A great song from Pete Yorn, Don't Wanna Cry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2j6Zx4GF7c
So the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup Friday night, beating Detroit 2-1 in a rather boring game 7. The game definitely didn't live up to the hype and Sidney Crosby was left watching the end of the game with a knee injury. As deserving as I thought he was of winning the cup after a good playoff, Malkin won the Conn Symthe trophy over an equally deserving Marc-Andre Fleury. I am happy the Penguins won but wasn't pleased with Crosby showing up the Wings by taking his time making it the traditional handshaking. The captain of the Detroit Red Wings Nicklas Lidstrom didn't help matters by leaving the ice quickly and not waiting for Crosby, though I don't blame him after being on the losing side. As I get older, I appreciate more and more the greatness of Wayne Gretzky, Gretzky would never have done what Crosby did. Gretzky was classy whether he won or lost. The clip below pretty much sums up Gretzky, it is taken from his final game over ten years ago now, Bob Cole's brilliant narrative accurately describes Gretzky's character.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U93zJNDgZcY
Over the weekend Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won a nearly 2-1 landslide over reformist Mir Hossein Moussavi. This result is another blow to democracy in the Middle East and has produced protests in Iran not seen since 1979. I am not surprised by the results because I expect nothing but fraud and lies from the Iran and the region as a whole. There are those usually in the majority but holding a minority of power or money who want change but can't foster it because their lives aren't valued. Those with the majority of power will attempt to keep it at all costs and the world of sanctions does nothing to stop them. They can't be removed because the world lacks the courage or the resources. The article below does a job of explaining the situation.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/15/gerges.iran.election/index.html
Today was another fine spring day, there were low and rather large white clouds, they scattered about between blue skies and watched as occasional aircraft passed by. Being close to the airport, albeit not a busy airport, the sky gets interrupted by aircraft from time to time. I saw what looked like a 747, a couple of twin-engined low flyer's, a couple of jets flying high and trailing white vapour and the hospital emergency helicopter, its orangeness is an almost daily sight.
I wrote the following piece late this afternoon after thinking about spring and summer merging, hoping spring's weather would last long into the summer. There of course is a sadness in the piece, like everything I write and the part of about tears, might be true. I really don't know but it fits very well with Mr. Yorn's song.
An Open Palm
Spring will soon arrive at the gates of summer
A pearl reflecting sunlight from an open palm
Offering cool breezes and white wedding days
When August's heat becomes too much to take
Our memories will place us safely in the shade
Where familiar music is played and love made
Until October finally lets us be free in autumn
Pilgrims searching for colours to define beauty
I am a collector of thoughts usually unrelated
They ramble like old drifters between villages
Pursuing a better life or simply growing tired
Restless sleeping under the same roof or stars
No matter the season and its current progress
When the time comes thoughts like people go
Their departure can leave a mysterious aura
Questions with only air to dry them out on
Our eyes are washed clean by psychic tears
Paraded down our cheeks in shameful lines
Crying is absolutely necessary and healthy
There often does not have to be a reason
Beethoven could very easily make us flood
I should take my own advice but rarely do
Stubbornness like emptiness are my fortes
Inspiration is an unknown women smiling
When all around me is my usual frowning
The reflection of myself as a cranky man
After youth has left my side like everyone
Who really mattered through the silences
A string will remain where pearls shined
Their absence is equally as breathtaking.
15 June 2009
I shaved my playoff beard tonight, well it was actually only an 8 day old beard but still it really started itching last night. I can't go more than 2 weeks but my skin is usually better when I don't shave, well better by my standards anyway.
I missed the sunset writing this, which I only decided to do after realizing I had already seen tonight's episode of Big Bang Theory and the rest of CBS' Monday night lineup. I only watch half hour shows, my attention span doesn't last an hour and I don't really like too many of the half hour shows, so I don't really watch much television. I did happen to see the preview below of the Cleveland show coming this fall on FOX, I even laughed at its mention of Adam Duritz as that munch from Counting Crows. The preview is below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT-sNBKpDEo
So why not a couple of Counting Crows clips.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNhJ2s2P4fY
Einstein on the Beach (Fan video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFyBKViaP2I
Baby I'm a Big Star Now (Fan video, not a very good one, scary in fact)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvKk4QxA-H8
Oh La La (Fan video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48sAQnRYMMo
Mr. Jones (acoustic Storytellers)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2YNBveCrLo
When I Dream of Michelangelo (October 2008 NJ)
Well those are my ramblings for this fine June evening, even if I did miss the sun setting and there were no new laughs regarding big bang theories.
john edward charles.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
"You don't need to know that much about me..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USjuOWLyWIQ
You and I is a song that will be included on Wilco (The Album) to be released June 30. The song features classic Wilco guitars, Jeff Tweedy's vocals and vocal help from Canadian "it" girl Feist. I really liked their last collection of music Sky Blue Sky and new Wilco music is always a welcomed addition to my music library.
The date tells me this is my first blog entry in nearly a month. I am really not very interesting and I am really not very social, so there is really not anything exciting for me to write about. Though I suppose I have my ramblings to share.
The hockey season will finally be over tonight. It is longer than the baseball season, for those who like to complain about the length of the baseball season. Hockey starts in early October and will end in early June, lasting over 9 months. You could almost conceive and bear a baby during this time. Whereas the baseball season starts late March or early April and ends late in October, this is only 8 months. You could conceive a child and still get out of town during this time.
Lord Stanley Cup's will be presented tonight to the winner of game 7 between Detroit and Pittsburgh. Detroit won it last year and I am hoping for the major upset tonight. Even all the Crosby haters know that he deserves the cup after his strong playoff performance.
Dave and Conan.
Letterman and Palin.
Where to begin?
Television just before and after midnight has got much more interesting in the past 2 weeks. I am biased towards Dave, always have been and always will be, do I think his jokes about Palin's daughter might have crossed a line, yes I do. But Sarah and her husband's reaction have been extremely over the top, Dave has been on television for 30 years, he isn't out molesting girls or has he ever made suggestions that this was appropriate behaviour. The U.S. media on the right, Fox News in particular, needs someone to attack, and they are doing their best on Dave. Palin needs to get back into the public eye and why not use Dave like he is using her. Other more important people have fought back after being the brunt of Letterman's jokes, and Dave is always ready for a good fight. His relevance goes beyond being funnier or not than any other talk show host, he often says things we wish we could say and explains things better than most newscasters. His show following 9/11 says more about him than anything Palin could ever say. She should get back to governing Alaska because aren't there more important economic issues to focus on rather than a few cheesy jokes. Your daughter was "knocked up" and you do look like a slutty flight attendant at times, get over it. Like him or hate, Dave was making jokes like this in 1982, 1989, 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2009, and if you don't like him you can watch Conan, or Jay at 10 in September.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xut56q77GK0
Dave's comments following 9/11.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCO22jxMrrQ
Dave's tribute to Paul Newman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDrxOM3jsxY
Dave's tribute to Johnny Carson.
This is a man who will mean more to the American people than Palin will ever.
As for Conan, I think he is funnier than Dave, except for his interviews, Dave kicks any of the late night hosts asses during interviews. I will watch Conan during commercials or when he is being funny, but I will watch Dave first, until he decides to retire, relevant or not, funny or not. It is what I grew up watching and will continue doing so.
I still read a lot and the last book I finished was 'Tis (A Memoir) by Frank McCourt. I like the following passage from it.
"It's the first time I ever had lemon meringue pie and I'm thinking if this is the way they eat all the time in America I won't be a bit hungry and I'll be fine and fat, as they say in Limerick. I'll have Dostoevsky for the loneliness and pie for the hunger."
I finally wrote something new the other day, and it is below.
No Escape Plan
My unexplainable absences have continued through spring
Summer's coming thunderstorms threaten to obliterate me
I emptied my heart trying to grow old before it was proper
Kindness was never enough for love and beautiful women
The rejection filled my head through every lonely evening
Dreams with happy endings never came but poems stayed
I care very little about them now and beauty is not for me
Ugliness will always remain at the core of my self image
There is nowhere for it to go and it is no longer venomous
Accepting defeat is never easy even if gracefully handled
Embracing silence can eventually bring peace to thoughts
I can be alive without having to worry about living right
Each day is a celebration against death until nothingness
The brilliance of not knowing you were right about God
Scarred skin and strong bones decomposing or burning
Becoming insignificant like the Earth in a blink of time
We are characters in a horror movie with no escape plan
Some of us play starring roles and will be remembered
The gospel according to John says none of us mattered
Beyond the moments of our present and instant futures
Death gives others a chance to mourn until they forget
Nobody who knew Jesus is alive today to tell us truths
Religion preys on the foolish as Marx and Freud knew
Poe saw its evolution out of fear, greed and imagination
You should believe, if you can, because what do I know
You should love, if you can, because maybe I am unable
The elegance and excitement of romance never lingered
My faithful friend melancholy would wait around for me
Together we could watch the full moon and ponder life
I often thought it was better sitting alone consuming tea
There was no drama of hearts mending but trust refusing
Sex being accomplished without love making it special
Mornings of conflicting thoughts and emptied feelings
Warm hands suddenly becoming colder than last winter
Too many questions plague some of us each passing day
All the answers are unsatisfactory and lacking in virtue
I make myself out to be more complex than is necessary
This happens when you are boring, bored and displeasing
A need to be creative, inspiring and attractive takes over.
10 June 2009
A few Counting Crows clips to share.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNWIa_A5_8w
Round Here (October 2008 N.J.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIKMIpuUYwk
Anna Begins (May 26, 2009 Sheffield, England)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzMNbqyPPzo&feature=channel_page
Recovering The Satellites (Dublin 2009)
Today has probably been the nicest day of June so far. The sun is supposed to be out and shining for a few days, but no matter what the weather is, there will always be a little light shining in my heart. Some of you may never see it, some of you might glimpse it, for some of you it might be too bright but for one of you, it might just be right.
john edward charles.
You and I is a song that will be included on Wilco (The Album) to be released June 30. The song features classic Wilco guitars, Jeff Tweedy's vocals and vocal help from Canadian "it" girl Feist. I really liked their last collection of music Sky Blue Sky and new Wilco music is always a welcomed addition to my music library.
The date tells me this is my first blog entry in nearly a month. I am really not very interesting and I am really not very social, so there is really not anything exciting for me to write about. Though I suppose I have my ramblings to share.
The hockey season will finally be over tonight. It is longer than the baseball season, for those who like to complain about the length of the baseball season. Hockey starts in early October and will end in early June, lasting over 9 months. You could almost conceive and bear a baby during this time. Whereas the baseball season starts late March or early April and ends late in October, this is only 8 months. You could conceive a child and still get out of town during this time.
Lord Stanley Cup's will be presented tonight to the winner of game 7 between Detroit and Pittsburgh. Detroit won it last year and I am hoping for the major upset tonight. Even all the Crosby haters know that he deserves the cup after his strong playoff performance.
Dave and Conan.
Letterman and Palin.
Where to begin?
Television just before and after midnight has got much more interesting in the past 2 weeks. I am biased towards Dave, always have been and always will be, do I think his jokes about Palin's daughter might have crossed a line, yes I do. But Sarah and her husband's reaction have been extremely over the top, Dave has been on television for 30 years, he isn't out molesting girls or has he ever made suggestions that this was appropriate behaviour. The U.S. media on the right, Fox News in particular, needs someone to attack, and they are doing their best on Dave. Palin needs to get back into the public eye and why not use Dave like he is using her. Other more important people have fought back after being the brunt of Letterman's jokes, and Dave is always ready for a good fight. His relevance goes beyond being funnier or not than any other talk show host, he often says things we wish we could say and explains things better than most newscasters. His show following 9/11 says more about him than anything Palin could ever say. She should get back to governing Alaska because aren't there more important economic issues to focus on rather than a few cheesy jokes. Your daughter was "knocked up" and you do look like a slutty flight attendant at times, get over it. Like him or hate, Dave was making jokes like this in 1982, 1989, 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2009, and if you don't like him you can watch Conan, or Jay at 10 in September.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xut56q77GK0
Dave's comments following 9/11.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCO22jxMrrQ
Dave's tribute to Paul Newman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDrxOM3jsxY
Dave's tribute to Johnny Carson.
This is a man who will mean more to the American people than Palin will ever.
As for Conan, I think he is funnier than Dave, except for his interviews, Dave kicks any of the late night hosts asses during interviews. I will watch Conan during commercials or when he is being funny, but I will watch Dave first, until he decides to retire, relevant or not, funny or not. It is what I grew up watching and will continue doing so.
I still read a lot and the last book I finished was 'Tis (A Memoir) by Frank McCourt. I like the following passage from it.
"It's the first time I ever had lemon meringue pie and I'm thinking if this is the way they eat all the time in America I won't be a bit hungry and I'll be fine and fat, as they say in Limerick. I'll have Dostoevsky for the loneliness and pie for the hunger."
I finally wrote something new the other day, and it is below.
No Escape Plan
My unexplainable absences have continued through spring
Summer's coming thunderstorms threaten to obliterate me
I emptied my heart trying to grow old before it was proper
Kindness was never enough for love and beautiful women
The rejection filled my head through every lonely evening
Dreams with happy endings never came but poems stayed
I care very little about them now and beauty is not for me
Ugliness will always remain at the core of my self image
There is nowhere for it to go and it is no longer venomous
Accepting defeat is never easy even if gracefully handled
Embracing silence can eventually bring peace to thoughts
I can be alive without having to worry about living right
Each day is a celebration against death until nothingness
The brilliance of not knowing you were right about God
Scarred skin and strong bones decomposing or burning
Becoming insignificant like the Earth in a blink of time
We are characters in a horror movie with no escape plan
Some of us play starring roles and will be remembered
The gospel according to John says none of us mattered
Beyond the moments of our present and instant futures
Death gives others a chance to mourn until they forget
Nobody who knew Jesus is alive today to tell us truths
Religion preys on the foolish as Marx and Freud knew
Poe saw its evolution out of fear, greed and imagination
You should believe, if you can, because what do I know
You should love, if you can, because maybe I am unable
The elegance and excitement of romance never lingered
My faithful friend melancholy would wait around for me
Together we could watch the full moon and ponder life
I often thought it was better sitting alone consuming tea
There was no drama of hearts mending but trust refusing
Sex being accomplished without love making it special
Mornings of conflicting thoughts and emptied feelings
Warm hands suddenly becoming colder than last winter
Too many questions plague some of us each passing day
All the answers are unsatisfactory and lacking in virtue
I make myself out to be more complex than is necessary
This happens when you are boring, bored and displeasing
A need to be creative, inspiring and attractive takes over.
10 June 2009
A few Counting Crows clips to share.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNWIa_A5_8w
Round Here (October 2008 N.J.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIKMIpuUYwk
Anna Begins (May 26, 2009 Sheffield, England)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzMNbqyPPzo&feature=channel_page
Recovering The Satellites (Dublin 2009)
Today has probably been the nicest day of June so far. The sun is supposed to be out and shining for a few days, but no matter what the weather is, there will always be a little light shining in my heart. Some of you may never see it, some of you might glimpse it, for some of you it might be too bright but for one of you, it might just be right.
john edward charles.
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