Funk from a friend...

This came outta FaceBook Funk-war with a guy named Ken.

I gotta admit he's got some Funk too, but I'm Still "The Funk" and ya better ya'll know it!

Enjoy,,,

Vote NO on H.R.2164!

I received an email asking that I support H.R. 2164.
I am not sure when the last time was that an email pissed me off so much.
It also asked that I ask my friends to support it... "pfft"
Below is a screen cap of the email and my reply. Below that there will be a link for you to join me in opposing this yourself, with that I'll post my reasons for being against it.

Click on pic to view full sized please?

Here is the petition that I signed and sent in myself (my statement is at the bottom, the rest was written on the  form by someone else).

August 9, 2011

Dear Representative Smith:
Dear Senator Nelson:
Dear Senator Johanns:

I urge you to oppose H.R.2164, the so-called "Legal Workforce Act."

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a victory for states, allowing them to require employers to use E-Verify or lose their business licenses.

Congress had years to make the E-Verify program mandatory to stop companies from intentionally hiring illegal aliens, but they refused to act, causing honest employers to suffer and criminal businesses to thrive.

Suddenly, after the Supreme Court has ruled, Congress wants to get into the game -- and for no good purpose. A vote for H.R.2164 will earn you the enmity of both liberals and conservatives.

Do the right thing. Vote NO on H.R.2164!

Those above are not my reasons, mine are mentioned below.

"I oppose any form of electronic eligibility verification for employment requirement. I also oppose the laws that would restrict any persons ability to earn what he or she needs to survive. Laws like this are meant to cause only harm and even though they sprinkle up the bill with a few sweet ideas and offer up a few pluses. When it's passed it becomes as abused as all of the others have been.I can see this law being used to restrict the type of employment opportunities for even natural citizens and being used to filter out the classes and further define the limits of advancement for all. H.R. 2164 is not a law intended to protect. It is only a law of governing and we have too many of those types of laws already in place , being abused right now!"

Sincerely,

Mr. David Rice
[my street] St
[my city/state]

[Here is that Bill in PDF format, for you to read it yourself]

Melanie Safka in reflection..

The very first time I really heard her was when walkig down Division St in North Attleboro, Mass. I'm not sure on the age, but it was about 10.

I was stunned by the beauty.

I listened to her from here to there, but life was changing for me.

Later when I was about 18 years old out in California doing the streets scene I met a woman with the Candles in the rain album. No relationship or anything, but she gave it to me after seeing how much it lifted me. For the next couple of years I carried it in my back-pack around the US and after that in my truck (mixed in my collection)  when I moved from home to home.

I dn't think the feelings can ever go away when I hear her, because the memories still remail. I remember the saddest days and putting it on and the feelings changing to peace. I remember the sunlight that seemed to be there even at night when I listened.

As far as knowing all about her. I don't. I never had any money back then to invest into the culture.  Wikipedia has more info on her than I ever did and I'm posting some of it from their page [here] below.

I hope you like the vids and I hope you either re-connect with her music or introduce yourself to it...

Peace,,,
Funk

Melanie grew up in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens, New York City, New York.^[4] She made her first public appearance at age four on the radio show Live Like A Millionaire, performing the song "Gimme a Little Kiss". She attended Red Bank High School in Red Bank, New Jersey, graduating in 1966. Melanie was a student at New York's American Academy of Dramatic Arts when she began singing in the folk clubs of Greenwich Village and signed her first recording contract.
Initially signed to Columbia Records in the United States, Melanie released two singles on the label. Subsequently she signed with Buddah Records and first found chart success in Europe when her 1969 song, "Bobo's Party", reached Number 1 in France. Her debut album received rave reviews from Billboard which heralded her voice as "... wise beyond her years. Her non-conformist approach to the selections on this LP make her a new talent to be reckoned with."
Later in 1969, Melanie had a hit in the Netherlands with "Beautiful People", before performing at the Woodstock Festival. The inspiration for her signature song, "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)", apparently arose from the Woodstock audience lighting candles during her set. The recording became a hit in Europe, Australia, Canada, and the United States in the spring and summer of 1970. The B-side of the single featured Melanie's spoken-word track "Candles in the Rain". "Lay Down" became Melanie's first Top Ten hit in America, peaking at #6 on the Billboard singles chart, and achieving worldwide success. Later hits included "Peace Will Come (According To Plan)" and a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Ruby Tuesday".

Melanie on the "Mr Softee" free stage.

In 1970, Melanie was the only artist to brave the court injunction banning the Powder Ridge Rock Festival, playing for the crowd on a homemade stage powered by Mister Softee trucks. Shortly following this performance, Melanie played at the Strawberry Fields Festival, held on August 7–9, 1970 at Mosport Park, Ontario. She also performed at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970 where she was introduced by Keith Moon and received four standing ovations (she also appeared 40 years later at the 2010 Isle of Wight festival). Melanie was also the artist who sang to herald in the summer solstice at Glastonbury Fayre (later the Glastonbury Festival) in England in June 1971. She is due to perform again at Glastonbury in 2011 which is the fortieth anniversary of the original festival.^[5]
Melanie left Buddah Records when they insisted that she produce albums on demand. In 1971 she formed her own label, Neighborhood Records, with Peter Schekeryk, who was both her producer and husband.
Melanie had her biggest American hit on the Neighborhood label: the novelty-sounding 1972 number one "Brand New Key" (often referred to as "The Roller Skate Song"). "Brand New Key" sold over three million copies worldwide^{[citation needed]} and was featured in the 1997 movie Boogie Nights.
When first released, "Brand New Key" was banned by some radio stations because some saw sexual innuendo in the lyrics:

I got a brand new pair of roller skates,

You got a brand new key.

I think that we should get together and try them out, to see...

I been looking around awhile,

You got something for me

Oh! I got a brand new pair of roller skates,

You got a brand new key.

I ride my bike, I roller skate, don't drive no car,

Don't go too fast, but I go pretty far.

For somebody who don't drive

I been all around the world

Some people say I've done alright for a girl...

The follow-up single to "Brand New Key" was "Ring the Living Bell". To compete with this release, Melanie's former record company released "The Nickel Song", which she had recorded while still signed to Buddah Records. Both songs were simultaneous Top 40 hits while "Brand New Key" was still on the charts — setting a record for the first female performer to have three Top 40 hits concurrently.^{[citation needed]} Melanie was awarded Billboard's #1 Top Female Vocalist for 1972.
She had another Top 40 hit single in 1973 with "Bitter Bad", a song that marked a slight departure from the hippie sentiments of earlier hits (with lyrics such as "If you do me wrong I'll put your first and last name in my rock n' roll song"). Other chart hits during this period were the self-penned "Together Alone" and a cover of "Will You Love Me Tomorrow".
Melanie has been awarded two gold albums (and a gold single for "Brand New Key") and three of her compositions were hits for The New Seekers. She is also well-known for her musical adaptations of children's songs, including "Alexander Beetle" and "Christopher Robin".
In 1973, Melanie started to retreat from the spotlight to begin a family. Her daughter Leilah was born that same year. When she became an official UNICEF ambassador in 1972, she agreed to forgo a world tour in favour of raising money for the organization."

Brand New Key 1971

On The Johnny Cash Show

Interview with Kathie Lee 1985

Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)

Look What They Done To My Song Ma 1970

Brand New Key live @ Sandstock 2009

Dylan and The Year Of The Donut

I ran  Dylan's Birth Chart as soon as I heard he was born.

All of this stuff is important I'm sure, but I know Dylan and I remember the year. This was the year of the Donut and Bart Simpson was destined to become King (but he didn't realize it and he went fishing instead).

My blog, so my opinions come first.

Dylan's Chart readin by me:

1. Because of the sun bein up there next to the other stuff and the moon is 28 degree's rising over Homer. I predict Dylan will be a little dweeb in his early years and show a tendency to pick on his awesome and fantastic grandfather.
2. His middle years will be marked with periods of cold wetness during the winter months, damp and humid, rainy and windy days in the spring and his summers will be spent askin mom and dad "are we there yet" during long trips to the beaches.
3. His teen years spent in a fine prep school in Taiwan studying the fine art of making donuts and chasing girls around and askin em for dates.
4. His early adult life will be spent hiding from most of those girls so he don't get in trouble with the one he likes most.
5. Later, during his middle years he'll be heading out the door every morning at about 3 AM makin donuts and more donuts and more donuts.
6. In his old age Dylan will invest all of his savings and open the worlds first and only Rock N' Roll Donut Arcade, featuring live music, clowns and clones of clowns and FREE donuts for grandpa!

Now here's their boring version:

Intro:

Hi there, here is the interpretation of the astrological chart that you asked for. Also attached is a .GIF graphic file which depicts your chart wheel. Thank you for visiting the Astrolabe WEB site at http://alabe.com This report has been created especially for you. It represents your Unique picture at the time you were born and at the place you were born. If you are unsure of the exact time of day of your birth (or the date or the place), the reading will probably not seem as accurate as it could be in certain places, but other parts will seem to be very appropriate. You will notice at certain places in the reading that contradictory information seems to be given. This is to be expected, because the personality of most people is extremely complex. For example, at times we are quite shy and at other times we are very aggressive, and so forth. You will also notice that, at certain points in the reading, certain patterns may be repeated over and over, especially in a longer more detailed report than this one. This is also to be expected. This simply means that your horoscope has an extremely strong focus on this particular pattern and that you should pay extra close attention to what is said about it. Now, on with your Report! 

 Info:

Name: Dylan Rice
March 2 2009
4:05 PM Time Zone is EST
Attleboro, MA 

Report:

Rising Sign is in 25 Degrees Leo
You love to be the center of attention and you want to appear strong, confident and dominant. You are very proud of yourself, sometimes quite vain even. When all around you are bedraggled and falling apart, you look like a million bucks! Very dignified and honorable, you enjoy the power and privilege, but not the responsibilities, that come with leadership. You are very idealistic but can also be quite stubborn. Others impress you only if they have integrity (but wealth, power and influence can also turn your head). You prefer rich, elegant surroundings and possessions, and will try to acquire them as your budget allows. Physically, you are very impressive - - at your best you have a regal, charismatic demeanor and bearing. Try not to be such a showoff!  


Sun is in 12 Degrees Pisces.
Extremely sensitive and emotional, you absorb the emotions of others (whether positive or negative) like a sponge. Emotionally vulnerable, you are easily upset and tend to cry readily. You are at your best when you can structure your environment in such a way that you are surrounded by positive, upbeat people. You are very helpful and understanding of the needs of others. Indeed, at times this can be a disadvantage, because you can be a sucker for anyone who needs help. Shy, dreamy, romantic in nature, you delight in retreating into your private fantasy world. Just be careful that you do not get lost in it! Trust your intuitions -- you may be quite psychic.

Moon is in 23 Degrees Taurus.
Warmth, comfort, security and familiar surroundings are necessary for you to feel at ease. Very loving and affectionate, you prefer a steady, patterned way of life. Patient, calm and steadfast, you are not easily upset. Others look to you for support. You tend to be a slow starter and a slow mover -- others may try to rush you, but they will never succeed. Emotionally, you are quite stubborn -- your attitudes about people and things were firmly set in your youth and will change very little as an adult. You are also very cautious and conservative about spending money. It is not that you are selfish, you just need to feel secure. Beware of a tendency to become overly complacent and too self-satisfied.

Mercury is in 20 Degrees Aquarius.
You tend to be very opinionated -- you have strongly felt notions about things and are quite vocal about expressing and defending them. Yet you are also an original thinker -- you enjoy shocking others with your offbeat, original thoughts. You appreciate and need mental and intellectual stimulation. Your judgment is usually fair and impartial -- you can be a good critic because you can remain objective and unemotional about most things.

Venus is in 15 Degrees Aries.
You are a very affectionate person but you hate to be tied down. You are more than willing to be the aggressor in initiating new relationships. Indeed, once you have set your sights on someone, you tend to pursue him or her ardently and passionately. But you do demand your own way in a relationship. Try to give in to your partner's needs and desires once in a while.

Mars is in 20 Degrees Aquarius.
Your ideas and opinions are usually inventive and original, but sometimes they are merely eccentric and offbeat. You are altruistic -- you will work hard for the attainment of group goals, as long as they meet your high standards. You tend to resent traditional authority figures because you think that your ideas are better thought out and more valuable than theirs. Very idealistic, you are a rebel WITH a cause!

Jupiter is in 13 Degrees Aquarius.
Your personal growth occurs when you have the freedom to do things in new and interesting ways -- this brings out your natural inventiveness. You are an individualist, but you are also attracted to mass movements that emphasize social betterment and you will devote much time and energy to their efforts. Very fair- minded and objective, you have extraordinary skills at organization and administration.

Saturn is in 18 Degrees Virgo.
Your life must be orderly and practical and full of known and familiar routines in order for you to feel comfortable with yourself. Be careful, however, not to let "order" become the be-all and end-all of your life, or you may become cold, crass and unfeeling. Doing useful, practical things boosts your self- esteem. Abstract concepts and reasoning seem frivolous and a waste of time to you. You are very critical of yourself (and others), indeed at times quite self-deprecating. Try to relax a bit and allow yourself the freedom to fail once in a while. However, you probably won't fail very often because you are such a perfectionist.

Uranus is in 22 Degrees Pisces.
You, and most of your peers, are extremely idealistic and want to change society by completely reorienting its highest religious goals and aspirations. Just be careful to make sure that your new goal structures are properly grounded in reality so that they have a chance of being accepted by the majority.

Neptune is in 24 Degrees Aquarius.
You, and your entire generation, will idealize and even venerate the ability to remain detached as well as the ability to objectively analyze any given situation. There will be a concerted effort on your part to cure the ills of society as a whole. But be very careful to continue to maintain and protect the rights of individuals in the midst of these potentially far-reaching changes.

Pluto is in 03 Degrees Capricorn.
For your entire generation, this is a period of intense changes in the very fabric of society. Many accepted institutions may pass away or be born anew. The good of the community as a whole will be stressed and individual rights may come under attack. This will possibly be a period of decay that will lead to a new order.

N. Node is in 08 Degrees Aquarius.
As long as someone else (or a group or organization) appeals to your intellectual sensibilities, you'll try to ally yourself with them in some way. You may find that you always seem to get involved with many wide-ranging groups -- so much so that you find it difficult to fit them all into your busy schedule. Your many friends and acquaintances provide you with needed stimulation. You're loyal and fair-minded -- you try to spend time equally with all your friends, never concentrating on just one or two for any length of time. Although probably quite conservative yourself, you're attracted to those who are a bit offbeat or eccentric -- you enjoy watching their minds work.  

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Old grey whistle test 1975 [Complete]

Fantastic performance by Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Television Centre in London, England back in "75".

Enjoy...

***Check the box in bottom right corner of the viewer to watch this in full screen. Click this link [here] to download a copy of it for yourself