Ken

The season officially started last weekend with our local annual "Strawberry Festival". I volunteered selling strawberries and ice cream for the local Knights Of Columbus (my Dad is the Grand Poobah, or whatever passes for the poobah. I think my folks just like the fact you can get beer for .50 a glass at the hall...). But there was one of those moments for me last weekend. One of those weird moments that crystallizes who you are, what you are and where you are. For me, it was watching my son Korey watching the fireworks lost in a daze. Knowing that the last day of school is coming in a couple of weeks and two months off is like 6 lanes of open highway with nothing to spoil the view. It was an odd moment for me knowing that life will never be that uncluttered, unencumbered or simple for me ever again but to see my son experiencing that brings satisfaction that that feeling still exists. And I capture that moment and hold it near. Just a kid. A bit grimy behind the ears, sticky from cotton-candy, and the only thing in mind is that you are about to ride the tilt-a-whirl. Hoppin' Jesus Christ as we used to say, I miss those days. Thanks for listening. Ken.

I got my open water scuba certification just last weekend! I swam straight into an airplane. I swam through a schoolbus! And for a vacation, I am going with my next-door-neighbor and some friends Here . Micronesia. If you check out the site I have included here, check out the slideshow that Judy Newton offers here. It will knock your eyes straight out of your head. Truk lagoon was where 'Operation Hailstorm' was played out on February 17th and 18th, 1944. It caught the Japanese totally unaware, and led to one of the most successful U.S. engagements of WWII.A US Task Force led by the giant battleship USS New Jersey (with nine carriers) launched air raids against Truk. During the battle, the Japanese lost 275 aircraft and 45 ships (over 220,000 tons) including 6 destroyers/cruisers, 5 sub-chasers, 5 tankers, and 26 merchantmen. In addition, 27 ships were damaged. In contrast, the US only lost 25 aircraft with 29 crew killed. A torpedo hit on the carrier USS Intrepid also killed 11 crew. From 14 March to 7 April 1944 B-24 Mitchell bombers repeatedly attacked Truk from Bougainville destroying 130 aircraft. On 29-30 April 1944 further attacks by aircraft from 12 carriers destroyed 123 aircraft and 3 ships. After a follow up attack in April, 1944, Truk was reduced to rubble with over 70 shipwrecks, 400 aircraft destroyed or sunk. What lies there now is nothing short of amazing. Soft coral adorns light fixtures. Sea life has claimed all of the shallower wreckage and colors run riot. God, I can hardly wait. Ken.

Cousteau. One of my childhood heros. Calypso John Denver To sail on a dream on a crystal clear ocean To ride on the crest of a wild raging storm To work in the service of life and the living In search of the answers to questions unknown To be part of the movement and part of the growing Part of beginning to understand Aye, Calypso, the places you?ve been to The things that you?ve shown us The stories you tell Aye, Calypso, I sing to your spirit The men who have served you So long and so well Like the dolphin who guides you You bring us beside you To light up the darkness and show us the way For though we are strangers in your silent world To live on the land we must learn from the sea To be true as the tide And free as the wind-swell Joyful and loving in letting it be Aye, Calypso, the places you?ve been to The things that you?ve shown us The stories you tell Aye, Calypso, I sing to your spirit The men who have served you So long and so well Aye, Calypso, the places you?ve been to The things that you?ve shown us The stories you tell Aye, Calypso, I sing to your spirit The men who have served you So long and so well

You never mentioned that the song had to be negative in nature, so I'll include this one as well. At least there is hope. The Youngbloods. Get Together Love is but the song we sing, And fear's the way we die You can make the mountains ring Or make the angels cry Know the dove is on the wing And you need not know why C'mon people now, Smile on your brother Ev'rybody get together Try and love one another right now Some will come and some will go We shall surely pass When the one that left us here Returns for us at last We are but a moments sunlight Fading in the grass C'mon people now, Smile on your brother Ev'rybody get together Try and love one another right now If you hear the song I sing, You must understand You hold the key to love and fear All in your trembling hand Just one key unlocks them both It's there at your command C'mon people now, Smile on your brother Ev'rybody get together Try and love one another right now Right now Right now!

This is one of my favorite reggae songs. They perform this on the video gem "Urgh - A Music War". I've been a fan of Steel Pulse for a long long time. I apologize if anyone is offended by the inclusion of the racial epithets included herein, they aren't mine. That's the way the song is written. Ku Klux Klan Steel Pulse Walking along just kicking stones M-Minding my own business I come, face to face, with my foe Disguised in violence, from head to toe. I holla and I bawl (Ku Klux Klan) Dem naw let me go now To let me go was not dem intention Dem seh, one ******* the less The better for the show Stand strong black skin and, take your blow It's the Ku, the Ku Klux Klan Here to stamp out blackman yeh The Ku, the Ku Klux Klan heh! To be taught a lesson not to walk alone I was waiting for the Good, Samaritan But waiting was hopeless It was all in vain The Ku Klux Klan - back again! I holla and I bawl (Ku Klux Klan) Dem naw let me go now Dem seh, one ******* the less The better the show Stand strong blackskin and, take your blow The Ku, Ku Klux Klan Rape, lynch, kill and maim Things can't remain the same yeh no! Blackman do unto the Klan As they would do to you In this case, hate thy neighbour Those cowards only kill who they fear That's why they hide behind The hoods and cloaks they wear I holla and I bawl, Ku Klux Klan Dem naw let me go no, Ku Klux Klan Oh no, oh no... Here to stamp out black man yeh Rape, lynch, kill and maim Things can't remain the same yeh No, no, no, no.....

*click* realization. This is too funny. For the last couple of weeks, I have been hearing this song being played (and hated it). But I thought she was saying "I ain't no hall effect girl". Now, due to the fact that I earn my living in the electrical field, "Hall Effect" is (cut and paste, please) If an electric current flows through a conductor in a magnetic field, the magnetic field exerts a transverse force on the moving charge carriers which tends to push them to one side of the conductor. This is most evident in a thin flat conductor as illustrated. A buildup of charge at the sides of the conductors will balance this magnetic influence, producing a measurable voltage between the two sides of the conductor. The presence of this measurable transverse voltage is called the Hall effect after E. H. Hall who discovered it in 1879. Note that the direction of the current I in the diagram is that of conventional current, so that the motion of electrons is in the opposite direction. That further confuses all the "right-hand rule" manipulations you have to go through to get the direction of the forces. Leaving me to think, "how in the hell can she be a 'hall effect' girl. Too funny. Ken.

Mike, that was cool, I had no idea. Thanks! Ken.

Not to me it isn't. I take it really serious.

(slowly turns ice cold soulless gaze to Sammy, left hand twitching, imperceptibly, a slight tilt of the head ...)

He's Back (The Man Behind The Mask) Alice Cooper. You're with your baby And you're parked alone On a summer night You're deep in love But you're deeper in the woods You think you're doin' alright Did you hear that voice Did you see that face Or was it just a dream This can't be real That only happens, babe On the movie screen Oh, but he's back He's the man behind the mask And he's out of control He's back The man behind the mask And he crawled out of his hole

Sink the Bismarck Johnny Horton Written by Tillman Franks and Johnny Horton <martial drum rolls> In May of nineteen forty-one the war had just begun The Germans had the biggest ship that had the biggest guns The Bismark was the fastest ship that ever sailed the seas On her deck were guns as big as steers and shells as big as trees Out of the cold and foggy night came the British ship the Hood And ev'ry British seaman, he knew and understood They had to sink the Bismark, the terror of the sea Stop those guns as big as steers and those shells as big as trees We'll find that German battleship that's makin' such a fuss We gotta sink the Bismark ;cause the world depends on us Hit the decks a-runnin' boys and spin those guns around When we find the Bismark we gotta cut her down The Hood found the Bismark and on that fatal day The Bismark started firin' fifteen miles away "We gotta sink the Bismark" was the battle sound But when the smoke had cleared away, the mighty Hood went down For six long days and weary nights they tried to find her trail Churchill told the people "Put ev'ry ship a-sail 'Cause somewhere on that ocean I know she's gotta be We gotta sink the Bismark to the bottom of the sea" We'll find that German battleship that's makin' such a fuss We gotta sink the Bismark ;cause the world depends on us Hit the decks a-runnin' boys and spin those guns around When we find the Bismark we gotta cut her down The fog was gone the seventh day and they saw the mornin' sun Ten hours away from homeland the Bismark made its run The admiral of the British fleet said "Turn those bows around We found that German battleship and we're gonna cut her down" The British guns were aimed and the shells were comin' fast The first shell hit the Bismark, they knew she couldn't last That mighty German battleship is just a memory "Sink the Bismark" was the battle cry that shook the seven seas We found that German battleship was makin' such a fuss We had to sink the Bismark 'cause the world depends on us We hit the deck a-runnin' and we spun those guns around Yeah, we found the mighty Bismark and then we cut her down We found that German battleship was makin' such a fuss We had to sink the Bismark 'cause the world depends on us We hit the deck a-runnin' and we spun those guns around We found the mighty Bismark and then we cut her down

I wrestled with posting this here and had come to the decision not to. Some of the reasons were personal, some were obvious. Over the last week or so, I have received a pile of personal messages to put it here and so here it is. I don't need a free cd, I just put it here for the shared experience. The following is a direct cut-and paste from the songfact here. Kenny. Not long ago, I was heading home from work. On the way home, I encountered a detour that would take me 20 minutes out of my way home. I was angry, as, the garbage had to be brought out, darkness was coming earlier these days, and the front lawn needed to be raked. Lost in my reverie about these tasks, I found myself at the stoplight at the intersection of of Riverside Drive, and Caron Avenue. I live in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The river the drive runs along is the Detroit River. It was there I heard the song, only this time, it was in my head. It was summer of 1985. My girlfriend and I had gone down to the local "Freedom Festival" (an annual festival celebrating the goodwill that exists between Canada and the U.S). We rode a couple of the rides, ate a couple of cotton candies, and blew a few bucks at the 'Pitch-'till-u-win' booth. We had been going out for a year, and were getting pretty serious in our relationship. I was thinking about ways of approaching the idea of marriage. Eventually, I asked her if she would be interested in looking at engagement rings at the downtown jewlery shops, and she said "Sure!" with a smile. We looked for the better part of the afternoon, and eventually found the one she liked. I plopped down a downpayment (pitifully small on what seemed like something I'd never be able to afford to pay off). What we did for the remainder of the day escapes me now, but it was the ride home after dropping her off that night I'll never forget. The ride home was usually a 20 minute hike down Riverside drive, which eventually turns into Highway 18, and a short turn to my house. That night, it was hot. Sticky, muggy hot. The smell of new summer in the air. And I was on top of the world. My girl said yes, she would marry me. I was at the intersection of Riverside and Caron waiting for the light. The Detroit skyline off to my right. In my Dad's car. A 1973 Plymouth Valiant, deep green, vinyl seats and an AM radio. The disc jockey said "AM 5-8-0, CKWW.... It's 2 AM". I have heard the song on an expensive home stereo, and I have heard the man sing it live (from the good seats, too). But it never sounded better to me than it did that night, coming through those cheap, tinny, factory speakers. those rich strummed chords, and that husky voice. "I was a little too tall, coulda used a few pounds, tight pants, points, hardly renouned..." I sang along with Bob, happier that night, than I ever had been. That the song was recorded not far from here, lends to the story. I got home late because of the detour, but in a different frame of mind. The leaves got raked, and the garbage still got out. Kel and I have been married for almost 16 years. 16 years, one child, a couple of different addresses, a few deaths and births, some decent vacations, 5 or 6 cars later, and I eventually paid off that engagement ring. And we are still together, me and her.. I came to learn that detours aren't always a bad thing.. As I write this, I see it is 12:30 AM. I am gonna go upstairs and see if Kel wants to practice some night moves. And that's a good thing. Like Seger says, indeed, ain't it funny how you remember..... Peace.

The detroit skyline, as seen from my hometown of Windsor. The 2-tone grey building is the Joe Louis Arena, the home to more concerts than I'll ever see. And the squat, round building in the centre (verticle black bars) is the venerated Cobo Hall. Bob Seger's "Live Bullet" was recorded here, as well as a large chunk of Kiss' "Alive" album. A great place to see a show. I remember J. Geils there in the early '80's. They nearly blew the roof off. Ken.

Here is what really happened. Ken.

Why bother with solos? The Ramones generally never did. And Johnny's concrete 4X4 guitar rescued rock, at least for a little while. Ken.

My parents were children of the 50's. I was surrounded by old country artists like Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Marty Robbins, Hank Williams Sr. But, they also liked Harry Belafonte, John Denver, Ray Charles Otis Redding, Cat Stevens and loved Elvis. The first record my Dad bought me was a Chuck Berry compilation. Berry's guitar 'did' something to me. I loved the sound of it. And I found an old Little Richard album of theirs and that screamy falsetto wail made my big toe shoot up in my shoe. Mom always loved Freddy Fender, and I find I like him more now than I did when I was a kid. Because they loved country so much, there was always a country FM station on, so artists like Charlie Pride, Charlie Rich, Tammy Wynette, Crystal Gayle, Dolly Parton, etc. were always on. In the mornings, it was CKWW AM 580. And if you were to use say, KaZaa and enter in AM Gold, all those artists were on. I live in Windsor Ontario which is only a couple of miles from Detroit so Motown was always playing somewhere. Then on October 31st, 1976, I saw Kiss on the Paul Lynde Halloween special and I haven't been right since. Ken.

Amen and amen.

"About being in love with you're biggest enemy." I Hate Myself For Loving You Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Midnight gettin' uptight Where are you You said you'd meet me now it's quarter to two I know I'm hangin' but I'm still wantin' you Hey Jack It's a fact they're talkin' in town I turn my back and you're messin' around I'm not really jealous don't like lookin' like a clown I think of you ev'ry night and day You took my heart then you took my pride away I hate myself for loving you Can't break free from the the things that you do I wanna walk but I run back to you that's why I hate myself for loving you Daylight spent the night without you But I've been dreamin' 'bout the lovin' you do I won't be as angry 'bout the hell you put me through Hey man betcha you can treat me right You just don?t know what you was missin? last night I wanna see you beggin, say forget it just for spite I hate myself for loving you Can't break free from the the things that you do I wanna walk but I run back to you, that's why I hate myself for loving you I hate myself for loving you Can't break free from the things that you do I wanna walk but I run back to you that's why I hate myself for loving you I think of you ev'ry night and day You took my heart then you took my pride away I hate myself for loving you Can't break free from the the things that you do I wanna walk but I run back to you that's why I hate myself for loving you I hate myself for loving you I hate myself for loving you Ken.

I can see someone saying Kiss is overrated. These days, they are. But... Back in the '70's, back when it all used to mean something, they were anything but. They wanted to create the show they always wanted to see. It was all about excess. MORE pyro. MORE amplification. More more more, bigger louder higher. Theatrics and the idea of putting on a show. I've been a hardcore fan for over 30 years. I am a reserved fan nowadays. Simmons is a tit. Perpetually bashing Ace and Peter. Y'know what Gene? You'd be nothing without them. As for all your self-hyping efforts? You are a bass guitar player in a rock band. Like Zappa said, shut up and play yer guitar. 'Nuff said. Ken.

I've always liked songs based in history. Tom Dooley is one of those songs. Tom Dooley is based on a true story. Laura Foster was murdered in 1866 in North Carolina. Local legend tells that both she and Annie Melton were in love with Tom, and further that Sheriff Grayson, the man who took him in custody and also drove the horses from beneath him when he was hanged, was jealous of Tom. Some believe that he either committed the murder or helped Ann Melton who is reputed to have murdered Laura Foster out of jealousy. Here is the song. Tom Dooley Kingston Trio. [intro:] Throughout history There've been many songs written about the eternal triangle This next one tells the story of a Mr Grayson, a beautiful woman And a condemned man named Tom Dooley... When the sun rises tomorrow, Tom Dooley... must hang... Hang down your head, Tom Dooley Hang down your head and cry Hang down your head, Tom Dooley Poor boy, you're bound to die I met her on the mountain There I took her life Met her on the mountain Stabbed her with my knife Hang down your head, Tom Dooley Hang down your head and cry Hang down your head, Tom Dooley Poor boy, you're bound to die This time tomorrow Reckon where I'll be Hadn't a-been for Grayson I'd a-been in Tennessee Hang down your head, Tom Dooley Hang down your head and cry Hang down your head, Tom Dooley Poor boy, you're bound to die Hang down your head, Tom Dooley Hang down your head and cry Hang down your head, Tom Dooley Poor boy, you're bound to die This time tomorrow Reckon where I'll be Down in some lonesome valley Hangin' from a white oak tree Hang down your head, Tom Dooley Hang down your head and cry Hang down your head, Tom Dooley Poor boy, you're bound to die Hang down your head, Tom Dooley Hang down your head and cry Hang down your head, Tom Dooley Poor boy, you're bound to die Poor boy, you're bound to die Poor boy you're bound to die Poor boy, you're bound to die...

Y'know.... those are all good, hell, great choices. "I Swear", "Maybe I'm Amazed", "I'll Stand By You" "From This Moment" et. al. But no-one, not a single soul will remember it. Because everyone uses those same songs. However...... If you used Alice Cooper's "I Love The Dead"? Your wedding will be remembered for generations. Imagine the look on your newly-minted in-law's faces... Ken.

2)About hiding you're true feelings behind a "mask" not showing people who you really are. Wow... I can't resist. The Tracks of My Tears Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. People say I'm the life of the party Because I tell a joke or two Although I might be laughing loud and hearty Deep inside I'm blue So take a good look at my face You'll see my smile looks out of place If you look closer, it's easy to trace The tracks of my tears.. I need you, need you Since you left me if you see me with another girl Seeming like I'm having fun Although she may be cute She's just a substitute Because you're the permanent one.. So take a good look at my face You'll see my smile looks out of place If you look closer, it's easy to trace The tracks of my tears.. I need you, need you Outside I'm masquerading Inside my hope is fading Just a clown oh yeah Since you put me down My smile is my make up I wear since my break up with you.. So take a good look at my face You'll see my smile looks out of place If you look closer, it's easy to trace The tracks of my tears Ken.

For me, it would be Elvis, performing Hank Williams Sr.'s "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", on his "Aloha From Hawaii" DVD. Presley gets to the lyric "Did you ever see, a robin weep, when leaves begin to die, that mean's he's lost his will, to live I'm so lonesome, I could cry". Immediately after singing this, Presley gives a small sad knowing grin and a visible shudder, then plows right back into the song. Showing us, the viewer a HUGE inside yet, split-second view into his life. "Yeah, you all love me, but this life is horrid. I am surrounded by 'friends' and I am as lonesome as hell and would trade places with any of you in an instant. Enjoy the show, there won't be many more." See the performance I am talking about and see if I am wrong. Ken.

This live spoken introduction has long been a favorite of mine. It must have been great to be in the audience that night. J. Geils Musta Got Lost (Spoken) Hold on this song has a little introduction to it It's ain?t supposed to be sad though you might feel it that way It's a song about desperation, Every now and then we do get desperate This is a song about L-O-V-E, and if you abuse it you're gonn' lose it and if you lose it you're gonn' 'buse and if you 'buse it you aint gonn' be able to choose it cuz you aint gonn' have it further on down the line things aint gonn' be so fine you're gonn' to be sitting there on your little.. machine tryin to look and keep it clean and You?re going to be home playing bingo all night all alone and that's why your sittin there by the telephone and you know that she ain't goin to call you! So you put on the TV and you're watchin Johnny Carson segwayin right into the Tomorrow show but that don't got the go so you turn it off ya turn on the radio, the radio don?t' seem to get the click so you say "Hey Man, I can't lickety split" You start to open up a little book and there's somethin there you got to overlook and you say "BABY, you know there's somethin on my mind! "You say "Baby there's somethin on my mind - I know that you're home and I know you aint all alone! " So you start walking over to her house and you get over to her house and you walk over to her door and you start poundin on her door and you say "Open up the door b*tch!? This is woofah goofah with the green teeth, 'n let me in!!" Well, she opens up the door and then you just kinda walk up to her and say "Baby", (say Baby!) you look up way up at her green mascara and you say "Oh my darling, you know her and me was at the party as friends - do not believe what they say that's only gossip that they tellin ya - a wise crack of lies!" You say Darling!!! Take your big curls and squeeze them down. Ratumba - What's the name of the chick with the long hair? (Rapunzel!) Hey Rapunzel! Heh heh... Hey Reputa.........Reputa LaButa! Hey Reputa LaButa, flip me down your hair and let me climb up to the ladder of your love!! Because this is the woofah goofah sayin to ya "Love comes once and when it comes you better grab it fast cuz sometimes the love you grab aint gonn' last and I believe I musta, You know I think I musta, You know baby I think I musta, You know I think I musta, I musta got lost! 1?2?3? Ken...