his voice becomes incantatory...Mike Marcellino...
a show that spoken-word fans shouldn't miss."</i>
- Michael Gill, <i>Cleveland Scene</i><br />
<br />
<i>"The pieces depict different parts of New York City from its jarring
traffic to its more calming fountains. His (Mike Marcellino's) words
incite a sense of dreams embodied by the city: “Flew into New York/ on
wings of Peter Pan./Flew into New York/ on wings of Babylon./ Jupiter in
the right now/ not as bright,/ on this clear an' quiet night”
(Marcellino, “Flatbush”)."</i>
- Niya Panamdanam, <i>The Review Review</i><br />
<br />
<i>"West of the Pecos is a masterpiece, the voice, poetry, rhythm and the music.
"</i>
- Maz Las, journalist, Algeria<br />
<br />
<i> "(Into the nowhere zone) has killer base lines and a tight rhythm
groove. The spoken word is spot on. Good work! You caught the spirit of
the wave in this one...!
</i>
- James Owen Sherpard, blues guitarist<br />
<br />
<i> "Very enlightening and extremely creative! You are a brilliant soul!
"
</i>- Judy Giles, poet, San Diego, CA<br />
<br />
<i>"I listened to your amazing music-lyrics-words,I love it (Taipei subway), great work"</i>
- Farid Bitar, poet, New York City<br />
<br />
<i>"Keep up the beautiful work! You are an inspiration to many
"</i>
- Agata Zak, actor, New York City<br />
<br />
<i>"This (The Walls of Fire) lovely and haunting piece of poetry should be a world wide sensation"
</i>
- Paul Donohoe, writer's review, Tasmania, Australia<br />
<br />
<i>"I really like West Of The Pecos: beautiful. There's a tautness to the
language, a compression that works well for me in my ears & heart
& head.
"
- </i>Duane Esposito, English professor, poet, NYC<br />
<br />
<i>"Mike, not everyday you get sensory poetry from Flatbush to West of the
Pecos, with a little bit of Las Cruces thrown in for good measure. Very
cool.
"</i>
- Gordon Basichis, author, Los Angeles<br />
<br />
<i>"It's (Alphabet Coffeehouse) wonderful!...Reminds me very much of the East Village and that day."</i>
- Rebecca Turner, New Jersey singer songwriter,<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> "Wow Mike, I'm mesmerized by your spoken words/poetry with background
music. Your body of work here is just stunning. I bow to you in your
channeling of the beat poets. "</i>
- Eve Paludian, author,</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-21072480022619609952013-04-30T16:46:00.003-04:002013-05-03T18:06:37.658-04:00Lyrical poetry music on fire, Mike Marcellino beaks into Top 100 Folk Artists in US<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MPSQ2fC0NbM/T_pJczYHX9I/AAAAAAAAAi0/w1WnVI1aXWI/s1600/peables+on+the+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MPSQ2fC0NbM/T_pJczYHX9I/AAAAAAAAAi0/w1WnVI1aXWI/s400/peables+on+the+beach.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our lyrical poetry music rises to #67 </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">on ReverbNation's Folk Chart in the US. </span><br />
<br />
We soared into the Top 100 Folk Artists from somewhere in the 900s.<br />
<br />
Thanks to my readers and our listeners for your support. Help us keep it going.<br />
<br />
To celebrate our recent rise, we're offering a free download of "Woody Blues."<br />
<br />
Today we added a free download of "Scottish Pipes" as further thanks for making us one of the Top 100 Folk Artists in America on ReverbNation charts. Pretty cool considering our poetry music is far out of the main stream and there are nearly 3 million music artists on ReverbNation.<br />
<br />
Most of our tracks are now available for download and half of our sales on ReverbNation goes to Oxfam America to help end poverty and injustice. For now we've settled in at #69 on the Folk chart in the US, #106 in the world and #1 in St. Augustine, Florida, our home base.<br />
<br />
To listen and download use our music box on my Notebook Writer blog or visit our music site on ReverbNation and join as a fan. Please invite your friends to listen.<br />
<br />
Mike</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-74595469182097122362013-01-06T20:09:00.002-05:002013-04-02T16:29:36.081-04:00the constant gardener, a poem by Mike Marcellino<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-2590" height="300" src="http://hortus2.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/february-3-0231.jpg?w=614&h=461" title="February 3 023" width="400" /><br />
Photo courtesy of Hortus 2 Wordpress blog<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">the constant gardener</span><br />
by Mike Marcellino<br />
<br />
the constant gardener<br />
rake and hoe<br />
rake and hoe<br />
sowing words<br />
planting plantations<br />
of pink Kalanchoes<br />
leaves of miracles<br />
er<br />
yellow-orange<br />
tropical Lantana<br />
sown on the chest<br />
of a Spanish general<br />
in the tropics<br />
of the Americas.<br />
<br />
Fingers finding their way<br />
into black and sandy-brown<br />
earth<br />
the soil that made us;<br />
forget your nails.<br />
<br />
Rake and hoe<br />
rake and hoe<br />
sowing words<br />
planting plantations<br />
ideas<br />
roots<br />
giving birth<br />
<br />
Beginnings<br />
never ending<br />
hope.<br />
<br />
<br />
<img align="right" alt="Lantana - Gold (Disambiguation)" class="bigimage" src="http://www.naplesnursery.com/_products/large/lantana_gold.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<br />
the constant gardener copyright Mike Marcellino 2013<br />
<br />
Photo courtesy of Clark's Nursery, Naples, Florida </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-28653888139295510572012-12-04T18:41:00.000-05:002012-12-05T02:56:19.607-05:00In the clearing of sand pines, a poem by Mike Marcellino<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<img alt="File:Pinus clausa.jpg" height="345" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Pinus_clausa.jpg/691px-Pinus_clausa.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In the clearing of sand pines</b></span><br />
by Mike Marcellino<br />
<br />
In the clearing of sand pines,<br />
but a small patch on the planet<br />
Button and i find our<br />
peace<br />
solitude,<br />
when the sun<br />
kindly shines<br />
on the clearing of sand pines.<br />
Patchwork.<br />
<br />
Some sap stuck on<br />
the paw of Button, the standard, curly<br />
white Poodle,<br />
picking up needles<br />
and match sticks.<br />
<br />
We search inside churches<br />
temples and chapels<br />
for the meaning in our lives,<br />
philosophy of life.<br />
<br />
Button and me,<br />
we find ourselves<br />
under the sun<br />
in the clearing of sand pines,<br />
her burnt golden needles<br />
soft beds<br />
to rest our weary minds.<br />
in the pines,<br />
in our clearing of sand pines.<br />
<br />
"We don't own 'anything',<br />
i thought to myself, suddenly<br />
light speed.<br />
<br />
Everyone owns everything -<br />
the things we and our fellows make<br />
with our own hands.<br />
<br />
The real treasures<br />
though<br />
lie<br />
in the clearing of sand pines.<br />
<br />
In the pines,<br />
in the pines,<br />
in the clearing of sand pines.<br />
<br />
The clearing of pines by Mike Marcellino, copyright 2012</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-57965977999964037362012-12-01T04:57:00.001-05:002013-07-27T15:30:30.486-04:00Do You Really Want to Go There? - a Vietnam War memoir<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bylu5ZgaHh0/RyJCDs_5oqI/AAAAAAAAAAk/-JhJ-x-dJ84/s1600/Search+and+destroy+Irfan+9707+c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bylu5ZgaHh0/RyJCDs_5oqI/AAAAAAAAAAk/-JhJ-x-dJ84/s400/Search+and+destroy+Irfan+9707+c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Search and destroy, Vietnam War, 1968 Photo by Mike Marcellino</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you really want to go there?</b></span><br />
By Mike Marcellino<br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
“Do you really want to go there” the counselor said to me. I had
just told her a story that continues to haunt me of the night I went
blank in 1968 talking with two soldiers filling sandbags in a wooded
wasteland in the jungles along the Cambodian border northwest of Saigon
in South Vietnam.<br />
<br />
I’ve written hundreds of stories for newspapers and magazines, poetry
and songs. The past four years with musicians I’ve recorded and
performed what I call poetry music, including songs about the Vietnam
War and its aftermath.<br />
<br />
This is my own story, a view behind the camera, pen and mic - behind
the scenes of my life of a writer, photographer and folk music artist.
The story I find so difficult to write.<br />
<br />
After the war as a newspaper reporter back in the states, I covered
murders, fatal fires, bloody airplane crashes, a Brinks armed car
robbery, and the most brutal business of all – politics. I’ve
interviewed presidential candidates, Hollywood stars, two of the longest
held POW’s from the Vietnam War, acclaimed folk singers but most often
the man on the street, aspiring artists, teachers, scientists, workers
in factories and farms. This story is personal and one I’ve never told,
just alluded to in poems and songs. It’s really the story of a life
behind pens, notebooks, computers and cameras – my life as a writer and
artist.<br />
<br />
The U. S. Army bird colonel laughed as he looked at me just as I was
jumping down from his Huey chopper. I’m still trying to figure out what
was so funny – maybe me with camera hanging from my jungle fatigues and
only a jungle hat on and without a weapon. Maybe he thought this story
would make him a one star general. One of the batteries of a battalion
of the 23rd Artillery Group was firing in support Operation
Yellowstone, our largest offensive at the peak of the Vietnam War when
we had more than a half million troops in country. <br />
<br />
I did ‘want to go there,’ find out what happened to me as the night
was broken by continuous automatic weapons fire. The lieutenant said we
had mercenaries out there to defend the sandy dirt pile bulldozers had
just carved out so the 155 mm self-propelled howitzers that look like
tanks could slip in. A barrel of one of the guns read “Alpha’s Angles”
and maybe there was an angel out there over no man’s land that helps me
survive.<br />
<br />
Though the heat of the day I took pictures of the guns booming and
the U.S. Army soldiers sweating. I interviewed them, though I’m now not
sure just how I did it as the guns never stopped firing. Then I noticed the
guns were silent and soldiers were stripping and taking cold showers
from suspended canvas bags flown in by helicopters.<br />
<br />
I didn’t get a shower. I don’t remember eating anything either.
Then a wise –ass lieutenant walked up to me and told me I’d better start
digging my hole. Before the bulldozers stopped pushing huge piles of
dirt over the corrugated half-moon steel roofs to cover the holes, I
almost dug the hole - looking much like a perfect rectangular grave -
too wide so the roof would have collapsed into the hole.<br />
<br />
Sometime that night I walked over to my hole and found someone had put
in an air mattress and pillow into my hole. Were they pulling my chain
or was it a sign of respect, or both?<br />
<br />
To cool off I sat and talked with two bare-chested soldiers filling sand bags. The wooded perimeter looked like "no man's land" and automatic weapons fire was continuous. <br />
<br />
Suddenly bullets whizzed by. And that’s the last thing I remember. I have no idea how I got out of Firebase Ord along the Cambodian border. My
photographs and stories were published in Starts and Stripes and
military newspapers. I remember being told that Firebase Ord was
overrun by a ground attack the next night. I never have found out the fate of those artillerymen and engineers.<br />
<br />
“Do you really want to go there,” the counselor said to me, adding that I was probably experiencing some form of traumatic amnesia.<br />
<br />
Yes, I do want to know what happen to me that night. I want to know
what that war has done to me, to my fellow soldiers and to my country. I
want to know that some good has come from it.<br />
<br />
Hundreds of stories later I still search for answers. I wrote stories of a search and destroy mission in the rice paddies and an all-night helicopter mission they called
“Firefly.” I photographed refugees in a new village we helped the build after destroying the one they had lived in for generations, bandaged
children in darkened makeshift hospitals and scenes of utter destruction
reminding me of photographs of World War II.<br />
<br />
My return to the ‘world” as we called the United States, wasn’t easy either.<br />
<br />
Near the end of my year tour of duty as a combat correspondent and photojournalist, I must confess, I was
hiding out from the war in Saigon. I decided to do a story on “rural
electrification.” With only days left until I was scheduled
to leave country, they called it your ETD, estimated time of departure, I
got a strong feeling that my number was up. I thought that I was too
lucky too many times as a covered the war from the Highlands, throughout
III Corps and into the Delta, more than half of South Vietnam.<br />
<br />
None new where I was or how to find me in Saigon. Hiding out gathering
photos of how electricity was bringing work to the Vietnamese people
almost led me to miss my “freedom flight” back to the USA. I was unaware I had been
given a “seven-day drop” or in other words I was getting out of Vietnam
seven days early and I couldn't be found.<br />
<br />
They finally found me as I had
happened to meet an officer I served with in a Hawk missile command in
West Germany before I volunteered for Vietnam. (I found the Col War boring and had grown tired of of alerts in
the dead of winter, giving me frostbitten toes and finger tips.<br />
<br />
I did make my "freedom flight" home but remember nothing of it.<br />
<br />
I do remember finding myself alone at five o-clock in the morning in
my dress green U.S. Army uniform in the Denver airport waiting for a connecting flight back to my home in Cleveland.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-67119017303951115712012-11-07T15:49:00.000-05:002012-11-08T10:43:49.121-05:00Yes, Virgina, 'the times, they are a changin'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 class="headline">
Oh, Obama!<br />
</h1>
<img alt="PHOTO: President Barack Obama speaks, as a tear streams down his face, at his final campaign stop on the evening before the 2012 presidential election, Monday, Nov. 5, 2012, in Des Moines, Iowa." border="0" height="225" src="http://a.abcnews.com/images/ABC_Univision/ap_Obama_wins_121106_wg.jpg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" title="" width="400" />
<br />
<div class="caption">
<div id="main_cap_short">
<div class="caption">
President Barack Obama speaks, as a tear
streams down his face, at his final campaign stop on the evening before
the 2012 presidential election, Monday, Nov. 5, 2012, in Des Moines,
Iowa. <span class="caption_credit">((Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo))</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Obama 'change' sweeps old <span style="font-size: x-large;">guard </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">by Mike Marcellino</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, 'Virgina'...'the times, they are a changin' </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you think this is just a Bob Dylan song and a rallying cry for 'hippies' read what the Dali Lama had to say about President Obama's victory Tuesday. The Democrat president gathered 303 electoral votes (</span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">33 more than he needed), </span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">defeating the former Wolverine now Bostonian businessman Gov. Mitt Romney by more than 2.7 million votes.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">American singer songwriter Bob Dylan wrote "The Times They Are A Changin' nearly 50 years ago in 1964. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>"When you were elected in 2008, you inspired the world with a call to
take responsibility for the problems we face as global citizens. Since
then, you have made earnest efforts to live up to that great hope and
trust placed in you by the American public. I believe you have been
re-elected now in recognition of that effort." — the Dalai Lama.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">I didn't think it would happen, but it did. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">The new grass roots coalition of liberals, youths, blacks, Latinos, the poor and working class showed up again, turning out in great enough numbers to give the offbeat (or 'new beat') charismatic president four more years in the White House to wrangle Congress for real change, creating a strong country in which everyone has a fair shot at reaching 'the American dream.'</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's President Obama's victory speech on CSPAN - </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/IeCY-jKpoZ0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> On the eve of the most expensive presidential election in history - seemingly endless, often bitter and divisive, President Obama foretold his victory and those who would make the difference. He loudly proclaimed, without hesitation, himself as the champion of poor and working class, the less fortunate Americans. At the polls Tuesday these folks showed that they believe in him.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Also in the waning days of the campaign, Romney foretold his own demise. He took a punch at the Obama coalition, calling them freeloaders taking government handouts and it had to end. Mitt forgot these folks pay taxes and they proved that they show up. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">While I expected Romney to lose a close election, he even lost his double digit lead in Florida, an old South state now changing with an invasion of Yankees. He lost by 47,493 votes. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Majorities of 63 and 57 percent of folks making less than $30,000 or $50,000 backed the nation's first black president. Obama's call for "change" again ignited a majority of Americans. He drew large, enthusiastic crowds that actually reflected our nation's changing face of 2012. In contrast, Romney's crowds, while enthusiastic, were overwhelmingly white and aging, southern and western (minus the West Coast). </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Obama even carried Romney's 'home states' of Massachusetts and Michigan, capturing nearly 61 and 54 percent of the vote. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As a testament to his response to the Hurricane Sandy disaster, Obama carried New York and New Jersey, reeling form Hurricane Sandy and now a northeaster, by nearly 63 and 58 percent, landslides.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And, yes, President Obama did carry 'ole Virgina' by more than 108,000 votes. Now it may be 'so goes Virginia, so goes the nation.' I say this in all due respect to 'the bell weather state' Ohio, which Obama won by more than 100,000 votes. A Republican has never won without Ohio. Perhaps it's Virgina's time to call the future again.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And, I haven't heard of any 'civil war' going on just yet, as a Texas county judge had predicted. Romney did win Texas with 57 percent of the vote. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh, by the way, Money.com reports that Colorado and Washington state voters approved the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. Yes, 'the times, they are a changin.'</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><img alt="" border="0" height="316" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/dam/assets/121107125131-marijuana-colorado-legalize-story-top.jpg" width="475" /><br />
<br />
Voters have approved marijuana legalization in
Washington and Colorado, where this smoker celebrated the "420" holiday
in Denver earlier this year. <i>But it's still illegal, according to the
feds. </i><br />
<br />
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Voters in Washington and Colorado passed
ballot initiatives Tuesday to legalize marijuana for recreational use,
the biggest victory ever for the <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2012/11/06/news/economy/marijuana-legalization/index.html?iid=EL">legalization movement</a>.<br />
<br />
"The significance of these events cannot be understated," said
NORML, a pro-legalization organization, in a news release. "Tonight, for
the first time in history, two states have legalized and regulated the
adult use and sale of cannabis."<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, as the states ad feds fight over pot, here's more world reaction to Obama's second term as president of the United States -</span><br />
<br />
<i>One of the first things I want to talk to Barack about is how we must
do more to try and solve this crisis (in Syria). Above all,
congratulations to Barack. I've enjoyed working with him, I think he's a
very successful U.S. president and I look forward to working with him
in the future."— British Prime Minister David Cameron, on a visit to
Syrian refugees on the Jordanian border.</i><br />
<br />
<i>"Your
re-election is a clear choice in favor of an America that is open,
unified, completely engaged in the international scene and conscious of
the challenges facing our planet: peace, the economy and the
environment." — French President Francois Hollande.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Pope
Benedict XVI sent a message to Obama expressing hope that "ideals of
liberty and justice, which guided the founders of the U.S.A., may
continue to shine on the road ahead for the nation." — Vatican spokesman
the Rev. Federico Lombardi</i><br />
<br />
<i>As if a prediction of the outcome of the 2012 presidential election, Bob Dylan performs his classic song of change, "The Times They Are A Changin" first recorded in 1964 on an album of the same name. </i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/k2sYIIjS-cQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-14684975255633480442012-10-31T00:28:00.000-04:002012-10-31T00:43:02.095-04:00New Jersey Republican Gov Christie praises Democratic President Obama's leadership in an about face amid Hurricane Sandy devastation <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">'</span><span style="font-size: large;">Praise' and 'scorn' all in a day's politics</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">amid Hurricane Sandy's devastation </span></div>
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by Mike Marcellino</div>
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<i>New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie, the main surrogate for Mitt Romney in tight race to unseat President Barack Obama, may have discovered that praising your political enemy beats "scorn." In the past Christie has been anything but timid in wailing against Obama's "lack of leadership." In any case Gov Christie made the rounds on the morning shows to do his flip flop.</i></div>
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<b><i>"President Obama has been outstanding" - New Jersey Gov Chris Christie </i></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="400" id="il_fi" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hXwcHtdzZNU/UJA9sWe7eKI/AAAAAAAAF0w/rQR9rzhvRVU/s400/obama+chris+christie.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="333" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Republican Gov. Chris Christie, Mitt Romney's chief surrogate, walks hand in hand with Democratic President Barack Obama during a Hurricane Sandy stop.</td></tr>
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<b><i>Writing this opinion piece reminds me of reading Nineteen Eighty Four, the George Orwell fictional satire on totalitarianism and the dictatorship's "doublethink" and "doublespeak." Now in 2012 and the Internet age, it's getting awfully hard to know the truth when you hear or read the words of our national political leaders.</i></b></div>
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In American government and politics, especially in these days of
federal government gridlock, it's not what appears to be evident that matters;
it's what lies below the surface, in the wheeling and dealing in our nation's
capital and the state capital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Case in
point:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Republican Gov. Chris Christie,
who almost ran for president in this election though he was only in his second
year as governor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Christie today on CNN's Piers Morgan show praised Democratic
President Barack Obama for being "very cooperative" aiding New
Jersey, including the beach towns like Seaside Heights where Christie grew up, devastated
by super storm Hurricane Sandy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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On the surface folks think like Piers, who gushed over
Christie, that the Republican governor is a straight shooter, not playing
politics.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Think again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christie
appeared to care deeply and sincerely about his state and its people reeling
from 12 foot storm surges, heavy rains and high winds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sandy caused three deaths in New Jersey and a
total of more than 40 in the U.S. and $10-20 billion in damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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But, praising President Obama for doing his job could play
very well among independent and wavering Democrats for Obama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His tact could also play well when Governor
Christie runs for president most likely in 2016, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>unless Mitt Romney wins the election less than
seven days away. Christie appeared on television as a good guy and operating in
a non-partisan governing fashion, rather than the political same ol' same ol',
so prevalent in recent years.</div>
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If Christie had criticized Obama for his handling of the
natural disaster that could have hardened his support among Democrats and
independents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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One must also look at Christie's record of being implicated
but never prosecuted on one scandal after both as U. S. Attorney in New Hersey
and governor.</div>
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So, when reading the headlines and stories or watching on
television, look below the surface to try to get at true motivation for words
and deeds.</div>
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<i><b>One thing we know for sure - President Obama must be doing one hell of a good job dealing with killer super storm Hurricane Sandy. If you don't believe me, as his opposition.</b></i><br />
<br />
New Jersey Republican Gov Christie', a sharp critic of President Obama's failed leadership, does an about face on Democrat Obama's leadership amid Hurricane Sandy devastation. Christie, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's chief surrogate, calls Obama's leadership "outstanding. Maybe we should call off the election and declare Obama the winner. With Romney suddenly adopting most of President Obama's domestic and foreign relations stances, I am starting to see a Republican strategy of embracing your political enemy in order to defeat him. <b><br /></b><br />
<b></b><br />
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Here's some "political intelligence" from the Boston Globe on Gov. Christie's about face on President Obama's leadership. </div>
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<a href="http://www.boston.com/PoliticalIntelligence/category/Campaign_2012">Campaign 2012</a>
, <a href="http://www.boston.com/PoliticalIntelligence/category/Mitt_Romney">Mitt Romney</a>
, <a href="http://www.boston.com/PoliticalIntelligence/category/Politics">Politics</a>
, <a href="http://www.boston.com/PoliticalIntelligence/category/President_Obama">President Obama</a>
</div>
<h1>
Chris Christie, fierce Obama critic, praises president’s response to Hurricane Sandy</h1>
<br />
<div class="blogText">
<div class="byline">
By Callum Borchers, Globe Correspondent</div>
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<br /></div>
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who has blasted President
Obama’s leadership, heaped praise on Obama on Tuesday for his handling
of Hurricane Sandy.<br />
<br />
“The president has been outstanding in this and so have the folks at FEMA,” Christie said on NBC’s “Today” show.<br />
Christie, whose state is among the hardest hit by the storm, made
appearances on several morning talk shows on Tuesday and applauded Obama
at each stop.<br />
<br />
On MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Christie said “the president has been all
over this, and he deserves great credit. He gave me his number at the
White House and told me to call him if I needed anything and he
absolutely means it, and it’s been very good working with the president
and his administration.”<br />
<br />
On CNN’s “Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien,” Christie added that
Obama “has been incredibly supportive and helpful to our state, and not
once did he bring up the election.”<br />
<span style="border-top: 4px solid #B7DCFF; display: inline; float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-top: 6px; width: 165px;"></span><span style="border-top: 4px solid #B7DCFF; display: inline; float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-top: 6px; width: 165px;"><a class="ryv" href="http://action.raiseyourvoice.us/?api_key=3a562b0bd" id="ryvLink" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;"><img alt="Raise your voice" id="ryvLogo" src="http://cache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/facebook/ryv.png" style="border: none; height: 16px; padding-right: 3px;" />Raise Your Voice</a><br /><span id="ryvBlurb" style="clear: both; color: #272727; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 5px 0;">Click to contact candidates or elected officials about this issue.</span> </span>Christie
is a prominent surrogate for Republican presidential nominee Mitt
Romney and was tapped to deliver the keynote address at the Republican
National Convention in August. During that speech, Christie used
variations of the word “leader” 17 times, often in the context of
criticizing Obama.<br />
<br />
“It’s time to end this era of absentee leadership in the Oval Office
and send real leaders to the White House,” Christie said at the
convention in Tampa.<br />
“I believe in America and her history,” he added at another point. “There’s only one thing missing now: leadership.”<br />
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<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Callum Borchers can be reached at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4135840517827417463">callum.borchers@globe.com</a>. Follow him on Twitter <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4135840517827417463">@callumborchers</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">Here's the Piers Morgan 'chat' with Gov Christie</span></div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-7Foalz5Qs">Gov. Christie "not playing politics"?</a> </span>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-76864781682996773512012-10-27T22:19:00.002-04:002012-10-27T22:21:14.023-04:00Is 'Money' the root of America's downfall?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="File:United States one dollar bill, obverse.jpg" height="173" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/United_States_one_dollar_bill%2C_obverse.jpg/800px-United_States_one_dollar_bill%2C_obverse.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you will notice this one dollar bill with George Washington, our father and general, is not backed by gold or silver, but by faith in the United States of America</td></tr>
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<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Notebook Writer: Sound Off One Two </span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mUFBPVvXdjY/UIyTMmAwJwI/AAAAAAAAAqs/XHTZT7oBwF8/s1600/cowboy+mike+edit1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mUFBPVvXdjY/UIyTMmAwJwI/AAAAAAAAAqs/XHTZT7oBwF8/s320/cowboy+mike+edit1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Is 'Money' <i>at the root of America's downfall?</i> </span></b></span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Dear Folks, </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Preface: </span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">I've come to find out in writing this piece out of the blew looking at a scary graphic of Hurricane Sandy bearing down on our nation's capital, where I had just been and barely survived. (I might as well be at The Ritz in Cleveland rather than Union Station in DC, except for McDonald's where I totally lucked out and got a second Big Mac for one cent. Being rather busted nearing the end of the month in this great soggy depression in the USA, this two Big Macs maybe $3.71 (a good guess as i don't save Big Mac receipts kept me from starting on Amtrak's Silver Meteor to Florida.)</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">The train ride thanks to some great folks from all over creation and a super friendly and professional Amtrak staff made the 24 hour ride from Cleveland to Jacksonville a fun trip with coffee and cigarette breaks coming in the nick of time. And, this time I did not like my brothers before me get thrown off the train for no reason into the abyss of North Charleston, South Carolina where it costs $30 to look at a cap driver once you get past the city police. See my first of a series of stories on 'ridin' and rollin' on Amtrak'</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"> aka Wetlands to Badlands Tour 2012-3: Beat Poetry Music of Mike Marcellino</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<a href="http://www.notebookwriter.blogspot.com/2012/09/chooo-chooo-amtrak-silver-meteror.html">Choo Choo Amtrak....Part One 'Ridin' and Rollin' Amtrak</a><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"></span></i><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">They don't call "money" the "root of all
evil" for nothing.
"Money" has become persuasive lifestyle in American society
and our "gold rush" mentality and excessive quest to possess material
things. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Texas businessman Ross Perot
recently warned that the USA is at risk for "disaster" and
"takeover" due to the federal government's 'alcoholic' like
spending and 16 trillion debt. Perot ran as a third party
presidential candidate in 1992 and 1996.
Well, wish it were just that simple but on the other hand, the American
people are asleep at the switch in electing federal representatives that
perpetuate the decline of America.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><img alt="$ 1 6 , 2 0 5 , 5 2 2 , 6 7 9 , 3 4 7 . 7 5 " height="41" src="http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/debtiv.gif" width="421" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In spite of his piles of money, Perot failed in his bid for
president. In 1992, an independent group
of Cleveland, Ohio Vietnam veterans started Veterans for Clinton, the Vietnam
draft dodger along with George W. Bush.
We met up with Bill's Arkansas boys across northern Ohio, even caught by
Australian television, joined with union workers, women and peace an
environmental activists and helped sweep Clinton into the White House for eight
years of prosperity, progress and lack of wars. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A handful of veterans sitting on a Cleveland curb literally
energized Clinton's campaign in Ohio and across the country. He won the veteran vote, Ohio and counties
never won before by a Democrat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You ask, what's your point Mike? The point is I was there on the curb and
that anything is possible if Americans take action to make our country 'all it
can be' (I'm an Army veteran of Vietnam).
</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Clinton did emphasize veterans who have served and
sacrificed for their country, not just in the elections but all year long. That's rare.
He never thanked us formally, but I guess we didn't want his
'thanks" but his actions. When I
met for coffee in the Map Room of the White House in the bitter winter of
1992-3, I remember writing notes on some white slips of paper and said to
President Clinton and those dozen or so grass roots folks and senior political
aides. I simply asked him to test all he
does on whether it will strengthen the American family. He did a pretty good job.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Frontline produces some of the best, most accurate and fair
news coverage in the world. The
influence of 'Money' on our freedom is the greatest challenge of our time. I invite you to watch along with me and swap
notes on the future of the United States of America.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Note: this column by journalist Mike Marcellino was written in response to a graphic of Hurricane Sandy about to give a left hook into the nation's East Coast, perhaps centered on our capital, Washington, D.C, the house of emptiness. Mike just arrived in St. Augustine Beach, Florida after leaving by train just in time, from the District of Columbia, where he could not get a ride to the Vietnam Memorial, not even from Congress or the Office of the President or Vice President. More about Mike's DC Road Trip coming soon on his Notebook Writer Blog. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Take care,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mike</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">PS: Be great to hear from some of you folks about what's doing on in our country and where we're headed.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-68032427161119789742012-09-28T08:34:00.001-04:002013-05-03T22:56:39.378-04:00Chooo Chooo Amtrak Silver Meteor Jacksonville, Florida to The Big Apple, but no Mike<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O-PV5u6EFUs/UGWgbMSzKjI/AAAAAAAAAqU/tNfns8AcztI/s1600/800px-Silver_Meteor_train_97_passing_through_Elizabeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" kea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O-PV5u6EFUs/UGWgbMSzKjI/AAAAAAAAAqU/tNfns8AcztI/s400/800px-Silver_Meteor_train_97_passing_through_Elizabeth.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's 9:06am, Friday, and I should be on that train just two hours out of Union Station and New York City jammin with all my friends in The Big Apple (Photo Wikipedia)</td></tr>
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<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Chooo Chooo Amtrak Silver Meteor Jacksonville, Florida to The Big Apple, but no Mike</span></b><br />
<br />
by Mike Marcellino<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I was thrilled again, just as a child riding in coach, and even once in a compartment on the Sanfa Fe El Captian from Chicago to Los Angeles. Happy as a 7-year old can be, while getting creamed in games of gin rummy with my Dad, Tony.<br />
<br />
I had set out to the Amtrak station on the outskirts of Jacksonville, amazed that I had packed in time. I always over pack, so this time I just downsized, making Governor Romney quite proud of me.<br />
<br />
Outside the station on a not too warm Thursday, September 28, I took a smoke break, Army style, feeling it's great to be alive, after Vietnam, that is. Then I noticed that everyone was already in line inside. They check you in at the car door in my experience in most places, even Washington, DC.<br />
<br />
When I made my reservations on the Silver Meteor, I requested a window seat, explaining I was a combat veteran of the Vietnam War and being in the isle seat is very discomforting for someone with "'a classic case" of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) the docs told me at the Center for Stress Recover at the VA Medial Center in Cleveland. The Amtrak reservation folks were quite considerate and said they would make a note and see what they could do, but it would be up to the Amtrak border person. <br />
<br />
Walking inside, I say the long line of folks of all sorts, with lots of kids waiting in line. <br />
<br />
<br />
"Oh, do I need to get at the end of the line?" I asked the Amtrak man, sheepishly.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Yes, end of the line for you," the Amtrak man said to me. <br />
<br />
<br />
"Well," I said, "End of the line for me," I added, borrowing Captain Willard's line when he got his "mission" to go out and kill one of his brothers-in-arms' cause he'd used the same tactics as the enemy. <br />
<br />
<br />
By the way, I'm typing this story in the Business center of the Charleston, South Carolina, not New York City, and red on and you'll see why.<br />
<br />
<br />
I happily step up to the boarding lady and her Amtrak man. Gosh, they were nice. I told her I was a disabled combat U.S. Army veteran and had asked for a window seat. She didn't reply, looking at her seating chart. <br />
<br />
<br />
Wahoo! I go t my window seat, No 39 and the car wasn't very crowded. Since I'm a notorious slow and bad packer (in the Army I was strack but I think "too many missions, too many helicopter rides, jet strikes, in a man-made sandy new firebase in or near Cambodia. (Whoops, sorry, we weren't supposed to be in Cambodian then but that was where the enemy got away to every day.<br />
<br />
<br />
I was famished. Walked to the dining car after a Bud and asked if I could have dinner. I waited for a while and finally someone noticed me. I was told I had to have a reservation so I made one for 8:15pm, which I later learned was "last call."<br />
<br />
Well, after a quick smoke break in, I think Jessup. Yes, I remember now, as a young woman had said something to me and explained she had never been out of Georgia and was afraid to travel on the train. "You'll be fine," I said, smiling. "Riding Amtrak is wonderful. You've be fine." I think I calmed her down, she smiled and walked away.<br />
<br />
I got back aboard eager for dinner as a musician headed for New York told me he had some great Maryland crab cakes (I'm a Baltimore boy). But, I was told there were only two items left on the menu - a steak somewhere over thirty bucks, and pasta that didn't sound very appealing.<br />
<br />
Well, I guess it's a hot dog for me, but it was Kosher.<br />
<br />
Now is where the real drama begins. I had spent my time in the lounge car, relaxing and fixin' to play some solitaire and hearing this most unique shrilling loud but cheerful laugh from a young graphic designer from Savannah.<br />
<br />
I turned, thinking about the hot dog and crab cakes I missed. I bet the first class folks had crab cake, but for me at the tail end they called "last call" but I didn't know that.<br />
<br />
"How come there's very little food left in the dining car," I asked an Amtrak man who, unfortunately turned out to be the conductor. Every Amtraker had been so friendly and nice so far but that was to end in a nightmare for me.<br />
<br />
The "conductor" who I guess runs the train, though I always thought it was the engineer who really ran the train. The conductor looked up and said something about the matter of little food for regular folk like me. "It's Amtrak policy out of ..." I think he said Miami.<br />
<br />
"Well, I replied, smiling, I think Amtrak should change it's policy.<br />
<br />
And then I got the look form him I will never forget, and not many minutes later I found out the whole story. <br />
<br />
I returned to my seat to find a huge man taking up both my seat and the one next to him.<br />
<br />
I walked back down the isle and told an Amtrak man that a big man was in my seat taking up a seat and a half. I said I can't do this, I have PTSD.<br />
<br />
The Amtrak man was nice and he moved me to number fifty somethin' at the front of the car facing a blank wall. I could put my boots up. Trouble is my frostbite on my toes from that winter in Germany guarding the Czech border from the Russians. (I knew they weren't going to do anything because the Five K Zone was peaceful with nobody around and I know that 'cause me and the colonel's driver drove right into the "no man's land" without a scratch.)<br />
<br />
Then the conductor lowered the boom on me. Suddenly he was in front of me with another Amtrak man looking quite threatening.<br />
<br />
"What happened?" he asked abruptly and unkindly.<br />
<br />
"Nothing happened," I said, now scared of the Amtrak man more than the enemy in Vietnam.<br />
<br />
Well, they left, but a few minutes later in the darkened car, a bunch of Amtrak men suddenly stood in front of me as we pulled into the station.<br />
<br />
The conductor said he had two complaints from passengers about me.<br />
<br />
He gave me no chance to say a word, in my defense or otherwise.<br />
<br />
"Your are off the train," the conductor said.<br />
<br />
"These guys mean business," I thought, now resolved to my fate.<br />
<br />
After I made my way from the Silver Meteor I was greeted by a bunch of local police. Fortunately they were nice and respectful.<br />
<br />
"Am I charged with something. Under arrest?"<br />
<br />
"No, we have nothing to charge you for," the officer said.<br />
<br />
So there I was alone as alone can be in the dark at the Amtrak station in North Charleston, South Carolina.<br />
<br />
I took a cab, but to the airport as I was told by the cab driver that the bus station was closed for the night.<br />
<br />
"Well, it's the airport for me," to myself.<br />
<br />
And, here I am typing way on the PC in the Business Center of the Charleston airport.<br />
<br />
<br />
Funny thing, now I recall that everyone I talked with from the cab driver to the really nice folks at the airport seemed to understand what happened to me, like it was par for the course for the Silver Meteor.<br />
<br />
Then I realized by mistake.<br />
<br />
I had chatted with a woman and her baby boy on and off. She told me she was the wife of the train engineer. "Wow I thought, wouldn't it be cool to get into the engineer and add that to my series of stories about reliving my Santa Fe days.<br />
<br />
You see my mistake was being honest. I told her I was a journalist doing a story on riding Amtrak on my coast to coaster Wetland to Badlands tour zig zaggng American on the choo choo. "I was hoping to do a good story about Amtrak, now it's looking bad."<br />
<br />
And that's when Mike, host of "Notebook Writer," "the best of" Blog Talk Radio, got booted into Charleston and a $22 cab fare and no way to get out of Charleston.<br />
<br />
Now the screech of the iron wheels on The Silver Meteor smells more than a bit stinky.<br />
<br />
And now I recall watching a man pulled off the train in just about the same fashion. I wonder what he did to deserve being trapped on the out shirts of Charleston, in North Charleston or something. Now, I too know what "Chooo, Chooo, Amtrak Silver Meteor, but no Mike feels like.<br />
<br />
It's 8:10am Think I'll go out and take a smoke break and see the sun rise. I had called Amtrak in the middle of the night and they said no one there could help me and to call customer service after they open at 8pm. The Amtrak man on the phone didn't miss a beat, like this stuff happens all the time.<br />
<br />
Now I wonder just how many passengers get kicked off the government trains in the middle of the night in no where's ville.<br />
<br />
At some point I will call Amtrak media relations and asked them some questions, but right now I'm light by $16 dollars to the airport Business Center.<br />
<br />
The people at the airport are so nice and sympathetic. They look at me nod there heads and smile in a supportive, caring way. They know what it's all about.<br />
<br />
To me it smacks of dictatorship. I never go ta chance to say a word or hear a charge.....<br />
<br />
<br />
Choo Choo Amtrak Silver Meteor Jacksonville to the Big Apple, but no Mike.<br />
<br />
<br />
copyright Mike Marcellino, 2012 Choo Choo Amtrak Silver Meteor Jacksonvile, Florida to the Big Apple, but no Mike</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-86062726493095012642012-09-18T19:15:00.003-04:002012-09-18T19:24:05.363-04:00Are veterans on your "hit list" too, Gov Romney?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Governor Mitt Romney caught off guard by "hidden" video as he spoke to rich donors. It's reported that former President Jimmy Carter's grandson "leaked" the video.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mike to Mitt: Are military veterans on your hit list too?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">An Open Letter to Governor Mitt Romney,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Do you really believe that I and my fellow veterans of America's wars
are freeloaders - "handout victims" as you called us in your speech. If
you do, I resent your remarks and your beliefs. Of course,
I know you were caught "off guard" by a video of you speaking to raise
more money for your campaign for president. You thought no one other
than your pals were watching but the grandson of Jimmy Carter leaked the
video to the American people and the world.</span><br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I am a veteran of
the U. S. Army in the Vietnam War where I served as a combat
correspondent and photojournalist and would bet you 100 shares of stock
that I've seen more 'action' in my life than you have. I also served as
a civilian journalist, receiving national awards for investigative and
community service reporting. I protect your freedom so say offensive
and false things about me and my fellow veterans. And, being a reporter
on the streets of America is a form of combat too. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Handouts?" I, and millions of my fellow veterans, especially of
combat, are alive and functioning as well as I can be today thanks to
the medical and financial services provided by the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs. During one of my illnesses I also received temporary
cash support for a year, your so-called "handouts" from the state of
Ohio, in part using federal dollars. Does this make me a "victim" Gov.
Romney? Well, if I am a victim, I am proud of it, proud to serve my
country.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">You said that you were speaking about the supporters
of President Obama in the presidential election when you referred to the
"victims" of "handouts." As a journalist I do not publicly support any
candidate. What I do in the voting booth is my business, but you can
be assured that unless you apologize and explain yourself you have lost
my vote for good and I would bet the vote of many fellow combat veterans
who needed or will need help from their country. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sincerely,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Mike Marcellino</span><br />
Veteran, U. S. Army, II Field Force, Vietnam War, 1967-68 Four Campaign Stars/Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry <br />
folk music artists #26 Folk charts, New York City (ReverbNation)<br />
author, "Notebook Writer Blog" #2Poetry #3Writing #5Music #8Photography #10Politics<br />
Host/producer, "Notebook Writer" Internet radio show on writers, Red River Radio, Blog Talk Radio</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Washington Post, September 18, 2012</span></b><br />
<h1>
<span class="entry-title">On Letterman, Obama says Romney ‘writing off’ much of country</span></h1>
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<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/top-8-things-late-night-tv-has-taught-us-about-obama-and-the-first-lady/2012/09/18/90d1af64-01cc-11e2-b257-e1c2b3548a4a_video.html"><img src="http://img.wpdigital.net/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2012/04/25/Style/Images/NUP_149747_0032.JPG" /></a>
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<b><b>Video: </b></b>
As President Obama gets ready to appear on David Letterman’s show on
Tuesday, we take a look back at what the interviews on late-night
television have revealed about the first family.
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<h3>
By <span class="author vcard"> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/amy-gardner/2011/02/02/ABlP8AJ_page.html" rel="author">Amy Gardner</a></span>, <span class="timestamp updated processed"></span>
<span class="timestamp updated processed">Updated: Tuesday, September 18, <span class="time special">6:26 PM</span></span>
</h3>
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<div class="article_body entry-content">
<article>
<span class="dateline"></span> NEW YORK — President Obama
responded Tuesday to controversial remarks by Republican Mitt Romney by
suggesting that his opponent was “writing off a big chunk of the
country” and was wrong to suggest that nearly half of Americans think of
themselves as victims entitled to a handout from government.<br />
In an interview on “The Late Show with David Letterman” taped
Tuesday afternoon in New York and scheduled to air nationally later in
the evening, Obama said:</article>
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<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/the-impact-of-romneys-47percent-remark-does-this-set-him-back/2012/09/18/68cd4158-01a0-11e2-b260-32f4a8db9b7e_video.html"><img alt="The Washington Post’s Anne Kornblut looks at how Mitt Romney’s remarks in a video from a campaign fundraiser might hurt his campaign’s efforts to reach certain demographic groups." class="" src="http://img.wpdigital.net/rf/image_296w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2012/09/18/National-Politics/Images/2012-09-18T023656Z_01_JEY923_RTRIDSP_3_USA-CAMPAIGN.jpg" style="display: inline;" /></a>
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The Washington Post’s Anne Kornblut looks at
how Mitt Romney’s remarks in a video from a campaign fundraiser might
hurt his campaign’s efforts to reach certain demographic groups.</div>
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<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/mitt-romney-caught-on-video-tape/2012/09/17/38578a5e-012f-11e2-b257-e1c2b3548a4a_blog.html">Mitt Romney, caught on videotape</a></h2>
<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/mitt-romney-caught-on-video-tape/2012/09/17/38578a5e-012f-11e2-b257-e1c2b3548a4a_blog.html"><img alt="Mitt Romney, caught on videotape" class="left" src="http://img2.wpdigital.net/rf/image_90x60/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2012/09/17/National-Politics/Images/Romney_2012_0e283-7056.jpg" style="display: block;" /></a>
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Glenn Kessler <span class="timestamp processed" id="ts_13210455056415082_1347988255720">SEP 17</span></div>
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THE FIX | Without conservative outside groups, this might not be a close race at all.</div>
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Chris Cillizza <span class="timestamp processed" id="ts_0708710135674071_1348006956761">SEP 17</span></div>
THE FIX | The candidate’s comments about the "47 percent" come at the worst possible time for him politically.</div>
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<article>
“When I won in 2008, 47 percent of the American people voted
for John McCain,” Obama said. “They didn’t vote for me and what I said
on election night was: ‘Even though you didn’t vote for me, I hear your
voices, and I’m going to work as hard as I can to be your president.’”<br />
Obama
said presidential candidates are always under the microscope and are
going to make mistakes. Letterman reminded the president of his own
gaffe in the 2008 campaign, when he spoke of conservatives who “cling to
guns or religion.” But Obama noted that he immediately apologized for
the statement — an apparent contrast to Romney’s defense of his
comments, which Romney called “inelegant” but reflective of his views.<br />
The statements in question came to light on Monday, when Mother Jones released <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/after-romney-watched-grainy-video-a-mad-scramble-to-respond/2012/09/18/f54a19c0-018d-11e2-b260-32f4a8db9b7e_story.html"> videos</a>
from a private fundraiser in Florida in May in which Romney dismisses
Obama’s supporters as “victims” who take no responsibility for their
livelihoods and who think they are entitled to government handouts. He
said that his job “is not to worry about those people. I’ll never
convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for
their lives.”<br />
On Tuesday afternoon, Mother Jones released <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/09/watch-full-secret-video-private-romney-fundraiser">the full video</a>,
including controversial remarks showing the Republican nominee saying
that Palestinians have “no interest whatsoever” in reaching a peace
agreement with Israel.<br />
In the Letterman interview, Obama said traveling the country he never meets anyone ”who doesn’t believe in the American dream.”<br />
“There
are not a lot of people out there who think they’re victims,” he said.
“There are not a lot of people who think they’re entitled to something.”<br />
But,
he added: “We’ve got some obligations to each other, and there’s
nothing wrong with us giving each other a helping hand so that that
single mom’s kid, even after all the work she’s done, can afford to go
to college.”<br />
Tuesday was Obama’s second appearance on the
Letterman show since he became president. First lady Michelle Obama was a
guest on the show earlier this month. The program was scheduled to air
at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.<br />
The president was Letterman’s sole guest
Tuesday, and he sat for a wide-ranging interview that included a few
lighter moments as well as more serious ones. Letterman lingered on a
number of serious topics, asking Obama to explain the nation’s budget
crisis at length and to comment on the gridlock that much of the nation
sees in Washington.<br />
“There’s more than enough blame to spread around,” Obama said. “These problems have been around for a decade or more.”<br />
Asked
about the violence in Libya last week that led to the death of
Ambassador Christopher Stevens, Obama said the administration’s top
priorities now are to “refortify” security at American embassies abroad
and to bring the murderers to justice. He criticized the offending
anti-Muslim video that triggered the violence, but he said the video was
not an excuse for violence.</article>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-21986250634696743052012-08-29T00:30:00.000-04:002012-09-18T19:52:53.880-04:00Eerie Hurricane Isaac engulfs New Orleans on 'Katrina Day'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="http://www.sciencecodex.com/aggregated-images/tech/pRcwko556gKU4cyo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hurricane Isaac grows and grows into what may end up being a massive storm the size of Texas that's also feeling the storm's impact</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--usCF9rrn9A/UDst2uLJo3I/AAAAAAAAAp0/xCmM_oIO9d0/s1600/120826034135-tropical-storm-isaac-map-t1-main-450x350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--usCF9rrn9A/UDst2uLJo3I/AAAAAAAAAp0/xCmM_oIO9d0/s400/120826034135-tropical-storm-isaac-map-t1-main-450x350.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then Tropical Storm Isaac yesterday., making its way to New Orleans<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/gADEE-XEF-4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">CNN reports from Grand Isles and the city of New Orleans. Isaac's hurricane storm surge already reaches levies just outside the $14 billion main levy built after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005. Let's hope the levy 'doesn't run dry' on the people of 'The Big Easy'. The dude on the right of Anderson Cooper is Rob Marciano. Any relation to Rocky? A million people are expected to lose their power and Isaac may dump 20 inches of rain or more on the 'Crescent City'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Eye of Isaac blurs half of the Gulf of Mexico, New Orleans and the Gulf Coast before fateful dawn of August 29th</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">3.25 pm Tuesday, August 28, 2012 </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hurricane Isaac begins to strike the coast of Louisiana at
3:25pm CDT.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bands of thunderstorms from the giant Hurricane Isaac begin
to hit New Orleans.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Isaac will lash the city of New Orleans with hurricane force
winds for the next day and a half, 24-36 hours of 85 mph plus winds, of an
ocean surge twelve feet high and tornadoes; the massive storm, thought by some
to be the size of Texas, so far isn't packing 95 mph plus winds weathermen had
feared. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Heavy rains are striking Grand Isle and Lake Pontchartrain
at this moment, not any extreme bands, yet. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hurricane warnings are up from New Iberia and Jeanerette, Louisiana
to the barrier islands off Pensacola in Florida's Panhandle. Flood warnings are up from Orange, the first
town across the border in Texas, on the Sabine River stretching east into parts
of southern Alabama, reaching toward Montgomery. Tropical storm watches and warning reach west
to around Port Author and Beaumont, Texas east to Chattahoochee, Florida and
Lake Seminole in Georgia. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Isaac's width stretches more than 300 miles from the
Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana border to more than 100 miles out into the
Gulf of Mexico.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But Isaac's clouds size is enormous, a hurricane stretching
along a line from Padre Island, Texas to Fort Myers, Florida. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The storm now crawls northwest, hugging the coast of Louisiana,
at 8 mph, slowing down but gaining strength with sustained winds of 80mph and
gusts of 125mph. Forecasters believe
Isaac may reach Cat 2 force winds of 100 mph with greater gusts. Isaac will
raise havoc for the next day or so. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">New Orleans and Louisiana were spared another Hurricane
Katrina, as Isaac traveled over "cool eddy’s" of the Gulf waters,
according to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the California Institute of Technology. Thanks, Cool Eddy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, Isaac pushed gas prices in Butler County, Ohio
this morning from 3.67 to $4 a gallon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b> Jet Propulsion Laboratory at California Institute of Technology story on why Isaac may not be another Hurricane Katrina</b></i></span></div>
<h1 class="h1news">
Cooler Waters Help Diminish Isaac's Punch</h1>
<span class="lead_image"><img alt="Color-enhanced image of sea surface heights in the Gulf of Mexico, showing Hurricane Isaac's path through the Gulf and around its warmest waters." border="0" height="218" src="http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/earth/20120828/hurricane20120828-640.jpg" width="400" /></span>
<span class="photo_caption">Color-enhanced image of
sea surface heights in the Gulf of Mexico, showing Hurricane Isaac's
path through the Gulf and around its warmest waters. Image credit: LSU
Earth Scan Laboratory/U. of Colorado CCAR/NASA-JPL/Caltech
<br />
<a href="http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/earth/20120828/hurricane20120828-full.jpg">› Larger view</a></span>
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<div class="bold">
August 28, 2012</div>
Seven years after the powerful Category 3 Hurricane Katrina caused
widespread devastation along the Gulf Coast, a Category 1 Hurricane
Isaac, with maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour (70 knots), is
making landfall today in southeast Louisiana. And one of the reasons why
Isaac is not Katrina is the path it took across the Gulf of Mexico and
the temperature of the ocean below, which helps to fuel hurricanes.
<br />
<br />
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina's maximum wind speeds increased dramatically
as the storm passed over a warm ocean circulation feature called the
Loop Current that is part of the Gulf Stream. The storm evolved quickly
from a Category 3 to a Category 5 event on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane
Wind Scale in a matter of nine hours as it drew heat from the Loop
Current. It subsequently dropped in intensity to a Category 3 storm at
landfall.
<br />
<br />
Because the Loop Current and its eddies are warmer, and thus higher in
surface elevation, than the surrounding waters, they are easily spotted
by satellite altimeter instruments, such as those aboard the NASA/French
Space Agency Jason 1 and Ocean Surface Topography Mission/Jason 2
satellites. Scientists use the latest satellite measurements of
sea-surface height from these and other satellite altimeters to create
maps showing the location, direction and speed of currents in the Gulf
of Mexico.
<br />
<br />
This color-enhanced image of sea surface heights in the northeastern
Gulf, produced using data from available satellite altimeters, including
NASA's Jason-1 and Jason-2 satellites, shows Isaac's path through the
Gulf. The storm skirted around the Loop Current, then caught the outer
edge of a warm eddy before passing directly over a cold eddy. The
storm's track away from the Gulf's warmest waters has helped to keep
Isaac from intensifying rapidly, as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita did in
2005.
<br />
<br />
Warm eddies have high heat content and great potential to intensify
hurricanes, whereas cold eddies have low heat content and may even cause
hurricanes to weaken, as was the case with Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Latest Public Advisory from the National Hurricane Center in
Miami</span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">000</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">WTNT34 KNHC 290058</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">TCPAT4</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">BULLETIN</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">HURRICANE ISAAC INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 31B</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL092012</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">800 PM CDT TUE AUG 28 2012</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">...ISAAC MOVING SLOWLY NORTHWESTWARD ALONG THE COAST OF
SOUTHEAST</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">LOUISIANA...DANGEROUS STORM SURGE CONTINUING ALONG THE
NORTHERN</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">GULF COAST...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">SUMMARY OF 800 PM CDT...0100 UTC...INFORMATION</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">----------------------------------------------</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">LOCATION...29.0N 89.6W</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">ABOUT 30 MI...50 KM WSW OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI
RIVER</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">ABOUT 75 MI...120 KM SSE OF NEW ORLEANS LOUISIANA</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...80 MPH...130 KM/H</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">PRESENT MOVEMENT...NW OR 315 DEGREES AT 8 MPH...13 KM/H</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...968 MB...28.59 INCHES</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">WATCHES AND WARNINGS</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">--------------------</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">NONE.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">* EAST OF MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA TO THE MISSISSIPPI-ALABAMA
BORDER...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">INCLUDING METROPOLITAN NEW ORLEANS...LAKE
PONTCHARTRAIN...AND LAKE</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">MAUREPAS</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">* INTRACOASTAL CITY TO MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">* THE MISSISSIPPI-ALABAMA BORDER TO DESTIN FLORIDA</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">* MORGAN CITY TO CAMERON LOUISIANA</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">* EAST OF HIGH ISLAND TEXAS TO JUST WEST OF CAMERON
LOUISIANA</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING
POSSIBLE</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">------------------------------</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">AT 800 PM CDT...0100 UTC...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE ISAAC WAS
LOCATED</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">BY NOAA DOPPLER RADAR NEAR LATITUDE 29.0 NORTH...LONGITUDE
89.6</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">WEST. ISAAC IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 8 MPH...13
KM/H. A</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">NORTHWESTWARD MOTION AT A SLIGHTLY SLOWER SPEED IS EXPECTED
OVER</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. ON THE FORECAST TRACK...THE CENTER OF</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">HURRICANE ISAAC WILL CONTINUE MOVING NEAR OR OVER THE
SOUTHEASTERN</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">COAST OF LOUISIANA OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS...AND MOVE
FARTHER INLAND</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">OVER SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 80 MPH...130 KM/H...WITH
HIGHER</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">GUSTS. ISAAC IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON THE
SAFFIR-SIMPSON</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">HURRICANE WIND SCALE. SOME SLIGHT STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">BEFORE ISAAC MOVES INLAND...WHILE GRADUAL WEAKENING IS
EXPECTED</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">AFTER THAT.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 60 MILES...95
KM...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">MAINLY TO THE NORTHEAST AND EAST OF THE CENTER.
TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 185 MILES...295 KM. TROPICAL
STORM</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">CONDITIONS ARE OCCURRING ALONG THE COASTAL AREAS OF SOUTHEASTERN</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">LOUISIANA...MISSISSIPPI...AND ALABAMA. A SUSTAINED WIND OF
52 MPH</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">WITH A GUST TO 64 MPH WAS OBSERVED WITHIN THE PAST HOUR AT</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">LAKEFRONT AIRPORT IN NEW ORLEANS.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">THE MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY RECONNAISSANCE
AIRCRAFT WAS</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">968 MB...28.59 INCHES.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">----------------------</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">STORM SURGE...THE COMBINATION OF A STORM SURGE AND THE TIDE
WILL</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">CAUSE NORMALLY DRY AREAS NEAR THE COAST TO BE FLOODED BY
RISING</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">WATERS. THE WATER COULD REACH THE FOLLOWING DEPTHS ABOVE
GROUND IF</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">THE PEAK SURGE OCCURS AT THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">* MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA...6 TO 12 FT</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">* ALABAMA...4 TO 8 FT</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">* SOUTH-CENTRAL LOUISIANA...3 TO 6 FT</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">* FLORIDA PANHANDLE...3 TO 6 FT</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">* APALACHEE BAY...2 TO 4 FT</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">* REMAINDER OF FLORIDA WEST COAST...1 TO 3 FT</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">THE DEEPEST WATER WILL OCCUR ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST IN
AREAS OF</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">ONSHORE WINDS.
SURGE-RELATED FLOODING DEPENDS ON THE RELATIVE</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">TIMING OF THE SURGE AND THE TIDAL CYCLE...AND CAN VARY
GREATLY OVER</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">SHORT DISTANCES. FOR
INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">SEE PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER SERVICE
OFFICE. NEAR THE</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">COAST...THE SURGE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE AND DANGEROUS
WAVES.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">A STORM SURGE OF 9.5 FEET WAS RECENTLY REPORTED AT A
NATIONAL</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">OCEAN SERVICE TIDE GAUGE AT SHELL BEACH LOUISIANA. A STORM SURGE</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">OF 5.7 FEET WAS OBSERVED AT A NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE TIDE
GAUGE IN</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">WAVELAND MISSISSIPPI.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">WIND...TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD
ACROSS THE</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">WARNING AREA THIS EVENING...AND HURRICANE CONDITIONS SHOULD
SPREAD</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">ONSHORE ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA DURING THE NEXT FEW
HOURS.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">WINDS AFFECTING THE UPPER FLOORS OF HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS WILL
BE</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">SIGNIFICANTLY STRONGER THAN THOSE NEAR GROUND LEVEL. AT
ABOUT THE</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">30TH STORY...WINDS WOULD LIKELY BE ONE SAFFIR-SIMPSON
CATEGORY</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">STRONGER THAN AT THE SURFACE.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">RAINFALL...ISAAC IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL
AMOUNTS OF</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">7 TO 14 INCHES...WITH POSSIBLE ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF
20</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">INCHES...OVER MUCH OF LOUISIANA...SOUTHERN
MISSISSIPPI...SOUTHERN</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">ALABAMA...AND THE EXTREME WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE. THESE
RAINS</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">COULD RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT LOWLAND FLOODING.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">TORNADOES...TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE NORTHERN GULF
COAST</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">THROUGH TONIGHT.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">SURF...DANGEROUS SURF AND RIP CURRENT CONDITIONS WILL
CONTINUE TO</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">AFFECT THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA AND PORTIONS OF THE
NORTHERN GULF</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">COAST FOR THE NEXT DAY OR SO.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">-------------</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY...1000 PM CDT.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">$$</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">FORECASTER BROWN/KIMBERLAIN/BERG</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">I don't know what those two dollars signs are for, but
thanks "Brown Kimgerlain and Berg for a very cool Hurricane Isaac Public
Advisory.</span></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></i></div>
<a name='more'></a><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></i><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>'Hurricane' Isaac may strike New Orleans </i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>seven years after Katrina, to the day, August 29th</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Déjà vu? Let's hope not</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">by Mike Marcellino</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It's looking more likely Hurricane Isaac will smack into New
Orleans. or very nearby on the Mississippi Gulf Coast Wednesday, seven years to the day, August 29 as Katrina did in 2005,
with near as much force (110 mph vs 130) and maybe a storm surge of as high as
9-13 feet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Four years after Katrina, in the winter of 2009 folks were
struggling and not thinkin' they were gettin' a fair shake from their
government, I listen to a radio show about that. People calling in from New
Orleans and all over, about their suffering, wailing against their government.
I wrote a poetry music song on that, "Hurricanes of Humanity."
(performed, not yet recorded). I do hope and pray New Orleans residents, or
anyone goes through a replay of that. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sunday afternoon, I listened to a traditional and new
American country and bluegrass music show Sunday Afternoon Breakdown, co-hosted
by Ernie and Debi. Cool music and show, but fell asleep before they played my
Bill Monroe. song request. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Heard Ernie say, "It's as big as the size of Texas! I
thought he was, well, on 'bluegrass" or something. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Look at this recent NOAA Satellite Image. Looks as big as
Texas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">After leaving 10 dead in Earthquake devastated Haiti and
drenching the laid back Florida Keys, Isaac churns, slowing getting stronger.
The National Hurricane Center says Isaac will strike New Orleans or the nearby
Mississippi Gulf coast, as a Cat 2 hurricane, with extremely dangerous winds
and extensive damage. Governors of Louisiana and Mississippi declared states of
emergency Sunday and President Obama Sunday alerted FEMA (Federal Emergency
Management Agency). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The people of New Orleans know what a Cat 3 hurricane can do
- a toll of at least 1,836 lives and $81 billion damage. The city still hasn't
recovered and many folks still don't think much of FEMA. Let's hope they do it
right this time, if needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Stay tuned to my "Notebook Writer blog" for updates later today and additional writing and stories on soon to be Hurricane Isaac and its impact to people of the Gulf Coast and around the world. </b></i></span><br />
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<i>Raw footage from striking Key West, Florida Sunday produced by Chasingvideo.com, the Worlds Largest Severe Weather Virtual Stock Video Archive
And Severe Weather Electronic News Gathering Agency.</i><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-19392397690695698962012-08-12T08:36:00.000-04:002012-08-12T19:28:19.600-04:00Muhammad Ali: A Kiss for 'the Greatest'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cr_F0Igc354/UCc3UZHCIOI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/sF1G8JYDmTg/s1600/360px-StangoAli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cr_F0Igc354/UCc3UZHCIOI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/sF1G8JYDmTg/s400/360px-StangoAli.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muhammad Ali pop painting <br />
by John Stango</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>A kiss for 'the greatest'</b></span></div>
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by Mike Marcellino</div>
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When I returned to Singapore in 1979, I was stunned by my Indian-Chinese sister-in-law's story of the kiss she gave Muhammad Ali. </div>
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Dindi Devi, then with the Singapore government, was working at the United Nations in New York City that day. </div>
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As she walked in a hallway, Ali walked toward her. She quick stepped up to him and planted her kiss on the check of her hero - "The Greatest, and a hero of the world. Listening, I felt like I was there. To me Ali is more than an icon. While he is the greatest boxer of all time, he is also a wonderful and courageous human being. </div>
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Ali reminds me of my Sicilian, Italian-American Dad, Tony Marcellino, who my boyfriends called, with great respect,"Big Tone" Both have fists of iron and hearts of gold. </div>
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Tony's was my "father" since I was a 3-year-old when my mother, Katherine, me and my freckled-faced older brother lived in the Fleetwood hotel on Miami Beach. It was at The Fleetwood where Katherine and Tony fell in love.</div>
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Our mother, Katherine Ricker, and father, Emory Ensor, split up. I wrote a poem about those days, "Flying Over the Fleetwood" but haven't yet recorded it as a lyrical poetry song. I have performed it a couple of times on stage in Cleveland and Baltimore. </div>
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Beautiful Katherine, with long flowing light brown hair, was Presbyterian Protestant from Alsace Lorraine on the French-German border. There was some English and Scotch in there too, but I'm all mixed up. All I do know is something my dear Aunt Dot wrote in pencil on a piece of white paper. I still have it. </div>
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Emory Ensor, with dashing black hair, a sometimes assistant starter at Pimlico and horse racing tracks up and down the East Coast, was a wild Englishman, and Scotch-Irish Catholic. Katherine was a strong-willed woman, and stern, but she had a giving heart. She was raised like Cinderella by a cruel aunt and uncle. They made her scrub the floors on her hands and knees all the time while everyone else her age was out having fun in Baltimore City in the Roaring Twenties. </div>
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Katherine was the kind of mother, I never called her "mom," that cooks and cooks great stuff like English meatloaf with mashed potatoes and string beans; the kind that never sits down until everyone else is up from the table. One thing I know - my father's side is a family of horse people, thoroughbreds. The proof is my great uncle, Buddy Ensor, the greatest hand rider ever, is a hall of fame jockey. She had never been further than The Maryland Shore in her working class life, but she somehow took us down to south Florida. Perhaps she'd been down to Hialeah race track and had connections. That I'll never know, but it would make a good story.</div>
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Tony, I always called him with the greatest respect, fought in the ring as a teenager all over the Midwest and East Coast during the years of The Depression. </div>
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Tony Marcellino - he fought light and middleweight for thirty-five dollars if he was lucky. He told me he often fought under made up names, like an actor. He had a lot of fights, hundreds, but not too many and turned professional. Said he was never knocked out. Not even knocked down. Once he said a referee called a knockdown. He said it was a slip. I believe him. Tony was as honest as an arrow. I believed and listened to every word he said. He was quit a philosopher too.</div>
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In Los Angeles I almost seriously took up boxing. After school I would spar with a friend named Mike Palooka, I swear that was his name, but the comic book character was "Joe." One day I realized he was a bit quicker with his hands than me. I kept getting hit in the head. I quit boxing.</div>
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My boyfriends in Cleveland always asked me if he was in the Mafia. We never used the word. I never asked Tony about it. I did know where he kept his stubbed-nose thirty-eight revolver - in the top drawer of the dresser. </div>
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I always felt safe with Tony; I never called him Dad. There wasn't a need for that; he was a great father. He got me a BB gun before I turned four and a few years later a .22 rifle and a .410 shot gun. He didn't have to teach me how to use them. The longshoremen from the docks in San Pedro Harbor showed me. I was a natural. </div>
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I'll never forget one New Year's Eve outside our one-room apartment (it was new). Tony got his .38, loaded it with blanks and he let me shoot it off. Quite a celebration for a eight-year-old. We made quite a racket that night in Wilmington, California. But, I must stop here, I'm getting into a whole 'nother story. </div>
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Today, at 70, suffering with Parkinson's disease he was diagnosed with in 1984, Ali is a living legend. He'll always be remembered for carrying the Olympic Flame at the 1996 in Atlanta, shaking but determined, he climbed those stairs. He won the Gold Medal as a light heavyweight in the Rome Olympics. He's a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. At the London Olympics he was the titular bearer of the Olympic flag.</div>
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He'll be also be remembered for his refusal to be drafted into the U. S. Armed Forces in 1967 because he was against the Vietnam War. He considered himself a conscious objector. He said it was against his faith, by then Muslim. </div>
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"War is against the teachings of the Holy Qur'an. I'm not trying to dodge the draft. We are not supposed to take part in no wars unless declared by Allah or The Messenger," he told the world. </div>
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At his trial on felony charges of draft evasion, on June 20, 1967, after only 21 minutes of deliberation, the jury found Ali guilty. The New York State Athletic Commission stripped him of his World Heavyweight title and suspended him from boxing. I was about to go to Vietnam as a U. S. Army correspondent. </div>
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Ali had the courage of his convictions.
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On June 28, 1971, the Supreme Court reversed his conviction for refusing induction by unanimous decision in Clay v. United States. That's justice for you, better late then never. </div>
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I had returned from the war in September of 1968, got out of the Army, turned around after two weeks at home and went back to Singapore to marry Lohmani Dev, daughter of Ram Paul Singh, a devote Hindu and engineer for the British, a gentle and pure Indian and became a newspaper reporter at the Painesville Telegraph in Ohio, east of Cleveland. I often wrote about of the wounds and sufferings of that war and the courage of my brothers in arms - soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors. I wrote many stories about war protests and covered the largest march on Washington in our nation's history in October of 1969. I sometimes struggled myself, fighting my my own demons, nightmares and flashbacks. Along the way, after the war had finally ended, I managed to capture two national awards for my stories, but not for the ones I did on the struggles of our nation and its people trying to find their conscience. </div>
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Now I find I'm still learning about myself and the heroes of our nation on both sides of the war. </div>
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Ali will always be remembered for how he could "dance like a butterfly" in the ring, "sting like a bee and" rope-a-dope." But, even more, the whole world knows and admires him for his work in human rights and philanthropy for the betterment of all people. </div>
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In doing this story, I had a hard time nailing down the day of the now historic "kiss" of Devi and Ali at the United Nations. Internet archives only go back to 1980. So we're some writing history here. </div>
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For the record - Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. on January 17, 1942. His father, a billboard and sign painter, Cassius Marcellus Clay, Sr. was named after the 19th century abolitionist and politician of the same name. </div>
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Now, I know what happened when Muhammad Ali, a different champion of the nation, visited the United Nations. I have proof of "the kiss." </div>
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On that day Ali was still heavyweight champion of the world - three time champion, he reminded a room full of reporters at the UN. He told them he'll retire soon and go out on top, which black prize fighters never had managed before. </div>
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"It would be a sin. The worst thing I could do is go back into the ring," Ali told reporters.</div>
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It was 1972 on Ali's visit to the United Nations. The whole story of the day Dindi kissed Ali in the halls of the United Nations. Without hesitation she planted a kiss on the cheek of Muhammad. I only wish I had been there.</div>
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"I'm painting for peace," he told reporters. </div>
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Ali told reporters in the taped interview that he was having a show at The Roseland Ballroomon on West 52nd Street in New York. It's known as "the greatest ballroom."</div>
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"It will be the greatest," he said.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vT6NxDxg0kw/UCeTm3Mu_tI/AAAAAAAAAoo/ycifNHUe3_c/s1600/roseland+ballroom2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vT6NxDxg0kw/UCeTm3Mu_tI/AAAAAAAAAoo/ycifNHUe3_c/s400/roseland+ballroom2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Roseland Ballroom, New York City</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i>Hey, if I make this story into a poetry song with music, maybe I can perfom at The Roseland some day.</i></div>
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You can listen to the tape now. This is how the United Nation's website describes the 34 minute interview - </div>
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<i>Boxing legend Muhammad Ali speaks about God, boxing and using his fame for a good cause in this press conference at UN Headquarters. It's 34 minutes and here's the link to the website. </i></div>
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<a href="http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/library/classics/genre/interview.html">Press interview with Muhammad at the United Nations, 1979</a></div>
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Here also is a link to the official Muhammad Ali website. On the cover he's dodging and weaving against the punching bag. It's the greatest!</div>
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As stories often go, there's a postscript. Ali was also a pretty good singer. I was aware of his albums vaguely. Here's Muhammad Ali doing a cover of Ben E. King's classic, "Stand By Me" he recorded in 1963.</div>
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"Stand By Me" by Muhammad Ali</div>
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Then "Cassius Clay" wins the World Heavyweight Championship after Sonny Liston fails to come out in the 7th Round. The fight, February 25, 1964 in Miami, Florida was almost cancelled because Clay was seen with Malcom X in Miami and other cities.</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-29188968652126722682012-08-10T02:35:00.003-04:002012-08-26T07:48:16.814-04:00Slam bang 2012 U.S. presidential election coverage leis an comhfhreagraí file Mike<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Presidential fund raising chart of, oh, i forgot just who, <br />
money back guarantee<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Slam bang 2012 pesidential election coverage</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Okie dokie folks this is the first edition (and maybe the only edition) of our slam bang covered 2012 U. S. presidential election election</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">- pitting</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">...in the blue <b><i>(no red) </i></b>corner Mitt Romney, the challenger some folks call the... we don't know what kind of car he drives (got to be American made, right?)... so let's just call him the Wolverine who drove the family car vacationing from The Cape to his summer home in Ontario, Canada, that is, with his late Irish Setter in a waterless cage lashed to the roof of the car until Seamus the dog threw up, so he stopped at a Pilot or something, hosed down the car, put Seamus back in his cage on the roof of the family car (what's wrong with a summer home in Cleveland?)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">...while in the <b><i>other blue</i></b> corner <b><i>(seems like it should be blue; think war games)</i></b> still standing president Barack Obama, the...wait our correspondent says the prez has a lot of school choices and may not decide until the two-minute warning. For now, we'll just call him the X president from.... </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">See the blue bars (think <i>2001 A Space Odyssey</i>, the movie....Was the movie made in 2001?.... Is there a video game?... What?... What else?... Do you think it was made in 1969 or something?...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Democrats are always blue and they have a lot of women behind them. Don't ask. (B A R A C K), i always wonder if i'm getting that right. i'll go with it. Don't ask. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And the challenger in the red corner...no, we already did that. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Republicans are always red and they have a lot of not gay rednecks behind them. Forget it (no, we're not looking it up, give us a call). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So, we're gonna cover the waterfront. The whole kit and caboodle will be in her, Cub Scout honor. So folks turn off all your electronics, except the one you're on now, reading. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And, here, this here, (we know cut the words down) is our 2012 Slam Bang Election coverage. All the scoops anyone can shovel.</span><br />
<br />
Now, at the tale of this report you will encounter two trumped up staged crowd pleasing fund raising mug shoots of the two men. You can easily tell which one's Obama; he's black, well, sort of, but that's another story. <br />
<br />
Look, all you need to know is to white people, we're talking about Americans here, citizens that is, but you don't have to be born here. You don't even have to vote, most people don't. <br />
<br />
Anyway, we're not gettin' into that who was really born where stuff. Mitt was born in money and Barack was born in Hawaii. <br />
<br />
Wait we have a news sat flash coming in on the sonar; ok we've got flash, almost, damn secure coded message; drop the codes; we're not going there, ok, here she is -<br />
<br />
W H E R E.... W E R E...YOU...BORN?<br />
<br />
..CARRY ON.<br />
<br />
Now for the real story. We know the election is 89 days away but we have already nailed the issue; we're so excited; there's a bunch of issues, but they all wrap up into one nicely, like a wade of hundred dollar bills. Enough said. <br />
<br />
Now, for our arts but not a whole lot of culture on the spot correspondent Mike.<br />
<br />
<i>Mike, are you with us (Army jargon)?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Who's that?</i><br />
<br />
<i>Mike?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Wait, are you there? </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Wait, my report isn't titled. I tried to save it... Are you there?... I'll just slap something on here. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>If you don't like it, change it...here she goes...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>the who is john galt</b></span></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>by Mike Marcellino</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i>Who is john galt?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Right, the who is john galt?</i><br />
<br />
no, i mean,<br />
who is john galt?<br />
<br />
<i>Right, gotcha.</i><br />
<i>right.</i><br />
<i>listen up.</i><br />
<i>the who is john galt.</i><br />
<br />
Look, <br />
i don't have time for this nonsense,<br />
give me the straight answer<br />
right now.<br />
your country, your world<br />
the one you have right now<br />
depends on it.<br />
It's your future<br />
dumbo<br />
the election's in November.<br />
<br />
Ok,<br />
for the third and last time, dustbuster<br />
this is my question -<br />
<br />
Our campaign is in every gear.<br />
We have enough hard cash<br />
to build a road to the moon<br />
made of gold (we have a lot of that too).<br />
We have super packs.<br />
We have more money than you can count.<br />
We have more money than you can shake a stick at.<br />
We have so much money piled as far as the eyes can see.<br />
<br />
We're talking billions.<br />
<br />
<i>No sticks, no trees here</i><br />
<i>it's the Nebraska sand hills </i><br />
<i>nothin' but dust </i><br />
<i>this isn't New York City.</i><br />
<br />
Don't you watch television?<br />
get on line, you know?<br />
<br />
<i>TV broke down</i><br />
<i>got laid off.</i><br />
<i>where were you </i><br />
<i>when this thing got started.</i><br />
<br />
<i>You wanna buy us one?</i><br />
<i>do it before electric power </i><br />
<i>shuts us off.</i><br />
<i>mister, only lines we got around here 'er</i><br />
<i>electric lines,</i><br />
<i>clothes lines</i><br />
<i>and the unemployment line.</i><br />
<i>Hey, Mr. Businessman</i><br />
<i>what in blazes </i><br />
<i>you doin' here</i><br />
<i>in that black suit?</i><br />
<i>it's a hundred ten.</i><br />
<br />
<i>You wanna know </i><br />
<i>who john galt is?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The is john galt </i><br />
<i>don't like my answer?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>You shovel it.</i><br />
<br />
the who is john galt? by Mike Marcellino copyright 2012<br />
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<i>Thanks Mike, we hope you will join us real soon again for more, 'er, coverage; </i><i>not right away though. </i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Incognito editorial mumbo jumbo</b></span></div>
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Now, if there's anything the 2012 Slam Bang Election coverage aims to be is fair. Fair as the hot air gets in west Nebraska.</div>
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Let us say right away, make it perfectly clear, <i><b><u>we're for liberty and freedom costs.</u></b></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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(that's another story)</div>
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So, what we did, we had a puesdo presidential victory flip, coin toss. </div>
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It was Romney for heads (no brainer, that's Washington the first president, most people do get that right, the rest are toss ups) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It was tails for Obama. <i>Democrats are always donkeys.</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There's no American coin with an elephant on the top (fact check), but the <i>Republicans are always elephants. </i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The 2012 Slam Bang Election coverage big flip to see who wins out on who's photograph goes first (that's on the left, layout talk, don't bother with the fine print) was witnessed by an estimated crowd of exactly zero people </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><i>Mitt won the toss. Mitt won! Mitt won!</i></b> <i>It was best two out of three with a quarter from Oregon. God, our first glitch in the 2012 Slam Band Election coverage. Screw it. </i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>All you need to know is the Republicans are always right handed and Democrats are always left. That puts Mitt on the left but he's really right, isn't he? On the other hand, Barack is right here, but he's really left, right?</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Stayed tuned for our never quite up to date ongoing coverage.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>All that we can manage to shovel. </i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Don't worry, we'll never be up to the minute. Read the small print.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you disagree write us a letter. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>If you can't write send us a card, stamped Miami Beach.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>That's what it'll come down to. </i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>Oh no, we gave the election away.</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C7kekt3IIK8/UCSINfvM1CI/AAAAAAAAAnA/TrRq6Qdtd8w/s1600/Midnight_Cowboy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C7kekt3IIK8/UCSINfvM1CI/AAAAAAAAAnA/TrRq6Qdtd8w/s400/Midnight_Cowboy.gif" width="250" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<i>Sorry, this is not quite the right photo but we're working on it.</i><br />
<br />
<i><b>Come to think of it, to really be fair, the 2012 Slam Bang Election coverage has instantly and arbitrarily decided to even the playing field by NEVER RUNNING photographs of either of the candidates for president. Just pretend they have brown paper bags over their heads.</b></i><br />
<br />
<i>Over an out...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Rover, ah shoot, i mean...ah, Roger...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Post game report - </span></b></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">In the instance of trying to get people out of their beds and into the voting booths, here, take a look at their pictures.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i>
<i>You'll have to guess who's who. (Yes, we already got calls, another glitch in our coverage). </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i>
<i>Look, aliens own our network.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i>
<i>We know what you are thinking. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Ní chuireann na meáin a fhios ceart ó chlé nó barr ó bun. Sin ceart go leor, is é Mike Scotch-na hÉireann.</span></i><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RKIpuyVwriY/UCSK4pEtSBI/AAAAAAAAAnY/1N3BDSV6f2o/s1600/politics-mitt-romney-fundraiser+photo+8912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RKIpuyVwriY/UCSK4pEtSBI/AAAAAAAAAnY/1N3BDSV6f2o/s320/politics-mitt-romney-fundraiser+photo+8912.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank God for undo<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lq2lEv3ndkI/UCSLtlxAENI/AAAAAAAAAng/AhlUMinwjqs/s1600/Obama+workers+with+flag+helmets+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lq2lEv3ndkI/UCSLtlxAENI/AAAAAAAAAng/AhlUMinwjqs/s320/Obama+workers+with+flag+helmets+8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Q. How many steel workers does it take to change a light bulb? <br />
A. none, if you don't make steel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-82643872998143970952012-08-08T03:29:00.000-04:002012-09-06T23:15:51.803-04:00Last flight to the gates of heaven, prose poem by Mike Marcellino<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-esc_T0u8-Vc/UCIP1RqMVII/AAAAAAAAAmQ/WJUcp2TqERM/s1600/gates+of+heaven+vietnam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-esc_T0u8-Vc/UCIP1RqMVII/AAAAAAAAAmQ/WJUcp2TqERM/s400/gates+of+heaven+vietnam.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Last flight to
the gates of heaven</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
by Mike
Marcellino</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><i><b>Part I The mission</b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">It all became
right clear to me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">walkin' the dog
to the beach<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">and back<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">to the gates of
heaven<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">from mission
number three.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">i found that
liberty, you see<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">can only be<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">if you<i> respect
</i>other people's <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">rights. Otherwise you got <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">nothin' but
monopoly and friction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">i'm walking the
dog to the beach,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">and back<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">to the gates of
heaven<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">from mission
number three -<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">sometimes under
attack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">by dogs runnin'
free 'cause their masters don't put 'em on a leach,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">even if they have
one. Now i'd like to let my dog Button<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">run as free as he
likes, but then, that wouldn't be liberty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">and we'd all end
up under attack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Seems you can
only have pure freedom when nobody's around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">If you want to
live together without fightin' and wars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">we have to all
share our liberty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Button, you see,
is a young white Poodle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">smart and
stubborn as can be. He doesn't much<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">mind any of the
dogs, 'cause he's on a mission with me, you see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">He's a kind of
blood hound without the hound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Secretly enlisted in the K-9 Corps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">i'm tryin' to
keep him sniffing for<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">ways to peace, so
our world can still be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">We're walking to
the beach<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">and back<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">to the gates of
heaven<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">from mission
number three<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">to meet up with
all the critters we see,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">maybe make a
friend or two.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">We can all have
liberty to a degree,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">and together, i
truly believe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">we can save their
world from <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">man-made
destruction, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">if we can just be
kind to each other,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">from here to
eternity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">and back,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">'stead of killin'
each other and our planet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Headed down
through rattlesnake turtle dunes,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">things kinda
turned the other cheek.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Suddenly ahead i
see a whole family<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">complete two boys
and two dogs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">on their leaches.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">"That's the
man you like,"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">said one boy to the
other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">And, low and
behold<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">the man pulling
his dogs on their leashes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">retreated<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">letting Button
and me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">pass through
safely;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">they were like
Moses parting the Red Sea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">We're still
walkin' to the beach<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">and back<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">to the gates of
heaven<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">from mission
number three<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">when i spy a
mighty subtropical<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">thunderstorm, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">a scary black,
silver and grey chain covering the western horizon,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">wanting badly to
spawn tornadoes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">At this point,
we're on the point<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">and i spy a break
in the clouds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">maybe a path on
our road to glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Eyeing the
growing storm in some increasing disbelieve; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">our luck seemed
to have run out -<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">black-grey
funnels tryin' their best<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">to take Button
and me off the planet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">to Oz.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Then, starting to
think some last thoughts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">walkin' the dog
back from the beach <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">through the
rattlesnake turtle dunes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">it dawned on me,<i>
<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN">"What a
special dog this is;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN">he's either
got some of that PTSD,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN">or he's much
smarter than me."<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">The Dylan's
lyrics run though my brain -<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN">"Mama,
put my guns in the ground<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN">I can't shoot
them anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN">That long
black cloud is comin' down<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN">I feel like
I'm knockin' on heaven's door"<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Thanks, Bob, for
those lines from "Knockin' On Heaven's Door,"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">i really like
that song<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">from the "Pat
Garrett and Billy the Kid" sound track.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Here's your
credit -<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Copyright
©1973 by Ram's Horn Music; renewed 2001 by Ram’s Horn Music</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN"><b>Part II Flashback No. 1</b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">On our final run,
Button <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">and me <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">i'm back in the
wars again<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">thinkin' Audie
Murphy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">and <i>To Hell
and Back </i>from World War II<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">now i'm back to
tryin' to get back <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">from Firebase
Cleveland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">i had no gun,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">hardly ever did <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">in the Vietnam War</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">out in the field,
not even a tooth brush<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">or change for a
dollar,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">not a bite of
food, not a C-Ration can<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">just notebooks,
pens and <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">thirty-five
millimeter cameras <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">wrapped in
plastic,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">wading through
the rice paddies, sometimes chest deep -<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">my brothers
watching my back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><i><b>Part III Button and me</b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Trying to keep my
cool<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">there was only
one thing to do <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">right now<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">if Button and me <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">are gonna make it
through the storm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Start joggin'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">and singin' this
old song -<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN">"Up the
hill,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN">down the hill,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN">Airborne,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN">Airborne,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN">Army Rangers.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN">Up the hill,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN">down the hill,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN">Airborne,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN">Airborne,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN">All the
way."<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Over and over. I
probably messed up the lines<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">but it's been a
long time<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">before long a
half century.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Then i got to
thinkin' we just might<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">make it through
the storm. I geared back to fast
walkin'.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><b><i>Part IV The night i thought i'd died</i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">These threats in
the world<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">get me flashin'
back<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">to the night i
thought i'd died <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">in the sandy <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">forested
wasteland<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">on the Cambodian
border<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">at a firebase
freshly carved out <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Automatic weapons
fire <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">all through the
no moon night<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">shootin' the shit
with bare chested GI's<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">filling bags<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">for some slim
extra protection <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">against mortar
and rocket attacks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">i'm out there,
right there where we're not supposed to be<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">me, some Army
engineers, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">artillerymen <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">and a battery<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">of big guns, one five five millimeters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">on tracks that
looked like tanks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">i got dropped off
on the convoy <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">thanks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">to the bird
colonel and his helicopter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">from my ride on
the bird colonel's helicopter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Letting me out,
barely touching down,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">that Alabamian, i
guess as close as you can get<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">to my commanding
officer, looked at me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">without a word,
laughing. i didn't bother to look back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">He wasn't a bad
guy. He just wanted some good photos and
stories<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">out of me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">published so he
could be a general.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">We rolled on to
the border<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">dust almost
blinding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Then right away
in some no man's land<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">the bulldozers
scooped up dirt <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">by the tons <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">firing hole for
the big traveling guns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">"Boom, boom,
boom, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">blast, blast,
blast" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">the guns shook
and thundered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">(me shooting
pictures, taking notes, without ear plugs, close enough to feel the warmth of
the steel)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">The artillerymen
humpin' all day long<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">unleashing hell
out into the triple canopy jungles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">where they enemy
was supposed to be -<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">the NVA (the
North Vietnamese Army)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">and maybe some VC
(Viet Cong) guerrillas i suppose<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">on their way to
hit Saigon, and not the bars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">I don't know how
many enemy there were out there somewhere, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">hundreds,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">maybe as many
four or five thousand; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">it wasn't any use
to think about that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">"Who's out
on the perimeter?" i asked the smart-assed lieutenant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">who shut me out
of his APC.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">(armored personnel
carriers to you folks back home).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">"Mercenaries,"
he said without a grin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">i thought,
"Man, what a fix i got myself in."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">With dispatch the
lieutenant said,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">"Start
diggin' your hole,"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">he said as he
went into his APC<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">probably to start
partying before World War Three.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Our guns were
silent, even <i>Alpha's Angels<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">the whole troop
had showered, except the reporter,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">from canvas bags
filled with cold running water<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">brought in by
slicks, Huey D Model gunships,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">(They didn't
stick around.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Nothin' like a
cold shower to get some relief from the mind sapping heat.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">i had little
time. The sun was going down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Get the size just
right. i had no time to think<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">of the
rectangular, grave sized bunker <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">to be topped with
corrugated steel for a cover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Be quick. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">At least someone
gave me an entrenching tool<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">or i'd have been buried
alive<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">before the
fireworks began<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">on the night a
thought i'd died. That's another story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><i><b>Part V Gates of heaven</b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">T</span>hen, i got to
thinkin' we,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Button and me,
that is, just might make it <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">walkin' the dog
to the beach<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">and back<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">to the gates of
heaven<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">from mission
number three.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">So my story to
you,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">at least the one
from today<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">does have a happy
ending.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Button and me, we
did make it home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Back in the day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">toward the end <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">of the ten
thousand day war,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">all i know, for
sure that is <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">58,000 and more,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">some of America's
finest <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">young men and
women<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">didn't make it
back to <i>the world</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">These bands of
brothers <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">i always remember.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">They boarded the
big airplanes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">in body bags and
boxes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">on their last flight of freedom<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">to the gates of
heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Last flight to the gates of heaven by Mike Marcellino copyright 2012</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-58399449218730482722012-07-30T02:33:00.000-04:002012-07-30T04:36:48.541-04:00"Chávez, No, Chavez!" - a poetic solidarity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d0NgnSSGMMM/UBYEN4l54jI/AAAAAAAAAlo/EemoqscCP2U/s1600/Cesar+Chevez+1979+LA+Times.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d0NgnSSGMMM/UBYEN4l54jI/AAAAAAAAAlo/EemoqscCP2U/s400/Cesar+Chevez+1979+LA+Times.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cesar Chavez speaks to farm workers in Imperial Valley, California in 1979 <br />
Photo by Steve Fontanini, <i>Los Angeles Times</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Chávez, No, Chavez!</span><br />
by Mike Marcellino<br />
<br />
Only way I could remember this day<br />
was to hold on to cryptic Jesus.<br />
Two words,<br />
all wrapped up in<br />
two words,<br />
cryptic Jesus.<br />
<br />
Though it was Sunday, I didn't start out for church,<br />
not right away.<br />
On the way to the beach,<br />
stopped for a beer at Jack's -<br />
a real watering place,<br />
a maze of old low slung<br />
white chipped painted wood<br />
reminding me of Sherwood's Forest<br />
where we drank Saigon tea<br />
with the enemy back in another day.<br />
<br />
On the beach it was already threatening.<br />
Right away I encountered a bearded young surfer<br />
with long tangled black hair<br />
and a goatee.<br />
Waving his one arm," he screamed at question toward me.<br />
"Is it a tornado?"<br />
Looking at me as if I would surely know.<br />
<br />
"Where are you guys from?" I asked, curiously. <br />
<br />
The three crazy surfers, boards under hand <br />
stood, dying to paddle out. <br />
<br />
"Did you see the life guard twirling his red flag,<br />
jumping down from his high wood chair,<br />
blowing a whistle?<br />
That didn't seem to impress them.<br />
<br />
"Can we go in the water,"<br />
the three amigos looked at me,<br />
anxiously, waiting for my answer.<br />
<br />
"Did you see the life guard twirling his red flag,<br />
jumping down from his high wood chair,<br />
blowing his whistle?"<br />
I appealed to the three amigos again.<br />
<br />
"Where are you guys from?" <br />
I asked again to change the subject.<br />
"Venezuela." he said, still wanting to go in the surf.<br />
<br />
Rain splashed down in gigantic drops<br />
pelting the three amigos and me.<br />
First north, then south, lightening bolts flashed down to the sea.<br />
<br />
Then, the first amigo told me he saw a funnel cloud.<br />
"Over water?" I asked, that perked my interest.<br />
"No, over land, not the sea."<br />
That was enough for me<br />
to pack up, head for some safety.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9EJE93ynVY/UBYFySFRQSI/AAAAAAAAAl4/S5WznYtTGXY/s1600/UFW+back+of+truck+in+Delano+CA+photo+by+craig+wilson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9EJE93ynVY/UBYFySFRQSI/AAAAAAAAAl4/S5WznYtTGXY/s320/UFW+back+of+truck+in+Delano+CA+photo+by+craig+wilson.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This looks just about like the truckload of United Farm Workers <br />
who arrived on our picket lines on July 4, 1973 <br />
at the onset of our strike against The Painesville Telegraph</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
"Venezuela? I said in a puzzled tone.<br />
"I always get mixed up.<br />
Far as I've been is Mexico.<br />
Is that shuh-vez (Chavez)?"<br />
I asked, knowing the answer.<br />
"No, chah-vez (Chávez)," he shouted out,<br />
but not angrily.<br />
<br />
"Cesar 'chah-vez' was the leader<br />
of the farm workers in America.<br />
For the union!"<br />
I shouted above roar. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
"I know cause he sent me a hand written letter <br />
and a bunch of his farm workers <br />
loaded in a truck<br />
to our Fourth of July strike in 1973<br />
for solidarity.<br />
They walked the picket lines with us<br />
outside the Painesville newspaper plant,<br />
along Lake Erie, in eastern Ohio.<br />
<br />
"A farmer worker read his letter<br />
right in front of the reporters and TV for all to see.<br />
I wish I still had the letter from Chavez<br />
but I think I know what it would say -<br />
something about...the 'unjust conditions...<br />
'dignity and solidarity,<br />
forever.'"<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--MQlMNwh9b8/UBYEBYgy70I/AAAAAAAAAlg/kngO_69x9G4/s1600/Painesville+Telegraph+building+1969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--MQlMNwh9b8/UBYEBYgy70I/AAAAAAAAAlg/kngO_69x9G4/s320/Painesville+Telegraph+building+1969.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painesville Telegraph newspaper building sign in 1969</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
"It's 'chah-vez," he insisted.<br />
<br />
I doubt very much the smiling amigos<br />
from South America<br />
had ever heard of the Chavez<br />
from North America.<br />
<br />
Oh, no, by now the blue grey black<br />
thunderstorms packed with lightening<br />
was looking like the space ship that covered<br />
the capital in Independence Day, the movie.<br />
"Cryptic Jesus," I muttered to myself,<br />
trying to hold on.<br />
<br />
"Holy Mother, Mary, sweet Jesus,<br />
I am a mixed up, lost<br />
<br />
<br />
Episcopal<br />
blond haired boy<br />
turned Presbyterian<br />
raised Catholic. <br />
<br />
"What do I know,"<br />
I said to the three amigos, starting on my way.<br />
<br />
"Cryptic Jesus, Cryptic Jesus," I finally said out loud,<br />
hoping not to get struck down instantly.<br />
<br />
<i>"Where's the VFW dance hall when i need it?"</i><br />
<i>I wondered, as my mind lapsed </i><br />
<i>back to a wood shack on the west side of Cleveland</i><br />
<i>surrounded by hundreds of Harleys</i><br />
<i>moonlit shining silver.</i><br />
<i>After all, it was </i><br />
<i>the Hell's Angels, </i><br />
<i>Viet Nam Vets Motorcycle Club</i><br />
<i>bikers night. </i><br />
<i>"cryptic Jesus, cryptic Jesus" </i><br />
<i>"What happend to Crazy Ed?" </i><br />
<i>was all I could think to say.</i><br />
<br />
Remember the lettuce and grape boycotts<br />
all over the USA?<br />
My Chavez,<br />
no little squiggly thing over the "a"<br />
(like the president of Venezuela)<br />
organized 50,000 field workers from California<br />
to Florida by the late 1970s, so<br />
our 100 strong Typographical Workers<br />
was ahead of its day.<br />
And, I do wonder if we hadn't had<br />
the United Farm Workers help<br />
the Teamsters woulda turned back the trucks<br />
filled with huge rolls of white printing paper<br />
and us peons would've won our better pay.<br />
(We didn't know that a turf war<br />
broke out between the two unions<br />
not long before,<br />
but we were young and pure.)<br />
<br />
The other Chavez, Hugo, to set the record straight,<br />
they say is a socialist, now<br />
rattling the United States<br />
leading his 'Bolivarian' revolution,<br />
named after Simon<br />
who won their independence<br />
from the Empire of Spain<br />
in the early 19th Century.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VTK8mJfLGdk/UBYEqp7YHoI/AAAAAAAAAlw/zql64i25m9s/s1600/boycott+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VTK8mJfLGdk/UBYEqp7YHoI/AAAAAAAAAlw/zql64i25m9s/s1600/boycott+poster.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A poster used to rally Americans to boycott <br />
lettuce and grapes during the nationwide<br />
boycott to get better wages and working<br />
conditions for farm workers, poster by<br />
the Women's Graphics Cooperative, <br />
Chicago, 1978</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
But old Cesar, a Mexican<br />
American<br />
from Yuma, Arizona<br />
who died in ninety-three, at age 66,<br />
same as that people's highway,<br />
now always carries the day.<br />
Folks from California<br />
celebrate his birthday<br />
March 31st, each year -<br />
Cesar Chavez Day, a California state holiday.<br />
<br />
His favorite saying in those days of struggle<br />
that began fifty years ago:<br />
"¡SÍ SE PUEDE!"<br />
(Yes We Can)<br />
<br />
Hey, it also worked for Barack Obama.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Chávez no Chavez by Mike Marcellino copyright 2012 </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Postscript on Cesar Chavez, the farm workers </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>and The Painesville Telegraph newspaper strike </b></span><br />
by Mike Marcellino<br />
<br />
When Chavez died on April 23, 1993, staff writer George Ramos wrote The Times obituary published the next morning. He wrote: <br />
<br />
Cesar Chavez, who organized the United Farm Workers union, staged a massive grape boycott in the late 1960s to dramatize the plight of America’s poor farmhands, and later became a Gandhi-like leader to urban Mexican-Americans, was found dead Friday in San Luis, Ariz., police said. He was 66. <br />
<br />
Here's how the Library of Congress describes the influence of Chavez in helping farm workers gain a better life: <br />
<br />
<i>On August 22, 1966, the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC), later renamed the United Farm Workers of America (UFW), was formed. The UFWOC was established when two smaller organizations, the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) and the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC), both in the middle of strikes against certain California grape growers, merged and moved under the umbrella of the AFL-CIO. Under the founding leadership of Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, the UFW won many labor or civil rights concessions for disenfranchised Mexican-American farmworkers, an important aspect of the Chicano movement. The Chicano movement has been an often-ignored part of the civil rights struggles in the 1960s; it was, nonetheless, a landmark period for the second-largest ethnic minority in the U.S. </i><br />
<br />
<i>Before the rise of the UFW, working conditions were harsh for most agricultural workers. On average, farmworkers made about ninety cents per hour plus ten cents for each basket of produce they picked. Many workers in the field were not provided even the most basic necessities such as clean drinking water or portable toilets. Unfair hiring practices, such as favoritism and kickbacks, were rampant. Seldom were their living quarters equipped with indoor plumbing or cooking facilities. </i><br />
<br />
The strike against the Painesville Telegraph involved all non-management workers, from reporters to typesetters. It was a classic union organizing struggle by 100 workers against a powerful publisher who ran his newspaper like a plantation where full time reporters with a family and children were paid so little they qualified for food stamps.<br />
<br />
While smoking was allowed in the newsroom in those days, women had to go to their powder room to smoke a cigarette. A senior reporter with 25 years experience made only $25 more than a cup reporter making $100 a week. Since no one counted hours, it's hard to say how much people were making an hour, less than $2 an hour. Minimum wage was $1.60 an hour. I was one of the reporters on strike and a strike leader and qualified for food stamps (before going on strike).<br />
<br />
Strikers also went door to door, asking subscribers to support the workers and cancel their subscriptions to the newspaper until the strike was settled. The paper's circulation of about 23,000 daily was cut in half. The strike, with only 50 workers taking an active part, went on for nine months through the winter of 1973-74. There was at least one bombing during what became a bitter strike. The publisher, the Rowley family, which owned several newspapers and radio stations in northeast Ohio, hired security men, armed with .357 magnum revolvers and high powered rifles, who were often seen on the rooftop of the newspaper building. Ten strikers, including myself, were found in contempt of court by a county judge for various alleged wrong doing, including picket line activities, but charges were never filed. Not long after the strike collapsed, the National Labor Relations Board found the publisher guilty of unfair labor practices. There were no injuries during the strike. <br />
<br />
After nine months, the strike collapsed in April 1974 when Local 53 of the Typographical Union in Cleveland ran out money to pay meager benefits. Thirteen years later in 1986 the Painesville Telegraph closed its doors. I don't know of a single worker on strike who went back to work. The Telegraph, the oldest paper in the Western Reserve, was founded in 1822 by Eber Dudley Howe, an abolitionist leader whose home was a station for the underground railroad for runaway slaves.<br />
<br />
Strikers, men and women, young and old walked picket lines 24-hours-a-day and published a five day a week strike newspaper, Lake County Today, which remains archived in the Painesville Morely Libray and referenced in Australian archives. I have also discovered a film of the striking workers archived in the WPA Film Library. <br />
Here is the WPA discription of the film: <br />
<br />
<i>Segment begins with a shot of a building indicated as "Local 53" by the sign that hangs over the front door. The camera pulls back to reveal an African-American reporter standing at an intersection. As he speaks, cars are driving behind him. Reporter states that even though Local 53 is on strike, the Painesville Telegraph newspaper has continued publication. He goes on to say that the union has decided to give the paper some local competition by coming up with a publication of their own. Report holds up the newspaper which is entilted "Lake County Today". Shot of a woman standing behind a counter that is piled with newspapers. The woman explains that many local residents had canceled their subscription to the "Telegraph" after they went on strike. The new paper took this opportunity to ask the locals what they would really like to see in a newspaper. The results of the questioning lead to a strictly localized perspective. View of newspaper production activity. CU of hands setting a cartoon image on the front-page layout. Shot of man and woman discussing the layout. Shot of a sign that reads "Buy the Newest Paper-Lake County Today". Shot of man with a full beard sitting in the Local 53 office reading "Lake County Today". (Man looks ultra 70's) Shot of two men seated at a desk reading the newspaper. The man who is facing the camera is talking on the phone. The other man picks up the receiver of a black rotary telephone. </i><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-84438310359493343832012-07-27T00:36:00.000-04:002012-07-28T00:58:48.304-04:00'Like magic, it would seem,' a poem about 'Blowin' in the Wind' by Mike Marcellino<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ueMyjTO9zg/UBIFIKiDPdI/AAAAAAAAAks/wNHs2xIetDA/s1600/woody+color+crop1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ueMyjTO9zg/UBIFIKiDPdI/AAAAAAAAAks/wNHs2xIetDA/s400/woody+color+crop1.jpg" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poet, songwriter performing artist Mike Marcellino<br />
sports "Hard Travlin'" T-shirt with art by Woody Guthrie<br />
he was given at the Woody tribute<br />
in Cleveland in 1996 </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Like magic, it would seem</b></span><br />
<div>
by mike marcellino</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Four and a half days,<br />
<br />
that's fast, <br />
<br />
faster than the dust bowl days, <br />
<br />
even today,<br />
<br />
A la Woody Guthrie, but in the 60s, <br />
<br />
off the siding<br />
<br />
of the interstate highway<br />
<br />
to route sixty-six, at times <br />
<br />
stranded 'in a wasteland of the free'<br />
<br />
to quote Iris DeMent.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
On the road to find out<br />
<br />
what America's all about - <br />
<br />
like Woody's 'This Land Is Land'<br />
<br />
sort of thing, <br />
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<br />
or maybe more like<br />
<br />
Masters of War a Bob Dylan sort of thing. Truth is we were <br />
<br />
freewheelin' across our fair land<br />
<br />
at those very same moments<br />
<br />
when Bob was writing an' singin' all that stuff.<br />
<br />
<br />
On our first big ride, we were <br />
<br />
almost saved<br />
<br />
somewhere in the darkness of Kansas<br />
<br />
by an unnamed family <br />
<br />
always silently in fervent prayer.<br />
<br />
We did get to eat at the break of day,<br />
<br />
not sure where, but somewhere east of oz.<br />
<br />
Hands out, even doin' a bit a soft shoe <br />
<br />
echoes on the side of the road<br />
<br />
like magic, it would seem.<br />
<br />
<br />
We didn't see any evidence of a war<br />
<br />
brewing <br />
<br />
far away<br />
<br />
in a place half way round <br />
<br />
the globe<br />
<br />
we were told<br />
<br />
where in the dark blue mountains <br />
<br />
it don't even snow<br />
<br />
like magic, it would seem.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our last night on the highway to LA<br />
<br />
almost became really our last night.<br />
<br />
You had to boost yourself up<br />
<br />
to get into the cab. Then pitch black<br />
<br />
only illuminated by dial for the gas,<br />
<br />
we started going off the road,<br />
<br />
we were on the edge <br />
<br />
of oblivion, but that <br />
<br />
kind truck driver woke up<br />
<div>
<br />
put us straight</div>
<div>
<br />
into CALI FOR NI A!<br />
<br />
<br />
Not sure I remember what </div>
<div>
<br />
was going on </div>
<div>
<br />
in that summer of sixty-four,</div>
<div>
<br />
two years before</div>
<div>
<br />
we went off to war, </div>
<div>
<br />
except the Beach Boys. Maybe that</div>
<div>
<br />
all got erased </div>
<div>
<br />
where in the dark blue mountains </div>
<div>
<br />
it don't even snow</div>
<div>
<br />
like magic, it would seem.<br />
<br />
<br />
But I took along all those versus, Bob, </div>
<div>
<br />
from 'Blowin' in the Wind' to 'I Shall Be Free'</div>
<div>
<br />
with 'Corina, Cornia' in between. I knew</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
just when a song would come up.<br />
<br />
"Did you know that people say </div>
<div>
<br />
you wrote that first song in 10 minutes?"</div>
<div>
<br />
"I'd call that really speedin', wouldn't you?"</div>
<div>
<br />
"Well try to sit down and write something like that. Ah, there's a magic to that," </div>
<div>
<br />
he once tired to explain. <br />
<br />
<br />
But our road trip wasn't over. We took a train</div>
<div>
<br />
to Nevada, Las Vegas that is,</div>
<div>
<br />
and after the fare it left us </div>
<div>
<br />
with twenty bucks, </div>
<div>
<br />
not to spare.</div>
<div>
<br />
Little wheel spin and spin</div>
<div>
<br />
in the Desert Inn.</div>
<div>
<br />
"Black!"</div>
<div>
<br />
"No, green!"</div>
<div>
<br />
(A terrible scream)</div>
<div>
<br />
Echoes on the side of the road</div>
<div>
<br />
where in the dark blue mountains </div>
<div>
<br />
it don't even snow.</div>
<div>
<br />
Like magic, it would seem.<br />
<br />
<br />
Like magic it would seem by Mike Marcellino copyright 2012</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i><b>Mike Marcellino just recorded a new song, "Woody Blues," his song to Woody Guthrie marks the century celebration of the work of the legendary American folk singer from the Great Depression of the 1930 and 1940s. Guthrie would have been 100 years old on July 14, 2012. Woody's music and life on the road with the downtrodden has influenced generations of musicians around the world to the present day. Guthrie was a mentor of Bob Dylan, who visited Woody while he was hospital in New York City. Guthrie died in 1967 at age 55 from Huntington's Disease.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Dylan explains his magic on 60 Minutes</span></b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Bob Dylan in a 60 Minutes interview with Ed Bradley in 2004 admitted he took him about 10 minutes to write <i>Blowing in the Wind</i>. Dylan said it was a "penetrating magic" in creativity that enabled him to write his early songs. <br />
<br />
Here's an excerpt of Ed Bradley's interview with Bob Dylan -<br />
<br />
BD: <i>Well try to sit down and write something like that. Ah, there's a magic to that. And it's not a sigfried and roy </i>(reference to a magician and lion tamer performing duo)<i> kind of magic . It's a penetrating kind of magic. I did it at one time.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
EB: <i>You don't think you could do it today?</i><br />
<br />
BD: <i>uh huh...</i><br />
<br />
EB: <i>Does this disappoint you?</i><br />
<br />
BD: <i>You can't do something for ever. </i>(shakes his head slightly)<i> I did it once and I can do other things now. I can't do that. </i>(he looks down)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, you guess about that. Here's a video of the song and the lyrics. Introduced by Jack Nicholson, Bob Dylan sings <i>Blowin' in the Wind</i> with Ron Wood and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones at Live Aid in 1985. The song is #14 n Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Dylan is 71.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/oqEcFUW9Ai4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Blowin' In the Wind</b></span></div>
<div>
by Bob Dylan</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>How many roads must a man walk down</i></div>
<div>
<i>Before you call him a man?</i></div>
<div>
<i>Yes, ’n’ how many seas must a white dove sail</i></div>
<div>
<i>Before she sleeps in the sand?</i></div>
<div>
<i>Yes, ’n’ how many times must the cannonballs fly</i></div>
<div>
<i>Before they’re forever banned?</i></div>
<div>
<i>The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind</i></div>
<div>
<i>The answer is blowin’ in the wind</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>How many years can a mountain exist</i></div>
<div>
<i>Before it’s washed to the sea?</i></div>
<div>
<i>Yes, ’n’ how many years can some people exist</i></div>
<div>
<i>Before they’re allowed to be free?</i></div>
<div>
<i>Yes, ’n’ how many times can a man turn his head</i></div>
<div>
<i>Pretending he just doesn’t see?</i></div>
<div>
<i>The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind</i></div>
<div>
<i>The answer is blowin’ in the wind</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>How many times must a man look up</i></div>
<div>
<i>Before he can see the sky?</i></div>
<div>
<i>Yes, ’n’ how many ears must one man have</i></div>
<div>
<i>Before he can hear people cry?</i></div>
<div>
<i>Yes, ’n’ how many deaths will it take till he knows</i></div>
<div>
<i>That too many people have died?</i></div>
<div>
<i>The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind</i></div>
<div>
<i>The answer is blowin’ in the wind</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Copyright © 1962 by Warner Bros. Inc.; renewed 1990 by Special Rider Music</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here's a link to Bob Dylan's website for more stuff - </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.bobdylan.com/us/home">Bob Dylan's website</a></div>
</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-44614689579021890482012-07-25T19:56:00.003-04:002012-11-19T22:42:23.930-05:00'Woody Blues' : Mike Marcellino's 'talk' with Woody Guthrie, an American folk music legend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qiKvaxRKb9o/UBB3zE0LkvI/AAAAAAAAAkg/BCxzc3XQAeQ/s1600/Hard+Travlin+Rock+Hall+Woody+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qiKvaxRKb9o/UBB3zE0LkvI/AAAAAAAAAkg/BCxzc3XQAeQ/s400/Hard+Travlin+Rock+Hall+Woody+poster.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Hard Travlin' poster of the art of legendary American folk singer of the Great Depression was published by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;"><b>Hard travelin': '<i>Woody Blues' story</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">The evolving interest in the Oklahoma cowboy Woody Guthrie first led Mike Marcellino to write a poem about Woody in view of how things are today, called "St. Augustine, Woody Blues." Now the poem has turned into <i>Woody Blues,</i> a lyrical poetry song recording with Mike doing the lyrics and vocal and Tomas Texino doing the music and on electric guitar and synthesizer. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">Mike says his interest in the life and folk music of Guthrie, popular troubadour across America during the Great Depression of the 1930s, started long ago in the early 1960s when he fist started listening to the likes of Bob Dylan, who admired and was influenced by Guthrie. Guthrie's songs that interest Mike are about the downtrodden and the working families. His continuing interest got a boost on a wild road trip in the summer of 1964, from North Carolina to California, winding up in New York City. (The subject of Mike's short memoir, a limited edition, <i>New York Revisited, </i>published in Cleveland in 2008 or so in advance of Mike's poetry music performing tours in New York City, the last one in the fall of 2010.) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">"My favorite Woody Guthrie songs are <i>Pretty Boy Floyd</i> and <i>Hard Travlin'</i>," Mike says. "But then, I still listening." Mike's poetry music covers the waterfront, and he invites you to listen to "Woody Blues" his 11th in a series of recordings that began in the fall of 2009. He released 6-song limited tour CD "Notebook Writer" in 2010. A new, full album is in the works along with a series of performances in the United States and Europe. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">Add, <i>Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos) </i>to that list of my favorite Woody Guthrie songs: list gonna grow and grow: add <i>California Stars</i> and <i>Ingrid Bergman </i>(I like those two by Wilco and Bily Bragg on Mermaind Avenue, a two-CD set of Woody's songs) it's gonna grow and grow...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">"I'll never lose my interest in Woody Guthrie, for me, he was the first real voice I heard, along with Dylan. They're both great American writers," Mike added. Woody would have turned 100 on July 14, 2012 if he were alive.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Mike says you can help preserve Woody's legacy and archives by supporting the Woody Guthrie Foundation, a non-profit organization. In fact Mike discovered the Hard Travlin poster of the art by Woody Guthrie can be purchased at the Woody Guthrie website by clicking this link. And, Mike just may have to get one himself cause his "Hard Travlin" T-shirt's coming apart. Mike picked up the T-shirt in Cleveland in 1996 at the time of the 10-day celebration of Guthrie's music put on by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum and Case Western Reserve University. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.woodyguthrie.org/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TWGS&Product_Code=HTPOST&Category_Code=WGF">The Woody Guthrie Store</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And, finally, here's a link to the main Woody Guthrie website. In 1988 Guthrie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Woody was the first artist celebrated in the rock hall's annual master series in 1996, an event Mike didn't miss.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.woodyguthrie.org/index.htm">WoodyGuthrie.org</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">You can listen to Mike's new song "Woody Blues" on the music player at the top. Here, also, is a link to our music site on ReverbNation. Listening is free; share our music and like us on our Facebook music page. </span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Woody Blues</span></b><br />
<br />
by Mike Marcellino<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">First it was my army backpack.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Then</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">my old yellow T-shirt</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">with The Lillies on</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">gone.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The day after</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Friday the Thirteenth</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">they took</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">my real leather beach shoes</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">right on your birthday.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One an' all.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One an' all.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Got the Saint Augustine,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Woody Blues.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So, this becomes</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">your birthday song</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">from the sand beaches</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">of the Great Recession</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">to dust bowls</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">of the Great Depression.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One an' all.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One an' all.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Got the Saint Augustine,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Woody Blues.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"As I went walking I saw a sign there<br />And on the sign it said 'No Trespassing.'<br />But on the other side it didn't say nothing,<br />That side was made for you and me."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So Woody, tell me,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Is this still our land -</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"From California to the New York island;<br />From the red wood forest to the Gulf Stream waters?"</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Or is it just a den of greed and thieves?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Did you have to nail stuff down,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">back then</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">on the box car roads to California?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Or, just watch out</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">gettin' beat up bound for glory?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One an' all.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One an' all.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Got the Saint Augustine,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Woody Blues.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Now, another century</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Jammin'</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">on Roosevelt Island.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Makin' up some songs</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">on the streets of Cleveland.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Trekking cross country</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">thumb out all the way.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Nothin' to lose anymore,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">except everything</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">when the trucker fell asleep.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One an' all.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One an' all.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Got the Saint Augustine,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Woody Blues.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Nobody living can ever stop me,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>As I go walking that freedom highway;<br />Nobody living can ever make me turn back<br />This land was made for you and me."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for the borrowed lines, Woody.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">They're mighty fine.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One an' all.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One an' all.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Got the Saint Augustine,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Woody Blues.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>St. Augustine, Woody Blues and Woody Blues recording lyrics by Mike Marcellino, copyright 2012</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So long, been good ta know ya - here's <i>This Land is Your Land</i> by Woody Guthrie in a rare Depression era video</span><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/XaI5IRuS2aE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-27683274989473648772012-07-14T21:34:00.000-04:002012-07-25T18:56:57.745-04:00My song to Woody Guthrie: "Got the Saint Augustine, Woody Blues"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/I31d3fVFB3w?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<i>The Harder They Come, written by Jamaican singer Jimmy Cliff, performed by Willie Nelson and Ryan Adams, Live, David Letterman Show 2002.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Got the Saint Augustine, <br />Woody Blues</span></b><br />
<br />
by Mike Marcellino<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
First it was my army backpack.<br />
<br />
Then<br />
<br />
my old yellow T-shirt<br />
<br />
with The Lillies on<br />
<br />
gone.<br />
<br />
The day after<br />
<br />
Friday the Thirteenth<br />
<br />
they took<br />
<br />
my real leather beach shoes<br />
<br />
right on your birthday.<br />
<br />
One an' all.<br />
<br />
One an' all.<br />
<br />
Got the Saint Augustine,<br />
<br />
Woody Blues. <br />
<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mike Marcellino performs at Gallery RIVAA on Roosevelt Island in New York City</span></i><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fPVi24Tdb1Q/UAImFAP9-JI/AAAAAAAAAkM/OgHvrXr2MMs/s1600/Mike+performs+at+Gallery+RIVAA+in+color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fPVi24Tdb1Q/UAImFAP9-JI/AAAAAAAAAkM/OgHvrXr2MMs/s320/Mike+performs+at+Gallery+RIVAA+in+color.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So, this becomes<br />
<br />
your birthday song<br />
<br />
from the sand beaches<br />
<br />
of the Great Recession<br />
<br />
to dust bowls<br />
<br />
of the Great Depression.<br />
<br />
One an' all.<br />
<br />
One an' all.<br />
<br />
Got the Saint Augustine,<br />
<br />
Woody Blues.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>"As I went walking I saw a sign there <br /><br />And on the sign it said 'No Trespassing.'<br /><br />But on the other side it didn't say nothing, <br /><br />That side was made for you and me."</i><br />
<br />
<br />
So Woody, tell me,<br />
<br />
Is this still our land -<br />
<br />
<i>"From California to the New York island; <br /><br />From the red wood forest to the Gulf Stream waters?"</i><br />
<br />
Or is it just a den of greed and thieves?<br />
<br />
<br />
Did you have to nail stuff down, <br />
<br />
back then<br />
<br />
on the box car roads to California?<br />
<br />
Or, just watch out <br />
<br />
gettin' beat up bound for glory?<br />
<br />
One an' all.<br />
<br />
One an' all.<br />
<br />
Got the Saint Augustine,<br />
<br />
Woody Blues.<br />
<br />
<br />
Now, another century<br />
<br />
Jammin'<br />
<br />
on Roosevelt Island.<br />
<br />
Makin' up some songs<br />
<br />
on the streets of Cleveland.<br />
<br />
Trekking cross country<br />
<br />
thumb out all the way.<br />
<br />
<br />
Nothin' to lose anymore,<br />
<br />
except everything<br />
<br />
when the trucker fell asleep.<br />
<br />
One an' all.<br />
<br />
One an' all.<br />
<br />
Got the Saint Augustine,<br />
<br />
Woody Blues.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2GI4KywrfOA/UAImejgO6fI/AAAAAAAAAkU/DhAHtL5fnn4/s1600/Woody_Guthrie_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="369" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2GI4KywrfOA/UAImejgO6fI/AAAAAAAAAkU/DhAHtL5fnn4/s400/Woody_Guthrie_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">American folk singing legend Woody Guthrie, born July 14, 1912, Okemah, Oklahoma; died October 3, 1967 in New York City, at age 55</span></i> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>from Huntington's disease</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<i>"Nobody living can ever stop me,</i><br />
<br />
<i>As I go walking that freedom highway; <br /><br />Nobody living can ever make me turn back <br /><br />This land was made for you and me."</i><br />
<br />
<br />
Thanks for the borrowed lines.<br />
<br />
They're mighty fine. <br />
<br />
One an' all.<br />
<br />
One an' all.<br />
<br />
Got the Saint Augustine,<br />
<br />
Woody Blues.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<i>Got the Saint Augustine,Woody Blues by Mike Marcellino, copyright 2012</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/wxiMrvDbq3s?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"This Land Is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/1yuc4BI5NWU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"This Is Your Land," Bruce Springsteen, Los Angeles, 1985</i></div>
</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-45169042276588869002012-07-13T14:56:00.000-04:002013-01-10T02:34:29.298-05:00Falling Water and Ayn Rand's fanatical 'individualism'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0AT9QhP0ns/UABgj2lHUiI/AAAAAAAAAjY/s5Kd1jW8wkw/s1600/waterfall-outside-falling-water1-582x455+home-designing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0AT9QhP0ns/UABgj2lHUiI/AAAAAAAAAjY/s5Kd1jW8wkw/s1600/waterfall-outside-falling-water1-582x455+home-designing.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Falling Water</i>, the Kaufman family home in the mountains of southwestern Pennsylvania, designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935<br />
<br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Falling Water is listed among Smithsonian's Life List of 28 places "to visit before you die."</span></b></i>
<br />
<br />
<i>Falling Water or the Kaufmann Residence is a house designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935 in rural southwestern Pennsylvania, 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Pittsburgh. The home was built partly over a waterfall on Bear Run in the Mill Run section of Stewart Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, in the Laurel Highlands of the Allegheny Mountains. Hailed by Time shortly after its completion as Wright's "most beautiful job," it is listed among Smithsonian's Life List of 28 places "to visit before you die." It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966. In 1991, members of the American Institute of Architects named the house the "best all-time work of American architecture" and in 2007, it was ranked twenty-ninth on the list of America's Favorite Architecture according to the AIA. - Wikipedia </i><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sDyO_l43gPs/UABmlsCavyI/AAAAAAAAAjk/cPbpnQhXCBM/s1600/Frank_Lloyd_Wright_LC-USZ62-36384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sDyO_l43gPs/UABmlsCavyI/AAAAAAAAAjk/cPbpnQhXCBM/s320/Frank_Lloyd_Wright_LC-USZ62-36384.jpg" width="194" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frank Lloyd Wright, 1867-1959</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Falling Water and the fanatical 'individualism' of Ayn Rand</b></span><br />
<br />
An essay by Mike Marcellino<br />
<br />
Falling Water is a home designed by perhaps America's greatest architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.<br />
<br />
Some critics argue that Wright, from Richland Center, Wisconsin, was the pattern for Howard Roark, the architect and hero of author Ayn Rand's 1949 novel of the individualist - "The Fountainhead." That same year the film "The Fountainhead" directed by King Vidor, starring Gary Cooper and Patricia Neal, was a critical bomb. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I do recommend a trip to Falling Water in the mountains of southwestern Pennsylvania. <br />
If you like Rand's first literary success, read "Atlas Shrugged" her last book and last word on "objectivism," her philosophy where complete individual rights is the only social system. <br />
The Russian born writer from a bourgeois family in St. Petersburg is the champion of laissez-faire capitalism. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I must admit that I did enjoy reading both <i>The Fountainhead</i> and <i>Atlas Shrugged</i>, but then I was quite young and exploring. Now I look upon Rand's philosophy something akin to the philosophy practiced by cave men, yet her primary point of allow creativity and individualism to flourish in a society that builds things remains vital. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2zRrxB5RXDc/UABnZZjGUYI/AAAAAAAAAj0/_NFxOw9imzU/s1600/Ayn_Rand1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2zRrxB5RXDc/UABnZZjGUYI/AAAAAAAAAj0/_NFxOw9imzU/s320/Ayn_Rand1.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ayn Rand, 1905 - 1982</span><br />
<br />
She makes some valid points with respect to creativity and industry but goes off the deep end with her egotistical survival of the fittest mentality in which creators and industry without restriction get all they desire while the rest of mankind - oh, she didn't bother with the rest of the people.<br />
<br />
I did read both novels in junior high school, or was it grade school? <br />
<br />
It's important not to confuse her selfish philosophy with the protection of individual rights, I have found. But then, Atlas Shrugged did predict the fall of industry in America, such as private trains, passenger trains that is.<br />
<br />
Still, we should be watchful not to allow government to destroy the individual.<br />
<br />
The trouble is that largely unrestricted industry is on its way to destroying the earth, the wildlife upon it, the air we breath, the water we drink and the creeks, lakes, rivers, seas and oceans we love. <br />
<br />
While, this essay wasn't intended to be political, it is the season in America; we should think long and hard about the coming presidential election. We should not elect someone who will promote creativity, industry and capitalism, while destroying our planet and the great majority of its people.<br />
<br />
Visit the website of Falling Water, it's wonderful!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.fallingwater.org/">Falling Water website</a><br />
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CtMXVs6oq3Q/UABm8NhDWPI/AAAAAAAAAjs/Qgi6r_ehIRM/s1600/TheFountainhead+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CtMXVs6oq3Q/UABm8NhDWPI/AAAAAAAAAjs/Qgi6r_ehIRM/s200/TheFountainhead+%25281%2529.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WS_0OEGtYRo/UABqPNA2DMI/AAAAAAAAAkA/WXqmpevm5Wo/s1600/AtlasShrugged.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WS_0OEGtYRo/UABqPNA2DMI/AAAAAAAAAkA/WXqmpevm5Wo/s200/AtlasShrugged.jpg" width="152" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
(Falling Water photo courtesy of home-designing.com and other photos thanks to Wikipedia)<br />
<br />
<i>(author's note: Google Blogger editing software is the worst known to man, so please excuse the layout as I have done page layout for newspapers; like Word Press, here I come, as I have wasted countless hours trying to make Blogger work)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">copyright by Mike Marcellino 2012</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-82782225557081918682012-07-08T23:09:00.000-04:002012-11-11T19:35:29.813-05:00Trail of the tide pool soldier, a poem by Mike Marcellno<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MPSQ2fC0NbM/T_pJczYHX9I/AAAAAAAAAi0/w1WnVI1aXWI/s1600/peables+on+the+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MPSQ2fC0NbM/T_pJczYHX9I/AAAAAAAAAi0/w1WnVI1aXWI/s400/peables+on+the+beach.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Pebbles with poppies painted on are seen on the beach of Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer on June 5, 2009 during a ceremony in memory of Canadian troops which landed in 1944 at the Nan Red point on Saint-Aubin beach. Each poppy painted by students represents a soldier killed here during World War II. Preparations are underway for the upcoming D-Day celebrations to mark the 65th anniversary of the June 6, 1944 allied landings in France, then occupied by Nazi Germany.</i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> </i>(DANIAU/AFP/Getty Images) (from denverpost.com)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Trail of the tide pool soldier</b></span><br />
by Mike Marcellino<br />
<br />
Once a man marched on the beach<br />
at the last glow of day,<br />
each and every day.<br />
They called him the tide pool soldier,<br />
for short.<br />
As he marched, he cast his eyes<br />
upon the sand,<br />
reading colors<br />
in the tide pool canyons.<br />
Coppers,<br />
gold, grey, cream,<br />
black and silver reds.<br />
<br />
The winding trail carried far off seas,<br />
little ripples, tiny swells,<br />
along these shores for many a mile,<br />
as far as the eye can see.<br />
Slight beach canyons on the ground<br />
reminded him<br />
of some old Irish glenns he'd seen,<br />
in fall.<br />
<br />
On and on he marched, but not till dawn.<br />
He wore no steel pot, no bearskin hat,<br />
no jungle, no desert fatigues.<br />
<br />
"One two three four<br />
sound off, "<br />
he whispered to himself, somewhat bitterly.<br />
"The streets of heaven are paved with gold.<br />
Sound off."<br />
<br />
On and on he marched, but not till dawn.<br />
"Do people ever catch any big fish here,"<br />
he asked a fisherboy. <br />
"Yes, we caught an eight pound red fish,"<br />
his dad said proudly.<br />
"Are they good eating?" the hungry soldier asked.<br />
Then a yellow lab<br />
came into the conversation,<br />
suddenly.<br />
But Matt heard his master's call<br />
and ran away from it all.<br />
The father smiled,<br />
and looked back out to the sea.<br />
<br />
The tide pool soldier<br />
skirted a dribble castle,<br />
it was too well fortified;<br />
he knew the tide would take it<br />
anyway.<br />
<br />
On and on he marched, but not till dawn.<br />
He stepped out gingerly,<br />
his automatic reflex<br />
designed to protecting some empire.<br />
But was always careful<br />
not to get into a real<br />
goose step<br />
invented by the first Leopold<br />
a prince<br />
of the 18th Century.<br />
It was to keep the troops in line.<br />
They tried it once on him.<br />
It didn't work;<br />
He was a soldier for liberty.<br />
<br />
Billowing clouds, with a tint of<br />
rainy grey<br />
blocked the sunset,<br />
marring a perfect day.<br />
<br />
On and on he marched, but not till dawn,<br />
noting all he encountered -<br />
a blond boy tinkering<br />
on his tide pool journey,<br />
his mother pushing a carriage<br />
of a sleeping dark skinned baby.<br />
<br />
"Have you ever seen a tide pool trail like this,<br />
going on as far as the eye can see?" he asked.<br />
"No, I've never seen this before," the mother said.<br />
<br />
On and on he marched, but not till dawn,<br />
about facing,<br />
just in time<br />
to see<br />
a yellow chartreuse<br />
neon surfer<br />
setting out to sea.<br />
<br />
Trail of the tide pool soldier by Mike Marcellino, copyright 2012</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-20868759287693740582012-07-04T22:34:00.000-04:002012-08-12T19:20:38.913-04:00Song of liberty, pain, war and peace: "Born in the USA"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band perform "Born in the USA" live in Paris during their two-year Born in the USA World Tour</i><br />
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<i>"I wrote this song about the Vietnam war, tonight we sing it as a prayer for peace" </i><br />
<i>- Bruce Springsteen speaking in Catalan live in Barcelona 2003</i><br />
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"Born in the USA" acoustic, from Spain</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Born in the USA</i> postscript</span></b><br />
by Mike Marcellino<br />
<br />
I wrote the following column on The Fourth of July 2012, and decided to explain point blank what the song "Born in the USA" is all about from the perspective of a combat veteran of the Vietnam War. <br />
<br />
Today, I just discovered in his own words what the song means to Springsteen, at least now.<br />
I agree with his dedication in Barcelona of "Born in the USA" as a prayer for peace. Amen, Bruce.<br />
<br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i>People debate over whether Bruce Springsteen's song "Born in the USA" is unpatriotic. Well, they then they either know nothing or are without understanding of the Vietnam War and the high price paid by 3 million American troops who served in country, the 58,282 who died, 303,644 wounded and the 1,672 still missing in action. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>When troops came home from the battlefields they weren't given any transition assistance, weren't asked a single meaningful question even in hospitals. Instead we were blamed for the war, called "baby killers," treated with disdain and even spit upon. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Many who served had a rough life to begin with. Many opposed the war. Many stayed in college to avoid the draft (Bill Clinton), joined the National Guard (George Walker Bush), many got marred and had kids, some fled to Canada and elsewhere. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I served a combat correspondent and photojournalist in the U.S. Army and traveled through much of South Vietnam and even Cambodia. I couldn't be prouder of those I served with and looked out for me (since I carried cameras and notebooks instead of my M-14). They were the best! They defined courage. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>So don't ever tell me that our song "Born in the USA" is unpatriotic. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>It doesn't make any difference if your like the song or not, or what your politics are. Given our sacrifices in American longest war (10 years). I ask, how patriotic can you get? </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>We are "brothers in arms." And, that song by the British rock band Dire Straits is probably our most cherished anthem, along with "Fortunate Son" by American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival and and "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" recorded by British rock band The Animals. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"Born in the USA" is a song about my brothers in arms. </i><br />
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<i>Mark Knopfler performing one of the best verions ever of “Brothers in Arms” during “Music for Montserrat,” live from Royal Albert Hall, London – 15 September 1997</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Song of liberty, pain, war and peace: <i> Born in the USA</i></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
by Mike Marcellino</div>
<br />
The 1984 album<i> Born in the USA</i> was #1 on the charts in the United States and in other countries throughout the world, except for France and Italy where it was #2 and Japan #6. Considering the language differences that's amazing.<br />
<br />
I wrote this piece after finding debates on YouTube by people over whether "Born in the USA" is a patriotic song or not.<br />
<br />
Listening to the bursts of fireworks outside my window, (always makes me a bit jumpy, as they sound much mortar, rocket or bombs) I think of the Fourth of July and I think of Bruce Springsteen's title song <i>Born in the USA.</i><br />
<br />
If you've struggled in your life trying to make ends meet, or served in the U. S. armed forces sticking your neck out or getting wounded you understand the song. If you're the family of a loved one <i>who didn't come home </i>you understand. Now some folks may not like Born in the USA, the song, but they understand it. <br />
<br />
Americans have courage and the determination to overcome. We've proven that for more than 236 years.<br />
<br />
The YouTube comments debate misses the point, entirely. Patriotism is having opinions and standing behind them, even when they are different than the majority or oppose the government or its decisions. That's liberty. That's what our soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and guardsmen have fought to create and preserve. <br />
<br />
What real Americans agree on and believe in is making our country a better nation with liberty and justice for all. Americans know their country makes mistakes, is terribly wrong at times, but they know we must overcome and endure.<br />
<br />
Our troops don't make wars; not right ones or wrong ones; but our troops are the best in the world and have lost very few battles, including the Vietnam War. <br />
<br />
Our elected officials, the president and Congress makes wars; but men and women in the armed forces answer our nation's call; if we hadn't many of us would not be here; or all of us might be here without our liberty.<br />
<br />
From all over the world, people continue to seek refuge from oppression in the United States. People from all over the world continue to immigrate to America, many wait and many try anything to get here and stay.<br />
<br />
The reason is liberty, though our nation remains imperfect.<br />
<br />
My comrades and I who served on the battlefields understand what <i>Born in the USA</i> means, whether we like the song or not. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Born in the USA</b></span><br />
by Bruce Springsteen<br />
<br />
<i>Born down in a dead man's town</i><br />
<i>The first kick I took was when I hit the ground</i><br />
<i>You end up like a dog that's been beat too much</i><br />
<i>Until you spend half your life just covering up</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Born in the U.S.A., I was born in the U.S.A.</i><br />
<i>I was born in the U.S.A., born in the U.S.A.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Got in a little hometown jam</i><br />
<i>So they put a rifle in my hand</i><br />
<i>Sent me off to a foreign land</i><br />
<i>To go and kill the yellow man</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Born in the U.S.A. . . .</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Come back home to the refinery</i><br />
<i>Hiring man said, "Son if it was up to me"</i><br />
<i>Went down to see my V.A. man</i><br />
<i>He said, "Son, don't you understand"</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I had a brother at Khe Sahn</i><br />
<i>Fighting off the Viet Cong</i><br />
<i>They're still there, he's all gone</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>He had a woman he loved in Saigon</i><br />
<i>I got a picture of him in her arms now</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Down in the shadow of the penitentiary</i><br />
<i>Out by the gas fires of the refinery</i><br />
<i>I'm ten years burning down the road</i><br />
<i>Nowhere to run, ain't got nowhere to go</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Born in the U.S.A., I was born in the U.S.A.</i><br />
<i>Born in the U.S.A., I'm a long gone daddy in the U.S.A.</i><br />
<i>Born in the U.S.A., born in the U.S.A.</i><br />
<i>Born in the U.S.A., I'm a cool rocking daddy in the U.S.A.</i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-31758585621054324412012-06-24T18:00:00.001-04:002012-06-24T22:01:31.660-04:00Debby spawns Katrina flashbacks: "Hurricanes of humanity"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Tropical storm Debby meanders, daily paper's death slams recovery in New Orleans </span></b><br />
by Mike Marcellino<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
As Tropical Storm Debby slashes the Florida Gulf Coast, unsure of just which direction to go, east or west back toward New Orleans, it brings back memories of Hurricane Katrina. <br />
<br />
<b>The latest forecast, as of 5:21 pm, EDT, Sunday, has Debby "meandering" in the northeast Gulf of Mexico for the next 3-4 days. </b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>But hold on as the forecast keeps changing. Two hours earlier the National Hurricane center had the tropical storm with winds up to 60 knots headed for the coast of Louisiana. </b><br />
<br />
Hurricane Katrina was the most destructive natural disaster in United States history. From conception over the Bahamas on August 23 to August, 29 2005, the killer storm caused $96 billion in damage, wrecked 300,000 homes and took the lives of 1,883 people, including 1,464 in Louisiana. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,210970,00.html">Hurricane Katrina Damage Facts from Fox News</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tropical storm Debby Threatens Louisiana coast</b></span><br />
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Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:25pm EDT</div>
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By Chris Baltimore<span id="midArticle_byline"></span></div>
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<span class="articleLocation">HOUSTON</span> (Reuters) - Strong winds and heavy rain from Tropical Storm Debby reached the U.S. Gulf Coast on Sunday as the storm meandered on an uncertain track toward the Louisiana coast with 60 mph winds, the U.S. National Hurricane Service said.</div>
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Debby, the first named storm of 2012 to enter the Gulf of Mexico, was centered about 200 miles east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River and was moving slowly northeast at around 5 mph at 1 p.m. CDT (1800 GMT). The storm was expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Tuesday night, the Miami-based center said.</div>
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The NHC predicted that Debby will turn west and come ashore on the eastern Louisiana coast early Thursday as a weak Category 1 hurricane. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm, citing possible inland flooding in some coastal parishes.</div>
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<a href="http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCABRE85M0BP20120624">Routers story, Sunday, June 24, 2:25pm</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hurricanes of humanity</b></span></div>
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By Mike Marcellino</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Hurricanes of humanity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Weathermen called the wind Katrina.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Her blow, overwhelming waves covered New Orleans,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">leaving in her wake a city never the same.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">She left them Cajuns reeling -</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">mumbling 'bout their old homes,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">dying for MEMA cottages</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">out of reach, south of highway 90.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">“Sold ‘em to contractors. We’re</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">building casinos for the poor</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">working families without homes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Hurricanes of humanity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Brass of Army sergeants homeless in uniform</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">swept from the streets, no need for assessment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Giv’em an offer they can’t afford -</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">habitat for five hundred dollars a month </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">plus flood insurance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Churches turned some gold to straw,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">parish people say.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Wonderin ‘bout their government</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">before, during an after the nation’s greatest disaster</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">when a category 5 hit the Gulf Coast</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">on that August day 2005.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Hurricanes of humanity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Homes not jails, food not bombs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Five hundred city kitchens cross country, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">twenty two to thirty two percent <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">of our kids going to school homeless,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Arizona to Detroit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Hurricanes of humanity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Subjects of FEMA, New Orleans to Brooklyn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Armies on the street to college.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">What went wrong? they ask.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Not the people? they say.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Must of been the leaders, some say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Hurricanes of humanity. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Bayou grits, southern accents let’s see <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">before, during and after Katrina.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Try disability. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Hope a leg’s missing, never mind.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Speakers in the woods -</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">tents of seven hundred survivors</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">of the bitter winter 2009.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Hurricanes of humanity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Like Dorothy upside down -</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Hope for a soft landing on a bed of change.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Deportees from a 20 megaton daydream. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Two gallons left.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Lost out on fifty fifty -</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">miles, dollars away <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">from New Orleans and Black Bay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Copyright Hurricanes of humanity by Mike Marcellino 2009. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Death of daily paper rips New
Orleans recovery</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans; font-size: 13px;">
And, New Orleans is still reeling, as folks await the death
of their daily newspaper, The Times-Picayune.
New Orleans will become the largest city in America without a daily
newspaper when it begins publishing only three days a week this fall. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans; font-size: 13px;">
Advance Publications, owned by the wealthy Newhouse family,
strategy is for readers to get their news from the paper's Internet
version. Trouble is 39% of New Orleans
residents don't have access to the Internet. Founded in 1837, The
Times-Picayune was named after a Spanish coin worth, at the time, 6 cents. There's a certain irony in the name
"Advance Publications." In
other words, advance and make more money no matter the cost to humanity, in
this case the people of New Orleans and the newspaper's employees.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans; font-size: 13px;">
Writers William Faulkner and O'Henry worked at The
Times-Picayune, a paper that's won three Pulitzer Prizes, two for coverage of
Hurricane Katrina. </div>
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<br /></div>
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How well the three-day a week Times-Picayune serves New Orleans remains to be seen, but one thing for sure is the Newhouse family will continue to pile up the dough. The Newhouse family's wealth hasn't suffered along with the fall of Times-Picayune and newspapers across the country. The family fortune has climbed from a whopping $8 billion in 1988 (Fortune magazine) to $12.5 billion in 2011 (Forbes magazine). </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Look out Cleveland!</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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The family, through Advanced Publicans, also owns The
Cleveland Plain Dealer and Sun Newspapers, once the largest paid weekly
newspaper chain the the country. The
Newhouse family is well known for its anti-union and union-busting tactics, at
least in Cleveland where I worked for a decade as a two-time national award
winning reporter with Sun Newspapers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Here's an excerpt from the McClatchy News Service story on
the death of the daily paper in New Orleans.
It captures the impact on the recovery of New Orleans and the health and
well being of the city and its citizens:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div style="line-height: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="line-height: 15px;"><i><b>Martha Kegel, who leads a consortium of nonprofit agencies that fight homelessness in New Orleans, said it was “infuriating” to watch what was happening.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 15px;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 15px;"><i><b>“The paper has its faults, but has been absolutely essential to the city’s recovery,” she said. “If ever a city needed a daily newspaper it is New Orleans.”Clearly, the Newhouses could care less what happens to New Orleans."</b></i></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 15px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-owhW-6Z0SqE/T-d2P9218FI/AAAAAAAAAik/MXgz99aT3Qo/s1600/New+Orleans+Times-Piccyune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-owhW-6Z0SqE/T-d2P9218FI/AAAAAAAAAik/MXgz99aT3Qo/s1600/New+Orleans+Times-Piccyune.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
The rest of the McClatchy News Service story on the death of the daily Times-Picayune -<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/06/20/153144/new-orleans-laments-defeated-times.html">Death of the Times-Picayune daily</a></div>
</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-14165043377092265122012-06-21T22:40:00.000-04:002012-07-11T01:15:22.392-04:00The White Bird, a poem by Mike Marcellino<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ewpMCGuVFg/TJLGMQMpl5I/AAAAAAAAAMA/nbQLYuV9Aio/s1600/downsized_0915001859a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ewpMCGuVFg/TJLGMQMpl5I/AAAAAAAAAMA/nbQLYuV9Aio/s200/downsized_0915001859a.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WyIRnVm1sXA/T-TW48_FEVI/AAAAAAAAAiE/a9vKW3jeGhs/s1600/white+bird+at+sundown+color+correct+sharpen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WyIRnVm1sXA/T-TW48_FEVI/AAAAAAAAAiE/a9vKW3jeGhs/s400/white+bird+at+sundown+color+correct+sharpen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">St. Augustine Beach, Florida</span> </i></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The White Bird</b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
By Mike Marcellino</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Take time with the natural. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Slow down. </span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Don’t miss the beauty,</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">the small wonders.</span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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Watch and<o:p></o:p></div>
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follow the white bird <o:p></o:p></div>
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on the shore <o:p></o:p></div>
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standing on spindle legs, <o:p></o:p></div>
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like crooked tar twigs.<o:p></o:p></div>
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She paces the wet sand<o:p></o:p></div>
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in a state of consecrated grace,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
too lightweight <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
to leave prints.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fearless, she hops tiny waves, <o:p></o:p></div>
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fluttering her wings,<o:p></o:p></div>
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in no particular hurry. <o:p></o:p></div>
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On occasion <o:p></o:p></div>
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peck, peck, peck <o:p></o:p></div>
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into sand and shallow surf,<o:p></o:p></div>
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spearing what she captures<o:p></o:p></div>
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inside her <o:p></o:p></div>
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long <o:p></o:p></div>
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razor black beak.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Something unseen–<o:p></o:p></div>
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gulp, gulp, gulp,<o:p></o:p></div>
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digesting sea creatures,<o:p></o:p></div>
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sometimes hidden <o:p></o:p></div>
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in clumps of seaweed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Recall.
Civilizations, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
nations<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
but<o:p></o:p></div>
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dribble castles: <o:p></o:p></div>
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Here now, <o:p></o:p></div>
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back in the sea, <o:p></o:p></div>
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tomorrow. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The white bird <o:p></o:p></div>
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knows not to fall <o:p></o:p></div>
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for what man made.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Not tripping, <o:p></o:p></div>
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she takes notes,<o:p></o:p></div>
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in passing:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
an upside down <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
rubber<o:p></o:p></div>
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flip flop;<o:p></o:p></div>
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plastic of every detail<o:p></o:p></div>
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imagined - <o:p></o:p></div>
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caps, toys and containers;<o:p></o:p></div>
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a single leather soul; <o:p></o:p></div>
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thrown up paper - <o:p></o:p></div>
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a manufactured jelly fish, <o:p></o:p></div>
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of the faintest blue<o:p></o:p></div>
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performing a tide pool ballet <o:p></o:p></div>
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on the beach. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“And,<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Pray you,” chirps the white bird silently. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“Don’t mix the gods up with your very nature.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In her tracks she left behind two shells <o:p></o:p></div>
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worn ocean smooth, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
one white, the other black.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The White Bird by Mike Marcellino, copyright 2012</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_gcK3F_TrBI/S2el7D_5eOI/AAAAAAAAAIs/hcGoNG95V6c/s1600/1015091707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_gcK3F_TrBI/S2el7D_5eOI/AAAAAAAAAIs/hcGoNG95V6c/s400/1015091707.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>On the beach.</i> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos by Mike Marcellino Copyright 2012</span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-39375943907238615422012-06-18T13:14:00.001-04:002012-06-24T22:24:23.976-04:00Split Pea/ce: rare video of Cleveland's lyrical poetry revolution<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/EJn74-wOEhk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Mike Marcellino and Abe Alvido as Split Pea/ce</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(Video by John Burroughs)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Split Pea/ce rips poetry, electric guitar </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">at legendary Mac's Backs on Coventry</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This is a rare, maybe the only known video recording of poet Mike Marcellino and guitarist Abe Olvido performing their lyrical poetry music. Thanks to fellow poet and friend John Burroughs for being at the show and recording this video.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This show with Marcellino and multi-media artist Olvido as the band, Split Pea/ce, was recorded at the legendary Mac's Backs Bookstore on Coventry in Cleveland Heights, Ohio on October 8, 2008. That was the year Mike started his musical poetry adventures after showing Abe one of his poems earlier that year. He's not sure which one started it all.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In this video Split Pea/ce performs several of Mike's early songs: <i>been down ta Las Cruces, Asterisks after innocence, Full moon Baltimore and West of the Pecos. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In case you're not familiar, Coventry Village in Cleveland is a miniature Midwest version of Greenwich Village in New York City or Haight Ashbury in San Francisco - places where the Sixties still survives in spots. Also, in case you wonder, looking at this rare video, Abe rarely faced the audience while creating his music. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Mike now knows why he left the snows of Cleveland for the surf of St. Augustine as he looks rather peaked at the Mac's Backs show. His hair and beard are mostly blond now bleached by the tropical sun, salt spray and lemon juice.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Split Pea/ce performed many times in Cleveland in 2008 and 2009 from the East
Side to the West Side and South.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The band's home base was the legendary Barking Spider Tavern on the campus of Case Western Reserve University, just down the road from Algebra Tea House on the old red brick Murray Hill Road in Little Italy where Mike and Abe met. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fDSv331W9oY/Shm39GdnCiI/AAAAAAAAAEE/SK7L_uys3kc/s1600/me+at+rally.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fDSv331W9oY/Shm39GdnCiI/AAAAAAAAAEE/SK7L_uys3kc/s400/me+at+rally.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
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<i>Mike reads his poetry songs at International Human Rights
Day in Cleveland as renowned reggae musician Carlos Jones jumps off stage. (Photo by The Plain Dealer)</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Some of the classic performances of Split Pea/ce included
The Battle of the Bands at Peabody's where the crowds of teens and twenty
somethings went wild, jumping up on stage and asking Mike to sign copies of his
rip and read lyrics on perforated rolls of computer printing paper.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VMK7s5gLa60/Sh7v5WkMBmI/AAAAAAAAAEM/mD6v0TggAXk/s1600/split+pea-ce+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VMK7s5gLa60/Sh7v5WkMBmI/AAAAAAAAAEM/mD6v0TggAXk/s320/split+pea-ce+023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Split Pea/ce performs at Visible Voice Books in Cleveland</i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q-hgPfuKOmc/SmhniNxoGTI/AAAAAAAAAE0/E9YCfxcSKuM/s1600/2009_0611HESSLER090144.jpgMikeX.jpg75%2525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q-hgPfuKOmc/SmhniNxoGTI/AAAAAAAAAE0/E9YCfxcSKuM/s320/2009_0611HESSLER090144.jpgMikeX.jpg75%2525.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Mike Marcellino with noted poet and musician Ray McNiece at the Barking Spider Tavern</i></div>
</div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">While Mike did talk with record company scouts, Split Pea/ce
wasn't signed to a label. Another of the band's memorable shows was at Visible
Voice Books in the Tremont neighborhood, just across the Cuyahoga River from
downtown.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In September of 2009 Mike left Cleveland to bring his
lyrical poetry to the cafes, art galleries and festivals of New York City from
the Lower East Side to Greenwich Village and Williamsburg in Brooklyn. Now he surfs the beaches of St. Augustine, America's oldest city. Mike performs and records with musicians
Tomas Texino in St. Augustine, Florida and Randall Leddy in New York City. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">In the fall of 2010 to help promote his New York City shows,
Mike and Texino produced a 6-song CD "Notebook Writer." A few copies remain and can be had for a
price. Just comment on this bog if
you're interested in this classic album. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a href="http://www.reverbnation.com/mikemarcellino">Mike Marcellino on ReverbNation</a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.myspace.com/home">Mike Marcellino as Split Pea/ce on MySpace </a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Check back as Mike's out looking for the lyrics to these four songs to post up. </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4135840517827417463.post-16831205310465716712012-06-16T21:58:00.000-04:002012-07-28T13:22:44.744-04:00Happy unBirthday, Mike*<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Top 10 Reasons Mike Doesn't Celebrate His Birthday</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
10. He can't remember having a birthday party.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9. He doesn't like the song, "Happy Birthday."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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8. He doesn't ever
act his age.<o:p></o:p></div>
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7. He doesn't look 39. Hey, it worked for Jack Benny. (Jack who?)<o:p></o:p></div>
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6. If he had a lot of money everyone would be celebrating his birthday.<o:p></o:p></div>
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5. It's two days after
the birthday of the United States Army.
Hooah! Enough said. (The Army,
which Mike proudly served in was born in 1775, even before the Declaration of
Independence.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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4. He tried at least
four times today, his birthday, to defy rip currents and gale force winds (47
knots) and get out to the set waves on his Custom X LTD Six bodyboard, but at
least he didn't get knocked into the pier.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/NR6swl5UVeY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<i>This is video of surfing two days before Mike's birthday at the The Dredge, St. Augustine Beach, Florida by Surf Station. "The Dredge" name is a take-off of "The Wedge," south of the pier at Newport Beach, California, one of the best know surf spots in the world and where Mike got his feet wet bodyboarding (aka boogie boarding) in another age and timezone.</i></div>
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<i>The name "The Dredge" refers to the dredging of sand from the inlet into the ocean by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (actually a contractor as I haven't seen any Army fatigues yet) to help restore the sand beach wiped away by hurricanes, tropical storms and northeasters. You can even buy a cool T-shirt with a photo of The Dredge at Surf Station.</i></div>
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3. Mike's an official Hindu convert (among other things). And,
Hinduism is just a way of life, not a religion about a person but “karma” or cause and effect (and boy
there's sure is a lot of that lately in the world lately, and not for the
good). And besides, he doubts the really
cool religious guys like Muhammad, Buddha and Jesus had birthday parties. So now billions of people celebrate<i> their</i>
birthdays.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2. He's not sure his
birth certificate is for real. Kind of
like the "birthers" thing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>The Number 1 Reason Why Mike Doesn't Celebrate His Birthday:</b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<b>1. He's lost in
the rain in Juarez having a shot of tequila with Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata. </b></div>
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(Tequila:
n. an alcoholic liquor distilled from the fermented juice of the Central
American century plant Agave tequilana.)</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eoA0LVIsMSI/T90tueRWNhI/AAAAAAAAAhg/Y4KLdirJIhc/s1600/zapata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eoA0LVIsMSI/T90tueRWNhI/AAAAAAAAAhg/Y4KLdirJIhc/s400/zapata.jpg" width="303" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN"><i>Emiliano Zapata Salazar
(August 8, 1879 – April 10, 1919) was a leading figure in the Mexican
Revolution, which broke out in 1910, and which was initially directed against
the president Porfirio Díaz. He formed and commanded an important revolutionary
force, the Liberation Army of the South, during the Mexican Revolution.
Followers of Zapata were known as Zapatistas. He is a figure from the
Mexican Revolution era who is still revered today. - </i>adapted from Wikipedia<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><i> <b>A peasant since childhood, he gained insight
into the severe difficulties of the countryside.</b> <span style="font-size: x-small;">-</span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wikipedia</span><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><i>Viva Zapata! is a 1952
fictional-biographical film directed by Elia Kazan. The screenplay was written
by John Steinbeck. Anthony Quinn won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and nominations included Best Actor for Marlon Brando and Best Screenplay for Steinbeck. </i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><i>Viva Zapata! may be my favorite film.<o:p></o:p></i></span><br />
<span lang="EN"><i><br /></i></span><br />
*Thanks to my very smart friend, Paula Osborn of California, for coming up with the snappy "unBirthday" description.</div>
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703474389765003524noreply@blogger.com0