- The Nepal Red Cross Society
- AmeriCares disaster relief fund
- Facebook will match every dollar donated up to $2 million
- The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
- AmeriCares disaster relief fund
- CARE donation page
- Oxfam International
- UNICEF has an online donation page
- Save the Children has set up the Nepal Children’s Emergency Relief Fund
Live footage caught the Nepal Earthquake!
google.com, pub-2427795083793513, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
It’s amazing that we live in a time where we can record events as they happen and review them later. People with cell phones and public cameras caught the Nepal earthquake as it happened. You can see people in the square watch in horror as centuries old temples crumble to the ground in seconds! Watch as motorists on scooters get covered under rumble of a building falling into the street! Watch as temple collapses in the round! The earth truly is in charge and things can change in a moments time.
For more click the link <Mashable>
To make Donations go here <earthquakeRelief>
Categories: General Tags: 2015, CCTV, damage, earthquake, footage, kathmandu, live camera feeds, lives lost, mashable, nepal, temples destroyed
Categories: General Tags:
So, does “The Muse” really exists?
google.com, pub-2427795083793513, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
What is the “Muse” you may ask. Well, by definition, “the Muse or Muses” in Greek mythology are the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. They were in charge of the arts, music, lyrics, comedy, and more.
From Wikipedia:
“The Muses, therefore, were both the embodiment’s and sponsors of performed metrical speech: mousike (whence the English term “music”) was just “one of the arts of the Muses”.”
They were also of the jealous type. Which leads me to this.
As I look back over time. Over and over there seems to be a repeating pattern. Though we literally have had thousands of actors/actresses, writers, painters, poets, and musicians, it seems only a select few come to the top and soar at a young age. They stand way out in front of everyone else. Usually it’s about one per decade. They shine and then for some reason are snuffed out as quickly as a flame on a birthday candle. Is it due to their addictions? Underlying issues? Hobbies? Recklessness? Just plain dumb luck or something else. Something like a…Muse?
No one “really” knows where the gifts come from I suppose. Some say they are handed out by God. Some say they are gifted from their deceased ancestors that have passed it on from generation to generation. Some believe that the Muses actually hand pick those that are “worthy’ of a gift, a talent, or a possession. Others have been known to have gone down to the ‘Crossroads” and made a deal with the devil or “Scratch” as he is sometimes known as. Hence the scripture, “Principalities, Powers, World Rulers of Darkness, and Spiritual Wickedness in High Places”. But, over and over, someone takes off and makes and incredible mark upon the landscape and then they are quickly…gone. I have often wondered, does the individual that becomes “that” icon, do they realize it and do they wonder if they are “next”.
So do they just “Live fast and Die young” due to bad habits and addictions or or did the Muse come for them? Or, did these young super stars realize that they were on the path of destruction and when they tried to pull out, the Muse stepped in and well, for lack of a better term. Called in their note.
Take for example Music. It’s a universal thing. It moves us. It changes us. It can, if we allow it, shape us. It goes to the very soul of most of us. Very few people could “live without” music and be content. Everyone has a favorite song or lyric. Something about it that sparks the human soul. Some worship God with it. Some worship celestial beings with it. Music gets us rowdy, it can also calm the troubled soul. We fight to it. We make love to it. We go off to wars being lead by it. It’s far more than just back ground music or noise.
In the following paragraphs I will explore some examples as to why I think there is “Muse”. All of these artists burnt out too soon, but as to why they did? I don’t have the answers. Only questions. Let’s go back in time.
The Beginning
Robert Johnson
A master at the Mississippi delta blues and looked up to from the likes of Eric Clapton. He was ranked # 5 at out 100 all time guitar greats by Rolling Stone magazine. He played juke joints, street corners and Saturday night dances. He is the guy that was rumored to have went “down to the crossroads” and made a pack with the devil. He found no fame or fortune while he was alive. Supposedly poisoned by a jealous husband he died at the age of 27.
“THE 50’s”
“A Rebel without a Cause”
A rising but ultimately a brief shooting star. A complex individual. His acting skills skyrocketed him to fame and admiration. He set the standard from the American teenager of the 1950’s. The “I don’t give a damn” attitude he personificated. Everyone wanted to be James Dean. His clothing style and rebel attitude is still emulated to this day. Girls wanted to be with him and guys wanted to be him. Henry Winkler ‘s character the “Fonz” from the 70’s sitcom “Happy Days” was based loosely on him.
A lot has been said about James Dean over the years. The stories of the women he dated. The reported stories of him also having boyfriends or at least male sex partners. (He has been quoted as saying “No, I am not a homosexual. But I’m also not going to go through life with one hand tied behind my back.”) The legend of James Dean lives on long after the man himself has passed. One can watch any of his movies such as “East of Eden” or “Rebel without a Cause” and see he was truly a genius.
His demise. An avid fan of racing cars, he was on his way to a racing event in Salinas California in his Porsche 550 Spyder when a Ford Tudor pulled out at an intersection on Highway 466 and slowed down. James Dean’s car slammed into the Tudaor almost head on. His Mechanic Rolf Wütherich was thrown from the car and though he was badly injured he lived. However, on September 30, 1995, at the age of 24, James Byron Dean on a deserted California highway, drove off into History.
“The 60’s”
Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper
“The Day the Music died”
His songs “That’ll be the Day” and “Peggy Sue” busted the music charts wide open. He inspired countless others after him. From the Beatles to Eric Clapton. He is known for setting up the standard for which most rock bands to this day adhere to. Two guitars, one bass, a drum set and a singer.
He blazed hot for four short years. “The day the music died” goes the lyrics to a song written by Don McLean of that fateful day. On the early morning of February 3rd, 1959,in a winter snow storm, a small Beechcraft Bonanza airplane took off from Clear lake Iowa heading toward Minnesota. It went down within five miles of the runway it had just taken off from. Three young and budding rockstars lay scattered about the frozen ground. It would be at least ten hours before they were found. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper flew into History. Ritchie being the youngest at 17 and The Big Bopper being 28. Buddy Holly was 22…Was it just dumb luck, bad weather, or a combination of all of these plus bad piloting skills from the pilot or did the Muse have something to do with it? I don’t have a smoking gun on this one.
“The 70’s”
For some reason it seems the Muse went into overtime during the 70’s. There were several shooting stars that flamed out too fast. I will cover a few of the more prominent ones.
Jimi Hendrix
Rock and Roll’s original guitar gunslinger. He was left handed and played the guitar left handed but strung right handed so the strings were upside down. According to Wikipedia, in 1969 he was the world’s most highest paid rock star of the time. His blazing guitar solos and heavy Voo Doo type funky rhythms and fuzz tones made him the poster child for the hippie movement. His rendition of the “Star Spangled banner” closing out Woodstock is heralded as the greatest moment of the 60’s. He stated once in an interview that nobody cared about him they only cared about his guitar playing… Drugs and alcohol would be his downfall. On September 18, 1970, at the age of 27, Jimi slipped over into the purple haze of the afterlife and left this world.
Janis Joplin
Janis, another icon of the 70’s, actually more from the sixties but she is mostly remembered for the early 70’s. One of the
first female Rock stars. She fronted the band ” Big Brothers and the Holding Company” before going out as a solo artist. She rode hard and she hung up wet. An early outcast at school, she was once quoted as saying” “I was a misfit. I read, I painted, I didn’t hate niggers.” She also performed at Woodstock like her fellow afterlife mate Jimi. She was so unhappy with her performance she didn’t allow it to used in the Woodstock movie. If you read on in Wikipedia it talks about her classmates voting her “Most ugliest man on Campus”. She had the voice of a Whiskey torn Bluesy goddess but she was tender and vulnerable on the inside…She along with Grace Slick, busted the doors wide open for future female artists. Her love affairs were many. From having sex with her female friend Peggy to doing psychedelic hard drugs. She lived a fast life. After receiving a dose of heroin that was too strong, On October 4, 1970, at the age of 27, Janis went to sleep at the Landmark Motor Hotel and woke up somewhere in the cosmic universe leaving her psychedelic porsche in the parking lot. Her song “Me and Bobby McGee” released posthumous, was her only number one hit.
Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison, the Lizard King. Lead singer and song writer of the band “The Doors”. Another causality of the late 60’s early 70’s time frame. More of a spoken poet than singer Jim Morrison along with the Doors songs were a staple of the late 60’s. Songs like “Hello’ I love you”, “Light my Fire” and “People are strange” summed up the psychedelic drug culture of the time. Morrison also was an accomplished writer releasing to self published books of poetry. A bohemian and frequent drug user Jim slowly dissolved into a shadow of himself. Gaining weight and growing a beard, trying to incite a riot at show and being accused of exposing his “lizard king” to the audience and being late became the norm. Jim went to Paris in March of 1971 and rented an apartment on the Rue Beautreillis. On July 3rd, 1971 after supposedly ingesting Heroin and snorting cocaine (no autopsy was performed) Jim, lit his fire and at the age of 27, slipped over the side of life and into the night everlasting.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
You can’t scan the radio stations today without finding “Free Bird”, “Sweet Home Alabama” or “Simple 
Man” being played somewhere. Formed in 1968 in Jacksonville Florida and eventually settling on mocking the name of their P.E. teacher whom hated their long hair Lynyrd Skynyrd was basically “kicking Southern Ass” straight out of the gate. On October 20th 1977, after playing a show at the Greenville Memorial Auditorium in South Carolina. The band boarded their chartered plane to Baton Rouge Louisiana. They never made it. Due to a faulty engine and running out of fuel the plane crashed near Gillsburg Mississippi killing 6 members of the band and crew. The story doesn’t stop here though. Ronnie Van Zant was the singer of the band. According to Wikipedia, Ronnie was quoted as saying many times that he would not live to be 30 years old. Here is an excerpt.
“According to former bandmate Artimus Pyle and family members, Van Zant frequently discussed his mortality. Pyle recalls a moment when Lynyrd Skynyrd was in Japan: “Ronnie and I were in Tokyo, Japan, and Ronnie told me that he would never live to see thirty and that he would go out with his boots on, in other words, on the road. I said, ‘Ronnie, don’t talk like that,’ but the man knew his destiny.”[10] Van Zant’s father, Lacy, said, “He said to me many times, ‘Daddy, I’ll never be 30 years old.’ I said, ‘Why are you talking this junk?’ and he said, ‘Daddy, that’s my limit.'” Van Zant’s father later noted that, “God was a jealous god. Taking him for reasons I don’t know.”[10] Van Zant was 29 years old at the time of his death.”
So did Ronnie actually know his destiny or…
The 80’s
John Belushi
John is one of the older ones on our list today. One of the original cast members of the not ready for prime time players of “Saturday Night Live”, He basically carried the show with his characters and antics. He was also a member of the Blues Brother’s band and stared as “Bluto” in the now classic movie “Animal House”. Who can forget “Samurai Delicatessen” or “Cheese burger, Cheese burger, Cheese burger no Pepsi” skits! John was extremely funny and a versatile actor. He suffered from extreme highs and extreme lows. On March 5th, 1982 John chased the dragon for the last time. and was found dead by overdose. Years later his drug dealer acknowledged she injected him with the lethal dose of drugs and served 15 months in prison for it.
Randy Rhoads
A true shooting star. He burst on the scene after being recommended to audition for Ozzy Osborne. 
Who at the time had been recently fired by Black Sabbath and was looking for a guitar player to start a new band with. The story goes that Randy showed up late one night after Ozzy hearing Toni Iommi clones all day. He set up his practice amp and started tuning his guitar and Ozzy said “you got the job” without him even actually playing. Randy, raised up around music his whole life took guitar lessons while he was young. The guitar teacher eventually telling Randy’s mom that he couldn’t teach him anymore because he “knew” everything he knew. Randy was in a somewhat successful LA. based band called “Quiet Riot” before teaming up with Ozzy. Randy’s guitar technique combined classical music and rock. The two albums he made with Ozzy were trendsetters and took the rock world by storm. He rapidly was voted “Best new talent” in the “Guitar Player Magazine” in 1981. And just like that, he was gone in March of 1982. He died in a plane crash. His guitar playing was ions above everyone else at the time. An interesting note. It was well known he was going to leave Ozzy and go back to teaching. The autopsy report stated that Randy’s right hand was missing in the plane crash. His picking hand. Did the Muse give him that talent and take it away?
The 90’s
Kurt Cobain
I hesitate to even mention Kurt because in reality. He took his own life. But with saying that. He had his demons too. Growing up a kid in Washington, a place known more for bands like Queensryche, Kurt took a way of life and hard times and somehow managed to draw it out in his music. His ideas and stripped down music caught the world by surprise and he, like everyone in this article inspired an entire generation. He almost unofficially opened and closed the “grunge” movement. In his song “Come as You Are” He swore he didn’t have a gun but sadly he did. On April 5, 1994, in an upstairs room in his house in Seattle Washington, at the age of 27, Kurt being quoted as once saying “he would rather burn out than fade away” took his own life and closed the grunge movement.
I could go on and on and add more people. There are several admiral mentions to such as River Phoenix, Heath Ledger, Amy Winehouse to mention a few names.
So, does the Muse exist? Is it real? Or did these shooting stars just come to an untimely end? Some by their own demons and some by just plain dumb luck? What do you think?
Categories: General Tags: amy winehouse, buddy holly, heth ledger, james dean, janis joplin, jimi hendrix, muse, music, music deaths, ritchie valens, robert johnson, the big bopper
Otto the Comic R.I.P. Here’s his words of wisdom to ALL OF US.
google.com, pub-2427795083793513, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
If you wish to help with Donations click <HERE>
The first time I saw Otto was when I was adding Facebook friends and his profile jumped up in the suggested friends thing . His profile picture reminded me of a cross between Jerry Lewis, Buddy Holly and Elvis Costello so I clicked on it. I read thru his posts and found him to be an interesting person so I shot him a private message and asked if he would allow me to interview him. He said yes I could. That was in October of 2011. Though we never met in real life we developed an internet friendship and I started adding other features about Otto. He shared his families pizza crust recipe. He shared his childhood Christmas stories about getting a bike and other things. He checked in from time to time and we kept in touch. When I did a follow up story about him, he had just received word he had cancer….Otto laid it all out in the open. Always Optimistic. He was forth coming about his treatments and progress. He didn’t hold anything back.
He checked in with me on my birthday. He didn’t press “1” on his phone like we all do to put the “fake” happy birthday notice on someone’s facebook page…He PM’d me this instead.
|
September 15, 2013 9:46 am
happy birthday good buddy , you’ve really helped me feel good for years
|
He got better at first and then the cancer came back. I followed his blog. I tried to remember as best as I could the 11:11 good vibe thing he asked for. When I did, I asked the Lord to be with him. We touched bases briefly in 2014 but I knew he was hurting so I didn’t bother him much. I, along with many of his friends posted good thoughts and encouragements to him. He was always thankful for the “food Angels” that helped him with purchasing food.
I awoke this morning and Otto crossed my mind again. Not sure why at first but now I know why. I had recently read where he was in lot of pain and his pain meds weren’t helping. I went to Otto’s Facebook page today and saw were he had passed away yesterday. 🙁 I feel very sad. Otto lost the fight. Or did he? He gave it his best shot. Probably fought harder than most of us could. He gave encouragement to us when he really needed encouragement himself from us. Folks, that’s not a selfish person. I only knew him via the internet and will miss him. To those of you that knew him in real life, I have no doubt you have lost one helluva a gentle kind man.
Otto, though a comedian in real life made us laugh. He left us with a world’s worth of wisdom. This was his motto. He lived it. We should too.
“BE NICE to as many people as you can. It’s absolutely free. I’ll be nice to you, and you’ll be nice to me. Just like tag – if we start tonight, tomorrow with be a better world.”
For all the interviews/videos and Christmas stories he shared with the readers and me. See the links below. God Bless and R.I.P. Otto.
sincerely,
Chuck
Check out Kickacts interview with OTTO here!
Check out Otto’s favorite Christmas story here!
Check out OTTO Growing up during the Atomic age here!
Who would OTTO pick, Mary Ann, Ginger or Mrs. Howell? Here
Please feel free to Re post and re blog this article in it’s entirety.
Categories: General Tags: comedy, diner bell, Indianapolis, indy, otto the comic, R.I.P., stand up
Remember this from 1976? Manamanah
google.com, pub-2427795083793513, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
lol. I remember this. It was a great time growing up in the 70’s!
Categories: General Tags: 1976, 70's hit songs, childrens tv, Manamanah, the muppets, youtube
The Darkness “Open Fire” Official video!
google.com, pub-2427795083793513, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
After releasing an audio YouTube video of “Open Fire”. The Darkness has just released the official video to the song! Check it out. You really can’t go wrong with Justin and the gang!
More on the Darkness!
Is the Darkness the answer to Queen?? <HERE>
The Barbarian video! <HERE>
Categories: General Tags: 80's, blabbermouth, Dan Hawkins, Emily Dolan Davies, facebook, Frankie Poullain, google, henderson, Justin Hawkins, kickacts, last of our kind, Metal sludge, music, new release, Queen, the darkness, youtube
Nepal Earthquake relief! Want to help? Here’s how
google.com, pub-2427795083793513, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
Please share. This is important. They need our help.
It’s times like this I am proud to be an American and more importantly, a Citizen of the World. When people need help, we deliver. Borders and ideologies don’t matter in times like these. They all go out the window. We all need basic needs like water, food and shelter. If you can help. Please help. Prayers and kind thoughts help too. Lets put the humanitarian in humanity.
chuck
How You Can Help Nepal Earthquake Victims | WBNS-10TV Columbus, Ohio
Categories: General Tags: americares, charity, disaster relief, earthquake, helping others, humanity, links, Nepal earthquake relief, red cross, Save the Children, UNICEF
Eternal Security ? The ‘Naked Adam’ Show!
google.com, pub-2427795083793513, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
If you haven’t had a chance to listen to the show yet. You don’t know what you’r missing! Tony is an inspirational host with a wonderful message for you today! So hit play and be blessed!
chuck
mobile users click this link: <HERE>
Categories: General Tags: God, heaven, henderson ky, inspirational, podcast, religious, the naked adam show, WSON radio
Happy Birthday “Space’ Ace Frehley!
google.com, pub-2427795083793513, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
ACE FREHLEY!
He inspired countless numbers of young kids to pick up the guitar! A real guitar hero! He’s got style and charisma! Often imitated but never duplicated! Did he inspire you? Did you have this poster on your wall growing up too? Ever put smoke bombs in the pick up cavities of your guitar and rock out to “Shock Me’?
KISS ARMY U.S. – LIMITED AVAILABILITY!
KISS ARMY U.S. – LIMITED AVAILABILITY! | GearLaunch
Categories: General Tags: 1977, ace frehley, gear launch, guitar hero, KISS, kiss army, largo tour, shock me, smoking guitar, youtube
Two very different photographs 1940’s- 1950’s
google.com, pub-2427795083793513, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
As a kid growing up in the 70’s, I missed the nuclear war drills. I remember reading about school kids being taught to “duck and cover” under their desk until after the “bomb” has dropped. Then they could go back to their school work. What kinda crazy propaganda from our own Country of the United States is that. Remember the one commercial were dad turns off the stove and closes the window? The people of the United States were so naive to all of it. I am not sure our Government was though. Its no secret now that the Government tested these weapons on its own people. From soldiers sitting out in the open, to setting off over 1000 bombs for “testing”. Exposing native Americans to it by inviting them out to “view” the bomb tests. It’s a scary thought to think that these bombs still pose a threat. To see how naive we were and still are. But check out the photograph below of a mom and son in Los Vegas. At first it looks perfectly normal. That is until you see the mushroom cloud thru the window. Simply amazingly crazy. Also note that the U.S. Government used the “God is on our side” bit over and over as if God put his stamp of approval on us melting other people. I thought he said “Thou shall not kill”….
Check out the civil defense YouTube video from the 50’s below. Another great source of naive-ness.
A different photograph of a mother and child viewing the atomic bomb. A big difference isn’t it?
Stunned survivors: A mother and child amid the rubble of Hiroshima …
The Atomic Cafe from koba on Vimeo.
Categories: General Tags: 1950's, atomic bomb, atomic testing, bikini atoll, blast, civil defense, duck and cover, flash, heat, los vegas, propaganda, radiation, the atomic cafe
