Nothing Fails like Success

June 15, 2017 by Ace in Arts and Entertainment, History, Media | Leave a comment

Stephen R. Covey said it. I can sum it up in one word. Pagers. Or if you need another example; Video cassette recorders.

But this conversation is about MUSIC. Being a musician from the age of 6, I’ve followed every new trend that was introduced. I’ve listened to everything from the blues sung in the cotton fields of Mississippi, to German Thrash Metal and Neo-Classical.

In 1956, the genres of blues, rock and country had a serendipitous collision with a guy named Elvis Presley at the wheel. More important than Elvis was a guy named Sam Phillips. He’s the father of Rock and Roll. Sam was a recording engineer that loved recording music. All sorts of music. He even went into the Oklahoma State Prison to record a quartet of black inmates that could sing.

You all know the story of Buddy Holly and the Beatles, if not, I’ve written a few articles on the History of Rock and Roll. Just use the search button. I want to take a very close look at the British invasion as I believe it was the British I hold responsible for a mongrel genre called “Classic Rock”. What Elvis and Buddy Holly, even Chuck Berry and Little Richard were singing is now called “Roots Rock”. As in “The beginning or foundation of Rock and Roll”. It was this blend of Blues and country that gave us the musical ideas for The Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

If you look at the first albums of The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and many of the legends, they were all covering Robert Johnson blues songs, in fact the first recording the Beatles did as a demo was “That’ll be the day”. (Buddy Holly)

But the longer a Genre is bastardized, the more abundant it becomes. It’s hard to write a Rock song that doesn’t fall into the washed out category of classic rock. For those musicians that scored hits in the 70s and into the 80s, they saturated the Genre until it was a cup of worms. Frankly Classic Rock was pushed to the point of decadence. In the 90s, grunge came in like a cruise missile and bands that were in the top 10 on the charts were losing their contracts. Labels were catching direct flights from LAX to SeaTac airport and were signing bands they hadn’t even seen. (Just heard about) “There’s gold in them there hills”.

So what happened to the stable artists that could be relied on for a Platinum album? They were told not to let the door hit them in the ass. One hair band artist from L.A. that belonged to a Spandex/Aquanet band that still had an album on the charts (Falling like a meteorite) was reported as saying he couldn’t get a job at Tower Records.

This article is about a very legitimate Classic Rock artist that was shown the door because of a change in the music industry. He was the first “Victim” of the music channel MTV. In 1980, MTV was basically the only game in town. MTV made and MTV took away. It had that much influence. Up until 1984 MTV videos supported music released by the artist. (Until the “Rock Me Tonight” Video by Billy Squier).

Before MTV, most music videos where live recordings, or even studio recordings of bands or singers performing. Then they became little movies and the song became nothing more than a soundtrack. Before MTV, you heard the song on the radio and you made your own movie in your head.

Before MTV, Billy Squier had two Albums that would have made any record company fight over. “Don’t Say No” and “Emotions in Motion” were both double platinum. Squier had 28 hits songs that charted. Then he was forced, perhaps coerced to release the “Rock me tonight” video. Rock me tonight was a hit on the radio . The video was a hit, but more of a left hook that took Squier down, career and all.

Fast forward 24 years. Billy Squier in a recent interview said He listened to his first Album that didn’t chart. “Tell the Truth” (1993) was the 3rd album after the atrocious video that soiled the mind of concert goers and 12″ vinyl buyers. 1993 was the height of the “Grunge” movement in Seattle and Squier was told that Capitol records was not going to support the album. No ads in rock magazines. No MTV interviews, don’t let the door……..

Squier said after decades he listened to “Tell the Truth” and he had such verve as to say that he put on The Beatles’ “Revolver”, Led Zeppelin’s “2nd album” then “Tell the Truth”. He then said: “I felt that “Tell the Truth” stood up well next to those Iconic Rock Albums.

“In short, “I agree”.

In Squier’s defense, I had been given a copy of the cassette back in 1993. I remember playing it a lot. But “Revolver”? Zeppelin’s II”? Is he crazy? So I went on Amazon and bought a copy of “Tell the Truth”. I had forgotten how good this album is.

There is not a thing wrong with this album. I won’t review it as I don’t do album reviews. I will say this: “Had Kurt Cobain not been discovered in an obscure club in Seattle; I believe this album would have charted in the top 10.

If I can use an analogy? Billy, this is one of the best radio pagers ever made.

On a deeper note; be thankful for what you have or had. Life is too short for regrets. I’ve been saying for the last 30 years, if the Beatles were an unknown band in Liverpool playing the music they wrote. Songs we call classics such as “Strawberry Fields” or “Yesterday”; they would never see a record contract. However; if they made the most dreadful “dissonant” unheard of noise and talked trash about a politician, added 16 bars of hate, I’m sure it would go viral.

This is one of my favorite songs on the Album.

The Guitar Slinger part 1 History

January 11, 2017 by Ace in Arts and Entertainment, Culture, History | 1 Comment

The Guitar Slinger part 1 History

(Definition, vernacular, Guitar Monster who sings lead vocals and astonishes audiences with guitarmanship)

Examples include: “Chuck Berry”, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Ace Andres

We’re a dying breed. (So I’ve been told)

The story starts with a trumpet player named Louis Armstrong. Armstrong is in the Smithsonian Institute for creating the format which would be followed by the “Guitar Slinger” for decades to follow. What was his invention?

He was the first to establish the songwriting style which began with two verses, a chorus, a solo, a third verse, a chorus then an end.

Perhaps the first true “Guitar Slinger” was Chuck Berry. His hit song Johnny B. Goode was one of his 27 hits in which the Father of Rock and Roll would open with a signature guitar solo then sing two verses, a chorus, then perform a guitar solo, then a final verse and end on a finishing solo (often called the outro).

The original Guitar Slinger who may or may not be the creator of the discipline was a young blues singer named Robert Johnson. His 29 songs became material for Early Rock bands who had not yet become comfortable in recording original music. Many of these songs still exist today. Songs that have no known writer such as the Blues standard “Boot Hill”. (Last made famous by Stevie Ray Vaughn)

In the early days of Rock and Roll, before Classic Rock, before the Beatles, before progressive rock, punk rock, new wave and pop rock, (etc.…) There existed only one sound in the genre of Rock and Roll. It was “Roots Rock” which we often refer to today as “Rockabilly”. Rock music at the time was personified by artists like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Elvis Presley (AKA: The King of Rock and Roll) and more importantly Buddy Holley known as Buddy Holly. The spelling of his last name was a clerical error that was never corrected. Although Buddy Holly’s importance is not derived from his guitar prowess; he is historically important as being the first musician to create a major paradigm shift in pop music. Holly composed, recorded, produced and performed his own music. Elvis sang songs that were written by songwriters, produced by men like Sam Phillips and the King was often accompanied by studio musicians with various backgrounds. Although The King was always seen with a guitar around his neck, he does not meet the prerequisites as a “Guitar Slinger”.

The guitar slinger is known more for his prowess as a guitarist first then as a lead singer. Even though one of the greatest singers of our time played a Fender Telecaster on “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, Freddy Mercury also does not meet the prerequisites as a “Guitar slinger”. Early guitar Slingers like Chuck Berry were known for their guitar solos as well as the songs they wrote and sang.

The Day the Music Died

1959 – 1960 was a bad year for the Guitar Slinger. Rock music lost both Buddy Holly (That’ll be the day) and the young up and coming, Ritchie Valens (“La Bamba”, “Come on Let’s go”) in a plane that crashed shortly after takeoff in a cornfield in Clearwater IA. Then in 1960 a young rocker from Minnesota named Eddie Cochrane (Summertime blues) would die in an automobile accident in England.
Between 1959 and 1963 the only Guitar Slinger still making music was Chuck Berry. Sadly, “Race” Music had not been fully accepted as main stream entertainment by the world. Players like Chuck Berry and Little Richard would be confined to the “Chitterling” circuit. Their music was being covered by socially acceptable Caucasian entertainers like “Pat Boone”.

Various Elvis manifestations would be force fed to the youth of America when Elvis enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1958. Hollywood saw this new genre of Rock and Roll as “musical sex”. The default formula for Hollywood when a drought of Rock talent would arise would be to find a harmless pretty boy and put a guitar in his hands. (Playing was optional). Among these pretty boys that arose after the loss of Buddy and Ritchie was Ricky Nelson. Ricky Nelson was the product of an early 60’s television show called Ozzie and Harriet. The band Queen would go on to perform “Mary Lou” up until Freddie Mercury’s death in 1991.

It wasn’t until the British Invasion during the mid-sixties that we saw the Guitar Slinger make young kids want to do more than strum chords on their guitars. As fate would have it; Elvis Presley’s manager Tom Parker had a fear of flying. This phobia gave a huge advantage to Buddy Holly and his band the Crickets. Holly, Cochrane and Gene Vincent did tour the U.K. transforming British pub bands that were playing a “blue grass” style of music called “Skiffle” to American rock music.

The British Invasion

Eric Clapton

The “Crickets” spawned English bands with similar names such as the “Beatles”. The absence of Elvis in England can explain why England produced the most “Bands” while the U.S. produced the most “Solo Artists”. The Guitar Slingers that would blossom from an English band, would often relocate to the U.S. and enjoy a career as a “Solo Artist”. Guitarists that could sing, like Eric Clapton and Peter Frampton would eventually leave their bands and come to the States to enhance their careers as “Guitar Slingers”. However; the true Guitar Slinger has been mainly an American character due to the origin of Blues or Rhythm and Blues music. Again, it all goes back to Robert Johnson.

One U.K. band did back an amazing Guitar Slinger by the name of Alvin Lee. Alvin Lee was the front man for the U.K. band “Ten Years After”. Alvin Lee was Chuck Berry on steroids in a Ferrari. Many will remember Ten Years After as the band that stole the show at Woodstock. Lee would share the stage at Woodstock with one of the greatest Guitar Slingers to touch 6 strings. A young up and coming guitarist who got his start with Little Richard named Jimi Hendrix closed out Woodstock but it was two years earlier in Monterey California that Jimi Hendrix would be re-introduced to America.

One of the first major outdoor festivals that made Rock Music main stream entertainment was at the Monterey fairgrounds in 1967. (The summer of Love). Not only is the recording of Jimi Hendrix live at the Monterey Pop Festival still a classic, but many guitarists still have the poster of Jimi burning his guitar on stage. Jimi was the 2nd great Guitar Slinger to be celebrated. At the time, there was nobody playing like Jimi.

In the late 60s, many solo artists would make attempts at playing guitar solos during their songs, but most of these artists were known more for the song and their vocals. Johnny Rivers (Secret Agent man) comes to mind. They had guitar skills but were not known as guitarists. Speaking of Johnny’s; in the late 60s and early 70s a phenomenal Guitar Slinger from Waco Texas would surface as one of America’s best Guitarists. Johnny Winter had a Rock and Roll voice and was a Guitarist’s Guitarist.

Although Johnny wrote little original music, he made a living off of recycling Rolling Stone hits. (A band that made a living off of Robert Johnson songs.) Whenever there would be a “Night of the Guitars”. Johnny Winter would always end up making others turn their volume knobs down. Nobody played like Johnny Winter. There is a session recording of Johnny and Jimi before Jimi died out there in bootleg land.

In the late 70s, bands like Led Zepplin , Pink Floyd, and Aerosmyth would feature lead singers and carry a phenomenal guitarist as a side attraction. (Jimmy Page, David Gilmour, Joe Perry) Then, many great guitaraists that couldn’t sing, would tour under their name, but would hire a lead singer to sing for them. Examples include Robin Trower, Ronnie Montrose and Van Halen.

Blues Guitar Slingers

The concept of the Guitar Slinger was carved out of Blues Music. Gary Moore who spent a great deal of his career playing “Hard Rock” became a blues solo Guitar Slinger. B.B. King spent his whole career singing and playing blues. His prowess appears to be divided along racial lines. I’ve found that his black audience loves his guitar playing while his white audience enjoys that deep blues voice. I like them both. Jeff Healy, a Canadian made a name for himself as one of the best “Shredding” Guitar Slingers. He played better blind than most guitarist with the help of YouTube videos.

Finally the last great Guitar Slinger of worldwide fame was Stevie Ray Vaughan. Stevie was just a kid from Texas playing along with Jimi Hendrix records. Like so many talented Texas Guitar Slingers, the Stars aligned just right for Stevie, who decided to do the singing himself, and he was noticed by an English Artist named David Bowie who asked him to perform on his hit Album “Let’s Dance”. Stevie died tragically in a helicopter accident after playing a blues concert in Wisconsin that featured several other Blues artists that included Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Vaughan and BB King.

Fireworks and Veterans

July 5, 2016 by Ace in Culture, History | Leave a comment

Ironically, most Veterans would rather pass on the Fireworks aspect of Patriotism.

I was only in a life threatening situation once in my military career. My job was to keep Marines and Sailors alive. But I recall the sound of what I thought was firecrackers. Then M-80s. Then I heard a whistle by my ear. I yelled to my fellow NCO: “Get Down” he was my senior officer but green to bullet fire. He hadn’t heard the bullet and still thought it was firecrackers.

It’s a natural tendency to evaluate the situation and look for cover. (After you drop to the ground of course.)

Years later when I was into mountain biking; I would ride in the hills above a lake I lived by. It was the second or third trip to the top of the mountain which had a gun range on it. It was the first time I had heard gun fire since my time in the service and it gave me a churning feeling in my stomach that made me want to stop and throw up. I stopped and just evaluated the situation. It took a while to recall that a gun club was at the top of the hill along with campgrounds.

Keep in mind, I’ve held someone else’s leg in my hand. I’ve held their eye (separated from their head) in my hand. These are memories you can’t un-see. I’ve been bathed in blood and purulent excretions. (Pus). But fire crackers still send chills down my spine.

I’m honored by those who get enjoyment out of watching explosion in the sky aka “The Rockets’ Red glare. Some which sound amazingly like in coming. Personally, on the night of July 4^th, I enjoy turning up the television. All I can ask is if you have a young returning Veteran in your neighborhood that has seen action, hold your fireworks display someplace else should you wish to be thoughtful.

A DAY CALLED EASTER

March 27, 2016 by Ace in History, Spiritual Relilgion | Leave a comment

WHAT IS IT REALLY? (Just another manmade Holiday.)

And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. ~ Luke 22:19-20

2016 years ago Jews celebrated Passover. It was in remembrance of God’s Angel “Passing Over” the homes of the Jews that believed and had put a mark in blood from a slaughtered spring lamb on their door post. This was the 10^th and deadliest of the 10 plagues on Egypt to force Pharaoh to Let His people go. It was the death of the first born. This happened in 1300 BC.

You can see the similarities between Passover and Easter. Both required the blood of a lamb. It’s also important to note that the Jews saw Moses as a powerful man of God. In a way, he was seen as a “Savior”.

If you fast forward 1300 years we come to the birth of Christ. The Jews of the time were expecting Moses V.2 and looking for a “powerful” leader like Moses. When Jesus started his 3 years of teaching, he taught peace. He wasn’t like Joshua, a fierce warrior. He taught the Jews to love their neighbors and pray for their enemies. This was not the image the Pharisees had. The prophecy of Christ’s birth are many in the Old Testament. (Somewhere around 352) You can start with Isaiah 7:14.

In Matthew 5:17 Jesus said: “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill”. Jesus (God in the flesh) became the lamb.

On the other hand, John writes from the Island of Patmos in the book called “Revelation” that Jesus will return and there will be Justice. Man will see the “other side” of Jesus. On a personal note, I believe this will happen in our time so “get right with Jesus” (see yesterday’s sermon)

As for Easter, know that it’s a Sunday when Christians celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Also understand that Jesus (as with Christmas) did not say: “Pick a day in spring and remember me”. No. Read the top paragraph again. In the book of Acts Luke wrote in chapter 20 verse 7: “When we gathered on the first day of the week to break bread…” Yes this is a partial verse as it goes on to talk about Paul’s plans for travel the next day. But this is the only reference in the New Testament as to when the original 1^st century church took communion.

In Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth in chapter 11 verse 26 Paul instructed: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” So Easter should be practiced every day. Some consider the blessing of your meal a form of remembering Christ.

Many churches hold communion on various Sundays of the year to remember the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, but as you see in Acts 20, Paul said they got together on the first day of the week or Sunday.

Finally Easter Eggs

The tradition was started by Christians in Mesopotamia (Modern day Iraq) where they would take eggs, color them red (for the blood of Christ) and remove the contents. This would be indicative of the empty tomb.

As for the bunny? Go ask Santa Clause.

HAPPY EVER AFTERLIFE

March 26, 2016 by Ace in History, Personal Development, Spiritual Relilgion | Leave a comment

“HAPPILY EVER AFTER” in the afterlife

I have to address this to the baby boomers that have made it this far. (Anyone born between 1946 to 1964). Chances are you went to bed to stories of lost children or a damsel in distress that was rescued by a hero and in the end: “They lived happily ever after.” If you’re not a boomer, “who knows what you were told”?

Do you have any Idea how much that quote programmed your head?

On this Easter Weekend I’m here to tell you that there is no real happiness on this planet or in this physical life. The term “happily ever after” is short for “living happy forever after adversity”.

Memo*

In this life adversity is an ongoing presence. If it’s not in your life, you’re hiding from it. If you live in the Middle East or the western European states, you’re not living so happily ever after the bombings and shootings. It’s the nature of the incarnate world.

THE TEST

Two days ago I had a diagnostic scan for a possible Abdominal Aortic Aneurism (AAA). “Why”? I’m not 65 yet, nor do I smoke. I’m not even 60. On November 1, 2015 my brother died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 65 from an AAA. He woke up, emptied his bladder, went back to bed and didn’t wake up again. “Ya never know. Ya know”?

To quote Robert Lamm:

“Does anybody really know what time is?

Does anybody really care?

If so I can’t imagine why.

We’ve all had time enough to die.”

My only hopes are that, (as they say down south) “he was right with Jesus”. (Translated: he had read the bible and heard the gospel, confessed his sins, repented from his digressions, proclaimed Jesus as his savior and was baptized in water). From my decades of studying the “Holy Bible” those are the various “conditions” that constitute “Belief”. You might have seen the guy with the big sign that says “Go Niners” on one side, then on the other it says “John” then some numbers. It’s a bible verse. He usually has season tickets in the end zone.

I’m sure if you’ve ever heard just one verse quoted to you from a bible thumper it wasn’t from Peter in Acts 2:38 saying to those that wanted Jesus dead, then said oops we wacked our savior. What should we do? In Acts 2:38 Peter told those ignorant Jews that wanted salvation: “Repent (turn away from sin) and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness.” (Baptism is a symbolic plea to The God of infinity to be spiritually born again) *You’re gonna have to get wet. Baptism is from the Greek word Baptisma which translates in English to “submerge”. (Not sprinkle, and yes God can save whoever He wants for what ever reason He wants)

It probably wasn’t Mark 16:16 either where Jesus (Also the God of infinity) said: “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved but he who has disbelieved shall perish”. Oh oh; there’s that word baptized again.

You probably weren’t aware of what the Apostle John wrote to all Christians in his first letter (1 John 1:8) when he wrote: “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.

You can find many other references that explain what this word “Believe” is. But my point was not to write an article that says: “If you REALLY BELIEVE then you’ll…” That’s like a wife saying: “If you REALLY LOVED ME you would buy me diamonds. Please don’t be mistaken. Just getting baptized alone won’t save you. Believing that Jesus is the Son of God alone won’t save you. (Even the demons believe that). Confession alone won’t save your spirit. Repenting is a good start, but that in its self won’t save you. Doing all of them shows your belief and because God shows grace to those who believe, you will be welcomed.

God’s grace is the only thing that allows you into “Paradise”. If you come to my house and I let you in, it’s my grace that allows you in. If I say: “You need to take off your shoes before you come in” that does not mean that if you show up at my house with your shoes off that I have to let you in. (That would be works) Without my permission or grace, you have no right or “entitlement” to enter my house.

To save you 40 years of study, those 3 verses from the New Testament are examples of “belief”. Why is that important? Because; the sign you’ve seen so many times is from the 4^th book of the New Testament, the gospel of John. It’s from the 3^rd chapter and 16^th verse which reads: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life”.

It’s election season. How many candidates have you heard say: “Yes I said that but that clip was taken out of context”. If you study the bible it’s important that you read James’ letter to the 12 tribes of Israel. In the 2^nd chapter and 19^th verse James says: “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder”. Are demons covered under the same verse of “Belief”?

In this chapter (James 2) James is teaching what I’m trying to pass on to you, the reader. In fact James, the earthling brother of Jesus, through Mary, goes on a Holy rant. All of the one liners that radio evangelists use or even churches that are more interested in your “Love gift” (Financial donation) than they are your spiritual welfare will fall back on one verse that is not taken in its full context. “Whoever believes in him shall not perish but have ever lasting life”. This verse is true and captures the beauty of salvation.

Let me ask you just two questions.

Would you agree that: “Whoever possesses a valid driver’s license may drive a car? Yes it’s true. To get a driver’s license you have to take a test and get 80% correct. Then you have to find a car and go for a ride with a brave soul from the DMV or MOT (for my readers across the pond). The original verse is true but it’s not as simplistic as it sounds.

If I say: “Whoever pays the taxman shall not go to jail but shall be allowed to work another year until it’s time to pay the taxman again”. Most of us would agree? OK, let me talk to my fellow Americans. Next month the taxman cometh. Do you know how much to pay him? Do you have your W-2 form or your 1099 form with your 1040 form filled out correctly? You can’t just send the IRS (Taxman) some money in an envelope and move on?

Many Radio preachers say: “You are saved by Grace through Faith and not by works.” (Ephesians 2:8)

“Believing” in Jesus is the same principle. In that same book of James, (Chapter 2:18) he says: “You have faith and I have works. I’ll show you my faith by my works”. James later in the chapter goes on to say: “faith without works is dead.” (Let me paraphrase) If you see a homeless person freezing in the cold, do you look the other way? If you “believe” in Jesus, wouldn’t Jesus give him a blanket or take him to a shelter? If you turn your eyes away is that “believing in him”? How can you claim to believe, yet let a brother freeze in the cold?

BACK TO THE ULTRASOUND

In closing

I still haven’t received an official “reading” on my ultrasound test but it doesn’t matter anymore as I believe in Him. (The God of infinity) I’m not perfect but I try to walk the talk. On this Easter holiday remember; our time here is short. King Solomon used the term a vapor. “Happily ever after” is a myth we tell our insecure children at night. It helps keep the boogie man away.

You’ll never know when you’ll wake up, empty your bladder and then go back to bed and not wake up again. OR even worse; wake up and face judgment.

Jesus paid the ultimate price for you. He was tortured and executed because our creator wanted to give us imperfect humans a chance at an afterlife. Why would you let it go to waste?

10 THINGS I MISS FROM the 20th CENTURY

March 20, 2016 by Ace in Arts and Entertainment, History | 1 Comment

Fresh Milk – Milk used to be a liquid that came in a sterile bottle from the dairy. It would mysteriously appear on your porch.

Mail boxes at my doorstep. You never had to walk 2 blocks to get your mail.

When athletes didn’t use Performance Enhancing Drugs. (Steroids) Record books didn’t have asterisks next to the player due to congressional allegations.

Cars that looked like the company brand. (When a Buick looked like a Buick) Now every car looks like the bastard child of a Prius.

Safe Neighborhoods that weren’t gated. You could leave your doors unlocked and your kids knew that the street lights were their curfew.

Drive in Diners (Not junk fast food holes) A&W Root beer Drive ins were fine. At least the meat was cooked in the same zip code. They had Jukeboxes and pinball machines.

Movies like Casablanca that didn’t require special effects and gratuitous sex. Actors actually had to study acting.

Schools that educated the student; not public hangouts that passed even the dumbest of Obamas for the federal dollars.

Ronald Reagan and the Pledge of Allegiance.

A healthy respect for the Holy Trinity. (GD was not allowed on TV, let alone cartoons) Politicians didn’t drop F bombs.

5 Musical Talents that died too young

December 16, 2015 by Ace in Arts and Entertainment, History | Leave a comment

5. Elvis Presley- The King Died in August of 1977. He first hit the charts with Heartbreak Hotel in 1956. His fame was meteoric for 4 years until he was drafted into the Army and stationed in Germany. During which time Hollywood was left to fill the vacuum. After 2 years of serving his country Elvis came home to the pre-Beatlemania years. Wankers like Fabian and Pat Boon were trying to fill Presley’s shoes. The King of Rock was being managed by colonel Tom Parker who urged Elvis to sign a lucrative 10 year movie contract with Paramount pictures. Many ask: “Why did Elvis not tour the world”? Simple! Colonel Tom Parker was afraid of flying. So Elvis, who had a tremendously loyal fan base even when he weighed 300 pounds and was singing mediocre songs in B movies. He did 27 Movies and 2 televised full length concerts. Elvis had been on a cornucopia of drugs from the time he was on the Ed Sullivan show. In the military, Elvis reportedly (according to Pricilla Presley) was on stimulants to keep him sharp on duty, and barbiturates to allow him to rest. Music was making various turns and tangents that led to dead ends while The Beatles were singing Sargent Peppers; Elvis was singing Viva Las Vegas.

Elvis died at the age of 42.

4. Buddy (Holley)Holly – The youngest on this list, Buddy along with Ritchie “Valenzuela” Valens and the Big Bopper died in a plane crash in an Iowa farm field after playing the winter dance party at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake Iowa. Holly was as important as Elvis was to Rock and Roll music. Holly was the first musician who wrote, produced, and played the music on his records breaking the Hollywood protocol of a separate writer, a producer who told the band what and how to play, and the musicians, who did what they were told.

Holly died at the age of 22.

3. Stevie Ray Vaughan – Stevie Ray or “SRV” was a white blues guitarist that played electric blues in the style of black cultural players. Although he cut his teeth on another black guitarist, he later became almost obsessed with Albert King. SRV was responsible for a Blues revival in the late 80s when hair bands and metal bands were playing Enter Sandman, SRV was playing blues standards like “Boot Hill”. As is common with most great musicians, SRV struggled with cocaine and alcohol until he suffered a gastric ulcer which forced him into rehab. In August of 1990 SRV’s helicopter crashed into a mountain after playing a show The Alpine Music Theatre in East Troy Wisconsin.

Stevie Ray Vaughn died at the age of 35.

2. Jimi Hendrix – The covert conservative guitarist is one of 3 guitarists that changed the standard of Rock and Roll music. Hendrix played the electric blues with a loud and fast distorted sound. Jimi was amongst the first to experiment with sound effects. Jimi was also amongst the first group of young musicians that let excess lead to their demise. (Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, etc…) SRV was initially influenced by Jimi Hendrix. The English blues musicians who were known as guitars gods saw Jimi and realized that they were just flesh and blood mortals. Like a meteor, like Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix came and went like a rumor leaving one memorable album “Are you Experienced” that would be the bench mark for all new guitar players to aim for.

Jimi was found dead at the age of 27.

1.Freddie Mercury – Perhaps the greatest vocalist of our time. Born Farrokh Bulsara in Zanzibar in September of 1946, Mercury was the front man of one of Rock Music’s greatest bands ever. Modern music critics compare Freddie Mercury’s voice with those of the great tenors such as Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti. Before his death, Freddie found a new niche (a bit too late) in Opera music. He released an Album with Opera singer Montserrat Caballé called Barcelona in celebration of the Olympics. Sadly, the great vocalist was amongst the first well known celebrities to die of a new disease in the 80s called HIV or the Human immuno-deficiency Virus also called AIDs. Freddie died a day after a press release stating he was battling the disease.

Freddie Mercury was 45

THE DEMISE OF THE BABY BOOMER & MAN

August 21, 2015 by Ace in Culture, History, Personal Development, Science | 3 Comments

Who are the baby boomers?

If you were born between 1946 (The year after WWII ended) and 1964 (The year after JFK’s life ended) You are a baby boomer.

If you were born in the North Eastern United States during this period, the chances are, many of you fell victim to the paradygm of turning 17 then getting a job at the local steel mill, coal plant or perhaps move to Michigan and get a job putting bumpers on 63 Chevy Impalas. If you chose to go to college, you came out with an entry level job in management at Ford, AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute) or Boehing. (Making Cars, Steel beams or Passenger Airplanes).

This was the epitome of the Technical revolution. The problem with Technical revolutions is that they have a built in self destruct mechanism called the technocratic state. It’s the beginning of singularity. (The replacement of humans with techology) At a certain point, technology dominates production, making human labor obsolete.

In a cruel way, the cost of getting America from the industrial revolution to the technocratic state was literally “HARD BACK BREAKING WORK”. Let’s take the installation of a windshield or “screen” on a 1966 Caddilac. It took 4 very strong individuals to lift the hunk of glass into place and a 5th person called a “foreman” to say: “A little more to the left”. This was a very difficult and potentially deadly/costly procedure if not done correctly.

Some heavy lifting vocations are still unavoidable

Today a robotic arm has done away with the 4 beer drinking blue collar wage earners and a 100 pound female can guide the robotic arm with very little motion or strength. Thus we had the beginning of singularity. In some cases, robotic arms have done away with the need for a heart surgeon present in Truckee California. As laparoscopic surgery can be done remotely once an online connection has been established from the rural areas of California to the Mayo Clinic across the nation.

NCR was a product that was invalualble in the 60s. It stood for “No-carbon paper-required”. Documents were once required in triplicates. At first this meant writing the report 3 times. Someone then invented “Carbon paper”. It was a semi-reusable page of ink. You stuck a sheet under the original document and it would copy it onto the next page. 3 copes was about the limit as you had to press really hard to make the original document transfer to the next form. Soon this wonderful invention called NCR came out. So forms that would have to be filled out using two sheets of carbon paper now only had to be filled out once. Where did NCR forms go? The Smithsonian Institute.

Where did the 4 blue collar heavy weight windshield lifters go with their herniated lumbar discs? Social Security Disability.

We have a Hen vs. The Egg scenario when it comes to disability. One can easily place blame on the anemic Obama economy in 2008 along with the massive job loss numbers, due to the uncertainty resulting in the socialist move towards Obamacare. At the same time, the shrinking middle class can arguably be attributed to the technocratic shift and the inability of the blue collar worker to abuse his or her body any longer. The most commonly prescribed medication in America today is some form of the “narcotic” or “Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammitory drug” (NSAID). Medications like Hydrocodone or Oxycodone have been the destination for many who spent a great deal of their lives doing intense and repetitive heavy lifting. It wasn’t until the late 1970s that low back supports were mandated for employees lifting over 20 pounds. Also in the early 1980s, the “Carpal Tunnel Release” procedure was amongst the most common worker’s comp. surgeries performed. This is a condition where the large ligament that runs from your thumb to your pinky, becomes scarred and painful. Once the pressure on the “Tunnel” created by the compromised ligament is released, the main nerve that runs down the palm side of your hand(The Median nerve) is restored and numbness and pain is relieved. This condition or “Syndrome” was mainly noticed in meat workers such as butchers or chicken carvers. You can imagine the pressure used to hold a carving knife firmly.

As the computer became ubiqitous; more and more cases of carpal tunnel syndrome were reported.

FUTURE GENERATIONS

There is good and bad news for future generations. The good news is that “occupaional medicine” has become an important discipline of medicine reducing the needless injuries to manual laborers. At the same time, the advancements in computer technology have made the need for manual labor obsolete. So one can no longer graduate from Highschool and go down to the GM plant as those jobs have been outsourced and what few jobs that exist in the US are robotic. On the bright side, some of the higher paying jobs simply require an advanced knowledge of the computer without a 4 to 8 year degree. The rumor of a vanishing middle class is no longer rumor but fact. Computers have already made computer jobs obsolete. Programs were created that did away with data processing technicians. Those techs would become “programmers” that would write programs to make other jobs obsolete. In the generations to come; we will come closer and closer to the point of singularity. Our live’s will be controlled by a few tyrants who will have access to the computer password until AI (Artificial Intelligence) comes to the conclusion it no longer needs humans.

The Cafe’s 2015 Breitbart Award winner is….

June 14, 2015 by Ace in History, Personal Development, Politics | Leave a comment

The Café Americain awards its’ 2015 Andrew Breitbart Award to the person that most embodies the transformational political horizontal shift. Ms. Powers is just one major epiphany short of making the “Jump to right”. At this point in time, The Writer Kirsten Powers is where Andrew was when he was starting to question why he was a liberal. In Kirsten’s current position, she believes that she has too much to lose by making the swing. As she becomes more and more disenfranchised by the left, she’ll see how welcomed she is on the right and this will open her mind to that which it has been trapped in.

It’s that “Ah-ha” moment where you ask yourself why. Nobody with the exception of Ronald Reagan embraced this shift like Andrew Breitbart. We who were once of the liberal persuasion had tangible reasons for becoming republicans or Independence. (Not the Juan Williams kind). Ronald Reagan while president of the Screen Actors’ Guild was threatened to have acid thrown in his face.

Your humble author and almost famous rock star learned politics as a 12 year old growing up next to a 60’s Bobby Kennedy type congressman. When I saw how the word liberal had changed in the Carter years; Ronald Reagan, (also a former Democrat) started making sense in that government needed to get out of the way of the individual’s prosperity.

Andrew Breitbart was a liberal because it was cool to be a liberal in SoCal. Then once he discovered where his own self-esteem came from; his eyes were opened. Kirsten has a lot invested in the left and honestly, admits her own ignorance when it came to conservative ideology. She is still like the circus elephant chained to a small “useless” chain. (look up that story for yourself)

But hopefully Kirsten can reach voters and enable them to “Think for themselves and not be afraid to engage in true debate” To quote Kirsten: “The debate is never over”.

TRICKLE DOWN CORRUPTION

December 21, 2014 by Ace in Culture, History, Politics | Leave a comment

TRICKLE DOWN CORRUPTION

I remember when I was growing up, there were two things that were as reliable as the sun coming up and tides rolling in.

The President of the United States stood for the Constitution, Truth andFreedom
Neither rain nor sleet nor even hail; nothing could stop the U.S. mail.

Now the president is amongst the most popular public liars. Yet he doesn’t just stretch the truth, he’s become a sociopathic liar. He along with Nancy Pelosi and other political buffoons don’t seem to understand how video works.

To validate the above accusations we have the consultant of Obamacare saying that “Non-transparency along with the stupidity of the American voter was necessary to get the law passed”. Pelosi went on Television and said she had no Idea who this Gruber person was. Yet we have video of her bragging about what a great job Jonathon Gruber from the prestigious M.I.T. was doing with Obamacare. Yes the same Gruber who called the American public STUPID.

After the Stupid American Voters chose the habitual liar over Mitt Romney, Obama felt he could lie with complete impunity. “Not even a smidgeon” to use his choice of words when lying to Bill O’Reilly on Super Sunday. His will to lie is so absurd; he sat on “Univision” and lied to the Hispanic host who came out and called him a liar and even asked him if he was worried about being impeached? Basically Obama sat and argued that the sky was green.

What effect has this had on lower Federal branches? Lois Learner is pleading the 5^th in front of a congressional panel about her participation in denying conservative action groups their 5013C tax exempt status prior to the 2012 election. Actually she used even dirtier actions than denial, she just didn’t act on them. That’s even worse than denial. If you think a good employee will quit if you tell them something they don’t want to hear, what do you do? You say, let me think about it. (You haven’t decided either way thus causing paralysis).

The NSA went crazy spying on everyone. I’ll bet they downloaded my music for free. Our once loyal allies in Europe got spied on. Germany was furious.

Hell, even Fox news channel’s James Rosen was investigated by the D.O.J. for not turning over his sources.

Sharyl Atkisson of CBS was a fine reporter until she decided to do her job and uncovered EMAILS from the D.O.J. to the Whitehouse regarding the Fast and Furious scandal. Atkisson was dismissed from the lap dog network CBS and went rogue.

She later released a book called Stonewalled. A great title as that is the typical Modus Operandi unless you’re a less than intelligent non-law abiding citizen selling “Lucies” (Loose cigarettes) in Time’s square. If you do that, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio will have you taken down with the equivalent of a S.W.A.T. team and you may end up with Andrew Breitbart.

Now if you are breaking immigration laws, Obama will assist you in your crime by telling the ICE units not to enforce the laws of our constitution.

If you are a drug Cartel, “BONUS” just get a kid 18 or older to go into a Texas Gun shop and have them buy as many AR-15s (Civilian M-16s) as the local Cabela’s has in stock. Don’t worry, when the owner calls the D.O.J. to warn them of what appears to be a scandal, the store owner will be told to “Stand down” and then eventually get blamed for selling the guns to the illegal immigrant. As for the D.O.J./AG? He received executive cover from the liar in chief.

Speaking of Stand down……….

We have CIA agents who testified they were locked and loaded in Benghazi and chomping at the bit to go in and rescue Ambassador Chris Stevens when they were given a “Stand Down” order.

Then we had one of Obama’s professional liars (almost as good as he is) take her dog and pony show on the 5 Sunday shows spewing a lie about the attack on our embassy in Libya being about a YouTube video that nobody has ever seen.

What happened to the great deceiver? She got promoted to U.N. Ambassador. I guess in this administration; you get promoted to your ability to lie for Obama.

The Secret Service.

OK I don’t want to piss these guys off, but what Fraternity did the White House find them at. It just seems they have a prostitution directory in every port.

As for the Nimrods that jumped the fence and did an end-zone dance in the White House, I guess the SS knew Obama wasn’t at home. (But don’t they just have to push a button to release the hounds)? Perhaps the K-9s get confused.

So let me get local about Federal corruption.

The U.S. mail which use to stand for trust, reliability, and confidence is now just another scam outlet. We expected such behavior from the luggage workers at the air-lines. But does anyone remember the legendary “Pony Express”.

Now you better be prepared to “Pony” up a few hours on hold with USPS if you want to find that Christmas package your Grandma sent you. I hate coming down on the Post office as my mail carrier in California was one of the finest workers the postal service has ever employed. On the other hand, in my new location, it’s like being stopped by the Mexican Police.

Perhaps it’s the unintended CON-sequences of affirmative action, but recently, I tracked a package from Texas that stop at a local location on December 5^th. OK, I know it’s the Christmas/Hanukah season so I waited 10 days before calling USPS. I guess they heard Obama say: “If you like the package; you can keep the package”. Sadly, the supervisor of my local post office got caught in a typical Obama-esque lie. He said that he had: “called me and we had “resolved the issue”. After going up the ladder to the Department of CONsumer affairs, my package arrived the next day.

It doesn’t matter if it’s the President of the United States or the Post Master of your local post office, integrity has become a thing of the past. I call it

“Trickle down Federal Corruption”.

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