doogie44 Posted February 26 Posted February 26 Ah yes... after 1959 for me there was 'Sea Hunt'...and 'Adventures In Paradise'... 'Superman' serials...'The Silent Service' (submarines at war )and the mighty SHINTARO ('THE SAMURAI') series in the early 1960s! Plus Tarzan with Johnny Weissmuller in full colour at the local cinema. Does it get any better? Where has all the fun gone? Stayed up late once as a lad to see the AMPOL logo in a special ad reproduced in 3 leaked-out colours. Good stuff. On a trip to Europe in 1967 we spotted an actual colour TV in the Amsterdam hotel lobby--and were mesmerised for 20 minutes! I liked the subsequent colour test pattern as well, but you're right--the old B&W one had much more cultural significance. I always associate it with seeing my old Dad snoring in front of it, white noise blaring, surrounded by dead cigarette butts, after a very long working day. Now I understand him so much better. 1
BLAH BLAH Posted March 12 Author Posted March 12 (edited) Walking through our kitchen with a spring in my step, to be truthful, at my age it's a little spring. A very modest little spring. Not enough to suit a car wheel suspension, or even clothe it, not even enough for a trampoline demo, but still pretty bouncy all the same. Every one of my little bounces is discretely watched by an ever vigilant Sasha, laying prone in the middle of the kitchen floor. Sash's nervousness at the close in-coming Blah bounces is revealed by the urgency of his swishing long tail. I mock him with...nice cleaning job you're doing with your sweeping tail Sash! Sasha, for all intents and purposes, ignores me and my smart comments, Sasha is the original kool for cats... Too close and too bouncy only encourages the slow menacing appearance of Sasha's black agate eyes...the mysterious black holes of the Universe from which no light of friendship, apologies can escape. The mysterious Bermuda Triangle, from which no amount of appeasement can possibly enter and return unscathed. Those black eyes are a warning...a line drawn...abandon all hope all yea who enter here...trespass no further...black is black, be warned! Coward that I am I bounce around prone Sasha and perform an awkward hop-step and scotch jump around his fast moving tail. What's all that noise? Yells SWMBO from the Office... I stood on a damn Lego block... I yell back. Very funny, we don't have any Lego blocks around here... Yes we do, they are in the shape of an upright kitty litter round...ow... Well clean it all up then and any blood as well... Okay... I can never enter the kitchen without looking in its direction... It sits in a little saucer of water up on the window sill... My eyes are drawn to it...like Sasha's half lidded eyes and claws to my careless feet... It...what is it?! Not a Stephen King title full of menace. What is it?! George said or rather sung it best... I got my mind set on you! I got my mind set on you! I got my mind set on you! It's gonna take time, A whole lot of precious time. It's gonna take patience and time, To do it, to do it, to do it, to do it, to do it, To do it right!... It...is the last stub of celery, the whitish brown end, left over from cooking duties in our kitchen. Instead of throwing it out holus bolus into the green plastic bag and wheely-bin of organic waste oblivion, It now sits in a small container of water. Awaiting regeneration. Awaiting?!? There is no waiting here, this stub in the space of a week, has gone from nowt to sprout! Every morning has seen a tiny incremental growth in its new leaf and stem. I daren't turn my back upon It in case it does a mad growth bolt, that I as a proud parent, am not witness too... ala "Baby Groot" Tiny baby arms have appeared, bright green leafy fingers of colour have burst from its center. I am fascinated with the bright green colour thrusting upwards and outwards from its pale white surrounds, the contrast is amazing. Imagine a frying pristine white egg with a bright green yolk...it's a wonder!...and I wonder about you... I scrutinize and watch, this wonder, for visible signs of life more closely than Doctor Frankenstein...instead of bolts of lightening... I nurture it with a change of fresh water every morning. I want to scream out, it's alive! Alive!!! Shout out, to one and all, I have created life! But modesty prevails, and Sasha's possible non-favourable reaction subdues me from performing a victory dance around the kitchen. Green stems releasing bright green serrated leaf upwards to the ceiling like green stars expertly chucked from green cloaked Ninja's. Various bright green colours of skyrocket trails in flight. Assorted green pea-cocky up right feathers. Various multicoloured out standing quills. Various shades of green leaded colour pencils and paper straws. I have created life! And the proof will be in the eating... I frown darkly with that thought in mind...Sasha's tail stops swishing... Edited March 12 by BLAH BLAH
BLAH BLAH Posted March 15 Author Posted March 15 (edited) And it's a long way there, It's a long way to where I'm going, a long way, It's a long way to where I'm going...it started for Blah in 2006 with this morbid? fascination with Zombies. First came WWZ An Oral History of a Zombie Apocalypse in 2006 which he found fascinating reading. Then enjoyed the Movie starring Brad Pitt which is based on this book. I rate this movie in my top ten of all time. Yes dear reader I know that that is a big call, a very big call, but it is up there... World War Z's opening apocalyptic scenes, with Pitt and Family stuck in traffic being attacked by the Z hordes, is epic! Who'd a thunk that having your car's side mirror destroyed in traffic would ever lead to such mayhem...talk about a crazy Final Destination! And I'm still waiting for the on and off WWZ sequel! Then TV got itself into the Zombie act with The Walking Dead, year after year...from 2010 to 2022, eleven seasons and 177 eps... I think I walked through 150 eps of them before I finally lost interest. Then came the spin-offs all 6 series so far...which I had a nibble of before finally also losing interest. But wait there's still more...way back in 1994 the Irish band The Cranberries released a smash hit called Zombie...Blah loved it, loved the passionate singing by their lead singer Dolores O'Riordan and lyrics...In your head, in your head, Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie, What's in your head, in your head? Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie-ie, oh... Blah was shocked that such a powerful protest song would be released on mainstream ra-dee-oh...but there it was in all its glory! Blah thinks that the song-line...what's in your head Zombie?...is still appropriate in today's political climate. Buying both Jack Daniels and an expensive Tesla...what's in your head Zombie?...when there are so many more interesting alternatives. Then came the sixties with the English pop band The Zombies! With three killer diller releases...She's not there, Tell her no and Time of the Season. One of them makes my all time hippy dippy top tracks but which one?! She's not there would rock it in if it had Carlos Santana's lead guitar from his cover version of the song. But since Carlos is absent it get's no cee-gar! Blunstone's vocal is sublime though, one expects no less from a once choir boy. Chris White's Bass work is top notch here. Reckon both McCartney and Antipostwhistle from the Who took close note! Rod Argent on electric piano is a prog standout...Yes! The lyrics are as sharp as the suits this all boy band wear, singing is full of angst about of all things, for an all boy band, love lost! Next is, Tell her No! Dare I say it a song for all the wimps and losers in love! Man it was the swinging 60's if one could not crack onto a sheila back then...wellll...you never could. All the same Blunstone's vocals here are sublime... don't hurt me now for her love belongs to me... expressed so bitter sweet... we have all been there before. And then finally the brilliant Time of the Season...omph ahhh! Blunstone's vocals plus the hypnotic breathy backbeats of the ah ha's...backed by that tasteful repetitive drumming...simple and effective! And with a killer diller lyric line...once heard, never forgotten... what's your name, who's your daddy... Hard to imagine somebody named after rugged work boots could sing so divinely! It's so easy to pick TOTS...it sounds so fresh and modern...feel it would not be out of place if released today like Buffalo Springfield's For What its worth! I haven't listen to any Colin Blunstone solo work...but it is hard to imagine songs better than these three... And as for Time of The Season... could easily have that one on repeat, softly, in the background! Edited March 17 by BLAH BLAH 1
BLAH BLAH Posted March 28 Author Posted March 28 https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/mar/28/john-lennon-paul-mccartney-beatles-wordsworth-taylor-coleridge
BLAH BLAH Posted March 29 Author Posted March 29 (edited) Old Blah Blah has a favourite Men's Hairdresser's shop that he goes to for regular haircuts. Yup the old fella still has a reasonable head/crop of hair left and on occasion it needs to be trimmed. Like the old back/front yards, bush blocks it needs to be cleaned up with the reg-you-larrr maintenance. From young Blah's hirsute earlier days...with a pony tail that reached down back to his bum cleavage. When that long pony tail was combed out over the top of his head and face he resembled Cousin Itt's older brother from the Addams family. Thick shiny hazel coloured hair...Gimme a head with hair, Long, beautiful hair, Shining, gleaming, streaming, flaxen waxen, Gimme down to there, hair, Shoulder-length or longer, Here, baby, there, mama, Everywhere, daddy, daddy...Oh those were the days my friend, we thought would never end... Which brings us to today...old Blah's abandoned lot of tuft growth with plenty of grey, with the odd thicket protruding from both ear and nose. But not the eyebrows...oh no...not the e.y.e.b.r.o.w.s...their still prominent and youthful! Just a slight digression here...I remember the Men's Hairdresser's of my youth. Down in Spotswood, yup a little shopping strip like Spotty had their own Hairdressers. A two seater, the one for the Men's was one of those magnificent old fashion leather and chrome beauties that leaned right back to allow shaving with soapy brush and razor. Always an enthralling watch for young waiting eyes...with apologies to The Hollies... Just one slip, That's all it took, yeah Just one slip, That's all it took, yeah Just one slip And I felt so, excited! The other chair, ordinary leather, with the additional small wooden footstool, for all the crying kiddies. Two old fellas, with white short coats tied with long white strips behind their backs, doing the hair cutting with old fashion scissors. You know the one's...with the large comma on the end of the thumb silver circle. Doing a non stop furious castanet performance with their blurring fingers amidst a showering of hair. But for young Blah it was the glass counter with the large cash register that held the greatest interest...while waiting for his change...ker-ching!!!...he would awaken from deeply inhaling aromas of the California Poppy jars and tubes. So old Blah with his shaggy crew cut proceeds to drive down to the next suburb to his Hairdressers on a thursday morning. As he approaches, by foot, he can see through the front window that the seats are empty! Oh joy, oh bliss, how good is this, I won't have long to wait!... I enter...but wait, summit is a miss...cue the Outer Limits/Twilight Zone Theme music (not played together though, choice is yours dear reader!) I have entered another dimension. There are no customers and their is standing a waiting young male hairdresser! Long story short. For eighteen years I have been driving here. Three ladies have been operating this hairdressers for yoinks! (Yes I had to put up with there combined nonsense about how good Geelong and Hawthorn AFL sides were, a small price to pay for a cheap good haircut.) Walls were plastered with garbage Geelong and Hawthorn posters...but I suffered that affrontery, being a Richmond Supporter...all those long years cos of the haircut!!! And, okay, the interesting conversations about veggie gardening. I was aghast, shocked I tell you, why wasn't I told of this change beforehand?! Why wasn't I forewarned...oh be still my shocked beating heart...my nerves, oh my jangling nerves. I breath shallow, blink slowly, I am lost in a sea of accusatory thoughts and accusations. I wonder if I'l be able to drive back home?! I might end up in the wrong suburb! So it was a nice haircut, and the young fella was a Richmond supporter to boot as well! But I left in a daze. It's not right having change forced on one... Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes (Turn and face the strange) Ch-ch-changes Pretty soon now you're gonna get older Time may change me But I can't trace time, Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes... I am lost... How will I cope with death in the Family?! Or the loss of a limb?!? Having to sell up "my stuff"?! Lose my memories?! Living amongst faces I do not recognise... What's left?!? ...This is the end, beautiful friend This is the end, my only friend, the end Hurts to set you free But you'll never follow me The end of laughter and soft cries The end of nights we tried to die...This is the end... Edited March 29 by BLAH BLAH
doogie44 Posted March 29 Posted March 29 (FROM YOUR GUARDIAN QUOTED ARTICLE ABOUT JOHN & PAUL)...their relationship was a romance: intoxicating, tender and bittersweet. Passionate male friendships like this are rare, but not unique, and a remarkable number of them have changed the world, transforming our ideas about music, art, poetry and human nature. John and Paul were, without knowing it, part of an extraordinary lineage. After impressing John with his guitar-playing and his ability to remember all the words to a song, Paul accepted John’s invitation to join the Quarry Men. The pair began sharing the front of the stage; this was no longer just John’s group. They were fascinated by each other. Paul admired John’s coruscating wit and teddy boy swagger. John admired Paul’s musical abilities and pop star good looks. They made each other laugh more than anyone else they knew. Excellent article--and so true. I recall reading that John's sister said (or was quoted in a book as saying) that "John never looked at anyone the way he would look at Paul". The looks of understanding and affection that you can see occcasionally even in press conferences and interviews and such are beautiful moments. So many people think they know about--and possibly prefer--John or Paul as individuals--and to a degree this can be correct. But I would be willing to surmise that they influenced each other so deeply that they became a kind of hybrid creative creature and musician! It takes a lot of willingness to show and share your deepest feelings in song and present those for the necessary editing and collaboration. By doing this they would have the kind of mutual knowing and acceptance that is so very rare in any relationship. I have been utterly fortunate to have a similar male friendship in my life and it passes all logical understanding and descriptions of love or friendship. It's very devotional and intuitive. Transcends time, space and age completely. How lucky are we music lovers that the boys from Liverpool found each other? Makes you believe in destiny and fate... Keep up the good work, Blah Blah. 1
doogie44 Posted April 3 Posted April 3 On 29/03/2025 at 1:04 PM, BLAH BLAH said: I am lost... How will I cope with death in the Family?! Or the loss of a limb?!? Having to sell up "my stuff"?! Lose my memories?! Living amongst faces I do not recognise... What's left?!? Steady, Blah, steady... 'Do you want to know a secret?' Whole civilizations have arisen and disappeared without more than a trace remaining. There was a time when we 'weren't here'--and that time will come again. You are still here--enjoying the greatest gift of life and consciousness (and your 300B tube-based system and records) and your recollections in the autumn of your life. The Buddhists have wrestled with these concepts before you and I were born. [One example of one faith only, no intention here to proselytise. I will leave non-duality and orthodox religions for another time] Some say the answer is not in the mind. "It is not impermanence that makes us suffer, what makes us suffer is wanting things to be permanent when they are not." At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, where they have a town named Nagaraka. Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: “Sir, good friends, companions, and associates are half the spiritual life.” “Not so, Ānanda! Not so, Ānanda! Good friends, companions, and associates are the whole of the spiritual life. A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path. “And how does a mendicant with good friends develop and cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path? It’s when a mendicant develops right view, which relies on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripens as letting go. They develop right thought … right speech … right action … right livelihood … right effort … right mindfulness … right immersion, which relies on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripens as letting go. That’s how a mendicant with good friends develops and cultivates the Noble Eightfold Path. “And here’s another way to understand how good friends are the whole of the spiritual life. For, by relying on me as a good friend, sentient beings who are liable to rebirth, old age, and death, to sorrow, crying, pain, sadness, and distress are freed from all these things. This is another way to understand how good friends are the whole of the spiritual life.” [https://suttafriends.org/sutta/sn45-2/] This is what should be done By one who is skilled in goodness, And who knows the path of peace: Let them be able and upright, Straightforward and gentle in speech, Humble and not conceited, Contented and easily satisfied, Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways. Peaceful and calm and wise and skillful, Not proud or demanding in nature. Let them not do the slightest thing That the wise would later reprove. Wishing: In gladness and in safety, May all beings be at ease. Whatever living beings there may be; Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none, The great or the mighty, medium, short or small, The seen and the unseen, Those living near and far away, Those born and to-be-born — May all beings be at ease! Let none deceive another, Or despise any being in any state. Let none through anger or ill-will Wish harm upon another. Even as a mother protects with her life Her child, her only child, So with a boundless heart Should one cherish all living beings; Radiating kindness over the entire world: Spreading upwards to the skies, And downwards to the depths; Outwards and unbounded, Freed from hatred and ill-will. Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down Free from drowsiness, One should sustain this recollection. This is said to be the sublime abiding. By not holding to fixed views, The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision, Being freed from all sense desires, Is not born again into this world. [Karaniya Metta Sutta: The Buddha's Words on Loving-Kindness translated from the Pali by The Amaravati Sangha © 2004] May all beings be at ease! Letting go... all fixed views! That has a ring about it don't you think? May I conclude with a reassurance? Here's what I think Buddha REALLY taught: Get up and make a nice breakfast. Take a warm shower. Put on your favourite clothes. Drive—carefully and courteously. Smile at people. Get some work done. Give someone a hand. Cry when you feel really bad. Take a walk. Talk with your kids. Have a nice dinner. Look at the birds. Listen to the rain. Snuggle with someone special. Be thankful for your pillow. Sleep well. Get up and make a nice breakfast. (Adjust to fit details of YOUR life!) Oh-oh, time to talk with the kids, See ya! [The Truth by George Boeree] Just my 2c worth--from a fan. 1
BLAH BLAH Posted April 5 Author Posted April 5 (edited) ...Listen, Do you want to know a secret, Do you promise not to tell, whoa oh, oh, Closer, Let me whisper in your ear, Say the words you long to hear... The older we get, the closer to death. And before death, comes the final ignominity of all, the return to a childlike state. It's a strange symmetry, whether we like it or not, its our final lot. Born a helpless baby, and despite the accumulating years, die as a helpless baby. This inevitable state of infantile helplessness must be important for our development as a species seeing as we experience it twice before passing. To experience helplessness can be scary, freaky. But it also brings forth love in the form of family. We learn to trust in love, its power. To grow with love. Love is at birth, love is expressed at Funerals. What else is there? Childlike we are born, hopefully loved and drawn into the warm bosom of family. Childlike we approach death. Picture a Linus, from Peanuts, with his security blanket sucking his thumb striding slowly into the passing sunset. That security blanket, his cuddly, that he has held on to for years. A security blanket held together with wonderful threads of various possessions. The colours and glitter of tightly weaved and held status symbols, professions, doctorates, careers, works of art, beautiful cars, homes, stereos gets heavier and heavier to carry and drag along as Linus ages. Till Linus weakens and becomes frail...he's lost his teeth and he's eating mush once again. He's now wearing nappies, faces and surroundings become scary, nothing makes sense. His security blanket won't help or even be of much use. The once desirable blanket will be unrecognisable, it falls slowly from frail fingers to the floor. Only love will finally make sense. Trusting in the power of love from friends and family to let go. Letting go, the fears, amongst the tears and love. Tears that wash him clean like rain, in preparation. Tearful rain that carves new streams, gouges out new rivers, creates mighty oceans...that washes away the possessions, the flesh, the bones, the power of water on rock...until all that is material is gone. But wait what is that rising ember, that floating spark, that firefly flying, dancing erratically into the air once more seeking union, love, with the source once again. As a great spokesperson from the sixties once said...And In the End, the Love We Take Is Equal To the Love We Make. Take these broken wings and learn to fly... Edited April 5 by BLAH BLAH 1 1 1
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