Helping Others

I've been working with some people in my circle of acquaintences that are going through difficulties so have not been able to get my computer time. Are the individual crisis on the planet increasing or is just that I'm noticing people more? It will be nice if and when my peeps get feeling better. More then. Thanks for your patience -- jaz

Long Live Forrest T. Black

One cool thing that happened during the recent past hiatus is that I got to spend some time with my friends Vern and Netty before they headed up to the casino to catch the REO Speedwagon show. Vern was the first guy I asked to join the band when I started "Forrest T. Black" and he and I were the first founding members (I actually started the group for him and me, but that's another story).

So, he and I both left the group to the Jenkins (another many stories) but this past week, Jesse Jenkins abandoned the name and in a moment of quietness, suggested that I take the name back and use it for my next project - he even promised letting me open for his band now known as "White To Black" in reference to Terry Lee's "White Lightning" joining/merging with "Forrest T."

So, Vern had previously turned down the offer, according to a conversation he and I had at the Woodsman during a jam a couple of months ago so, I jumped on it.

Forrest T. Black has now come full circle and is back home with the original founder! Of course, the Free Electric Band has been my pet name for about a year but FTB has sentimental value plus whatever goodwill has accumulated over the past 5 years it's been in existence.

And, hooking back up with Vern and Netty, who are about the most trustworthy and reliable of the local musicians' family of friends I've met so far, has been a bright spot.

Forrest T. Black is dead! Long Live Forrest T. Black!

I'm Baaack!!!

Whew! It's been a very strange trip these past days - ran into my old "friends" the Jenkins' - jammed, got drunk, went to work for him, got laid off and got stiffed. Saw my old Friend Terry Lee of White Lightning who had something stuck in his craw so bad that he heckled and berated me like I've never been publicly abused before (except maybe by my stbx girlfriend). I signed up for the Yahoo music service (it rocks!), hung out with an old customer friend of mine also going through a breakup - she's psycho - and generally hurt myself partying and working labor. It's good to be back. The new Stones album, a Bigger Bang, also rocks!!! More later

www.BoatEscape.com - Gold Lake

So, here's a camping spot - Gold Lake Oregon -- I think I'm gonna check it out. (sound of banjo playing Deliverance in the background!!)

Steve Pavlina - Part of "The Next Generation" in Personal Growth - Launches New Podcast

I've recently discovered a man who is my first experience with what I would call the next generation (see footnote, infra.) of inspirational human growth & development speakers. His name is Steve Pavlina.

A couple of weeks ago, I was surfing and realized I'd unconsciously gotten 'stuck' at his site and had been reading for what seemed a short time but actually had been a pleasantly long time.

I felt I was listening to a kindred spirit who had traveled a different variation but parallel to the paths I have been journeying on. And had some extremely helpful perceptions he was willing to share with those interested seekers.

The breadth of his subject matter covers a wide variety of life-success issues that they forget to teach us about in school before sending us out to 'learn on the job' here at "Life University."

His words of encouragement and wisdom on personal growth and development "...for smart people...." (of course I belong there!;-), I immediately bookmarked, blogged it and signed up for the newsletter a short while ago.

And, if you track some of the associated links attached to his site, you will find something there for you if you are interested in other topics - including success, business, or things he doesn't directly cover such as current events (except to the extent they illustrate his teachings) or chatting on things of an intellectual bent - or, just learnin' stuff!

As of last Friday, Steve has has now (September 2) augmented his site, http://StevePavlina.com, with a podcast, which I found enjoyable, inspirationally reminding (I am responsible, no one is coming to rescue me, do what it takes, . . . Grow!), professional in delivery and vocal quality (see Nightingale/Conant, Guthey/Renker) - plus - for now, it's FREE!!! If you like something positive to have massaging the inside of your cranium, and you go for motivational speakers, check this guy out at:

http://www.stevepavlina.com/podcasts/Pavlina-001-Intro.mp3

I will listen to this podcast over and over and look forward to his next ones (he has an ambitious publishing plan - a podcast / week in addtion to keeping his site going and handling his speaking obligations with Toastmasters International).

If you do check him out, let me know your thoughts as well. Ciao for now - jaz
__________________
Footnote: I feel qualified to say "the next generation" for the following reason -- I started in listening to the "first generation" early on beginning with the original "Dean" of the genre, - the late, great thinker, Earl Nightingale - whose original recording of "The Strangest Secret" (on a 45 rpm record in the 60's as I understand it - I got the cassette in the late '70's early '80's so can't say first-hand) made history. It was the first non-music Gold Record ever and spawned the motivational tape industry. It also is credited by millions to have changed their lives positively and - I am one of those millions.

Of course I listened to everything he ever published on tape and then I turned to others of a self-improvement ilk such as, Denis Waitley, Charles Garfield, Robert Schuler, a young Robert Fritz, Brian Tracy, Robert LeBouf, Roger Dawson, James Loeher & Peter McGlaughlin, then Zig Ziglar, Steve Covey, Tony Robbins, and Robert Allen, to name the ones that come to mind. In the '80's they even had radio stations that were nothing but inspiration and motivational development stations (don't know if they still do but I haven't heard one in a decade or so).

By then - everyone was creating audio tape messages on all sorts of subjects as is the case today. But my original generation of "coaches and mentors" have been at it for 20 to 30 years and, many have come and gone or are not publishing any more.

Hence, I say "The Next Generation." It's not for everyone, but for the millions of us who rely on them, they are a motivational life-blood in a world of negativity, cynicsim, resignation and despair.

Music Players, Service and Sites

Greetings fellow music lovers!

I've spent more hours than I am willing to publicly admit researching MusicMatch, Real Rhapsody, and the latest entry, Yahoo Music Engine to find out what all of these advertisements are about and whether the default player that came with my laptop is worth anything or if I should change.

As a musician, I justify / rationalize the time expenditure by looking at the cost of purchasing CD's that have songs I want to hear or learn for a performance. So, after hours of sorting through nonsense, I've reached a conclusion.

The result - I'm now a trial subscriber to Yahoo! The reasons: They just bought my default player's company, MusicMatch Jukebox (which started this whole research with their constant "Upgrade Now" message everytime I tried to play something), they had a 7 day trial, and they are currently the cheapest service for both subscription (download to devices) and Cd burnable (purchase individual songs and albums).

Here's an article from Extreme Tech ( http://www.extremetech.com/ ) that I ran across to help anyone get started if they are interested in the development and distinctions and, like me, are digital music illiterate:

Which Service is the Best?
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1784304,00.asp


So, that's what I decided - let me know what you think about the whole issue of digital music, Music Players, Services, and Sites.

Yours in Music - jaz

[PS - Of course, just like back when I had my first LP collection, I had to build a replacement "8-track" collection and then a "cassette" collection and then a "CD" Collection, I now have to purchase a "portable device." But not today - the laptop is handling the subscription just fine. I'll let you know if there is any issue with the download and CD Burning/song purchase features but the buzz is, it's Yahoo so they will be able to handle the job nicely. (I"m reminded of the Blockbuster entry into the DVD by mail market, which, at the time, they had not gotten up to speed in many respects to the much longer established "Netflix." They lost a lot of customers as a result but, the big-guys have to jump in somewhere). ed.]

Lawyers in Love - Another Lawyer Blogging?!

This is the second lawyer blog I've run across - does his wife know about this? I guess he's close enough to retiring that it doesn't matter if his partners know. dirty old man seeking pretty young thing

Quote For My Family of Origin

If I Go Out of My Mind . . . I'll do it quietly so as not to disturb you.

From: Lynn Melville's "...Boomerang Love...."

See also - "I Can't Take It Back" - Slash's Snakepit

Cargwaps "Poetic License" - a blossoming aspiring writer

poetic license: It was worth going to class for

Tony Shelden on Stage as Anton Z

Commencing The Leap into Blogosphere

Welcome to "Transitions to Renewal Tour: 2005-2006." I'll be hooking up on various subjects of "The World, According to Me" (as one of my writing teachers would say).

Maybe a little personal history for reference and then anything will be fair game, although my preferences lean towards human growth and development. We'll just wait and see how it goes...thanks for tuning in and feel free to jump in. Warmest regards, j.a.z.