The Conversation

                                Interspecies Communication

Turnip Sandwich

Turnip Sandwich,
made by amateur turnip sandwich maker.

Kissed by Allen Ginsberg-Autobiography of a Hippy, Sort Of-Thanks for sparking this memory Alida

60's Vignettes

It seemed normal to me--spending the evening standing around in a small circle of guys at the Santa Cruz Zen Center.... Back then..........

Thanks to a good friend's daughter's Google + post, (thanks Alida), remembering that night has been obsessing me for the last few days, because those guys were Charles Bukowski, Allen Ginsberg, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti.  

I've been looking for a copy of the Berkeley Barb (Nov-1974) that had this party on it's cover....No luck yet (UPDATE:  Found it, here it is Berkeley Barb, Dec, 1974)--but these were easy to find:

 Allen Ginsberg

 Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Tim Leary at the GG Park Be-in (I was there too!)

 Charles Bukowski

Bob Dylan, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Allen Ginsberg, and Micheal McClure

It was the party after the Santa Cruz Poetry Festival, 1974.  I spent some hours standing around and talking vigorously with those guys--in the background, Ramblin' Jack Elliot was playing the guitar. I'm sure there were more famous people there, but I just remember having a great conversation for the evening with those very few standing together in the middle of this party. Bukowski mumbled maybe incoherently  Ginsberg was bright and engaging... I didn't really know whether they were they were cultural icons or not--I just lived in Santa Cruz working at KUSP. 

All the while there was a really drunk guy who kept harassing Charles by hovering around behind him and trying to pants him.  It didn't seem to phase Bukowski...He just kept going.  (see Berkeley Barb story--this is confirmed!)

I wish I remembered the conversation, I just see vividly this full room, with the marble floor, and a very energetic discussion.  Apparently I had something to say, I remember being listened to.  This group stood around together for quite awhile, but it was a time when a lot of specific's have faded. But it awakened me to some great writing, like Bukowski's "The 

Shoelace, copyright Charles Bukowski, 1972"...

".....no, it’s the continuing series of small tragedies

that send a man to the madhouse

…

not the death of his love

but a shoelace that snaps

with no time left …"

I do remember that he explained it to us that night, mumbling, 

with the nutty guy pulling his pants down, it's the shoelace that 

breaks on the way to airport....the big stuff we expect, its those 

little things "that drive us mad"  

Trying to remember the exact date, I found this on the Bukowski pages, "April 24, 1971 ("ass drag from giving shitty poetry readings -- read from my stuff at S.C." - maybe Santa Cruz?)"  


I think this one was for USC....but on the same Bukowski pages, there is a time line that nails the Santa Cruz Festival on November 25, 1974, at the Coconut Grove.  

This festival was a big deal to the big poets...founded by  James Dalessandro, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti, again from Wikipedia:

"From 1973-77, he (Dalessandro) was co-founder of The Santa Cruz Poetry Festival, with Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and served as its director for four years. As the nation's largest annual literary festival, it brought Charles Bukowski, William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Ken Kesey, Michael McClure, Gary Snyder, and musicians like Anthony Braxton and Charles Lloyd to the seaside town ofSanta Cruz, which set attendance records (over 2,000 people per night) at the Civic Auditorium. It ushered in what Lawrence Ferlinghetti called "A new birth of American Poetry."

So somehow, along with Ryan Brandenburg, and Kobun Chino we had the after party for this 1974 one.  I was big into the birth of KUSP, helped a little in the early days of the Zen Center, and did the news...So there I was.  

And only because I'm writing this, did I learn that this group included the man who amongst all the great art, also created the term 'Flower Power' in 1965...

From Wikipedia; "Flower Power originated in Berkeley, California as a symbolic action of protest against the Vietnam War. In his November 1965 essay titled How to Make a March/Spectacle, Ginsberg advocated that protesters should be provided with "masses of flowers" to hand out to policemen, press, politicians and spectators.^[8] The use of props like flowers, toys, flags, candy and music were meant to turn anti-war rallies into a form of street theater thereby reducing the fear, anger and threat that is inherent within protests.^[9] In particular, Ginsberg wanted to counter the "specter" of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang who supported the war, equated war protesters with communists and had threatened to violently disrupt planned anti-war demonstrations at theUniversity of California, Berkeley.^[10][11][12] Using Ginsberg's methods, the protest received positive attention and the use of "flower power" became an integral symbol in the counter-culture movement.^[13]"


I wonder how those great artists would have dealt with writing today....as I sit here and reminisce about that day, and write this down, I have access to the just about everything there is (except the Berkeley Barb Cover!!), I can put links to the history and archives, find pictures of the people, and most of my spelling errors are fixed.  I can imagine I would have to have intense motivation to find all this material if I was writing this in 1975.


And it's so easy to pull this together, like this:
an amazing link to the madness inflicted on  60-70's Black Panther's

  Another great link to this time:  Voices from the Underground 
Copyright 2013 George Martin/Martin Labs International

Trip Plans--Deadwood, here I come!  first layout:  Highway 90 and more north

College Ave. 1973--check out the two billboards
Photo-G. Martin

DON'T FORGET 1968:  Jeff's faceplate post of this link to the Black Panthers was a deep dark wake up of old memories....here's the link Serious Black Panther Protests  The Black Panthers scared the crap out of the 'establishment'. Scared them so badly that J. Edgar killed them all in their sleep.  

And the Irony compared to today...You see this fanatic NRA dominating the national gun agenda, even though only 1% of the country are members of this group.  But they are media buffoons, trying to keep people scared that they need guns to protect their households.  They are like Glen Beck, just make up anything that sells.

But in 1968, Black Panthers were being killed, in their houses, in front of their families.  Fred Hampton RaidWhere was the NRA then.  Yeah, the Panthers scared whitey, they were packing their M1 rifles in downtown oakland and standing guard to protect themselves for good reason.  So why didn't the NRA come out and endorse them exercising their rights?  We could debate what those rights are, but, despite the NRA's fanatic media double-speak of today, the Panthers were right on--they needed self-defense, but no one took up their cause from the gun lobby then...what's up with that?

No one should every forget 1968--Martin Luther King was assassinated, Bobby Kennedy was assassinated, the Tet offensive kicked our ass in Vietnam like we never knew it could be kicked.

After Bobby Kennedy was killed, Nixon won the election, and since the Kennedy would have won, and would have ended the war in Vietnam, Nixon made all kinds of noise about ending it.  His opponent, Hubert Humphrey who took Kennedy's place, did not come out and say he would end the war until 3 weeks before the election.

Nixon kept the war going another 7 years.  12 million dead Asians, 58,000 dead americans.  Bell Helicopter, and the rest of the military industry, $billions and $billions.

No, no one should forget 1968, and if you don't know about it, you should study it.  There should be a college degree on 1968.

College Ave.  1973--Read the two billboards

Photo, G. Martin

So, 5 years later, I was living in Oakland, right off College Avenue by the Dryers Ice Cream Factory, (where their tasting room is now on Chabot road), and things had really mellowed out.  Bobby Seale came knocking on my door one day.  Out of jail, and running for mayor.  I became a vigorous supporter.  He had decided to try another approach for the Panther agenda, of supporting and protecting black people and the rest of us too.

The title picture on this is a photograph of College Ave right before my street, it kind of summed up the spirit of 1973.

Next door were my buddy's.  Russel Little, and Robin, Willie Wolfe. They used to practice marshall arts in the backyard.  I lived in a second story flat.  I knew them pretty well, they were cool.  Russel and I used to drive together to Laney College.

Well, later, he was convicted of killing Oakland school superintendent Marcus Foster at his car, with several other members of the Symbionese Liberation Army at his side.  He maintains today he didn't do it, and finished his sentence years ago.

But all those people next door will killed in by the LA SWAT team in May 17, 1974 in Inglewood.  I was working that Friday afternoon at the L.A. Re-nonsense Faire (AKA Renaissance Faire).  All my Oakland neighbors chose to die that day in


And where was the NRA in 1968?  What if all these things didn't happen, Martin Luther King was around, Bobby Kennedy was president, we didn't kill almost all the Black Panthers?  Well, like I said, 1968 is a college major waiting!

Have things improved?  Well, yes, it's way better that there is national outrage about pepper spraying college kids in 2011, while it was a loud silence about the deadly harassment the Black Panthers endured in the 60's

this is a test...don't erase my blog!

thanks

Political Discourse in the 60's

It's amazing that in the crazy and violent 60's, one of our most psychotic presidents still publicly paid some serious respect to people who opposed him. In other words, this public discourse was almost civilized, even though actual policies of the time were barbaric...So, what's better, trying to explain why there is disagreement, or just character assassination of everyone by everyone that we see today? Go figure, it's all subterfuge of one type or another, but look who finally one in the issue discussed here. I like the civility and what finally ended our abomination in Vietnam was when everyone was on the streets.


Nixon Televised address


I guess I'm waxing nostalgic about the days when journalism was an honorable profession, Rush Limbaugh insanity wasn't commercially viable.  It was at least a time when there could be a reasonable discourse, as opposed to the purely Orwellian double speak that is the coin of the realm today!

The New Generation Gap

Hey, Your Parents (we old farts) grew up with this stuff


I would bet that none of you under forty have a clue what any of this stuff is.  Please comment with your scores, or if this makes no sense at all!

questions. Average score is 12.   

This one will be difficult for the younger set... (DUDE!)

Please let us know your score in the comments, if you dare

Good luck, youngsters:

1. What builds strong bodies 12 ways?
A  Flintstones vitamins
B. The Buttmaster
C. Spaghetti
D. Wonder Bread
E. Orange Juice
F. Milk
G. Cod Liver Oil


2. Before he was  Muhammed Ali, he was...
A. Sugar Ray Robinson.
B. Roy  Orbison..
C. Gene Autry.
D. Rudolph Valentino.
E. Fabian.
F. Mickey Mantle.
G. Cassius Clay.


3. Pogo, the comic strip  character said,                     'We have met the enemy and....
A. It's you.
B. He is us.
C. It's the Grinch.
D. He wasn't home.
E. He's  really me and you.
F. We quit.
G. He  surrendered.


4. Good night, David.
A. Good night, Chet.
B.  Sleep well.
C.  Good night, Irene.
D. Good night, Gracie.
E. See you later, alligator.
F. Until tomorrow.
G. Good night, Steve..


5. You'll wonder where the yellow went...
A. When you use Tide
B. When  you lose your crayons.
C. When you clean your tub.
D. If you paint the room blue.
E. If you buy a soft water tank.
F. When you use Lady Clairol.
G. When you brush your teeth with Pepsodent.


6. Before he was the Skipper's Little Buddy, Bob Denver

 was Dobie's friend...
A. Stuart Whitman.
B. Randolph Scott.
C. Steve Reeves.
D. Maynard G. Krebs.
E. Corky B. Dork.
F. Dave the Whale.
G. Zippy Zoo.


7. Liar, Liar...
A. You're a liar.
B. Your nose is growing.
C. Pants on fire.
D. Join the choir
E. Jump up higher.
F. On the wire.
G. I'm telling Mom.


8. Meanwhile, back in Metropolis, Superman fights a never ending battle for truth, justice and...
A. Wheaties.
B. Lois Lane .
C. TV  ratings.
D. World peace.
E. Red tights.
F. The American Way .
G. News headlines.


9. Hey Kids! What time is it?
A. It's time  for Yogi Bear.
B. It's time to do your  homework.
C. It's Howdy Doody Time.
D. It's time for Romper Room.
E. It's time for Captain Kangaroo.
F. The Mighty Mouse  Hour.
G. Time for bed.


10. Lions, tigers and bears...!
A  Yikes.
B. Oh, no.
C. Gee whiz.
D. I'm scared.
E. Oh my.
F. Help! Help!
G. Let's run.


11. Bob Dylan advised us never to trust anyone...
A  Over 40.
B. Wearing a uniform.
C. Carrying a briefcase.
D. Over 30.
E. You don't know.
F. Who says, "Trust me".
G. Who eats tofu.


12. NFL quarterback who appeared in a television commercial  wearing women's stockings...
A Troy Aikman.
B. Kenny Stabler.
C. Joe Namath.
D. Roger Staubach.
E. Joe Montana.
F. Steve Young.
G. John Elway.


13. Brylcream...
A.  Smear it on.
B. You'll smell great.
C. Tame that cowlick.
D. Grease ball heaven.
E. It's a dream.
F. We're your team.
G. A little dab'll do ya.

14. I found my thrill...
A. In blueberry muffins.
B.  With my man, Bill.
C. Down at the mill.
D. Over the window-sill.
E. With rosemary, thyme and dill.
F. Too late to enjoy.
G. On Blueberry Hill.


15. Before Robin Williams, Peter Pan was played by...
A  Clark Gable.
B. Mary  Martin.
C. Doris Day.
D. Errol Flynn.
E. Sally  Fields.
F. Jim Carrey.
G. Jay Leno.


16. Name the Beatles...
A. John, Steve, George, Ringo
B. John, Paul, George, Roscoe
C  John, Paul, Stacey, Ringo
D. Jay, Paul, George, Ringo
E. Lewis, Peter, George, Ringo
F. Jason, Betty,  Skipper, Hazel
G. John, Paul, George, Ringo


17. I wonder, wonder, who...
A. Who ate the leftovers?
B. Who did the laundry?
C. Was it you?
D  Who wrote the Book of love?
E. Who am I?
F. Passed the test?
G. Knocked on the door?


18. I'm strong to the finish...
A. Cause I eats my broccoli.
B. Cause I eats me spinach.
C. Cause I lift weights.
D. Cause I'm the hero.
E. And don't you for get it.
F. Cause Olive Oyl loves me.
G. To outlast Bruto.


19. When it's least expected, you're elected, you're the star  today...
A. Smile, you're on Candid Camera.
B.  Smile, you're on Star Search.
C. Smile, you won the lottery.
D.  Smile, We're watching you.
E. Smile, the world sees you.
F.  Smile, you're a hit.
G. Smile, you're on TV.


20. What do M & M's do?
A. Make your tummy happy.!
B. Melt in your mouth, not in your pocket.
C. Make  you fat.
D. Melt your heart.
E. Make you popular.
F. Melt in your mouth, not in your hand.
G. Come in colors.












Below  are the right answers:

1. D - Wonder  Bread.
2. G -  Cassius Clay.
3. B - He Is us.
4. A - Good night, Chet.
5. G - When you brush your teeth with Pepsodent.
6. D - Maynard G. Krebs.
7. C - Pants on fire.
8. F - The American Way .
9. C - It's  Howdy  Doody Time.
10. E - Oh my!
11. D - Over 30.
12. C - Joe  Namath.
13. G - A little dab'll do ya.
14. G - On Blueberry Hill.
15. B - Mary Martin.
16. G - John, Paul, George, Ringo.
17. D - Who wrote the Book of Love.
18. B - Cause I eats me spinach.
19. A - Smile,   you're   on  Candid   Camera
20. F - Melt in your mouth not in your  hand

Never Take Crap from Out of State Corporations that are trying to baffle you with Bull Shit!

On a whim, after reading their web page, I subscribed to MLB-TV...it said it would do everything i wanted, but turned out to do nothing, since every Giant's game is blacked out in the Bay Area...So I called all their customer service numbers and went up the chain and they all basically told me to eat crap.  So, I wrote them this letter:

I hereby demand a refund of my premium MLB-TV subscription fee pursuant to California Civil Code section 1723, which states that refund policies must be displayed as follows:

“ The policy must be displayed either at each entrance to the store, at each cash register and sales counter, on tags attached to each item, or on the company's order forms, if any. A return policy printed only on a receipt, for example, is not sufficient.

If a store violates this law (California Civil Code section 1723), the purchaser can return an item for a full refund within 30 days of purchase.”

MLB-TV clearly violates this California law, as this 5 day refund policy you have claimed is not clearly displayed on the front of your website.  And therefore, your stated reasons for refusing my refund are totally illegal in this state.

In addition, you falsely claim in bold print that:

MLB-TV works with Apple TV’s—not true

MLB-TV works with IPHONEs---not true, unless you buy the application in addition to what is claimed on your web page

Watch Every Game live with your broadcasters-Not true, every game is blacked out

I requested this refund on April 13^th, 2011, and this was refused.  I subscribed on March 31, and have not used the service since that day, since it provides no benefit to me in any of the ways described on your web page.

I am and will take any and all legal steps to get this money back.  In addition, I am notifying the local media consumer advocates to make this travesty well known.

If you wish to avoid this heap of trouble and media embarrassment that I am very capable of causing, refund my fee now.

Sincerely,

George M. Martin

c/c:

Attorney General’s Office

California Department of Justice

Attn: Public Inquiry Unit

P.O. Box 944255

Sacramento, CA 94244-2550

Then, the next day, this is the response I got:

Dear Valued Subscriber:
Your request for a refund in connection with your 2011 MLB.TV Premium Yearly Subscription subscription has been approved and a credit in the amount of 119.99 will appear on the statement of the credit card to which you were being billed.
Please allow your credit card company 5 to 7 business days to process the refund. If your credit does not appear after 7 business days or should you have question about your account please contact Customer Support toll-free at 1-866-800-1275.
We thank you for your patronage.

Sincerely,
MLB.com

 Yeah!  Victory for the people!  P.s.  MLB is a NY corporation, they don't know what they are messing with in California!

COMMENT HERE & share for the World Record! (We have already gone beyond the 50,000 needed - let's get 100,000!!) (8)

COMMENT HERE & share for the World Record! (We have already gone beyond the 50,000 needed - let's get 100,000!!) (8)

Let's start a movement...no driving, no power 1 time per month.  sign up here!

 From Our Friend Emma--Her Uncle Pete has ALS.  Here is what she wrote:

 

Hello,

I'm not good at asking for help (let alone donations), but this is for a man who truly inspires me because he is fighting everyday to live. How many of us take that for granted everyday? This is for my Uncle Pete. It is a fun outdoor event and a great way to contribute a little bit to a man who means a whole lot to me and my family. This run might not be for everyone, but if you would like to learn a little bit about him and/or help in a non-athletic way please visit my uncle's website at www.petehinojosa.org.  Thanks for taking just a moment to read this, I really appreciate it. Please feel free to pass this along, invite your friends!

With Love,
Emma Hinojosa



Hi,

As many of you know, our friend Pete Hinojosa was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) two years ago. Although he has lost the use of his muscles, he can communicate with his eyes and still continues to strive to enjoy life to the fullest. Pete requires full-time care so we are raising money to help his family cover these costs.

How can you help? It's easy. Sign up now for the Great Race and and you can help raise money for Pete's care. The Los Gatos Rotary Club will donate $5 for each person we sign up. Pete can't run, but you could "run for Pete!" 

The Great Race is a casual 4 mile run that begins in downtown Saratoga and ends in downtown Los Gatos. It is being held on Sunday, April 17 at 9 am. In order to register follow these simple instructions below. Just remember in the box that asks "Are you running for Pete?" say yes! This is how the Rotary Club will track our registrants. 

1. Go to http://www.active.com/running/saratoga-ca/great-race-2011

2. Click Register Now button on the right.

3. Register for the Great Race.

4. After you enter your address, there will be a series of questions. The last one asks if "You're running for Pete?" Enter Yes. 

5. When you're finished with that page, you can click the Continue button, enter your payment information and you're registered! And the Rotary Club will donate $5 of this fee to Pete.

And if you'd rather fill out an actual registration form (paper) please let me know and I will mail one to you. It will be color coded so the Rotary Club knows to donate $5 to Pete.

Even if you can't make it to the Great Race, you could make a donation to Pete by visiting his web site at www.petehinojosa.org.

Thanks for your thoughts, prayers, and continued support!

If you have any questions, please let me know. 

Lisa Elliott

-------------

Pete Hinojosa, August 2009

Dear Sister

Sarah Clary Martin, M.D. left this world gracefully at her home in Napa, October 24, 2010, surrounded by her loving family.

 

Sarah Clary Martin was born to George and Pat Martin in Los Angeles, California, February 15, 1943. She lived most of her childhood in the old family house at 629 S. Grand Avenue in Pasadena. She attended Arroyo Seco Elementary School.

 

 

Sarah graduated from UCLA in 1967. She graduated at the top of her class from the UCLA School of Medicine in 1971, where she delivered the keynote address. She completed residencies at Harbor General Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Orange County, California. To the benefit of countless children, she chose to specialize in Pediatrics.

 

Together with her beloved partner Kurt Stutzman (who preceded her in death), she gave birth to their dear daughter, Katherine Patricia Martin-Stutzman in 1985.

 

Dr. Martin had a long and interesting career as a physician. Before starting her own successful practice in Anchorage, Alaska, she worked in the Neonatology department at Oakland Children’s Hospital, and then took a position in the heart of Appalachia. In 1989, she moved to Napa, where she continued her career with Kaiser Permanente until her retirement in 2005. As a young woman, Sarah learned Spanish while living in Mexico. This allowed her to really connect with and serve the wide diversity of patients whom she cared for with expertise and love. Families would frequently run up to her with hugs, smiles, and updates when she was out in the community. Highlights from her Kaiser years involved the development of reading programs, childhood obesity awareness and prevention, and conducting workshops for Kaiser physicians on improving communication skills.

 

During her 34 years in Medicine, Dr. Martin was greatly inspired and moved to social action as she witnessed the difficulties of low-income families who often had to choose between buying medicine and food.

 

After she retired, she found a second calling as a facilitator for the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium, a part of the Pachamama Alliance.

Sarah was committed to “Bringing forth an Environmentally Sustainable, Spiritually Fulfilling, and Socially Just Human Presence on this Planet.”

She traveled all over the US, Canada, and Mexico to share her passion for this work with hundreds of people.

 

Sarah was a lover of life. Her favorite place to be was outdoors; hiking, or walking with her standard poodle, Ghandi. Her knowledge of birds and flowers was endless! She had a serious interest in photography and, always adventurous, was taking a digital imaging class at Napa Valley College. She loved to play music and sing in her beautiful, clear soprano voice.

 

Sarah Clary Martin, M.D. will be greatly missed by her daughter, Katie, her brothers and their wives; Bill and Susan Martin, George and Kerry Martin, her nieces and nephews, along with a huge web of wonderful friends.

 

All are invited to a Celebration of Sarah’s life, Saturday, November 27 at 131 Valley Club Circle in Napa from 1-4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to The Pachamama Alliance, Jungle Mamas program or wherever you feel it will do the most good.