Dateline Sept 28, 2005. Grand Prairie, Texas
I can't say enough good things about this show. The crowd was on it's feet for most of the show. Even jumping up and clapping along as Mystery Mountain was counted in. Every member of the band was in true form and rocked the house. From the jam band blues starting the show to the jam band blues that closed it I couldn't get enough. The Dallas crowd loved every minute of it.
And the stage set. WOW! That set, the backdrop lights, the psychedelic video projections. Whoever design this stage show needs to win awards. I can't wait to see the DVD.
Yes, its true they filmed tonight's show for a Television Special and DVD release. This DVD is gonna kick the 2001 DVD's Butt. This is the kind of show that I've been waiting for Journey to play for the last 20 years. And true to the Texas spirit the show was complete with Steve in a cowboy hat, and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders.
There's nothing holding these guys back.
Thank You Neal, Ross, Jon, Deen, and Steve. None of us are worthy.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Thursday, September 08, 2005
My letter to Senator Harry Reid of Nevada
Dear Senator Reid,
I want to thank you for spearheading the investigation into the causes of the current tragedy in New Orleans and the gulf states. As a concerned American I there are some questions that I hope will be answered by this commission.
1) What special powers has God bestowed on George W. Bush that allowed him to create a category 4 hurricane?
2) How did he manage to steer the hurricane into the gulf and then north to inflict the maximum amount of damage on the south, Biloxi and New Orleans in particular?
3) Did he choose these cities because of the utopian societies set up there by the many years of government led by elected democrats?
4) Did George W. Bush specifically time this event to coincide with the terms of the corrupt Mayor of New Orleans, Nagin, and the inept Governor of Louisiana, Blanco? Did President Bush do this at this time knowing that Mayor Nagin would fail to implement the city's emergency plan to evacuate the infirm, impoverished, and those without transportation? Did President Bush choose this timing knowing the Governor Blanco would fail to use her power as Governor to deploy the National Guard to assist in evacuation, rescue, and security operations before and after the storm?
5) Did George W. Bush use Cindy Sheehan as a puppet to distract the nation and hide the implementation of his secret Hurricane agenda?
6) What method did President Bush use to destroy the New Orleans Levies? Were bombs used? Were any military assets used?
I want these questions answered because as an American I want to be reassured that if the Nation had elected John Kerry in November 2004 the winds that blow across this great planet would have blown in a different direction. I want to know that this Hurricane would never have happened if George W. Bush was not President. I would hate to see the people of this nation elect anyone with such superhuman powers again.
Aaron R. Carter
I want to thank you for spearheading the investigation into the causes of the current tragedy in New Orleans and the gulf states. As a concerned American I there are some questions that I hope will be answered by this commission.
1) What special powers has God bestowed on George W. Bush that allowed him to create a category 4 hurricane?
2) How did he manage to steer the hurricane into the gulf and then north to inflict the maximum amount of damage on the south, Biloxi and New Orleans in particular?
3) Did he choose these cities because of the utopian societies set up there by the many years of government led by elected democrats?
4) Did George W. Bush specifically time this event to coincide with the terms of the corrupt Mayor of New Orleans, Nagin, and the inept Governor of Louisiana, Blanco? Did President Bush do this at this time knowing that Mayor Nagin would fail to implement the city's emergency plan to evacuate the infirm, impoverished, and those without transportation? Did President Bush choose this timing knowing the Governor Blanco would fail to use her power as Governor to deploy the National Guard to assist in evacuation, rescue, and security operations before and after the storm?
5) Did George W. Bush use Cindy Sheehan as a puppet to distract the nation and hide the implementation of his secret Hurricane agenda?
6) What method did President Bush use to destroy the New Orleans Levies? Were bombs used? Were any military assets used?
I want these questions answered because as an American I want to be reassured that if the Nation had elected John Kerry in November 2004 the winds that blow across this great planet would have blown in a different direction. I want to know that this Hurricane would never have happened if George W. Bush was not President. I would hate to see the people of this nation elect anyone with such superhuman powers again.
Aaron R. Carter
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Capitalism at it's most evil
This is one of the most depressing stories I've read in a while.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/08/16/tech/main781387.shtml
We criticize Iraqi's for setting off bombs defending some ideology that we don't understand, and here we are in America beating each other with folding chairs for a 4-year old used laptop computer.
The people in this country need to abandon the consumer attitude. It's almost like an addiction. We work jobs that we hate to buy junk that we don't need. We buy gas guzzling SUVs that seat 7 even though there's only 3 people in the family, and complain when the price of gas goes up. Don't even get me started on Christmas shopping.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/08/16/tech/main781387.shtml
We criticize Iraqi's for setting off bombs defending some ideology that we don't understand, and here we are in America beating each other with folding chairs for a 4-year old used laptop computer.
The people in this country need to abandon the consumer attitude. It's almost like an addiction. We work jobs that we hate to buy junk that we don't need. We buy gas guzzling SUVs that seat 7 even though there's only 3 people in the family, and complain when the price of gas goes up. Don't even get me started on Christmas shopping.
All around that dull gray world
of ideology
People storm the marketplace
and buy up fantasy
The counter-revolution
at the counter of a store
People buy the things they want
and borrow for a little more
- Rush, "Heresy"
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
It's been a while
It's been a couple of weeks since I've posted to my blog. I guess I just don't have anything interesting to say lately.
I'm going to post soon about how I think our nation needs a new feminist movement.
Okay I love you, bye, bye!
-Carter
I'm going to post soon about how I think our nation needs a new feminist movement.
Okay I love you, bye, bye!
-Carter
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Harry Who?
In a rare post, here is something that I think is right with the world.
This week sees the release of a new Harry Potter book, number 6 in the 7 volume series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I wonder if people were as excited in anticipation of the release of each Narnia or OZ book.
Once again I will be waiting in line at a bookstore near me at midnight Friday. I love the hype, I love the excitement. I love hanging out with hundreds of other like minded parents and kids who just can't wait for the next chapter in Harry's unfortunate life.
And, one of the things about it all that I like the most, is that all this excitement is for a book. It's not for a movie, it's not for a new rock 'n' roll album, it's not for concert tickets. And not just any book, it's a book with good wholesome family values, morals and life lessons. I don't think there's been any other popular release in any format that has been more deserving of all this attention. If only other authors, filmmakers, and musicians would take a cue from J. K. Rowling and find a way to inspire the minds of the young and old everywhere.
This week sees the release of a new Harry Potter book, number 6 in the 7 volume series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I wonder if people were as excited in anticipation of the release of each Narnia or OZ book.
Once again I will be waiting in line at a bookstore near me at midnight Friday. I love the hype, I love the excitement. I love hanging out with hundreds of other like minded parents and kids who just can't wait for the next chapter in Harry's unfortunate life.
And, one of the things about it all that I like the most, is that all this excitement is for a book. It's not for a movie, it's not for a new rock 'n' roll album, it's not for concert tickets. And not just any book, it's a book with good wholesome family values, morals and life lessons. I don't think there's been any other popular release in any format that has been more deserving of all this attention. If only other authors, filmmakers, and musicians would take a cue from J. K. Rowling and find a way to inspire the minds of the young and old everywhere.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
My advice to "Hollywood"
From ABC news -
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=906992&page=1
I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to figure out the problem and the solution.
1) Make better movies. The last movie that I actually looked forward to seeing and couldn't wait for it's release was "The Village". There just isn't anything to get excited about anymore. Hollywood has completely lost it's imagination. Every movie coming out these days is a remake of something, or based on something else. The movies out recently - "Star Wars III" a sequel, "Batman Begins", a sequel / based on a comic book, "War of the Worlds", a remake / based on a book, "Fantastic 4", based on a comic book, "Bewitched", based on a TV show, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", remake / based on a book, "King Kong", remake, "Dark Water", based on a book, "Herbie, Fully Loaded", a sequel or remake depending how you want to look at it. Even "Cinderella Man" is based on a true story. Why would I shell out a single dime to see something that was better the first time? And it's not enough that they remake the hits of yesteryear, they remake the crap of yesteryear too, ie. "Bad News Bears" or "The Longest Yard". Come on!
2) Make fewer movies. If you insist on making so much crap, make it for DVD release only. I'm going to feel less irritated if I return a DVD rental unwatched, than if I have to walk out of a theater after wasting $20.00 on tickets, snacks and beverages. The movie studios need to trim the fat. Most manufacturers will lower the amount of product they are creating if demand for that product goes down. The movie industry has done the opposite. If there weren't 5 or more brand new releases to theaters every single week, it would be more of a treat to go to the movies when that rare must-see movie is released.
3) Lower ticket prices, I know ticket prices are set by the theaters, but obviously they set these prices based on what the studios are charging for each screen the theater shows the movie on. The other thing about ticket prices is that they are fixed. You expect people to pay the same amount to see "Star Wars III" as they pay to see "The Longest Yard". The product isn't the same why should I pay just as much.
4) Make more G and PG rated movies. For the most part parents won't take the whole family to the movies for anything rated PG-13 or R.
5) Stop casting Tom Cruise or any number of so called "stars" who can't even act. I wanted to see "War of the Worlds" but didn't want Cruise, Spielberg or anyone else involved to get a dime of my money. So, I bought a ticket to "Batman Begins" (a far superior movie) and went to see "War of the Worlds". Based on what I know about the movie industry, this really didn't matter anyway, since the studios get paid by the theaters for each screen they show the movie on, and ticket sales don't go to the studios.
I also have advice regarding the so called movie pirating scare. If DVD releases weren't overpriced then it wouldn't be a problem. I find it hard to believe that the industry really needs to sell a DVD movie for $20 or more when it only costs pennies to manufacture. There's no argument about the cost of marketing, or production of the actual movie, or anything else to convince me that they would be losing money by selling DVD for $10 or less. It's just Hollywood gluttony, and it's going to continue to bite them in the butt until they all end up as bankrupt financially as they are morally. This might be a good thing, though. Tear the entire movie industry down, then maybe we'll get something worth going to the theater for.
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=906992&page=1
I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to figure out the problem and the solution.
1) Make better movies. The last movie that I actually looked forward to seeing and couldn't wait for it's release was "The Village". There just isn't anything to get excited about anymore. Hollywood has completely lost it's imagination. Every movie coming out these days is a remake of something, or based on something else. The movies out recently - "Star Wars III" a sequel, "Batman Begins", a sequel / based on a comic book, "War of the Worlds", a remake / based on a book, "Fantastic 4", based on a comic book, "Bewitched", based on a TV show, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", remake / based on a book, "King Kong", remake, "Dark Water", based on a book, "Herbie, Fully Loaded", a sequel or remake depending how you want to look at it. Even "Cinderella Man" is based on a true story. Why would I shell out a single dime to see something that was better the first time? And it's not enough that they remake the hits of yesteryear, they remake the crap of yesteryear too, ie. "Bad News Bears" or "The Longest Yard". Come on!
2) Make fewer movies. If you insist on making so much crap, make it for DVD release only. I'm going to feel less irritated if I return a DVD rental unwatched, than if I have to walk out of a theater after wasting $20.00 on tickets, snacks and beverages. The movie studios need to trim the fat. Most manufacturers will lower the amount of product they are creating if demand for that product goes down. The movie industry has done the opposite. If there weren't 5 or more brand new releases to theaters every single week, it would be more of a treat to go to the movies when that rare must-see movie is released.
3) Lower ticket prices, I know ticket prices are set by the theaters, but obviously they set these prices based on what the studios are charging for each screen the theater shows the movie on. The other thing about ticket prices is that they are fixed. You expect people to pay the same amount to see "Star Wars III" as they pay to see "The Longest Yard". The product isn't the same why should I pay just as much.
4) Make more G and PG rated movies. For the most part parents won't take the whole family to the movies for anything rated PG-13 or R.
5) Stop casting Tom Cruise or any number of so called "stars" who can't even act. I wanted to see "War of the Worlds" but didn't want Cruise, Spielberg or anyone else involved to get a dime of my money. So, I bought a ticket to "Batman Begins" (a far superior movie) and went to see "War of the Worlds". Based on what I know about the movie industry, this really didn't matter anyway, since the studios get paid by the theaters for each screen they show the movie on, and ticket sales don't go to the studios.
I also have advice regarding the so called movie pirating scare. If DVD releases weren't overpriced then it wouldn't be a problem. I find it hard to believe that the industry really needs to sell a DVD movie for $20 or more when it only costs pennies to manufacture. There's no argument about the cost of marketing, or production of the actual movie, or anything else to convince me that they would be losing money by selling DVD for $10 or less. It's just Hollywood gluttony, and it's going to continue to bite them in the butt until they all end up as bankrupt financially as they are morally. This might be a good thing, though. Tear the entire movie industry down, then maybe we'll get something worth going to the theater for.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Justice Souter's home in danger.
http://www.freestarmedia.com/hotellostliberty2.html
This isn't a joke. As a result of the Supreme Court's ruling, on which Souter was part of the majority, he could lose his home.
This isn't a joke. As a result of the Supreme Court's ruling, on which Souter was part of the majority, he could lose his home.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
A Supreme Case of "What the @*%^# ??"
If you own property in the United States, pray that the government never decides that they have a better use for it than you do. The courts won't even help you.
Today the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the New London Development Corporation to allow them to "condemn" 15 properties that are privately owned in New London Connecticut. NLDC was contracted by the City of New London to develope an area near the closed Fort Trumball. The development came as a result of Pfizer (another heartless American corporation, don't get me started on this and other pharmaceutical companies) announcing plans to build a research facility in the Fort Trumball area. The City of New London realized, "hey the properties adjacent to the new facility would be prime area for businesses that will serve Pfizer employees." They purchased all of the parcels of land that they could, but when 11 owners refused to sell, all of the sudden the development of this area by private businesses is in the public interest. "Hey, we can condemn the properties that we can't buy and seize them under the 'emminent domain' laws if it is in the public interest." Sounds like Communism to me.
One of these families that is being evicted is a couple who have lived in that house for 60 years. The wife was born in the home and it has been in the family for over 100 years. I'm sure that when her parents bought the property they didn't anticipate losing it so the city of New London can lease the properties to fast food restaurants and build a Hotel / Conference Center. "We don't care if this has been your home, it's more important that the Pfizer employees have someplace nearby to buy sub sandwiches and hamburgers for lunch."
If only we could get the 5 Justices who voted in the affirmitive off of the bench. That would truly be in the public interest.
Today the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the New London Development Corporation to allow them to "condemn" 15 properties that are privately owned in New London Connecticut. NLDC was contracted by the City of New London to develope an area near the closed Fort Trumball. The development came as a result of Pfizer (another heartless American corporation, don't get me started on this and other pharmaceutical companies) announcing plans to build a research facility in the Fort Trumball area. The City of New London realized, "hey the properties adjacent to the new facility would be prime area for businesses that will serve Pfizer employees." They purchased all of the parcels of land that they could, but when 11 owners refused to sell, all of the sudden the development of this area by private businesses is in the public interest. "Hey, we can condemn the properties that we can't buy and seize them under the 'emminent domain' laws if it is in the public interest." Sounds like Communism to me.
One of these families that is being evicted is a couple who have lived in that house for 60 years. The wife was born in the home and it has been in the family for over 100 years. I'm sure that when her parents bought the property they didn't anticipate losing it so the city of New London can lease the properties to fast food restaurants and build a Hotel / Conference Center. "We don't care if this has been your home, it's more important that the Pfizer employees have someplace nearby to buy sub sandwiches and hamburgers for lunch."
If only we could get the 5 Justices who voted in the affirmitive off of the bench. That would truly be in the public interest.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
The Da Vinci Deception
Read this author's blog about how Dan Brown plagarized his books when he wrote The Da Vinci Code.
http://davincicrock.blogspot.com/
After reading the legal filings, I'm pretty convinced. If you're not convinced read Lewis Perdue's original books, Daughter of God and The Da Vinci Legacy.
http://davincicrock.blogspot.com/
After reading the legal filings, I'm pretty convinced. If you're not convinced read Lewis Perdue's original books, Daughter of God and The Da Vinci Legacy.
Monday, June 20, 2005
A Healthcare system that's worse than ours?
We complain about our healthcare system here in the States, but it could be worse. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely despise the medical insurance system. In my eyes Insurance is simply state sponsered extortion. Medical insurance was created as a way to gaurantee equal access to healthcare regardless of financial status. Great idea, right? Not!
On the flipside is a state healthcare system, everybody pays into it, via income taxes. Unfortunately, without the opportunity of being able to charge insurance companies and patients exorbitant and excessive fees for very little service, medical professionals have little incentive to offer quality care.
So, in Britain they have a state healthcare system and also allow private "self pay" healthcare. Well, in hospitals or clinics that offer both, guess who gets treatment first? The patient that can pay, and patients that are already waiting get to wait a little longer. Canada's supreme court just ruled against a ban on private care in that Country, and Canadians are justifiably concerned.
So, although we Americans face legal extortion whether we need medical treatment or not, I don't think we should look to Canada or Britain for answers. If only there was such a thing as a Doctor, Pharmaceutical Company, or Medical Equipment company that was honestly in the business of helping people.
On the flipside is a state healthcare system, everybody pays into it, via income taxes. Unfortunately, without the opportunity of being able to charge insurance companies and patients exorbitant and excessive fees for very little service, medical professionals have little incentive to offer quality care.
So, in Britain they have a state healthcare system and also allow private "self pay" healthcare. Well, in hospitals or clinics that offer both, guess who gets treatment first? The patient that can pay, and patients that are already waiting get to wait a little longer. Canada's supreme court just ruled against a ban on private care in that Country, and Canadians are justifiably concerned.
So, although we Americans face legal extortion whether we need medical treatment or not, I don't think we should look to Canada or Britain for answers. If only there was such a thing as a Doctor, Pharmaceutical Company, or Medical Equipment company that was honestly in the business of helping people.
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