< > Alchemy for Dummies 2: January 2007

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Convoluted Backtracking Updates With Catsup

So here it is damn near the end of January. How did the time go by so fast? Betsyt and I have been keeping busy but since mid-December i have been in a lousy mood mostly. More on that later.
Let's start with good news today. This morning on Jerry Quinn's Irish Program I won two tickets to see "The Elders" when they come to the East Side Irish American Club next month on the 10th.
Last night Betsy and I went down to Kent where we saw the 4th Annual Standing Rock International Short Film and Video Festival. This was presented at the Kent Stage

We saw 17 short flims/animations and after a ten minute break we saw 45 min of the work of Cindy Penter, a local film maker and film making instructor.

Another 10 min break and two fantastic silent shorts "Water Portrait" and "Myopic" both by Mike Hovancsek, accompanied by live music- Joe Cully on the tabla, Samuel Salsbury on the violin, and Mike Timmer on the didgeridoo.
Well I have mor to say on all of this and last mmonth as well, but I have been at the computer since 1100 and it is now 1445. So I'm away, back laterer.

Saturday, January 27, 2007

We're Waist Deep.....

I know it's not original but it needs to be said again,

Waist Deep In The Big Muddy

by Pete Seeger 1963, planned for the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1967 but CBS objected to the blacklisted Seeger making obvious references to the"big fool" in the White House, finally sung by Seeger on the Comedy Hour in 1968 as the finale in a medley of anti-war songs.

It was back in nineteen forty-two,I was a member of a good platoon.
We were on maneuvers in-a Loozianna,
One night by the light of the moon.
The captain told us to ford a river,
That's how it all begun.
We were -- knee deep in the Big Muddy,
But the big fool said to push on.

The Sergeant said, "Sir, are you sure,This is the best way back to the base?"
"Sergeant, go on! I forded this river'Bout a mile above this place.
It'll be a little soggy but just keep slogging.
We'll soon be on dry ground."
We were -- waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool said to push on.

The Sergeant said, "Sir, with all this equipment No man will be able to swim."
"Sergeant, don't be a Nervous Nellie,"The Captain said to him.
"All we need is a little determination;Men, follow me, I'll lead on."
We were -- neck deep in the Big MuddyAnd the big fool said to push on.

All at once, the moon clouded over,
We heard a gurgling cry.
A few seconds later, the captain's helmet
Was all that floated by.
The Sergeant said, "Turn around men!I'm in charge from now on."
And we just made it out of the Big Muddy
With the captain dead and gone.

We stripped and dived and found his body
Stuck in the old quicksand.
I guess he didn't know that the water was deeper
Than the place he'd once before been.
Another stream had joined the Big Muddy'Bout a half mile from where we'd gone.
We were lucky to escape from the Big Muddy
When the big fool said to push on.

Well, I'm not going to point any moral;I'll leave that for yourself
Maybe you're still walking, you're still talking
You'd like to keep your health.
But every time I read the papers
That old feeling comes on;
We're -- waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.

Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep!
Neck deep!
Soon even a
Tall man'll be over his head, we're
Waist deep in the Big Muddy!
And the big fool says to push on!

Words and music by Pete Seeger (1967)TRO (c) 1967 Melody Trails, Inc. New York, NY

http://www.peteseeger.net/givepeacechance.htm