A Star is Extinguished.

It is with great sadness that I read about the passing of Daryl Pediford. Now most of you are scrathing your head saying, who the hell is Daryl Pediford? He is/was one of the many talents in the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is a project by Paul O'Neill, Bob Kinkel, and the Savatage-madman Jon Oliva. They've released two Christmas-themed albums along with another about the final days of Beethoven. They've just released a third Christmas album this year. I would describe it, loosely, as hard rock Christmas music. The musicians playing on the albums are pretty much the members of Savatage. Chris Caffrey, Al Pitrelli, Johnny Middleton, and Jeff Plate. If you haven't seen them live you've missed a great, moving show!

Daryl Pediford was one of the many vocalists used on those albums. He also toured with them during the Holidays. He was part of the East Coast band. To cover as much of the country as they could they had two touring bands. Anyway, I digress. Mr. Pediford has a great voice. That's a very trite way of putting it. Soulful and a little gritty. To really experience his talent you needed to see him live. But since that is no longer possible you need to get the first two albums: Christmas Eve and other Stories and The Christmas Attic. And get tickets to see the rest of his bandmates on tour this Holiday Season. You won't be disappointed!

Why did the Chicken write an Acrostic on the Road?

Bring peace to ruin
Usurp the fabric of truth
Squeeze the life from diplomacy
Hell, awaits the people

Rescue Rehnquist!!!

Okay, so I think it is apparent to everyone except Kerry, Edwards, and any other delusional democrat that Bush is going to be allowed to preside over his failed policies for another 4 years. I personally think this is good. He can't hole up in his Crawford ranch while Iraq goes to hell in a shrapnes riddles handbasket. Plus, history will take care of Mr. Bush. When the history books are written about this time I don't think it will be kind to Bush. But, by then he will peacefully be decomposing into worm kibble! (Yes, you are correct. I am not a Bush fan!)

So, Kerry and Edwards need to pull the plug. The democrats need to now focus their attention to Chief Judge Rehnquist and hope to hell he doesn't die or otherwise become incapacitated. I wouldn't be surprised if Bush doesn't have a lawyer at the hospital ready to dispute what medicines the good judge receives. (in other words any medicines that will make him better). I'm sure he is drooling over the chance to nominate a new Justice. And Ralph Reed is right there on his shoulder crapping with sheer delight!

Yes, I am cynical and yes I'm pretty irreverant to both parties. I think Bush, plain and simple, is an arrogant son of a female French Poodle. (That's why he hates the French so much. Oh by the way, I am French!) At the same time I think Kerry is a robot that needs to be decomissioned. I don't think he is a flip flop. I mean for crying out loud ALL POLITICIANS ARE FLIP FLOPPERS!!!

On that topic. What the hell cave has everyone been living in for the past 100 years. Psst! Let me shine the light on this for you. Politicians will say what they think they need to say to get elected. Duh!!! I mean Bush said before we dove blindly into Iraq that there unequivocally WMD's in Iraq. Is he whistling that tune anymore? I don't think so. I mean for crying out loud people do you listen to these guys when they speak? Can't you tell the difference between how a Politician speaks and the rest of the uncivilized society? Can't you see that greasy gloss that coats their words? You can almost hear gears engage when they start prattling along about stuff that the average American has no earthly clue about.

To wrap up. I am not surprised Mr. Bush is going to win. I think this election has been made more dramatic by the news organizations than it was going to be. I wish Howard Dean had been the nominee. He wouldn't have come as close, I know that, but he would have torn into Bush in ways that Kerry is too chicken too. You may not agree with Dean but here's a guy that speaks his mind. You can tell he thinks Bush is a moron. He doesn't come out and say it but you know it is there. But, I digress. Let's just move on. I am interested to see how these next 4 years go. And, by the way Mr. Bush, when will I see more money in my paycheck when these new tax cuts take place? Or can I just come get it directly from your oil-ridden piggy bank? Oh, that's right. Your victory, in the end, will have little impact on my quality of life. Hail the Lame Duck in Chief!!!!

The Fluidity and Futility of Mortality (poem)

Floating
Through eternity
Chronos himself stops
Waves hello
And I hurtle onward
Into forever

Bush, Kerry or Nader???

Is their a fourth option? Seriously, I'm not terribly concerned about who wins because honestly I think all three are weak. Bush's handling of the Iraq war is like a contestant on the Apprentice trying to run anything other than a lemonade stand. Did he really think when we mowed down the Republican Guard and chased off Saddam Hussein that everyone left in Iraq was going to fall to their knees and worship the United States of America? He is either really naive or really stupid and I'm convinced it's a healthy portion of both. Kerry is equally dumb and/or naive to think he's going to ride in with a calvary of French and Germans to fix things. And Nader would spend all of his time looking for corporate crime in Iraq. No my friends, I think I'd rather vote for a nice piece of sharp cheddar cheese before I'd vote for one of the three stooges we currently have to choose from. But, that's my opinion. I welcome yours......

soaking (poem)

All alone
a fool and his pride
standing in a drenching rain.
soaking through the fibers
drenching me.

the cold wetness runs,
down my face
like many tears
being shed at once.
it comes down hard.
pelting every inch of my body.

i need to come in from the rain
so i may be warm and dry again.
this seething storm soaks, so.
i feel so dank and cold inside.
my sould is wet........
..............and it is drowning.

Originally published in The Binnacle in 1996.

Everything Changes (poem)

Length of day light swiftly shrinks,
And the warmth evaporates into space.

Transformation.

Vibrant, green leaves lose vitality,
And shrivel into withered fragility.

Decay.

Summer dew is ushered off,
And Jack's soldiers take guard.

Changing.

Mother Nature's citizens scavenge and scurry,
And layer their bodies in nutritious warmth.

Anticipation.

White flakes of pureness float to the ground,
And the land slips into quiet slumber.

Shhhhhh.....

Originally published in The Binnacle in 1996.

Experiments in Web Surfing.

Hi there. The internet is an interesting thing. What I think is really funny is when a seemingly innocent internet address ends up being completely different from what you expected. So, I thought we could try a little experiment. I'm going to type in come different internet addresses that on face seem like they should be straightforward as to what you will encounter. I will then type what actually is at that internet site. The classic example of course is www.whitehouse.com which ends up being a porn site.

1) www.bush.com result: site not found
2) www.kerry.com result: a pro Kerry website but I don't think it is a Kerry-sponsored site.
3) www.sesamestreet.com result: I was half expecting some kind of porn site but it actually directs you to www.sesameworkshop.org which is a Sesame Street affiliated website. Thank goodness!
4) www.sesamestreet.net result: However change that .com to a .net and you end up at some site advertising internet access. Very strange.
5) www.gongya.com result: some Korean website so needless to say I have no idea of what it's about.

Okay that was thoroughly boring. I think I should just stick to the poetry. Have a nice day!

Rhinos!!!

My little girl has come down with a cold. Right after getting over her Pink Eye. Poor girl. She's stuffy but she's only a few months old and doesn't know how to blow. Sleeping is rough for her and so it's a little rough for her parents too. But, when you are a parent you exchange some sleep for having a beautiful little ray of light. I wouldn't give it up for anything. Well, I'm going back to the Kleenex patrol!!

The Month of Rust

October.....is the month of rust.....
it is when the trees, descend into repose.
The leaves bright greens are overthrown.
Slowly the rust of autumn will scour them clean.

Do you feel the chill?
Winter is coming.
And I welcome it.

Fortified with 10 essential Vitamins and Cynicism

I'm sorry. What's wrong with being cynical? To me it seems healthy for our society to have cynics. Someone has to bring the rest of the population back to reality. The human race, particularily those here in the U.S., get way to warm and fuzzy with their rose-tinted glasses. They don't see the crimson wave off beyond the horizon that one day is going to swallow us all. In the meantime they just act like animals. We strive to hold ourselves above the rest of the Animal Kingdom but we act just as primal as they. Immediate gratification is the game. A sense of entitlement pervades throughout humanity.

I work in retail. The store I work at has a liberal return policy and we will take items back for exchange or credit that are advanced in age. But it isn't a license for someone to go home, clean out their closet, and exchange old stuff just to get new stuff. But, if we offer resistance to these short-sighted shmucks they complain to our corporate headquarters. And of course, they have the back-bone of a jellyfish and cave and say, "go back to the big bad store and they will take care of you."

Working in retail you really see the worst in people. Parents dump their kids to play with our merchandise and give us guff if we ask them to not touch everything. Then you have the people that have waited in line all of a minute and they act as though they've been there half an hour. Listen people, the world is one day going to melt under they dying breath of the sun but it's not going to be while any of us are alive. Take a deep breath, relax, and then get the hell out of my store. Better yet, don't ever come in. You make my stomach churn and turn. Okay, I'm done. Thanks for listening to the rant of your friendly neighborhood cynic. Just remember, even if you are paranoid, that doesn't mean they are not after you.....

Vegetate (poem)

Vegetate
Sit back and unwind.
Let your thoughts drift away.
Concentrate on nothing
But the freeness of your mind.
Feel the tension ooze out,
As you let relaxation enter.
All of your aches and pains,
Are quashed by your new peace.
Forget the everyday worries.
Wake up, breathe, and live.
Let the bright vitality envelope you
Until your life is a radiant glow.
Float in the lucid haze.
The softness surrounds you.
Soak up the serenity
And tune out the tumultuous world.
In the end you'll never want to wake up.
You will want to live in your calm forever.
Alas, such hopes are soon vanquished
As the outside world reaches out its bony hand.
It tightens its grip around your neck.
Quickly, it jerks you back to reality.
Life trudges on through the mire
And the futile rat race goes on.

Originally published in The Binnacle in 1997.

Ethanol (poem)

You thrash and writhe.
Yet, you continue to die.
Nothing you can do
Will stop your life from leaving.
My net has been cast over you
And I will drag you to your demise.
I see the panic flash on your face,
Yet I proceed in the execution.
The minutes go by
And your kin pile up.
The stench becomes more and more putrid.
The acrid smell of death is everywhere.
Your life has been for naught.
You were born only to die.
And for what cause?
To prove what is already clear to us;
That your world is being corrupted
Because we don't know how to handle ours.

Originally published in The Binnacle in 1997.

Dark Overture (poem)

The violin starts to play.
It moans with each sweeping pass
Of the dark, wooden bow.
Melancholy melodies meander
Through the darkness of the night.
Now a sullen voice fades in
With a beautifully woeful voice.
It sings of a lost love
Who has passed into the void.
My entire being swirls
In the emotions of this powerful dirge.
I can feel the dark energy surge
With each rising crescendo.
The violin starts to soar
As the end of this song nears.
The voice starts to fade away
And the violin starts to follow
As everything...
...fades...
...into darkness...

Originally published in The Binnacle in 1997.

Advertising

I added this new advertising thingy. Apparently if enough people visit this blog and then click on one of the little thingies above I get some moolah out of it. I haven't read the fine print but I assume it's like enough to buy a cup of coffee once a month or in my case once a decade. But I find it amusing that it is smart enough to adapt what it advertises in relation to the content of my posts. My last post was about Cat Stevens and when I republished, voila! It's links to sites selling Cat Stevens CD's. I wonder what will happen if I list a bunch of other names. Let's see:
Sentenced, My Dying Bride, Anathema, Willam H. Macy, Snoopy, The Jabberwocky, ....... this will be fun!!!

Life is a Jungle

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I haven't put much on here lately. Well 40 hours a week working and raising a little girl with my free time makes for little time blogging on the blog. Plus, I do like to sleep once in a while. So what's going on?

I find it terribly amusing that Cat Stevens, or Yusef as he calls himself now, is being viewed as this big terrorist threat. I also find it amusing that the U.S. Government came to the conclusion that it's okay to divert a potential terrorist to the state of Maine to spare Washington D.C. any possible mayhem. Thanks, we here at Maine thank you for your vision. It is official! Maine is expendable!! We've always known that but it's nice to see it made clear once and for all. You've got my vote Mr. Bush. Um, no actually I was talking to this rose bush here not you George! Yeah, I know he most likely had nothing to do with it but it's his job to accept the blame.

So, if anyone actually reads this thing let me know what you think about old Yusef! You know, we used to have a really nice restaurant in Caribou, Maine called Yusef. Maybe that's why he was diverted to Maine. They thought he may have gotten lost! Yeah, so let me here what you have to say about the "Wild World" of the former Cat Stevens.

Swallow (improvised poem)

See the flash!
Feel the panic!
Reach for your love!
Fly for the hills!
Don't look back!
Quicken your pace!

But in the end....
It does not matter...
Every effort is futile...
For the outcome is the same...
For every living creature...
The end is here...

Gelatin Crematorium (poem)

Green Jello is warm,
And it makes me want to scream.
I want to sleep in it,
And have wet, green dreams.
So give me green jello,
Until I can't take anymore.
Maybe I'll give you some,
And then kick you out the door.

Originally published in The Binnacle in 1995.

Contemplations of a Reclusive Mind

I stare into the lake
The brutal honesty of the lucid mirror.
It speaks back to me
Directing me to my shortcomings.

But, I gaze upwards,
Looking at the friendly face of the moon.
And I know that one day
All shall be erased from the memories of this world.

I'm sorry, no my hair is not connected directly to my soul!

I'm being considered for a new job. It's a job at a pretty cool place too and I am really hoping to get the job. However, I was taken aback by a request for me to cut my hair. Yes, I have long dark brown hair and if you haven't figured it out yet, I am male. Back in the Medieval times everyone had long hair. It was normal. It was not frowned upon. You see all the paintings of all the noble knights and kings and, yep, they all had long hair. Jesus had long hair for pete's sake! I don't recall anyone in the Bible saying "Jesus, cut your hair and go get a job!" But, I wasn't there either.

Why do people have stereotypes of people with long hair? You notice kids don't have these stereotypes. My daughter has no pre-conceived notions of such things and smiles at me lovingly. Other little kids I see smile and laugh when they see me. They don't run away screaming in terror or anything. I wash my hair, I brush it, I keep it tied back at work. I'm actually pretty vain about my hair so I keep it looking good. I don't know! It's just very disappointing that in our "civilized society" we still make judgements based on hair, skin, dress, etc. If you are one of those people, why don't you stop and have a conversation with a long-haired gentlemen before writing him off as a lazy, dangerous hippy. You might find he's just as intelligent as you if not more so!

Thought for the Day!!

The Human Race.....who wins???

Who is going to win this Human Race anyway? And who is racing who? Or are we like on of those silly entertainments you see on scoreboards at Baseball Stadiums. You know, the kind where different bottles of soda are racing each other. I think there is someone, somewhere watching this whole thing and having a great laugh. We're like a never-ending Seinfeld episode for some interstellar heavenly being. Of course the real question is.......when will the series finale be?

Antimatter. Music isn't dead yet! (but it barely has a pulse)

Antimatter are the cure to your musical ennui! Go to http://www.antimatter.tk and check them out. If you like electronic music I think you'll like Antimatter. If you like Pink Floyd I think you'll like Antimatter. If you like Anathema, you will love Antimatter as they are Duncan Patterson's new band. If you like dark trips into the human condition, you must listen to Antimatter. They even have a free album you can download of unreleased and demo songs. What are you waiting for??? Huh??? Get going and then come back and tell me what you think!!

Welcome to The Barnacle

Hello,

This is the Gongya! Back in my college days I was the editor of a literary magazine called The Binnacle. It's a very fond memory for me. Long days sitting in the office looking over submitted poetry, prose, and visual art. I know, that isn't a sentence, how could I be an editor? Well, I left the grammar to other people. English majors!!! That's the other thing, I was a science major and I think I was viewed in a sort of blasphemous way by some of the English major staff. But, I've always enjoyed putting my thoughts and feelings to paper, mostly in the form of poetry. And so, I thought it would be great fun publishing other folks work as well as throwing a few of mine in as well.

For me, poetry is a purging. I can't complain about my life right now. I have a beautiful wife who I've been married to for just over a year. I also have a beautiful little daughter who is 4 and a half months old. I've decided that I want to become a teacher and have an impact on the youth of America (scary!). However, that doesn't mean I don't have dark thoughts and feelings that need to be released. I could be violent or destructive but that wouldn't serve me or the ones I love any good. No, for me I use the pen as my weapon of choice to slay the ghouls. Usually, I'll have some music playing to kind of help me exhume the emotions. I encourage all to give this a try if you haven't already. You don't have to be Edgar Allen Poe or Allen Ginsberg (sp?) to write poetry. You just have to have a heart.

So, with this particular writing I open up my blog. I never knew what a blog was until I came to this site to start one. Anyway, my plan for The Barnacle is to throw out some of my poetry as it is created. If anyone happens to run into this little niche of the World Wide Web and would like to comment about what you read, please by all means. But, here's my disclaimer: I don't claim to be a master poet by any means so if you don't like it that's fine. But please avoid any simplistic banal criticisms such as "you suck!" I will put as much thought into such a response as the composer of it. So, please sit back, grab some Joe or jolt or whatever suits you and enjoy!