It Ain't Hemingway

I feel like I’ve been so engrossed in the world of Indie music that I’m completely out of touch with all the mainstream music that’s shoved down our throats in the USA. I heard my first Lady GaGa song right before the Grammy’s.  I listen to a station in Philly that plays a variety of music but mostly Indie and alternative. I don’t think they’ve ever mentioned the name Lady GaGa on air, let alone play her music. This is the reason I’ve remained a GaGa virgin for so long. Don’t’ get me wrong I know exactly who she is, I know all about her crazy outfits, alleged penis and shoes so distorted even a Geisha would wince. What does that say about an artist when their gimmick is more recognizable than their talent? Who convinced this woman that she needed to go that route? I have a video on my blog of one Stephani Germanotta with long brown hair sitting at a piano looking very bohemian, belting out a song with more integrity then I’ve ever heard before. She doesn’t need the carney act we would’ve believed without the glitter and spandex.

I think we are a nation who expects all the bells and whistles mostly because of the Hollywood scene and now we expect our musicians to deliver the same kind of theatrics. The Peas and their dancing alien beat boxes; Beyonce with her army of Storm Trooper’s, and even Green Day with their new career venture as the pseudo punk version of Andrew Lloyd Weber with the latest Broadway Rock Opera. Sorry not a fan of Green Day or Broadway musicals.

It’s refreshing when a true rock band wins an award. A band who’s idea of theatrics is when the lead singer performs the last-minute of the last song on his knees; who’s stage set consists of a black backdrop, blinking light panels and the random close up of their faces which never show enough of the hotty drummer in the band. I can tell you in my humble opinion the honesty of the music and simplicity of a solid performance is the thing that keeps drawing me in and will keep me coming back until the band chooses not to do it anymore. It’s the integrity and the purity of the music that the awards should be based on and not who can do the best Cirque D’Soleil act. All I’m saying is the soundtrack of my life doesn’t come with fireballs, acrobats or dancing robots, it’s not what I will remember.  It’s the sound and the words, the feeling it gave me, and the people I shared this passion with.

Obviously not all the awards are based on popularity or record sales, I think true talent is recognized more often than not but as in most things politics are always involved. I take award season with a grain of salt every year and watch to see the pretty outfits, my favorite Rock Stars, and Movie Stars and every once in awhile I hope to be pleasantly surprised by a good honest choice.

My good friend John Arnold contributed to the Haiti Relief efforts by flying to Haiti with a plane full of supplies (he actually made several trips)without any kind of plan, he just did it. This is no surprise that John would do something like this he is truly the kindest person I know. Here is a video of his journey and some suggestions on how you can help.

His words:
If you'd like to help in Haiti directly - today - I'll share one way to do it. I apologize for a mass email (not my style) and am not one to ask people for things (again not my style). I have had people ask how they can help and after last week I know of a very good way and simply feel I need to do this.
Thanks for understanding. 

Last week I decided to fly right into Jacmel, Haiti with 1,300lbs. of water, baby formula, rice, and soy milk.  When I arrived in Haiti I found a pathway for aid that goes directly to feeding and caring for people (see the video link of my trip).  Immediately.  This is not a big bureaucratic int'l organization - which frankly, is the beauty of it.  These missionaries have dropped what they were doing and have put together their own supply network that is getting aid directly and immediately to the people that need it.  If you give today, you'll feed someone tomorrow or the next day.  Also, there is zero overhead. Transportation is donated.  It's the missionaries themselves, directly getting the supplies in the Dominican Republic and transporting them to Jacmel, Haiti, where they distribute daily what they bring in. Whatever contribution you make here is a "main line" injection of aid directly to someone that needs it - pronto. It won't get stuck in some warehouse somewhere or get eaten up in overhead.  There is no overhead.  The news is filled with stories of aid piling up and not getting out - not so here.  This is working, I saw it with my own eyes and flew flights myselfe had no big plan to get there when we started other than a contact in Fort Lauderdale who would supply us.  Each step led to the next, we made it up as we went along, and received help every step of the way.

The video is at http://www.vimeo.com/8917700

If you'd like to donate and help these fine people:

1. G.O. Ministries - G.O. Ministries is the gatherer and the conduit into
Jacmel.

http://www.go-ministries.org/give.shtml

I talked to Ken George and under "Programs" if you select Haiti Relief Fund - it goes right to him. You can also put Ken George in "Recipients". They are running out of money very fast. Can use credit card or PayPal.

2. Joy In Hope Ministries - a teenage orphanage in Jacmel which is now distributing aid (from G.O. Ministries) to the people in Jacmel

http://www.joyinhope.org/earthquake/index.html

Under "Reason" direct it to - Pye Family - it's towards the bottom. Can use
credit card or PayPal. Danny Pye and their teenage orphans unloaded our plane in the video.

3. How Can They Hear (orphanage) - also distributing aid in Jacmel - Maria
Whittaker is the woman in the video that we flew back to Jacmel after she had brought her own very young children out, to better care for others in Jacmel.

http://www.howcantheyhear.org/
Send check to :
Global Outreach International
P. O. Box 1
Tupelo, MS 38802

Please put "3015 Whittakers Earthquake Relief Fund" on the memo line of the
check.

Once again, sorry to blast this out & thanks for understanding. All week we've been hearing how aid is not getting anywhere. This morning I thought, I know at least one way to get it done - NOW. I thought it proper to share in case you're looking for a way to do just that. Thanks for understanding.

On behalf of these organizations and the people they are helping......

Thank you!!!

John Arnold