Song Saturday-Christmas Edition

My all time favorite Christmas song. It really applies to anyone and everyone, whether you celebrate Chrstmas or not. Those times when you sit and remember wistfully or fondly the people in your lives. I hope you all are doing so with fond memories, but we all know there are the hard ones too. Embrace them. Love them too. Winter is a good time to do so. I hope all are well and enjoying their Holy-Day (s) /weekend. Love each other.

Song Saturday- Christmas Edition

Feliz Navidad to Y'all Sharing with you my favorite Christmas of all time. See here's the important thing about this song, it applies to anyone, even those who aren't celebrating the Christ day. It's about life, love, love lost, love missed and celebrating. It's a Faerie Tale. Have a good weekend, wheresoever you are, whatsoever you believe,

Song Saturday-Indians and Aliens

A pre-Thanksgiving Song sat.

Most all of you know I don't like Thanksgiving, The overindulgence in celebration of genocide, doesn't seem like much of a point. I'd much rather have a dinner party on say...March 17th...a day that means nothing to me other than maybe I want to share good times with people I care about.

But for those of you who do love getting together with family, I wish you well, I hope you cherish one another and please show love, put aside the drama and bad feelings for another day. Ideally we would do this anytime we are together.

Also every year I encourage boycotting Black Friday. It's a bunch of bullshite. The deals you are getting are not deals. In addition to my general disdain for this day, the Occupy folks are also asking you support the 99% by not shopping on Black Friday this year.

Go for a walk instead, cut out snowflakes, kiss your mate, your kids, your dog, feed the hungry, go on a busking tour, hug. Just don't shop.

An online magazine offering an alternative, subversive perspective to the mainstream media

Link

Nothing brings people together like music.

 Such a celebration right through the trauma of the past. 

Song Saturday-That's The Way That It Goes

Song Saturday- Was surprised on the way home today by the sweet and soulful voice of Gillian Welch today. I love it and can't stop singing it, so I'm passing it on to you. Good weekend to you!

Healing Through Art

I love how art is used to transform individuals and communities. Thank you Lily Yeh for all of the healing you have brought about.

Barefootartists.org

Paul Stamets on how fungi can save the planet

Seeking Submissions

Subversify is gearing up for one of our favorite times of year, when the nights draw longer and stories are told by the hearth. We are looking for tales of ghosts, real and imagined, paranormal experiences, UFO's, and things that go bump in the night. Now's the time to submit your travel stories about that one creepy place you stayed in, or the dream you had right before a natural disaster.Have a unique way of celebrating Samhain/ Halloween/ All Hallows? Boycott it? Come and share. Even if you eventually explained the unexplainable, come and share your experience. Info on how to submit can be found at our "submit page" or leave us a note here.

http://subversify.com/submit/

Song Saturday- All about Joe

"If you're out to get the honey, you don't go killin' all the bees!"~ Joe Strummer

This week, while channel surfing I happened on the gem "Joe Strummer-The Future Is Unwritten"

If you love music WATCH THIS MOVIE.

It was absolutely lovely to watch. Chock full of outakes from his life and the world that surrounded him as he grew into himself. Narrated mostly by Himself, it was also full of music that he loved, not just his own.

I was particularly touched by his post-Clash times and struggles. It reminded me of what most artists whether they be musicians, artists, writers or everyday people face.

-Here's something to remember: YOU ARE ALL ARTISTS. As Oscar Wilde wrote: "Life has been your art. You have set yourself to music. Your days are your sonnets."

Now, some of us have gloomy sonnets and others of us are mean with our sonnets, while still others are incredibly prolific. It doesn't matter if you have lived, you are art. (As well as the artist)

Joe Strummer found this truth. I was deeply touched by his closing words at the end of this movie. It boosted me. It put things in perspective a bit. I have a tendency to vacillate between hope and angry cynicism. I'm very sure I'm not the only one. However, it feels so very much better to be hopeful. I'm going to practice this more.

So today, you get a double shot. First, "Closing Remarks" and second, one of my favorite songs from late-life Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros; "Johnny Appleseed".

Keep your heads up, dive into the art of life. "Take Humanity Back; Without People you're nothing." ~ Joe Strummer.

Song Saturday- Clampdown

Okay Song Saturday Listeneners, here's your chance to weigh in. The recent London riots? revolution or blatant theivery? And...why are innocent computer users being arrested for the riots? Hmm?

Song Saturday-Eve of Destruction

Seems pretty apt for today. On my Best of Johnny Thunder's album he asks the crowd, "You want electric or the hippie shit?" I opted for the hippie shit for y'all...Happy Song Saturday.Edit

Song Saturday-Exploding Plastic Inevitable

Today Andy Warhol would have been 83, maybe it's a good thing he wasn't aroung longer or we would have had to watch in dismay as! he joined the ranks of celebrity plastic. In anycase, Happy Song Saturday

Song Saturday-Green World

I know it's been some time, I have been out enjoying the summer, but this week, take a min and contemplate your "Green" world.

Song Saturday-It's Too Late Because We're Dead

Enjoying the weekend with some Slow Club who has a delicious, uncanny knack for making serious lyrics sound upbeat and light.

Enjoy.

A Father's Day Reminder

I don't have a Father.

I sometimes tell people I sprung from the head of Zeus like Athena.

The truth is my mother never told me the same story twice about who he is or was. I have my theories about why, but in the end it doesn't matter.

So I appreciate good fathers. I really do.

I'll tell you a secret:

Good Dads very often bring a tear to my eyes. Good men are important and special.

And, I think you don't have to be an actual biological parent to be a good "Dad"

Sometimes the man who lives next door and helps you change your tire is filling that role, even though he has no kids of his own.

Sometimes the stranger who opens the door and helps you carry groceries so you can deal with a tired toddler is being a good "dad".

It's important

And for those Fathers out there who for whatever reason are feeling like they fucked up, or missed out or had their last chance.

Don't sit there on this day or any day for that matter.

There is always time, to be the right kind of Dad. To accept your children for who they are.

Who they REALLY are.

Get over yourself and your expectations. Be a good Parent. There's still time.

Song Saturday-Society Makes Me Sad

Okay, I do realize it's monday. But people I was dancing near nekkid except for some glittery hot pants at my rapture party. Imagine my disappointment to see the same old Assholes here the next day...I'm sure some of you share my disappointment. I was going to share Johnny Thunder's version of Society Makes Me Sad, however this one was eversomuch more poignant and lovely. It is all encompassing, what do you think? >

Subversify Resurrects Before the Rapture

Link

Oh even the End Times can't stop Subversify!

Song Saturday-Friend to the Friendless

Oh how I love Punk Cabaret...

Please to Enjoy: The World/Inferno Music Society

I'm not above drinking alone
but no good ever comes of it,
unless you count me talking to you now
So, have you been hurt?
Did you hurt someone?
Did you get all crashed down upon?
Me, I'm a friend to the friendless
not that I chose it and if I had
well then who knows?
But that one guy on the train
all talking to himself
ah, he's talking to me
He's saying
"At school they taught me a prayer for money,
a prayer for crap jobs right till I die
never a prayer for people, the brokenhearted
the lonely"

Did you let the blues make you bad
Did you get all twisted?
Did you get so drunk you whispered
"I think I'm gonna die?"
Did you pass nights wondering why you never saw it coming?
Nobody ever sees it coming, no exceptions at all
I'm a friend to the friendless and I don't care
If I had a choice in this it wouldn't be fair
but I don't so let's not get all carried away
with shit you wouldn't change anyway
let's make this a prayer for money
a prayer for Sundays through Mondays
and crap jobs right til I die.
Because where we are we won't always be
and shit man that could be me
getting hurt, hurting someone
getting all crashed down upon
burning holes in butterfly's wings
while wishing just wishing for other things
Nobody ever sees it coming, no exceptions at all
Nobody ever sees it coming, are you ready for this?
Never wear white socks with black shoes
Don't get all twisted
Don't let the blues make you bad
I know you miss him
Don't let your standards fall down with your hair
How it felt when you kissed her
Straighten your tie, tuck in your shirt
I'm a friend to the friendless
And I don't know why but come on kids, please,
we'll walk right on by
I know you are lonely, you'll always be
You are so many things you will not always be.

A word about Labels

Very often we find ourselves in desperate times both emotionally and physically.  What people in the helping field notice is that in these times what people crave most is answers; a name to put to a condition, something we can point to and say “This is what’s going on with me.” 

This drive is applicable to physical ailments as well as emotional ones.  Nobody likes to suffer and not know why.  The drive to find a name for our pain is so strong and culturally ingrained that people will spend life savings in order to figure out just what is wrong.  First opinions, second opinions and even third opinions will be sought out. 

The result of this is very often huge amounts of debt.  Money spent on searches of discovery, different therapies from medicinal to less traditional ones.  Often to the point that doctors, nurses and mental health professionals will often concede and provide a diagnosis that may be to the patient’s liking but not exactly relevant to what is actually going on.

All this has been exacerbated in recent years by the marketing campaigns of drug companies aimed to make people feel as if they should be on medication.  These commercials both in print and on television, radio and internet make us feel as if we should be on some sort of timeline for healing, if not we should be asking for drugs.

Nothing could be further from the truth.  All of us have different timelines and coping mechanisms for dealing with stress, grief, depression, anger and physical healing. 

In addition, rarely mentioned are the effects of putting labels to our processes.  The outcome of labeling someone bi-polar, schizophrenic, and autistic or any other diagnosis can be in and of itself crippling.  The very act diagnosing, can take away the very hope which was being sought in the first place. 

Very often once someone has been labeled with a malady they give up the hope and drive to overcome and develop their own coping skills.  Very often it is better to work with the issues that are being presented rather than giving someone a reason to continue on in the same frame of mind and behavioral reference which such diagnosis give them.

A behaviour which is very often manifest once an individual is given a name for their problems is excuse making.  For example, they may tell everyone they know they are bi-polar.  As soon as this happens it becomes the frame of reference for how others treat them, which in turn causes them to act accordingly more often and to a greater degree.

Along with this, in this day and age it is virtually impossible to keep any medical and mental health issues to oneself.  Once the word is out it becomes who you are, to family, friends, lovers and even employers.  Being treated as different causes us to act differently.

The fact of the matter is we; all of us have our own share of depression, struggles and problems.  By allowing each individual to rise to the occasion of problem solving without labels is to empower.  Empowering should be the ultimate goal of therapy.  Not labeling.  

Song Saturday- Saving Us

Big Big happenings this week. Evil doers somehow found (allegedly) and lost at sea. Does it matter?

Not in the least.

People are still losing their homes in America and unable to get affordable healthcare. Sooner or later we are going to see Repo Men being played out as we pay big buisiness to fix our insides.

The E.U. still had to bail out Spain this week and is looking at Greece, Portugal and reducing interest rates to Ireland.

Oh and our Republitards passed a bill through the House redefining rape. Good going guys, according to them incest and statutory rape is a-ok as long as fetuses aren't aborted. Obama says he will veto this if it passes the Senate but really he hasn't been keeping a lot of promises. Sounds to me a little like religious extremism in lawmaking anyway.

Just in case you were deluded into thinking the death of one man meant anything to what we are experiencing, I bring you a message from Serj:

Song Sat- Working Class Hero

A working class hero is something to be...find the place where you can be a hero and get busy.

Immaculate Confection for Song Saturday

Chocolate Jesus to Satisfy your Soul...When it's gone, you're done worshiping! Yay! Have a good Holiday Weekend.

Making Lemonaid out of Lemons

It is so important to find avenues to create resiliency in our lives in the midst of tragedy and misfortune. So when you find yourself in troubling times, look for the good stuff to sustain you through rough spots. You have to cut and paste this link since it is copyrighted. Rightfully so. It's a great clip. Radiohead background music to boot! http://youtu.be/i2bvozq-KK8

Song Saturday-Bad Wine and Lemon Cake

This is how my little life could be...

Song Saturday- Hound Dog

Watched the movie 'Hound Dog' this week which was actually pretty good. A story about filling up emptyness so it doesn't hurt you or someone else. Anyway, it featured Big Mama singing. I love this eversomuch more than the Elvis version. Happy Song Saturday

Movie Picks for the beginning of March

Somebody asked me about movie suggestions so you all get subjected to hear about my picks.

See more here: http://grainnerhuad.blogspot.com/2011/03/movie-picks-for-beginning-of-march.html

Importance of Laughter

It is well documented how laughter can help us with many conditions from lack of hope to increasing our bodies immune system and recovery from surgeries or injuries. Not to mention lifting our spirits. In my profession I have found laughter an important part in avoiding burnout. In my office we look for opportunities to laugh, joke around and make each other smile. I found this especially helpful when I was doing lethality assessments at the ERs around Northern California. Working with Doctors and Law Enforcement in difficult situations we all found it very helpful as part of our debreif after a particular intense situation we just dealt with. But sometimes, for a variety of reasons, laughing with your colleuges my not be available or appropriate. As a result I've found it helpful to watch funny shows on television. So I'd like to share my top ten gut busting half hour TV shows that help me to cope with the intensity of therapeutic work I do on a daily basis. A disclaimer is warrented here. Some of these shows some might find offensive or inappropriate. So use your own discression in your viewing choices. Theses shows may not be for everyone...With that said, here are my picks in no particular order:

1) It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
2) Tosh.O
3) Chappelle Show
4) The Daily Show
5) The Colbert Report
6) Arrested Development
7) Curb Your Enthusiasm
8) 30 Rock
10) The Office

So when your feeling a bit depleated after a difficult day at work. Don't forget to have a laugh.