You Are The "Quarry"

Our Moz has returned to the stage in a series of concerts at the Sydney Opera House in Australia.
There was a new backdrop in Sydney.

The boxer in the picture is Jerry Quarry.  He was nicknamed "The Bellflower Bomber".  I believe he was from a city in California called Bellflower.  He was a quite a good pro boxer but could not beat the best of that Era, losing 2 times to Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier and once to Ken Norton.  He cut quite easily, which is not a good thing for a pro boxer.  Sadly he died at age 53 from boxing related dementia.  Boxing is a brutal sport.  Guys beating the hell out of each other for 12 or 16 rounds is just not good for what's inside one's cranium.

                                               

                                                                     Quarry vs, Ali

                                                    Jerry Quarry and his brother Mike

                                             "If the hands of time were hands that I could hold
                                               I'd keep them warm and in my hands,
                                               They'd not turn cold."

                                                     The Hands of Time (Brian's Song)

                                                             "Boxers"  by Morrissey

                                                  "Losing in front of your home crowd
                                                    You wish the ground
                                                    Would open up and take you down."

                                                   "The Boxer" by Simon and Garfunkel
                         
                                                 "In the clearing stands a boxer,
                                                   And a fighter by his trade
                                                   And he carries the reminders
                                                   Of every glove that laid him down
                                                   And cut him till he cried out
                                                   In his anger and his shame,
                                                   "I am leaving, I am leaving"
                                                   But the fighter still remains."

Our Moz is looking quite debonair in his appearance at the Sydney Opera House.  I am fascinated by the bauble on his necklace and my gosh that ring is quite prodigious!  The set list was fantastic as always, with some of my favorites...Ganglord...Will Never Marry...Mama.

I love the video for "Ganglord".  I especially like when Mozza is dancing with Jesse Tobias.  It always puts a little smile on my face.
                                               

Victim or Life's Adventurer?

Which of the two are you?

The Morrissey song "Neal Cassady Drops Dead"  has been on my mind.  And the above line in particular.  Neal Cassady was the epitome of life's adventurer.  I was thinking of how that question has applied to me.  Unfortunately, I have to say most of my life I have been victim.  I don't think I have ever been very adventurous.  I am cautious by nature and this caution has led me to lead a very structured life.  I do not like surprises.  I like things in order as I have planned them.  When things go awry, I am not a happy person.  I am obviously not very spontaneous.  I want my affairs and life to go as I have thought them out.  Its not to say I can't counter punch if something goes wrong.  I prefer things as I have prepared them in my mind.  I suppose this makes me the ultimate bore.  As always in life. it is not black and white.  There is grey in everything.  Adventurous, no way but yet I don't consider myself totally a victim.  I should have probably been a public transit scheduler.  That way I could put my orderliness to good use.  One of the reason's I love Morrissey's music is, it makes me think.  I should do that more often.  It does a brain good every once and awhile to contemplate things other than the mundane routine of every day life.  Thanks Mozza.

                                                                   Victim of Love

A Cloud Appears Above Your Head

A beam of light comes shining down on you.

To vote or not to vote, that is the question.  In the song "World Peace Is None of Your Business", Morrissey says "Each time you vote you support the process".  I understand the sentiment and in a vacuum, yes it's an admirable notion.  The problem in the USA is, If I don't vote, it is guaranteed the Republicans win.  The Democrats are not the bees knees but head and shoulders better for the common man.  The Republicans along with their wealthy and corporate masters would bring back the gilded age of Carnegie, Frick, Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, etc.  More wealth for the wealthy, 80 hour work week and crumbs for the rest of us.  The Republicans vote no matter what, so therefor I must vote.  Can you imagine a President McCain or Romney?  How many wars would we be in now?  Syria and Iran to name a few, along with how many hundred thousand U.S. Troops. Also, more tax cuts for those poor abused rich folks, who just are barely surviving.

The question I must ask myself is, who should I vote for in the Democratic Primary Election.  I am considering Bernie Sanders, who is a Senator from Vermont.  He is definitely more aligned with my way of thinking on Minimum Wage, Infrastructure, Tax Policy and Foreign Policy.  If Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee, I will vote for her.    She is a little too aligned with the wealthy and big business for my liking,  She also voted for the Iraq war resolution as a Senator.  I find that abhorrent.  Even a dope like me knew it was ridiculous to go to war with Iraq and what the results would be.  I also would prefer not to go back to the histrionics of The Clinton's.  Despite all these reservations, she is light years better than any Republican.  I also would like to see a woman become President, it would be historic.  So, yes I am hoping it will be Planet Hillary in 2016 and there's no doubt, I come from another planet baby.

Smile in Style

Finality

A good friend's Mom died yesterday.  She had been sick for a good while.  It was a forgone conclusion she was going to pass away, it was just a matter of when.  Sadly, she died the day before Mother's Day.  I hadn't seen her in quite awhile.  She was a very nice lady.  She was friendly, vivacious and an all around great person.  She had a few tough blows in life and you would never know it.  She was gracious and always met you with a smile.  Why do the good people leave this earth?  Death is something we all have in common of course and we can't avoid it.  Morrissey said it best in "Oboe Concerto". "All the best one's are dead".

I know I will die alone.  I also expect to find God laughing.  Its just a feeling I have.

As for my friend's Mom, she had a wonderful spirit.  She will soar to the heavens like an eagle.

.

Never Forget

For some reason the Kent State massacre has really been bothering me lately.  I wasn't even alive then but the thought of the National Guard murdering 4 unarmed students has me quite upset.
Today is the 45th anniversary of that infamous event.  I didn't see anything in the paper or on the news.  It seems like I am the only one who remembered?  This must never be forgotten.  If we forget history, past horrors are bound to happen again.

What is really troublesome is, why would heavily armed National Guard fire weapons at unarmed students?  Students were protesting against an immoral, unnecessary war that was causing the deaths of thousands of Americans and Vietnamese.  We had no business being there.  It is quite chilling, the thought of the power of our government.  Dwight Eisenhower said it best:  "Beware the Military - Industrial Complex."

At the end of the day, 4 innocent young lives were lost.  These 4 young folks would never get married, have kids or enjoy all the pleasures that life has to offer.  Needlessly cut down in the prime's of their lives, their families and friends can only grieve and treasure their memories.  When will we ever learn?  How many times must the cannon balls fly before they're forever banned?