The Democratic National Convention in Denver brings back various visions and views of the 1968 convention in Chicago. For perspective, I was 16 and living an hour from downtown. Several friends and I were stopped on the expressway from entering the downtown area of Chicago. We went home and missed the action. I am also going to miss this years conventions because I have no funds and must do my thing here in North Carolina.
So I bring you the latest in plans, politics and philosophy from the social activists in Denver. I urge anyone who is close by to join the cause of taking back our country. Denver (and Minneapolis next week) are both among our most tolerant and progressive cities - visited each a few times. Also read about Denver's lax laws on smoking marijuana. It is our country and we must make sure that Obama-Biden fulfill our needs and their promises!! The whole world will be watching - even more closely than in 1968.
Dr. Tom - Sociology Professor - Carrboro, NC Please Repost and Share with Friends!!
Actual video footage of Denver police losing their cool!!
Glad and grateful that Reggae music continues to evolve in so many great ways!! The best music should make us feel engaged, empowered and enlightened. I continue to listen to the Marley family (and Peter Tosh) a lot. I jam along with all their music. Music is the spiritual and social soundtrack for your life -- so choose carefully. The Marley family truly deserve your support so get them while they are hot. Turn on and impress your friends.
The Marley Brothers Reign Supreme I continue to be amazed by the awesome legacy that Bob Marley left for his sensational sons. Of course, no library is complete without Bob's 4-CD box set, Songs of Freedom. IMHO. the three best albums recorded in the last 25 years are the following (which are the latest releases by the first family of music):
Note that my current profile song is called "Traffic Jam" and features both Stephen and Damian Marley. Here are the words for "Traffic Jam" since it is hard to understand - worth MANY listening. Brings to mind their father's awesome song "Rebel Music (3 O'Clock Roadblock)" BTW, there is an amazing version of that song online featuring Michael Franti and Stephen Marley.
Intro: Stephen Marley (Damian Marley and Buju Banton) Cho! Stabba dom! (Yeah!!!) stabba labba dom (Hear dat) Stooby labba labba dom ram labba babba labba labba dom, I say Watch mi lion!!!
Chorus: Stephen Marley Pom, rom pa ba dom ba dom ba ba dom Babba dom ba dabba dom ba dom ba ba dom Pom, rom pa ba dom ba dom ba ba dom Babba dom ba dabba dom ba dom ba ba dom
Verse 1: Stephen Marley This is raggamuffin from di ghetto yutes camp Anywey mi go mi seh mi must leff mi stamp Marijuana weh mi smoke dem seh too ignorant Just some odda day some puff a whole mek fi one Then mi bredda Juju and mi idren name Don Bounce and listen to Gong when mashin up di traffic jam Police pull mi ova talkin bout him smell bud From mi look inna him face and know this bwoy have a plan Juju touch mi pon my shoulda seh di bwoy a demon First ting him waan to know is where dat smell is comin from Are you smokin marijuana and I said yes I am True him seh some man trance seh it cost a couple grand Him seh mek mi see di license and registration And where are yuh headed what's yuh occupation Dun know seh raggamuffin nah go answer question As is says on the paper read di information From mi nah go tek nuh switch or interrogation So book mi if yuh book mi carry dung a station Mek mi show dem how we did it inna style and pattern
Chorus: Stephen Marley Pom, rom pa ba dom ba dom ba ba dom Babba dom ba dabba dom ba dom ba ba dom Pom, rom pa ba dom ba dom ba ba dom Babba dom ba dabba dom ba dom ba ba dom
Verse 2: Stephen Marley I'm di judge, di lawyer Juve I'm my own bails man And if yuh check it out dat would be my station Mi seh sekkle Juju royal for yah run England And when mi plane land yuh nah go thru nuh customs This is raggamuffin inna different pattern Mi nuh go inna nuh session unless it conk and ram And from yuh see we face and wanna ask a question And anywhere we go we haffi ra pa pom, pom
Chorus: Stephen Marley Pom, rom pa ba dom ba dom ba ba dom Babba dom ba dabba dom ba dom ba ba dom Pom, rom pa ba dom ba dom ba ba dom Babba dom ba dabba dom ba dom ba ba dom
Verse 3: Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley (Buju Banton) Well if a ganja dem a look fah dem know where to find us Well we a nuh criminal seh rasta ever righteous Some bwoy a scope out di ride a we drive and puff And him jealous a we seh shine and buff And him jealous a we seh shine and buff Well from him look inna di car and how di interior plush And look upon di rims how dem full out and flush And scope out we jewels him a wonda how much And him jealous well then prize caan touch (Why) And him jealous well then prize caan touch (Ragga now!!) Then mi seh royal have a new tune fi rise and buss And there extra large size muffin dem a light up A bwoy dig dung di car until him find some stuff And him jealous a we so rank and nuff (Lawd!!) And him jealous a we so rank and nuff Hin exact cau a few stripes deh pon him shoulda Cau him too par wid we we deh when Demus show love Give dem couple CD some promo photos Now him jealous cau everybody knows us Now him jealous cau everybody shows love Yo some feel di wey yuh pass and dem a smile and blush And true dem see some man a star dem could a have a light crush Now him jealous now even twice as much (Hear dat) Now di bwoy jealous now even twice as much (Lawd) It's just a minor set backa who yuh waan call up Every month then di super get a ting fold up Seh natty dreadlocks nah wear handcuffs Seh any kind a cuff it haffi diamond cuff Go tell dem every month then di super get a ting fold up Seh easy papa muffin yuh ruffa than ruff And sekkle Juju Royal yuh tuffa than tuff And tell dem seh natty dreadlocks nah wear handcuffs Always stick togetha even when time tuff Bwoy yuh brighta tink a shine and puff, sekkle!!!
Chorus: Stephen Marley Pom, rom pa ba dom ba dom ba ba dom Babba dom ba dabba dom ba dom ba ba dom Pom, rom pa ba dom ba dom ba ba dom Babba dom ba dabba dom ba dom ba ba dom
Verse 4: Buju Banton How do you plea? Not Guilty!!!! Your honor!!!! I think you and your entire organization is corrupt and filthy Herb must be burn!!!!! Lawd!!! Dem seh yuh a di herbsman, and mi a di farmer And anywey mi go marijuana deh pon di corner Jah know, I seh di good sensimelia Then rastaman yuh must glow Hey seh yuh a di herbsman, and mi a di farmer And anywey mi go ganja must deh pon di corner Jah know, a just di good sensimelia Then rastaman yuh must glow Yo it's a spiritual lift and we nuh tink bout traffic Di scent a mi herbs babylon tek sip To kill every herb seed dat is there wish Mek a violation all because a one spliff Di AC mek mi high when a sweat start drip Cough mi nuh illy cau mi know mi nuh sick Outlaw chemist who use two chalice Spliff inna mi hand mi have mi ting pon mi hip Move dem mek di rudebwoy flash it and dash it Mek nuh mistake it a automatic Fools they crush and mi seh eediat panic Spliff deh inna mi hand man a move like bionic Go deh Buju Banton wid a musical gift Ragga muffin pass di chalice and dash mi and spliff and just...
Chorus: Stephen Marley Pom, rom pa ba dom ba dom ba ba dom Babba dom ba dabba dom ba dom ba ba dom Pom, rom pa ba dom ba dom ba ba dom Babba dom ba dabba dom ba dom ba ba dom
BTW, I did have the chance to meet them both last fall. Also saw Ziggy live. These experiences changed my life. The audiences all were totally inspired and captivated by these three Lions.
I also encourage you to visit some of the other great sites associated with the Marley music and mission.
Here are some of my favorite pix of the family patriarch - the real King of King and Lord of Lords. I do truly believe that Bob Marley was a modern prophet on par with Buddha, Jesus, Jimi, and others. Praise Jah for this amazing master teacher!!
Leave some comments about the most famous and fabulous family in arts and social change. BTW, research has shown that Bob Marley's image is the most widely recognized personality across the globe. He is truly the most positive symbol of hope and freedom in the world.
Creepy Old McCain Makes Joke about Rape!!
Current mood: rebellious
Category: News and Politics
Saw this amazing story on Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Turns out McCain made a very tasteless joke that is not being widely reported. Here is the story (you should be outraged):
In an appearance before the National League of Cities and Towns in Washington D.C., McCain asked the crowd if they had heard "the one about the woman who is attacked on the street by a gorilla, beaten senseless, raped repeatedly and left to die?"
The punch line: "When she finally regains consciousness and tries to speak, her doctor leans over to hear her sigh contently and to feebly ask, "Where is that marvelous ape?"
In response, the McCain campaign argued that he was just being "John McCain" and that this proves he is authentic. The fact that he believes women secretly enjoy being raped also shows that his insensitivity to women and overall male chauvinism are very real.
In fact, anyone with any respect for women should be outraged by thus and what he said in public to his plastic-faced wife after she playfully twirled his hair and said "You're getting a little thin up there." His response:
"At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you cunt."
Is this the type of old-fashioned and callous idiot that we would want running our country. Can you imagine what the media and others would be doing if Barack had said this.
I have written a very detailed article about why our country must NOT elect this crazy old fart - with very funny pix. The basic premise is that his advanced age and PTSD from torture days render him unfit to be president. It is called "Old McCain Should Buy a Farm - Not Become President."
Check it out and warn your friends to do everything possible to send old McCain out to pasture. He is a crazy and dangerous relic of the old "Cave-man" approach to public policy. You can even imagine him hitting women over the head with clubs.
Here are some of the jokes that David Letterman has told about this creepy old geezer:
"But seriously how about that John McCain? John McCain looks like a guy whose head you can barely see over the steering wheel. ... John McCain looks like the guy who thinks the nurses are stealing his stuff. 'Dad, why would they take your socks? It doesn't make sense.'" --David Letterman
"How about that John McCain, huh? John McCain looks like the kind of guy who brags that his new denture adhesive allows him to eat corn on the cob. He looks like a guy who parked his RV overnight at Wal-Mart." --David Letterman
"How about John McCain? He looks like a guy at a restaurant that says I'm leaving 10%, that's good enough. John McCain, looks like the guy who goes to the curb for the paper and locks himself outside of the house." --David Letterman
"John McCain ... He looks like the guy that walks up to the mound to settle down a young pitcher. John McCain looks like the guy who picks up his TV remote when the phone rings." --David Letterman
"I like that John McCain. He looks like a guy who gets tickets for mowing under the influence. He looks like a guy with a collection of movies he bought at the car wash. He looks like a guy on the beach with a metal detector. He looks like the guy who is still confused by the phone answering machine: 'Hello, is that - hello, is that you? Larry, Larry, hello?' He looks like the guy who calls his grandson when he screws up the remote: 'Well, now all the shows are in Spanish. What am I going to do, hello?'" --David Letterman
"How about that John McCain? He looks like the guy at the movies whose wife has to repeat everything. He looks like the guy who has to always be told something is on his chin. He looks like a guy who still has a rotary phone. He looks like a guy who's backed over his own mailbox. He looks like a guy whose sweater is always mis-buttoned. He looks like the guy who always tells you he's 72 years young. He looks like the guy who's bragged that oatmeal has lowered his cholesterol. He looks like the guy who should be co-hosting with Kelly Ripa." –David Letterman
"Hey, how about this John McCain, huh? Whoa, my gosh –- doesn't he look like the old guy at the barber shop? He looks kind of like a Wal-Mart greeter, John McCain. He kind of looks like the neighbor who says, 'Oh, that dead tree is on your property,' one of those guys. He's the guy who is always early for the early bird special, that's what he looks like. He looks like a mall walker, ladies and gentlemen. He looks like the guy at the supermarket who is confused by the automatic doors. He looks like the uncle who pretends to remove his thumb."
"I like John McCain. He looks like an old guy in a coffee shop who's still complaining about the designated hitter. He looks like the guy who asks the driver if he's on the right bus. He looks like the guy who's always saying, 'What was that? Nothing? That's what I thought.'" --David Letterman
Do You Like Good Music - Sweet Soul Music
Current mood: rockin
Category: Music
I have been busy creating a website that explores all the ways that Music can make our lives magical and meaningful. I hope that you will stop and check out all the great articles, quotes, pix and links I have assembled. I hope this will become a forum for discussion so please leave some comments.
I also have created a comprehensive tribute to Jimi Hendrix - also loaded with rare pix, quotes, and articles. This is entitled "Jimi Hendrix Urged Us to Get Together and Change World" and can be found by clicking this title.
Please forward this BLOG to all your friends!! They will Thank You for It!!!
Peace, Love and Power to the People!!
Dr. Tom - Professor of Sociology and Food Science Musician, Social Activist, and Rastafarian
How to Get Hip, Happy, High and Healthy!!
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Blogging
I hope that all my friends are doing well. Sorry to be off MySpace for a while. Been trying to get my "real" life together. Last summer I moved to Carrboro (twin town with Chapel Hill) Feels like I moved 3,000 miles west – instead of just 30. Still at NC State and still doing whatever I want. Been working a lot with food topics. See a recent article from my on-line magazine.
Things are really happening – 2008 is going to look a whole lot like what 1968 would have been if Bobby Kennedy would have become president. Battle lines are drawn between the old and young – stale and fresh – past and future.
I am very excited about the upcoming Obama presidency.I was among the first (February 13, 2008) to explain and predict how and why Barack would win the Democratic primary and then presidency.That's my story and I'm sticking with it!!Read the full story at "The HipHappy Times"
Also I have laid out a convincing case for why Barack will also be very receptive to ending the stupid war on Marijuana.This article also clears up a lot about his previous drug use and views on these topics.Need to start asking him and the old-goat McCain about when they will end the federal governmentRead the full story at "The HipHappy Times"
Here are some of the other topics that I have written about recently.Please check them out and tell your friends!! I am writing a lot about the presidential election, women's rights, legalization of ganjah, and other cool topics. I also wrote an article in tribute just weeks before my 16 year old calico - "Besha" - passed away (R.I.P. 6-7-8)
The most popular "hit" my site has been receiving is based on searches for Janis Joplin. Helps that I have a poster of her and one of the Buddha - next to my bed so it is first site I see when waking up!!
The time has never been better to push through the Re-Legalization of marijuana for medical and other purposes. I have written extensively about this topic recently in The HipHappy Times.
Feel Free to REPOST this BLOG to all your friends!!
In fact, I get almost all my hits from Google searches on "Legalizing Weed" and related terms. Must be that I am the only one speaking the full truth and encouraging widespread Civil Disobedience.
So Please check out the following stories and tell your friends!! Leave me comments here or there so I know you care!!
Valentines Day BLOG and Obama Presidential Prediction
Current mood: optimistic
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes
I am so excited that my new BLOG is taking off fast. Getting almost 100 hits a day now with more on the way. So please check it out and tell your friends.
First is a post to help you feel warm and well on Valentine's Day. I have called it "What's Love Got to Do with Valentine's Day." It is part rant and part inspiration. Includes my selection of the all time best Love Quotes (as well as cool pix). This should help make you feel better if this Hallmark and Hershey Holiday makes you blue.
Second, I analyze in detail why Barack Obama will be the democratic nominee and ultimately our next president. Use ideas from social movement theory and my extensive study of MSNBC. I also take the Clintons and McCain to task. You can tell your friends that I was one of the first to strongly predict the landslides to come.
I also have three "pages" at the top that provide details on the BLOG and my own life. In fact, you can learn all about my professional work associated with the Internet and music.
Bookmark my BLOG and visit often!!
Peace, Love and Power to the People!! Dr. Tom – HipHappy Professor of Social Change
anxious
grateful
rebellious
rockin
accomplished
imaginative
optimistic
