Posts Tagged ‘life’
Driving across the country with a reggae band was always an adventure. Imagine 4 smoked up rastas ( plus me ) crusing across the United States… no wives, no girlfriends…. just 10 cities to visit, play music and explore.
… Now you’re getting the picture.
Jamming with Rising Lion was especially fun, because Danny Dread was a cool and funny guy. I still have contact with him to this day, and he should be releasing a new single very soon.
Here is a clip of Danny in action.
We were cruising through the Arizona desert and were running out of gas. If you’ve ever been in the middle of nowhere on those hot desert highways, you’ll know that you never EVER want to run out of gas.
We pulled into a gas station/restaurant that looked like something from a Stephen King movie. It was old and creepy. Tumbleweeds bounced down the street and the air was extremely hot and oppressive.
As we jumped out of the van, I knew it was going to be a weird experience. Not only have these people perhaps never seen a black person in their lives, but there is no way in hell they ever saw 5 at once, most of whom had dreadlocks down to their ankles.
We walked into a room full of people who were all eating and talking with each other. But as soon as we entered the building I saw astonishment mixed with fear mixed with hate spread across everyone’s faces.
What was a a loud and busy room immediately grew silent…. the record scratched off the turntable.
I cant explain fully the amount of awkwardness I felt as we walked up to pay for the gas, but those few moments felt like hours. I had no idea what was going to happen, but the fear was certainly there.
We quickly paid for our gas and got the hell out of dodge. You should have seen the dust fly as we screached out of the parking lot.
Although nothing did happen … something could have.
…whew
More and more people getting interested in environmental issues all the time and in doing so, many of the long running environmental campaigns that were once seen as fringe movements are now becoming mainstream events.
Earth Day is one such movement. Started in 1970 by the US senator Gaylord Nelson, it has grown from being just a minor American day to a global event celebrated by countries across the globe.
Most countries celebrate Earth Day on 22 April but the United Nations have their own in March. However, many countries precede the actual day itself with a week of eco and environmental promotion.
Earth Day is aimed at encouraging eco friendly living and promoting such schemes as recycling, energy efficiency, and reducing waste. And this year it is celebrating its 40th anniversary and it expected to be the biggest celebration in the day’s history.
Across the globe all sorts of initiatives and schemes are conducted to promote eco friendly ideas; from rallies, and large pop concerts to mass switch off’s and recycling projects. It is estimated that almost a billion people will get involved in some aspect of this Earth Day anniversary.
And there is something everybody can do to celebrate this global event too. Earth day is a great opportunity to begin all those eco friendly schemes that you have been putting off. From recycling and reducing energy consumption; to turning all the appliances off that are normally left on stand-by; It is also a great way of kick starting those positive habits that could go a long way of helping the environment.
But being green and keeping up an eco friendly lifestyle does require some determination so it is important to remember the Earth is forever not just a day!
Richard N Williams is interested in green innovations and writes about them. Please visit our website if you are interested in eco friendly living or other eco-friendly products.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_N_Williams
As a kid, I loved watching Gilligan’s Island. I mean, what a ridiculously nutty show.
And don’t try to tell me you didn’t love it either, because I know you did!
It’s funny because the crew of the S.S. Minnow were said to have been marooned on that tiny desert isle… With two hotties and plenty of ganja ( my version )
But wtf does marooned mean? Where the hell did that word come from?
Are you thinking what IM thinking?
I was hanging out with my man, Bunny Mystic one night, and we were just reasoning about the history of Jamaica. He was talking about some African warriors that escaped the British and had magical fighting powers.
….yes, magical fighting powers 
The Maroons, he explained, were master guerilla warfare experts, and were so good at what they did, the British thought they could materialize in trees, slit their throats, and then disappear!
This is where “marooned” came from?!?!?!
It is a true story indeed. The Maroons were runaway slaves who unified themselves to fight their oppressors, and they did so brilliantly.
Maroons also played a major role in the countries of Brazil, Suriname, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Cuba, and Jamaica.
The story of the Maroons is a very interesting one, and I invite you to take a look at these resources about them:
Enjoy!
Everyone should have a theme song. I don’t care who you are.
As you go through life, this song should be not only be at the forefront of your thoughts, but also pervading around you like an aura of coolness.
Your theme song can and will change throughout your life, but there is always one there – always one that describes your essence.
At present, this is mine:
Do you like?
I have been listening to that song all my life. So, one day, my buddy Recon said that it was certainly my theme song.
His is Return of the Mack.
Pretty funny eh?
What’s YOUR theme song?
I saw something very interesting while traveling through Oregon with Danny Dread and The Rising Lion Band.
As we drove into town, there were about 4 native Americans waiting for us. They all greeted Danny like an old friend and took us back to our hotel.
When we got to the there, they presented Danny with a black box. Opening the box revealed a beautiful eagle’s feather with decorations on it.
Scrimshaw Eagle Feather
It was a sight to behold because these native Americans were the real deal. They were incredibly nice to us. After the show, they again came back to the hotel and stayed with us until 5am.
Apparently they accepted Danny into their tribe, which was a great honor for him.
A few things I didn’t know about eagle feathers:
- To legally possess eagle feathers for use in Native American spiritual practices, citizens must be able to legally prove their ethnicity.
- Many non-Native Americans have been adopted into Native American families, made tribal members and given eagle feathers.
- Escaped slaves, whites and other non-indigenous people were able to participate in indigenous religious customs (including the use and possession of eagle feathers) and join and be accepted as full tribal members of different tribes.
Native American culture is rich and truly amazing. I invite you to learn more.
Lately, I was named by someone from the Penobscot Indian Nation… they now call me…
Bear Claw
…No, I’m dead serious.
.
ABOUT
The ponderings, musings and spewings of a completely crazy reggae drummer
Recent Comments
Ye Olde Archives
Tags
Visitors
