DON'T HATE NOTHING AT ALL EXCEPT HATRED #1

There are many videos asociated with this song, but I think this captures the spirit best of Happy Xmas (War is Over).

WORKING CLASS HERO

JOHN LENNON

The day after John was murdered, a friend of mine left a note for me on his mailbox while I delivered his mail."The Dream is Over". As a Christian I can't say that I am extremely pleased about the lyrics of "Imagine" and "God". But I cannot deny that the music of John Lennon has made a personal impact on my life. The Plastic Ono album is unlike any piece of music I have ever heard before. The song "Mother" evokes a lot of emotion in me - a hurt, an anger, a frustration and indignation over my own personal situation. "Hold On" - I had no relationship back then to sustain me, but I longed for one. "I Found Out" - shortly after this album came out I did find out about the evils of society, the danger and wickedness potentially lurking behind every corner. I live my life very carefully. "Working Class Hero" - the education I received in Ontario was useless to me. Only as an adult have I found a hunger and thirst for knowledge. My career as a postal worker was a total waste of time, with stupid management making stupid rules, forever entrapped in this cat and mouse game. How humiliating. This song seems to go on forever with the recent cover by Green Day."Isolation" - alone with no one to blame, because they are victims too. "Remember" - sort of like what the Apostle Paul said in our living for today and forgetting about what hurts and failures lurk in the past. "Love" - the need to love and to be recepients of love. The song sung in such a beautiful melody, I often think of the opening piano notes. It slowly builds up until it washes over all me. "Well, Well. Well" is a song talking about the sheer lust and lunacy and togetherness that a couple experiences in their relationship. The joy of 2 becoming 1. "Look at Me' to me is a song about how the world looks at us, and what they see may not be reality, only we and our Creator know the real "me". "God" certainly impacted me as a song that triggered a spirtual search. Some faiths just seemed ridiculous to me, I always said I didn't become rastafari because I would look terrible in dreadlocks. But even as an unbeliever at the time, I would cringe when John would sing "I don't believe in Jesus." I can almost recall the times throughout my life when I used the name of Jesus in vain, sometimes before I came to Him, and even sometimes after. Whenever I have, I feel miserable for days and continually pray for forgiveness. How could I curse someone who loves me so? "My Mummy's Dead" - The intermingling of bitter/sweet and wondering how it could have all gone so freaking wrong?

PEARL HARBOR DAY - DECEMBER 7, 1941 "A DAY OF INFAMY"

The surprise attack resulted in 2402 American deaths and 1282 wounded. I would be insulting their memory if I wrote of the loss of ships.

ZHANG ZIYI - GOTTA LOVE HER!

I COULD NEVER DRINK FROM THIS FOUNTAIN

I don't care what anyone says, that sucker is a converted urinal!

PEOPLE I'D LIKE TO MEET AT A PARTY (AND WHY) #3

Richard George Manuel (April 3, 1943 – March 4, 1986) was a Canadian composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his contributions and membership in The Band. Richard Manuel was born in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. His father Ed was a mechanic employed by Chrysler, and his mother was a schoolteacher. He was raised with his three brothers, and the four sang in the church choir. Manuel took piano lessons beginning when he was nine, and enjoyed playing piano and rehearsing with his friends at his home. Some of his childhood influences were Ray Charles, Bobby Bland, Jimmy Reed and Otis Rush. He was given the nickname "The Beak" by his friends because of his prominent nose. (wikipedia) The Band was unique for many reasons, one of which having 3 “lead” singers – Richard, Rick Danko and Levon Helm. Though the others were very capable in their own right, none were the equal of Richard. "Richard Manuel was a whole show unto himself. He was hot. He was about the best singer I'd ever heard; most people said he reminded them of Ray Charles. He'd do those ballads, and the ladies would swoon. To me that became the highlight of our show." --Levon Helm "I was madly in love with Richard... At the time, [1975] we had the same troubles. I felt insecure and he was clearly insecure, and yet he was so incredibly gifted....For me he [Richard] was the true light of the Band. The other guys were fantastic talents, of course, but there was something of the holy madman about Richard. He was raw. When he sang in that high falsetto the hair on my neck would stand on end. Not many people can do that." --Eric Clapton When the Band broke up and went their separate ways, life was very difficult for Richard. It was said that he was drinking up to 12 bottles of Grand Marnier a day. After I read that I cracked open a bottle of that stuff I have laying around and it is very strong, I felt like it was almost syrupy and could hardly even manage a double, or was it a triple? All the members of The Band were having financial troubles, with the exception of Robbie Robertson. (We’ll save that story for another time). So The Band had to hit the road again, minus Robertson, and whereas before they were performing in large stadiums and arenas, now it was seedy night clubs and bars. Sort of like starting over again. The Band’s website tells the story of Richard’s suicide. “Richard Manuel’s jumping-off point for out yonder turned out to be a motel room in a sleepy Florida town called Winter Park, a suburb of Orlando. That night--it was March 3, 1986--a truncated version of The Band had played the Cheek to Cheek Lounge, a humbling comedown from the heated days when they toured with Bob Dylan and played festivals like the Isle of Wight. Early the next morning, after a night of booze and drugs, he got out of the bed where he lay with his wife, went into the bathroom and hanged himself. He was a month short of forty-three, a man victimized by the promises and betrayals of rock and roll. Ten years later, his friends and family still aren't sure why he did it, if they can accept that he did it at all.” Levon Helm, in his book, This Wheel’s on Fire, never did understand it. He and Richard had spent that last evening together sharing a few drinks, laughs and just reminiscing. What transpired in Richard’s mind from the time he left Levon’s suite and returned to his own, is a mystery to this day. The first person I ever knew who committed suicide was a casual acquaintance. Tom D. was probably 18 or so when he asphyxiated himself in a running car. He never gave us any inclination that he was going through tough times. I even remember spending an afternoon in his parent’s house listening to Cheech and Chong records. I also had a pastor who preached one Sunday on suicide. He said that suicide is the one sin no one can repent of and that person will end up in hell. I don’t know, I’m far from being a theologian. I like to think Jesus is very compassionate and knows how tough life is, and how fragile we can be from time to time. So if I met Richard at a party I’d ask him, “Why?”