No Prolonged Squawk

But I have been tired and shagged out...

Lots going on lately, but very little blogging.

Siona, our oldest, got accepted into Americore

It's like the Peace Core but in America.

She got a posting doing tutoring for kids, 5th graders I think.

She also got herself an apartment (well she rented a room).

Which means we had to help her with first months rent and all that.

Then there has been the usual drama of having your kid move out.

Add to that a serious bout of illness for my wife and me at the same time.

Plus the usual time-sucking business that is work.

End result: No Blogging.

But I feel like I am catching up.

Time for a haiku:

When worn out

and seeking an inn--

wisteria flowers!

-- Basho

Too Much Spare Time

Fun Video for those with too much spare time

2 Years Ago: Ticket Please

Originally Posted 2 Years Ago:

Can I Buy A Ticket To The Mountain?

The boy used to wander in the fields around his house.
“Don’t go too far,” his mother would cry.
But the boy used to wander in the fields around his house.
One day he followed the teasing of a crow.
Into the dry hills which climbed like steps
On a magic staircase lit by sun and moon
When the crow abandoned the boy
There was no sun, no moon
Just a rocky seat and a cold, cold wind

“Shhhhhh…..”

“Why did I wander so far from home?”
The boy shivered and wondered
“Who do I think I am to wander so far?”
The boy sat and shivered in that dark place
Until a silent explosion of light broke through
Clouds the boy did not know were lurking in the dark
Light blazed forth and the boy beheld that his hard seat
Was the grand pinnacle of a great high mountain.

“Oooooh….”

Eventually the light was shrouded by the clouds again
And hungry for his mother’s sugar cakes, he thought of home.
The boy left the mountain and climbed down the hills
He promised the crow he would not forget the mountain
As he reentered the fields around his house
And was wrapped in the apron embrace of his mother on the porch
He promised the crow he would not forget the light
“Why did you wander so far from home?” mother asked
The boy tried to explain about the crow, the hills,
The rocky seat, the mountain and the light
But the words did not reach her heart

“Hmmm….”

Mother kept the boy close to home
And frowned when ever he talked to crows
Or sang tuneless melodies about alpine light
“You must go to the town and learn your trade”
“You must please the mayor, the banker and the priest”
“You must never, ever let them hear you talking to the crows.”
So with a sack lunch in his hand
The boy put his feet on the hard road to town
And tried not to hear the complaints of the crow
Behind him in the fields around his house

“Awwwk….”

Now the man works in the market square
Buying and selling but never far from his house
He greets the mayor each morning
Gossips with the banker over lunch
Bows his head and accepts the blessings of the priest
Searching for cheap groceries to take to his wife
Buying and selling but never far from his house
The crow sometimes teases him
Calling from the telephone post
The crow leaves him gleaming white gifts
Which remind the man of small mountains
Drying and crumbling slowly in the sun
--------------------------

Credits: Words and Collage by Jay Larsen

Heads Will Roll Video

The Thunder Echo Ensemble has been back in the studio.
Good things are brewing and there is talk about a new album although there are no schedules yet. Just good jams.

Here is a sneak peak for my 23 loyal fans.
It's a story about hitting the road and seeing what you might find.
A short video of a poem that made its debut right here on the blog, complete with some TEE magic to add to the atmosphere:


Here is a link for those who can't see the embedded video above: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4EidGRA69U

Remember, you can listen to TEE's previous albums at WhatDoWeKnow.com
As always, let us know what you think.
-----------------------
Credits: Words by Jay Larsen
Music by The Thunder Echo Ensemble
Collages by Jay Larsen

THroB

THroB
There is an insistent pound
An aching throb in my head
My head it aches
You cannot repudiate
The pain it makes
The throb, throb, throb in my head

I try to find my voice
You say I have no choice
I can rip the throat from the brute
But he does not become mute
I keep trying to find my own voice

You tell me we won the big war
But you can’t tell me what it was for
Instead of beating the bad guy
We swallowed his core
Now we’re the bad guy
Full bore whores and gore

I’m gonna drill a hole in my head
Trepanation to keep the beast fed
To reduce the insistent tread
Of the throb, throb, throb of dread
Scooping out discs of my head

Quit twisting my knobs
Your static just adds to my throb
No need to shout
Concentrate on the job
Help me get this splinter out

Ah…

What was I talking about?
Feel the chill a cold shadow brings
Feel I must be missing something
Silence fills up the room
All echo without any boom
What was I talking about?

-----------------------------

Words and Collage by Jay Larsen

Graffiti by Banksy

It's Not What You Know...

Year after year

on the monkey's face

a monkey face

-- Basho

Poetry is poisoned

Poetry is poisoned
Poisoned with hope
Poised
Prepared
Pontificating
Profusely
Pondering escape
Proffering
Protection
Previewing the reels
Pretending to feel
Poetry is poisoned
Poisoned with hope

-------------------------

Words and Collage by Jay Larsen

Built in Punchlines

Flint cops crack down on sagging pants
Violators of ordinance could face fines -- even jail time
BY BEN SCHMITT • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • July 8, 2008

Flint residents now have to watch their butts because Police Chief David Dicks is on the lookout.
Dicks, who took over the department last month on an interim basis, announced that his officers would start arresting people wearing saggy pants that expose skivvies, boxer shorts or bare bottoms.
"Some people call it a fad," Dicks told the Free Press this week while patrolling the streets of Flint. "But I believe it's a national nuisance. It is indecent and thus it is indecent exposure, which has been on the books for years."
On June 27, the chief issued a departmental memorandum telling officers: "This immoral self expression goes beyond freedom of expression."
The crime, he says, is disorderly conduct or indecent exposure, both misdemeanors punishable by 93 days to a year in jail and/or fines up to $500.
Dicks, 41, broke down his interpretation of the laws as such: Pants pulled completely below the buttocks with underwear showing is disorderly conduct; saggy pants with skin of the buttocks showing is indecent exposure, and saggy pants, not completely below the buttocks, with underwear exposed results in a warning.



In addition to the article and the above diagram (a very helpful diagram by the way), there is this photo of Chief Dicks in action with a young man with his pants down:



Flint Police Chief David Dicks pats down a man who was stopped Monday in Flint for his sagging pants. The man was warned and released. Dicks said his officers would start arresting people wearing saggy pants that expose skivvies, boxer shorts or bare bottoms.

The punchlines are all built in. I shouldn't be forced to wave them under your nose. But the fact that the police chief's name is Dicks is just too funny. And in the photo, his is a faceless dick too.

I Met The Walrus

A very cool short film made from an interview of John Lennon.


Here is the Link if you can't see the embedded video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmR0V6s3NKk

It Floats!

Took the new boat out a couple of times.

It floats. The motor works.

And we caught fish.

Toys in the Yard

We have a giant RV in our yard. Several relatives are visiting and they asked if they could bring their RV. I was thinking Winnebago, but no! They brought a rock 'n' roll tour bus. Pretty cool, but way too much RV for me.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, my wife is straining at the bit to get her new toy out of the yard and into the water. She bought a new boat (new for us) and we spent the last several days getting it ready for the water. 14 foot aluminum Lowe with a 15 hp Suzuki. Hopefully we can get it onto a local lake in the next few days. Fish, consider yourselves warned...

Have a beauty of a Canada Day, eh! And a fantastic Independence Day! (Although it should probably be Interdependence Day...)