Laetiporus Sulphureus

This beauty was in the local grocery store parking lot.
Photo By Tickledrop ©

DEVO

The Grand Regency Ballroom
San Francisco, Ca
Friday, Nov 6, 2009
General Admission Floor



I am so happy I decided to go to this show. I could not make up my mind, even up to an hour before I had to leave to get to the show on time, if I should go or not. I wanted to and I knew that when I saw DEVO twenty-something years ago, the concert was one of the best I had ever seen.

The show was part of a special concert series that DEVO are currently playing in several cities across the US. They play two nights in a row in each city. The first night they play the Q. Are We Not Men? A. We are DEVO album in its entirety, and the second night they play the Freedom Of Choice album in its entirety. I wanted to see the Q.&A. album and went on Friday night.

The show was sold out when I arrived without a ticket. I quickly snatched one up and went inside. I was in a tightly packed hallway, where there were three doors to enter into the ballroom. I got lucky and enterd into the doorway near the stage. I was right in the front row but it was so crowed that I was a little overwhelmed. After a bit of conversation with some people around me, a really tall, big guy asks if I would like to be in front of him, which really meant closer to the center as we were already up front. Unfortunately, there was a big speaker right at the front of the stage, between me and the drummer Josh. I could barely see him.

DEVO played fantastic! I would close my eyes for a moment and they're playing was so close to the album. They must have practiced a lot to sound this good. Mark's guitar techie-gear was cool to see too. He's such a nerd! They played about half the album then began ripping off their yellow suits and tossing them out into the crowd. The audience went nuts!



They rocked the rest of the show in their industrial work shorts and the audience loved it! There were a lot of people in the house that might have seen them back in the day as well, but I think there were a far share that probably were not even born yet!

After the show the band had a Meet and Greet with audience members that paid a higher ticket price. I was not aware of that and was just sort of wandering around looking for a friend, when I saw Bob1 walking towards me. He walked up and started talking to me and we chatted for about ten minutes until some big, ugly bouncer dude came over and asked me for my "red dot" which of course I didn't have, so I had to say 'goodnight Bob.' HA But before I left, he was kind and signed the yellow shirt I scored and gave me a big hug!



The end of a fantastic night!

Report This

Photo By Tickledrop

I noticed this really cool shirt being sported by one of our city's local news coverage photographers at the Picnic Day Parade this year. What a nice shirt!

Steam Locomotive 844

Photo By Tickledrop

This dinosaur of a train, hailed as Union Pacific's "Living Legend," rolled through my town! I have had a fascination with trains since my youth when, for whatever reason, we always lived near train tracks. UP844 was the last steam locomotive built for Union Pacific in 1944. It was saved from being scrapped in 1960 and reserved for special services. Read more....

LONE TWIN

This has been entertaining.

Each day Gregg Whelan and Gary Winters set out from the E Street Plaza on their compact Brompton folding bikes for a five-to six-hour ride in and around Davis, collecting stories from the folks they encounter along the way. Each evening, they return to the plaza for a 5:30 performance that mixes the theatrics of a town crier with the more conversational tone of public radio storytelling. They are Lone Twin, a British duo brought to Davis by the Mondavi Center to perform "To the Century: 30 Days in the Life of Davis," in honor of the UC Davis centennial and this town's love of cycling.

Lone Twin started their ride Friday with a spin of the bottle — a water bottle that is. Said Winters: "We go by the fate of the bottle." On a large homemade map laid out on the ground, Winters spins his blue water bottle and whichever direction the bottle points, is the direction they take. Friday's spin sent them on a southeasterly route. The spin for Saturday morning would have them heading due east. They will fill in their map as they go, repeating routes if the spin of the bottle dictates. "It's a way of kind of building a map," Winters said. Their first public performance on Friday evening drew a crowd of about 30 to 40 people, some just passersby stopping to see what all the fuss was about.

The show began when Whelan and Winters zipped up on their bikes. Accompanied by music piping out from a portable speaker, the two related stories of their ride. "We were on the road today," Whelan said, "and we came up to a junction. We were trying to figure out who had the right-of-way, when a car pulls up next to Gary. We see a woman inside, and she rolls down her window and says, 'You look great!'" "We took that as a positive sign," he said. About five hours later, on their way back into town, said Whelan, they were passed by a car with four young men inside. Another friendly encounter? Not so much. "They yell, 'Share the road you clowns!'" Whelan said. "Which we also took as a positive sign," Winters said. "On Montgomery, we saw a couple in their mid-40s packing a car," Winters said. "So we stopped to talk, and they said they were going to get in their car, point it north and just see where they end up. They're going to drive for four weeks." On Second Street, he said, the duo passed by some road construction. "We saw a man digging a hole. He said he was digging for money. I'm not sure if he really was."

Once their performance was finished for the evening, they exhorted the crowd to return again and again and hopped back on their bikes, pedaling off toward F Street with Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again" blaring from their speaker.

The duo will be in the plaza every evening at 5:30 p.m. and welcome fellow riders who happen to catch them on the road on Wednesdays and Sundays. Read more....

We need to turn up the heat

Tomorrow, AIG's executives are appearing before a House Subcommittee, and we've got a chance to give them a piece of our minds.

Sign a petition and submit a question for the heads of AIG? Or better yet, an idea for how we should get our money back? If you do before 5 p.m. ET today, we'll make sure it gets to the committee in time for tomorrow's hearing. Click below to add your name and submit your comment.

http://pol.moveon.org/aigbonus/?id=15751-15235950-Jjs1KOx&t=3

After you sign, please forward this to friends and family to make sure the outcry is impossible to ignore. The petition says:

"UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD THE AIG EXECUTIVES WHO HELPED CREATE THE FINANCIAL CRISIS RECEIVE BONUSES. THAT'S OUR MONEY AND YOU SHOULD DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET IT BACK."

LEVI WINS!

LEIPHEIMER WINS 2009 TOUR

Levi Leipheimer (AST) wins the Amgen Tour of California for third straight year.

Lance Armstrong Bicycle

This is the specially designed bicycle made for Lance to ride in the Amgen Tour of California. I saw him ride it on February 14th in Sacramento for the Timed Trials. That night it was stolen from the team's bike trailer that was parked at their hotel. The bicycle has been recovered, but not before a new, specialy made to replace it had arrived on the scene. Lance says the only difference in the two are the words "Lance - Ride this one like YOU stole it."



The race continues today with Stage 6 Timed Trails heading out of Solvang. Good luck to all the riders!

Go Levi!

NEIGHBORS FROM HELL

A very unfortunate turn of events.

I understand now the difference of good neighbors, you know, those that come over and get to know you and become good friends over the years, and the not at all good neighbors, those that move in and become the new bullies kids on the block.

My neighbors, I'll call them C&C for now, moved in last spring. The day they moved in and while the moving truck was still in their driveway, the lady C came over not to ask, but to tell me to turn my music down. What the ?? What she didn't know was that the security screen door she knocked on but could not see through was hiding behind it a really cute and friendly, but not so friendly to strangers, female boxer. So she doesn't like the music and she gets the fuck scared out her by the dog. We are off to a good start. NOT.

Okay, I have no problem admitting that I love to listen to loud music. I do. It's something I love. And on that day I was playing Frank Zappa a little loud, but by no means loud enough to merit a complaint. It was about midday and I was shocked that she was at the door telling me to "just turn it down." Okay, I'm listening to Joe's Garage and she's telling me something right off the album. Hilarious. I couldn't believe it and could barely respond because I was really in shock, but I managed to blurt out four words, "Um, okay, but no." Well that was just the beginning of the harassment. I have since had the police called on me three times for noise complaints. Of course, all three times were during the day and I was found NOT in violation of our city's noise ordinance.

The weirdness doesn't stop there. Right after they moved in, and yes, after the whole thing about the music went down on move-in day, I gave them a plant and a baked goodie. As soon as I handed them to lady C, she as quickly as she could without dropping them, gave them to her husband and said as she walked away "I'm not a plant person." Yikes. How big is the stick up her ass?

Then this started happening and I thought I was tripping. They started controlling the parking spaces in front of the houses. Where there is plenty of room for three to park, they park in a way that only two cars will fit. At first I thought I was tripping on them too much, but no, I haven't drank too much koolaid. We live on a busy street and have driveway/garage parking along with street parking. No problems in the eight plus years I've lived here.

A couple days ago I leave the parking space in front of my house on the street to go to the store for ten minutes. I get back and the crazy ass went out and moved his tank back a couple feet so I could not park there. I was mad and wanted to know where they were coming from by doing that. I went over and knocked on their door. Of course, like the only other time I did that, they did not open the door. I went home and huffed and puffed to the family and settled into cooking and dinner. Well who was to visit me during that dinner? The fucking police. AGAIN! It turns out that they felt threatened by me when I knocked at the door. Give me a fucking break! I was again in shock. Okay. This guy is over six feet tall and I'm a small lady - 5.5 not much over 100. Are they kidding? Well the police sure didn't think so. I spoke with them while my young son stayed inside, yes, that's right, my young son. See, they are such cowards that they would rather send the police to speak to me than to speak to me themselves. What is that? I usually open the door when people knock on it and find out what they want, not call the police to say I'm being threatened. I mean really. Just speak to me if you have a problem with me. That's all.

I took the advice of the police department and called the mediation services offered by the city. The problem with that is it takes two parties to mediate and of course, they decline the offer. Fuckers. I did do a little research though and found out that the guy (mr control freak) is an over-educated shithead. A leading world expert in his field. Oh boy. I don't care who he is or what he has done. He's an asshole. And their house address is listed as the California headquarters the company that he is employed with. I think it's time to contact the company.

I know. You are wondering if there was anything I did to provoke this sort of behavior. I'm telling you, all I've done is be the same person I've always been. I have done nothing directly to them. In fact, it wasn't long after they moved in that the police first came. Believe me, after that I was done. I've never had that sort of thing happen. Never. All of my neighbors and I get along great. Until now. I hope they move, the sooner the better.

Apollo Sunshine

That's this little guy! My newest purring friend!
He loves to climb the peach tree!








And hideout in the bamboo!

Summer Friends

Fun in the Front Yard





Photos by Tickledrop September 9, 2008

Music City USA

My friend Block and I outside The Belcourt Theater in Nashville. We were there to see an amazing band -- King Crimson.

Goodbye Utah

Utah Phillips who was an anarchist, hobo, railroader, folksinger, community activist, tramp, husband, father, amazing storyteller and honorable man, passed away while asleep Friday night in his home in Nevada City, California. As a regular listener of his radio show Loafer's Glory: The Hobo Jungle of the Mind, I found his storytelling fascinating. His stories are those needing to be told about the hard work and efforts of the Industrial Workers of the World (Wobblies) from today and long ago. A hero dedicated to honor all workers, both men and women. He will not be forgotten.

****************************

THE TWO BUMS

(AUTHOR UNKNOWN, FIRST PRINTED IN GEORGE MILBURN'S THE HOBO'S HORNBOOK, NEW YORK, 1930)

The bum on the rod is hunted down

As the enemy of mankind;

The other is driven around to his club

And feted, wined and dined.

And they who curse the bum on the rods

As the essence of all that is bad

Will greet the other with a winning smile

And extend him the hand so glad.

The bum on the rods is a social flea

Who gets an occasional bite;

The bum on the plush is a social leech,

Blood-sucking day and night.

The bum on the rods is a load so light

That his weight we scarcely feel,

But it takes the labor of dozens of men

To furnish the other meal.

As long as you sanction the bum on the plush,

The other will always be there,

But rid yourself of the bum on the plush

And the other will disappear.

Then make an intelligent, organized kick,

Get rid of the weights that crush;

Don't worry about the bum on the rods,

Get rid of the bum on the plush!

Whole Earth Festival

It's time once again for the Whole Earth Festival, a community driven festival of education, music, and art that happens every Mother's Day weekend in the quad grove on the UC Davis campus.



One of the many ways that the small, college town begins preparing!

Berkeley Mayor Takes a Stand for Patients and Caregivers

From Becky DeKeuster, Berkeley Patients Group


Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates this week joined Oakland’s Ron Dellums and San Francisco’s Gavin Newsom in urging Representative John Conyers, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, to hold Congressional oversight hearings into attempts by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to undermine state and local medical marijuana laws. Bates’ letter references a unanimous City Council resolution on January 29, 2008 declaring Berkeley “a sanctuary for medical marijuana patients, providers, and landlords,” and mentions that other cities have taken similar steps.


The letter calls Berkeley’s three medical marijuana dispensaries “regulated, tax-paying members of our community,” and says they “maintain clean, safe properties and play an active role in Berkeley’s civic life.” It then cites the DEA’s “aggressive tactics” and Berkeley’s “strong opposition” to federal interference as reasons for swift hearings.


Since 2007, more than 50 dispensaries have been raided by federal agents and their assets forfeited—including, in many cases, sales tax collections due to the state. In July 2007, landlords renting to dispensaries began receiving letters from the DEA, threatening them with forfeiture and imprisonment. Many have chosen to evict, although no federal action has been taken against a landlord since the letters went out.


In addition to Dellums, Newsom, and Bates, Mayor John Duran of West Hollywood and Mayor Ryan Coonerty of Santa Cruz have also sent letters urging Conyers to set a date for Congressional hearings. Read about the Mayor's statement and letter in the Daily Californian

Life's A Beach....

Super High Me

Comedian Doug Benson Offers Medical Marijuana Supporters a Free DVD of his New Film Super High Me For 4/20

A longtime NORML supporter, Doug is offering other supporters the opportunity to host their own screenings for his new comedic documentary Super High Me. A parody of the well-known documentary Super Size Me, Super High Me is an experiment of the effects of medical cannabis on the human body.

As part of his journey, Doug smokes, eats and vaporizes medical marijuana for thirty consecutive days in order to get "Super High." But there is a catch–first Doug must go thirty days without any marijuana and undertake a number of tests, completing the same tests while medicated and while sober, in an effort to find out what marijuana does and how it really affects people.

The filmmakers are employing a revolutionary ‘open access’ marketing scheme to promote the film, and as such are pleased to offer free DVDs of the film others in order for them to have the opportunity to screen the film this April 20th.

Interested parties should direct their web browser to the film’s website at www.superhighmemovie.com and register to host a screening or find an existing screening in your community.

All We Need Is Love

My Springtime Starts Now

Fred has awakened but is very groggy. When he's not still sleeping, he's warming his shell in the sun. Fred is a twenty year old Mojave Desert Tortoise (gopherus agassizii). He is a rescued tortoise and is protected by the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973. He was first adopted in 1989 by my mother. He was still a hatchling less than a year old. I adopted him after her death in 2000. My mother was native american and had some pretty far out beliefs about Fred's spirituality. I'm kind of sceptic because I don't know much about that sort of stuff.

Deep Sleep

I haven't seen my friend Fred since the end of September. He will sleep until early spring. Must be nice.