Butch Paugh

Butch Paugh is the controversial minister who declares that the DMV taking his picture is the beginning of the mark of the beast- the Biblical reference to 666 being stamped on everybody at the end of days.

Dude-

You are not going to be governor. So, forget that right now. While I believe in the basics of the Good Book and feel that society has indeed gone to hell, I do see the point of those who scream separation of church and state, and those who toss about the term Theocracy. You know as well as me the interpretation of scriptures is a tricky thing, often leading to suspicion and downright hatred of other denominations. Isn't that lovely? That's one of my favorite about self-proclaimed "Godly people." Fundamentally, they are really not decent people at all, but snivy little toads who use God as a way of elevating themselves and condemning others.

Besides, isn't that a bit too worldly? You know, "be not of this world", etc etc. By the way, your web page makes me cringe a little with the yard sale style, graphically challenged, clunky ads for DVDs and other things you are hawking for profit. Bad taste and certainly lacking a spiritual ambiance, yes? Get a web designer, dude. It looks awful.

Mike Krause's argument against Real ID is reasonable and is fair warning, but it has nothing to do with Revelations, the mark of any beast (sexy or not), or the guy with the horns on his head. The state or federal government is the real beast because of the intrusion of privacy, diminishing civil liberties and the one constant true to all governments: their ability to f*k up your life with one small clerical error. The potential and actual evil of these organizations is well known to us all.

Had you challenged this on a purely legal level, I would raised my fist in solidarity. But no, it turned into showboating.

But the horse is already out of the barn. If you are in the system, you are already f**ked. Besides, whining about a DMV picture and then splashing yourself all over the papers and even YouTube seems a bit hypocritical. It's typical and solid entertainment that always comes with fellows like you who wave the Bible in one hand and pick people's pockets with the other; all the while working towards the real goal: power. Oh baby, ain't it seductive? Power seduces all who seek it. Oh yeah.

Evidently, others find your mighty armor to have chinks. (Scroll down to read about the Shortwave Wars)

What's this stuff about the Confederate flag? Seriously, is this another the South's Gonna Do It Again? What? A return to an agrarian society, women as second class citizens and the entire subjugation of a race?

The South was right? About what?

Mixing the Old South with religion seems a bit suspicious. Didn't like the results of the Civil War? Time to move on.

I love the gun stuff. Why do all you gun people always sound like you find nothing more pleasurable on earth than the thought of shooting someone? Jesus said, "Blessed are the pistol packers." Right? Nothing about love, tolerance, patience. Nah. Shoot first, let God sort 'em out.

From the site - a lovely "poem." Warms your heart, yes?

In short, this was all a publicity stunt. And it worked. Congrats. I am happy for you.

I just don't believe any of it.

not quite sure

Note: some of these are better appreciated by clicking on the thumbnail and making them larger.

Unintentional

Sometimes our best intentions are not to have any intentions at all.

It is to bring spontaneity,

play

and chance

into our work.

Images from Snowshoe in February

Various risings of the Guitar Craft experience. At the RF diary. With San Cugat GC session underway, thoughts arise.

Though I can't fully commit to being a Crafty, that is to totally immerse myself into something that has no support in the area where I live, offers admirable challenges and techniques, but "guitar only" groups have limited appeal to me at this point I am my own person both as a person and a musician, there were things that rubbed me the wrong way. I still would like to take another beginner's course.

I have to admit the power of this experience still lingers some five months later. People still ask me about this and words fail. "Intense" is a reasonable clawing at the means of description.

Punk is Never Having to Say You're Sorry

Crash the party.
Pass out.
Stumble.
Fall.
Lay there as people have to walk over you.
Urinate in the corner.
All in all, a punk remaining true to his creed.

(Thanks to A.P. for photos!)

An Ordinary Day

Crossing the street to the bakery, the woman was slowly walking, talking on a cell phone and carrying a white plastic bag. Nothing really out of the ordinary. Don't even know why I noticed her at all.

With baked goods secured, I headed back over to work.

"Did you see that woman?" came an excited yell.

"What woman?"

"The woman that's lying on the street." She gestured to the corner. Turning right around and hurrying to the corner, I saw exactly that. A young woman sprawled out, flat on her back. Because in this part of town one can see people in all states of inebriation, this is nothing out of the ordinary.

I ran over. My co-worker joined me. "Mam? Mam? Are you alright?" Nothing. Clearly, this woman was in deep trouble. Gray, ashen, lips a bit purple. She had "let go."

"Call 911!"

We kneeled over her, talking to her, repeating the same words.

Miraculously, an off duty EMT stops and began to access the situation.

He said little, but his somber expression said quite a lot.

Then the flashing lights, uniforms quickly exiting with equipment-the people who are going to fix everything. People we see as heroes and even angels of mercy.

Wires are attached. The body jerks to the electric kiss of life.

My companion- "See? She's movin." I look at him and whisper.

Two people talk to us. Disbelief. "He was just talking to her."The woman pointed to her tall companion who stood motionless and silent. Moments ago, they had agree to pick her up.

I couldn't watch anymore. We are all helpless, afraid. We babble, as if words can help.

I squeezed my car between the vehicles and headed home. A simple act I was very grateful for. Stunned, still reeling from the truth that this woman only moments ago was alive. She who began just an ordinary day; who had plans with friends for the evening. All that changed. Gone.

In the silent ride home, I said a prayer for her and wept.

Donne's words were not solace, but truth:

any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind;

and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;

it tolls for thee."

Untitled

You're Not Listening

"People see me all the time
and they just can't remember how to act." -Dylan

True story from a colleague.

They had a slight technical glitch and a program failed to air. After music saved them from silence, the error was quickly corrected, an on air apology was given, and said program aired. A mere thirteen minutes separated scheduled and actual broadcast time.

Phone call.

Listener wants to know why program did not air.

Less-than-perfect announcer: Program did air, but was late due to technical problem.

Listener responds with silence. Was not happy with answer.
Other gems:


Or how a listener badgered for twenty minutes an announcer for a copy of a program which they neither possessed nor, if they did possess, could not make a copy for them because of copyright laws. Radio stations pay to air programs. That does not include distribution to listeners.

Finally, after being told no repeatedly in every way possible, the person finally asked,

"Aren't you a professional?"

More:

When asked why film music was played, less-than-perfect announcer stated film music was just as serious a form as any other.

Seriously-trying-to-impress listener responds in both German and French that film music is "neither fish nor fowl." To that, "What about Prokofiev? He wrote film music."

Angry: "But he was a serious composer!!!"

"So, a composer is serious only in terms of the medium they write for? Besides, it's still orchestral music."

"But, film music is to support the film. It's not complete."

"Then why do we listen to the opera on the radio? Or in recordings?"

Listener was not happy and hung up.

What Game?

Went to my first Appalachian Power baseball game last week, but I couldn't tell you a single thing about the game.




When my buddy "Struggles" invited me to join him and friends in the box that his company uses at Appalachian Power Park, I said yes immediately. I have had invites to other games; usually ones that would have involved sitting in the baking sun, frying like an egg. But a company box? Count me in.



Struggles, the nickname is another story, is a master host with mad social skills. He can have everybody, regardless of age, rolling all night long. He keeps the mood fun and light. He is like the mythological Trickster. He can break all the rules, say almost anything, but does it in such a way that people find it charming. Truly enviable.



Feeling like I was above the fray (the beer helped a bit on that) I watched the endless stream of people pass below. This is a huge social event-a Regatta like party. To hell with bars, all you single people out there. This is the place. A ballpark becomes an open air singles bar. And singles there were in droves. Yikes!



Women were dressed to kill, some even wore dresses with high heels. High heels at a baseball game? Oh honey, work it.



The game ended. Don't ask me the score. I was too busy people watching. I ran into a friend and we talked about work, Captain Beefheart and ancient Sumerian myths, while watching the parade below like it was TV.


If this be local baseball, then ok. I get it.


One real critique: the hot dogs were so blah and $. Others agree.

T Lev-ity

Tony Levin, recognized as one of the best bassists/musicians in the world, put up some amusing thoughts about recent King Crimson rehearsals.

May 24, Nashville

There's no experience quite like rehearsing with Crimson.

We're working on the classic material, not trying to write more yet - but some of it is so complex it's quite an effort to get it right.For me, a couple of the pieces from the recent albums I hadn't played on are proving very challenging indeed.

I even wrote to Trey Gunn (he'd played the bass parts) asking for some clues to the parts! I joked with Trey that to figure out the part I needed an abacus and a bottle of Advil.

As an example, here are some of my names for sections of the piece:

Trey's 28 Ramble - then 29, followed by Rising 15's.

C tone row in 5, triple offset with guitars, then backward.

E Boogalooga with Silent Seven followed by Variable 11's with door knocks in G.

And, from Level 5 there's the Blazing 11's RiffSplat on E, then inverted after two drum 11's.

As I said, there's nothing quite like rehearsing with Crimson!

(Note to self: learn to play parallel 7/8 and 5/8.)

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

Couple of thoughts:

If TL is having trouble, then the music is monstrous.

Fripp likes to demonstrate that he can tap out 5 and 7 simultaneously whilst holding a conversation; a little trick which he files under "division of attention." At the February seminar, Fripp made the hapless guitar students "thrack," meaning meters of 5 against 7. It really is a cool effect, but quite disconcerting the first couple of times through.

Well...the first 100 times through.

Mixed Messages

File under mixed messages:

*Listeners say the dernest things.

This listener began with how "blown away" she was about a recent show. "I thought I was picking up a program from New York." Excitedly, she asked about specific artists. Great and easy conversation.

Then, in the usual way the universe tends to treat me to keep me humble, regarding the non traditional Latino music featured, she said, "I'm not sure I even like it." She couldn't see me smiling on the other end.

I get that a lot.

Oh, You Dick

Cheney: " so I had Cheneys on both sides of the family, and we don’t even live in West Virginia, but…(laughs)…you can say those thing when you’re not running for reelection."

Oh Dickey Dick, you made a funny. Wow. That really hurt coming from a man who himself looks like the product of insect incest, shoots his friend on a hunting trip, and has been part of one of the most destructive and embarrassing administrations in history. Good going, man. Everything people thought about you, you have just proven them right.

Great way to end your term in office. Which we helped elect you to. Thanks. We appreciate it.

You just handed the election to the Dems.