UPDATE: Despite residents objections and on Valentine's Day, the Town approved the unfair and potentially illegal maps. See link at bottom of the post for more. ORIGINAL POST Despite requests from its residents, the Town of Hempstead is not willing to redraw it's proposed redistricting maps. By law, it's required to review these every Census year. To make matters worse, the Town leaders have not been very transparent in their dealings with their residents and only when pressured did they agree to hold public hearings...BUT, without offering them on Zoom...Holding some of these during the days when folks are working...and, TODAY: VALENTINE'S DAY...Holding an evening meeting. Address: 1 Washington St. Hempstead, NY 11550 Time: Rally @ 6:30 PM - Public meeting to follow Parking: Plenty available around the building and across the street. Check sign to see when the meters need to be fed. (see Dylan below) C'mon, have a HEART!!! “The league (of Women Voters) takes positions on a variety of policy issues, but never supports or opposes any political party or candidate,” Moskowitz said. “Our review of the commission’s proposed maps reveals deliberate manipulation of district lines.” --Source: LI Herald -Jan. 12, 2023 (see link below) Let's tell these officials how we feel - See "VOTE WITH OUR FEET" below for action steps. Hempstead Town Hall 1 Washington St. Hempstead NY 11550 Readers: Gene Pitney's 1961 classic "Town Without Pity" has been MODIFIED TO FIT THE "SCREAMS"...of its outraged residents... Isn’t it a pity what a town with one party can do [Verse 1] When we’re black, brown in this Hempstead Town And without a voice, it makes us frown Why do people hurt us so? Only those without a voice could know What a town with one party can do If we stop to ask for our fair share People talk about how bad we are Ours is not an easy age We're like tigers in a cage What a town with one party can do [Chorus} We folks have problems Many problems We need our own elected leaders Why don't they help us? Try to help us Before another ten years passes…Oust these bleeders! [REDRAW THE LINES!!!] [Verse 2] Replace their lying lips - with pink slips Draw fair lines to include, not exclude How can we make fairness alive? How can anything grow and thrive? When these little minds divide us in two? What a town with one party can do [Outro] If we can’t replace their lying jive? How can anything grow and thrive? When these little minds divide us in two? What a town with one party can do No, it isn't very pretty what a town with one party Can do New town redistricting long way from finish - LI Herald West Hempstead (Jan. 12, 2023) - Ana Borruto/Herald (2-minute read) From this article: The latest redistricting map for Hempstead town elected officials reveals little change to what a number of people asked for ahead of the revision last month. Their desire is to see a better chance of creating a more diverse town council by creating ‘minority-majority’ districts. Also from the article: The last time officials got together to redraw district lines, it was done to benefit legislators without any concern for the needs of Nassau County communities, said Karen Moskowitz, co-chair of the League of Women Voters of Nassau County’s redistricting committee — specifically communities of color. As a town where 40 percent (Correction: 2020 Census data reports 47%) of its residents are people of color represented by a council that is mostly white, Moskowitz added that the latest map proposals show this intention has not changed in Hempstead. The 2020 census revealed a 12 percent drop in the town’s white, non-Hispanic population, according to supporters of the minority-majority district concept. At the same time, the Hispanic and Latino population grew 32 percent, while the Black population increased by 4 percent. “The league takes positions on a variety of policy issues, but never supports or opposes any political party or candidate,” Moskowitz said. “Our review of the commission’s proposed maps reveals deliberate manipulation of district lines.” VOTE WITH OUR FEET Town of Hempstead Redistricting Comments Form Petition Tell Supervisor Clavin to Stop Racial Discrimination in the Town of Hempstead (iPetitions.com) Write to your local newspaper LI Herald Home Page LI Herald Contacts List for your comments Contact your elected officials Town of Hempstead - follow the links for emails and phone numbers Nassau County Contact your local civic association --Currently, there isn't ONE place to find links to these...so, you'll need to ask friends and family for the name of your local association and find their contact info online. NOTE: On the Town of North Hempstead's official page they offer a list of all their civic and community support associations. C'mon, Town of Hempstead, let's do the same!!! Involve your circles of friends, co-workers... ORIGINAL SONG & NEWER POSTS Town Without Pity - Gene Pitney (1961) (02:36) Town of Hempstead Approves Unfair Redistricting Plan Maps (2/22/23) #music #redistricting #gerrymandering #GenePitney

Despite testimony from its citizens stating the unfairness and illegality of their redistricting maps, the Hempstead Town Board approved them on Valentine's Day. Every 10 years, every town, county, assembly, senate and congressional districts are redistricted. The Town of Hempstead redistricts the Town, Nassau County Legislature redistricts the Nassau County Legislature, the state Senate redistricts the state Senate, the state Assembly redistricts the Assembly and the state legislature redistricts congressional districts for the next 10 years. For the record, the process called gerrymandering has been and is still used - at all levels of local, state and Federal government - and by both Democrats and Republicans to redraw district lines for their party's own purposes. This post provides general information about the subject and then focuses our attention on how the current Republican majority on the Hempstead Town Board is using gerrymandering to draw lines that favor their party's agenda. My intention in presenting this matter is to provide us with the facts and let us - the voters - decide for ourselves what's fair and unfair...AND THEN ACT! See "VOTE WITH OUR FEET" below... THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HELPED WITH THIS POST!!! In a hurry? 1. Watch this 7.5 minute video lesson about gerrymandering. --Using North Carolina as an example, it shows how elections were won by using two of the gerrymandering techniques: Packing and Cracking. This information and more is explained below in the section entitled "EXHIBIT F: THE MAN WHO RIGGED AMERICA'S ELECTION MAPS." 2. Read the 2 letters in sections "Exhibit B" and "Exhibit C" to see how gerrymandering is affecting our Town of Hempstead politics. 3. Just "hear" to listen to the music? Scroll down to "Exhibit E" and you'll be prepared when we're marching in the streets... +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ POST OUTLINE BACKGROUND/NEWS ARTICLES EXHIBIT A: Town of Hempstead's Lack of Transparency EXHIBIT B: Attorneys' letter challenging the maps EXHIBIT C: Political party's letter challenging the maps EXHIBIT D: Terms and Conditions EXHIBIT E: Sing & Learn Time EXHIBIT F: The Man Who Rigged America's Election Maps Cartoon Break EXHIBIT G: Backrooms...Dark Alleys...Behind Closed Doors... Vote with our Feet (action steps) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BACKGROUND/NEWS ARTICLES Despite requests from its residents, the Town of Hempstead was not willing to redraw it's proposed redistricting maps. By law, it's required to review these every Census year. To make matters worse, the Town leaders were not very transparent in their dealings with their residents and only when pressured did they agree to hold public hearings...BUT, Without offering them on Zoom... Holding some of these during the days when folks are working...and, Holding the final hearing on VALENTINE'S DAY... and an evening meeting at that. CURRENT NEWS ARTICLES “The league (of Women Voters) takes positions on a variety of policy issues, but never supports or opposes any political party or candidate,” Moskowitz said. “Our review of the commission’s proposed maps reveals deliberate manipulation of district lines.” "The last time officials got together to redraw district lines, it was done to benefit legislators without any concern for the needs of Nassau County communities, said Karen Moskowitz, co-chair of the League of Women Voters of Nassau County’s redistricting committee — specifically communities of color." --Source for both citations: LI Herald -Jan. 12, 2023 Hempstead town board urged to reject partisan redistricting maps - LI Herald (Feb. 16, 2023) (from the article - with my added emphasis) Since the first day of the redistricting process, the concerns raised by opponents to the initial town-drawn maps circle back to a single theme: District lines should be redrawn to have a more balanced demographic representation. That means creating three “minority-majority” districts, that would allow minority communities a chance to elect someone who would be more likely to represent them on the town board. For example, 90 percent of Elmont’s population are people of color. However, the current map proposal places Elmont in a district with Garden City, which has an 88 percent white population. Placing Elmont in a district with neighborhoods they have nothing in common with dilutes the votes of its residents and impairs the outcome of elections... Critics also questioned the map’s compliance with federal and state voting rights protections — specifically the Voting Rights Act and New York’s John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act. If Hempstead finalizes the current map as it stands, it could expose the town to costly litigation at the taxpayers’ expense. “This is socioeconomic racism to the core — disenfranchisement and blatant discrimination,” said Pearl Jacobs, a Uniondale resident and president of the Nostrand Gardens Civic Association. “I really hope that this goes to the courts so they can shed a light, nationwide, on the racism that occurs in Nassau County.” THE NEWLY APPROVED MAPS DO NOT REFLECT THE TOWN'S CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS... ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ EXHIBIT A: Town of Hempstead's Lack of Transparency Jerry on "Jerrymandering" As stated at the beginning, there's been a significant lack of transparency as the redrawing process was rolling out. Here's more: one of the comments on the iPetitions.com site (see link to sign at the end of post) "Don Clavin's redistricting process has been a sham. No posts on social media, no mailings. Information about redistricting wasn't put on the event calendar until residents complained. The only time an email dedicated to redistricting was sent is when one of the meetings was rescheduled. Essentially Don Clavin DID NOT want residents to know about this process." According to its own policy, the Town is supposed to post notices about its public meetings. I checked on Feb. 12 @ 1:15 PM and there wasn't any info about the Feb. 14 (Valentine's Day) public meeting on the proposed redistricting plan. All they showed was last Tuesday's meeting (Feb. 7). See for yourself. Voters are like mushrooms...keep 'em in the dark and feed 'em bullshit. This humorous but serious quote reminded me of yet another lack of transparency that was brought up at one of the public hearings I attended. A resident addressed the Town Board members stating that while they spent taxpayers' money with multiple mailings about their Christmastime "Mulchfest" and they did NOTHING to inform us about the public hearings on their proposed redistricting plans. I was amazed but not surprised to discover some interesting connections between Christmas traditions like trees and mushrooms. See the articles I've included in the "Extra Resources" section at the end of the post. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ EXHIBIT B: Attorneys' letter sent Jan. 9, 2023 to the Town Board --At one of the recent public hearings, I received a 10-page letter that cited these statistics: "...over 38% of of the Town's population is Black or Latino, but Black and Latino voters are only afforded an opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice in one out of the six districts (only 16.7% of the seats)." "Over the last 10 years, the Town's white population has fallen dramatically from 68.3% in 2010 to 53.7% in 2020, while the combined Black and Latino population has grown from 33.9% in 2010 to 38.5% in 2020. Notwithstanding these significant demographic shifts, the Commission's December 20, 2022 proposal maintains five majority-white districts (83.3% of the seats) and only one majority-Black district (16.7% of the seats). This proposal will perpetuate severe under-representation of Black and Latino voters on the Town Council." Letter sent by signatories from: Legal Defense Fund, Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington, Newman Ferrara LLP and LatinoJustice PRLDEF ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ EXHIBIT C: Political party's letter challenging the legality of the maps This letter sent to the Town Board presents a concise explanation of the why the proposed and now approved maps are unfair and potentially illegal and will likely be challenged in court. The added emphases are mine. January 24, 2023 Supervisor Donald Clavin Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby Councilman Thomas Muscarella Councilwoman Melissa Miller Councilman Chris Carini Councilman Dennis Dunne Re: Redistricting Dear Supervisor Clavin and Town Board: The Bellmore Merrick Democratic Club fights for social justice in the Town of Hempstead and throughout our country. We write to request the Town of Hempstead establish fair and equitable districts in compliance with NYS Municipal Law, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and in the spirit of the NYS John R. Lewis Act that was passed in June of 2022. According to the 2023 census, 47% of the Town is populated by people of color, legally defined as the “protected class.” However, currently only 16.7% of the Town’s protected class has a representative on this board. Our tax dollars paid for a map that favors incumbents. However, five maps were submitted to the Temporary Redistricting Commission by the Elmont Cultural Center and attorneys from the law office of Fred Brewington, the Legal Defense Fund, Newman Ferrara and Latino Justice that provide an opportunity for the protected class to elect a representative of their choice. Violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is established if a political subdivision creates districts wherein “the ability of members of the protected class to elect candidates of their choice or to influence the outcome of elections is impaired.” Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act requires “that if there is racially polarized voting and if a minority opportunity district can be drawn, then it must be drawn.” Ninety percent (90%) of Elmont, for example, is populated by people of color. Yet, the maps submitted by the Republican commissioners place Elmont in a district with Garden City, clearly diluting the votes of Elmont residents and impairing the outcome of elections. Hundreds of your constituents attended and/or commented on the Redistricting Commission’s proposed maps. People told heart-wrenching stories of how hard they and their ancestors fought for the right to have a vote that counted. Putting the protected class with districts in which they have nothing in common, dilutes their vote, racially discriminates and is in violation of federal and state laws. Yet, the motion made by the Redistricting Commission for the Town Board to only consider keeping communities whole is totally deaf to what your constituents plead. It does not ask that the Board consider the changing demographics and the need to comply with voting rights acts with respect to the protected class. Keeping communities together is preferred, but not mandated. Five of the six maps being considered by the Redistricting Commission create three majority-minority districts. According to the prevalent voting rights acts, if three minority districts can be drawn, then three minority districts must be drawn. We, therefore, ask you to consider the five maps submitted by the Elmont Cultural Center and the aforementioned attorneys and establish three majority minority districts in accordance with federal and state laws. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Very truly yours, Claudia Borecky Bellmore-Merrick Democratic Club Redistricting Committee Chair +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ EXHIBIT D: Terms and Conditions Terms a) Redistricting b) Gerrymandering c) Cracking d) Packing e) Majority/Minority Districts a) Redistricting Every 10 years, every town, county, assembly, senate and congressional districts are redistricted. The Town of Hempstead redistricts the Town, Nassau County Legislature redistricts the Nassau County Legislature, the state Senate redistricts the state Senate, the state Assembly redistricts the Assembly and the state legislature redistricts congressional districts for the next 10 years. Q&A: What Is Redistricting and Why Is It Controversial? - University of Virginia --This concise article explains the key points. Congressional Redistricting: Every 10 years, the U.S. Census Bureau releases a new census, which documents population growth patterns across the country. In order to reflect the new census, states must redraw their district lines. b) Gerrymandering Is the practice of one party drawing a congressional map designed to maximize their share of seats in a given state (or other jurisdiction). c) Cracking In redistricting, cracking refers to the practice of drawing electoral districts that divide the population of a community or constituency across several districts. In doing so, the influence of the community or constituency may be reduced, preventing the group from forming a voting block within any single district sufficient to elect the group's preferred candidates. This practice contrasts with packing...(see next section) d) Packing The population of a community or constituency is consolidated within a small number of districts, thereby minimizing its influence in other districts. Cracking and packing may be used in conjunction to minimize the influence of a particular voting bloc to benefit another, a practice referred to as gerrymandering.[1][2][3] e) Majority-Minority District A majority-minority district is a district in which a racial minority group or groups comprise a majority of the district's total population. Using data provided in the United States Census Bureau's 2021 American Community Survey and based on districts enacted after the 2010 census, the United States was home to 138 congressional majority-minority districts. This represented approximately 32% of the nation's 435 U.S. House districts.[1][2][3][4][5][6] Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act mandates that no "standard, practice, or procedure shall be imposed or applied by any State or political subdivision to deny or abridge the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color." In the context of redistricting, federal law provides that majority-minority districts can be created in order to prevent the dilution of minorities' voting strength in compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Thornburg v. Gingles, a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1986, established a three-part test for proving whether vote dilution in violation of the Voting Rights Act has occurred in a district or districts.[7] Source: BallotPedia (see full article for footnotes) Conditions (i.e., "results") Bottom Line: Power and Money get moved into new hands - by those trying to call the shots by redrawing the lines to suit their party and their purposes... ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ EXHIBIT E: Sing & Learn Time Comments posted under these next 2 song-videos indicate that teachers are showing them in schools. KUDOS!!! Readers: I had to transcribe the lyrics as no one as yet had posted them. Just Change The Boundary - The Gerrymander Song - Chris Anderson (04:02) We got kind of nervous as we read the polling news 'Cause we sure need our paychecks, perks and titles, too We looked at the addresses where we lost the vote and such And then we had a great idea that wasn't cheatin' much Just change the boundaries, redraw the lines People in these districts vote the same way every time We'll move the borders and we will dominate First, take away the people's choice And then we'll rule the state These precincts came about through logic or geography They're not carved in stone and so there's flexibility Our party has to hold the state if we're to change the tide No one will ever beat us with new districts on our side Just change the boundaries, redraw the lines People in these districts vote the same way every time We'll move the borders and we will dominate First, take away the people's choice And then we'll rule the state To steal elections...discriminate Well the other party may fight 'em But it will be too late We'll blame the others, as we denominate And we'll hold all the purse strings By coincidence or fate... Just change the boundaries, redraw the lines People in these districts vote the same way every time We'll move the borders and we will dominate First, take away the people's choice And then we'll rule the state The Redistricting Song - ProPublica (03:38) "Representative democracy in USA...we elect legislators...that's how laws are made Four-hundred, thirty-five reps in Congress Means four-hundred, thirty-five districts among us But how do we decide who represents who? We draw lines on a map, that's what we do. District population should be roughly the same So every vote counts in in the very same way Keep communities together so every voice id heard Since populations move, shift, shrink and expand We get some data every census And then we draw them again So politicians are accountable To every last woman and man On-screen lyrics stop here at 0:44 Look here at these private money-changing hands to change each redistricting plan We have to wonder what special interests state legislators (or Town) have in mind when they draw the lines... CHORUS C'mon! PACKING CRACKING KIDNAPPING HIJACKING We decide how we divide Bleach this district Redraw the lines If you want your party to win it ALL But a whole lot of voters say, "NO!" Just redraw those lines when it's election time They're all cracked up I'm cracking up When the opposition is more widespread You don't want to lose more Just draw the nay's all in one place Yeah! Pack 'em up! Just pack 'em up! C'mon! PACKING CRACKING KIDNAPPING HIJACKING We decide how we divide Bleach this district Redraw the lines You've got to draw the lines somewhere But you can't just draw them anywhere One man? One man? One vote? That's ridiculous! You're voice must be heard If you really want an incumbent's seat Just draw her home in someone else's zone Kidnap her house Hijack her out And if you don't care about minorities And you don't want to work for their vote Keep 'em far away and they won't have a say Don't you reach out Just bleach them out These days people are getting so much static From both parties Republican and Democratic They won't stop fighting The people have had it But they do agree on one thing Oh, that's fantastic! It's tragic,,,they want something...they grab it! When you cast your vote They're in the back room laughing If you want to see bi-partisan tactics... Just CRACK IT PACK IT Go ahead and KIDNAP IT PACKING CRACKING KIDNAPPING HIJACKING We decide how we divide Bleach this district Redraw the lines" Better know a district: ProPublica adds to its music video arsenal with “The Redistricting Song” ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ EXHIBIT F: THE MAN WHO RIGGED AMERICA'S ELECTION MAPS Thomas Hofeller - The man who rigged America's election maps (07:31) Here's a 7.5 minute video lesson about gerrymandering. Using North Carolina as an example, it shows how elections were won by using two of the gerrymandering techniques: Packing and Cracking. It shows how once the gerrymandering produced its desired results, legislation favored by the "winning" party could be enacted. (from this video) In 2016 and 2017, Federal courts ruled these maps not only gerrymandering but racial gerrymandering done to dilute the voting power of Black people. Since Hofeller's racial gerrymandering attempts were declared unconstitutional, he was asked to devise a different strategy: use gerrymandered cracking and packing by political party (i.e., partisan gerrymandering). This time, the Supreme Court said it wasn't their job to fix it...BUT, their ruling left open the possibility for state courts to rule on partisan gerrymandering. And that's exactly what the North Carolina State Court did in Sept. 2019. And it was Hofeller's files that proved the party had drawn these lines with the clear intention of benefiting themselves. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CARTOON BREAK This is NOT a “bored” game...It's serious... Austin siblings create gerrymandering board game (article) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ EXHIBIT G: Backrooms...Dark Alleys...Behind Closed Doors... The Hidden Hands in Redistricting: Corporations and Other Powerful Interests Redistricting Opaque redistricting groups are being quietly bankrolled by corporations, unions and others to influence redistricting. They aim to help political allies — and in the process they're hurting voters. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ VOTE WITH OUR FEET Town of Hempstead Redistricting Comments Form (still available as of 2/22/23) Petition Tell Supervisor Clavin to Stop Racial Discrimination in the Town of Hempstead (iPetitions.com) (still available as of 2/22/23) Write to your local newspaper LI Herald Home Page LI Herald Contacts List for your comments Contact your elected officials Town of Hempstead - follow the links for emails and phone numbers Nassau County Contact your local civic association --Currently, there isn't ONE place to find links to these...so, you'll need to ask friends and family for the name of your local association and find their contact info online. NOTE: On the Town of North Hempstead's official page they offer a list of all their civic and community support associations. C'mon, Town of Hempstead, let's do the same!!! Involve your circles of friends, co-workers... +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ EXTRA RESOURCES ProPublica: Redistricting Hempstead: Isn't it a pity what a town with ONE PARTY can do... (2/14/23) --I tweaked the original song for this post Please read my Full Disclosure before checking out the next two articles: I am also descended from Hobbits... The Interesting Connection Between Christmas and Mushrooms What Is a Christmas Mushroom and Why Your Christmas Tree Needs One #music #humor #redistricting #Gerrymandering #TownOfHempstead #ChrisAnderson #ProPublica #GratefulDead #JerryGarcia #GenePitney #MapmakerGame #ThomasHofeller #DonClavin #TownOfNorthHempstead #LIHerald #NorthCarolina #BellmoreMerrickDemocraticClub #ClaudiaBorecky #Hobbits #LordOfTheRings #ChristmasTrees #Mulchfest #mushrooms

"All the news that fits...we print" All 2023 posts through 2/17/23 Link to Blog page is at the end of the list. RAK-47's not AK-47's: Let's give peace a chance... A prayer for peace...I swear it's not too late... Random Acts of Kindness Day Feb. 17: Ain't no time to hate... Inspired by Uncle John's Band "Are you kind?", Deadheads have been practicing these before Random Acts of Kindness Day began in 1995. 2nd amenDEADment: The Right to Arm Bears Let's give our animal friends a fighting chance...Otherwise, they might rise up in revolution... A Peel to the Monkey Mind Spent a great day with Brian, a new friend. As we traded stories and shared life experiences, he showed me an easy was to peel a banana... Love is DEAD...and I'm GRATEFUL!!! If you've found love, BE Grateful. If you're still looking, ACT Grateful. Power of attraction...manifestation... Hempstead: Isn't it a pity what a town with ONE PARTY can do... Officials from the Town of Hempstead have created unfair & illegal redistricting maps depriving people of color of their share of the pie. Dances of Universal Peace Dancing of Universal Peace...if you can't be here today, check out the links to find one near you... Christine, Happy Birthday!!! An historical & hysterical birthday greeting for my niece Christine, her husband Ben and their daughter Cora. Family Farms: Feeding America One Crop at a Time A chance meeting at a 7-Eleven coffee station brought 2 strangers together to shake hands & tell stories that included farms, tractors... PLAYING in the SUNSHINE Made this playlist to thank a friend for his companionship on the journey of life...Together is better... Addams Family Musical in Brooklyn...Morticia, Gomez...John & Jerry Son John is accompanying The Addams Family Musical at the Brooklyn HS of the Arts...so let's go behind the scenes...in you dare... Groundhog Day, Grateful Dead & Sobriety…What song to repeat each morning? Life is often about starting over as well as continuing helpful practices...& with the wisdom to know which to apply...AA's Serenity Prayer Black History Month Songs-1: Buffalo Soldiers The West Hempstead Historical Society's post office lobby display serves as the inspiration for this & other music-themed posts. Got ?'s about the unborn baby? If you get confused, listen (you & baby) to the music play... The Grateful DEAD in a post about LIFE? Huh? "Sometimes we get shown the light in the strangest of places...IF, we look at it right..." Birds...Houses...Right Wing...Left Wing...Many feathers...Many colors...the bird needs all to fly... There aren't any SIDES when people don't have enough to eat or places to lay their heads. Let's join together to help our fellow humans... prev <-- nOw --> next nOw With G-d on our Side: The Doctrine of Discovery, unHoly Roman Empire & other matters... And now for something completely different: THE FACTS of how kings & Popes colluded to forcibly take the lands of our original inhabitants.. Takin' it to the Street Artists-1: Jesse Kreuzer...Mural, mural on the wall... Inspired by the words & brush strokes of Jesse Kreuzer & musical guests, we take this post to the streets..."Do you hear the people sing.??? Epiphany 2023: Journeys Within & Without... A tale for adults & kids about journeys big and small as told with conventional & unconventional images, stories, music, food and HUMOR... Hey, unless you're a Big BAGEL BOSS Man, "Take this job and shove it!" Working class struggle heard though songs and movies. PLUS, info on a LI Bagel Boss eatery that combines bagels & bands... Sunrise...Sunset...Mom's Words Still Dance with the Trees... On this our Mom's 103rd birthday, though she's already crossed over to the other side, we remember her in her verses...and mine... Link to Blog page

You: "OK, tOM, how ya gonna connect these threads?" Me: Slow down and allow me to "Phil" in the missing pieces... We’re gonna have some fun… …BUT…First a public announcement Remember today is NOT, same ol’…same ol’… but... ...more Nina Simone below... Groundhog Day Movie Trailer (02:39) A tale of a Bill & 2 Phil’s… Post began as I searched for "Groundhog Day and Grateful Dead" and was rewarded with the image on the left. The Facebook poster asked: "What Grateful Dead song would you repeat each morning?" My Song Choice: Uncle John’s Band The lyrics are Dead-on about how life really is…and, when I told Eileen about the Facebook post (see image above) and asked her "What do you think my song will be"...she broke right into some of its oft-cited phrases around our domicile. She really knows me...and after all these years..."Who knows where the time goes..." Grateful Dead's Uncle John's Band scene in Catch And Release (2006) Let's let Phil take the lead and tell us about Uncle John... PHIL LESH & THE TERRAPIN FAMILY BAND - "Uncle John's Band" (08:12) Before reading the posts comments and links, please read the words and focus on the ones that might catch your attention... I've highlighted in red, the ones that call to me...at this time...who knows where Uncle John's Band Lyrics By: Robert Hunter Music By: Jerry Garcia "Well the first days are the hardest days, don't you worry any more 'Cause when life looks like easy street, there is danger at your door Think this through with me, let me know your mind Wo-oh, what I want to know is, are you kind? It's a buck dancer's choice my friend, better take my advice You know all the rules by now, and the fire from the ice Will you come with me, won't you come with me? Wo-oh, what I want to know, will you come with me? God damn, well I declare, have you seen the like? Their walls are built of cannon balls Their motto is 'don't" tread on me' Come hear Uncle John's Band, playing to the tide Come with me or go alone He's come to take his children home It's the same story the crow told me, it's the only one he knows Like the morning sun you come and like the wind you go Ain't no time to hate, barely time to wait Wo-oh, what I want to know, where does the time go? I live in a silver mine and I call it beggar's tomb I got me a violin and I beg you call the tune Anybody's choice, I can hear your voice Wo-oh, what I want to know, how does the song go? Come hear Uncle John's Band, by the river side Got some things to talk about Here beside the rising tide Source: Dead.net Nina Simone - Who knows where the time goes (lyrics) (04:58) My Favorite Cover Version "It's not that far from Parrothead to Deadhead..." - Jimmy Buffett Uncle John's Band - Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefers Band 1991 (***) (08:03) --the steel-drummin' fun starts with "Wipeout" (02:18), segues into UJB...and closes with a line from "Stairway to Heaven"... (Hint: I'll get the Led out in an upcoming post.) ***32 years ago..."who knows where the time goes...?" Groundhog Day, Grateful Dead & Sobriety... First day principle...Relapsed? Start again at Step 1 ("well the first days are the hardest days...") Wharf Rats Sober Deadheads Official Facebook Page Another Wharf Rats Facebook Page I've included Wharf Rats in several posts. Here's a recent one from December 2022. Witches Brew Coffee House (W. Hempstead) Thurs. A.A. Group (11-12 noon) 311 Hempstead Turnpike --they graciously open for us an hour before opening for the public. --Yelp page (check here first for wait times and menus) --Facebook page You can read more about this "grate" neighborhood eatery by going to my blog and searching for "Witches Brew." Shadow Work What is Shadow Work? A Simple Guide to Getting Started - Soberish.co [all the following is from the article] Shadow work is a psychological practice developed by Carl Jung that teaches techniques to work with your shadow self to reduce the negative effects plaguing your life and to separate and integrate parts of yourself into a single whole. It’s meant to promote emotional healing and help you find peace with yourself. (And let’s be honest, couldn’t we all use some of that?) Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate. -Carl Jung Shadow work allows you to feel a much greater sense of personal agency and power in the world. It’s a kind of personal development that helps you accept yourself more fully, warts and all. Shadow work also allows you to do some important deep healing. It shines a light on the good, bad, and ugly bits. This is helpful because acknowledging the less-than-beautiful parts of ourselves allows us to express these characteristics in a healthier way, instead of suppressing or bottling them up until these feelings and emotions manifest in uncontrollable, unhealthy, and in some cases, even dangerous behaviors. For Furthur DEADification... Searching for "Groundhog Day and karma" bore this fruit... How the movie ‘Groundhog Day’ can put you on a path to a happier life, starting today - East Bay Times (2/2/23) Worth the read!!! [from the article] "It’s a genuinely hilarious film that glimpses deep truths..." "It’s a grand metaphor some scholars see as Buddhist, Christian or secularly philosophical. It’s also directly, practically applicable to how you spend your day today, and everyday." The next two are from my source for all things DEAD... Greatest Stories Ever Told - "Uncle John's Band" - David Dodd [from this "Grate" exposition] “'Uncle John’s Band' is yet another Robert Hunter / Jerry Garcia composition that carries within it enough room to consider the universe and our lives in the universe — it seems to be a universe itself. From its opening lines, which can serve as either / both warning and / or encouragement, to its gentle invitation to “come with me,” the song resonates in our lives fairly continuously if we want it to." The remainder of David's post will help you see a little more WHY I've come late in the journey to appreciate the life lessons in the band's lyrics... My friend Steve B says it this way: "There's a Grateful Dead song for every occasion..." The Annotated "Uncle John's Band" - David Dodd Includes these notes: --"Included by Jim Henke, chief curator for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, on his list of the 500 most influential songs in Rock and Roll history." "Blair Jackson, in Golden Road, issue 8 (Fall, 1985) had this to say: 'The warm feeling of this 'Uncle John's' was palpable; in a lot of ways it's THE SONG, if you know what I mean--the anthem...' (p. 19)" Other songs about themes from UJB... Who knows where the time goes? - Fairport Convention (04:59) --beautiful visuals Fairport Convention - Who Knows Where The Time Goes (with Sandy Denny) (05:10) --the story behind the song and its writer - Sandy Denny Who knows where the time goes? - Judy Collins (07:23) When Phil started heeding the messages about changing his behavior, the morning wake up music started changing... These next two were from the movie's soundtrack. "I Got You, Babe" played on the bedside radio every morning at 6:00 AM...UNTIL weatherman Phil Collins (Bill Murray) began learning to let go off some of his egocentricity and start caring for the people around him. Sonny & Cher - I Got You Babe (Official Video) [HD] - Live on Top of the Pops, 1965 (03:08) Once Phil starts changing his self-centered behavior, a new song starts playing every morning at 6:00 AM... Delbert McClinton - Weatherman (Groundhog Day) (1993) (04:26) Here's LIFE's final test question AND ANSWER... #music #humor #GroundhogDay #PhilLesh #BillMurray #GratefulDead #recovery #sobriety #AA #WitchesBrewCoffeeHouse #DavidDodd #JimmyBuffett #NinaSimone #SandyDenny #FairportConvention #SonnyAndCher #DelbertMcClinton #JudyCollins #YogiBerra

Our son John is playing in the pit...orchestra...not the one with the pendulum... Brooklyn High School of the Arts​ is for talented students who must audition for entry. John's been rehearsing with the cast and said this will be a great evening. Dates: 2/2, 2/3, 2/4 & 2/8, 2/9, 2/10 - all at 7:00 PM School is 3 short blocks from the LIRR's Atlantic Terminal Station. Eileen and I are going to the Saturday (2/4) show. Info and tickets here. School website Addams Family Tree... The Original Addams Family Opening Credits and Theme Song (01:54) The Cultural History of ‘The Addams Family’ - Smithsonian Magazine (2019) As the spooky clan makes a new appearance on the big screen, a look back on the mystery of their longevity... Charles Addams - IMDb [all below is from the article] Charles Samuel Addams, or Chill as his friends called him, was born on January 7, 1912, in Westfield, New Jersey. Records show at the time of his birth the Addams' lived on Summit Avenue. They moved several times before taking up permanent residence in 1920 on Elm Street and stayed there until 1947. He attended public school in Westfield and was fond of visiting the Presbyterian cemetery on Mountain Avenue. When he was a youngster, he was caught by the police for breaking into a house on Dudley Avenue. On the second floor of the garage behind the main house there is a chalk drawing of a skeleton that is believed to have been drawn by Charles Addams. That house on Dudley and one on Elm Street is said to be the inspiration for the famous Addams Family house. At Westfield High School, Charles became the art editor for the Weather Vane and drew many cartoons. He graduated in 1929 and attended Colgate University for one year. He switched to the University of Pennsylvania and then studied at Grand Central School of Art in New York City. His dream was to work for the New Yorker Magazine and started submitting cartoons as early as 1935, his very first one had the caption "I forgot my Skates." In 1940, he submitted "Downhill Skier," and that got him an offer to come on board full time for New York's premier literary magazine. He continued there until his death in 1988, drawing over 1,300 cartoons. Television producer David Levy approached Addams with an offer to create a series based on his "Addams Family" cartoons (they met at the Palace Hotel lobby in New York). The Family was distinct characters but without personality, so Addams gave his characters names and more characteristics for the actors to use in portrayals. And so was born The Addams Family (1964). He married his third and final wife, Marilyn Matthews Miller in a pet cemetery. Upon his death, he was cremated and his ashes were interred at the Charles Addams Estate Grounds, Sagaponeck, Suffolk County, New York in the family pet cemetery. Noted director Alfred Hitchcock was a friend of Addams, and owned two pieces of original Addams art. In Hitchcock's film North by Northwest (1959), a scene pays homage to Addams: when Roger Thornhill meets Eve with Mr. Vandamm and Leonard, he comments, "The three of you together. Now that's a picture only Charles Addams could draw". Widely known as creator of The Addams Family, whose were published by first time as comic for The New Yorker's newspaper in 1938. Therefore, none of them had name until the release of the The Addams Family (1964). Charles Addams chose personally the name for every character: Gomez (father), Morticia (mother), Wednesday (older daughter), Pugsley (younger son), Fester (Morticia's uncle or Gomez's brother depending the adaptation), Eudora "Grandmama" (Gomez's mother or Morticia's mother depending the adaptation), Lurch (family butler) and Thing (living severed hand). Source: Goodreads.com Grateful Dead Meet the Addams Family Addams Family Grateful Dead Dancing: Ep # 1 (01:30) --Wednesday teaches Lurch to dance Addams Family Tease - Grateful Dead (01:07) Track #6 You didn't ask...but here it is anyway... Addams Family Kindergarten Graduation Song Lyrics (01:19) Ashley Jarmack and Will Vargas - The Munsters/Addams Family mashup [pop] (01:20) --check out how the guy on the left moves his eye/eyes to the music...INDEPENDENTLY Addams Family Theme Tuning [all below from this article] Composer: Victor Mizzy The Grateful Dead played brief parts of the Addams Family Theme a few times, whilst tuning or during other between song interludes, between 1987 and 1994. A brief snippet of the theme occurs in one of the 'Appetizers' on the Jerry Garcia / David Grisman / Tony Rice album The Pizza Tapes. The Addams Family was a TV series that ran for 64 episodes between September 1964 and April 1966. The theme music plays at the start and end of each episode. The original TV theme music was released on a single in 1964. The recordings listed below {see article} include performances of the theme music and performances of pieces that incorporate the theme music. This latter category includes such things as The Addams Family by the Blazing Redheads, The Addams Family Polka by Bob Siwicki And His New Englanders Orchestra and The Simpsons end credits homage to the Addams Family. The Addams Family (1992) E2 – Dead and Breakfast (22:21) --animated fun... Dead and Breakfast - The Addams Family Wiki (05:51) Addams Family Gets the Uptown Funk (04:31) The ultimate Addams Family Snap-Along theme song feat. Charlize Theron, Chloë, Grace Moretz and more! (01:36) For More Gorey Fun... Check out my friend Keith Crocker's live and Zoom offerings that feature topics like horror and music and more... With Dr. Faustus, MD (a.k.a, Keith Crocker)...It's not what we see...it's what we don't see... #music #humor #AddamsFamily #CharlesAddams #TheMunsters #BrooklynHighSchoolOfTheArts #GratefulDead #KeithCrocker

Stardate: Feb.11, 1983... Cora: May this and other family tales become part of your bedtime story hour (or longer if you want to delay going to bed [see below for tips])... Here are your Grandma and Grandpa Callahan on the day your Mom was carried into our world... Nor'easter Buries New York City Under Blanket Of Snow - CBS New York (02:26) --says up to 11" fell in parts of Queens Blizzard of 1983 buries New York region with as many as 2 feet of snow - Eyewitness News 7 (04:27) --lighthearted look A sledding we will go... Born in a Snowstorm - Jimmy Rhythm Next on the turntable... I have a friend Steve B (your "Grate" Uncle Mike knows him, too - we all surfed together). Steve says there's a Grateful Dead song for every occasion. And this is no "snow job." FYI- I subscribe to this "LongStrangeTrip710" channel and was pleased but not surprised at this post-appropriate footage... Cold Rain and Snow - Grateful Dead (02:27) Science and Gynecology... 'Storm babies': The fascinating reason so many women go into labour during a storm. --A post from "down under"...seriously : ))) --[from this article] In a study published in the Archives of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, it was found that, “spontaneous delivery is related to barometric pressure”. This Baby Was Born In A Blizzard --not the first in this family... Delaying bedtime... SNEEZY THE SNOWMAN Book Read Aloud (05:27) --a great tale about what it sometimes takes to learn life's lessons. I've got plenty of experience with this...Call it Karma, Summer School or whatever...We keep repeating until we learn...At this point in my 75 years, I call it Grace. "Slick", huh? (more below...Do follow the rabbit...) --for more on this matter, checkout the Surprise Movie Trailer below... To reduce his Karmic load, Sneezy should learn from this guy and head off to see the... https://youtu.be/nauLgZISozs Let's play a pretend game...39 and holding... Seeing that you've reached a significant number of circuits around our sun, let me share another "oldtimer's" perspective: Jack Benny, 39 and holding...(00:09) ...please see closing song for more on this matter... For when you come of age... Surprise Movie Trailer (02:29) When you get old enough to sleep on a Surrealistic Pillow, you might begin to dream of other white-colored images... White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane (02:23) White Rabbit - Alice in Wonderland - Animated (with Jefferson Airplane) (02:53) "Library" Reading Matter... Today in NYC History: John Lindsay’s No Good, Very Bad Snowstorm of 1969 --Feb. 9-11, 1969 --15" fell in "and things were worst in Queens...many roads remained unplowed a full week after the storm. Christine, a song-prayer to express my heartfelt wishes for you...and Ben...and Cora...and the rest of us... May we remain... Forever Young - Rod Stewart (04:03) #music #humor #snowstorm #JimmyRhythm #GratefulDead #BillMurray #GroundHogDay #karma #WizardOfOz #scarecrow #RodStewart #JeffersonAirplane

We reserve the right to ARM BEARS... Green BEARets The Right to Arm Bears - The Beret Project (article) Look out, NRA... Click here to see the bear dance... Blogger bearing his soles... GRATEFUL DEAD U School Bus OK...Enuf lookin' at pictures...Class, it's time to do some READING...Hey, Class are you listening...Are you still awake? Class...Class...Class!!! (00:12) Your assignment... The History and Meaning of the Iconic Grateful Dead Bears - Extra Chill ANIMAL FARM SONGS The Right to ARM BEARS - Paul Westerberg (02:03) Man gave names to all the animals (02:15) Artist: Jason Mraz Animator: Stan Smeets Bob Dylan - Man Gave Names To All The Animals (04:31) Uhh...Wait a minute...We have rights, too!!! Reader: These next two videos contain disturbing, graphic images of cruelty... Animal Rights: The Social Justice Movement of Our Time (02:58) Free Me - Goldfinger (02:29) PETA People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 'Someday' | Morrissey's New Opening Act - PETA (03:22) Animal Farm Britannica.com Article (from the article) Animal Farm, anti-utopian satire by George Orwell, published in 1945. One of Orwell’s finest works, it is a political fable based on the events of Russia’s Bolshevik revolution and the betrayal of the cause by Joseph Stalin. The book concerns a group of barnyard animals who overthrow and chase off their exploitative human masters and set up an egalitarian society of their own. Eventually the animals’ intelligent and power-loving leaders, the pigs, subvert the revolution. Concluding that “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” (with its addendum to the animals’ seventh commandment: “All animals are equal”), the pigs form a dictatorship even more oppressive and heartless than that of their former human masters. Full animated versions are available online. Here are two short video clips of songs followed by a video with background on the author. Animal Farm Clip - "Rising Up" (1954) George Orwell (06:43) --Don't be tempted to read anything into the fact that a donkey is leading the revolution Animal Farm (1999) - All songs (05:45) George Orwell and the Battle for Animal Farm - the Orwell Foundation (11:11) #music #humor #GratefulDead #DancingBears #BobDylan #PaulWesterberg #Goldfinger #PETA #AnimalRights #AnimalFarm #GeorgeOrwell #CheechAndChong #JasonMraz #StanSmeets

On Wednesday, Eileen and I met with our friends of the Baha'i Fellowship where we learned about Random Acts of Kindness Day. As part of our gathering, we read selected quotes and gave some personal examples of how we can practice and already are practicing doing random acts of kindness. Random Acts of Kindness are good for our health and well-being Change the World With Kindness (01:40) All of the above and more on their website... IS KINDNESS DEAD??? YUP!!! Interesting that Random Acts of Kindness Day was started in the same year - 1995 - that our leader - Jerry Garcia - left the earthly plane...COINCIDENCE??? Methinks not... Final Test Question Grateful Dead - Uncle John's Band (Washington, DC 6/25/93) (Official Live Video) (12:15) Source: Reddit.com --This story will get my ass in gear - as I've wanted to "dew" this as I walk around my neighborhood and spot the band's signs on vehicles and houses. EXTRA KINDNESS Greatest Stories Ever Told - "Uncle John's Band" - David Dodd --a must read whether you're a Deadhead or considering so becoming... From this article (and lots more wisdom and humor in the article): “Uncle John’s Band” is yet another Robert Hunter / Jerry Garcia composition that carries within it enough room to consider the universe and our lives in the universe — it seems to be a universe itself. From its opening lines, which can serve as either / both warning and / or encouragement, to its gentle invitation to “come with me,” the song resonates in our lives fairly continuously if we want it to. Eminently danceable, the tune would bring the entire crowd to fresh heights of happiness time and again. And it is so singable! Isn’t it great that crows tell the story of life and death? (I think of it every time I see a crow.) YES, the Grateful Dead are a KULT…Yes, "Weir" a cult…a KULTure of KINDness… #music #humor #RandomActsOfKindnessDay #GratefulDead #UncleJohnsBand

Grateful Dead - Not Fade Away 1987 (07:45) The Grateful Dead Movie - Sugar Magnolia (05:13) Grateful Dead 5-23-72: The Stranger (Two Souls in Communion): London (07:35) Grateful Dead - Standing On The Moon 7-7-89 (08:11) Eileen, this one's for you... Grateful Dead ~ Easy To Love You (05:22) FOR ALL OF US FURTHUR LOVEMAKING 10 Best Grateful Dead Love Songs of All Time (article) Grateful Dead - It Must Have Been The Roses - 10/31/1980 - Radio City Music Hall (07:22) GD/Brent Myland Tribute-Easy to love you - Tito Garcia (05:48) Grateful Dead - Pigpen & Janis Joplin - Lovelight 1970-07-16 (19:41) #music #GratefulDead #ValentinesDay

Fellow Dancers, Some of our friends have invited Eileen and I to join them later today (Sunday) from 3-5 PM at the Valley Stream Baha'i Center for a celebration known as the Dances of Universal Peace. It's a 50-year old multicultural, multi-faith, multi-generational and multi-FUN, experience of community... Baha'i Center 11 West Jamaica Ave. Valley Stream NY 11580 The Dances of Universal Peace is a 50-year-old tradition of meditative dancing and chanting involving themes of peace and healing. The event allows people to participate in dance movements to gain an overall sense of peace. No previous dance experience is needed to join. “The intention is to bring heart,” said Mariam Casdin-Silver, the leader of Dances of Universal Peace. “It’s not a performance, it’s a practice.” Source Eat, Dance & Pray Together! (02:39) --the origins...there's more info in the description under the video THE OLD WORN-OUT DANCE... Universal Soldier - Buffy Sainte-Marie (04:22) it's time to change the story... THE NEW DANCE... Baha’i Center shares peace dancing - LI Herald (2018) Here's a 10-minute meditation-dance that was part of a Dances of Universal Peace event held at a Sufi Summer Camp in 2014. Love, Serve and Remember - Sufi Summer Camp 2014 Dances of Universal Peace (03:32) --This woman found the dances of universal peace in Amsterdam in 1973. It brought people together and bonded people together increasing a sense of unity. This dance is influenced by Sufism. This mystical branch of Sufism honors other faith traditions and focuses on the heart of the individual, building unity between people of different traditions. Alleluia (Taizé) - Dance of Universal Peace (03:46) Hacia el Uno: Danzas de Paz Universal // Towards the One: Dances of Universal Peace (08:49) --en inglés y español Reading through this Wikipedia article, I learned that Buffy Sainte-Marie was a friend of the Baha'i Fellowship. All Aboard… "Peace Train" featuring Yusuf / Cat Stevens | Playing For Change | Song Around The World (04:09) Source Cat Stevens - Peace Train (04:12) --beautifully creative images including these next 4... Let's go out Dancing...and a little child will lead us... FLASH MOB in THAILAND - UNIVERSAL PEACE (03:59) IFLC International Festival of Language and Culture (separate link to this organization's YouTube channel) MORE...Meditation in Action... Dances of Universal Peace Worldwide Website --click the "Worldwide Network" link on the top menu bar to locate one near you, then follow the navigating instructions. Here's the page for "NY": Invitation to the Dance: Dances of Universal Peace (21:48) --begins with the origins of this worldwide movement... Baha’i Center celebrates 10 years in Valley Stream - LI Herald (2016) Let Your Vision Be World Embracing - Bahá’u’lláh Here's one of my posts that mentions our hanging out with our Baha'i friends. Sunrise...Sunset...Mom's Words Still Dance with the Trees... #music #peace #dance #Baha'i #PlayingForChange #YusufCatStevens #LIHerald #Taize #BuffySainteMarie #MurshidSamuelLLewis

Hi, All in the Family! Got a farm story for us... Dear John... oops... John Deere... About Brenda After today's counseling session in E. Islip, I went to my Tuesday Afternoon 7-Eleven for a cup and the guy (Paul) filling up across from me at the coffee bar was wearing a John Deere cap. So, I strike up a conversation with him by saying "Man, how long has that company been in business?" He laughed and retorted, "Nothing runs like a Deere!" I then told him that our extended family * includes one that grew up on a farm - one that's still operating. * Kathryn: Wishin' you a belated Happy Birthday! May the 4th be with you! Paul then tells me that that's where he's headed now...to his farm in Bethel, NY. Yup! That Bethel (FYI - in Hebrew it means: "House of G-d") Woodstock - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (04:22) ---penned by Joni Mitchell --Mitchell based the song on Nash's description of what it was like to be at Woodstock and later said, "I don't know if I would have written the song if I had gone. I was the fan that couldn't go, not the performing animal. So, it afforded me a different perspective." Crosby agreed, saying she nailed the event's vibe. "She captured the feeling and importance of the Woodstock festival better than anyone who had actually been there." (Source: MSN) 10 Best Crosby, Stills and Nash Songs to ‘Teach Your Children’ (Jan. 20, 2023) - Family Minded --deserves a post of its own... Paul has an excavation business and his property is right next to Max Yasgar's Farm. He goes there almost every week. All his equipment is John Deere. I told him that when our son John was young, a neighbor had a construction business and John loved to watch him navigate the Bobcat payloader machine. John Deere Funnies!! - Pinterest Tractor Traffic Jammin'... Shortenin' Bread - The Tractors (03:53) "Shortnin' Bread" is an African-American folk song dating back at least to the 1890s. James Whitcomb Riley published it as a poem in 1900, building on older lyrics. A "collected" version of the song was published by E. C. Perrow in 1915. It is song number 4209 in the Roud Folk Song Index. Shortening bread refers to a bread made of corn meal and/or flour and lard shortening. Wikipedia Next two images are from this fun song. How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm? - First planting... ...Or, how big boys & their toys come from little boys & their toys... Tractors for kids muddy tractors, tractor trailer, children tractors, tractor songs - Nicki Miles (07:03) How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm? - Second planting... Let's ask Judy...after all, she's from farm country... How You Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm? - Judy Garland (01:38) Thera Farms - Brentwood, NY --Thera Farms (Facebook page) is located on the same Sisters of St. Joseph campus where I participate in a monthly Men2Men council gathering. Second Saturday of every month. Info's included in several of my blog posts. "Look at that Okra!" - 2022 Thera Farms Tour - Long Island NY (05:58) Here's a post I did when I visited the Farm for the first time in the Summer of 2022. Watermelon T-Man THERA FARMS: FOOD & MUSIC THERApea 2017 Season Thera Farm @ Sisters of St Joseph, Brentwood, NY by Karen Burke (08:18) --the following are stills from this video taken by Sr. Karen Burke, CSJ. --NOTE: These amazing women were my elementary school teachers. They deserve a post of their own. In the meantime, Please check out their website and see all the ways they are helping people and planet - including: education, spirituality, ecology & justice. Pure Raw Brands Honey - How sweet it is!!! Another part of my foraging adventures at Thera Farms was getting introduced to a line of honey products from Pure Raw Brands. These included: Cacao Infused Honey Raw honey in the comb Check out their website. I just received my first online order. AMAZING!!! 20 Best Songs About Honey (includes links) - I picked the 1 below: Honey Bee - Blake Shelton (03:30) The Secret Life Of Bees Trailer [HD] (02:29) --Eileen and I just watched this. Learned some things about bees and a lot about racism... Is Farming DEAD? Let It Grow (Philadelphia 7/7/89) - Grateful Dead (12:38) Farm Aid Music Monday, Starring the Grateful Dead - Farm Aid --article includes links to 3 videos with 5 songs Weather Report Suite Part II: Let it Grow Lyrics By: John Barlow Music By: Bob Weir Morning comes, she follows the path to the river shore Lightly sung, her song is the latch on the morning's door (note 1) See the sun sparkle in the reeds; silver beads pass into the sea She comes from a town where they call her the woodcutter's daughter She's brown as the bank where she kneels down to gather her water And she bears it away with a love that the river has taught her Let it flow, greatly flow, wide and clear Round and round, the cut of the plow in the furrowed field Seasons round, the bushels of corn and the barley meal (note 2) Broken ground, open and beckoning to the spring; black dirt live again The plowman is broad as the back of the land he is sowing As he dances the circular track of the plow ever knowing That the work of his day measures more than the planting and growing Let it grow, let it grow, greatly yield (note 3) What shall we say, shall we call it by a name As well to count the angels dancing on a pin Water bright as the sky from which it came And the name is on the earth that takes it in We will not speak but stand inside the rain And listen to the thunder shout I am, I am, I am, I am So it goes, we make what we made since the world began Nothing more, the love of the women, work of men Seasons round, creatures great and small, up and down, as we rise and fall Source: Dead.net The Annotated "Weather Report Suite: Part II (Let It Grow)" Playing-in-the-Dirt Songs John Deere Green - Joe Diffie (04:31) Johnny Popper by James Coffey (01:21) Methinks the generator on this next guy’s tractor doesn’t have a fan belt…but a Bible Belt… Keith Urban - John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16 (Official Music Video) (03:51) I know some of you are gonna “dig” this next one…so, "hops" up into the driver’s seat… Robert Mizzell - John Deere Beer Official Music Video (02:51) Farm responsibly... One for the Road I bought Paul from Bethel one cafe for the road… Who’s buying the next round 😁? Playing-in-the-Dirt Song List (7 songs) #music #humor #Bethel #Woodstock #CrosbyStillsNash #JoeDiffie #JamesCoffey #KeithUrban #RobertMizzell #TheraFarms #SistersOfStJosephBrentwood #TheTractors #JudyGarland #GratefulDead #FarmAid #honey #PureRawBrands #racism

Made this for a friend to thank him for his companionship on life's journey... Let's get into a space to receive her warming, enlightening rays... Sunrise - Deva Premal & Miten (06:39) The Sun Shines on Everyone - Snatam Kaur (08:16) We're on the 3rd ROCK from the SUN...so, Let's ROCK Here Comes the Sun - Beatles (03:10) with video from Grand Canyon National Park [from a comment] This is magical, George was so spiritual and the story about him wandering around Eric Clapton's back yard with his guitar as the sun was coming up on a spring day is magical. George said he was playing and the song was what came out. As a guitar player myself, this song is just so pleasurable to play the way it just rolls of the fingers. I think it is one of the greatest songs ever written. Sunshine of your Love - Cream (10:15) House of the Rising Sun (1964) - The Animals (04:08) Thousand Suns ~ The GuruGanesha Band & Guru Singh LIVE at Sat Nam Fest West 2012 (07:04) Moon & Sun - Trevor Hall (04:03) Sunshine - Matisyahu (03:48) "Your Light" By Paul Izak (ft. Sam Ites and The MAADKiNG) (04:50) Chorus lift your spirits lift lift your spirits lift your spirits high lift your spirits lift lift your spirits lift your spirits high your light is present in all things your light is present in all things Verse So shine your light brighter than the Sun and spread it wide, wide like the ocean so we can see, see in all directions so we can be, be a true reflection lets all sing Dancin' Under the Sun...Let's Shake Our Booties... I Live For The Sun - The Sunrays (02:34) Sunshine - OneRepublic (Official Lyric Video) (02:44) --UPBEAT...Danceable...Animated... Pocketful of Sunshine (Official Video) - Natasha Bedingfield (03:00) Dance Under the Sun - In10Sified Dancers - (03:34) Sun in Lyrics and/or Great Visuals "I got sunshine on a cloudy day..." My Girl - The Temptations (02:51) The Dance and The Wonder - Sam Garrett (05:28) Don't Look Now - Jack Johnson (03:32) Seven Chakra Gayatri Mantra (with mantra text) - Deva Premal (06:15) Synchronicity / The Monk's Jig - Rising Appalachia (from Dec 15, 2020 Livestream) (05:22) Who is that SUN and why is it following me? Following the Sun - SUPER-Hi x NEEKA (03:25) Sunshine Daydream - Grateful Dead (06:14) Here Comes Sunshine - Grateful Dead (04:35) I'll Follow the Sun - Paul McCartney (03:46) Follow the Sun - Xavier Rudd (04:19) Recessional #1: Mellow Long Time Sun - Snatam Kaur (03:07) --traditionally, it's chanted at the end of each kundalini yoga class Recessional #2: Kick Ass Walking on Sunshine - Katrina & the Waves (03:48) For Extended Basking in the Sun... May the Long Time Sun - Aimee Brown and Lisa Seed...the Ladies of Soulgood Family (03:23) --lots of positive radiant kid-power & flower-power... Mirabai Ceiba - Long Time Sun (Eterno Sol) (05:05) The Longtime Sun ~ Sigrun Kaur (02:56) Follow the Sun | Alexander Mercks | Yatao | Ayasa Handpan (18:48) Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu (Sanskrit: लोकः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु) is a Sanskrit mantra that often chanted at the conclusion of a yoga practice. Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu means “may everyone, in the whole world, be happy.” It can be chanted, sung or meditated upon to offer as a prayer, or shloka for the whole world. Another popular translation is “may all beings, everywhere, be free and happy.” This is still accurate, except the mantra doesn’t specifically say the word free, but rather, it is implied. SOURCE Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bavantu - Deva Premal & Miten (10:37) PLAYING-in-the-SUN LIST (all 30) #music #humor #DevaPremalAndMiten #SnatamKaur #Beatles #Cream #TheAnimals #PaulMcCartney #GuruGaneshaBand #GuruSingh #TrevorHall #Matisyahu #PaulIzak #Sunrays #OneRepublic #SamGarrett #JackJohnson #DevaPremal #RisingAppalachia #SuperHiAndNeeka #GratefulDead #XavierRudd #SoulgoodFamily #AimeeBrown #LisaSeed #MirabaiCeiba #AlexanderMercks #Yatao #Ayasa #TheTemptations