The silly campaign is about to get under way

Among the many conservative friends and family that I know (I'm not naming names at this point but you know who they are and they might be you)  there are some who focus on topics regarding the current President of the United States, that have nothing to do with the issues.

Photographs of President Obama not saluting or holding his hand over his heart during the playing of the national anthem is not an issue.  I can show fifty thousand pictures of him holding his hand over his heart. 

Does anyone realize how many times a President must hear that song?
AND UNLESS ONE IS WATCHING A COMPLETE VIDEO OF THE TIME FRAME IN QUESTION, ONE CANNOT ASSUME THAT A STILL PICTURE IS ACCURATE.

Do you stand up and salute or put your hand over your heart every time you hear the song?

The fact that a photograph is going viral, showing him not doing either gesture, is simply a sign of the times.

The fact that certain people are still insisting that he wasn't born in Hawaii is a silly tool to attempt misdirection away from reality.

Fantasy is a large part of all elections.....espeically Presidential elections.

If in fact he wasn't born in Hawaii, then that might make him the smartest man who ever lived.

ISSUES such as unemployment, job creation, health care and military involvement in other countries ARE IMPORTANT and so far those issues have not entered the arena.

And by the way.....JOB CREATION......might be the most important.

But first we have the silly campaign where both sides start flooding the media with odd propaganda like where people were born and do they actually wear magic underwear?

Usually after the conventions......the real campaign begins.  I suspect that we might have three Presidential debates and one VP debate and I can guarantee you that birth issues and underwear will not be a part of those debates.

I'm  looking forward to the real campaign but I dread the silly one that is about to get underway.   Actually the anti-Obama people have been acting silly for the last three years.

And Democrats need to remember the Bush era.....IT'S ALWAYS MORE FUN TO BE ON THE OFFENSE THAN THE DEFENSE.

It would be extremely beneficial to the sanity of the American voter if all e-mails, and postings on Facebook and Twitter, where limited to issues that matter.

WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THAT MATTER TO YOU?

Over the next few weeks I will list the issues that matter to me.....but in the meantime let's get silly.

Does Mitt really wear magic underwear....and has he seen the Golden Tablets?  Did Barack Obama use a different name when he applied to college?

Actually the MAGIC UNDERWEAR story might have legs.

Hummmm

Michael Timothy McAlevey

My teeth start feeling numb when I hear this

And then they start getting loose when this plays

and then they simply fall out

when

this

comes

on

Sunday afternoon easy

Kick back and let the rhythm move

around

inside

your

head

when that happens  it then travels to your heart

and

fills

your

soul

All three of these songs by Brenton Wood are soul fillers.

Prop 29

A few years ago the oil companies spent millions to fight the oil extraction tax, Prop 87, and they succeeded.

Once again we have a similar situation, different product of course, taking place and once again it looks like the winner will be.....

TOBACCO COMPANIES

So far they have spend close to $30 million to defeat  Prop 29...which is an additional $1.00 tax per pack.

WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY BEING SPENT ON PROBLEMS CREATED BY TOBACCO
 EACH PACK OF CIGARETTES SHOULD BE......

$25.00and all the extra tax should go to education.

IF YOU WANT TO KILL YOURSELF THEN IT SHOULD  COST YOU A PRETTY PENNY.

IF  SECOND HAND SMOKE IS GOING TO HARM OTHER PEOPLE THAN THE COST SHOULD BE ENORMOUS.

I suppose we can't make tobacco illegal just like we can't make alcohol illegal but when one considers the amount of health cost related to those two issues, not to mention flat out deaths, than one really has to wonder about the morality and the basic principles of our regulators and lawmakers.

Alcohol and tobacco companies maintain huge lobby positions within the government.

Everybody knows that to be true.

The fact that they can spend millions of dollars to defeat any bill that increases taxes on their product and make you think they are acting on your behalf.......is absolutely scary.

 I listen to people that are going to vote no on Prop 29, and I realize that all the information informing people that smoking can kill you.....has not reached the part of their brain that makes sensible decisions.

I think if you want to drink a galleon of Jack Daniels then it should cost you $150 or more.

It should be the same as buying an ounce of high potency marijuana.

Now I understand that many, maybe most, people can regulate their intake of dangerous drugs, of which alcohol and tobacco are the worst because they are legal and therefore the most easily obtained, but it's quite apparent that a very large number of people can't control their addictions to these two products.

So increasing taxes on those items, called a sin tax, should be an act of simple common sense.

Pot should be legal and it should be taxed just like tobacco and alcohol.

If government is looking for increased revenue streams then it would seem very logical that they limit the power and control of alcohol and tobacco lobbyist, and allow marijuana lobbyist to joined the show.

I hope everyone can see that alcohol and tobacco companies do not want marijuana to be legal.

THAT'S QUITE CLEAR.....ISN'T IT?

BUT WITH THE COST OF OPERATING A GOVERNMENT, BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL BEING EXTREMELY HIGH......SHOULDN'T INCREASED REVENUE GENERATING BE A PRIMARY GOAL.

INCREASED REVENUE GENERATING IS ALSO KNOWN AS......TAXES.

I would like someone to explain how a government raises revenue....without taxing?

The main problem we have, we being the average taxpayer, is that we don't seem to understand where the money goes when we do vote for increased taxes or alternative revenue generators such as......a lottery or bonds.

AND THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM BECAUSE I HEAR IT FROM ALL SIDES....BOTH THE 1% AND THE 99%.

NOBODY SEEMS TO TRUST THE MONETARY ALLOCATIONS OF  ELECTED OFFICIALS.

If you do trust that the spending, by state and federal officials, is being done correctly than you need to step up and start talking because you belong to a very small minority.

Because of instant information sources now available to us.....the level of distrust might be at an all time high.

IF PROPOSITION 29 FAILS IT WILL BE ONE MORE INSTANCE OF THE VOTING PUBLIC BEING MANIPULATED BY A VERY LARGE INDUSTRY THAT MAKES A PRODUCT WHICH IS EXTREMELY UNHEALTHY.

DO NOT LET THAT HAPPEN
AND IN FACT
MAKE A PHONE CALL TO YOUR ASSEMBLY PERSON, CONGRESS PERSON AND SENATOR TELLING THEM THAT YOU WANT
MORE TAXES ON CIGARETTES
AND LESS TAXES ON INCOME THAT YOU GENERATE BY WORKING.

LET'S START TAXING THE SHIT OUT OF PRODUCTS THAT HARM US AND STOP TAXING FOR HARD WORK AND LABOR.

LEGALIZE MARIJUANA AND COLLECT TAXES ON IT AND STOP TAXING THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER WHO IS FIGHTING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

But in the meantime....please vote
Yes on Prop 29.

Don't let those Vote No on Prop 29 commercials influence what you know in your heart to be a correct decision.

Please!

Michael Timothy McAlevey

Still my all time fav

I've been posting various musical video's over the last month and have yet to honor my favorite singer song writer.
Singer/Song writer is a unique category.
Please always remember this wonderful piece of triva.

This guy's mother wrote the lyrics for Heartbreak Hotel.  Her name was Mae Axton and his name is
Hoyt

The voice. the song writing ability and the attitude made for an incredibly wonderful entertainer.

And you might only know him from his movie roles.   If that's true than that needs to change.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

Just because

I realize that I already did a small Bee Gee's tribute a few weeks ago.....but Robin deserves another shout out.

Thanks

And once again I speak wrong

The concept is fairly clean and pure.  I'm seriously out of practice when it comes to the romance tangent of my public behavioral awning.

The latest incident is truly lame and a story I probably shouldn't tell, but never let it be said that I back away from personal horror stories.  Practice makes perfect.

Everything is foundation building and yes, by this age, the foundation should be finished, but I'm here to assure you that it is indeed not complete and much more work seems quite apparent.

The story:
I'm at a party, which is abnormal behavior in the first place, and I'm having a very nice first moment meeting with a beautiful woman. 

By the way, the party was a real estate/street art combo event that was attended by a wide variation of human beings;  small to large, old to new, hip to almost hip, intelligent to huh, tattooed to anti-tats, well dressed to about as casual as casual gets. There were a few artist represented but the main attraction was RISK....aka.....Kelly Graval.  The fact that Mr. Graval and my mom both went to the same high school has nothing to do with anything so forget I even told you.  The fact that RISK is a Trojan makes everything....perfect. A huge part of me ( The ELF project of 2010)  felt I belonged and the few people I shared with.....fully seemed to enjoy my "street crime."   Everywhere Little Fuckers might have been created just for this crowd.  I'm quite sure if all the photographs were framed and hung on a wall at a gallery....many of the people at this party would be potential collectors.

Side bar:
There's a uniform being worn by younger men that really does honor the gangsta genre.  Imagine Ed Hardy and Zorro without the cape and mask. The hats vary, of course, but the look is dark and cool.  A dark and cool look covering skin that seems to be incredibly interested in being it's own piece of art.  Obviously tats are a personal statement being made, while not having to explain anything to anybody.  I see designs on young women and young men and I want to start asking questions about the moment of decision making.
"What's the story on that arm......what made you select that design for that shoulder?"  Of course I don't ask because I don't have a tat and unless I have one I can't really chit chat about the experience.  I'm not a reporter for INK.....but I do get curious about motivation and especially on a woman with a beautiful face.

Back to the story:
I shouldn't be even thinking about age while talking to her, but I'm mentally (at that moment) guessing hers to be about 45 or maybe even 50.  She really has a beautiful face.....in fact I think I've drawn her a few times....but for some ungodly reason and due to the fact that I'm really out of practice in the romance category.....I say the following words.

"You really have a beautiful face....but it must have been truly stunning when you were 17, 18 or 19." 

I'm not even sure those are the exact words I used, but the texture of the comment was well within the foliage of those combined letters.

I can actually still see the look on her face as the words came out of my mouth.

Our time together didn't last very long after that moment. 

Our conversation before that moment had been continuously lovely and informative (on both sides) and seemed to be leaning in a direction that could result in friendship, at the very least....and maybe something more intimate. I really liked talking to her and I'm pretty sure she found my banter interesting and then suddenly from the depths of the MIND JAZZ creator.....comes words that not only shut the door but torn down the house and bulldozed the property.

Where do I go to practice my romance techniques?

It might actually be impossible to reclaim any semblance of romantic dialogue because in truth I might not be destined for anymore flavor in that arena.  I'll always love....but I might not get to be in love again.  I  use the word might because optimism is still floating in the canals of my imagination. It's on a life raft but it's still above water.  It might have a slight leak but duct tape comes in lots of colors.

Since I just completed another Period in my artistic development and am fully excited about entering the next phase, which hopefully will become a Period, I'm probably needing to stay close to my tools....which means less time outside with the tribes....especially those tribal members who meet at parties and try to avoid stupid comments like.......

"You have a beautiful face......it must have been really beautiful when you were a teenager."

I 'm really not well.

I wish she could have seen through the stupid guy and told the other guy in here that the other guy's comment was really stupid and could that guy simply think before he spoke and maybe even a better idea would be for that other guy to never say another fucking word for the rest of his life.

She would have done that if she had been the one.

That's the type of insight I need from a woman and I'm not sure the Universe has the patience to deliver both a new Period of art
and
a beautiful woman with tremendous insight
at the same time.

It always seems to be one or the other.

I'll take the new art Period with open arms and loving grace, but I'm here to announce that I sorta miss the other dealio.

But one thing I do know for sure.......I'm really not a party person.

Of course I could always go to a party and just keep my mouth shut.

Na....that's really not possible.

But since I'm the only guy I know who has been uninvited to a party, it's possible that parties and I just weren't meant to be held in the same building.

When is that next Gallery opening? 
Gallery openings are not really parties so maybe I'll be ok.

Na.......that's really not possible.

Maybe I should just focus on my Gallery opening and get fully prepared for that experience
which means
more time in
less time out.

Time OUT!

Michael Timothy McAlevey

This plays first if you need order.....then yesterday's post should follow.....but you have to click something to get there.

Movie magic.....simple....clear......clean.

And the King gets more

King Creole

Easily the best Elvis movie ever made...with the best cast and the best script. In my illuminated mind, one of the top five musicals ever made.

This scene between Elvis and Walter Matthau is truly a classic moment in film history.

And then the song ,AS LONG AS I HAVE YOU, written by Fred Wise and Ben Wiseman, he sings to end the movie, with his father ( Dean Jagger) walking in to hear him sing for the first time, is one of the most beautiful ballads ever written.  Being a father who has suffured the ultimate loss.....I cry everytime I hear it. 

Okay....maybe not every time.......But.....





..............if you haven't seen this movie or if you haven't seen it recently....please do yourself a favor and watch what helped make someone be called
The
King
of
Rock and Roll

And by the way.......The opening number Crawfish is be one of the greatest openings of any movie ever produced and was also written by Wise and Wiseman....which is an entirely different blog explaining how a Wise and a Wiseman met and decided to write songs for Elvis.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

Wake up call

This guy woke up an entire country. 

Head Rooster

And then he came back and did it again.

Forever

The King

Two of my favorites

Tommy Smothers always made me laugh and The Who always made me dance.  This is shortly after the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. 

Keith Moon is absolutely a perfect speciment of someone with an overactive thyroid....and brother I should know.

Enjoy

Mom

The concept of mothering is a really really good idea.  Being a "mom" is another story. Of course not every women who becomes a mother has the ability to become a "mom."  But when it's done right it's probably the most important job on the planet. When it's not done right, it results in some fairly messed up human beings. 

A "mom" doesn't have to have financial stability to perform her duties, but of course it helps reduce negative personality traits if the mother doesn't have to worry about feeding and housing her off spring.....but that's another story that usually centers on the father's irresponsibility.

I really love the NFL draft stories where the 21 year old 300 lb. left guard from LSU thanks his single mom who worked three jobs and raised 7 children.  Now that's a "mom." That type of "mom" is a reality TV show that actually makes sense.  How in the world does she do it?  Come on Mark Burnett....let us see the "moms" that appear to be "supermoms."

To be honest when I read about situations in third world countries, where children are starving on a regular basis, I have no idea how a "mom" keeps her sanity. I would imagine that the woman who becomes a good "mom" in that type of environment.......is inching toward sainthood.

Throughout America we have millions of regular "moms."  "Regular moms" are the backbone of the middle class and their strength is what makes every country, with a viable middle class, function properly.

PROPERLY, in this context, is a word that I'm using to describe orderly behavior.  Orderly behavior is behavior that is naturally taught by a "mom."  Of course rebellious actions on the part of a hormonal driven teenager is not considered proper behavior but normally those actions are followed by apologies.....and knowing right from wrong, even when acting wrong, is the difference between being socially adaptable and socially irresponsible.

Socially irresponsible people most likely don't have a "regular mom."  Socially irresponsible people can end up in jail without very much effort.

I don't think there are very many mothers in jail.  There are tons of fathers behind bars.  I'm guessing that most of those fathers didn't have a "mom" in their life.

I had a "mom" and although she fell victim to the demon rum (mainly screwdrivers) she made numerous decisions that gave her three children a chance to partake in  a full range of experiences.  Two of the three grew up to be very socially responsible and the third has yet to grow up but keeps an eye on the "target" even though the eye is filled with wild dreams and odd fantasies of artistic success.

My "mom" taught me to draw doodles. She taught my brother how to "own things" and she taught my sister how to "love animals."

My stuff is much more colorful.  Their stuff is much more practical.  But "mom" made all three of us pretty confident in knowing that what we do is the right thing to do. I'm easily the least socially responsible of the three but that's because I'm an artist and often times an artist has no clue about anything practical.

My mom was a very good artist and her mom was a very good artist and for some reason she decided that I would carry the artist banner. I'm pretty sure she would love my body of work.....which in truth.....is her body of work.  My brother's full lifestyle would also make her very happy and my sister's business, Gigi's Flying Dog Ranch motel in Santa Ynez would cause her excessive joy.

One of the main jobs of socially responsible people is to make their mothers proud.

I think that goal has been achieved and therefore, without qualm, I can easily say..................

"HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY......MOM."

Michael Timothy McAlevey

Two amazing rock icons

This song was made for cleaning house and working in the yard with Ozzie and Harriet, and The Beav.

This song was made for getting closer and closer


Steve Marriott and Van Morrison are rock icons.  And the fact that Van can still be interviewed
is really nice.

There are days that could be devoted to Van.  Imagine being snowed in somewhere with the person you love and the cabin is toasty with a beautiful fire.  Van all day long....no problem.

In the meantime, back in realtyville, have a nice Saturday.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

The line is now offically drawn

Everyone who knows me realizes it took a long time to stop using the word "Fag" in reference to gay people.
It obviously took longer for the office of President of the United States to acknowledge same sex marriages.

Please don't think for one minute that I'm comfortable watching gays lip smack on prime time TV shows but I've always thought legal issues should be equal among anyone not in prison.  Laws, directed toward gay unions, that were created by homophobic opinions, should be eliminated from the books.

The election of 2012 will now have a distinct dividing line and that line will be the issue of gay marriage.

I think it's an issue that displays tolerance and compassion vs intolerance and judgemental behavior.

The dividing line isn't so much right or wrong but love and acceptance.

I'm fairly certain that there are homosexual Republicans who now might have an issue voting against a President who says they are entitled to the same legal benefits as a straight couple.

The issue will prove to be very interesting in Florida where the both parties will be fighting to win.

There's a wide assortment of human types in Florida and it always seems to be a very close race between the two parties.  This issue could be the tipping point and to be honest I'm not sure which way it will tip.

I've always thought Florida was a very strange place because they have little tiny bugs that you can't see that bite the crap out of you.

The gay marriage issue will bite the crap out of somebody but I'm not sure who.

I have no idea of the Mormons stand on gay issues but Mitt came out yesterday and said he personally was against legal gay unions...so therefore the line is drawn.  How many gay people work on the Romney campaign?  How many gay people are in Romney's family?  How many gay people has he ever talked to?

WILL THOSE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR HIM, who absolutely love Glee, SUPPORT HIS POSITION?

By the way.......I'm one of those hetero anomalies who absolutely loves Glee.

I also love the show Smash....but every time the gay lovers start to inch up toward one another I feel a little queasy in my stomach and sometimes even close my eyes.  I can't help it.....I'm just not comfortable watching two men kiss. 

But that queasiness has nothing to do with how my brain works when regarding legal equality for every person in America.  I can't worry about the rest of the planet on this issue because we are the leaders of the free world and our behavior vibrates to all corners of the globe.  We are the beacon for freedom and equality and we basically haven't even gotten it correct yet.......so why fret about other places.

So much work to do here and now that another line has been drawn in the sand, for the 2012 Presidential election, it becomes an even more interesting and intriguing election.

Watch that line.......it's not so blurry anymore......except of course for gay Republicans.

Michael Timothy McAlevey

Serious times coming so music fills the air

With the Presidential Election coming up there will be plenty of time to be serious so I thought I'd just add a bit more music to your life.  The first two selections are classic duets that I feel rank at the very top of the list.

The list is Rock and Roll romance.

No show tunes please.  That's an entirely different category.

It's pretty odd that two of my favorite Rock and Roll Romance songs have Don Henley involved.

I listened to the Patty Smyth song for about fours hours in the middle of the Arizona desert in 1994 but that indeed is another entire story.... I truly learned that sometimes love just ain't enough.  It takes more.....sometimes, much much more.

Mr. Aday is the king of the Rock and Roll Romance category.

His legendary status would be secure if he hadn't done Celebrity Apprentice.....but I understand the publicity side of the game.

I honestly never get tired of hearing these three songs.

Have a loving Sunday

Michael Timothy McAlevey

You don't know what it's like....To Love Somebody

I just watched Joshua Ledet do his version of the Robin Gibbs song.....To Love Somebody....and I still prefer the original version.

Check it out

A version for you to sing

And then this just for fun.

And one more just for proof on how great the Bee Gees

ARE!

THESE GUYS

WERE

  PERFECT

Period!