And Now Some Words from Lockdown Land ( #BOTB Results )

 

         Disneyland has been closed most of this year and my guess is that a good many of the businesses around the theme park will be closed from now on because they cannot sustain.  Thanks Governor Gavin Newsome who is in the running for worst state governor along with Andrew Cuomo and Gretchen Whitmer.   May they all win in a three-way tie.  RECALL THEM ALL!

Battle of the Bands Results

   

         My latest Battle didn't win over many hearts and perhaps came closer to giving heart attacks.  Can't say I was particularly thrilled with this Battle but I didn't hate either version that I offered in this round either.  I wouldn't make a habit of listening to either, but they were okay and one was as good (or bad) as the other as far as I am concerned.

         The Battle featured the artists Naytronix and Lee Being with their trip hopped versions of the Janet Jackson hit "What Have You Done for Me Lately?"  Since there was more of a psychedelic sound to the Naytronix cover that is the one upon which I bestowed my vote.

Final Vote Tally

Naytronix         5 votes

Lee Being         6 votes

Next Battle on ????

      I'll probably go ahead and do another Battle on Tuesday December 1st, but it will depend on my mood and maybe other factors.  Then again I might just be watching TV or something.  Did somebody say something about Christmas?   Heck, I'm not even sure what I'm going to do about Thanksgiving yet.  I think Governor Newsome has cancelled all such things.  For now, things are kind of up in the air for me--and I don't mean that I'm juggling.

Words ( #BOTB & #IWSG )

         Words are the reason I write.  They also provide an effective way of communicating verbally.  Life is pretty well encompassed by words.  And then there is The Word...


The Insecure Writer's Support Group

Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group--a forum of writers who gather to talk about writing and the writer's life. For a complete list of participants visit Alex's Blog. 


The co-hosts for the September 2 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, J Lenni Dorner, Deniz Bevan, Kim Lajevardi, Natalie Aguirre, and Louise - Fundy Blue!

September 2 question - If you could choose one author, living or dead, to be your beta partner, who would it be and why?

        This year with all that has been going on I've been thinking a lot about George Orwell. I've only read a couple of his books--Animal Farm and 1984.  There might have been another book that was not fiction, but now I can't recall what is was.

          In a sort of fixation to find pandemic related movies, I tracked down a passable copy of 1984 on YouTube for my wife and I to watch.  Orwell's thinking was rather prescient of our times though he had to have been influenced by the wave of fascism that swept Europe in mid-twentieth century. The guy had not only a good grasp on the English language and a clever approach to words, but he was a literary critic as well.  Seems like someone who could be helpful getting my writing in shape.

          Wikipedia says the following:

In his essay "Politics and the English Language" (1946), Orwell wrote about the importance of precise and clear language, arguing that vague writing can be used as a powerful tool of political manipulation because it shapes the way we think. In that essay, Orwell provides six rules for writers:

1. Never use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
2. Never use a long word where a short one will do.
3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.
5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

        If nothing else, this set of guidelines might be nice to print out to have posted in ones writing space. 

         And while I'm on the subject of words, how about three very different songs that were big releases from three different decades by three different artists competing in another...


Battle of the Bands

        Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens each month on the 15th and on some there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month.  My blog is one of those with a second Battle excepting over these summer months.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action.



Bee Gees  "Words" (1968)






Neil Young    "Words"  (1972)




Missing Persons  "Words"   (1982)






Time to Vote!
        
           Put your preference into words.  Which song do you prefer?   Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind.  You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.

        Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.


Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

 ‘Storms and Stardust’ 

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

The Doglady's Den 

Angel's Bark  

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Cherdo on the Flipside 

A I Love Music


Winner of this Battle Announced on Monday      September 7
       
        Lately I don't get many comments on my results posts, but I see the page hits showing up in my analytics so I guess people come back to at least check.  I will post my results, but likely have an economy with words.  Well, that is, unless I really have something that I want to say.


          Would you want a literary critic as a beta partner?  During the pandemic have you been drawn to more dystopian type films and books?   What is your favorite resource for finding interesting words?  

Take Your Mask and Shove It! ( #BOTB results )

       Okay everybody!  Comply!  Wear your masks!  Stand in lines!  Keep your distances!  Forfeit your humanity!   Listen and obey!   The New World of the Future is coming for you!


Take Your Mask and Shove It!

Traditional Tragedy and Comedy Masks

        Ugh!  I'm uncomfortable having to wear those crazy face masks--not just physically, but mentally.  Something's not right here.  Looking around at all of the other folks in masks I am a bit disturbed.  Where exactly is this all going if we stay with this trend?  What will be next?

          You might be the compliant type who insists that everyone should be wearing a mask.  I say go ahead and wear yours if you wish.  Or better yet just quarantine yourself in your locked down house and wait until the world is a totally safe place for you.  Enjoy your wait.  As long as the power and water stay on you might be okay.

         About these masks though...

          After reading an article recently, I was reminded of something I had heard about a few years ago.  The word "hypocrite" comes from a Greek root word that refers to someone who is a fake, a cheat, or a liar which is based on the stage actors of ancient Greek theater who wore masks instead of showing their true faces.

           This article discussed how much we rely on facial expressions to provide some indication of the intent or emotion of another person.  As humans--as well as many animals--we use the outward appearance of a person to read what that person might be thinking which in turn might help us determine their potential action in a certain situation.  A mask covers that up.  It's not only difficult to read another person who is wearing a mask, but sometimes it's hard to even recognize who they are.

           Shades of masquerades!   Or perhaps banditry? 

           So today we accept mask wearing as a norm and even a requirement.  So how about another practical solution to maintaining order in society?  Maybe some kind of mark or number on each of us?  What a great idea!  No more ID cards needed and all of the information about each of us encoded in a mark that can be read by a scanning device.  The fast track solution to getting through security checks and moving easily about society.  Much easier than a mask too--you can breath better and it doesn't hide your face.

            If you don't mind the mask then the world government mark will be a breeze for you.  How about it?  Are you ready to accept that as well?


Battle of the Bands Results

        This recent Battle of the Bands contest between Dorris Henderson and Melody Gardot performing the traditional work song "No More My Lord" was one that I went back and forth on.  The guitar work in the Henderson version was appealing to me, but I preferred the vocals on Gardot's version.  The delivery of the Melody Gardot version was more entertaining and listenable in my estimation so that is the one I settled my vote on.

        At the outset it looked like Dorris Henderson was going to run away with the win, which she did, but in the end Melody didn't have too bad of a showing.


Final Vote Tally

Dorris Henderson        11

Melody Gardot              8



Next Battle on Monday June 1st

         Hard to believe that summer is almost here again.  For now I'll plan on doing this next Battle, but a break might still be in the cards for me.  Come back on June 1st for the Battle and maybe something else...

Do you have any special summer plans?  Or have you put plans on hold to see what is going to happen with the pandemic scam?   I'm not saying that the COVID disease isn't real, but the response to it is indeed a scam.  Have you figured that out yet?  If you don't think it's a scam then are you ready for that identification mark?

No More My Lord (#BOTB)

       Personally I'm tired of all this COVID stuff.  I hate the lock downs, the masks, the social distancing.  There's a devious plot afoot the way I see it.  I feel badly for a lot of the younger folks who have had their lives overturned and diminished from what is going on.  This is unlike anything we've ever seen.  I have my theories as to what is going on, but I'll save those for myself or for anyone who wants to hear what I think--but I won't say much in this blog post.

      Recently I was reading about the Hong Kong Flu pandemic.  I recall the name, but couldn't have said when it happened until I started reading about it.   This pandemic was from fall of 1968 to sometime in 1970.  That was my senior year in high school and the beginning of my first year at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.  I have no recollection of a pandemic going on at that time even though about 1 million deaths worldwide and 100,000 deaths in the United States were the results.

       Maybe we were tougher then.  Or maybe more callous?  Or maybe we just wanted to live our lives.  I don't know what the difference between then and now is.  I can guess, but does anyone really care?   All I can say now is I'm ready for all of this to end.  Please!  No more my Lord...


Battle of the Bands

        Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens each month on the 15th and on some there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month.  My blog is one of those with a second Battle excepting over these summer months.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action.



No More My Lord

           This is a "Negro prison song" first collected by ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax many years ago.  There are many renditions to be found on YouTube.  For this Battle I've chosen two versions by female artists.  Take a listen and pick your preference...




Dorris Henderson   "No More My Lord"  (1967)









Melody Gardot  "No More My Lord"  (2010)








Time to Vote!

         How does this song make you feel?    Which song version do you prefer?   Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind.  You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.

        Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.



Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

 ‘Storms and Stardust’ 

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

The Doglady's Den 

Angel's Bark  

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Cherdo on the Flipside 

A I Love Music


Winner of this Battle Announced on Friday May 22nd

         I plan to be here then, but probably not before.  Hope you'll come back to see which version won the most votes.

What Will Happen ( #AtoZChallenge )

       We might know what we think might happen in our futures, but none of us can say for certain what will happen even if that future seems kind of certain.  What will happen is just what will happen. We're just along for the ride...



 
 What Will Happen


         When I set out with my A to Z theme this year I had a somewhat vague concept that I would write about my life and where I see myself going in the years to come.  It was as good of a plan as any other I suppose, especially in these Pandemic Days.  Just meandering thoughts in a stream-of-consciousness approach seemed like a good way to go in 2020.

          The truth is that this is pretty much how I've been blogging for the past decade.  In fact, one might reasonably suggest that this is the way I've approached my whole life.  Every outcome in my life has been a surprise even though that outcome might have been precisely what was expected, whether by me or someone else, and most of my expectations were probably not well considered considering that how they turned out was often not at all like what I expected.

          Riffing in the stream-of-consciousness can be great fun for word play and it's my preferred style of communicating my thoughts, but I'm pretty sure that a solid sense of life planning might have made more sense for me in the long run.  I've often been one to get lost in my thoughts to the point that I've gotten diverted by many a side road along the way.  A more structured type of person might call someone like me unfocused.  Perhaps that's the danger of living a stream-of-conscious life--a continual barrage of shiny objects dazzle my view into a burst of astonishment and wonderment that keeps me in a mental whirl.

         What will happen in my future if I continue this path I've been on?   Maybe I'll just continue being me.  The child in me is still wide-eyed yet laden with the crustiness of lost loves, sad tales, and forgotten past things.  I hope I can continue to plod forward although my shoes have become worn and tied together with the strings of memories. 

         I don't really know what will happen in the years to come.  I'm looking for something good.  I'm hoping that something good is looking for me as well.


          Have your life plans mostly turned out as you expected?   To what extent do you actually plan your future?   Do you think your future looks promising or somewhat bleak?