I'm Lee Jones, this blog is about me :D . It's my diary. I talk about my hatred for injustice and unfairness. I talk about my experiences in this nasty music business. I talk about egos. I talk about pathetic little men who seem to be everywhere. I talk about my basketball days, and even my little league baseball days. I don't talk about family, being that I have no family to speak of. It's just me, and I'm more than ok with that.
I remember when I was in school, pretty sure it was high
school, when we were on the subject of Vincent van Gogh, we saw a painting
titled, "A Bloody Rose", and it was by Vincent van Gogh. Well, I've
scoured the internet, and I even bought a book about van Gogh, called,
"van Gogh, A Retrospective", with lots of information, and quite a
few scans of his paintings. Nowhere on the internet, or in this book is there
even a hint of any painting, by any artist, titled "A Bloody Rose".
So, what the hell? I did see a few people on forums who said things on the
order of "There was an article in 1977 regarding this painting, with a
broken rose on the snow, with a person leaning over it, and another person in
the background, walking away...", and a couple others saying something similar.
This video is of Muriel Anderson, she is an exceptional
guitar player, she plays classical, Spanish, folk, and other styles mixed in.
Her dexterity is amazing, and this is not somebody who sat around wishing she
could play, she has spent countless hours learning and perfecting her craft.
Well, I was at a message board - "The Banjo Hangout" to be exact, and
one of the posters put up this video. A few said they loved it, but there was
at least one - always at least one in the crowd, who just had to say something
crappy, in this case it was, "I guess I was the only one who wasn't
impressed, it's just plain old fingerpicking...". In fact, I believe there
was one other one who said something similar. I guess it takes all kinds - in
this case, the guys who are just sad, and pee'd off at the world, wishing they
could actually do something, but never willing to work at it, or maybe they
don't have the talent for it, and they hate the world for that - either way,
it's pathetic to say the least. I'm not of the, "If you don't have
something nice to say, then don't say anything", because not everything in
the world is peachy and wonderful, but there's a huge difference between matter
of fact, and just plain hatred and resentment for real talent, and for the fact
that one does not have the self motivation to actually work at something, or,
does not have the talent and hates everybody for it. I am, though, a firm
believer of being ok with what you are, and who you are. There is nothing wrong
with not having talent for a certain thing, what's not ok, is not being ok with
that fact, and wreaking revenge on those who do, and who have worked at it.
I've witnessed such people in this crazy music business, and for most of my
life, I thought it was mostly exclusive here, but in talking with some other
folks, that self serving, egotistical behavior is just a fact of humanity. I
guess that gene passed me by, because while I am somewhat proud of the very few
things I'm able to do somewhat well, I also know my limitations, and as far as
I know, I'm ok with all of it. Also, I have never resented anybody for being
good at something, in fact, I'm always happy to see a person who has talent and
has worked to perfect his or her craft. Whatever other emotional shortcomings I
may have, jealousy and envy are not present in my little world of self. So, I
can go around pointing fingers at the jealous and the envious, mock them,
ridicule them, and otherwise know how silly, petty, and pathetic they are :) .
And, this is my blog :D . You might want to watch the video, I'm sure you'll
enjoy it as I did.
I can proudly say that I've never played a video game in
my life - well, other than a couple times with my son when he was little. I
hated them from the very start. Well, here lately, I've been in close proximity
to a couple whose lives are all but destroyed by their addiction to video
games. Yes, an addiction is a choice, and any person who partakes in such
mindless nonsense is wholly and completely responsible for whatever
consequences may follow; but, video games, by design are destructive, same as
with cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol. The parasites who put this stuff out there
have found that hooking people in when they're young is a very effective tool
in selling their mind numbing but multi billion dollar profiting crap. As for
the couple, they have spent countless hours, and countless dollars, sitting in
front of their respective computers, eyes bugged out, cussing, damning, and
stressing, but continuing the addiction. This couple has been together about a
year, and appeared to be very happy up until a couple of months ago. They had
some money saved up, the man of the house had the idea that he wanted to pursue
a writing career, as well as offering web building services. Well, all the
money is gone, and the relationship is about overwith. To add insult to injury,
the man has a career right in front of him, with no obstacles other than his
addiction, all he has to do is do it, but well, 8 - 10 hours a day playing this
ridiculous video game has prevented him from doing much of anything. More
insult and more injury - there is a newborn baby involved, which has added to
the couple's stress, but nevertheless, their addiction has all but completely
destroyed their relationship, and their lives, and who knows what the baby's
life will be like. The man of the house may end up homeless, and the girl looks
to be moving back home with mom.
Part of a certain collection of precepts contains the
following statement (paraphrasing): "Control their money, give them cheap
entertainment, and you will own them for the duration of their lives". Any
addict, whether it be to cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, gambling, or whatever
else, is lawful prey to such ruthless parasites. Yes, capitalism is a great
thing, and seems to be working just fine - says me (that's "I" for
the grammarians and smartasses), as I watch my country and the world crumble
right before my very eyes.
