Smithsonian Staff Photo


Image by outtacontext
Four thousand Smithsonian staff stood on the National Mall to pose for a photograph in the shape of the Institution’s starburst logo. You can see additional images on the Smithsonian’s website. Photo: Dane Penland, Smithsonian Institution

Nice Day The Earth Stood Still Website photos is a post from: The Day The Earth Stood Still

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Infernal Overdrive at Great Scott, Boston MA, 2 April 2011


Image by Chris Devers
Paraphrasing Infernal Overdrive’s Facebook page:

Genre
Heavy Rock

Members
• Marc Schleicher- Lead Guitar and Vocals
• Rich Miele- Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals
• Mike Bennett- Lead Drums
• Keith Schleicher- Lead Bass Guitar

On the web
MySpace
Facebook
ReverbNation
SongKick
Last FM

Photos of their shows
• O’Brien’s, Allston MA, 16 Jul 2011
• Great Scott, Allston MA, 2 Apr 2011
• O’Brien’s, Allston MA, 4 Sept 2010
• O’Brien’s, Allston MA, 16 Jan 2010

Hometown
Red Bank, NJ

Record Label
Small Stone Records

About
Infernal Overdrive is a heavy rock and roll band formed in early 2008 when Marc Schleicher (fmr. Quintaine Americana [Wikipedia, MySpace, AllMusic], Cracktorch [MySpace], Antler, Liquor Tricks [MySpace]) of Allston , Mass. started jamming with Mike Bennett (fmr. Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]) in Red Bank. Soon they got Rich Miele (fmr. Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]) on board playing second lead guitar. During some of their early shows, Jake Metz (Godzero [MySpace]) joined the band on bass, but he was soon replaced by Keith Schleicher.

Their sound is a combination of their classic influences such as Led Zeppelin, Blue Cheer, Free, Grand Funk, Cactus, Deep Purple and Pink Floyd and newer heavy bands like Kyuss, Nebula, Soundgarden, STP, QOTSA and Monster Magnet.

Biography
Rumors abound that somewhere in the depths of New Jersey time stands still and it is always 1977. Trapped in this interstellar time warp, making electric amageddon is Infernal Overdrive. Fronted by the mysterious, oft reckless Marc Schleicher (Cracktorch [MySpace], Quintaine Americana [Wikipedia, MySpace, AllMusic], Antler) – a Boston native transplanted in time and space to this 4th dimension – summoned by the all-powerful duo of Mike Bennett and Rich Miele of Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]. After a treacherous search to find his long lost brother, Keith Schleicher was sucked into the vortex to fulfill his destiny on bass guitar. They journey in the last of the V8 interceptors, proving themselves worthy of the Small Stone pedigree. Forces to be reckoned with on their own, as a group their wonder team powers activate to kick into Infernal Overdrive.

Armed with their wits, New Jersey dialect and a passion for surviving the likes of the Tall Man, flying orbs, giant sharks, the Turnbull AC’s and an occasional family of albino zombies, Infernal Overdrive will be coming to an area near you soon. Can you dig it?

Current Location
Red Bank, NJ

Artists We Also Like
Cortez, Maegashira, Monster Magnet, Roadsaw, Pigs, The Brought Low

Influences
Delta Blues, Led Zeppelin, Grand Funk Railroad, Soundgarden, Monster Magnet, Cactus, Deep Purple, Nebula, Pink Floyd, Cream, Mountain, Kyuss, James Gang and shit loads of other bands.

Reviews

Review by The Obelisk / Stoner Rock:

Infernal Overdrive Kick into Gear
With production by Andrew Schneider (Throttlerod, The Brought Low, Hackman) and mastering by Nick Zampiello at New Alliance East in Boston, there’s no doubt that New Jersey riff rockers Infernal Overdrive are going for that Small Stone Records sound. The four tracks that comprise their new self-titled EP fall in line with the kind of straightforward guitar-led rock the Detroit label has proffered for well over a decade now, and with a similar southern/classic ‘70s influence to New York’s The Brought Low, Infernal Overdrive seem remarkably conscious of what they’re doing sonically. More so than you might expect for a band just releasing their first EP.

The story goes that when guitarist/vocalist Marc Schleicher (ex-Cracktorch [MySpace], Antler) moved from Massachusetts to central New Jersey, he got hooked up with drummer Mike Bennett and guitarist/backing vocalist Rich Miele (both ex-Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]). Keith Schleicher (relation assumed) was added on bass and Infernal Overdrive began rocking out early 2008. The EP was recorded over two days in February and four in April, and though that seems quick, none of the songs feels rushed or underdone. Schneider, who also shows up on extra backing vocals, makes his mark sound-wise in the tone of Schleicher and Miele’s guitars and Bennett’s snare sound, which has the same pop Schneider has become known for – not too bright, but able to cut through the mix and propel the songs forward. Some of Schleicher’s leads, as on EP closer “Motor,” feel a little too thought out, too structured where what I’d like to hear is a little bluesy ‘70s recklessness, but they get the job done nonetheless, and the vocals are never out of place.

Although the highway for which it’s named runs down through the whole East Coast, there’s no question that when Infernal Overdrive open the EP with “I-95,” they’re talking about Jersey. The song is a southern-hued guitar rocker that sets the tone well for the three tracks that follow with an ear toward rock traditionalism and, once again, like-minded Small Stone heavy-hitters Sasquatch, Dixie Witch, et al. It’s hard to argue with the approach when it works as well as it does on the speedy “The Edge,” which forgoes central Jersey’s reputation for heavy psychedelia in the style of Monster Magnet in favor of Halfway to Gone’s stripped-down take on rock. “Duel” slows down the pace somewhat but still keeps a mid?paced groove that makes use of some well?placed lead lines that start the song reminding me of Iron Maiden filtered through Nebula’s druggy haze. Only “Motor,” which devolves into an extended jam that brings the track to a total of just under 12 minutes, is longer, as the songs on Infernal Overdrive go in order from shortest to longest. Whether or not that’s on purpose on the part of the band, I don’t know – I’d imagine at least putting “Motor” last is – but I suppose it’s as good a method of organization as any.

There’s a short message from the Devil after “Motor” finishes up, and that’s the end of the EP. Infernal Overdrive are out relatively quick when you consider their first release is only 26 minutes and three of the four songs take up about 11 of it. No complaints though, as the four-piece know precisely how to get the most out of their sound and show exactly that on these tracks. It’s a hell of an investment to make with a self-released debut to hook up with the likes of Schneider and Zampiello, but Infernal Overdrive make the most of Schleicher and co.’s collected experience, and come off sounding confident and notably mature for a band who’s been together less than three years. It may not be changing the game, but Infernal Overdrive is definitely worth checking out for anyone who wants to hook into some solid and unpretentious heavy rock.

Review by Cutting Edge Rocks:
A couple years ago we reviewed a strong up-and-coming Jersey band Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]. Well, it seems they dissolved and morphed into Infernal Overdrive. The new band is two parts Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook] (drummer Mike Bennett and guitarist/backing vocalist Rich Miele), one part Cracktorch [MySpace], Antler (guitarist/vocalist Marc Schleicher) and one part brother (bassist Keith Schleicher). Mike contacted me letting me know the band formed after Marc relocated from Boston and set up shop in Jersey. He sent along the EP for my listening pleasure. And a pleasure it is! The songs are baked in southern ‘70s hard rock with catchy riffs and plenty of power rumbling in the pipes. The info is sketchy but according the record’s liner notes, the four-song EP was recorded this year in Brooklyn, NY over five days (Feb 27, 28 & April 17, 18, 24, 25). Production was handled by Andrew Schneider (Throttlerod, The Brought Low, Hackman) with mastering by Nick Zampiello. Fans of our site will immediately make the Small Stone connection and that seems to be where the band are heading as the vibe is defiantly Detroit retro.

Take for instance “I-95” which opens the disc with a solid guitar wail and foot-stomping drum beat. Tambourine is added for flavor but the song bellows like fellow Boston-natives Roadsaw, mixing biker thunder with a Pat Travers/Leslie West riff-fest. Second track, “The Edge” is pure old school Nugent, including the repeat riff and frantic, almost MC5 delivery. Schleicher voice is ragged and ready to rock. The drums hammer and the bass drives laying down a solid bed for some sexy solo leads. “Duel” has more Fu Manchu in the groove. It’s mostly in the chorus, but the build in the verse is still very Scott Hill/Brant Bjork. The track also boasts our favorite solo – frayed, not over played and sparked with cosmic energy. “Motor” is a 13-minute stoner masterpiece. A heavy bottom end brings to mind Sabbath, Sasquatch and Mountain. The riff is clean but thick with a layered solo painting in all the little nuances – perfect for a psychedelic ride. The echo on the vocals adds to the songs dripping mysticism while the guitar is allowed to float, pierce and melt the brain. Yeah, it only four songs, but dude, sometime that’s all you need when they’re this good.

Review by Heavy Planet
I recently had a chance to hear some new material from thee guys and I’ll tell you right now, this is a band to be on the look out for. They’re going places. Their sound is straight up southern stoner rock. If I had to compare them, I’d say they’re a bit harder version of The Brought Low. Checkout the usual social media spots (links below) to hear what I’m talking about and keep up to date with all their happenings because you’ll certainly be hearing from them again.

Infernal Overdrive at O’Brien’s, Allston MA, Jul 16 2011


Image by Chris Devers
Paraphrasing Infernal Overdrive’s Facebook page:

Genre
Heavy Rock

Members
• Marc Schleicher- Lead Guitar and Vocals
• Rich Miele- Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals
• Mike Bennett- Lead Drums
• Keith Schleicher- Lead Bass Guitar

On the web
MySpace
Facebook
ReverbNation
SongKick
Last FM

Photos of their shows
• O’Brien’s, Allston MA, 16 Jul 2011
• Great Scott, Allston MA, 2 Apr 2011
• O’Brien’s, Allston MA, 4 Sept 2010
• O’Brien’s, Allston MA, 16 Jan 2010

Hometown
Red Bank, NJ

Record Label
Small Stone Records

About
Infernal Overdrive is a heavy rock and roll band formed in early 2008 when Marc Schleicher (fmr. Quintaine Americana [Wikipedia, MySpace, AllMusic], Cracktorch [MySpace], Antler, Liquor Tricks [MySpace]) of Allston , Mass. started jamming with Mike Bennett (fmr. Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]) in Red Bank. Soon they got Rich Miele (fmr. Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]) on board playing second lead guitar. During some of their early shows, Jake Metz (Godzero [MySpace]) joined the band on bass, but he was soon replaced by Keith Schleicher.

Their sound is a combination of their classic influences such as Led Zeppelin, Blue Cheer, Free, Grand Funk, Cactus, Deep Purple and Pink Floyd and newer heavy bands like Kyuss, Nebula, Soundgarden, STP, QOTSA and Monster Magnet.

Biography
Rumors abound that somewhere in the depths of New Jersey time stands still and it is always 1977. Trapped in this interstellar time warp, making electric amageddon is Infernal Overdrive. Fronted by the mysterious, oft reckless Marc Schleicher (Cracktorch [MySpace], Quintaine Americana [Wikipedia, MySpace, AllMusic], Antler) – a Boston native transplanted in time and space to this 4th dimension – summoned by the all-powerful duo of Mike Bennett and Rich Miele of Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]. After a treacherous search to find his long lost brother, Keith Schleicher was sucked into the vortex to fulfill his destiny on bass guitar. They journey in the last of the V8 interceptors, proving themselves worthy of the Small Stone pedigree. Forces to be reckoned with on their own, as a group their wonder team powers activate to kick into Infernal Overdrive.

Armed with their wits, New Jersey dialect and a passion for surviving the likes of the Tall Man, flying orbs, giant sharks, the Turnbull AC’s and an occasional family of albino zombies, Infernal Overdrive will be coming to an area near you soon. Can you dig it?

Current Location
Red Bank, NJ

Artists We Also Like
Cortez, Maegashira, Monster Magnet, Roadsaw, Pigs, The Brought Low

Influences
Delta Blues, Led Zeppelin, Grand Funk Railroad, Soundgarden, Monster Magnet, Cactus, Deep Purple, Nebula, Pink Floyd, Cream, Mountain, Kyuss, James Gang and shit loads of other bands.

Reviews

Review by The Obelisk / Stoner Rock:

Infernal Overdrive Kick into Gear
With production by Andrew Schneider (Throttlerod, The Brought Low, Hackman) and mastering by Nick Zampiello at New Alliance East in Boston, there’s no doubt that New Jersey riff rockers Infernal Overdrive are going for that Small Stone Records sound. The four tracks that comprise their new self-titled EP fall in line with the kind of straightforward guitar-led rock the Detroit label has proffered for well over a decade now, and with a similar southern/classic ‘70s influence to New York’s The Brought Low, Infernal Overdrive seem remarkably conscious of what they’re doing sonically. More so than you might expect for a band just releasing their first EP.

The story goes that when guitarist/vocalist Marc Schleicher (ex-Cracktorch [MySpace], Antler) moved from Massachusetts to central New Jersey, he got hooked up with drummer Mike Bennett and guitarist/backing vocalist Rich Miele (both ex-Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]). Keith Schleicher (relation assumed) was added on bass and Infernal Overdrive began rocking out early 2008. The EP was recorded over two days in February and four in April, and though that seems quick, none of the songs feels rushed or underdone. Schneider, who also shows up on extra backing vocals, makes his mark sound-wise in the tone of Schleicher and Miele’s guitars and Bennett’s snare sound, which has the same pop Schneider has become known for – not too bright, but able to cut through the mix and propel the songs forward. Some of Schleicher’s leads, as on EP closer “Motor,” feel a little too thought out, too structured where what I’d like to hear is a little bluesy ‘70s recklessness, but they get the job done nonetheless, and the vocals are never out of place.

Although the highway for which it’s named runs down through the whole East Coast, there’s no question that when Infernal Overdrive open the EP with “I-95,” they’re talking about Jersey. The song is a southern-hued guitar rocker that sets the tone well for the three tracks that follow with an ear toward rock traditionalism and, once again, like-minded Small Stone heavy-hitters Sasquatch, Dixie Witch, et al. It’s hard to argue with the approach when it works as well as it does on the speedy “The Edge,” which forgoes central Jersey’s reputation for heavy psychedelia in the style of Monster Magnet in favor of Halfway to Gone’s stripped-down take on rock. “Duel” slows down the pace somewhat but still keeps a mid?paced groove that makes use of some well?placed lead lines that start the song reminding me of Iron Maiden filtered through Nebula’s druggy haze. Only “Motor,” which devolves into an extended jam that brings the track to a total of just under 12 minutes, is longer, as the songs on Infernal Overdrive go in order from shortest to longest. Whether or not that’s on purpose on the part of the band, I don’t know – I’d imagine at least putting “Motor” last is – but I suppose it’s as good a method of organization as any.

There’s a short message from the Devil after “Motor” finishes up, and that’s the end of the EP. Infernal Overdrive are out relatively quick when you consider their first release is only 26 minutes and three of the four songs take up about 11 of it. No complaints though, as the four-piece know precisely how to get the most out of their sound and show exactly that on these tracks. It’s a hell of an investment to make with a self-released debut to hook up with the likes of Schneider and Zampiello, but Infernal Overdrive make the most of Schleicher and co.’s collected experience, and come off sounding confident and notably mature for a band who’s been together less than three years. It may not be changing the game, but Infernal Overdrive is definitely worth checking out for anyone who wants to hook into some solid and unpretentious heavy rock.

Review by Cutting Edge Rocks:
A couple years ago we reviewed a strong up-and-coming Jersey band Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]. Well, it seems they dissolved and morphed into Infernal Overdrive. The new band is two parts Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook] (drummer Mike Bennett and guitarist/backing vocalist Rich Miele), one part Cracktorch [MySpace], Antler (guitarist/vocalist Marc Schleicher) and one part brother (bassist Keith Schleicher). Mike contacted me letting me know the band formed after Marc relocated from Boston and set up shop in Jersey. He sent along the EP for my listening pleasure. And a pleasure it is! The songs are baked in southern ‘70s hard rock with catchy riffs and plenty of power rumbling in the pipes. The info is sketchy but according the record’s liner notes, the four-song EP was recorded this year in Brooklyn, NY over five days (Feb 27, 28 & April 17, 18, 24, 25). Production was handled by Andrew Schneider (Throttlerod, The Brought Low, Hackman) with mastering by Nick Zampiello. Fans of our site will immediately make the Small Stone connection and that seems to be where the band are heading as the vibe is defiantly Detroit retro.

Take for instance “I-95” which opens the disc with a solid guitar wail and foot-stomping drum beat. Tambourine is added for flavor but the song bellows like fellow Boston-natives Roadsaw, mixing biker thunder with a Pat Travers/Leslie West riff-fest. Second track, “The Edge” is pure old school Nugent, including the repeat riff and frantic, almost MC5 delivery. Schleicher voice is ragged and ready to rock. The drums hammer and the bass drives laying down a solid bed for some sexy solo leads. “Duel” has more Fu Manchu in the groove. It’s mostly in the chorus, but the build in the verse is still very Scott Hill/Brant Bjork. The track also boasts our favorite solo – frayed, not over played and sparked with cosmic energy. “Motor” is a 13-minute stoner masterpiece. A heavy bottom end brings to mind Sabbath, Sasquatch and Mountain. The riff is clean but thick with a layered solo painting in all the little nuances – perfect for a psychedelic ride. The echo on the vocals adds to the songs dripping mysticism while the guitar is allowed to float, pierce and melt the brain. Yeah, it only four songs, but dude, sometime that’s all you need when they’re this good.

Review by Heavy Planet
I recently had a chance to hear some new material from thee guys and I’ll tell you right now, this is a band to be on the look out for. They’re going places. Their sound is straight up southern stoner rock. If I had to compare them, I’d say they’re a bit harder version of The Brought Low. Checkout the usual social media spots (links below) to hear what I’m talking about and keep up to date with all their happenings because you’ll certainly be hearing from them again.

Infernal Overdrive at O’Brien’s, Allston MA, Jul 16 2011


Image by Chris Devers
Paraphrasing Infernal Overdrive’s Facebook page:

Genre
Heavy Rock

Members
• Marc Schleicher- Lead Guitar and Vocals
• Rich Miele- Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals
• Mike Bennett- Lead Drums
• Keith Schleicher- Lead Bass Guitar

On the web
MySpace
Facebook
ReverbNation
SongKick
Last FM

Photos of their shows
• O’Brien’s, Allston MA, 16 Jul 2011
• Great Scott, Allston MA, 2 Apr 2011
• O’Brien’s, Allston MA, 4 Sept 2010
• O’Brien’s, Allston MA, 16 Jan 2010

Hometown
Red Bank, NJ

Record Label
Small Stone Records

About
Infernal Overdrive is a heavy rock and roll band formed in early 2008 when Marc Schleicher (fmr. Quintaine Americana [Wikipedia, MySpace, AllMusic], Cracktorch [MySpace], Antler, Liquor Tricks [MySpace]) of Allston , Mass. started jamming with Mike Bennett (fmr. Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]) in Red Bank. Soon they got Rich Miele (fmr. Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]) on board playing second lead guitar. During some of their early shows, Jake Metz (Godzero [MySpace]) joined the band on bass, but he was soon replaced by Keith Schleicher.

Their sound is a combination of their classic influences such as Led Zeppelin, Blue Cheer, Free, Grand Funk, Cactus, Deep Purple and Pink Floyd and newer heavy bands like Kyuss, Nebula, Soundgarden, STP, QOTSA and Monster Magnet.

Biography
Rumors abound that somewhere in the depths of New Jersey time stands still and it is always 1977. Trapped in this interstellar time warp, making electric amageddon is Infernal Overdrive. Fronted by the mysterious, oft reckless Marc Schleicher (Cracktorch [MySpace], Quintaine Americana [Wikipedia, MySpace, AllMusic], Antler) – a Boston native transplanted in time and space to this 4th dimension – summoned by the all-powerful duo of Mike Bennett and Rich Miele of Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]. After a treacherous search to find his long lost brother, Keith Schleicher was sucked into the vortex to fulfill his destiny on bass guitar. They journey in the last of the V8 interceptors, proving themselves worthy of the Small Stone pedigree. Forces to be reckoned with on their own, as a group their wonder team powers activate to kick into Infernal Overdrive.

Armed with their wits, New Jersey dialect and a passion for surviving the likes of the Tall Man, flying orbs, giant sharks, the Turnbull AC’s and an occasional family of albino zombies, Infernal Overdrive will be coming to an area near you soon. Can you dig it?

Current Location
Red Bank, NJ

Artists We Also Like
Cortez, Maegashira, Monster Magnet, Roadsaw, Pigs, The Brought Low

Influences
Delta Blues, Led Zeppelin, Grand Funk Railroad, Soundgarden, Monster Magnet, Cactus, Deep Purple, Nebula, Pink Floyd, Cream, Mountain, Kyuss, James Gang and shit loads of other bands.

Reviews

Review by The Obelisk / Stoner Rock:

Infernal Overdrive Kick into Gear
With production by Andrew Schneider (Throttlerod, The Brought Low, Hackman) and mastering by Nick Zampiello at New Alliance East in Boston, there’s no doubt that New Jersey riff rockers Infernal Overdrive are going for that Small Stone Records sound. The four tracks that comprise their new self-titled EP fall in line with the kind of straightforward guitar-led rock the Detroit label has proffered for well over a decade now, and with a similar southern/classic ‘70s influence to New York’s The Brought Low, Infernal Overdrive seem remarkably conscious of what they’re doing sonically. More so than you might expect for a band just releasing their first EP.

The story goes that when guitarist/vocalist Marc Schleicher (ex-Cracktorch [MySpace], Antler) moved from Massachusetts to central New Jersey, he got hooked up with drummer Mike Bennett and guitarist/backing vocalist Rich Miele (both ex-Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]). Keith Schleicher (relation assumed) was added on bass and Infernal Overdrive began rocking out early 2008. The EP was recorded over two days in February and four in April, and though that seems quick, none of the songs feels rushed or underdone. Schneider, who also shows up on extra backing vocals, makes his mark sound-wise in the tone of Schleicher and Miele’s guitars and Bennett’s snare sound, which has the same pop Schneider has become known for – not too bright, but able to cut through the mix and propel the songs forward. Some of Schleicher’s leads, as on EP closer “Motor,” feel a little too thought out, too structured where what I’d like to hear is a little bluesy ‘70s recklessness, but they get the job done nonetheless, and the vocals are never out of place.

Although the highway for which it’s named runs down through the whole East Coast, there’s no question that when Infernal Overdrive open the EP with “I-95,” they’re talking about Jersey. The song is a southern-hued guitar rocker that sets the tone well for the three tracks that follow with an ear toward rock traditionalism and, once again, like-minded Small Stone heavy-hitters Sasquatch, Dixie Witch, et al. It’s hard to argue with the approach when it works as well as it does on the speedy “The Edge,” which forgoes central Jersey’s reputation for heavy psychedelia in the style of Monster Magnet in favor of Halfway to Gone’s stripped-down take on rock. “Duel” slows down the pace somewhat but still keeps a mid?paced groove that makes use of some well?placed lead lines that start the song reminding me of Iron Maiden filtered through Nebula’s druggy haze. Only “Motor,” which devolves into an extended jam that brings the track to a total of just under 12 minutes, is longer, as the songs on Infernal Overdrive go in order from shortest to longest. Whether or not that’s on purpose on the part of the band, I don’t know – I’d imagine at least putting “Motor” last is – but I suppose it’s as good a method of organization as any.

There’s a short message from the Devil after “Motor” finishes up, and that’s the end of the EP. Infernal Overdrive are out relatively quick when you consider their first release is only 26 minutes and three of the four songs take up about 11 of it. No complaints though, as the four-piece know precisely how to get the most out of their sound and show exactly that on these tracks. It’s a hell of an investment to make with a self-released debut to hook up with the likes of Schneider and Zampiello, but Infernal Overdrive make the most of Schleicher and co.’s collected experience, and come off sounding confident and notably mature for a band who’s been together less than three years. It may not be changing the game, but Infernal Overdrive is definitely worth checking out for anyone who wants to hook into some solid and unpretentious heavy rock.

Review by Cutting Edge Rocks:
A couple years ago we reviewed a strong up-and-coming Jersey band Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]. Well, it seems they dissolved and morphed into Infernal Overdrive. The new band is two parts Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook] (drummer Mike Bennett and guitarist/backing vocalist Rich Miele), one part Cracktorch [MySpace], Antler (guitarist/vocalist Marc Schleicher) and one part brother (bassist Keith Schleicher). Mike contacted me letting me know the band formed after Marc relocated from Boston and set up shop in Jersey. He sent along the EP for my listening pleasure. And a pleasure it is! The songs are baked in southern ‘70s hard rock with catchy riffs and plenty of power rumbling in the pipes. The info is sketchy but according the record’s liner notes, the four-song EP was recorded this year in Brooklyn, NY over five days (Feb 27, 28 & April 17, 18, 24, 25). Production was handled by Andrew Schneider (Throttlerod, The Brought Low, Hackman) with mastering by Nick Zampiello. Fans of our site will immediately make the Small Stone connection and that seems to be where the band are heading as the vibe is defiantly Detroit retro.

Take for instance “I-95” which opens the disc with a solid guitar wail and foot-stomping drum beat. Tambourine is added for flavor but the song bellows like fellow Boston-natives Roadsaw, mixing biker thunder with a Pat Travers/Leslie West riff-fest. Second track, “The Edge” is pure old school Nugent, including the repeat riff and frantic, almost MC5 delivery. Schleicher voice is ragged and ready to rock. The drums hammer and the bass drives laying down a solid bed for some sexy solo leads. “Duel” has more Fu Manchu in the groove. It’s mostly in the chorus, but the build in the verse is still very Scott Hill/Brant Bjork. The track also boasts our favorite solo – frayed, not over played and sparked with cosmic energy. “Motor” is a 13-minute stoner masterpiece. A heavy bottom end brings to mind Sabbath, Sasquatch and Mountain. The riff is clean but thick with a layered solo painting in all the little nuances – perfect for a psychedelic ride. The echo on the vocals adds to the songs dripping mysticism while the guitar is allowed to float, pierce and melt the brain. Yeah, it only four songs, but dude, sometime that’s all you need when they’re this good.

Review by Heavy Planet
I recently had a chance to hear some new material from thee guys and I’ll tell you right now, this is a band to be on the look out for. They’re going places. Their sound is straight up southern stoner rock. If I had to compare them, I’d say they’re a bit harder version of The Brought Low. Checkout the usual social media spots (links below) to hear what I’m talking about and keep up to date with all their happenings because you’ll certainly be hearing from them again.

Nice The Day The Earth Stood Still Release Date photos is a post from: The Day The Earth Stood Still

Fresh Thai Vegetables


Image by Barry Gourmet and Raw
Local Thai Fresh Vegetables all you can eat for Salads,Juicing,Smoothies,Soups,Pickling,Dressings,Toppings,Snacking,Blanching,Marination,composting and for seed saving,reuse and recycle.

Local Thai Fresh Vegetables:
Written by Barry Gourmet & Raw © Copyright September 09 2011.

“It is my hope that after reading this article you will think and look at vegetables in a different way then previously thought of before? “

Photo Description:
This Picture was taken at my local Sea Gypsy Village at the Pier in Rawai Beach Phuket Thailand.
Only about 15 minutes away by Mountain Bike from my home in Chalong ,this wonderful place offers just about everything for the Gourmet in You.

The Thai Sea Gypsy people are indigenous to Phuket ,living many generations on the island by fishing the sea for the seafood restaurants,Thai outdoor open markets, for the Expatriate and Thai Families as well.It is not uncommon for me to stop by on the way back from my Mountain Bike ride to fill my pack sack up with a few fresh vegetables and maybe some fish and seaweed as well. The food will be for todays meals and maybe could carry over to the second day to keep things as fresh as possible.As you can see from the photo this Thai market place is an open air, located beside the sea called the Andaman. When you by your seafood or vegetables or both ,you have the opportunity to have some of your food cooked for you at near by restaurants of your choice.But make sure that you tell the cooks not to make it HOT because if you forget this part , for sure it will come back spicy hot, unless you like it that way? From the distant pier Thai long tail boats or speed boats can be hired to take you to near by islands such as Coral Island for snorkeling and relaxing by the beach.
More than 200 different kinds of vegetables are harvested in Thailand each year.

Thailand is an agricultural country blessed with a bounty of exotic herbs,spices,vegetables,fruits,nuts,seeds and grains.

The Thai venders table shows 4 rows of typical Thai produce that can be seen all over Phuket island.
Starting at the top row from left to right we see, starting with the blue basket of green beans,green pepper corns in the pink basket,Yellow Turmeric root in the pink basket,and a tub each of shrimp paste ,and fish paste fermented. Two bags of soy bean sprouts,Galangal Root (related to Ginger),Asparagus,and Carrots.

Second row from the top ,starting left to right is ,a blue basket of Thai Egg Plant, the red basket has green and red peppers,the pink basket with whole Garlic,followed by Onions.

Third row from the top starting left to right is, more Thai Egg plants,Baby Cucumbers,Medium Cucumbers, two baskets of Tomatoes,followed by a pink basket of Onions.

Fourth row from the top in front of the table is,Phak chi farang,Thai Celery,Spring Onion,Mature Thai Celery,Large Bitter Melons,Giant White Radish ,Thai Long Purple Egg Plant,followed by a green basket of limes and packaged Shiitake Mushrooms. Limes are used more and are much more popular then Lemons in Thai cuisine.Very rare that I see Thai Yellow Lemons in the market place.

Why Buy Organically?

This question gets tossed around for ever , because I believe that first the typical grocery store is selling mostly conventional treated produce for a few decades now, and more and more shoppers today until recently are less complacent about how their food is produced and handled.
And on the other hand, many consumers do not want to pay the higher price for organic ,fruits and vegetables and they believe that simply rinsing and washing conventional produce will take care of the problem. This second point is why I am so compelled to write this article.

I wish that it was that simple but it is not. The stark truth is, that all the washing , rinsing,scrubbing,soaking with biodegradable cleaning agents will not get rid of the pesticides in your produce. This is why!
First our food provides nutrition to us not directly from the actual plant that we eat ,but really from the nutrients mainly from the soil, that the plants root systems are systemically absorbing internally and through out their stems and leaves. Plus our produce feeds off the the air, and the sun creating the green pigment of chlorophyl and fibers that are missing in all our meat products.

For instance in the Laboratories of Bio Tech Science it is common procedure for the scientists to routinely test their pesticide agents by inoculating the plants root systems to create data of the plants absorption rate via the root system in the soil. This method will tell science what efficacy the chemical toxin or pesticide has for making the plant disease and insect resistant.
So we are eating conventional plants that is harmful to nature including insect pests, but its OK for us to eat them in the end?
The problem with this method of controlling nature is simple. When the top soil is stripped of its natural amendments of more than 50 prime and trace inorganic minerals with only 3 from the chemical fertilizing industry , plus on top of this, our soil is saturated repeatedly with chemical pesticides , herbicides,fungicides and human waste with mono agriculture (planting the same crop over the same area year after year) our soil becomes woefully deficient , weakening the plant over time.Did you know that on average the chemical application applied to crops,actually succeeds in killing only 2 % of the targeted insect or pest . The rest of the chemical contaminates our ground water, our rivers,lakes,streams and ultimately our drinking water ,because we are drinking the same water over and over again from millions of years of Earths history.The fact is our water has been on Earth a lot longer than we have, and the water never goes any where ,in fact we are consuming our own recycled water for all time including the agricultural chemical run off.
To recap this means that the chemical is not on the out side of the plant as a residue that most people are made to believe,but actually the toxins are stored inside the whole plant including the skin,pulp stem,leaf and even the seed.Hybrid seed have been chemically treated to with stand pest control ,and you get only at best one crop or a second with less satisfactory results.
The best seed to support and buy are Heirloom Organically saved seeds that has been protected and shared among farmers for centuries. Today this sustainable Organic practice is under threat from the US Governments subsidizing with your tax payers money, Agricultural Chemical industries to control our food choices.When you think about it , the USA congress has more than 14,000 special interest group lobbyists to contend with for 365 days in the year. This is just a short list of the most powerful influential lobby groups as followed, the Chemical industry comprised of Human and Animal Feed Pharmaceuticals,Monsanto GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) Chemical Fertilizer Manufactures,The Bio Tech Industry, FDA,(Food and Drug Administration),AMA,(American Medical Association),all the Food Giants that produce products of Meat ,Dairy, and Processed packaged foods are all linked together in some way or other to control the food industry in such a way that has us believing that it is all good for us.These powerful influential groups have lots of marketing revenue to pay for TV, Radio,Newspaper, magazine,and movie theater adds used for pitching their processed denatured products using clever advertising to get into our heads using famous celebrities,slick 3-D Animations and slogans to promote their image and branding and they know it works.
It works because any given conventional supermarket today anywhere in the world still devotes ,11 isles of meat ,dairy,and packaged processed goods ,to only one or two isles to fresh produce of fruits ,vegetables, nuts,seeds,legumes,herbs,and condiments of Nature.
It is a supply and demand scenario that is playing out,on mass every day we enter the sliding doors of our local grocery store in one grand experiment for our hard earned income.

Conventional soil treated with pesticides against insects, herbicides against unwanted weeds,
Fungicides against Fungus, and Petroleum Based Fertilizers of NPK (Nitrogen , Phosphorus, and Potassium, that only contain 3 prime soil amendments is really unsustainable in the long run. But we know that earths natural fertile soil can contain well over 50 minerals including the essential trace minerals for strong plant health. Over time the chemical treated soil can become more compacted , dry and promote erosion as large parts of China is now experiencing,through the use of this unsustainable practice today. China is the leading the world in Chemical Fertilizer applications right after the USA. It has gotten so bad that now with many Bee colonies collapsing around the world from agricultural chemical use,now in some parts of China the farmers are forced to hand feed their flowers with pollen to grow their harvest as the bees have become extinct in that area.
The problem with conventional agricultural chemical applications is the efficacy is not working.Insects have been around for a very long time ,much longer then us, and they have the ability to adapt to these situations and they mutate and pass their mutated genes off to their offspring to become resistant and immune to the chemical. This forces the Chemical industry to repeatedly, go back to the drawing board,to come up with even more toxic and powerful chemicals that has no end in sight.It becomes a vicious no win situation between man and Nature.The fact is Chemical farming practices are environmentally unsustainable depleting the top soils of our crop lands. And in stark contrast Organic Agricultural practices actually amend the soils with natures biodegradable green composts including bio-diverse marine vegetation to support and to build up our top soils.Our greatest unseen subterranean gardner, the humble Earth Worm is working hard to build tunnels and drainage and to release its castings into the soil to feed , to aerate ,and to add additional drainage to Organic crops root systems. The dry sterile lifeless soil of chemical agriculture has no Earthworms to be found.

The Chemical Fertilizer Manufacturers Association was founded in the year 1897,one hundred and fifteen years ago from 2011. This is a very short time in mans history when you think of how many industrial chemicals with no long terms test results on human populations are now in our own body, plus the thousands that we are exposed to every day of our lives. It is estimated that every human being on Earth today has at least 200 to 500 industrial chemicals , from our water,air,and foods that even though in trace amounts we still do not know what the accumulative effect is on individuals.This kind of exposure was unheard of just a mere 100 years ago before the industrial revolution kicked in to full operation.
More than a hundred years ago ,planet Earth had natural enriched top soil that sustained the human population by Organic means. Back then Organic agriculture was very labour intensive for some crops , and later more innovative ways of increasing crop yields spurred on a new industry to bring short term gains to family farms ,that later mushroomed into very large industrial factory farms that we have today.Today these chemical agricultural Giants , have primarily today replaced many of our ancestral small family farms of the past. But a few are still holding on as Organically grown produce is one of the fastest growing industries supported by a large enough consumer base to keep it going. More people are starting to become aware and informed of their healthy food choices and the information highway has made things easier for the Organic movement to sustain its marketable growth.

A lot of people will not be happy with the following information regarding red meat consumption but the story needs to be told, and the truth needs to be known. The fact is todays meat of every kind in comparison to fruits and vegetables, are much more contaminated with industrial chemicals, heavy metals,antibiotics,growth hormones,parasites,diseased parts,preservatives ,coloring agents,GMO and the list goes on. What Happened ?

"How can we possibly live with Pesticides when we have been living without for millions of years already ? Can Humans Gene pool keep up with the chemical load?"

Barry Gourmet & Raw

He Ran All The Way (1951) …..item 1..Apocalyptic squattersville for recession refugees (October 09, 2011) …


Image by marsmet551
Carranco, an ex-Marine and jack-of-all-trades, lost his job at a factory in San Diego when it shut down, lost his apartment when he couldn’t pay the rent, lost his temporary home when the city towed his van, and lost the van for good when the parking fees climbed to unattainable heights. More than a thousand dollars — might as well have been a million.

…..item 1)….website …. life.salon.com …TOPIC

American Spring

SUNDAY, OCT 9, 2011 9:00 AM EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME

Apocalyptic squattersville for recession refugees
They come to Slab City, out of work and low on hope, to endure heat, sandstorms and life on the edge

BY EVELYN NIEVES
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img code photo….Slab City…..almost there !!!

media.salon.com/2011/10/SlaCity11-460×307.jpg

(Credit: Misha Erwitt)
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life.salon.com/2011/10/09/apocalyptic_squattersville_for_…

TOPICS:AMERICAN SPRING, GREAT RECESSION, SLIDE SHOWS

How George Carranco wound up in Slab City, a squattersville at the end of the earth, is a story for these hard times.

Carranco, an ex-Marine and jack-of-all-trades, lost his job at a factory in San Diego when it shut down, lost his apartment when he couldn’t pay the rent, lost his temporary home when the city towed his van, and lost the van for good when the parking fees climbed to unattainable heights. More than a thousand dollars — might as well have been a million.

Three years of bad breaks later, Carranco had had enough. He revived an ’83 Dodge camper that he picked up for free and, with his girlfriend and five Chihuahuas, headed east, 155 miles from San Diego, to where the roads give up and the desert takes over.

Unwittingly, the 56-year-old Carranco had joined the latest wave of migrants to Slab City: refugees of the recession. Beaten down by a brutal economy, they’re straggling to this desolate outpost of societal dropouts to recover their wits and duck the national malaise.

Of course, Slab City is no city, and no picnic. Some 640 acres of state-owned sand and scrub near the Salton Sea, it offers no electricity, no sewerage, no running water. Once, it was a Marine training base. When it was decommissioned, nothing was left but the concrete slabs where barracks once stood. Gradually, people with souls to mend or demons to kill started camping on the slabs.

Maybe after the apocalypse the world would look like Slab City. Slabbers live in trailers, trucks and old buses scattered as though a twister had tossed them up and dropped them. Power comes from solar panels, batteries and portable generators — you’re rich here if you have one. Signs and structures are made from tires, wires and spare parts.

Until recently, only about 75 to 100 people called Slab City home all year, and they have their own sad stories to tell, usually involving breakups, bankruptcies or booze. But these days, they’re more interested in talking about the newcomers, who’ve swelled the ranks of the year-round population to about 200.

It says something about the state of the nation, slabbers will tell you, shaking their heads, when Slab City is becoming more of a refuge for the down and out than ever before.

“Some people come by foot,” said Ben Morofsky, who is 49 and has lived in Slab City for 22 years. “They’ve lost everything.”

Tent cities started cropping up all over the country once the recession began taking its toll, and a couple, like Dignity Village in Portland, Ore., or Nickelsville, in Seattle, are officially sanctioned by city officials. Dignity Village even makes prospective residents fill out applications

But there is no squat in the country like Slab City. Here, residents make the rules as they go along, and county and state officials let them be unless real trouble happens. Rarely does a sheriff happen by. It’s even rarer still that one is summoned. Utter detachment from the rest of society may be Slab City’s main attraction.

While there are no official statistics on Slab City — no one counts who comes and goes — judging from interviews here, the newcomers are trekking to the slabs from all over. Seattle to Staten Island, San Diego to Tennessee. Single men, mostly, in their 40s and 50s. But couples, too. Even a few families.

“It’s not the best place for kids,” said James Edward, who moved to the slabs nine months ago from Montgomery, Ala., with his wife and two children, 11 and 14 years old. Edward, 38 years old, was working as a regional manager for the Applebee’s restaurant chain, he said, for many hours and not enough pay. He looked and looked, he said, but could not find a better job. So he and his wife decided to ride out the economy at the slabs.

People come here out of desperation. But like Edward, many also want or need a reprieve from the newest normal, where workers toil longer for the same pay in jobs they hate but fear losing. They’ve heard of Slab City through the 2007 film version of “Into the Wild,” and like the rich pageant of life the movie displays.

“Into the Wild’s” Slab City is a hobo-boho Shangri-La. People live free and happy, selling books to tourists for a living, cooking communal meals. They take visitors to Salvation Mountain, a three-story sculpture made of clay, straw and paint that stands near the entrance to the slabs. They have nightly concerts, strum guitars, clink beers around warming fires.

That’s the Slab City that a 25-year-old woman who hitchhiked to Slab City from Kansas wanted when she decided she didn’t want to worry about paying bills all the time. It’s the Slab City that attracted a 48-year-old man who had left his landscaping business in Staten Island for a relationship in Oregon that failed, leaving him with nothing. “Into the Wild” showed him, he said, that there was a happy alternative to going back to Staten Island a bum and moving in with his parents.

Slabbers are friendly. And Slab City does hold weekly concerts. But it is hardly a romantic life.

Only the strong or the mad survive here. During the summer, temperatures reach 125 degrees in the shade, and the runty Joshua trees are precious and few. Just living is a full-time job. Water, which residents buy in the nearby town, is always being hauled, boiled or bottled. Everything is rationed, and chores like washing dishes or cooking take twice as long as in the real world. Bathing is a luxury, one indulged only when very necessary.

The broken-down town of Niland, five miles west, provides a grocery store and post office. For gas or more shopping, slabbers head to Calipatria, 12 miles south, Brawley, 25 miles south, or across the border to Mexicali, about 50 miles down, where a dollar still buys more than it does in the States.

Most slabbers survive on government checks, food stamps and donations from ministries. Come winter, when hundreds of trailered retirees, or snowbirds, descend on the slabs for the season, the regulars make money doing odd jobs for them. Some newcomers come with a little money in their pockets. Others, like Carranco, rely on the kindness of slabbers.

Carranco, with no cellphone or post office box, had been waiting for word from his girlfriend, who had an actual job and a place to stay near Palm Springs, for nearly two months. Then she came back, broke up with him, took their Chihuahuas and his food stamp card.

“Thank goodness for charity,” Carranco said, rocking himself on the remains of a recliner outside his lean-to. It was 105 degrees, getting dark and he had no source of power save for a solar light on top of his camper and batteries for his portable stereo.

A wiry man with sharp cheekbones, black hair to his shoulders and a growing beard, Carranco looks like an apostle from Da Vinci’s “Last Supper.” After a couple of months, new slabbers look like they’ve lived here forever. The men grow beards, the women go gray. People age in dog years. Even the children.

Minister Patrick McFarland, who runs the Slab City Christian Center, a trailer more popular for its daily bread offerings than its sermons, has watched newcomers flee as if being chased.

“It’s kind of a raw experience,” McFarland said. “People don’t expect how hard it is.” He and his wife ran a ministry for outlaw bike groups in Joshua Tree, Calif., before moving here a year and a half ago. Then he was diagnosed with bladder cancer and had to leave for treatment. Back for six months, McFarland still seemed to be adjusting.

He was wondering, he asked an Imperial County sheriff’s deputy who had led an out-of-town visitor to the slabs, whether he could carry a firearm if it was concealed, or displayed?

Neither, without a permit, the deputy said.

“Then, I could carry a knife, I guess,” McFarland said.

The Christian Center had been burglarized a few times, Carranco said, as had his own encampment. The old-timers blamed newcomers who haven’t learned slabber rules.

Jerry Ray Jones, who has lived 62 years the hard way, 26 of them in Slab City, said any article should warn newcomers away.

When he arrived, he said, with a story too long to tell, only about 10 people lived in Slab City. They were bona fide loner types. Crack, meth and liquor brought more people to the slabs, and other reasons. Outright poverty was never No. 1 before now.

You’re a real slabber if you can stick out more than one summer, the saying goes here. But Mary Dillon and her husband had lasted three summers — “Into the Wild” brought them — and they never felt at home.

They were in Niland, buying ice and supplies to take on the road. Dillon, who is 52, said she and her husband were going back to Washington state. They had just sold their trailer, were checking their mail, and were taking off.

Dillon’s husband, a 66-year-old retiree, didn’t want to talk or give his name. He said it was just better that way, given the topic was Slab City.

“We don’t want no trouble,” Dillon said, though she managed to give a sheriff’s deputy an earful about some goings-on at the slabs. “We just want a normal life again.” They had 1,300 miles to drive, and were looking forward to it.

View the slide show

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Evelyn Nieves, former staff writer and columnist for the New York Times, is working on a book. More Evelyn Nieves
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…..item 1.1….website…… life.salon.com ……slide show

Apocalyptic squattersville for recession refugees

They come to Slab City, out of work and low on hope, to endure heat, sandstorms and life on the edge

BY EVELYN NIEVES

life.salon.com/2011/10/09/apocalyptic_squattersville_for_…
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…..item 2…website…

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/He_Ran_All_the_Way

He Ran All the Way
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
He Ran All the Way

Directed byJohn Berry
Produced byBob Roberts
Paul Trivers
Written bySam Ross (novel)
Hugo Butler
Dalton Trumbo (screenplay)
StarringJohn Garfield
Shelley Winters
Music byFranz Waxman
CinematographyJames Wong Howe
Editing byFrancis D. Lyon
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date(s)June 19, 1951
Running time77 minutes
LanguageEnglish

He Ran All the Way is a 1951 crime drama, considered a film noir, starring John Garfield and Shelley Winters. The film was Garfield’s last, as accusations of his involvement with the Communist Party and a refusal to name names while testifying before the HUAC led to his blacklisting in Hollywood. He died less than a year later, at age thirty-nine, from coronary thrombosis due to a blood clot blocking an artery in his heart. During the film’s initial run, director John Berry and writers Dalton Trumbo and Hugo Butler were uncredited due to blacklisting during the Red Scare. The film’s plot of a family held in their home by a killer on the lam has often been emulated, by such films as 1955′s The Desperate Hours.
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Plot

Petty thief Nick Robey (John Garfield) botches a robbery, leaving his partner Al (Norman Lloyd) severely wounded as Nick escapes with over ,000. Meeting bakery worker Peg Dobbs (Shelley Winters) in friendly conversation, when Peg takes Nick to her family’s apartment, he decides to take the family hostage until he can escape. As a manhunt for Nick begins outside, the robber becomes increasingly paranoid. Meanwhile, Peg schemes to sacrifice herself for the safety of her family.
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Cool The Day The Earth Stood Still Full Movie images is a post from: The Day The Earth Stood Still

Question by Jen: Where to download The Day the Earth Stood Still?
I have searched every where for a site that I can download or watch The Day The Earth Stood Still. Does anyone know where I can actually download the movie for real? Easy 10 pts for the best answer.

Best answer:

Answer by Sambalo M
Here is a great site I use to download every movie I want. Give it a try they have tons of movies that you can watch and download. Im more then sure that you will find it here.

http://movies.coz.bz/

Good luck.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Where to download The Day the Earth Stood Still? is a post from: The Day The Earth Stood Still

How to Grow Wheat-Grass-in-pots


Image by Barry Gourmet and Raw
Takes only 7days to make for beverages to cleanse the Blood, support your Immunity, & Lose Weight

How to Grow Wheat Grass in Pots?

Barry’s introduction for Wheat Grass methods and uses:
Written by Barry Gourmet & Raw © Copyright September 13th 2011

This article is one of the most important health and wellness tips that I am putting on the table for you to date. Many people do not know what wheat grass is , or how to make it, or tasted it , or what it does for your body. Many people I can say are really missing out on a Liquid Mineral and Vitamin supplement that goes directly into your blood stream to support your internal environment in such a positive and profound away. Many people including myself, having embraced this Superfood into our lives have obtained a long grocery list of positive health benefits from its use.

I can say that in the first half of my life ,I never even heard of this deep green liquid beverage called Wheat Grass ,until I tried it one day at my local health food store back in the middle 80s.
No one will ever forget that first gulp that really can stay with you for the rest of your life, and it can send you either way in the taste department . You either LOVE it or you HATE it, because the wheat grass is loaded with Alkaloids,and is a powerful Bitter Sweet tasting, Green Tonic that awakens all your senses in one shot.

Wheat grass is a gift from nature , and can be used in so many different ways to make it more palatable to ones sensitive taste buds as I will demonstrate in this writing.

My first fateful introduction to Wheat Grass happened very innocently as I stood their one early Sunday morning in Sherman Oaks California , waiting for the stop light to turn green .
It was one of those rare days that I actually walked , with my car abandoned at a nearby hospital parking lot,to just escape for a moment from my working life.

As I crossed the street a big sign in front of a store window caught my attention like a magnet drawing me to it with more curiosity.

The words of the sign read, ORGANIC FOOD SOLD HERE , and with no words about wheat grass but I was still compelled to check out this store anyway. Little did I know that my whole life was about to change , and it was like some subconscious force in my mind encouraged me to forge ahead, to find the TRUTH,to discover one of Natures many powerful natural foods, that would help eliminated all the symptoms that I carried around with me inside my body.

What really struck me about this store was first the vibrancy and freshness of the huge selection of produce, and then the smaller section of what I thought looked like the typical processed food illes that I was used to seeing in the other grocery stores that I shopped at.
And then with more careful inspection I soon realized that I was looking at bottled and packaged foods of Vitamin and Mineral Supplements, Super Foods, Herbs ,Tingsters, Herbal Teas,natural personal body care products and food based nutritional extracts to just name a few. After the stores knowledgable clerk kindly explained to me what each product item was, and what it could do for me , I have to admit that at the time ,I was very overwhelmed with information overload, and headed over to the checkout counter with these new strange novelty health items in my arms.

Waiting patiently with other customers inline in front of me, I noticed several racks of free health pamphlets on display and I was again distracted with my curiosity taking in all this material with new strange names that where not part of my vocabulary. Not waisting any time

I quickly gathered up every health pamphlet on display that I could fit into a nearby shopping cart with my purchased items as the rest of the customers where already long gone by then. As I filled my cart up, I noticed out of the corner of my eye,an impressive library of health books in the far corner of the store, but the boat load of freebies will have to do for now, was all I could think.

I can still remember to this day the way my Cashier Lady friend smiled and looked at me knowingly like I was her first Newbie Customer of the day but friendly just the same.
Little did I know at the time that I possessed a Wealth of Health information even though it was condensed down ,and to the point.I had so much of it, that I could have easily wallpapered my small apartment with much to spare.

It was noon now and before I got to my car,I stopped off at my first health food eatery and ordered my first Avocado Whole grain sandwich with herb tea. I really must have lived a sheltered life I thought to myself .Needless to say my first taste of health food was delicious and since then, Avocado the good fat , has been a key ingredient in many of my recipes.

Have you ever seen the movie Forest Gump staring the actor Tom Hanks? If you haven’t it is a must see movie as this main character in the film would innocently stumble upon new situations in his life with out giving up. Back then I had no idea what I was doing, I had no idea that I was later detoxing myself with all the information found in my self help pamphlets.I did not know or understand that I was doing the right thing for my body at the time.Like Forest Gump, I just knew that I was feeling better with time , and my excess weight just dropped off of me.
It took months for me to connected all the dots together ,and to realize later that I was on the right course and later adopted my new found life style, and embraced my discovered Health Freedom.

You have to realize that back then the internet was not so popular, I did not have a computer and everything was in print .As I turned over the bags of health material across my dinning room table, a few spilled out and over onto the floor, and I picked up one pamphlet closest to me.

“It read How to grow your own Wheat Grass authored by Dr. Anne Wigmore.”

For any body that does not know Dr. Anne Wigmore she is and will always be acknowledged by her followers as the “Wheat Grass Lady” and co founder of the Hippocrates Health Institute working with Viktoras Kulvinskas located in, Boston Massachusetts. Anne Wigmores movement opened up centers around the world and her name still lives on today for her research work regarding this powerful wheat grass body cleanser. Hippocrates a Greek Physician living thousands of years ago is the founding father of modern medicine today, and it is his oath that all interns today resit at graduation to become licensed Medical Doctors. Of all the famous quotes made from Hippocrates that speak the Truth for myself and I am sure for many others ,his words would be as follows………..
“ Let food be your medicine,and medicine be your food” …… When I first read this powerful message years ago I naturally carried the thought with me and later adopted the concept ,simply as “Connect with Nature and to do no Harm”.

I felt that Wheat Grass Juice was a powerful element coming from nature , and I started to use it in a complementary fashion with other cleansing whole foods in my life style.

Wheat Grass Juice at a Glance:

Fresh Wheat Grass is extremely Alkaline and Cleansing to your body ,which can help nutralize toxins in your internal digestive environment.

Fresh Wheat Grass juice is rich in natural Chlorophyll (the blood of all plant life) It is the green Chlorophyll that is rich in Oxygen and Enzymes that go directly to your cells minus the fiber that slows down digestion.

Fresh Wheat Grass will improve digestion and help to increase your metabolism and is a good appetite suppressor for people wanting to lose excessive weight.

At one time all grasses used to be fed to our live stock, which produced higher levels of the essential omega 3 fatty acids in there meat and the cuts where more lean. But now this Sustainable Agricultural practice is a rarity these days with more family owned farms being forced out of business. Now today much of our live stock is fed with factory farmed corn . Much of this corn grown today for our beef industry is GMO genetically modified organisms that of course is not labeled for consumer confidence.
Today I elect to eat the cows wheat grass for my self ,and to let the cow have her corn.
“On a nutritional score I will take the Wheat Grass over cows corn any time of the day, Thank You.”

Fresh Wheat Grass is loaded with bioavailable nutrition and very high in the minerals Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium ,Iron and high in the vitamins Beta Carotene (Pro Vitamin A) and C.

All living foods such as Wheat Grass will help feed ,and support our living Bacteria cultures about 5 to 6 pounds of this complex friendly flora bacteria residing in our stomach ,and intestines to support our immune system from invading organisms.

The molecules of Fresh Wheat Grass Juice is very similar to our own human blood chemistry. The only difference is the hemoglobin in Human blood, containing (FE) Iron gives our blood that deep red color.
And the Magnesium molecules (Mg) in the plants Chlorophyll rich blood provides the green color that we see so readily in nature. It is just amazing to me how humans, wild life,and the plant life on Earth share similarities respectfully , and structurally we are so connected with nature.

Wheat is a product that is used in so many of our foods including baked goods , proccesed foods,the supplement industry,beverages,medication,restaurants,fast food outlets you name it.
Wheat Berries are very high in the protein Gluten, that people with Celiac Disease ,or people that have allergies to Wheat consumption cannot not tolerate.

Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes a persons internal environment in the small intestinal tract to be damaged ,creating problems of malabsorption of nutrients that could lead to malnutrition, and whole list of unexplained symptoms in the body.

Other people could simply have an intolerance to Gluten or just have allergic reactions to the offending protein.

The problem with wheat and related Gluten grains are simple. The symptoms are so varied that they can mimic other ailments in the body and never get diagnosed, or even worse the chronic damage to the small intestines could go on with out exhibiting any symptoms at all in the person.
The good news is that Wheat Grass has no Gluten at all as the protein is dissolved into the wheat berries itself and is not found in the grass blades. So it is safe for all to drink Wheat Grass with out the risk of Gluten intolerance or to experience allergic reactions from consuming this liquid sunshine beverage.
To get around this potential problem , I eat a varied diet with some days having no grain at all.
It really is not difficult as there are so many alternative recipe ideas out there that do not include grains of any kind and I make many of them every day in my garden kitchen and they are very delicious. The Gluten grains to eat less of or to eliminate from your diet is Wheat Berries ,Spelt, Rye ,Triticale and Kamut.

The second thing that you can do is go for the non gluten grains ,such as Buckwheat which is really not related to wheat at all but classified as a fruit seed, Amaranth and Quinoa are ancient small grains that look more like seeds, plus Corn ( make sure its organic). Millet is a delicious small nutty tasting grain. Brown Rice including all other varieties of rice that are in the hundreds ,plus my favorite germinated GABA brown rice is also a good choice to make. So there you can see that there is a lot of non gluten delicious choises for you to make and I think it just makes good nutritional sense for your health to include a big variety of grains on rotation with even a few non grain days to give your self maximum nutritional support.

When on occasion I do eat Glutinous Wheat Berries , my method of preparation will take some of the gluten out of the Wheat Berries by sprouting for 2 to 3 days then steaming them there after.
It does seem to most people that it is a lot of trouble to do this,but for me it is not because it only takes me a couple of minutes a day to prepare them out of my schedule.
The big thing that I wish to convey here to you,is that many Processed Foods ,mostly from the Food Giants, have the protein gluten as a main ingredient, a secondary ingredient , or even a hidden unlabeled ingredient and I see this all the time. I do not eat processed food in my life style with few exceptions. It is not difficult to do and it can be done.

"I have yet to see cooked food germinate, sprout, and bring fourth life? Let me know when this happens? "

Barry Gourmet & Raw

Barry’s Weight Loss and Nutritional Tips:

Wheat Grass is a known and proven appetite suppressant that will fire up your metabolism .
Other nutrient dense foods that will provide the same benefit for you is pure 100% Dark Chocolate with out any refined sugar or sweetener added(Pure Cocoa)
The Super Green Algae Marine water Spirulina and fresh water Chlorella powders.
Green Tea extract and Green Tea beverages are all appetite sup-resents and metabolism boosters. Ginger herb powder extract and its fresh herb counter part will assist in your digestion, and is a good stomach remedy that will add internal heat to your body.
All of the above mentioned will help you with losing weight. I know this ,from taking these powerful herbs and super foods myself as my appetite would be indeed temporarily suppressed ,allowing my stomach and digestive organs to finish their job.

Also taking in nutrient dence nutrition this way will send a signal to your pituitary gland at the base of your brain that will send messages to your other glands that in-turn regulates your metabolism. By eating nutrient dense foods like this, will help replace the empty calorie foods found in most man made processed packaged foods including heavy starchy cooked meals lacking in enzyme nutrition.

Barry’s Wheat Grass Experience Overseas:

The method for growing Wheat Grass in pots is really easy to do, as any person can learn to do this wonderful act of producing living foods. The great part of this is you do not need a traditional garden ,just a dark area of your kitchen or bath room that takes up a small space.
The important thing to have of course is a reputable ORGANIC seed supplier that has a good track record for delivering seeds that can sprout consistently . If the Wheat Barrie grains don’t sprout for more than at least 80 % of the seed planted then I would reconsider looking for another company for better sprouting results. Also it is important to note that if you see a lot of grains floating on the water surface that this is not a good sign.Wheat Berries that float normally do not sprout. Not all grains of wheat sprout at the same consistency so it is a good idea to start with grains locally to see how it goes with a small batch , and try another. I have had success and less successful results this way.

A good time to start is just before bedtime so allow yourself a few minutes for this.
Once you have your wheat berries then decide how much you would like to sprout ?and store the rest of your grains in airtight glass mason jars in a cool dark storage place.For the first time you may want to start of with a smaller amount of grain to cover ,lets say the estimated surface area of two clay pots 12 inches across? Or for what ever is available for your first time out.

Day 1:Place your wheat berries in a large ceramic or glass mixing bowl, (Never use Plastic) . Then fill with pure filtered water 3 to 4 inches above the surface level of your grains and stir with large spoon mixing the whole mixture. You will probably notice a lot of sediment and coloring in the water. It is important to rinse off all the gray sprouted water by taking a pail and placing a metal colander over top to pour your grains into it as the water collects at the base of the pail. Keep repeating this process until the water is crystal clear to the eyes. It should take about only 3 rinses to achieve this result. This is important because for best results you want to release all the protective enzyme inhibiters that surround each wheat berry grain that has a membrane coating , keeping the grain dormant indefinitely until the right conditions are presented such as water , air, and darkness.

Note about the collected rinse water: The water collected in the pail is excellent nurishment for your house plants or garden outside .

Then fill your bowl of Wheat Berries once more again ,with enough water ,about 3 inches above the grains surface. Lay a kitchen towel loosly over the bowl to create darkness ,turn off all the lights and then go to bed.

Day 2: In the morning check up on your bowl of submerged wheat berries, you may notice a difference in the way they look? Like looking more plump,thats a good sign as they soaked up some of the water.

Repeat Day 1 of rinsing until the water is clear again. Then inside of your metal colander spread a thin layer of all your Wheat Berries using the bottom round side of your big spoon to form a punch bowl shape of grains spreading up and around the colanders insides. You may need 2 stainless steel colanders to finish the job.

NOTE:Why I believe my colander method is a better, than the jar method? First you only attend the sprouts once per day and not 2 times like the jar method. And secondly I find that one day is saved in the total sprouting process, because my method exposes more circulating air and less moister , helping the grains to sprout faster.
Third there is no chance for the grains to spoil or grow mould from having too much moister and not enough air circulation. So in my opinion this method is more efficient and you get faster,and better results.

Put a dinner plate under the colander to collect any residual water ,with your spoon ,again spread the grains across and up the sides walls of your colander. Then cover the colander with a loose towel to put your sprouts in darkness again ,but also they are allowed to breath. Move everything to the darkest part of your kitchen or bathroom with the lights out. Or you can even put them in your kitchen cupboard with the door slightly open for air circulation using any object as a stopper.

Day 3 : In the morning inspect your colander of sprouted wheat , what do you see?
This time your Wheat Berry grains will be even more swelled up, but also a small stem like growth may have appeared and this indicates that your grain is starting to germinate and sprout for planting later.
I still get goose bumps with excitement , even today when I see this miracle of nature happen and I have been doing this for more than 25 years now. I sprout almost everything from different grains,seeds,legumes and nuts and it still fascinates me.

Repeat the rinsing process from day 2 until the water in the bowl is clear again then place a ,spread the grains as you did before along the insides of your colander , Then place a towel over the colander of grains to put into darkness again.

The next step is to go to your local nursery garden shop,where they sell a bag of dark rich organic soil.
And you would need a couple of clay pots with the holes at the bottom and also around the sides if you can find them but don’t worry a normal caly pot will do as well. In the photo you can see that the Wheat Grass roots have actually done by spreading deep through the soil ,and even out through the pots many holes. More air circulation in the soil helps faster growth from using these kinds of clay pots.

Buy a bag of medium size stones or you can even use discarded broken pieces of pottery as a drainage layer placed at the bottom of each clay pot.

The reason that I do not use plastic pots is in the fact that environmentally they are hazardous. Plastic is made with petrol chemicals that leech by product toxins into our eco system. I know we have plastic all around us it is not avoidable, I just think it should not be part of our soil and in the foods that we eat.Did you know that the largest land fill on our planet is not even on land. No its out in the Pacific ocean between the continental United States and the islands of Hawaii. This plastic land fill is the size of the state of Texas. Our unsustainable love affair with plastic pollution cannot be contained , and the marine life such as large filter feeders and smaller marine life is being adversely affected in that area.
Besides I think natural clay pots ,or ceramic as well just look better in the garden.And they look better on your window sill or any place in your home much more then plastic pots.

Day 4: Repeat the procedure again of rinsing and storage of grains in your colanders, and this time have a good inspection of your wheat berries.If you see some good stem growth on most of all your wheat berries at least 80 % of them, then it is a good time for planting.
If not then cover your colender with a towel and store them in darkness for planting the next morning.

Asuming that your wheat berries are all looking good,then bring out your clay pots, and make sure there is about 2 inches of stones ,broken pottery,marbles, or any hard subtances to allow good drainage.
Next add your Organic soil into the pot to leave at least 2 to 3 inches of space between the rim and surface of soil. A good 5 to 6 inches depth of soil is good.

Your wheat berries at this stage should have soft but firm bodies that can be easily sqeezed between your fingers .
Whet the soil down a little with pure filtered water , but not too much to form any puddle.
Spread your sprouted wheat berries in all directions over the surface of the soil,so that the grains are touching next to each other but not piled on top of each other.

Then place a dry news paper on top to cover the surface.
Then using a spray bottle wet the news paper down and you can drape a loose towel over top for darkness. Any seed, grain, legume or nut that is exposed to water and kept in darkness all the time like this , will think that they are actually in the ground ,and will start to sprout.
Your potted grains need to be still inside for the warmth of room temperature to encourage sprouting. Later in the day or just before you go to bed if you see that the news paper has dried out just give it another spray of water to wet the paper down again. No peaking!

Day 5:On this early morning day,all your TLC should be bringing you sure signs of LIFE as you slowly peel away the news papers.

What do you see? If you see most of all your grain sprouts reaching for the sky with longer stems then you have succeeded . They will be a color of pale cream and light green.

Give them some pure filtered water ,just enough to saturate the soil ,with out puddles.
You can leave them uncovered for good air circulation but still in darkness.
Before you go to bed you can give them some more water. “Good Night”

Day 6: On this morning, again inspect your juvenile wheat grass . You should see a lot of pale colored greenish hair growing upwards peaking over the rim of your clay pots.This is a good time to take them out side if it is a sunny summer day . If it is a cold winter then put the pots beside a big window for lots of sunshine . It is still important that the temperature around the wheat grass is still warm or room temperature. Water them, and water them again before bed.

Day 7: In the morning you should see a dramatic difference in your wheat grass by now!
The grasses are now long and green all bunched together ,maybe 5 to 6 inches tall? You can still let your grass grow another day all the way up to 10 days as you harvest what you need for your juicing pleasure. Always water once in the morning and once in the evening. You may have noticed that I purposely had you tend to your growing wheat grass either early in the morning and later in the evening only because this would not interfere with your daily schedule and in this way the program can be fitted in even for the busy person.
To harvest your wheat grass ,just use some scissors,and cut near the roots for the best nutrition.
Cut as much wheat grass as you need to make 4 ounces of juice.

I use a manual hand crank juicer that does a good job and they are affordable.
A slower revolution of the blades preserves more of the nutrition and with less oxidation.
The fibrous pulp will come out one end and the dark green juice will be collected in a container. I compost the fiber or if you don’t have a com-poster then you can mix the fiber in with your potting soil deep as it will all break down eventually and add aeration to the soil.

The Tray Method:
Another popular method among Sproutarians is to us a larger surface area using a shallow square or rectangle shaped tray.

It is the same method as the pots, but this time you just spread only about inch thick of organic peat moss. Another option is using some organic rich dark loamy garden soil .Sometimes I make a soil amendment of adding some pre soaked seaweed ,such as Wakami ,Kelp,or Chinese to my blender with a little pure water and blend into a liquid. This can be added and worked into the soil with a simple kitchen fork for extra fertilization to the soil but don’t overdo it as the wheat sprout is a hardy grain. Water the soil with out forming puddles.Then spread the germinated wheat sprouts across to the edges of the tray,so that the grains are touching but not piled on top of each other.Water the sprouts with out forming any puddle. And with a spray bottle wet them down. Cover them with dry newspaper , and wet the news paper down with out puddling.
Keep the trays inside in a dark room lightly covered with a towel for smaller productions and a bed spread for larger productions. Your trays of sprouts can also be stored in your cabinetry with the door slightly opened for air with darkness for the next 3 days . One time in the morning and one time in the evening give water to your sprouts and on the third day of awakening you should see a forest of pale green colored wheat grass. First move your trays to indirect natural sunlight . Then over the days ,the trays can be further moved to fuller sun light for maximum effect for photosynthesis of your grass blades, to collect energy from the sun.

It was just a matter of time , when after days, then weeks, then months of experimentation I started to see positive results in my health. And during my transition time ,my new way of thinking about food changed dramatically. I was no longer eating food off the canteen truck like I used to ,and instead I was bringing in my clearly marked bagged lunches and green smoothies into work. Looking inside the large studio refrigerator every day, I could not help notice how different the diets where of most of my colleagues in comparison to what I was eating.

I had realized then that I had become a Fruitarian,Vegetarian,Rawtarian,Sproutarian,Medtarian,(Mediterranean)
Macterian,(Macrobiotics)and Vegan days all rolled up into one and my lunches reflected this change in my life.

You have to understand that I was working in a Cartoon Studio in Hollywood California for Hanna -Barbera Studios at that time ,animating the cartoon feature film production ,entitled “Once Upon a Forest” a film about the environment of animals in the forest.
I was drinking so much carrot juice at the time , that my skin was actually taking on an orange color mostly in my hands ,but it was only temporary and it disappeared when I cut back.

I remember it was in 1990 when I got that telephone call at work , from Walt Disney Company to work overseas in Korea for the next 2 years.I know that this may raise a few eye brows among some of you, but I was actually practicing Agriculture in my business hotel room in down town Soul Korea. I had everything covered up in darkness so the maid was non the wiser.I was using the Matt Method,colander staining method ,hidden away in dresser drawers, closets, and under the bed. I had many of my sprouts in jars hidden under several card board boxes as well.

It was usually on the third day,that the gig was up and my secret was out because of course my sprouts needed fresh air and sunlight to grow and prosper.

During those 2 years It was not just the wheat grass growing in the various hotel rooms (the later ones had balconies)with stacks of trays everywhere ,it was everything else too like , Mung, Alfalfa, Pumpkin, Sunflower,Basil,Barley and others.

Eventually I moved into the privacy of my own flat to grow my food, and to live my Sproutarian Life in more privacy. Some times I would go to a nice restaurant , where the management new me, and accepted my patronage for some of my favorite Korean dishes like Brown Rice Bi-Bi m-Bap ,a Salad,with Miso Soup and some Herbal Tea. Occasionally I would slip some of my home made sprouts into my dish served.

But this was a good way for me to supplement my Korean diet and I enjoyed the Korean Red and White Ginseng that was on offer by the store box fulls, and the traditional Kimchi. (Fermented vegetables) Since then I moved around a lot living in different places all over Asia and Europe .I discovered different ethnic ,and cultural cuisines that up to this day has profoundly influenced my way of thinking about food, and the recipes that followed.
For the serious Wheat Grass Grower that happens to live in a tropical climate all year round like myself, an interesting option became available to me. Growing wheat grass outdoors in raised garden beds by the boat load was possible even living here in Phuket Thailand !
I hope that you have enjoyed reading my experience with food ? Especially about growing wheat grass ,as much as I have enjoyed writing about my experience for you.

Nutrition and in this case, more interesting Earth Recipe choices can be easily created by you with color and incredible good taste directly from Nature. Delicious recipes can come from Nature , it does not have to be processed.
For seed companies ,when you are happy with a company then stay with them but always keep your eyes out for competitive offers as well. I use my own supplier in Thailand for now so I do not have any experience with the suppliers on my short list. But I did review their websites and many have good information to give you,for sprouting of living foods. I enjoyed visiting them all. “I wish you all the success for your new healthy lifestyle as a fellow Sproutarian.”

" The blood of plants is green in color , the blood of humans and animals are red in color, this is where the difference ends."

Barry Gourmet & Raw

Barry’s Gourmet Sprouting Tip:
When you prepare your recipes using Organic or Heirloom produce,you have a wonderful option to save yourself a lot of money and to put more food on your table for your self and your family and it is all for FREE.

Save your seeds for later use. You can sprout with them, grow fruits and vegetables in your existing garden and a lot more. I don’t know why I did not think of this years ago? I have been practicing this seed saving good for the environment habit for about 4 years now from this writing.
When you think of it our forefathers and family owned farms for generations have been saving their own seeds for the next generation of harvest. So why cant we do the same thing even though it is on a much smaller scale? In my teens I used to work for a grocery store, and it just amazed me how much expired food was being dumped out along with the seeds to our land fills. What a waste of resources.

“Seeds are a gift from nature to be used over and over again, and not to be discarded for ever.”

Seed saving is easy and practical when you schedule in the time to practice this important way of living green.

First you want to save seeds that you grow, and that your garden naturally grows as your existing soil will already be suited for this purpose. For example when I compost my kitchen scraps then later distribute the green manure around my garden , I see in time hundreds of little Papaya trees growing everywhere so in this case I do not have to save seeds for this tropical fruit,as nature does it for me.

It is important to use organic heirloom seeds ( Original seed that has been saved by generations before the industrial revolution)from your produce , as hybrid conventional produce has been denatured and treated by the biotech industry to make the food insect resistant, and like I have been saying all along that plants are systemic meaning that their root systems absorb everything including the pesticide and herbicide chemical applied.

It is important for me to note here ,that you should consider what local foods are grown best in your area as these seeds will do well, and should be your first choice. For example I would not save seeds of apple because they are not grown in my area, but Papaya is. This could be the opposite case where you happen to live?
When you have formulated a list of fruits and vegetables plus herbs that grow well in your area then it is time for you to save seeds of that nature.

I am going to be really general here as the plant kingdom offers many different ways of saving seed that is appropriate for each plant and area. It is best to pick your best looking , plant that is ready to eat for example a tomato. Any fleshy plant with lots of small seeds will be difficult to save so a method of separating most of the pulp and skin by hand must be done first. Then place the flesh and seeds into a glass of water and wait for the seeds to settle to the bottom. Depending on the plant it could take hours to days. Then place the seeds in a colander straining basket and wash off the remaining pulp thourouly. You can now place your wet seeds on a natural fiber towel or floor matt.(a towel that has not been bleached white with the chemical dioxin)

Spread your seeds across half of the towel or matt ,then fold the other half over your seeds, and then again fold again to the size of a quarter of your original matt or towel size. You can also role the your matt loosely into a burrito for air circulation.
The moister from the seeds will be absorbed into the matt or towel and left this way for half a day or more. Uncover the matt or towel, then place your seeds on glass or ceramic dish ware, or on a large window screen that has been converted into a table for drying out your seeds in indirect sun light. When your seeds are perfectly dry and clean with out any moister to the touch, then the seeds can be packaged in non white natural paper envelopes, Next of course it is important to write the date and the name of the seed on the envelope.

I like to put my envelopes in air tight mason jars and store them in my refrigerator or even my wine cooler. Seeds age well under these conditions and they are good for up to 2 years or more.
For a longer time put your stored seeds in the freezer that can keep for up to 10 years or more before use.
In some cases you can go right into food production. For instance the the King of all fruits the Durian fruit which is one of my favorites has a different approach.
A good durian is when you shake the fruit violently close to your ear, and you can hear the bods rattle back and fourth,then you know its a good one. Just make sure you where your heavy protective mitts as the hard spikes of this fruit is fearsome and dangerous if not handled carefully.
Cut the pungent Durian length wise and remove the fleshy meat from the seeds by hand.
Its the Fruity meat that is so offensive to so many people , in the smell department but I feel different about it now as my taste buds and nose has changed over the years.The seeds are large like the size of a golf ball,but of course my garden coconut is the king in the size department.
Soak the Durian seeds in a large bowl of water for 3 days or until you see a growth tip at the end ,then plant them in a pot side ways and cover with soil so that you see just a bit of the seed .In one or two months you have a durian tree about 7 to 12 inches high.
Seeds for sprouting,gardening and saving is a great way to connect with nature.

“Saving seeds is a gift from nature that should not be ignored.”

Barry Gourmet & Raw

Nice The Day The Earth Stood Still Movie Review photos is a post from: The Day The Earth Stood Still

The NATIVES are RESTLESS.


Image by eyewash
New Yorkers Protest the US0 BILLION (US TRILLION) Wall Street BAILOUT: Wall Street, NYC – September 25, 2008

Phototgrapher: a. golden, eyewash design – c. 2008.

Friends,

The richest 400 Americans — that’s right, just four-hundred people — own MORE than the bottom 150 million Americans COMBINED! 400 of the wealthiest Americans have got more stashed away than half the entire country! Their combined net worth is .6 trillion. During the eight years of the Bush Administration, their wealth has increased by nearly 0 billion — the same amount that they were demanding We give to them for the "bailout." Why don’t they just spend the money they made under Bush to bail themselves out? They’d still have nearly a trillion dollars left over to spread amongst themselves!

Of course, they are not going to do that — at least not voluntarily. George W. Bush was handed a 7 billion surplus when Bill Clinton left office. Because that money was OUR money and not HIS, he did what the rich prefer to do — spend it and never look back. Now we have a .5 trillion debt that will take seven generations from which to recover. Why — on –earth – did — our — "representatives" — give — these — robber — barons — $US850 BILLION — of – OUR — money?

Last week, proposed my own bailout plan. My suggestions, listed below, were predicated on the singular and simple belief that the rich must pull themselves up by their own platinum bootstraps. Sorry, fellows, but you drilled it into our heads one too many times: THERE…IS…NO…FREE… LUNCH ~ PERIOD! And thank you for encouraging us to hate people on welfare! So, there should have been NO HANDOUTS FROM US TO YOU! Last Friday, after voting AGAINST this BAILOUT, in an unprecedented turn of events, the House FLIP-FLOPPED their "No" Vote & said "Yes", in a rush version of a "bailout" bill vote. IN SPITE OF THE PEOPLE’S OVERWHELMING DISAPPROVAL OF THIS BAILOUT BILL… IN SPITE OF MILLIONS OF CALLS FROM THE PEOPLE CRASHING WASHINGTON "representatives’" PHONE LINES…IN SPITE OF CRASHING OUR POLITICIAN’S WEBSITES…IN SPITE OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PROTESTING AROUND THE COUNTRY… THEY VOTED FOR THIS BAILOUT! The People first succeeded on Monday with the House, but failed do it with the Senate and then THE HOUSE TURNED ON US TOO!

It is clear, though, we cannot simply continue protesting without proposing exactly what it is we think THESE IDIOTS should/’ve do/one. So, after consulting with a number of people smarter than Phil Gramm, here’s the proposal, now known as "Mike’s Rescue Plan." (From Michael Moore’s Bailout Plan) It has 10 simple, straightforward points. They are that you DIDN’T, BUT SHOULD’VE:

1. APPOINTED A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TO CRIMINALLY INDICT ANYONE ON WALL STREET WHO KNOWINGLY CONTRIBUTED TO THIS COLLAPSE. Before any new money was expended, Congress should have committed, by resolution, to CRIMINALLY PROSECUTE ANYONE who had ANYTHING to do with the attempted SACKING OF OUR ECONOMY. This means that anyone who committed insider trading, securities fraud or any action that helped bring about this collapse should have and MUST GO TO JAIL! This Congress SHOULD HAVE called for a Special Prosecutor who would vigorously go after everyone who created the mess, and anyone else who attempts to scam the public in future. (I like Elliot Spitzer ~ so, he played a little hanky-panky…Wall Street hates him & this is a GOOD thing.)

2. THE RICH SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR THEIR OWN BAILOUT! They may have to live in 5 houses instead of 7. They may have to drive 9 cars instead of 13. The chef for their mini-terriers may have to be reassigned. But there is no way in hell, after forcing family incomes to go down more than ,000 dollars during the Bush years, that working people and the middle class should have to fork over one dime to underwrite the next yacht purchase.

If they truly needed the 0 billion they say they needed, well, here is an easy way they could have raised it:

a) Every couple makeing over a million dollars a year and every single taxpayer who makes over 0,000 a year should pay a 10% surcharge tax for five years. (It’s the Senator Sanders plan. He’s like Colonel Sanders, only he’s out to fry the right chickens.) That means the rich would have still been paying less income tax than when Carter was president. That would have raise a total of 0 billion.

b) Like nearly every other democracy, they should have charged a 0.25% tax on every stock transaction. This would have raised more than 0 billion in a year.

c) Because every stockholder is a patriotic American, stockholders should have forgone receiving a dividend check for ONE quarter and instead this money would have gone the treasury to help pay for the bullsh*t bailout.

d) 25% of major U.S. corporations currently pay NO federal income tax. Federal corporate tax revenues currently amount to 1.7% of the GDP compared to 5% in the 1950s. If we raised the corporate income tax BACK to the levels of the 1950s, this would give us an extra 0 billion.

All of this combined should have been enough to end the calamity. The rich would have gotten to keep their mansions and their servants and our United States government ("COUNTRY FIRST!") would’ve have a little leftover to repair some roads, bridges and schools…

3. YOU SHOULD HAVE BAIL OUT THE PEOPLE LOSING THEIR HOMES, NOT THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BUILD AN EIGHTH HOME! There are 1.3 million homes in foreclosure right now. That is what is at the heart of this problem. So, instead of giving the money to the banks as a gift, they should have paid down each of these mortgages by 0,000. They should have forced the banks to renegotiate the mortgage so the homeowner could pay on its current value. To insure that this help wouldn’t go to speculators and those who tried to making money by flipping houses, the bailout should have only been for people’s primary residences. And, in return for the 0K pay-down on the existing mortgage, the government would have gotten to share in the holding of the mortgage so it could get some of its money back. Thus, the total initial cost of fixing the mortgage crisis at its roots (instead of with the greedy lenders) is 0 billion, not 0 BILLION.

And let’s set the record straight. People who have defaulted on their mortgages are not "bad risks." They are our fellow Americans, and all they wanted was what we all want: a home to call their own. But, during the Bush years, millions of the People lost the decent paying jobs they had. SIX MILLION fell into poverty! SEVEN MILLION lost their health insurance! And, every one of them saw their real wages go DOWN by ,000! Those who DARE look down on these Americans who got hit with one bad break after another should be ASHAMED.! We are a better, stronger, safer and happier society when all of our citizens can afford to live in a home they own.

4. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A STIPULATION THAT IF YOUR BANK OR COMPANY GOT ANY OF OUR MONEY IN A "BAILOUT," THEN WE OWN YOU. Sorry, that’s how it’s done. If the bank gives me money so I can buy a house, the bank "owns" that house until I pay it all back — with interest. Same deal for Wall Street. Whatever money you need to stay afloat, if our government considers you a safe risk — and necessary for the good of the country — then you can get a loan, but WE SHOULD OWN YOU. If you default, we will sell you. This is how the Swedish government did it and it worked.

5. ALL REGULATIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN BE RESTORED. THE REAGAN REVOLUTION IS DEAD! This catastrophe happened because we let the fox have the keys to the hen-house. In 1999, Phil Gramm authored a bill to remove all the regulations that governed Wall Street and our banking system. The bill passed and Clinton signed it. Here’s what Sen.Phil Gramm, McCain’s chief economic advisor, said at the bill signing:

"In the 1930s … it was believed that government was the answer. It was believed that stability and growth came from government overriding the functioning of free markets.

"We are here today to repeal [that] because we have learned that government is not the answer. We have learned that freedom and competition are the answers. We have learned that we promote economic growth and we promote stability by having competition and freedom.

"I am proud to be here because this is an important bill; it is a deregulatory bill. I believe that that is the wave of the future, and I am awfully proud to have been a part of making it a reality."

FOR THIS NOT TO REOCCUR, This BILL SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPEALED! Bill Clinton could have helped by leading the effort for the repeal of the Gramm bill and the reinstating of even tougher regulations regarding our financial institutions. And when they were done with that, they should have restored the regulations for the airlines, the inspection of our food, the oil industry, OSHA, and every other entity that affects our daily lives. All oversight provisions for any "bailout" should have had enforcement monies attached to them and criminal penalties for all offenders.

6. IF IT’S TOO BIG TO FAIL, THEN THAT MEANS IT’S TOO BIG TO EXIST! Allowing the creation of these mega-mergers and not enforcing the monopoly and anti-trust laws has allowed a number of financial institutions and corporations to become so large, the very thought of their collapse means an even bigger collapse across the entire economy. No ONE or TWO companies should EVER have this kind of power! The so-called "economic Pearl Harbor" can’t happen when you have hundreds — thousands — of institutions where people have their money. When we have a dozen auto companies, if one goes belly-up, we DON’T FACE A NATIONAL DISASTER! If we have three separately-owned daily newspapers in your town, then one media company can’t call all the shots (I know… What am I thinking?! Who reads a paper anymore? Sure glad all those mergers and buyouts left us with a STRONG and "FREE" press!). Laws Should have been enacted to prevent companies from being so large and dominant that with one slingshot to the eye, the GIANT FALLS and DIES. And no institution should be allowed to set up money schemes that NO ONE understands. If you can’t explain it in two sentences, you shouldn’t be taking anyone’s money!

7. NO EXECUTIVE SHOULD EVER BE PAID MORE THAN 40 TIMES THEIR AVERAGE EMPLOYEE, AND NO EXECUTIVE SHOULD RECEIVE ANY KIND OF "PARACHUTE" OTHER THAN THE VERY GENEROUS SALARY HE OR SHE MADE WHILE WORKING FOR THE COMPANY. In 1980, the average American CEO made 45 times what their employees made. By 2003, they were making 254 times what their workers made. After 8 years of Bush, they now make over 400 times what their average employee makes. How We have allowed this to happen at publicly held companies is beyond reason. In Britain, the average CEO makes 28 times what their average employee makes. In Japan, it’s only 17 times! The last I heard, the CEO of Toyota was living the high life in Tokyo. How does he do it on so little money? Seriously, this is an OUTRAGE! We have created the mess we’re in by letting the people at the top become bloated beyond belief with millions of dollars. THIS HAS TO STOP! Not only should no executive who receives help out of this mess profit from it, but any executive who was in charge of running his company into the ground should be FIRED before the company receives ANY help.

8. CONGRESS SHOULD HAVE STRENGTHENED THE FDIC AND MADE IT A MODEL FOR PROTECTING NOT ONLY PEOPLE’S SAVINGS, BUT ALSO THEIR PENSIONS AND THEIR HOMES. Obama was correct to propose expanding FDIC protection of people’s savings in their banks to 0,000. But, this same sort of government insurance must be given to our NEVER have to worry about whether or not the money they’ve put away for their old age will be there. This should have meant strict government oversight of companies who manage their employees’ funds — or perhaps it means the companies should have been forced to turn over those funds and their management to the government? People’s private retirement funds must also be protected, but perhaps it’s time to consider not having one’s retirement invested in the casino known as the stock market??? Our government should have a solemn duty to guarantee that no one who grows old in this country has to worry about becoming destitute.

9. EVERYBODY NEEDS TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH, CALM DOWN, AND NOT LET FEAR RULE THE DAY. Turn off your TVs! We are NOT in the Second Great Depression. The sky is NOT falling, Chicken Little! Pundits and politicians have lied to us so FAST and FURIOUS it’s hard not to be affected by all the fear mongering. Even I wrote to and repeated what I heard on the news last week, that the Dow had the biggest one day drop in its history. Well, that was true in terms of points, but its 7% drop came nowhere close to Black Monday in 1987 when the stock market in one day lost 23% of its value. In the ’80s, 3,000 banks closed, but America didn’t go out of business. These institutions have always had their ups and downs and eventually it works out. It has to, because the rich do not like their wealth being disrupted! They have a vested interest in calming things down and getting back into their Jacuzzis before they slip into their million thread-count sheets to drift off to a peaceful, Vodka tonic and Ambien-induced slumber.

As crazy as things are right now, tens of thousands of people got a car loan last week. Thousands went to the bank and got a mortgage to buy a home. Students just back to college found banks more than happy to put them into hock for the next 15 years with a student loan. I was even pre-approved for a USK personal loan. Yes, life has gone on with little-or-no-change (other than the whopping 6.1% unemployment rate, but that happened last month). Not a single person lost any of his/her monies in bank, or a treasury note, or in a CD. And, the perhaps the most amazing thing is that the American public FINALLY didn’t buy the scare campaign. The citizens didn’t blink, instead telling Congress to take that bailout and shove it. THAT was impressive. Why didn’t the population succumb to the fright-filled warnings from their president and his cronies? Well, you can only say ‘Saddam has the bomb’ so many times before the people realize you’re a lying sack of shit. After eight long years, the nation is worn out and simply can’t take it any longer. The WORLD is fed up & I don’t blame them.

10. THEY SHOULD HAVE CREATED A NATIONAL BANK, A "PEOPLE’S BANK." Since they’re really itching to print up a trillion dollars, instead of giving it to a few rich people, why don’t We give it to ourselves? Now that We own Freddie and Fannie, why not set up a People’s bank? One that can provide low-interest loans for all sorts of people who want to own a home, start a small business, go to school, come up with the cure for cancer or create the next great invention. And, now that we own AIG – the country’s largest insurance company – let’s take the next step and PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR EVERYONE. MEDICARE FOR ALL! It will SAVE us SO MUCH MONEY in the LONG RUN (not to mention bring peace of mind to all). And, America won’t be 12th on the life expectancy list! We’ll be able to have a longer lifespan, enjoying our government-protected pension and will live to see the day when the corporate criminals who caused this much misery are let out of prison so that We can help re-acclimate them to plain old ordinary, civilian life — a life with ONE nice home and ONE gas-free car invented with help from the People’s Bank.

P.S. Call your Senators NOW !!! —> www.visi.com/juan/congress/

Since they voted against passing the extension of unemployment benefits and skipped out to "campaign" to us to be re-elected…call them and tell them you will vote for the other "guy" if they don’t get their act together!

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UPDATE: THE PEOPLE HAVE VOTED! A HISTORIC MOMENT: NOVEMBER 4th 2008!

——> THE Historic ELECTION <——

"A work in PROGRESS."

Nov. 4th, 2008.

A great American leader once said, "As individual fingers We can be easily broken. But TOGETHER We make a mighty fist." These words too were spoken by a minority leader. He was the venerable Chief Sitting Bull. No, Barack Obama’s not the first American minority to speak eloquently and he most certainly won’t be the last. Though, in the end, this election wasn’t even close !!! The world watched as, "YES WE CAN!" turned into, "YES WE DID!" as it now ushers in, "YES WE MUST!" time is NOW!

What WE do with this moment shall define US, forthright. America has now elected a man with a background of partial African – American descent as President elect. A new leader with roots from Kenya to Kansas (with a step-father from Indonesia), will be working in conjunction with a vice-Presidential of Anglo-European roots. This is something in which citizens of ALL races – both here and the world ’round – have loudly REJOICED. Why talk about race? Is race important? You bet! Because – like it or not – race has dominated and governed Our daily lives for thousands of years. After all: "To know where We’re going, We must first know where We’ve been".

We’ve come a LONG Way baby! What was once "acceptable" in 1965 is no longer in 2008 and THANKFULLY.

This is a changing of the guard. Especially since forty-percent of America’s population is considered to be a "minority". Only four generations removed, the repression of African slaves by Anglo Saxons caused hundreds of thousands of brothers to kill brothers in a viscous and bloody battle that changed the fundamental principals of this Constitutional Republic from rhetoric to reality. This too was a significant changing of the guard.

For the first time in the history of the country, the ancestors of these very same people who so passionately fought for slavery have now OVERWHELMINGLY voted for a minority leader. This too ushers in a new chapter in the history of America. This is a tremendous nod to those great American leaders before Us who risked everything so that We find ourselves at this precise moment in time. We must give thanks to these men and women who both tirelessly and unselfishly gave their lives to cross and to help shatter the racial, sexual and social boundaries imbued in the history of the United States of America.

It has now taken place. There’s a palpable renewed sense of HOPE for a better tomorrow – a HOPE that these same crippling boundaries shall finally once and for all be erased. Yet it is wise to also remember the adage, "Actions speak louder than words" and Our rhetoric must now be turned into action. The ability to truly rise above differences and to not just speak of doing so, tells much of Our long and continuous journey. If We remember the old North American Indian saying, "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." We might just have a fighting chance.

The People have spoken! A record-setting 130 million Americans’ turned out to vote in Tuesday’s election, in which Barack Obama made history on a Democratic tidal wave of victory. Polling suggests voters came out in record numbers because of growing concerns over the economy, jobs, health care, energy, and the war in Iraq.

Clearly, the Obama administration and the new Democratic majority in Washington have a chance to make profound changes in Our lives – stretching ­from Wall Street to Main Street. Yes, this moment shows decency about human possibility and let’s face it, We could use just a little decency RIGHT NOW.

Perhaps more importantly, this moment speaks volumes as it’s an utter rejection of the right’s politics of fear and greed? It will now be decades before there’s another Republican majority in Congress. Never have the words, "Ask not what Your country can do for You, but what You can do for Your country," seemed more true for SO MANY. For, We-Are-Our-country. And We’re at a MAJOR crossroads. Where, oh where to begin?

OBAMA / BIDEN Campaign.

Here in New York, Working Families voters, members, affiliates, supporters and chapter leaders poured everything they had into critical campaigns that proved successful. Many are now understandably exhausted – though more than a little proud of what was accomplished. And, the results were terrific ~ if not downright Historic. For the first time since the mid-1930, the State Senate will NO LONGER be controlled by Republicans. It’s now in the hands of a Democratic Working Families majority! Just-take-one-moment-and-soak-this-in. MASSIVE Democratic majorities in BOTH the HOUSE and the SENATE!

Together, the W.F.P built a solid partnership with Senate Democrats, knocking on more than half a million doors for progressive CHANGE. And, in the end, "We the People" overwhelmingly responded. This is a MILESTONE. There’s now a renewed sense of real HOPE resonating from Washington, indeed, around the world. This is powerful. Because, without HOPE, there’s simply nothing to gain.

However, We must be careful not to fall prey to disillusionment. If illusions tear People asunder, then disillusion outright kills the human spirit. In other words, divided THEY conquer, united, WE stand. That this historic moment was ushered in during Native American Indian month is apropos. Because, We must not forget the very real foundations of this idealistic country and pay homage to the 500 plus year struggle of Our First Peoples’ for the basic rights afforded them in Our own Constitution. Obama’s victory is indeed a victory representing the multitudes. It is precisely because his success mirrors the masses, rather than a few wealthy, power-elite that this is so electrifying. A VERY palpable, "Finally!" was the expression heard ’round the world.

The world woke up WEDNESDAY with the real possibility of a very RARE OPPORTUNITY – the best in most Our lifetimes. This is a chance to truly transform America.

But, We mustn’t forget the VERY hard realities existing in this country. Just ask any woman…any "person of color"…or, any First Peoples living in this "great" land. For, as long as Native American Indians in Our country still live in policies of containment on reservations without the very basics, such as running water, electricity, or heat… as long as more than 75% of the prison population includes African-Americans, First and Taino Peoples …as long as We continue to allow Our tax dollars spent to be three times more for each of these prisoners per head than on Our own school childrens’ education…as long as American women continue to earn less than men for the SAME work…as long as We allow privately held corporations to exist without extreme MAJOR reform…as long as We continue to allow Our children to trample on foreign soil to kill and to be killed in "Our" names…as long as We sit idly by expecting or content to let others to "Do the right thing," for us… as long as We DON’T ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE TOGETHER in challenging and fighting for OUR OWN WELL-BEING for the betterment of future generations… as long as We choose to remain ignorant and in denial to Our faults…TRUE CHANGE can, and will NEVER HAPPEN.

Though, like anything rare and unique, We must first take proper time to Honor…to give thanks to those before us who, without their dedication and sacrifice, made this moment possible. We must come together. Immediate formulation and a real plan to guard and to protect this moment with fierce determination is required. New leaders are needed and will emerge so We ensure moments like this become the norm, rather than a mere token fluke. If We HOPE to transform Tuesday’s results into a real break from the shipwreck of the most immediate last thirty years – We MUST start by realizing this election represents just that – a START. It’s Round One of Our LONG and CONTINUOUS struggle.

And, Round Two will be just as tough, if not more so. Staying the course can easily be forgotten when People are dying from inadequate health care; when they’ve found themselves on the streets for lack of shelter and as they grow ever more desperate due to lack of job opportunities. Just ask people of Native or African American descent. Or, one of Our homeless veterans living on America’s streets of plenty.

Yes, the house of cards has fallen HARD and FAST. And, President / V.P. elect Barack Obama and Joe Biden have inherited many seemingly insurmountable challenges. REAL CHANGE – not rhetoric – is what’s needed. And to get it, We MUST demand it. We MUST march and be watchdogs for the sake of the coming generations. Communication with Our politicians is a MUST. MOST importantly, We MUST stand TOGETHER and be willing to fight to protect what is right and what is good for the MANY, NOT the FEW.

UNITED We STAND, DIVIDED, We FALL.

A President Obama will need to be simultaneously supported AND pushed. His training as a community organizer gives one confidence that he’ll not only understand, but should also expect this dynamic. It’s imperative for us to mind the trusty, "Follow the money" strategy. Don’t forget, President elect Obama dually made history by raising the most unprecedented amount of campaign dollars in the HISTORY of U.S. Presidential elections. According to CNN, if annualized, the Obama campaign’s ad spending on the post-primary Presidential campaign would come to US0 million. This amount is only exceeded amongst large corporations such as Verizon and AT&T – both heavy sponsors of the Republican AND the Democratic national party conventions.

At the start of October, the Democratic National Committee announced it raised US.9 million with US.5 million sitting in the bank. The party raised money through joint fund-raising events with Obama and was able to use that money to assist his candidacy. These numbers were only possible because he opted out of the public financing system for the fall campaign. John McCain chose to participate in the system, which limited him to US million for the September / October stretch prior to the election. After initially promising to accept public financing if McCain did, Obama changed his mind after setting primary fund-raising records. In fact, by the time the primaries hit, Obama was raising as much as US million each and every day. The Obama / Biden campaign raised more than US0 million in September alone – a stunning and unprecedented eruption of political giving. This extraordinary fund-raising is bound to set a new standard in politics that could doom the current taxpayer-paid system set up in the 1970′s.

HOPEfully NOT.

The party presidential nominees – Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain – together spent more than US BILLION, also an unprecedented figure. According to White House for Sale, a nonpartisan group that tracks political giving, Obama had 605 bundlers, or donors who collect money from friends and associates and bundle them together. Four years ago, Democrat John F. Kerry had 588 bundlers and, in 2000, Al Gore had none. McCain had 851 bundlers working for his campaign, compared to 557 who raised money for the Bush-Cheney re-election committee in 2004. George W. Bush is largely credited with institutionalizing the role of bundlers in 2000, when he recruited a then unprecedented 555 surrogate fundraisers.

Ask Yourselves: Who really benefits most from having donated to the Obama / Biden campaign?

President – elect Barack Obama & John McCain’s U.S. Presidential campaign funds details:

OBAMA:
Total:US0,767,963
Bundlers:605
LobbyistBundlers:17

MCCAIN:
Total: US2,525,058
Bundlers: 851
Lobbyist Bundlers: 77

See the Center for Responsive Politics Presidential campaign monies for a better perspective:

2008: Obama AND McCain – US.3 BILLION

(Obama: US0,767,963 million / McCain: US2,525,058 million)

2004: Bush AND Kerry – US.2 BILLION

2000: Gore AND Bush – US.56 MILLION

1996: Dole AND Clinton – US.82 MILLION

1992: Clinton AND Bush – US.24 MILLION

* TO SEARCH FOR MEGA-DONERS, CLICK here: www.whitehouseforsale.org/searchDonor.cfm?CandidateSelect… McCain&StateSelect=&SortOrder=Last_Name, First_Name, Middle_Name, Suffix.*

Democrats in Washington and will be under enormous pressure to "play it safe", even as everyone knows We need bold action and some kind of new, New Deal. And, if We allow the "play-it-safe" crowd to dominate, then Obama (and We) will not succeed. Make NO mistake: the corporate big-wigs and free-market fundamentalists see this for exactly what it is: THE FIGHT OF A LIFETIME. They want nothing more than for the Democrats to disappoint, because then the HOPEfulness that Obama represents can be stuffed back in the bottle and cynicism can once again regain its place in Our national political culture.

WE Can’t Let This Happen!

Whether it’s revamping our health care system…implementing a new fair-based trade policy…creating a sound, realistic and well thought-out immigration plan…jobs programs…organizing rights in Washington, or campaign election reform, family leave or fair taxes, this election has set the stage for an ENTIRELY NEW social contract between the government and the People. This election opens up a real possibility – small, but real – that We could make genuine progress as a society, in terms of equality and freedom and true sustainability. In other words, the democracy We preach, but don’t teach. What comes next is up to US. And, We need to seriously ready OURSELVES.

In short, the real meaning of this election hasn’t yet been decided.

Overall, there’s a lot of work to do. It’s imperative that EVERYONE do his share – whether this means attending a neighborhood or union meeting, signing a petition, organizing or riding a bus to a demonstration, going on a lobby visit, making a financial contribution, or just talking to a stranger about the need and desirability of the common good.

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a D-I-F-F-E-R-E-N-C-E !

Naomi Wolf @ WALL ST. BAILOUT PROTEST.


Image by eyewash
New Yorkers Protest the US0 BILLION (US TRILLION) Wall Street BAILOUT: Wall Street, NYC – September 25, 2008

Phototgrapher: a. golden, eyewash design – c. 2008.

Out of the thousands of people attending the protest, what are the chances I’d catch Naomi Wolf in the crowd? WoW! I’ve been a fan since "The Beauty Myth" and am more than pleased she’s using her influence and exposure to do such relevant work.

At the end of summer, I attending the filming of her speaking at Pace University & have made it into her newly released film, "The End of America". Yep, but unless you know what I’m wearing and where I sit in the audience, you’d miss me if you blinked! Probably a good thing though.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on NAOMI:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naomi_Wolf
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjALf12PAWc

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Friends,

The richest 400 Americans — that’s right, just four-hundred people — own MORE than the bottom 150 million Americans COMBINED! 400 of the wealthiest Americans have got more stashed away than half the entire country! Their combined net worth is .6 trillion. During the eight years of the Bush Administration, their wealth has increased by nearly 0 billion — the same amount that they were demanding We give to them for the "bailout." Why don’t they just spend the money they made under Bush to bail themselves out? They’d still have nearly a trillion dollars left over to spread amongst themselves!

Of course, they are not going to do that — at least not voluntarily. George W. Bush was handed a 7 billion surplus when Bill Clinton left office. Because that money was OUR money and not HIS, he did what the rich prefer to do — spend it and never look back. Now we have a .5 trillion debt that will take seven generations from which to recover. Why — on –earth – did — our — "representatives" — give — these — robber — barons — $US850 BILLION — of – OUR — money?

Last week, proposed my own bailout plan. My suggestions, listed below, were predicated on the singular and simple belief that the rich must pull themselves up by their own platinum bootstraps. Sorry, fellows, but you drilled it into our heads one too many times: THERE…IS…NO…FREE… LUNCH ~ PERIOD! And thank you for encouraging us to hate people on welfare! So, there should have been NO HANDOUTS FROM US TO YOU! Last Friday, after voting AGAINST this BAILOUT, in an unprecedented turn of events, the House FLIP-FLOPPED their "No" Vote & said "Yes", in a rush version of a "bailout" bill vote. IN SPITE OF THE PEOPLE’S OVERWHELMING DISAPPROVAL OF THIS BAILOUT BILL… IN SPITE OF MILLIONS OF CALLS FROM THE PEOPLE CRASHING WASHINGTON "representatives’" PHONE LINES…IN SPITE OF CRASHING OUR POLITICIAN’S WEBSITES…IN SPITE OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PROTESTING AROUND THE COUNTRY… THEY VOTED FOR THIS BAILOUT! The People first succeeded on Monday with the House, but failed do it with the Senate and then THE HOUSE TURNED ON US TOO!

It is clear, though, we cannot simply continue protesting without proposing exactly what it is we think THESE IDIOTS should/’ve do/one. So, after consulting with a number of people smarter than Phil Gramm, here’s the proposal, now known as "Mike’s Rescue Plan." (From Michael Moore’s Bailout Plan) It has 10 simple, straightforward points. They are that you DIDN’T, BUT SHOULD’VE:

1. APPOINTED A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TO CRIMINALLY INDICT ANYONE ON WALL STREET WHO KNOWINGLY CONTRIBUTED TO THIS COLLAPSE. Before any new money was expended, Congress should have committed, by resolution, to CRIMINALLY PROSECUTE ANYONE who had ANYTHING to do with the attempted SACKING OF OUR ECONOMY. This means that anyone who committed insider trading, securities fraud or any action that helped bring about this collapse should have and MUST GO TO JAIL! This Congress SHOULD HAVE called for a Special Prosecutor who would vigorously go after everyone who created the mess, and anyone else who attempts to scam the public in future. (I like Elliot Spitzer ~ so, he played a little hanky-panky…Wall Street hates him & this is a GOOD thing.)

2. THE RICH SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR THEIR OWN BAILOUT! They may have to live in 5 houses instead of 7. They may have to drive 9 cars instead of 13. The chef for their mini-terriers may have to be reassigned. But there is no way in hell, after forcing family incomes to go down more than ,000 dollars during the Bush years, that working people and the middle class should have to fork over one dime to underwrite the next yacht purchase.

If they truly needed the 0 billion they say they needed, well, here is an easy way they could have raised it:

a) Every couple makeing over a million dollars a year and every single taxpayer who makes over 0,000 a year should pay a 10% surcharge tax for five years. (It’s the Senator Sanders plan. He’s like Colonel Sanders, only he’s out to fry the right chickens.) That means the rich would have still been paying less income tax than when Carter was president. That would have raise a total of 0 billion.

b) Like nearly every other democracy, they should have charged a 0.25% tax on every stock transaction. This would have raised more than 0 billion in a year.

c) Because every stockholder is a patriotic American, stockholders should have forgone receiving a dividend check for ONE quarter and instead this money would have gone the treasury to help pay for the bullsh*t bailout.

d) 25% of major U.S. corporations currently pay NO federal income tax. Federal corporate tax revenues currently amount to 1.7% of the GDP compared to 5% in the 1950s. If we raised the corporate income tax BACK to the levels of the 1950s, this would give us an extra 0 billion.

All of this combined should have been enough to end the calamity. The rich would have gotten to keep their mansions and their servants and our United States government ("COUNTRY FIRST!") would’ve have a little leftover to repair some roads, bridges and schools…

3. YOU SHOULD HAVE BAIL OUT THE PEOPLE LOSING THEIR HOMES, NOT THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BUILD AN EIGHTH HOME! There are 1.3 million homes in foreclosure right now. That is what is at the heart of this problem. So, instead of giving the money to the banks as a gift, they should have paid down each of these mortgages by 0,000. They should have forced the banks to renegotiate the mortgage so the homeowner could pay on its current value. To insure that this help wouldn’t go to speculators and those who tried to making money by flipping houses, the bailout should have only been for people’s primary residences. And, in return for the 0K pay-down on the existing mortgage, the government would have gotten to share in the holding of the mortgage so it could get some of its money back. Thus, the total initial cost of fixing the mortgage crisis at its roots (instead of with the greedy lenders) is 0 billion, not 0 BILLION.

And let’s set the record straight. People who have defaulted on their mortgages are not "bad risks." They are our fellow Americans, and all they wanted was what we all want: a home to call their own. But, during the Bush years, millions of the People lost the decent paying jobs they had. SIX MILLION fell into poverty! SEVEN MILLION lost their health insurance! And, every one of them saw their real wages go DOWN by ,000! Those who DARE look down on these Americans who got hit with one bad break after another should be ASHAMED.! We are a better, stronger, safer and happier society when all of our citizens can afford to live in a home they own.

4. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A STIPULATION THAT IF YOUR BANK OR COMPANY GOT ANY OF OUR MONEY IN A "BAILOUT," THEN WE OWN YOU. Sorry, that’s how it’s done. If the bank gives me money so I can buy a house, the bank "owns" that house until I pay it all back — with interest. Same deal for Wall Street. Whatever money you need to stay afloat, if our government considers you a safe risk — and necessary for the good of the country — then you can get a loan, but WE SHOULD OWN YOU. If you default, we will sell you. This is how the Swedish government did it and it worked.

5. ALL REGULATIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN BE RESTORED. THE REAGAN REVOLUTION IS DEAD! This catastrophe happened because we let the fox have the keys to the hen-house. In 1999, Phil Gramm authored a bill to remove all the regulations that governed Wall Street and our banking system. The bill passed and Clinton signed it. Here’s what Sen.Phil Gramm, McCain’s chief economic advisor, said at the bill signing:

"In the 1930s … it was believed that government was the answer. It was believed that stability and growth came from government overriding the functioning of free markets.

"We are here today to repeal [that] because we have learned that government is not the answer. We have learned that freedom and competition are the answers. We have learned that we promote economic growth and we promote stability by having competition and freedom.

"I am proud to be here because this is an important bill; it is a deregulatory bill. I believe that that is the wave of the future, and I am awfully proud to have been a part of making it a reality."

FOR THIS NOT TO REOCCUR, This BILL SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPEALED! Bill Clinton could have helped by leading the effort for the repeal of the Gramm bill and the reinstating of even tougher regulations regarding our financial institutions. And when they were done with that, they should have restored the regulations for the airlines, the inspection of our food, the oil industry, OSHA, and every other entity that affects our daily lives. All oversight provisions for any "bailout" should have had enforcement monies attached to them and criminal penalties for all offenders.

6. IF IT’S TOO BIG TO FAIL, THEN THAT MEANS IT’S TOO BIG TO EXIST! Allowing the creation of these mega-mergers and not enforcing the monopoly and anti-trust laws has allowed a number of financial institutions and corporations to become so large, the very thought of their collapse means an even bigger collapse across the entire economy. No ONE or TWO companies should EVER have this kind of power! The so-called "economic Pearl Harbor" can’t happen when you have hundreds — thousands — of institutions where people have their money. When we have a dozen auto companies, if one goes belly-up, we DON’T FACE A NATIONAL DISASTER! If we have three separately-owned daily newspapers in your town, then one media company can’t call all the shots (I know… What am I thinking?! Who reads a paper anymore? Sure glad all those mergers and buyouts left us with a STRONG and "FREE" press!). Laws Should have been enacted to prevent companies from being so large and dominant that with one slingshot to the eye, the GIANT FALLS and DIES. And no institution should be allowed to set up money schemes that NO ONE understands. If you can’t explain it in two sentences, you shouldn’t be taking anyone’s money!

7. NO EXECUTIVE SHOULD EVER BE PAID MORE THAN 40 TIMES THEIR AVERAGE EMPLOYEE, AND NO EXECUTIVE SHOULD RECEIVE ANY KIND OF "PARACHUTE" OTHER THAN THE VERY GENEROUS SALARY HE OR SHE MADE WHILE WORKING FOR THE COMPANY. In 1980, the average American CEO made 45 times what their employees made. By 2003, they were making 254 times what their workers made. After 8 years of Bush, they now make over 400 times what their average employee makes. How We have allowed this to happen at publicly held companies is beyond reason. In Britain, the average CEO makes 28 times what their average employee makes. In Japan, it’s only 17 times! The last I heard, the CEO of Toyota was living the high life in Tokyo. How does he do it on so little money? Seriously, this is an OUTRAGE! We have created the mess we’re in by letting the people at the top become bloated beyond belief with millions of dollars. THIS HAS TO STOP! Not only should no executive who receives help out of this mess profit from it, but any executive who was in charge of running his company into the ground should be FIRED before the company receives ANY help.

8. CONGRESS SHOULD HAVE STRENGTHENED THE FDIC AND MADE IT A MODEL FOR PROTECTING NOT ONLY PEOPLE’S SAVINGS, BUT ALSO THEIR PENSIONS AND THEIR HOMES. Obama was correct to propose expanding FDIC protection of people’s savings in their banks to 0,000. But, this same sort of government insurance must be given to our NEVER have to worry about whether or not the money they’ve put away for their old age will be there. This should have meant strict government oversight of companies who manage their employees’ funds — or perhaps it means the companies should have been forced to turn over those funds and their management to the government? People’s private retirement funds must also be protected, but perhaps it’s time to consider not having one’s retirement invested in the casino known as the stock market??? Our government should have a solemn duty to guarantee that no one who grows old in this country has to worry about becoming destitute.

9. EVERYBODY NEEDS TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH, CALM DOWN, AND NOT LET FEAR RULE THE DAY. Turn off your TVs! We are NOT in the Second Great Depression. The sky is NOT falling, Chicken Little! Pundits and politicians have lied to us so FAST and FURIOUS it’s hard not to be affected by all the fear mongering. Even I wrote to and repeated what I heard on the news last week, that the Dow had the biggest one day drop in its history. Well, that was true in terms of points, but its 7% drop came nowhere close to Black Monday in 1987 when the stock market in one day lost 23% of its value. In the ’80s, 3,000 banks closed, but America didn’t go out of business. These institutions have always had their ups and downs and eventually it works out. It has to, because the rich do not like their wealth being disrupted! They have a vested interest in calming things down and getting back into their Jacuzzis before they slip into their million thread-count sheets to drift off to a peaceful, Vodka tonic and Ambien-induced slumber.

As crazy as things are right now, tens of thousands of people got a car loan last week. Thousands went to the bank and got a mortgage to buy a home. Students just back to college found banks more than happy to put them into hock for the next 15 years with a student loan. I was even pre-approved for a USK personal loan. Yes, life has gone on with little-or-no-change (other than the whopping 6.1% unemployment rate, but that happened last month). Not a single person lost any of his/her monies in bank, or a treasury note, or in a CD. And, the perhaps the most amazing thing is that the American public FINALLY didn’t buy the scare campaign. The citizens didn’t blink, instead telling Congress to take that bailout and shove it. THAT was impressive. Why didn’t the population succumb to the fright-filled warnings from their president and his cronies? Well, you can only say ‘Saddam has the bomb’ so many times before the people realize you’re a lying sack of shit. After eight long years, the nation is worn out and simply can’t take it any longer. The WORLD is fed up & I don’t blame them.

10. THEY SHOULD HAVE CREATED A NATIONAL BANK, A "PEOPLE’S BANK." Since they’re really itching to print up a trillion dollars, instead of giving it to a few rich people, why don’t We give it to ourselves? Now that We own Freddie and Fannie, why not set up a People’s bank? One that can provide low-interest loans for all sorts of people who want to own a home, start a small business, go to school, come up with the cure for cancer or create the next great invention. And, now that we own AIG – the country’s largest insurance company – let’s take the next step and PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR EVERYONE. MEDICARE FOR ALL! It will SAVE us SO MUCH MONEY in the LONG RUN (not to mention bring peace of mind to all). And, America won’t be 12th on the life expectancy list! We’ll be able to have a longer lifespan, enjoying our government-protected pension and will live to see the day when the corporate criminals who caused this much misery are let out of prison so that We can help re-acclimate them to plain old ordinary, civilian life — a life with ONE nice home and ONE gas-free car invented with help from the People’s Bank.

P.S. Call your Senators NOW !!! —> www.visi.com/juan/congress/

Since they voted against passing the extension of unemployment benefits and skipped out to "campaign" to us to be re-elected…call them and tell them you will vote for the other "guy" if they don’t get their act together!

—————————————————–

UPDATE: THE PEOPLE HAVE VOTED! A HISTORIC MOMENT: NOVEMBER 4th 2008!

——> THE Historic ELECTION <——

"A work in PROGRESS."

Nov. 4th, 2008.

A great American leader once said, "As individual fingers We can be easily broken. But TOGETHER We make a mighty fist." These words too were spoken by a minority leader. He was the venerable Chief Sitting Bull. No, Barack Obama’s not the first American minority to speak eloquently and he most certainly won’t be the last. Though, in the end, this election wasn’t even close !!! The world watched as, "YES WE CAN!" turned into, "YES WE DID!" as it now ushers in, "YES WE MUST!" time is NOW!

What WE do with this moment shall define US, forthright. America has now elected a man with a background of partial African – American descent as President elect. A new leader with roots from Kenya to Kansas (with a step-father from Indonesia), will be working in conjunction with a vice-Presidential of Anglo-European roots. This is something in which citizens of ALL races – both here and the world ’round – have loudly REJOICED. Why talk about race? Is race important? You bet! Because – like it or not – race has dominated and governed Our daily lives for thousands of years. After all: "To know where We’re going, We must first know where We’ve been".

We’ve come a LONG Way baby! What was once "acceptable" in 1965 is no longer in 2008 and THANKFULLY.

This is a changing of the guard. Especially since forty-percent of America’s population is considered to be a "minority". Only four generations removed, the repression of African slaves by Anglo Saxons caused hundreds of thousands of brothers to kill brothers in a viscous and bloody battle that changed the fundamental principals of this Constitutional Republic from rhetoric to reality. This too was a significant changing of the guard.

For the first time in the history of the country, the ancestors of these very same people who so passionately fought for slavery have now OVERWHELMINGLY voted for a minority leader. This too ushers in a new chapter in the history of America. This is a tremendous nod to those great American leaders before Us who risked everything so that We find ourselves at this precise moment in time. We must give thanks to these men and women who both tirelessly and unselfishly gave their lives to cross and to help shatter the racial, sexual and social boundaries imbued in the history of the United States of America.

It has now taken place. There’s a palpable renewed sense of HOPE for a better tomorrow – a HOPE that these same crippling boundaries shall finally once and for all be erased. Yet it is wise to also remember the adage, "Actions speak louder than words" and Our rhetoric must now be turned into action. The ability to truly rise above differences and to not just speak of doing so, tells much of Our long and continuous journey. If We remember the old North American Indian saying, "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." We might just have a fighting chance.

The People have spoken! A record-setting 130 million Americans’ turned out to vote in Tuesday’s election, in which Barack Obama made history on a Democratic tidal wave of victory. Polling suggests voters came out in record numbers because of growing concerns over the economy, jobs, health care, energy, and the war in Iraq.

Clearly, the Obama administration and the new Democratic majority in Washington have a chance to make profound changes in Our lives – stretching ­from Wall Street to Main Street. Yes, this moment shows decency about human possibility and let’s face it, We could use just a little decency RIGHT NOW.

Perhaps more importantly, this moment speaks volumes as it’s an utter rejection of the right’s politics of fear and greed? It will now be decades before there’s another Republican majority in Congress. Never have the words, "Ask not what Your country can do for You, but what You can do for Your country," seemed more true for SO MANY. For, We-Are-Our-country. And We’re at a MAJOR crossroads. Where, oh where to begin?

OBAMA / BIDEN Campaign.

Here in New York, Working Families voters, members, affiliates, supporters and chapter leaders poured everything they had into critical campaigns that proved successful. Many are now understandably exhausted – though more than a little proud of what was accomplished. And, the results were terrific ~ if not downright Historic. For the first time since the mid-1930, the State Senate will NO LONGER be controlled by Republicans. It’s now in the hands of a Democratic Working Families majority! Just-take-one-moment-and-soak-this-in. MASSIVE Democratic majorities in BOTH the HOUSE and the SENATE!

Together, the W.F.P built a solid partnership with Senate Democrats, knocking on more than half a million doors for progressive CHANGE. And, in the end, "We the People" overwhelmingly responded. This is a MILESTONE. There’s now a renewed sense of real HOPE resonating from Washington, indeed, around the world. This is powerful. Because, without HOPE, there’s simply nothing to gain.

However, We must be careful not to fall prey to disillusionment. If illusions tear People asunder, then disillusion outright kills the human spirit. In other words, divided THEY conquer, united, WE stand. That this historic moment was ushered in during Native American Indian month is apropos. Because, We must not forget the very real foundations of this idealistic country and pay homage to the 500 plus year struggle of Our First Peoples’ for the basic rights afforded them in Our own Constitution. Obama’s victory is indeed a victory representing the multitudes. It is precisely because his success mirrors the masses, rather than a few wealthy, power-elite that this is so electrifying. A VERY palpable, "Finally!" was the expression heard ’round the world.

The world woke up WEDNESDAY with the real possibility of a very RARE OPPORTUNITY – the best in most Our lifetimes. This is a chance to truly transform America.

But, We mustn’t forget the VERY hard realities existing in this country. Just ask any woman…any "person of color"…or, any First Peoples living in this "great" land. For, as long as Native American Indians in Our country still live in policies of containment on reservations without the very basics, such as running water, electricity, or heat… as long as more than 75% of the prison population includes African-Americans, First and Taino Peoples …as long as We continue to allow Our tax dollars spent to be three times more for each of these prisoners per head than on Our own school childrens’ education…as long as American women continue to earn less than men for the SAME work…as long as We allow privately held corporations to exist without extreme MAJOR reform…as long as We continue to allow Our children to trample on foreign soil to kill and to be killed in "Our" names…as long as We sit idly by expecting or content to let others to "Do the right thing," for us… as long as We DON’T ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE TOGETHER in challenging and fighting for OUR OWN WELL-BEING for the betterment of future generations… as long as We choose to remain ignorant and in denial to Our faults…TRUE CHANGE can, and will NEVER HAPPEN.

Though, like anything rare and unique, We must first take proper time to Honor…to give thanks to those before us who, without their dedication and sacrifice, made this moment possible. We must come together. Immediate formulation and a real plan to guard and to protect this moment with fierce determination is required. New leaders are needed and will emerge so We ensure moments like this become the norm, rather than a mere token fluke. If We HOPE to transform Tuesday’s results into a real break from the shipwreck of the most immediate last thirty years – We MUST start by realizing this election represents just that – a START. It’s Round One of Our LONG and CONTINUOUS struggle.

And, Round Two will be just as tough, if not more so. Staying the course can easily be forgotten when People are dying from inadequate health care; when they’ve found themselves on the streets for lack of shelter and as they grow ever more desperate due to lack of job opportunities. Just ask people of Native or African American descent. Or, one of Our homeless veterans living on America’s streets of plenty.

Yes, the house of cards has fallen HARD and FAST. And, President / V.P. elect Barack Obama and Joe Biden have inherited many seemingly insurmountable challenges. REAL CHANGE – not rhetoric – is what’s needed. And to get it, We MUST demand it. We MUST march and be watchdogs for the sake of the coming generations. Communication with Our politicians is a MUST. MOST importantly, We MUST stand TOGETHER and be willing to fight to protect what is right and what is good for the MANY, NOT the FEW.

UNITED We STAND, DIVIDED, We FALL.

A President Obama will need to be simultaneously supported AND pushed. His training as a community organizer gives one confidence that he’ll not only understand, but should also expect this dynamic. It’s imperative for us to mind the trusty, "Follow the money" strategy. Don’t forget, President elect Obama dually made history by raising the most unprecedented amount of campaign dollars in the HISTORY of U.S. Presidential elections. According to CNN, if annualized, the Obama campaign’s ad spending on the post-primary Presidential campaign would come to US0 million. This amount is only exceeded amongst large corporations such as Verizon and AT&T – both heavy sponsors of the Republican AND the Democratic national party conventions.

At the start of October, the Democratic National Committee announced it raised US.9 million with US.5 million sitting in the bank. The party raised money through joint fund-raising events with Obama and was able to use that money to assist his candidacy. These numbers were only possible because he opted out of the public financing system for the fall campaign. John McCain chose to participate in the system, which limited him to US million for the September / October stretch prior to the election. After initially promising to accept public financing if McCain did, Obama changed his mind after setting primary fund-raising records. In fact, by the time the primaries hit, Obama was raising as much as US million each and every day. The Obama / Biden campaign raised more than US0 million in September alone – a stunning and unprecedented eruption of political giving. This extraordinary fund-raising is bound to set a new standard in politics that could doom the current taxpayer-paid system set up in the 1970′s.

HOPEfully NOT.

The party presidential nominees – Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain – together spent more than US BILLION, also an unprecedented figure. According to White House for Sale, a nonpartisan group that tracks political giving, Obama had 605 bundlers, or donors who collect money from friends and associates and bundle them together. Four years ago, Democrat John F. Kerry had 588 bundlers and, in 2000, Al Gore had none. McCain had 851 bundlers working for his campaign, compared to 557 who raised money for the Bush-Cheney re-election committee in 2004. George W. Bush is largely credited with institutionalizing the role of bundlers in 2000, when he recruited a then unprecedented 555 surrogate fundraisers.

Ask Yourselves: Who really benefits most from having donated to the Obama / Biden campaign?

President – elect Barack Obama & John McCain’s U.S. Presidential campaign funds details:

OBAMA:
Total:US0,767,963
Bundlers:605
LobbyistBundlers:17

MCCAIN:
Total: US2,525,058
Bundlers: 851
Lobbyist Bundlers: 77

See the Center for Responsive Politics Presidential campaign monies for a better perspective:

2008: Obama AND McCain – US.3 BILLION

(Obama: US0,767,963 million / McCain: US2,525,058 million)

2004: Bush AND Kerry – US.2 BILLION

2000: Gore AND Bush – US.56 MILLION

1996: Dole AND Clinton – US.82 MILLION

1992: Clinton AND Bush – US.24 MILLION

* TO SEARCH FOR MEGA-DONERS, CLICK here: www.whitehouseforsale.org/searchDonor.cfm?CandidateSelect… McCain&StateSelect=&SortOrder=Last_Name, First_Name, Middle_Name, Suffix.*

Democrats in Washington and will be under enormous pressure to "play it safe", even as everyone knows We need bold action and some kind of new, New Deal. And, if We allow the "play-it-safe" crowd to dominate, then Obama (and We) will not succeed. Make NO mistake: the corporate big-wigs and free-market fundamentalists see this for exactly what it is: THE FIGHT OF A LIFETIME. They want nothing more than for the Democrats to disappoint, because then the HOPEfulness that Obama represents can be stuffed back in the bottle and cynicism can once again regain its place in Our national political culture.

WE Can’t Let This Happen!

Whether it’s revamping our health care system…implementing a new fair-based trade policy…creating a sound, realistic and well thought-out immigration plan…jobs programs…organizing rights in Washington, or campaign election reform, family leave or fair taxes, this election has set the stage for an ENTIRELY NEW social contract between the government and the People. This election opens up a real possibility – small, but real – that We could make genuine progress as a society, in terms of equality and freedom and true sustainability. In other words, the democracy We preach, but don’t teach. What comes next is up to US. And, We need to seriously ready OURSELVES.

In short, the real meaning of this election hasn’t yet been decided.

Overall, there’s a lot of work to do. It’s imperative that EVERYONE do his share – whether this means attending a neighborhood or union meeting, signing a petition, organizing or riding a bus to a demonstration, going on a lobby visit, making a financial contribution, or just talking to a stranger about the need and desirability of the common good.

Thanks for all you do!
Live your values. Love your country.
And, remember: TOGETHER, We can make a D-I-F-F-E-R-E-N-C-E !

(Richard King) Laoch


Image by Fergal of Claddagh
Click here for the first part of the story of DEIRDRE OF THE SORROWS www.flickr.com/photos/feargal/5122512441/in/photostream/

BUT all this while the cunning, cruel heart of Conor was planning his revenge. For though he was an old man with grown-up sons of middle age, he had begun to feel affection for the child who had been sheltered by his care, and who looked to him as her protector and her friend. And after all the years that he had waited for the girl, to have her plucked away beneath his eyes just when she was of age to be his wife, aroused his bitter wrath and jealousy. Deep in his heart he plotted dark revenge, but it was hard to carry out his plan, for well he knew that of his chiefs not one would lift his hand against the sons of Usna. Of all the Red Branch Champions those three were loved the best; and difficult it was to know which of the three was bravest, or most noble to see. When in the autumn games they raced or leaped or drove the chariots round the racing-course, some said that Arden had the more majestic step and stately air; others, that Ainle was more graceful and more lithe in swing, but most agreed that Naoise was the most princely of the three, so dignified his gait, so swift his step in running, and so strong and firm his hand. But when they wrestled, ran or fought in combats side by side, men praised them all, and called them the "Three Lights of Valour of the Gael."

When his plans were ripe, Conor made a festival in Armagh, and all his chiefs were gathered to the feast. The aged Fergus sat at his right hand and Caffa next to him; close by sat Conall Cernach, a mighty warrior, still in his full prime, and by his side, as in old times, Cú Chulain sat. He seemed still young, but of an awesome aspect, as one who had a tragedy before him, and great deeds behind; and, for all that he was the pride of Ulster’s hosts, men stood in dread before him, as though he were a god. Around the board sat many a mighty man and good prime warrior seasoned by long wars. But in the hall three seats were empty, and it was known to be Conor’s command that in his presence none should dare to speak the names of Usna’s banished sons.

This night Conor was merry and in pleasant humour, as it seemed. He plied his guests with mead and ale out of his golden horns, and led the tale and passed the jest, and laughed, and all his chiefs laughed with him, till the hall was filled with cheerful sounds of song and merriment. And when the cheer was bravest and the feast was at its height, he rose and said: ‘ Right welcome all assembled here this night, High Chiefs of Ulster, Champions of the Branch. Of all royal households in the world, tell me, O you who travel much and see strange distant lands and courts of kings, have ye in Scotland or in Ireland’s realms, or in the countries of the great wide world, ever seen a court more princely than our own, or an assembly comely as the Red Branch Knights? “

“We know not," they all cried, "of any such. Your court, O Conor, is of all courts on earth the bravest and the best."

"If this be so," said wily Conor, “I suppose no sense of want lies on you; no lack of anything is in your minds? “

“We know not any want at all," they said aloud; but in their minds they thought, “save the Three Lights of Valour of the Gael."

“But I, O warriors, know one want that lies on us," Conor replied, “the want of the three sons of Usna fills my mind. Naoise and Ainle and Arden, good warriors were they all; but Naoise is a match for any mighty monarch in the world. By his own strength alone he carved for him and his own a princely realm in Scotland, and there he rules. Alas! That for the sake of any woman in the world, we lose his presence here."

“Had we but dared to utter that, O Great Warrior, long since we should have called them home again. These three alone would safely guard the province against any host. Three sons of a border-lord and used to fight are they; three heroes of warfare, three lions of fearless might."

“I knew not," said Conor craftily, "you wished them back. I thought you all were jealous of their might, or long ere this we should have sent for them. Let messengers now go, and heralds of Conor to bring them home, for welcome to us all will be the sight of The sons of Usna."

“Who is the herald who shall bear that peaceful message?” they all cried. “I have been told," said Conor, “that out of Ulster’s chiefs there were but three whose word of honour and protection they would trust, and at whose invitation Naoise would come again in peace. With Conall Cernach he will come, or with Cú Chulain, or with great Fergus of the mighty arms. These are the friends in whom he will confide; under the safe-guard of each one of these he knows all will be well."

“Bid Fergus go, or Conall or Cú Chulain," the warriors cried; "let not a single night pass by until the message goes to bring the sons of Usna to our board again. Most sorely do we need them; deeply do we mourn their loss. Bring back the Lights of Valour of the Gael."

" Now will I test," thought Conor to himself, “which of these three prime warriors loves me best." So supper being ended, Conor took Conall to his ante-room apart and set himself to question cunningly: “Suppose, loyal soldier of the world, you were to go and fetch the sons of Usna back from Scotland to their own land under your safeguard and your word of honour that they should not be harmed; but if, in spite of this, some ill should fall on them not by my hand, of course and they were slain, what then would happen, what would you do?"

“I swear, Great Conor," said Conall, "by my hand, that if the sons of Usna were brought here under my protection to their death, not he alone whose hand was stained by that foul deed, but every man of Ulster who had wrought them harm should feel my righteous vengeance and my wrath."

‘I thought as much," said Conor, “not great the love and service you dost give your lord. Dearer to you than are The sons of Usna."

Then sent he for Cú Chulain and to him he made the same demand. But bolder yet Cú Chulain made reply: “I pledge my word, Great Conor, if evil were to fall upon the sons of Usna, brought back to Ireland and their homes in confidence in my protection and my plighted word, not all the riches of the eastern world would bribe or hinder me from severing your own head from you in lieu of the dear heads of The sons of Usna, most foully slain when tempted home by their sure trust in me."

“I see it now, Cú Chulain," said Conor, “you profess a love for me you do not truly feel."

Then Fergus came, and to him also he proposed the same request. Now Fergus was perplexed what answer he should give. Sore did it trouble him to think that evil might befall brave The sons of Usna when under his protection. Yet it was but a little while since he and Conor had made friends, and he come back to Ulster, and set high in place and power by Conor, and well he knew that Conor doubted him; and such a deed as this, to bring the sons of Usna home again, would prove fidelity and win Conor’s affection. Moreover, Conor spoke so guardedly that Fergus was not sure whether Conor had ill intent or no towards the sons of Usna. For all he said was: "Supposing any harm or ill befall the sons of Usna by the hand of any here, what wouldst you do? “

So after long debate within himself, Fergus replied: "If any Ulsterman should harm the noble youths, undoubtedly I should avenge the deed; but you, Great Conor, and your own flesh and blood, I would not harm; for well I know, that if they came under protection of your sovereign word, they would be safe with you. Therefore, against you and your house, I would not raise my hand, whatever the conditions, but faithfully and with my life will serve you."

"It is well," the wily Conor replied, “I see, O loyal warrior, that you love me well, and I will prove your faithfulness and truth. The sons of Usna without doubt will come with you. Tomorrow set you forward; bear Conor’s message to brave The sons of Usna, say that he eagerly awaits their coming, that Ulster longs to welcome them. Urge them to hasten; bid them not to linger on the way, but with the utmost speed to press straight forward here to Armagh."

Then Fergus went out from Conor and told the nobles he had pledged his word to Conor to bring back the sons of Usna to their native land. And on the morrow’s morn Fergus set forth in his own boat, and with him his two sons, Ulan the Fair and Buinne the Ruthless Red, and together they sailed to Loch Etive in Scotland.

But hardly had they started than Conor set to work with cunning craft to lure the sons of Usna to their doom. He sent for Borrach, son of Annte, who had built a mighty fortress by the sea, and said to him, “Did I not hear, O Borrach, that you had prepared a feast for me? ‘ c It is even so, Great Conor, and I await your coming to partake of the banquet I have prepared." And Conor said, ‘; I may not come at this time to your feast; the duties of Land keep me here at Armagh. But I would not decline your hospitality. Fergus, the son of Roy, stands close to me in place and power; a feast bestowed on him I hold as though it were bestowed on me. In less than a week’s time comes Fergus back from Scotland, bringing the sons of Usna to their home. Bid Fergus to your feast, and I will hold the honour paid to him as paid to me."

For wily Conor knew that if his royal command was laid on Fergus to accept the banquet in his stead, Fergus dare not refuse; and by this means he sought to separate the sons of Usna from their friend, and get them fast into his own power at Armagh, while Fergus waited yet at Borrach’s house, partaking of his hospitality.
"Thus,” thought Conor, "I have the sons of Usna in my grasp, and dire the vengeance I will wreak on them, the men who stole my wife."

AT the head of fair Loch Etive the sons of Usna had built for themselves three spacious hunting seats among the pine-trees at the foot of the cliffs that ran landward to deep Glen Etive. The wild deer could be shot from the window, and the salmon taken out of the stream from the door of their dwelling. There they passed the spring and summer months, The sons of Usna of the white steeds and the brown deer hounds, whose breasts were broader than the wooden leaves of the door. Above the hunting-lodge, on the grassy slope that is at the foot of the cascade, they built a sunny summer home for Deirdre, and they called it the Grianán, or sunny bower of Deirdre. It was thatched on the outside with the long-stalked fern of the dells and the red clay of the pools, and lined within with the pine of the mountains and the downy feathers of the wild birds; and round it was the apple-garden of Clan Usna, with the apple-tree of Deirdre in its midst and the apple-trees of Naoise and Ainle and Arden encircling it.

And Deirdre loved her life, for she was free as the brown partridge flying over the mountains or as the vessels with ruddy sails swinging upon the loch. But in the winter they moved down to the broad sheltered pasture-lands that lay on the western side of the loch near the island that was in olden days called Oileán Chlann Uisne or the Island of the Children of Usna, but is called Oileán nan Ron or the Isle of the Seals to-day; and there they built a mighty fortress for Deirdre and the sons of Usna which men still call the Caisteal Nighean Righ Eirinn or the Castle of the Daughter of Conor of Ireland, and thence they made wars and conquered a great part of Western Scotland and became powerful princes.

One sultry evening in the late autumn, Deirdre and Naoise were resting before the door of her sunny bower after a day spent by the brothers in the chase. Below, their followers were cutting up the deer, and as they brought in the bags of heavy game, and faggots for the hearth, the voice of Ainle singing an evening melody resounded through the wood. Like the sound of the wave the voice of Ainle, and the rich bass of Arden answered him, as together the two brothers came out from the shadow of the trees, gathering to the trysting-place of the evening meal.

Between Naoise and Deirdre a draught-board was set, but Deirdre was winning, for a mood of oppression lay upon Naoise and his thoughts were not in the game. For of late, at evening, his exile weighed upon him, and little good to him seemed his prosperity and his successes, since he did not see his own home in Ireland and his friends at the time of his rising in the morning or at the time of his lying down at night. For great as were his possessions in Scotland, stronger in him than the love of his kindred in Scotland was the love of his native land in Ireland. He thought it strange, moreover, that of those three who in the old time loved him most, Fergus and Conall Cernach and Cú Chulain, not one of them had all this time come to bring him to his own land again under his safeguard and protection.

So, as they played, Deirdre could see that the mind of Naoise was wandering from the game, and her heart smote her, as often it had smitten her before when she had seen him thus oppressed, that for her sake so much had gone from him of friends and home, and his allegiance to Conor, and honourable days among his clan. Wistfully she smiled across the board at Naoise, but mournful was the answering smile he sent her back.

“Play, play," she said, “I win the game from you."
“One game the more or less can matter little when all else is lost," he answered bitterly.
But hardly had the unkind words passed from him, the first unkindness Deirdre ever heard from Naoise’s lips, when far below, across the silent waters of the lake, he caught a distant call, his own name uttered in a ringing voice that seemed familiar, a voice that brought old days to memory.

“I hear the voice of a man from Ireland call below," he cried, and started up.
Now Deirdre too had heard the cry and well she knew that it was Fergus’ voice they heard, but deep foreboding passed across her mind that all their hours of happiness were past, and grief and rending of the heart in store. So quickly she replied: “How could that be? It is some man of Scotland coming from the chase, belated in returning. No voice was that from Ireland; it was a Scotchman’s cry. Let us play on."

Three times the voice of Fergus came sounding up the glen, and at the last, Naoise sprang up. “You are mistaken, damsel; of a certainty I know this is the voice of Fergus."
“I knew it all the time, whose voice it was," said Deirdre, when she saw he would not be put off.
"Why then did you not tell us?" Naoise asked. ‘
“A vision that I saw last night hath hindered me," replied the girl. "I saw three birds come to us out of Armagh from Conor, carrying three sips of honey in their bills; the sips of honey they left here with us, but took three sips of our red blood away with them."

“What is your read of this vision, O Damsel? “Naoise asked.
"Thus do I understand it," Deirdre said; "Fergus hath come from our own native land with peace, and sweet as honey will his message be; but the three sips of blood that he will take away with him, those three are ye, for ye will go with him, and be betrayed to death."
"Speak not such words, O Deirdre," cried they all; “never would Fergus thus betray his friends. Alas! That words like this should pass your lips. We stay too long; Fergus awaits us at the port. Go, Ainle, and go, Arden, down to meet him, and to give him loving welcome here."
So Arden went, and Ainle, and three loving kisses fervently they gave to Fergus and his sons. Gladly they welcomed the wayfarers to Naoise’s home, and led them up; and Naoise and Deirdre arose and stretched their hands in welcome; and they gave them blessing and three kisses lovingly, for old times’ sake, and eagerly they asked for tidings of Ireland, and of Ulster especially.
“I have no other tidings half so good as these," said Fergus, “that Conor waits for you to give you welcome back to Armagh, and to the Red Branch House. I am your surety and your safeguard, and full well ye know that under Fergus’ safeguard ye are sure of peace."
“Heed not that message, Naoise," Deirdre said; “greater and wider is your lordship here, than Conor’s rule in Ireland."
“Better than any lordship is one’s native land," said Naoise; “dearer to me than great possessions here, is one more sight of Ireland’s well-loved soil."
“My word and pledge are firm on your behalf," said Fergus; "with me no harm or hurt can come to you."
"Verily and indeed, your word is firm, and we will go with you."

But to their going Deirdre consented not, and every way she sought to hinder them, and wept and prayed them not to go to death.
"Now all my joy is past," she said; "I saw last night the three black ravens bearing three sad leaves of the yew-tree of death; and O Beloved, those three withered leaves I saw were the three sons of Usna, blown off their stem by the rough wind of Conor’s wrath and the damp dew of Fergus’ treachery."
And they were sorry that she had said that.
"These are but foolish women’s fears," said they; “the dropping of leaves in your dream, and the howling of dogs, the sight of birds with blood-drops in their bills, are but the restlessness of sleep, O Deirdre; and verily we put our trust in Fergus 5 word. Tonight we go with him to Ireland."

Gladsome and joyful were the three brothers then; they put all fears away from them, and set to prepare them for their journey back to Ireland’s shores. And early the next morning, about the parting of night from day, at the delay of the morning dawn, they passed down to their galley that rocked upon the loch, and hoisted sail, and calmly and peacefully they sailed out into the ocean. But Deirdre sat in the stern of the boat, and her face was not set forward looking towards Ireland, but it was set backward looking on the coasts of Scotland. And she cried aloud, “O Land of the East, My love to you, with your wondrous beauty! Woe is me that I leave your lochs and your bays, your flowering delightful plains, and your bright green-smooth hills! Dear to me the fort that Naoise built, dear the sunny bower up the glen; very dear to my heart the wooded slope holding the sunbeams where I have sat with Naoise." And as they sailed out of Glen Etive she sang this song, sadly and sorrowfully:
"Farewell, dear Scotland of the free,
Beloved land beside the sea,
No power could drag me from my home,
Did I not come, Naoise, with you.

Farewell, dear bowers within the Glen,
Farewell, strong fort hung over them,
Dear to the heart each shining isle,
That seems to smile beneath our ken.

Glen da Roe!
Where the white cherry and garlic blow,
On your blue wave we rocked to sleep,
As on the deep, by Glen da Roe.

Glen Etive!
Whose sunny slopes these waters lave,
The rising sun we seemed to hold,
As in a fold, in Glen Etive.

Glen Masaun
Love to all those who here were born!
Across your peak, at twilight’s fall,
The cuckoos call, in Glen Masaun.

Farewell, dear Land,
From Scotland’s strand I ne’er had roved
Save at the call of my beloved,
Farewell, dear Land!

The next day they reached the shores of Ireland not fur from the fort of Borrach. And as they landed there, messengers from Borrach met Fergus, saying, "Borrach hath prepared a feast for Conor, and it is Conor’s command that the honour of this feast be given to you. Come therefore and spend this night with me; but Conor desires to hasten the sons of Usna that he may welcome them, and he bids them press onward to Armagh this very night."

When Fergus heard that, sudden fear and gloom over shadowed him, lest in very truth Conor had evil designs towards the sons of Usna.
“It was not well done, O Borrach, to offer me a feast in Conor’s stead this night, for I was pledged to bring the sons of Usna straight to Armagh without delay."
“It is Conor’s command, said Borrach; “needs must a true vassal obey Conor.”
Still was Fergus not keen to stay and he asked Naoise what he ought to do about this.
“Do what they desire of you, O Fergus," said Deirdre, “if to partake of a banquet seems better to you than to protect the sons of Usna. However to me it seems that the lives of your three friends is a good price to pay for a feast."
“I will not forsake them," said Fergus; “for my two sons, Illan the Fair and Buinne the Ruthless Red will be with them to protect them, and my word of honour, moreover, with them; if all the warriors of Ireland were assembled in one place, and all of one mind, they would not be able to break the pledge of Fergus."
"Much thanks we give you for that," said Naoise, for he saw that Fergus feared to fall foul of Conor more than he cared for their safety; “never have we depended on any protection but that of our own right hands alone; we will then go forward to Armagh, and see there if the word of Fergus will be sufficient to protect us."

But Deirdre said: "Go not forward to-night; but let us turn aside, and for t his on e night take shelter with Cú Chulain at Dundalk; then will Fergus have partaken of his feast, and he will be ready to go with you. So will his word be fulfilled and let your lives wil1 be prolonged."
“We think not well of that advice," said Buinne the Ruthless Red; “you have with you the might of your own good hands, and our might, and the plighted word of Fergus to protect you, it is impossible that ye should be betrayed."
“Ah! that plighted word of Fergus’; the man who forsook all for a feast! “ said Deirdre.
“Well may we rely on Fergus ‘ plighted word."
And she fell into grief and dejection, Alas! Alas!’ she cried. “Why left we Scotland of the red deer to come a gain to Ireland? Why put we trust in the light word of Fergus? Woe is come upon us since we listened to the promises of that man! The valiant sons of Usna are destroyed by him, the Lights of Valour of the Gael. Great is my heaviness of heart tonight. Great is the loss that is fallen upon us."

In spite of that the sons of Usna and their two friends went onward towards tne White Cairn of Watching on Sliabh Fuad; but Deirdre was very weary and she lingered behind in the glen and sat down to rest and fell asleep. They did not notice at first that she was not with them, but Naoise found it out and he turned back to seek Deirdre. He found her sitting in the wood on the trunk of a fallen tree, just waking from her sleep. When she saw Naoise she arose and clung to him.
“What happened to you, O fair one? “ said Naoise, “and where fore is your face so wild and fearful, and tears within your eyes? ‘
"I fell into a sleep, for I was weary," she replied; (t and O Naoise, I fear because of the vision and the dream I saw."
"You are too apt to dream, beloved," said Naoise tenderly, “what was your dream? ‘”
“Terrible was my dream," said Deirdre; “I saw you, Naoise, and Ainle and Arden, each of my three beloved ones, without a head, your headless bodies lying side by side near Armagh’s fort; and Ulan lay there too drenched all with blood, and headless like ye three. But on the other side among our enemies, fighting against us was the treacherous Buinne the Ruthless Red, who now is our protector and our guide; for he had saved his head by treachery to you."
“Sad were your dream indeed," said Naoise, “were it true; but fear it not, it was an empty vision grown out of weariness and pain."
But Deirdre clung yet to him, and she cried, “O Naoise, see, above your head, and o’er the heads of Ainle and of Arden, that sombre cloud of blood! Do you not mark it hanging in the air? All over Armagh lies the heavy pall; but on your head and theirs red blood-drops fall, big, dusky, drenching drops. Let us not go to Armagh." But Naoise thought that from her weariness the mind of Deirdre had become distraught, and all the more he pressed them onward, that she might have rest and shelter for the night.

As they drew near to Armagh, Deirdre said, “One test I give you whether Conor means you good or harm. If into his own house he welcomes you, all will be well, for in his own home would no monarch dare to harm a guest; but if he send you to some other house, while he himself stays on in Armagh’s court, then treachery and guile is meant towards you."

Now as they reached the Court of Armagh, messengers came out to meet them from Conor.
“Conor bids you welcome," said the men; “right glad is he that you are come again to Ireland, to your fatherland. But for this one night only is he not prepared to call you as his guests to his own court. To-morrow he will give you audience and bid you to his house. For this one night, then, he bids you turn aside into the Red Branch House, where all is ready for your entertainment."
“It is as I thought," said Deirdre, “Conor means no good to you, I fear."
But Naoise replied, “Where could the Red Branch champions so fitly rest as in the Red Branch House? Most gladly do we seek our hall, to rest and find refreshment for the morrow. We all are travel-stained, but we will bathe and take repose, and on the morrow we will meet Conor."

But when they came to the House of the Red Branch, so weary were they all, that though all kinds of viands were supplied, they ate but little, but lay down to rest. And Naoise said, “Do you remember, Deirdre, how in that last game of draughts we played together, you did win, because we were in Scotland, and my heart was here at home? Now are we back at last, and let us play again; this time I promise I will win from you."

So with the lightsome spirit of a boy, Naoise sat down to play; for now that once again he was at home among his people and in his native land, all thought or dread of evil passed from him. But with Deirdre it was not so, for heavy dread and terror of the morrow lay on her heart, and in her mind she felt that this was their last day of peace and love together.

But in his royal court, Conor grew impatient as he thought that Deirdre was so near at hand, and he not seeing her. “Go now, O foster-mother, to the Red Branch Hall and see if on the child that you did rear reached her early bloom and beauty, and if she still is lovely as when she went from me. If she is still the same, then, in spite of Naoise, I’ll have her for my own; but if her bloom is past, then let her be, Naoise may keep her for himself."

Right glad was Leabharcham to get leave to go to Deirdre and to The sons of Usna. Down to the Red Branch House straightway she went, and there were Naoise and her foster-child playing together with the board between them. Now, save Deirdre herself, Naoise was dearer to Leabharcham than any other in the world, and well she knew that her own face and form were upon Deirdre still, only grown riper and more womanly. For, without Conor’s knowledge, she oft had gone to seek them when they stayed in Scotland.

Lovingly she kissed them and strong showers of tears sprang from her eyes.
“No good will come to you, ye children of my love," she said with weeping, “that ye are come again with Deirdre here. To-night they practise treachery and ill intent against you all in Armagh. Conor would know if Deirdre is lovely still, and though I tell a lie to shelter her, he will find out, and wreak his vengeance on you for the loss of her. Great evils wait for Armagh and for you, O darling friends. Shut close the doors and guard them well; let no one pass within. Defend yourselves and this sweet damsel here, my foster-child. Trust no man; but repel the attack that surely comes, and victory and blessing be with you."

Then she returned to Armagh; but all along the way she wept quick-gushing showers of tears, and heaved great sighs, for well she knew that from this night the sons of Usna would be alive no more.

What are the tidings that you have for me?” Conor asked. “Good tidings have I, and tidings that are not good."
“Tell me them," said Conor.
“The good tidings that I have are these; that the sons of Usna, the three whose form and figure are best, the three bravest in fight and all deeds of prowess, are come again to Ireland; and, with the Lights of Valour at your side, your enemies will flee before you, as a flock of frightened birds is driven before the gale. The ill-tidings that I have are that through suffering and sorrow the love of my heart and treasure of my soul is changed since she went away, and little of her own bloom and beauty remain upon Deirdre."
“That will do for awhile," said Conor; and he felt his anger abating. But when they had drunk a round or two, he began to doubt the word of Leabharcham.
“O Trendorn," said he to one who sat beside him, “dost you recollect who it was who slew your father? “
"I know well; it was Naoise, son of Usna," he replied. 4 Go you therefore where Naoise is, and see if her own face and form remain upon Deirdre."

So Trendorn went down to the House of the Red Branch, but they had made fast the doors and he could find no way of entrance, for all the gates and windows were stoutly barred. He began to be afraid lest the sons of Usna might be ready to leap out upon him from within, but at last he found a small window which they had forgotten to close, and he put his eye to the window, and saw Naoise and Deirdre still playing at their game peace fully together. Deirdre saw the man looking in at the window, and Naoise, following her eye, caught sight of him also. And he picked up one of the pieces that was lying beside the board, and threw it at Trendorn, so that it struck his eye and tore it out, and in pain and misery the man returned to Armagh.
“You seem not so happy as when you set out, O Trendorn," said Conor; “what has happened to you, and have you seen Deirdre?”
“I have seen her, indeed; I have seen Deirdre, and but that Naoise drove out mine eye I should have been looking at her still, for of all the women of the world, Deirdre is the fairest and the best."
When Conor heard that, he rose up and called his followers together and without a moment’s delay they set forward for the house of the Red Branch. For he was filled with jealousy and envy, and he thought the time long until he should get back Deirdre for himself.
“ The pursuit is coming," said Deirdre; “I hear sounds without."
“I will go out and meet them," said Naoise.
“Nay," said Buinne the Ruthless Red, “it was in my hands that my father Fergus placed the sons of Usna to guard them, and it is I who will go forth and fight for them."
“It seems to me," said Deirdre, “that your father hath betrayed the sons of Usna, and it is likely that you would do as your father hath done, O Buinne."
“If my father has been treacherous to you," said Buinne, “it is not I who will do as he has done."
Then he went out and met the warriors of Conor, and put a host of them to the sword.
“Who is this man who is destroying my hosts?“ said Conor.
“Buinne the Ruthless Red, the son of Fergus," say they.
“We bought his father to our side and we must buy the son," said Conor.
He called Buinne and said to him, “I gave a free gift of land to your father Fergus, and I will give a free gift of land to you; come over to my side tonight."
“I will do that," said Buinne, and he went over to the side of Conor.
“Buinne hath deserted you, O sons of Usna, and the son is like the father," Deirdre said.
“He has gone," said Naoise, “but he performed warrior-like deeds before he went."

Then Conor sent fresh warriors down to attack the house.
“The pursuit is coming," said Deirdre.
“I will go out and meet them," said Naoise.
"It is not you who must go, it is I," said Ulan the Fair, son of Fergus, “for to me my father left the charge of you."
“I think the son will be like the father," said Deirdre.
“I am not like to forsake the sons of Usna so long as this hard sword is in my hand," said Ulan the Fair. And the fresh, noble, young hero went out in his battle-array, and valiantly he attacked the host of Conor and made a red rout of them round the house.
“Who is that young warrior who is smiting down my hosts?” said Conor.
“Ulan the Fair, son of Fergus," they reply.
“We will buy him to our side, as his brother was bought," said wily Conor.
So he called Ulan and said, “We gave a possession of land to your father, and another to your brother, and we will give an equal share to you; come over to our side."
But the princely young hero answered: “Your offer, O Conor, will I not accept; for better to me is it to return to my father and tell him that I have kept the charge he laid upon me, than to accept any offer from you, Great Conor."
Then Conor was enraged, and he commanded his own son to attack Ulan, and furiously the two fought together, until Ulan was sore wounded, and he flung his arms into the house, and called on Naoise to do valiantly, for he himself was slain by a son of Conor.
“Ulan has fallen, and you are left alone, said Deirdre, “O sons of Usna."
“He is fallen indeed, said Naoise, “but gallant were the deeds that he per formed before he died."

Then the warriors and mercenaries of Conor drew closer round the house, and they took lighted torches and flung them into the house, and set it on fire. And Naoise lifted Deirdre on his shoulders and raised her on high, and with his brothers on either side, their swords drawn in their hands, they issued forth to fight their way through the press of their enemies. And so terrible were the deeds wrought by those heroes, that Conor feared they would destroy his host. He called his Druids, and said to them, “Work enchantment upon the sons of Usna and turn them back, for no longer do I intend evil against them, but I would bring them home in peace. Noble are the deeds that they have wrought, and I would have them as my servants forever."
The Druids believed the wily Conor and they set to work to weave spells to turn the sons of Usna back to Armagh.

They made a great thick wood before them, through which they thought no man could pass. But without ever stopping to consider their way, the sons of Usna went straight through the wood turning neither to the right hand or the left.
“Good is your enchantment, but it will not avail," said Conor; “the sons of Usna are passing through without the turning of a step, or the bending of a foot. Try some other spell."

Then the Druids made a grey stormy sea before the sons of Usna on the green plain. The three heroes tied their clothing behind their heads, and Naoise set Deirdre again upon his shoulder and went straight on without flinching, without turning back, through the grey shaggy sea, lifting Deirdre on high lest she should wet her feet.
“Your spell is good," said Conor, “yet it does not succeed. The sons of Usna escape my hands. Try another spell."

Then the Druids froze the grey uneven sea into jagged hard lumps of rugged ice, like the sharpness of swords on one side of them and like the stinging of serpents on the other side. Then Arden cried out that he was becoming exhausted and must fain give up.
“Come you, Arden, and rest against my shoulder," said Naoise, “and I will support you."
Arden did so, but it was not long before he died; but though he was dead, Naoise held him up still.
Then Ainle cried out that he could go no longer, for his strength had left him. When Naoise heard that, he heaved a heavy sigh as of one dying of fatigue, but he told Ainle to hold on to him, and he would bring him soon to land. But not long after, the weakness of death came upon Ainle, and his hold relaxed. Naoise looked on either hand and when he saw that his two brothers were dead, he cared not whether he himself should live or die. He heaved a sigh, sore as the sigh of the dying, and his heart broke and he fell dead.
"The sons of Usna are dead now," said the Druids; “but they turned not back."
"Lift up your enchantment," said Conor, “that I now may see the sons of Usna."

Then the Druids lifted the enchantment, and there were the three sons of Usna lying dead, and Deirdre fluttering hither and thither from one to another, weeping bitter heartrending tears. And Conor would have taken her away, but she would not be parted from the sons of Usna, and when their tomb was being dug, Deirdre sat on the edge of the grave, calling on the diggers to dig the pit very broad and smooth. They had dug the pit for three only, and they lowered the bodies of the three heroes into the grave, side by side.

But when Deirdre saw that, she called aloud to the sons of Usna, to make space for her between them, for she was following them. Then the body of Ainle, that was at Naoise’s right hand, moved a little apart, and a space was made for Deirdre close at Naoise’s side, where she was wont to be, and Deirdre leapt into the tomb, and placed her arm round the neck of Naoise, her own love, and she kissed him, and her heart broke within her and she died; and together in the one tomb the three sons of Usna and Deirdre were buried. And all the men of Ulster who stood by wept aloud.

But Conor was angry, and he ordered the bodies to be uncovered again and the body of Deirdre to be removed, so that even in death she might not be with Naoise. And he caused Deirdre to be buried on one side of the loch, and Naoise on the other side of the loch, and the graves were closed. Then a young pine-tree grew from the grave of Deirdre, and a young pine from the grave of Naoise, and their branches grew towards each other, until they entwined one with the other across the loch. And Conor would have cut them down, but the men of Ulster would not allow this, and they set a watch and protected the trees until Conor died.

The NATIVES are RESTLESS. is a post from: The Day The Earth Stood Still

Michael Rennie was ill the day the earth stood still but he told us where we stand and Flash Gordon was there in silver underwear Claude Raines was the invisible man then something went wrong for fay wray and king kong they got caught in a celluloid jam then at a deadly pace it came from, outer space and this is how the message ran- science fiction double feature dr. x, will build a creature see androids fighting brad and janet anne francis stars in forbidden planet oh oh oh oh oh ooooooh at the late night double feature picture show i knew leo g. carroll was over a barrel when tarantula took to the hills and i really got hot when i saw janet scott fight a triffid that spits poison and kills dana andrews said prunes give him the runes and passing them used lots of skills but when world collide said george pal to his bride im gonna give you some terrible thrills science fiction double feature dr. x will build a creature see androids fighting brad and janet anne francis stars in forbidden planet oh oh oh oh oooh at the late night double feature picture show. i wanna go oh oh ooh to the late night double feature picture show by RKO oh oh ooh to the late night double feature picture show in the back row oh oh ooh to the late night double feature pic – ture show.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

From glee 205 the rocky horror glee show Michael Rennie was ill the day the earth stood still But he told us where we stand And Flash Gordon was there in silver underwear Claude Raines was the invisible man Then something went wrong for Fay Wray and King Kong They got caught in a celluloid jam Then at a deadly pace it came from outer space And this is how the message ran: Science Fiction – Double Feature Dr. X will build a creature See androids fighting Brad and Janet Anne Francis stars in Forbidden Planet Oh-oh at the late night, double feature, picture show. I knew Leo G. Carroll was over a barrel When Tarantula took to the hills And I really got hot when I saw Janet Scott Fight a Triffid that spits poison and kills Dana Andrews said prunes gave him the runes And passing them used lots of skills But when worlds collide, said George Pal to his bride I’m gonna give you some terrible thrills, like a: Science Fiction – Double Feature Dr. X will build a creature See androids fighting Brad and Janet Anne Francis stars in Forbidden Planet Oh-oh at the late night, double feature, picture show. I wanna go, oh-oh, to the late night double feature picture show. By RKO, oh-oh, at the late night double feature picture show. In the back row at the late night double feature picture show
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Science Fiction/ Double Feature- Glee Lyrics on Screen & in Description is a post from: The Day The Earth Stood Still

The day the Earth stood still


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What happened here you might ask. Short story, dusk was a remarkable pleasure, peaceful and scenic…typical for winter. Not a cloud in the sky and it wasn’t even as cold as forecast. I had to negotiate some very slippery muddy surfaces and rocks to get here….I have been waiting for this day for sooo long. The tide was perfect and the water was like a mirror. But as soon as the sun was up it was game over. Got back home and lost myself doing some digital art before breakfast.
Obviously the stars, birds and the moon are fake!
You might like it or not….either way, I have just added the original below.
I haven’t really done an obvious DA (Digital Art) before….feel free to comment on either

About One Million

Mangroves are trees and shrubs that grow in saline coastal habitats in the tropics and subtropics. The saline conditions tolerated by various species range from brackish water, through pure seawater to water of over twice the salinity of ocean seawater, where the salt has become concentrated by evaporation.

There are many species of trees and shrubs adapted to saline conditions. Not all are closely related, and the term ‘mangrove’ may be used for all of them, or more narrowly only for the mangrove family of plants, the Rhizophoraceae, or even more specifically just for mangrove trees of the genus Rhizophora.

More than fifty species of Rhizophoraceae grow in Australasia, with particularly high biodiversity on the island of New Guinea and northern Australia.

Australia has approximately 11,500 km2 of mangroves primarily on the northern and eastern coasts of the continent, with occurrences as far south as Millers Landing in Wilsons Promontory, Victoria and Barker Inlet in Adelaide, South Australia.

Infernal Overdrive at Great Scott, Boston MA, 2 April 2011


Image by Chris Devers
Paraphrasing Infernal Overdrive’s Facebook page:

Genre
Heavy Rock

Members
• Marc Schleicher- Lead Guitar and Vocals
• Rich Miele- Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals
• Mike Bennett- Lead Drums
• Keith Schleicher- Lead Bass Guitar

On the web
MySpace
Facebook
ReverbNation
SongKick
Last FM

Photos of their shows
• O’Brien’s, Allston MA, 16 Jul 2011
• Great Scott, Allston MA, 2 Apr 2011
• O’Brien’s, Allston MA, 4 Sept 2010
• O’Brien’s, Allston MA, 16 Jan 2010

Hometown
Red Bank, NJ

Record Label
Small Stone Records

About
Infernal Overdrive is a heavy rock and roll band formed in early 2008 when Marc Schleicher (fmr. Quintaine Americana [Wikipedia, MySpace, AllMusic], Cracktorch [MySpace], Antler, Liquor Tricks [MySpace]) of Allston , Mass. started jamming with Mike Bennett (fmr. Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]) in Red Bank. Soon they got Rich Miele (fmr. Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]) on board playing second lead guitar. During some of their early shows, Jake Metz (Godzero [MySpace]) joined the band on bass, but he was soon replaced by Keith Schleicher.

Their sound is a combination of their classic influences such as Led Zeppelin, Blue Cheer, Free, Grand Funk, Cactus, Deep Purple and Pink Floyd and newer heavy bands like Kyuss, Nebula, Soundgarden, STP, QOTSA and Monster Magnet.

Biography
Rumors abound that somewhere in the depths of New Jersey time stands still and it is always 1977. Trapped in this interstellar time warp, making electric amageddon is Infernal Overdrive. Fronted by the mysterious, oft reckless Marc Schleicher (Cracktorch [MySpace], Quintaine Americana [Wikipedia, MySpace, AllMusic], Antler) – a Boston native transplanted in time and space to this 4th dimension – summoned by the all-powerful duo of Mike Bennett and Rich Miele of Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]. After a treacherous search to find his long lost brother, Keith Schleicher was sucked into the vortex to fulfill his destiny on bass guitar. They journey in the last of the V8 interceptors, proving themselves worthy of the Small Stone pedigree. Forces to be reckoned with on their own, as a group their wonder team powers activate to kick into Infernal Overdrive.

Armed with their wits, New Jersey dialect and a passion for surviving the likes of the Tall Man, flying orbs, giant sharks, the Turnbull AC’s and an occasional family of albino zombies, Infernal Overdrive will be coming to an area near you soon. Can you dig it?

Current Location
Red Bank, NJ

Artists We Also Like
Cortez, Maegashira, Monster Magnet, Roadsaw, Pigs, The Brought Low

Influences
Delta Blues, Led Zeppelin, Grand Funk Railroad, Soundgarden, Monster Magnet, Cactus, Deep Purple, Nebula, Pink Floyd, Cream, Mountain, Kyuss, James Gang and shit loads of other bands.

Reviews

Review by The Obelisk / Stoner Rock:

Infernal Overdrive Kick into Gear
With production by Andrew Schneider (Throttlerod, The Brought Low, Hackman) and mastering by Nick Zampiello at New Alliance East in Boston, there’s no doubt that New Jersey riff rockers Infernal Overdrive are going for that Small Stone Records sound. The four tracks that comprise their new self-titled EP fall in line with the kind of straightforward guitar-led rock the Detroit label has proffered for well over a decade now, and with a similar southern/classic ‘70s influence to New York’s The Brought Low, Infernal Overdrive seem remarkably conscious of what they’re doing sonically. More so than you might expect for a band just releasing their first EP.

The story goes that when guitarist/vocalist Marc Schleicher (ex-Cracktorch [MySpace], Antler) moved from Massachusetts to central New Jersey, he got hooked up with drummer Mike Bennett and guitarist/backing vocalist Rich Miele (both ex-Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]). Keith Schleicher (relation assumed) was added on bass and Infernal Overdrive began rocking out early 2008. The EP was recorded over two days in February and four in April, and though that seems quick, none of the songs feels rushed or underdone. Schneider, who also shows up on extra backing vocals, makes his mark sound-wise in the tone of Schleicher and Miele’s guitars and Bennett’s snare sound, which has the same pop Schneider has become known for – not too bright, but able to cut through the mix and propel the songs forward. Some of Schleicher’s leads, as on EP closer “Motor,” feel a little too thought out, too structured where what I’d like to hear is a little bluesy ‘70s recklessness, but they get the job done nonetheless, and the vocals are never out of place.

Although the highway for which it’s named runs down through the whole East Coast, there’s no question that when Infernal Overdrive open the EP with “I-95,” they’re talking about Jersey. The song is a southern-hued guitar rocker that sets the tone well for the three tracks that follow with an ear toward rock traditionalism and, once again, like-minded Small Stone heavy-hitters Sasquatch, Dixie Witch, et al. It’s hard to argue with the approach when it works as well as it does on the speedy “The Edge,” which forgoes central Jersey’s reputation for heavy psychedelia in the style of Monster Magnet in favor of Halfway to Gone’s stripped-down take on rock. “Duel” slows down the pace somewhat but still keeps a mid?paced groove that makes use of some well?placed lead lines that start the song reminding me of Iron Maiden filtered through Nebula’s druggy haze. Only “Motor,” which devolves into an extended jam that brings the track to a total of just under 12 minutes, is longer, as the songs on Infernal Overdrive go in order from shortest to longest. Whether or not that’s on purpose on the part of the band, I don’t know – I’d imagine at least putting “Motor” last is – but I suppose it’s as good a method of organization as any.

There’s a short message from the Devil after “Motor” finishes up, and that’s the end of the EP. Infernal Overdrive are out relatively quick when you consider their first release is only 26 minutes and three of the four songs take up about 11 of it. No complaints though, as the four-piece know precisely how to get the most out of their sound and show exactly that on these tracks. It’s a hell of an investment to make with a self-released debut to hook up with the likes of Schneider and Zampiello, but Infernal Overdrive make the most of Schleicher and co.’s collected experience, and come off sounding confident and notably mature for a band who’s been together less than three years. It may not be changing the game, but Infernal Overdrive is definitely worth checking out for anyone who wants to hook into some solid and unpretentious heavy rock.

Review by Cutting Edge Rocks:
A couple years ago we reviewed a strong up-and-coming Jersey band Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]. Well, it seems they dissolved and morphed into Infernal Overdrive. The new band is two parts Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook] (drummer Mike Bennett and guitarist/backing vocalist Rich Miele), one part Cracktorch [MySpace], Antler (guitarist/vocalist Marc Schleicher) and one part brother (bassist Keith Schleicher). Mike contacted me letting me know the band formed after Marc relocated from Boston and set up shop in Jersey. He sent along the EP for my listening pleasure. And a pleasure it is! The songs are baked in southern ‘70s hard rock with catchy riffs and plenty of power rumbling in the pipes. The info is sketchy but according the record’s liner notes, the four-song EP was recorded this year in Brooklyn, NY over five days (Feb 27, 28 & April 17, 18, 24, 25). Production was handled by Andrew Schneider (Throttlerod, The Brought Low, Hackman) with mastering by Nick Zampiello. Fans of our site will immediately make the Small Stone connection and that seems to be where the band are heading as the vibe is defiantly Detroit retro.

Take for instance “I-95” which opens the disc with a solid guitar wail and foot-stomping drum beat. Tambourine is added for flavor but the song bellows like fellow Boston-natives Roadsaw, mixing biker thunder with a Pat Travers/Leslie West riff-fest. Second track, “The Edge” is pure old school Nugent, including the repeat riff and frantic, almost MC5 delivery. Schleicher voice is ragged and ready to rock. The drums hammer and the bass drives laying down a solid bed for some sexy solo leads. “Duel” has more Fu Manchu in the groove. It’s mostly in the chorus, but the build in the verse is still very Scott Hill/Brant Bjork. The track also boasts our favorite solo – frayed, not over played and sparked with cosmic energy. “Motor” is a 13-minute stoner masterpiece. A heavy bottom end brings to mind Sabbath, Sasquatch and Mountain. The riff is clean but thick with a layered solo painting in all the little nuances – perfect for a psychedelic ride. The echo on the vocals adds to the songs dripping mysticism while the guitar is allowed to float, pierce and melt the brain. Yeah, it only four songs, but dude, sometime that’s all you need when they’re this good.

Review by Heavy Planet
I recently had a chance to hear some new material from thee guys and I’ll tell you right now, this is a band to be on the look out for. They’re going places. Their sound is straight up southern stoner rock. If I had to compare them, I’d say they’re a bit harder version of The Brought Low. Checkout the usual social media spots (links below) to hear what I’m talking about and keep up to date with all their happenings because you’ll certainly be hearing from them again.

Nice Day The Earth Stood Still Story photos is a post from: The Day The Earth Stood Still

Infernal Overdrive at O’Brien’s, Allston MA, Jul 16 2011


Image by Chris Devers
Paraphrasing Infernal Overdrive’s Facebook page:

Genre
Heavy Rock

Members
• Marc Schleicher- Lead Guitar and Vocals
• Rich Miele- Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals
• Mike Bennett- Lead Drums
• Keith Schleicher- Lead Bass Guitar

On the web
MySpace
Facebook
ReverbNation
SongKick
Last FM

Photos of their shows
• O’Brien’s, Allston MA, 16 Jul 2011
• Great Scott, Allston MA, 2 Apr 2011
• O’Brien’s, Allston MA, 4 Sept 2010
• O’Brien’s, Allston MA, 16 Jan 2010

Hometown
Red Bank, NJ

Record Label
Small Stone Records

About
Infernal Overdrive is a heavy rock and roll band formed in early 2008 when Marc Schleicher (fmr. Quintaine Americana [Wikipedia, MySpace, AllMusic], Cracktorch [MySpace], Antler, Liquor Tricks [MySpace]) of Allston , Mass. started jamming with Mike Bennett (fmr. Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]) in Red Bank. Soon they got Rich Miele (fmr. Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]) on board playing second lead guitar. During some of their early shows, Jake Metz (Godzero [MySpace]) joined the band on bass, but he was soon replaced by Keith Schleicher.

Their sound is a combination of their classic influences such as Led Zeppelin, Blue Cheer, Free, Grand Funk, Cactus, Deep Purple and Pink Floyd and newer heavy bands like Kyuss, Nebula, Soundgarden, STP, QOTSA and Monster Magnet.

Biography
Rumors abound that somewhere in the depths of New Jersey time stands still and it is always 1977. Trapped in this interstellar time warp, making electric amageddon is Infernal Overdrive. Fronted by the mysterious, oft reckless Marc Schleicher (Cracktorch [MySpace], Quintaine Americana [Wikipedia, MySpace, AllMusic], Antler) – a Boston native transplanted in time and space to this 4th dimension – summoned by the all-powerful duo of Mike Bennett and Rich Miele of Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]. After a treacherous search to find his long lost brother, Keith Schleicher was sucked into the vortex to fulfill his destiny on bass guitar. They journey in the last of the V8 interceptors, proving themselves worthy of the Small Stone pedigree. Forces to be reckoned with on their own, as a group their wonder team powers activate to kick into Infernal Overdrive.

Armed with their wits, New Jersey dialect and a passion for surviving the likes of the Tall Man, flying orbs, giant sharks, the Turnbull AC’s and an occasional family of albino zombies, Infernal Overdrive will be coming to an area near you soon. Can you dig it?

Current Location
Red Bank, NJ

Artists We Also Like
Cortez, Maegashira, Monster Magnet, Roadsaw, Pigs, The Brought Low

Influences
Delta Blues, Led Zeppelin, Grand Funk Railroad, Soundgarden, Monster Magnet, Cactus, Deep Purple, Nebula, Pink Floyd, Cream, Mountain, Kyuss, James Gang and shit loads of other bands.

Reviews

Review by The Obelisk / Stoner Rock:

Infernal Overdrive Kick into Gear
With production by Andrew Schneider (Throttlerod, The Brought Low, Hackman) and mastering by Nick Zampiello at New Alliance East in Boston, there’s no doubt that New Jersey riff rockers Infernal Overdrive are going for that Small Stone Records sound. The four tracks that comprise their new self-titled EP fall in line with the kind of straightforward guitar-led rock the Detroit label has proffered for well over a decade now, and with a similar southern/classic ‘70s influence to New York’s The Brought Low, Infernal Overdrive seem remarkably conscious of what they’re doing sonically. More so than you might expect for a band just releasing their first EP.

The story goes that when guitarist/vocalist Marc Schleicher (ex-Cracktorch [MySpace], Antler) moved from Massachusetts to central New Jersey, he got hooked up with drummer Mike Bennett and guitarist/backing vocalist Rich Miele (both ex-Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]). Keith Schleicher (relation assumed) was added on bass and Infernal Overdrive began rocking out early 2008. The EP was recorded over two days in February and four in April, and though that seems quick, none of the songs feels rushed or underdone. Schneider, who also shows up on extra backing vocals, makes his mark sound-wise in the tone of Schleicher and Miele’s guitars and Bennett’s snare sound, which has the same pop Schneider has become known for – not too bright, but able to cut through the mix and propel the songs forward. Some of Schleicher’s leads, as on EP closer “Motor,” feel a little too thought out, too structured where what I’d like to hear is a little bluesy ‘70s recklessness, but they get the job done nonetheless, and the vocals are never out of place.

Although the highway for which it’s named runs down through the whole East Coast, there’s no question that when Infernal Overdrive open the EP with “I-95,” they’re talking about Jersey. The song is a southern-hued guitar rocker that sets the tone well for the three tracks that follow with an ear toward rock traditionalism and, once again, like-minded Small Stone heavy-hitters Sasquatch, Dixie Witch, et al. It’s hard to argue with the approach when it works as well as it does on the speedy “The Edge,” which forgoes central Jersey’s reputation for heavy psychedelia in the style of Monster Magnet in favor of Halfway to Gone’s stripped-down take on rock. “Duel” slows down the pace somewhat but still keeps a mid?paced groove that makes use of some well?placed lead lines that start the song reminding me of Iron Maiden filtered through Nebula’s druggy haze. Only “Motor,” which devolves into an extended jam that brings the track to a total of just under 12 minutes, is longer, as the songs on Infernal Overdrive go in order from shortest to longest. Whether or not that’s on purpose on the part of the band, I don’t know – I’d imagine at least putting “Motor” last is – but I suppose it’s as good a method of organization as any.

There’s a short message from the Devil after “Motor” finishes up, and that’s the end of the EP. Infernal Overdrive are out relatively quick when you consider their first release is only 26 minutes and three of the four songs take up about 11 of it. No complaints though, as the four-piece know precisely how to get the most out of their sound and show exactly that on these tracks. It’s a hell of an investment to make with a self-released debut to hook up with the likes of Schneider and Zampiello, but Infernal Overdrive make the most of Schleicher and co.’s collected experience, and come off sounding confident and notably mature for a band who’s been together less than three years. It may not be changing the game, but Infernal Overdrive is definitely worth checking out for anyone who wants to hook into some solid and unpretentious heavy rock.

Review by Cutting Edge Rocks:
A couple years ago we reviewed a strong up-and-coming Jersey band Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]. Well, it seems they dissolved and morphed into Infernal Overdrive. The new band is two parts Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook] (drummer Mike Bennett and guitarist/backing vocalist Rich Miele), one part Cracktorch [MySpace], Antler (guitarist/vocalist Marc Schleicher) and one part brother (bassist Keith Schleicher). Mike contacted me letting me know the band formed after Marc relocated from Boston and set up shop in Jersey. He sent along the EP for my listening pleasure. And a pleasure it is! The songs are baked in southern ‘70s hard rock with catchy riffs and plenty of power rumbling in the pipes. The info is sketchy but according the record’s liner notes, the four-song EP was recorded this year in Brooklyn, NY over five days (Feb 27, 28 & April 17, 18, 24, 25). Production was handled by Andrew Schneider (Throttlerod, The Brought Low, Hackman) with mastering by Nick Zampiello. Fans of our site will immediately make the Small Stone connection and that seems to be where the band are heading as the vibe is defiantly Detroit retro.

Take for instance “I-95” which opens the disc with a solid guitar wail and foot-stomping drum beat. Tambourine is added for flavor but the song bellows like fellow Boston-natives Roadsaw, mixing biker thunder with a Pat Travers/Leslie West riff-fest. Second track, “The Edge” is pure old school Nugent, including the repeat riff and frantic, almost MC5 delivery. Schleicher voice is ragged and ready to rock. The drums hammer and the bass drives laying down a solid bed for some sexy solo leads. “Duel” has more Fu Manchu in the groove. It’s mostly in the chorus, but the build in the verse is still very Scott Hill/Brant Bjork. The track also boasts our favorite solo – frayed, not over played and sparked with cosmic energy. “Motor” is a 13-minute stoner masterpiece. A heavy bottom end brings to mind Sabbath, Sasquatch and Mountain. The riff is clean but thick with a layered solo painting in all the little nuances – perfect for a psychedelic ride. The echo on the vocals adds to the songs dripping mysticism while the guitar is allowed to float, pierce and melt the brain. Yeah, it only four songs, but dude, sometime that’s all you need when they’re this good.

Review by Heavy Planet
I recently had a chance to hear some new material from thee guys and I’ll tell you right now, this is a band to be on the look out for. They’re going places. Their sound is straight up southern stoner rock. If I had to compare them, I’d say they’re a bit harder version of The Brought Low. Checkout the usual social media spots (links below) to hear what I’m talking about and keep up to date with all their happenings because you’ll certainly be hearing from them again.

Infernal Overdrive, O’Brien’s Pub, Allston MA, 4 Sept 2010


Image by Chris Devers
Paraphrasing Infernal Overdrive’s Facebook page:

Genre
Heavy Rock

Members
• Marc Schleicher- Lead Guitar and Vocals
• Rich Miele- Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals
• Mike Bennett- Lead Drums
• Keith Schleicher- Lead Bass Guitar

On the web
MySpace
Facebook
ReverbNation
SongKick
Last FM

Photos of their shows
• O’Brien’s, Allston MA, 16 Jul 2011
• Great Scott, Allston MA, 2 Apr 2011
• O’Brien’s, Allston MA, 4 Sept 2010
• O’Brien’s, Allston MA, 16 Jan 2010

Hometown
Red Bank, NJ

Record Label
Small Stone Records

About
Infernal Overdrive is a heavy rock and roll band formed in early 2008 when Marc Schleicher (fmr. Quintaine Americana [Wikipedia, MySpace, AllMusic], Cracktorch [MySpace], Antler, Liquor Tricks [MySpace]) of Allston , Mass. started jamming with Mike Bennett (fmr. Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]) in Red Bank. Soon they got Rich Miele (fmr. Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]) on board playing second lead guitar. During some of their early shows, Jake Metz (Godzero [MySpace]) joined the band on bass, but he was soon replaced by Keith Schleicher.

Their sound is a combination of their classic influences such as Led Zeppelin, Blue Cheer, Free, Grand Funk, Cactus, Deep Purple and Pink Floyd and newer heavy bands like Kyuss, Nebula, Soundgarden, STP, QOTSA and Monster Magnet.

Biography
Rumors abound that somewhere in the depths of New Jersey time stands still and it is always 1977. Trapped in this interstellar time warp, making electric amageddon is Infernal Overdrive. Fronted by the mysterious, oft reckless Marc Schleicher (Cracktorch [MySpace], Quintaine Americana [Wikipedia, MySpace, AllMusic], Antler) – a Boston native transplanted in time and space to this 4th dimension – summoned by the all-powerful duo of Mike Bennett and Rich Miele of Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]. After a treacherous search to find his long lost brother, Keith Schleicher was sucked into the vortex to fulfill his destiny on bass guitar. They journey in the last of the V8 interceptors, proving themselves worthy of the Small Stone pedigree. Forces to be reckoned with on their own, as a group their wonder team powers activate to kick into Infernal Overdrive.

Armed with their wits, New Jersey dialect and a passion for surviving the likes of the Tall Man, flying orbs, giant sharks, the Turnbull AC’s and an occasional family of albino zombies, Infernal Overdrive will be coming to an area near you soon. Can you dig it?

Current Location
Red Bank, NJ

Artists We Also Like
Cortez, Maegashira, Monster Magnet, Roadsaw, Pigs, The Brought Low

Influences
Delta Blues, Led Zeppelin, Grand Funk Railroad, Soundgarden, Monster Magnet, Cactus, Deep Purple, Nebula, Pink Floyd, Cream, Mountain, Kyuss, James Gang and shit loads of other bands.

Reviews

Review by The Obelisk / Stoner Rock:

Infernal Overdrive Kick into Gear
With production by Andrew Schneider (Throttlerod, The Brought Low, Hackman) and mastering by Nick Zampiello at New Alliance East in Boston, there’s no doubt that New Jersey riff rockers Infernal Overdrive are going for that Small Stone Records sound. The four tracks that comprise their new self-titled EP fall in line with the kind of straightforward guitar-led rock the Detroit label has proffered for well over a decade now, and with a similar southern/classic ‘70s influence to New York’s The Brought Low, Infernal Overdrive seem remarkably conscious of what they’re doing sonically. More so than you might expect for a band just releasing their first EP.

The story goes that when guitarist/vocalist Marc Schleicher (ex-Cracktorch [MySpace], Antler) moved from Massachusetts to central New Jersey, he got hooked up with drummer Mike Bennett and guitarist/backing vocalist Rich Miele (both ex-Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]). Keith Schleicher (relation assumed) was added on bass and Infernal Overdrive began rocking out early 2008. The EP was recorded over two days in February and four in April, and though that seems quick, none of the songs feels rushed or underdone. Schneider, who also shows up on extra backing vocals, makes his mark sound-wise in the tone of Schleicher and Miele’s guitars and Bennett’s snare sound, which has the same pop Schneider has become known for – not too bright, but able to cut through the mix and propel the songs forward. Some of Schleicher’s leads, as on EP closer “Motor,” feel a little too thought out, too structured where what I’d like to hear is a little bluesy ‘70s recklessness, but they get the job done nonetheless, and the vocals are never out of place.

Although the highway for which it’s named runs down through the whole East Coast, there’s no question that when Infernal Overdrive open the EP with “I-95,” they’re talking about Jersey. The song is a southern-hued guitar rocker that sets the tone well for the three tracks that follow with an ear toward rock traditionalism and, once again, like-minded Small Stone heavy-hitters Sasquatch, Dixie Witch, et al. It’s hard to argue with the approach when it works as well as it does on the speedy “The Edge,” which forgoes central Jersey’s reputation for heavy psychedelia in the style of Monster Magnet in favor of Halfway to Gone’s stripped-down take on rock. “Duel” slows down the pace somewhat but still keeps a mid?paced groove that makes use of some well?placed lead lines that start the song reminding me of Iron Maiden filtered through Nebula’s druggy haze. Only “Motor,” which devolves into an extended jam that brings the track to a total of just under 12 minutes, is longer, as the songs on Infernal Overdrive go in order from shortest to longest. Whether or not that’s on purpose on the part of the band, I don’t know – I’d imagine at least putting “Motor” last is – but I suppose it’s as good a method of organization as any.

There’s a short message from the Devil after “Motor” finishes up, and that’s the end of the EP. Infernal Overdrive are out relatively quick when you consider their first release is only 26 minutes and three of the four songs take up about 11 of it. No complaints though, as the four-piece know precisely how to get the most out of their sound and show exactly that on these tracks. It’s a hell of an investment to make with a self-released debut to hook up with the likes of Schneider and Zampiello, but Infernal Overdrive make the most of Schleicher and co.’s collected experience, and come off sounding confident and notably mature for a band who’s been together less than three years. It may not be changing the game, but Infernal Overdrive is definitely worth checking out for anyone who wants to hook into some solid and unpretentious heavy rock.

Review by Cutting Edge Rocks:
A couple years ago we reviewed a strong up-and-coming Jersey band Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook]. Well, it seems they dissolved and morphed into Infernal Overdrive. The new band is two parts Loud Earth [Reverb Nation, Facebook] (drummer Mike Bennett and guitarist/backing vocalist Rich Miele), one part Cracktorch [MySpace], Antler (guitarist/vocalist Marc Schleicher) and one part brother (bassist Keith Schleicher). Mike contacted me letting me know the band formed after Marc relocated from Boston and set up shop in Jersey. He sent along the EP for my listening pleasure. And a pleasure it is! The songs are baked in southern ‘70s hard rock with catchy riffs and plenty of power rumbling in the pipes. The info is sketchy but according the record’s liner notes, the four-song EP was recorded this year in Brooklyn, NY over five days (Feb 27, 28 & April 17, 18, 24, 25). Production was handled by Andrew Schneider (Throttlerod, The Brought Low, Hackman) with mastering by Nick Zampiello. Fans of our site will immediately make the Small Stone connection and that seems to be where the band are heading as the vibe is defiantly Detroit retro.

Take for instance “I-95” which opens the disc with a solid guitar wail and foot-stomping drum beat. Tambourine is added for flavor but the song bellows like fellow Boston-natives Roadsaw, mixing biker thunder with a Pat Travers/Leslie West riff-fest. Second track, “The Edge” is pure old school Nugent, including the repeat riff and frantic, almost MC5 delivery. Schleicher voice is ragged and ready to rock. The drums hammer and the bass drives laying down a solid bed for some sexy solo leads. “Duel” has more Fu Manchu in the groove. It’s mostly in the chorus, but the build in the verse is still very Scott Hill/Brant Bjork. The track also boasts our favorite solo – frayed, not over played and sparked with cosmic energy. “Motor” is a 13-minute stoner masterpiece. A heavy bottom end brings to mind Sabbath, Sasquatch and Mountain. The riff is clean but thick with a layered solo painting in all the little nuances – perfect for a psychedelic ride. The echo on the vocals adds to the songs dripping mysticism while the guitar is allowed to float, pierce and melt the brain. Yeah, it only four songs, but dude, sometime that’s all you need when they’re this good.

Review by Heavy Planet
I recently had a chance to hear some new material from thee guys and I’ll tell you right now, this is a band to be on the look out for. They’re going places. Their sound is straight up southern stoner rock. If I had to compare them, I’d say they’re a bit harder version of The Brought Low. Checkout the usual social media spots (links below) to hear what I’m talking about and keep up to date with all their happenings because you’ll certainly be hearing from them again.

Cool Day The Earth Stood Still Opening images is a post from: The Day The Earth Stood Still