THE STREAM (pay no attention to the screaming man behind the screen)

How hard is it to stand for peace, honour and justice? As a child living in New York in the 70’s the fact that my country at least seemed to value these ideas gave me strength and sustained me through times when my fellow Americans found it hard to deal with the things that make me different. The very simple ideas contained in the constitution and the bills of rights stood in my life then, and still stand, as ideals, but more than political ideals more as a map to a better life, to a better existence. Not just for myself, but for all people. I think of the ideas in the American constitution, bill of rights and many other documents that mankind has created to make sense of and in some way contain the evil that men do as more than politically relevant, they are ideas that have given me strength when that evil has come knocking, and it comes knocking often The following words have always made me think about the gravity of my actions as they relate to the world at large, and don’t be foole...

Living in Australia is much like living in almost any western country, there are cities and towns bent upon achieving their goals, good people and bad making their way through their lives seeking meaning and love. There are tree lined streets like the one here and places that seem to be on a downward slide. We all share the same disappointment and frustration with our elected representatives. Really ... the differences are very subtle matters of politics & lifestyle. At this time in history when both of the countries seem to be reading from the same political "playbook" I wonder how compatible the goals of these two countries really are? From the moment I arrived in Australia the main grievance many Australians had with the country of my birth was what was then called "Cultural Imperialism" which to my mind did not exist 15 years ago or even 5 years ago, but now that we have all been drawn into this insane and counterproductive conflict I fear Australia h...

I have just been watching and listening to an essay by Jeff Rosenblatt on the Newshour. His subject today was Rosa Parks and the effects of her actions upon all of us, Mr. Rosenblatt brought an idea to the front of my mind that is not considered enough in these times, the actions we all take does truly effect us all. They may not be world-changing actions but they all ripple through the world the same way. It makes me wonder…do we really appreciate the effect we have on this world and if we don’t… then really what are we doing? It is not impportant that we remember Mrs parks as a pioneering African American, but as simply a fredom fighter, fightiing to free herself and the man taking her fingerprints in the picture above. She was not a saint or sent by any diety she was simply one of us, and we should remember we are ALL that.

Why does is so much time on TV and in Film devoted to human suffering? Don't get me wrong We need to know when our fellow humans are in distress... But to just observe these horrors and not help is just wrong. To actually help should be the goal behind showing these things... Not charity, or sympathy but involvement. How can it be justified by news agencies to spend millions upon millions to "cover" a horrible event and nothing to help? Let's just put away that notion of "journalistic integrity" if it ever existed at all it is surely long dead now. News bringer have long ago crossed the line and become news makers, so why not do some good? Not theoretical good but real good... I mean they are there at the scene, with little to do but rehash a story over and over. As for film... We all know that the budget for one "blockbuster" film could solve a lot of the world's problems. You say they are helping ... Through their story telling? Well that w...

It is sort of my pet project to try to think of new ways to make society work in this peculiar age we have made, this age of ineffective protests & apathetic people. You may have read my answer to politics "just say Duh" which I think is a valid response to politics as they exist today. Now in response to numerous asinine statements by people that have not learned enough to know better I have come up with another response to help cope with another brand of "social nonsense". It may be to late for some, like G.W. Bush, Kim Jong Il & certain Muslim clerics to name just a few and it does take a measure of civic responsibility (something society is not strong on these days). Here's how it works (don't worry it's easy to say and easy to spell... I dare say you may have used it in your life already) the very next time you hear someone say the "Jews are all..." Or "the Blacks are..." Or "Women always..." Or "Men only ...

Why does their have to be a racial component to everything? People in Louisiana are suffering & dying, what the hell difference does it make what colour they are. If we could agree that ALL people are the same not in legislation but in our hearts life would be much better. Yes… simplistic I know but if it is… then why have we not done it?

Jumping on the Fire / paddy wagon Listen I’m not jumping on the bandwagon of people that have a sudden reverence for those that have protected us for more years than anyone reading this has been alive. I have always felt that these men and women deserved an amount of respect for fighting what is a basic human response… to run away from fire… to run away from gunshots and danger. Now both these disciplines have their bad sides but we know what life would be like without them. They are but humans doing a hard job just like the rest of us… I’ll be the first to admit if I blow the changes to Giant Steps no one gets hurt but if one of them does the job wrong someone might die. There it is in a nutshell! Thanks guys! Nuff said!

When I started this blog my intent was to make a case for our sameness as a race... to highlight the falseness of the spaces that separate us. I wanted to simply say to all the people on this planet ( My Family) that it is much wiser to get together than it is to continue down the road killing everyone we see for arbitrary reasons of our own creation. Now don't get me wrong... I am not the salt of the earth, not filled with the milk of human kindness, nor am I the guy that would be described as one that would give you the shirt off his back. I am a simple realist... It is simply "bad for business" to hate, and in my humble opinion quite simple-minded. When I was young and still forming, the impulse to go along with the crowd just was not in me I don't know why. When I left my home to play or go to school it was always an adventure (it still is) I wanted to meet people... in my neighborhood, town, country, world... and as my circle got larger I realized that it was har...

Road to Queenstown Originally uploaded by Monk Peabody . Can't you just feel the alpine-y goodness? New Zealands South Island. On a trip with "She who's name is not spoken"

Hey ... I just love to make stuff! Here's my newest thing. A home stand for 4 of my most used guitars. It keeps them all to hand. Ya can't play em' if they're in a case! Wood is good!

I'll say it again so it won't be missed... Berringer make a shit amp! Ok then here we go. I went out and got a new amp to replace the DUD I got a while back. This one looks like a goer! I have not been a big fan of Yamaha amps but I have some faith in this one. bought it used from Cash Converter, so fingers crossed. I gotta get a magic 8-ball to help with these decisions. So now I'm searchin for a bass player to do some duo gigs with me.

Is it just me or has Fox news made some sort of deal with the grim reaper! It seems to me like every time I tune it in there is a story of someone gone missing, someone's body being found or some kind of death watch. What is the point of an interview that asks questions like ... " So you have no idea what has happened to ...? or "did anything seem wrong the last time you spoke to...? How is that doing anyone any good? I just use Fox as an example but this kind of thing goes on at every channel. I think it's time we took a loong look at the news we are getting ...and not getting. 

"We exist, and are quoted as standing proofs that a government, so modeled as to rest continually on the will of the whole society, is a practicable government." --Thomas Jefferson to Richard Rush, 1820. ME 15:284 Thomas Jefferson was capable of truly stunning thought, but no more than we all are ! As a people our will can be a stunning force for the common good, for our world. I realize that it is way too early in history to even hope for a world without borders or even one where our differences are praised, but neither is this country, this world, made of opposing parties each hoping to rule the others. We have as Americans & as a world learned to sacrifice our common will to those with a "vision", our new "Kings" unfortunately we have also learned to believe that we have no right to self govern. We play right into their hands, becoming more isolated, lonely & pathetic with every liberty that is taken from us, our power & strength being erod...

Ok I'm gonna take the risk of sounding like some flipped out media student here but I have a few things to say about Television. Yes... That's Television with a capital "T". First make no mistake I love my T.V. in fact I have a few of them and I love them all equally and unconditionally, but I don't trust them! Only a fool would! Television brings entertainment, Information and even info-tainment ( if you let it ) into our lives. Television can do good things but we as watchers shouldn't let ourselves believe that it or the people that control it "care" about us! Television should not only be watched but observed, for it has the potential to do us great harm. These days we seem to be so willing to give over so much of our belief to "The Box" and all those that find themselves on it, it is starting to become common belief that there is something special about our celebrities. Nothing could be further from the truth! They are made up of the ...

Come on down to Guitartown! Yeee Ha! Jeez... I just love Guitars! The look of em' The feel of em' The sound of em! Not just mine, but damn near every one I've ever seen, I'm still working towards the day when I can walk into any shop and say " I'll have one of each!" "Now... put em' on the truck!" Just recently i stumbled across this site that let's you put images on stuff, I just put up a few items that i think you'll like . Click on in and check em out!

I can feel that it's about time I started playing again! I've been laying off for too long now. For so long i have been taking my time in getting back, from a injury I though would end it all, but that's all over now and i am back in the pink (if not pink then a lovely coffee brown) . Time to get some while the gettin's good.

It's no mystery to anyone that life can be very complicated. How do you get from here to where you want to be! Yes my friend life is filled with uncertainty. And then, other times... your path is very simple. The hows of your life... the what to do's become very basic. If you're lucky this will happen @ regular intervals in your life, those small moments of total clearity. I have never known anyone that was lucky enough to have a life without ever wondering... am I doing the right thing? That being said... Sometimes the point is simply to groove! It don't matter much what the situation is, could be your life, could be your job. You could be sittin' in with a Jazz combo when it comes on slowly. Suddenly the way is clear. The clouds between your ears part and you can hear the drummer laying some down, then you start to hear the bass, maybe some thick slabs of B3 come next. (Stabbing horn section optional) All this information starts crawling around the bandstand and i...

What would you do if this was the last thing you ever saw? If 2 chain link fences & a box car were all that seperated you from the sweet hereafter? Would you regret the life you've led? Could you find a way to make love to the last 20 paces of your life or cry like a baby? 

Someone once said that a picture says more than a thousand words. I believe this is true but will the words be truth? take this picture for example. Times square looks pretty damn good! You could think of thousands of words to go along with this pic, but i doubt that any would touch on the desperate depravity that will always exist in this area of manhattan. So many people with so many agendas all meeting at this incredible crossroad. They pass, bump, tussle. All alone but flowing together never knowing the strength that lay dormant in their gathering and when they leave ...it's back to the flow of their own lives leaving that potential there, abandoned on the streets of Time Square. 

What ever happened to the guitar solo?  I am not sure if it is an result of getting older but when i listen to music these days i feel something is missing. There's no doubt that music sounds better, the technology has come a long way! I am not looking for a return to the past that way. I ain't givin' up my MP3 player. It's too neat! You'll have to pry it from my cold dead hand! To paraphrase some cold dead guy. Yes, the music sounds better but where are the Guitar solos? I miss them so much! Ok, today's music has "PHAT BEATS" aplenty...but Where is the improv factor? That 8 or 16 or 32 bars of pure self expression? Where is Ernie Isley taking flight and trading endless ideas on "Who's that lady"? Where's the emotional solo's of say stevie ray? Where is the part of the song that says "We've said plenty... But here's how I feel about it!" Some believe the guitar solo to be self-indulgent wanker...