What fun! Many thanks to Napaloha for hosting a delightful evening on the 25th. We had lots of new songs, met some new friends, and enjoyed overall merriment.  We also decided to get together, again this Wednesday, November 11.  We know a number of you are unable to make on Sunday evenings and we miss you.  We’re hoping that an additional gathering on  Wednesday evening will bring you back.  Hope to see you there: Napaloha, November 11, 6 pm. After that, our next flea fest will be Sunday, November 29.

We did a couple of new songs and a few oldies but goodies.  “Moon Glow (b),” which is in our song files, seems to be a perennial favorite, so please be sure to print it out and bring it with you next time. We also did “White Sandy Beach” a la IZ which you will also find in the song files and in the list to the right.  

Here are a couple of  tutorials by Jody Kamisoto you might enjoy. The first shows you the bare ‘ukulele basics and leads you into ”White Sandy Beach,” which you can try to strum along with in the second video:

(If you want to cut to the chase and play along with IZ, you can scroll down to the bottom of this post.)

One of the other new songs we enjoyed at the last flea fest was  “Maui Hawaiian Sup’pa Man,”  also from IZ’s Facing Future album. It, too, has been added to our song files and the list at the right so you can download it. Thank you , Earl, for bringing that one to us.  Incidentally, if you print out our copy of “Maui HAwaiian Sup’pa Man” from the song files, you’ll also get the legend of Maui (courtesy of www. haupala.org). It’ll help you understand the lyrics immeasurably.  To learn even more about Maui and how he snared the sun, you should visit Sacred-Texts.com. There’s  a lot of great Hawaiian stories there if you poke around a bit.

Terry also keeps bringing in great songs. Last month he brought us “Tennessee Waltz” and “The Good Ship Lollypop.” I’ll get those posted ASAP.

And now for a word from our sponsor: As you all start planning your next trip to Hawai’i, don’t forget to check out the link to the right for Hawaiian Airlines. It’ll give you an automatic 5% discount on their lowest published fare, plus you’ll help us build “miles” in the Wine Country ‘Ukulele Festival’s account to help bring over more great artists from Hawai’i, such as Aldrinne Guerrero, Brittni Paiva, and Derick Sebastian for nest year. Speaking of the festival, save the date: September 10, 11, 12. We’re moving it up a month in 2010 and adding workshops on Sunday.  More to come…..

I also hope you’ll check out Kani Ka Pila, my own on-line store full of all kinds of goodies for the ‘ukulele players in your life. By doing some of your holiday shopping at Kani Ka Pila, you’ll help keep this web log alive. You’ll find everything from the Kani Ka Pila Klip to ‘ukuleles, Jumpin’ Jim songbooks, tuners, hand exercisers, and Taylor’s DaKine Line ‘ukulele strings. So please, take a peek.

OK. Hula is coming to NapAloha.  Some of you may have already had the very distinct privilege of taking a workshop from Debbie Haumea Aynaga at the ‘ukulele festival, or you may have had an opportunity meet her and her ‘ohana at NapAloha during the October Cheers event.  In any case, she’s coming back to the Napa Valey teach hula on Sunday November 15 at NapAloha from 10am to 12pm.  Hope to see you there, this is a very special opportunity, indeed.

And, finally, this just in from KALA, who will be hosting  free ‘ukulele lessons and a concert to raise money for the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma on December 3:

Petaluma-based Kala Brand Music Co. will host an evening of free ukulele lessons on December 3,  led by performers extraordinaire, the Ukalaliens, followed by a concert from which proceeds will be donated to the Phoenix Theater.  Kala encourages beginners of all ages to join in and will make ukuleles available to attendees that don’t have their own.

It all begins at the Phoenix at 7:00pm with a free ukulele workshop followed by a concert scheduled to begin at 8:15.  A donation of $10 for those 16 and older is suggested for entrance to the concert which will benefit the Phoenix Theater and its afterschool programs for the youth of Petaluma.

The Ukalaliens (aka Quality Folk) is composed of Kate Power and Steve Einhorn. Kate and Steve have shared the stage with folk luminaries such as Peter Seeger and have performed on Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion”. They play guitar, banjo and ukulele and have a knack for engaging audiences and harmonizing with every community they visit.  As an added bonus, our good friends, the Petalukes, will also be there to share a few tunes, as well.

Tickets are availableonline at http://phoenix.inticketing.com/events/59289 or can be purchased in advance at Tall Toad Music in Petaluma.

For more information about Kala and the Ukalalians please visit: www.kalaukulele.com and www.qualityfolk.com  or call Kala Brand Music at 707 775 4073.  Those wanting to carpool can leave a comment here.

And that’s it for now.  To take yu out, here’s Iz and “White Sandy Beach,” one more time.  Grab your uke and sing along….it’s almost as good as being there…then hit the Hawaiian Airlines link above and book your flight.

Am dat un telefon la EMag pentru a face o comanda si cat timp am fost nevoit sa astept am fost uimit de piesa care a inceput sa se auda in receptor. Ajunsesem chiar in punctul in care am fost pe punctul sa o injur pe fata de la aia ca mi-a raspuns asa de repede si nu m-a lasat sa ascult piesa.

“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

Till David.

Buongiorno a tutti miei cari radio-lettori. Stamattina sono a lezione in facoltà, perciò vi proporrò in unica soluzione 4 canzoni per questo programma mattutino. Sono:

Doris Day con “Que Sera Sera”,
Israel Kamakawiwo’Ole con “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”,
Jimmy Fontana con “Il Mondo” e
Lamb con “Gabriel”.

Noi ci ritroviamo qui per il programma pomeridiano. Siete in ascolto su RadioBlog 235!

I’ve heard this song a dozen times already and I really like the calmness of the singer’s voice. I like this slow and acoustic version more than original Judy Garland version.

I’ve heard this song from the movies Meet Joe Black, 50 First Dates and just recently from a short and sweet film — Struck.

Here is Iz’s version of Over the rainbow. Enjoy!

Boy, has it been a crazy month!

Just when I thought to myself, “Right, no more changes, yay!” a major one happens. I finally got the date, venue, almost everything nailed down. There was just this little problem with registration.

See, Mr. Panda is Singaporean while I hail from Sabah, East Malaysia. We were going to register on the same day we have our church wedding in Sabah. But we didn’t count on how TOUGH it was to get a foreigner registered in Malaysia! He and I would have had to fly down on a weekday (when government offices are open) to settle everything. And Mr. Panda & I are both desperately short on leave.

So the long and the short of it is, we might have to forego the romance of getting married on the same day, and register in Singapore first (where it’s really easy!) get our certificate, bring it to Sabah and be married by our Pastor with the cert already signed. 

The good thing about this unexpected outcome? Mr. Panda’s parents and relatives can have a “Singaporean” event. They’ve been so sweet (come January, I’m going to have the BEST mother in law in the world!) and were happy for us to do the wedding in Sabah even though traditionally the bride should be marrying in the groom’s country. We wanted a destination vibe in beautiful natural surroundings, and they agreed with everything. So this registration thing is a great opportunity to have a local event, albeit a simple and small one. I definitely don’t want to make a big deal out of it because (a) if I made too much of a production out of it, I’d feel like I’m marrying twice and it may take away from the church wedding, which is the most meaningful part of the wedding to me; and (b) we never budgeted for this extra event! And let me tell ya, this well is running BONE dry!!

So…how do I make this an intimate, romantic, understated, CHEAP event for 65 pax? How do I make this meaningful and yet sufficiently different enough from our actual church wedding that I won’t feel like we’re marrying twice?

Enter…our condo function room! 

I’m blessed enough to stay in The Sail @ Marina Bay. And the function room here is on the 44th floor overlooking the entire Marina Bay. At night, the city lights light up the dark and it’s all pretty and glittery. The carpeted floors, understated decor, dimmer lights, and three sides of glass windows make it an easy and unique venue. Best of all, only residents can use the room, which means it won’t be a very common venue for solemnization (or, as the natives call it, “ROM”, which is short for “registration of marriage”.)

Here are some pictures of the room in its bare bone state, taken at 10.45pm last night! The first shot is with the lights at full blast.

MORE lights:

I know it looks a bit like a seminar room, eh? Flowers will take care of that problem! Hey, the venue is free ok!

I plan to remove all the tables, and do a theater style set-up with 60 covered chairs and a centre aisle with a white rose petals delineating the “lines” of the aisle, and random hurricane lamps and candles dotting the way here and there. (Flowers by The Red Petals). Sort of like this picture below, except I won’t be covering the whole aisle with petals…too expensive!

i’ll put a solemnization table with a low floral centrepiece and candles. At the back would be five small, high, bistro-style table-sets supplied by our caterer, Orange Clove. (Babyduck says the food is delish; anything Babyduck says is delish, WILL be delish. That is the law of the universe!) They’ll also set up a decorated buffet line. Guests will be expected to mingle, relax, no stuffy sit-down dinner here!

I plan to put little candles everywhere and dim all the lights so that you get a dreamy glittery, twinkly glow on the inside, to match the glittering city-lights on the outside. And also to make it look less like a nice conference room. Lighting is everything: free Bridezilla tip there.

Oh, the dimmer isn’t on here either:

The last shot is rather blurry, but you can see the pretty view from the windows. 

Come to think of it, I don’t have ANY shots with the dimmer on. Hmmm. Well y’all will just have to use your imagination!

The thing is, if I were to have the solemnisation at a Chinese restaurant somewhere, say Tung Lok, my guests would be assured of a very good meal and the price would’ve been about the same as having a buffet dinner at our function room, and having to rent table cloth, chairs, two service staff, etc. But Mr. Panda thinks it’s just more special in the event room of the condo. Less commuting for us. Besides, we have to put down “solemnisation venue address” in the e-form when applying for our marriage cert. Do we really want the cert to say “Tung Lok Chinese Restaurant”? Call me a snob, but I’d much rather the venue bits say “The Sail @ Marina Bay”. 

I so wish it would say, “Wesley Church” though.

Anyway in order for it not to feel like a proper wedding, Mr. Panda & I will walk in together, informally, hand in hand, to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. That was our chosen song when I we first had the idea to have an island wedding (which was scrapped unfortunately. Sigh.) In the church wedding, my parents will walk me down the aisle to something more reverent, played by a string quartet. 

The moment we get to the table, we get straight into the paperwork. And then we’ll get David Blakely, our marriage counselor and a member of the pastoral team at Wesley Methodist Church to say a prayer, and then it’s straight into the tea ceremony for the groom’s side. We decided to do that here in Singapore to avoid a jam-packed day in Sabah, but mostly because I wanted his family to have their own day, on their own home soil, and wherein all of his relatives can participate, and not just those who can fly to Sabah.

So here we are, the list so far:

Date for ROM: 23 Jan 2010

Venue: The Sail @ Marina Bay

Guests: ALL of Mr. Panda’s relatives and just my Mom, Babyduck & Dan Dan, MAYBE my sister Ning, and another two good friends. This is all about him; and the room can’t take any more people.

My dress for ROM: JCrew Goddess dress, as seen here. 

Colour scheme: White/cream and green. (You’re welcome, Mr. Panda). White roses and candles everywhere. With one notable exception. I get to indulge my love for yam roses…so my posy will be made out of yam roses and so will the blossoms in my hair!

Music/Vibe: The best of Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, jazz, praise and worship songs! (Must make Mr. Panda do a mixed CD)

Food and set-up: Orange Clove

Flowers: The Red Petals

Invitations: Vivienne from MadeVivLove

The only thing left to wonder about is photography. Initially I wanted Babyduck to do it, because she’s so talented! But I just don’t feel comfortable asking such a dear sister to work on my day, when she really should be enjoying herself as one of the guests. Just not right. Any photos she takes will have to be “pleasure” photos (oh gosh, that sounds bad. But you know what I mean!) and I don’t want her to feel under pressure in any way. It feels too much like I’m exploiting a friend. Brrrr!

Guess maybe I’m now on the lookout for a photog who can take my ROM pictures for less than SGD500 bucks! No album required, just edited images in CD, for 4 hours’ work! ANYONE??

Jackson C. Frank – Jackson C. Frank

Ach, die Tragik durch die dieser Mann zu gehen hatte ist schwer erträglich. Im Alter von 11 eine große Explosion überlebt, bei der er 15 seiner Schulkameraden verlor. 7 Monate lag er im Krankenhaus. Viele Jahre später starb sein Sohn an Mukoviszidose. Die darauf folgenden Depressionen dürften kaum verwundern, er kam in entsprechende Behandlung, doch die mentalen Probleme sollten ihn ein Leben lang begleiten. Er lebte auf der Straße und verarmte zusehends. In dieser Zeit war es auch, als ihn Kinder mit einem Luftgewehr ins linke Auge schossen, was zu Blindheit führte. Schlußendlich starb er an Lungenentzündung und Kreislaufstillstand.

Ja, das ist ein ziemlich mieses Leben. Er hat auch nur ein Album herausgebracht, dass aber vor melancholischer Schönheit nur so trieft. Es ist schwer seinen biografischen Abriss zu lesen, dabei seine Musik zu hören und nicht ein kleines Tränchen in den Augenwinkeln zu haben. Er hat etwas geschaffen das verbleibt und auch wenn die Phrase ausgelutscht ist, zeitlos bleibt.

Beispiel

Wikipedia [eng]

Eddie Vedder – Into the Wild

Oh, Eddie Vedder, warum verlässt du Pearl Jam nicht und machst nurnoch Alben wie dieses? Gut, es ist “nur” ein Soundtrack, aber er hat dir immerhin Preise beschert und meine absolute Bewunderung und das nicht nur, weil “Into the Wild” mittlerweile einer meiner Lieblingsfilme geworden ist. Aussteigermentalität ist eine sehr romantische Sache. Und diese Musik unterstützt das erheblich. Das ist Musik fürs Lagerfeuer ohne kitschig und “pfadfinderisch” zu wirken. Aber das dürften wohl nur die wenigsten hinkriegen.Gerade “Society” ist für mich ein Meisterwerk, sowohl lyrisch, als auch musikalisch. Ich erwische mich des öfteren die Melodie summend.

Beispiel

Bob Dylan – The Times They Are A-Changin’

War ja klar, dass der Kerl bei Folk-Alben mit auftaucht. Er ist durchaus überbewertet. Aber er ist definitiv ein herausragender Musiker, da kann man bei aller Polemik nicht viel sagen. Tatsächlich ist dies eines von zwei Alben von ihm, die ich auch wirklich recht oft höre und mag. Zu ihm selber braucht man fast schon nichts mehr sagen, zuviele Worte wurden verloren, zuviele Filme gedreht, zuviel gecovert. Das einzige, was mich an dem Album des öfteren stört ist die vordergründige “Kreischigkeit” der Mundharmonika. Aber das war noch viele Jahre vor den Abmischmöglichkeiten die wir heute kennen. Ist vielleicht auch deutlich besser so. Schlechtere Qualität hat häufig mehr Charme.

Beispiel

Ulver – Kveldssanger

Ulver haben sich im Laufe ihrer Karriere ziemlich verändert. Angefangen mit harschem Black Metal, weitergeführt mit irgendwas zwischen Black und Viking/Folk Metal (Ohgott), dann dieses Album und dann irgendwann in Richtung elektronischer Soundtrack Sachen. Nun, das hier ist quasi das Zwischenstück. Nichts weiter als 2 Gitarren und Gesang. Mehr braucht es auch garnicht. Das Album hatte damals einen solchen Einfluss auf mich, dass Ord mein Windows-Startsound war. Oh, die Mystik die diese Album förmlich umherschüttet ist ergreifend.

Beispiel

Johnny Cash – American III: Solitary Man

Nach seiner langen Pause kam Cash damals zurück mit etwas das als solcher nicht mehr mit seinem stampfenden Country zu vergleichen war. Nur noch er und ein paar Instrumente. Er sagte das dies die Musik war, die er immer machen wollte. Er coverte großteilig; U2, Sting, Tom Waits, Bonny “Prince” Billy, Nine Inch Nails und noch viele andere. Dennoch schaffte er es sich die Songs zu eigen zu machen, etwas selbstständiges zu schaffen. Die Stimme dieses alten Mannes ist für mich viel wichtiger und besser als die des jungen Cash. Man merkt deutlich das dieser Mann etwas erlebt hat und das er trotz allem noch voll hinter seiner Musik steht. In das Interesse aller ist er dann definitiv mit Hurt gerückt. Dieser Song ist zwar nicht auf dem hier genannten Album drauf, ist aber ein Teil der “American Recordings”-Reihe. Nur wenige Künstler haben es geschafft alt eingesessene und junge, neue Fans gleichermaßen für sich zu gewinnen. Er war ein (musikalischer) Gott. Mehr muss wohl nicht gesagt werden. Er rangiert immernoch auf Platz 2 meiner absoluten Lieblingskünstler.

Beispiel

Eric Fish – Auge in Auge

Als ich hörte das Eric Fish auf einer Buchmesse (?) seine Künste zum besten gab, kam mir das Bild von irgendwelchen unsympathischen Gruftie-Mädels in den Sinn, die sich die Lunge aus dem Leib kreischen. Nicht, weil die Musik gut ist, sondern weil da halt Eric Fish steht. Den kennt man ja von Subway To Sally. Ja, ich habe mir gedacht, dass seine Musik nicht im gebührenden Maße gewürdigt wird. Aber das kann ja auch alles Teil meiner vorurteilsbehafteten Weltsicht sein. Nichtsdestotrotz ist das Album sein Geld wert. Es gibt jedoch einige Mankos, die Zwischenstücke, bei denen er mit dem Publikum interagiert, sind nicht besonders spannend und die meisten englischsprachen Cover funktionieren meiner Meinung nach nicht so wirklich. Dennoch ein gelungenes Live-Album.

Beispiel

Beirut – Gulag Orkestar

Okay okay. Das ist jetzt nicht mehr dieser Ein-Mann-mit-Gitarre-Folk, aber trotzdem bleibt es irgendwie Folk in dem Sinne. Angelehnt an rumänische Volksmusik, zimmert der Herr Beirut etwas so merkwürdiges wie faszinierendes zusammen und alles wird von seiner Stimme getragen. Wahnsinn. Wem normaler Folk zu schnöde ist, der kann sich an dieser Alternative versuchen. Wert ist es das auf jeden Fall. Interessantes Cover im Übrigen. Soll er wohl aus irgendeinem ostdeutschen Fotoarchiv haben. Nicht umsonst heissen einige Songs “Brandenburg” oder “Prenzlaurberg”.

Beispiel

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole – Facing Future

Ein sehr, sehr dicker Mann. Ein unendlich freundliches Gemüt. Eine Verbundenheit mit seinem Land und der Natur. Ein schwer zu merkender Name. Ein korpulenter Gott. Ja, dieser Mann ist für mich auf eine Stufe zu stellen mit Johnny Cash. Er könnte kleine Kinder essen und ich würde ihn ohne Nachzudenken noch mögen. Auch diesmal nicht so wirklich der klassische Folk, aber ich maße mich einfach mal an es ist hier mit einzuordnen. Hawaiianischer Spirit und eine gesunde, fast schon kindliche Art mit der Welt umzugehen. Und dafür wurde er zumindest in Hawaii gebührend gewürdigt. Solche Künstler braucht die Welt.

Beispiel

Comenzamos una categoría nueva y como no podía ser de otra forma lo hacemos con un pequeño homenaje al gran cantante hawaiano Israel Kamakawiwo’ole.

BIOGRAFÍA:

Israel Ka’ano’i Kamakawiwo’ole, también conocido como “Iz”, nació el 20 de mayo de 1959 en la isla de Oahu. Ya desde bien jovencito dejó patente su interés por la música, pues comenzó a tocar a los 11 años. El ukelele fue uno de sus instrumentos predilectos. Fue al mudarse a Mahaka cuando conoció a los que serían sus compis del grupo “The Mahaka Sons of Ni’ihau”: Louis Moon Kauahaki, Sam Gray y Jerome Koko. Estos cuatro más el hermano de Israel conformaron un grupo de música que alcanzó su apogeo en los 80 por todo Hawai e incluso por los Estados Unidos.

Kamakawiwo'ole y su ukelele

Su primer disco como solista, titulado “Ka’ano’i” salió a la venta en 1989 pero su disco más popular, el segundo, aparecía en 1993 bajo el título “Facing Future”. En él se incluye su canción más popular: el medley ”Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World”.

La Hawaii Academy of Recording Acts (HARA) le escogió en 1994 como figura del año en Hawai y 3 años después la misma academia le concedió el premio a mejor cantante y mejor álbum.

Por desgracia Kamakawiwo’ole no pudo asistir a la ceremonia, puesto que se hallaba en el hospital. Murió el 26 de junio de 1997 con tan sólo 38 años debido a unas complicaciones respiratorias derivadas de su obesidad (llegó a pesar 320 kg.)

FILOSOFÍA DE VIDA

Uno de los rasgos más característicos de Israel fue su incesante alegría, que contagiaba a los que le rodeaban y un sentimiento de amor profundo a su tierra y a sus orígenes, que quedan manifiesto en sus canciones, algunas de ellas de temática abiertamente independentista.

DISCOGRAFÍA

Aparte de los álbumes que compartió con sus colegas de “The Mahaka Sons of Ni’ihau”, Israel sacó a la venta los siguiente discos en solitario:

1989: Ka’ano’i

1993: Facing Future

1995: E Ala E

1996: N Dis Life

Tras su muerte:

1998: IZ in Concert: The Man and His Music

2001: Alone in IZ World

VÍDEOS

En los que podréis apreciar tanto su música como el ambiente hawaiano:

Somewhere over the raibow

Maui Medley

Hawai’i Aloha

Panini Pua Kea

Aloha!

He loves ME!

.

NOT Hawaii

.

While listening to Hawaiian music (the beautiful voice of  Israel Kamakawiwo’ole) and reading (the boy who fell to earth), I was touched by God. I felt His wonderful love for me. It’s hard to describe the experience – warmth, peace quiet, contentment, etc. (You had to be there – I am glad I was.)

By Popular Demand…Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, Over The Rainbow.

There’s just something about Hawai’i that’s magical. And I’m not just talking about the stunning landscape and pristine beaches. I’m talking about the lifestyle, the laid-back refusal to take part in the rat race. There is a reverence and respect for the land, and a great appreciation of music and expression.

Mr. Kamakawiwo’ole has a beautiful, gentle voice that floats over the strumming of his ukulele, reducing songs to an almost primal state of purity. Sadly, he passed away, but not without touching millions of people with his music, especially this track, which gained some well-deserved notoriety.

“Over the Rainbow” was Judy Garland’s signature tune from “The Wizard of Oz.” It’s a powerful song about hope and better days ahead. Not surprisingly, this song became something of an anthem for soldiers fighting overseas in World War II, a little piece of sanity for them to hold onto inside the madness of war. It’s an important song. Mr. Kamakawiwo’ole also adds a bit of “What a Wonderful World,” another important song which I’ll probably post for you very soon.

(Thanks to xTacoBellxx for the nice upload of this track to YouTube)

I’ve been listening to Hawaiian music on a streaming web site called The Radio.com and a number of the songs they played were by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole – better known as IZ.

As you can tell from the video, IZ was morbidly obese. For his later appearances, he needed a fork-lift to get him on stage. He finally came to his senses and went on a diet. Unfortunately, it was too late and he died of a heart attack.

I learned about IZ following our trip to Hawaii a few years ago. I heard his voice on a recording at the airport as we were awaiting our flight back to the mainland. After getting home, I went out and bought one of his recordings. That’s when I learned that this man with the beautiful singing voices was no longer with us.

I am a fan of the ‘educational’ cable channels – The History Channel, The Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, and so forth. There have been numerous shows centering on morbidly obese individuals. These folks are so far beyond ‘fat’ that it defies comprehension.

Most of the individuals have been bedridden for years. They cannot get out of bed to get food, or to attend to bathroom functions. That means that someone else must do those things for them.

I can understand serving someone his or her meals in bed. I wouldn’t hesitate to do that for someone who was suffering from some sort of illness. However, I would draw the line at helping with bowel movements and voiding of the bladder.

If I had a child or significant other who couldn’t toilet him or her self because of a weight problem, the chow line would stop until that problem went away.

Obviously, if my loved one was suffering from the effects of a stroke, accident, or something else – other than obesity – I’d overcome my distaste for wiping an adult’s butt. But if that person needs help simply because he or she is too heavy to make the trip to the bathroom, it is time for a crash diet.

I may sound heartless, but consider the alternative.

These morbidly obese individuals didn’t get that way without the help of someone. Perhaps those someones are people who need to be needed – mothers who can’t let go, or mothers who won’t let go.

Is enabling someone to grow to a thousand pounds or more really a sign of love? Not in my book.

I am overweight to the point of being obese. But I can still take my two hundred and eighty pounds to the bathroom when I need to go. Unfortunately, I can also carry myself to the dinner table.

But I guarantee you that I will not become morbidly obese to the point that someone else must toilet me.

We’ve lost IZ. We don’t need to lose any more talented people because someone is willing to jump in and help them kill themselves.

If you are an enabler of any kind, step back and take a good hard look at the situation. Are you really doing someone a favor? Or are you helping someone commit suicide?

Now that I’ve got that off my chest, I’m going to picture myself on a beach in Hawaii and concentrate on the hula dancers.

I want to go back to my little grass shack

Yes, the ukulele is thought of as a relatively obscure instrument, but in the hands of a master like Eddie Vedder (solo and w/Pearl Jam) or the late Hawaiian great Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, the music provides a unique sound perfect for harmony with gentle lyrics.

IZ & his uke

I just had no idea that the soothing experience of ukulele music extended to therapy for average joes like you and me.

But, indeed, NPR reports that “Even In Bleak Times, The Ukulele Thrives”.  Turns out that ukulele jams have gained in popularity and sales of the instrument are up considerably, despite the obvious decline in overall instrument sales.

“If you’ve had a rough day, whatever you’re doing, if you’re working or you have difficulties, you pick up the ukulele and strum it a few times,” says ukulele teacher (and jamming musician) John McAuliffe. “Then pick out a song you want to try, and all of a sudden, things are better.” 

McAuliffe is not alone.  For what it’s worth, the New York Times was already buzzing about the resurgence of the ukulele last summer.

I might actually give the uke a shot.  Although, I’m guessing that my playing would be better served for my ears only.  For public displays of ukulele strumming, I’ll stick to Pearl Jam encores or wait for my next trip to Hawaii.

• .punching up some bag lady named everlast.here comes hobocop.had better flee like a flea now.3:57 PM Jun 13th from Ping.fm

• @BrodyDalle .fork the cook.in the face.and ears.and eyes.3:50 PM Jun 13th from mobile web

• .do you have three testicles? .shooting an ad campaign for rape your neighbors and the theme is triple threat.3:48 PM Jun 13th from Ping.fm

• .i need a new taboo.my cinnamon bun humping offends no one.1:43 PM Jun 13th from web

• .humping warm cinnamon buns at @FamousCinnabon.12:29 PM Jun 13th from web

• listening to “Misery Signals “The Year Summer Ended in June” – ” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~85hz45:34 AM Jun 13th from Ping.fm

• .i want to remix your seven inch.6:42 PM Jun 12th from Ping.fm

• listening to “Muppet Face – Xiu Xiu” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~84qhp6:19 PM Jun 12th from Ping.fm

• .if i never die sanctified let me die blessed.6:19 PM Jun 12th from Ping.fm

• .the release date for the new chumbawamba ep? the date that nasty margaret thatcher dies! www.chumba.com/thatchep.html .die die die.6:12 PM Jun 12th from web

• @ooohchristina .protège-moi de mes désirs!5:55 PM Jun 12th from web in reply to ooohchristina

• .v is for vino. http://twitpic.com/786q3 .such is the plunder of a house abandoned and seized by the bank.picture of the broken window next?2:22 PM Jun 12th from web

• listening to “Just A Thought – Gnarls Barkley” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~84bgu2:09 PM Jun 12th from Ping.fm

• .the perm whales are waiting to beach.1:58 PM Jun 12th from Ping.fm

• listening to “Interview (1963) – Salvador Dali” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~848xu1:31 PM Jun 12th from Ping.fm

• @deathoftheparty .invocation of demon brother.a soundtrack by mick jagger. http://ubu.clc.wvu.edu/soun…1:11 PM Jun 12th from web in reply to deathoftheparty

• .cactus jack is a prick.9:18 AM Jun 12th from web

• “Nature has put no large object on the face of New England so glaringly white as a white house.”7:38 AM Jun 12th from web

• .quite excited for surveillance: http://www.apple.com/traile… .looks like daddy @DAVID_LYNCH is executive producer.7:28 AM Jun 12th from web

• listening to “Crazy English Summer – Faithless” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~83igr7:16 AM Jun 12th from Ping.fm

• “Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp Or what’s a heaven for?”7:04 AM Jun 12th from Ping.fm

• for this #followfriday do f the following five: @quietube @TheRealElvira @sseverin @jimgoad @vsxe3:57 AM Jun 12th from mobile web

• .vocals before yokels.vocals before yokels.vocals before yokels.vocals before yokels.vocals before yokels.vocals before yokels.6:50 PM Jun 11th from Ping.fm

• listening to “UMBRELLA (VNDLSM REMIX) – RIHANNA” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~82ly36:46 PM Jun 11th from Ping.fm

• .soldiers with erections die hard.like old habits.6:34 PM Jun 11th from Ping.fm

• listening to “Jet Boy Jet Girl – Elton Motello” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~82kuy6:28 PM Jun 11th from Ping.fm

• .finally saw gegen die wand this morning. http://is.gd/ZfzQ .gegen die wand.that means against the wall.head-on.this tweat means i liked it.4:42 PM Jun 11th from web

• .using croutons to build a crouton.e pluribus unum.2:40 PM Jun 11th from Ping.fm

• @stoya .foggy in philadelphia? .but i thought… http://en.wikipedia.org/wik…’s_Always_Sunny_in_Philadelphia1:58 PM Jun 11th from mobile web
• “There’s so much buried in the past to steal from, one’s resources are limitless.”8:11 AM Jun 11th from web

• listening to “Trash – New York Dolls” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~81b9g7:40 AM Jun 11th from Ping.fm

• .seventy years ago orwell wrote “last night fairly heavy rain for 4-6 hours, which has freshened things up greatly.” .not much has changed.6:23 AM Jun 11th from web

• @clintcatalyst .oh hedda hopper.am i the only one who thought morrissey pronouncing head as hed-da in sing your life was a bit of a nod?5:42 AM Jun 11th from web in reply to clintcatalyst

• Λ: All i know is that opportunity knocks. V: .all i know is that opportunity knocks you up.2:58 PM Jun 10th from Ping.fm

• listening to “Living On Video – Trans X” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~7zzly2:54 PM Jun 10th from Ping.fm

• listening to “The Only Good Fascist Is A Very Dead Fascist – Propagandhi” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~7y1tt5:54 PM Jun 9th from Ping.fm

• listening to “Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Israel Kamakawlwo’ole” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~7xz9z5:14 PM Jun 9th from Ping.fm

• @rstevens .you seem afraid of a watery grave so allow me to comfort you.in space no one can hear you steam.4:06 PM Jun 9th from mobile web

• .an amtrak en route to star trek is slicing thru a gang of drunks at play on the rails.hobos under bridge point and laugh at the meat heaps.4:02 PM Jun 9th from Ping.fm

• .231 followers? .glad to be over 132 followers but why not 321 followers? .i suppose 321 will come in time.how soon is NOWGODDAMNITNOW?3:54 PM Jun 9th from mobile web

• .watch devil doll: www.is.gd/VEei .not to be confused with the 1936 film the devil-doll by freaks director tod browning.see that too.1:35 PM Jun 9th from web

• listening to “The Metric System – Trash Palace feat Brian Molko” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~7xhvq1:05 PM Jun 9th from Ping.fm

• @Nick13Official .entire b-movies including devil doll on the amc site: http://www.amctv.com/b-movi…10:08 AM Jun 9th from web in reply to Nick13Official

• listening to “Nostalgia – Mirror feat. Dave Gahan” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~7×1649:13 AM Jun 9th from Ping.fm

• .carl: “Vjesci u are a mystic A wonderful poet who is very smart Wish I could know more about u I never get a direct answer to my questions”7:21 AM Jun 9th from Ping.fm

• .a living hell is the best revenge.10:27 PM Jun 8th from web

• listening to “tomorrow never comes – VNV Nation” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~7wawo10:26 PM Jun 8th from Ping.fm

• @Wossy discussing vulva fragrance: http://bit.ly/SbvP2 .buy a bottle: www.smellmeand.com10:12 PM Jun 8th from web in reply to Wossy

• .big brother is swatching you.big brother is swatching me.big brother is swatching you.big brother is swatching me.being swatched.swatched.9:23 PM Jun 8th from web

• .glazed your favourite barbie with the cum i pumped out of you last nite and while i nibble vegan voodoo donuts i melt barbie in a skillet.9:08 PM Jun 8th from web

• .audrey: who r u?? @VJESCI: .a spell checker.you may want to write that again.6:03 PM Jun 8th from Ping.fm

• listening to “Caroline Says – Suede with Siouxsie Sioux” ♫ *http://blip.fm/~7uigt6:52 AM Jun 8th from Ping.fm

• .any of you not-that-easy-being-gemini types out there who listen to @duranduran should enjoy what nick rhodes wrote: www.is.gd/SZfd4:22 AM Jun 8th from web

• .not that easy being green with envy.3:45 AM Jun 8th from Ping.fm

• “Sister is busy learning to shave, Brother just loves his permanent wave, It’s hard to tell ‘em apart today! Hey, hey!”7:15 PM Jun 7th from Ping.fm

• @Rayke .erotically pouring coffee on yourself will not get you laid but will get you hurt and when you call 911 www.is.gd/SaGw will happen.4:25 PM Jun 7th from web in reply to Rayke

• .any watcher of invader zim should recognize @rikkisimons in zoo ambience as the the darling voyce of gir.or not. ♫ *http://blip.fm/~7tfvh3:55 PM Jun 7th from Ping.fm

• @DarylPalumboCC http://bit.ly/rEjRc .vote @brokencyde off @warped09 www.is.gd/S6yI3:13 PM Jun 7th from web in reply to DarylPalumboCC

• .prayer.from your lips to gods rear.3:06 PM Jun 7th from Ping.fm

• @tommy_rumor .forget the tommyknockers. @tommyhilfiger is a tommynazi.SIEG HEILFIGER: http://bit.ly/BstDZ12:47 PM Jun 7th from web

• .that last captcha was PANTIESS.12:06 PM Jun 7th from web

• “LICENSED TO SELL ALL INTOXICATING LIQUOR FOR CONSUMPTION ON OR OFF THE PREMISES”12:06 PM Jun 7th from web

• .imagining james dean driving jayne mansfield home and whether they live or die will be defined by how much ink is in this pen.11:54 AM Jun 7th from web

• @Franklero .no past no present no future is thee punk album of the year.alas dominic mallary is dead… www.myspace.com/lastlights11:37 AM Jun 7th from web in reply to Franklero

• .do you dj on blip? http://blip.fm/invite/VJESCI .hang the dj hang the vj…esci.11:29 AM Jun 7th from web

Don’t use a word that has ever hurt somebody. Don’t do a thing that has ever hurt. Do love, think about love, and love shall prevail.

Hello Community!! Wanted to let our readers know that the fourth installment of the Decent Community Podcast is now live. We’ve got some legendary jams here to coincide with the beginning of summer. Check out the tags to see who we featured this week in the setlist, and please, enjoy the jams.

Click here to listen to and download the Decent Community Podcast.

We should mention that we’ve switched podcast hosts for an easier interface for our listeners. We know many of you have been checking out previous versions, but we’ve received minimal feedback. We’d greatly appreciate jam requests, questions, ideas, or any other knowledge that our heady audience can drop on our ass. Be decent and jam on!

Word: swagger [swag-er] v. int. 1. to walk or strut with a defiant or  insolent air 2. to boast or brag noisily ∞ v. t. 3. to bring, drive, force, etc., by blustering ∞ n. 4. swaggering manner, conduct, or walk; ostentatious display of arrogance and conceit

Birthday: Honoré de Balzac (1799), John Stuart Mill (1806), James Stewart (1908), Gardner Fox (1911), Lee “Scratch” Perry (1936), Joe Cocker (1944), Cher (1946), Ron Reagan (1950), Jane Wiedlin (1958), Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (1959), Bronson Pinchot (1959), Ted Allen (1965), Mindy Cohn (1966), Busta Rhymes (1972)

Standpoint: Monday night, as I was watching the Pittsburgh Penguins take on the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it was impossible to miss Sidney Crosby. Even when he was doing absolutely nothing, the spotlight shown in his direction. He’s the new poster boy for the NHL, who would love for him to become the next Wayne Gretzky, whose combination of pure skill and squeaky-clean good looks brought the league into prominence in this country two decades ago. The problem is Crosby is no Gretzky. Even in this early stage of his career, he’s not popular with the fans or among his peers. And here’s why.

Most professional sports are just a live enactment of good vs. evil. In any contest, there are the good guys – those we ‘re all waiting to see win in dramatic fashion – and the bad guys – those we are waiting to fall miserably on their faces. And we enjoy watching either one because wishing for a team to lose is just as much fun as wishing for it to win. Sometimes even more so.

Take Joe Montana. With a name like that, he was destined to occupy a place among the good guys. Besides the name, the man possessed all of the qualities that one needs to become one of America’s heroes. In short, Joe Montana was a guy that no one thought would be anything more than a capable quarterback. Of course, as is often the case, people ended up eating their words as he led the San Francisco 49ers to some of the most famous comebacks during one of the greatest dynasties in sports history. His losses were sometimes just as spectacular as his wins. We all rooted for him. Whichever team was playing against Joe Montana became the enemy.

 Then we have Kobe Bryant, who was marked by the NBA to be its replacement for Michael Jordan, its most celebrated good guy. But things went wrong. The Los Angeles Lakers‘ superstar distinguished himself by openly feuding with Shaquille O’Neal and being the only guy in human history capable of pissing off Phil Jackson. Oh yeah, being accused of sexual assault didn’t really help, either. Still, Kobe prevailed and is currently one of the top basketball players in the world. But no one is happy about it and we all root against him. Whichever team is playing against Kobe Bryant becomes the favorite.

So we all loved Montana. And we all love to hate Bryant. But what about Crosby? What group does he fit into? Well, he’ll probably never be shown the kind of love the good guys enjoy. At least not outside of Pittsburgh. On the other hand, he’ll never earn a spot with the bad guys as one of professional sports’ villains. And that’s because he’s more disliked than he is hated. And you might think that being disliked doesn’t sound as bad as being hated. But it is.

Because, no matter what the particular sport or situation, what we’re all looking for is entertainment. And being a human highlight reel is only so entertaining for so long. Here’s what the San Jose Sharks‘ Jeremy Roenick has to say about Crosby: I think he’s too quiet, too hum-drum, too cliched. I love the kid as a hockey player, but I think he can be more spectacular if he steps up and shows a little personality. Now while the outspoken Roenick might not be the best judge about the proper use of “personality,” his remarks mirror the public sentiment. Mainly, we find the guy boring. Outside of whining to officials about everything imaginable (he complained to the referee during a recent game against the Washington Capitals because he thought the fans were throwing an excessive amount of hats on the ice after a hat trick by rival superstar Alex Ovechkin), and his admittedly sick amount of talent, Crosby is vanilla. And while vanilla is good it doesn’t get anyone fired up.

The impression that he gives is a neutral one. Like maybe he’d be OK playing out the season in spectator-less arenas and simply concentrating on hockey. And, while that may not be true, it’s the vibe he gives off and one thing sports fans won’t tolerate is an athlete who refuses to acknowledge their part in the process.

What really sucks about all of this is, if the Penguins somehow manage to win the Stanley Cup, when Crosby lifts it over his head, most hockey fans will fill ripped off because we;ll feel neither the good guys or the bad guys triumphed. The boring whiner did.   

Quotation: By night, an atheist half believes in God. - Edward Young

Tune: On advice from my brother Jeremy, I’m attempting to get into Say Hi To Your Mom. So far, I like what I hear. Try “The Death of Girl Number Two.”

Gallimaufry: Declining honeybee populations represent a potentially disastrous problem for the world’s ecosystem. And no one’s really been able to explain how it’s happening. But it looks like there might be hope. ∞ Hollywood is one step closer to completing its mission of destroying everything from my past. The most recent victim? Footloose, the 1984 Kevin Bacon classic that was so dorky-cool most guys didn’t seem to mind it was about dancing. If the initial casting choices for the remake are any indication, this movie is going to absolutely blow. ∞ Blink-182 has reunited and I’ve watched them the past two nights on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. I’m a huge fan of the band’s albums. Ask anyone. But they’ve always been considered a shitty live act and, from what I’ve seen, that’s not a perception in danger of going away anytime soon.

Incoming: Tomorrow – Annoying Sayings & Misused Words. Friday – 3 Things To Do In Philly When You’re Dead and more.

Irgendwo da oben, über dem Regenbogen,
ganz weit oben…
All die Träume, die du mal geträumt hast,
damals in dem Schlaflied.
Die Singvögel (Hüttensänger) fliegen,
und die Träume, die du mal geträumt hast,
werden wirklich wahr!

Eines Tages werde ich einen Wunsch an einen Stern
schicken,
und dort aufwachen, wo ich die Wolken ganz weit hinter
mir lassen kann,
wo Sorgen und Ärger einfach so schmelzen, wie
Zitronenbonbons.
Ganz hoch oben über den Schornsteinspitzen, da wirst du
mich finden.
Irgendwo da oben, über dem Regenbogen,

Ich sehe saftig grüne Bäume,
und tiefrote Rosen,
ich schau ihnen beim Blühen zu, für dich und für mich,

und ich denke so bei mir,
wie wundervoll und schön die Welt doch ist.

Ich sehe den blauen Himmel und weiße Wolken,
und den strahlend schönen Tag,
Aber ich mag auch die Dunkelheit
und ich denke so bei mir,
wie wundervoll und schön die Welt doch ist.

Die Farben des Regenbogens strahlen so schön am Himmel

und spiegeln sich auf den Gesichtern der Leute, die
vorbeikommen.
Ich sehe Freunde, die sich die Hand geben,
die fragen: Wie geht’s dir?
Ja und sie sagen wirklich auch „Ich liebe
dich“
Ich höre Babys weinen, schaue zu, wie sie heranwachsen.

Sie werden noch so viel lernen,
viel mehr, als wir je wissen werden.
und ich denke so bei mir,
wie wundervoll und schön die Welt doch ist.

Eines Tages werde ich einen Wunsch an einen Stern
schicken,
und dort aufwachen, wo ich die Wolken ganz weit hinter
mir lassen kann.
wo Sorgen und Ärger einfach so schmelzen, wie
Zitronenbonbons.
Ganz hoch oben über den Schornsteinspitzen, da wirst du
mich finden.
Irgendwo da oben, über dem Regenbogen…

Och en till, funnen hos David Gottlieb.