WordPress World – Mach 2

~ Cave_Guy ~ 4 Comments

Jamming on the sketch with some color

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Yeah, it is flawed but I am going with it – I wish I could say it was fun to do – but, I learned a bunch about cartooning in the digital age where there are few rules to follow. I spent a couple hours making a vector me that was really bad and then thought —- “Hey- just throw yourself in the image” – which took 15 minutes—that was fun!

Here is the original sketch:

wpworldThere will be a follow up in which I explain what the things in this strange world mean to me.

Feel free to speculate.

Last of the Buffalo

~ Cave_Guy ~ 11 Comments

buffalo-header

The last great buffalo herd was shot in 1898 yesterday.

I saw it on the news before I went to work – 15 bison running next to the highway in frantic formation.

A taste of what we lost.

I know this is a just a small glimmer of what these beasts once meant.

In a former time they were free to roam and they were legion.

And now we got a few “escaped convicts” from a local meat farm answering their instincts and on the run.

They swam across the Hudson River. They ran across interstate highways.

They moved as one – the adults and the young – these tremendous artifacts of a bygone era.

I have to admit when I saw them running – it made me feel good.

This is what they are supposed to do – run from place to place – in a big country that lets you go forever – they are made for this – battering-ram-monsters of freedom.

“Give me a home where the buffalo roam”

This is friggin’ awesome!

But the wheel has turned

Their time is done.

The farm they escaped from employed a few hunters to gun them down (as was their right, according to officials on the scene) – The State police called it “an ugly affair”  – with one hunter possibly facing criminal charges for refusing to “finish off” a wounded animal. In all, 22 animals were slaughtered if you include a few shot earlier. All agree– there was no other choice – these animals are too big to contain and too dangerous to let run free.

The meat could not be cared for and got to the buffalo butcher for three months, (not many buffalo meat cutters around, I guess) – so it was deemed no good for human consumption.

This is shades of Buffalo Bill and the other wranglers that forced the land to submission by killing and leaving the skinned carcasses to rot where they were dropped.

No food and clothing – no life for the native people that depended on this animal for countless generations.

Build the railroads and build the new America.

The wheels are turning – progress – industrial might and other stuff all coming to a suburb near you.

But first the buffalo had to go.

http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/15-buffalo-killed-in-albany/

The Weight of Love – The Black Keys

~ Cave_Guy ~ 20 Comments

Weight of Love

The Black Keys are a great rock bank.

They don’t fight the time they live in – they embrace it.

This song screams old Pink Floyd with nodes of David Gilmour jam over a quiet background of disillusioned isolation. BUT – Don’t sue them please!

This is artistic influence people.

This is taking the clay of what was before and shaping it for enjoyment right now.

This song has weight – it has mass with a gravitational pull that draws you in – you orbit in free fall while your brain gets a gentle waterfall of clarity – you know —- that is what great music is supposed to do —-if it does not do that – it is not great music.

These guys are the Rolling Stones and U2 of today.

Yes – damn it – I said it —- don’t waste your time paying $478 from a ticket broker to see if Keith Richards can still stand up for a two hour show.

Go see The Black Keys

Go see a band that is playing music they just wrote – go support wild “fresh caught” music.

Cooked right in front of you.

I went to the band website and there is a button you click to play this song (along with others)– not 12 seconds of the song – but this entire song. That is embracing the time we live in.

Simple and great.

http://www.theblackkeys.com/

The last remaining landline will be at my fixed location

~ Cave_Guy ~ 43 Comments

“I am not going quietly into this mobile era of constant and instant availability.”

I am not cool with it.

Everyone I know except me has ditched their landline. I am the last of the Mohicanslandlinians.

When you reach someone on a home phone in a fixed location – they just might have time to connect and have a discussion in a very human and important way – at least they could have – in a bygone era.

That is gone.

“OK Cave guy, you sound like a Neanderthal now – progress is progress – either get on the bus or get run over.”

Here is what we got with the smart mobile era:

First – what is a “good” number for you? They change so often, it is impossible to keep current unless you are in the “circle” who gets the “new number update” – which I didn’t get because I am still on three numbers ago — My bad.

Second – are you a talker or a text-er?… “Oh, I don’t talk anymore or answer voice mails –  Pls txt me btch.”

Third- if I make it through those first two hoops and don’t get a response … now I am being ignored … which means insulted.

And I still haven’t talked to you.

Yeah – this new system is so much better.

And I just want to talk – you know because we are family or friends and that is how we stay that way.

I JUST WANT TO TALK

(sorry, I’m yelling now)

And here is what happens when you do finally get to the mighty castle of “Connection”.

“Oh Hi Wayne, what’s up – I’m just sitting on the toilet at a thruway rest stop, but I saw it was you so I picked up – no problem, just a little stomach bug – go ahead –  what you calling about?”

“Dude- I was just checking in, nothing important”

“Oh-then you should just text me”

“Thanks-I’ll remember that for the next time (which will be never) – sorry to catch you indisposed”

That is how it goes for me so I have basically given up talking to my friends.

Talking on the phone is a lost art.

Gone.

It is replaced by this endless barrage of texting.

And by texting – I think I mean gossiping with words.

We get inane texts to interrupt our work and become inefficient – then while we are enjoying free time – we get inane texts from work to interrupt that. We are always working and always texting. There is no separation of church and state in our lives.

And it is driving us all mad.

This is so much better – “here let me show you another cat video and I just got this app that makes my face look like a squashed pumpkin- this phone is so cool – my whole life is on it.”

I love this phone

I hate this phone

I just wanted to talk– you know about how things are going for you and how things are going for me, and then maybe we feel more connected – and maybe we can help each other if help is needed. You know life – and how to get through it and stuff – but only when you have a few moments.

And that can’t happen anymore – soooo

That is why I blog…It is as close as I can get.

Here is a 5-pack of my favorite Telephone songs.

 Glen Campbell – Wichita Lineman

Jim Croce – Operator

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPu_G-T28iU

E. L. O. – Telephone Line

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZB-DUCrhVQ

Rikki Don’t Lose That Number – Steely Dan

Lady Gaga – Telephone

Am I insane on this? And did I miss a great telephone song for my 5-pack? Would love to hear what you guys think.

5 play – for an Irish Spring on a Good Friday

~ Cave_Guy ~ 14 Comments

When you marry into an Irish family – they take you whole heartily without asking for references or identification.

I am forever grateful for that.

So by way of my wonderful wife – we have some music on the cave

Can I still do a nice music blog?   We shall find out together.  

Fisherman’s Blues – The Waterboys

Inspired partly by Geoff and his excellent site @ https://1001albumsin10years.wordpress.com/2015/03/30/my-top-5-tapes-from-88/ who mentioned this album in cassette form (which is how, I too, met the Waterboys … and played them over and over in my beat-up chevette).  I loved that car and I love that tape!

Fisherman’s Blues is like a hot cup of tea on a rainy day-and I don’t mean no frou-frou fancy-ass hipster organic fair trade flavored tea —-I mean TEA—-Boiling water from the kettle poured in a pot (you don’t have to pre-warm it) —- enough to share with family or friends so we all feel better—- a good cup of tea! It does wonders.

I’m Shipping Up To Boston – Dropkick Murphys

ARRR Me Maties!- Hooligans and scoundrels need love too!– this is a beautiful gail force wind of skullduggery  to blow through ye sails while ye wee vessel gets tossed about on angry seas.

The City of Chicago – Christy Moore

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK0J5MfK4ow

This song packs a ton of punch  –  repression and survival – you can’t remove political strife and contempt for the crown from this art form – immigration is too often seen as people coming here to take a slice of our pie – when, as in this tune – there was little choice.

Much respect for Christy Moore.

The Gloaming – Samhradh Samhradh (Live in Cork)

The arrival of summer – A happy light ditty? Put some shorts on and go to the beach? – Noooo! — watch a flower grow and have a good cry.

Great song – Great band – Great record

Carrickfergus– Jim McCann

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-LN3BsN1Vc

This is always a fav at the local Irish pub – the bands will do this one late in the show—-when everyone is good and drunk. I am not saying it sounds better when you are inebriated because that would be irresponsible to all you kids out there

But – a song about the perils of alcoholism that you can drink to – only the Irish can do that!

And also rip your heart out like a Mayan sacrifice (sorry, see my Mexican posts for reference).

Beautiful tune.

This music is meant to be enjoyed live.

So go out and support your local Irish pub.

And if you don’t have one- consider opening one yourself-We can never have enough.

Cheers, beers and tears from the cave!

Ephemeral

~ Cave_Guy ~ 11 Comments

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/ephemeral/

venus-sunset-flatwp-(2)

June 5th 2012 – The transit of Venus that I failed to capture….another failure? At least I thought it was — but no!!!

Here I am with my camera and a few lenses from the wielding shop – dark enough so I can look into the sun and photograph this historical event.

I am with my wife and kids (who thought this might be fun) and off we go to make history.

Clouds – and more clouds —–I can’t get a clean shot of the sun!

I am sad.

So, since I am by the Hudson River anyway – I decide to put my new Nikon DSLR camera in manual mode and take a few shots.

I am really new at this and I barely know what I am doing.

I have taken a couple photography classes but I am in the bottom group of students.

Also – I am getting severely hooked on Photoshop – I love it but with little result – It takes and takes and takes while giving nothing in return.

But return, stubbornly I do —- to get kicked in the head again and again.

This is a sickness. I need help

And today I got it

This is the pay-off.

This is the first image I photographed and processed that was any good – in fact, I have been chasing this bad boy ever since.

This picture started me on a journey.

Because I knew if I could prove this was not a fluke – I could be happy with my photos and fill a void – achieving excellence is a rare and beautiful thing.

I have come close in the months since.

But not all the way here.

This is the reflected light of Venus transiting our sun – coming around again in 2117 (I may not make that one).

Ephemeral

Can we still be friends? Blogworld

~ Cave_Guy ~ 11 Comments

Can we still be friends?

wpworld

This post is about a failure – I cannot get this sketch to full color illustration (at least, not yet).

I can shelve it for now or throw it out to the world.

Wait!

Nobody is paying me here  – in fact, this blog thing is done mostly as a way for me to journal the progress of me, a regular guy, who likes music – and also takes some photos and draws a little.

Does that make me a music critic or photographer or artist? —-No! … It makes me a blogger in a sea of bloggers doing the same thing.

We are many and we are taking over the world.

This sketch was my attempt at figuring out this crazy world we bloggers operate in.

All these awards, likes, follows and prompts falling from the clouds of blogland.

Brand new bloggers with no clue in their tents writing one simple post and waiting for the magic to happen – here is a hint: It won’t happen by itself.

BUT – that brand new blogger that lights a little campfire by leaving some comments and spreading a little joy by throwing “like” buttons like candy from a parade float.

That guy has a chance.

Looking around this sketch – you might find my website in the neighborhood with the other friendly music bloggers (many thanks to them for letting me move in). 🙂

Here is another hint: If you make your blog about something—-anything—- and tag it as such—the other folks that do that same something/anything will try to help you if you let them.

Let them and visit them.

They will become your friendly “shire” in this crazy world – you will be like Winnie the Pooh having Tigger and Eeyore stop by——-you will move from your tent to a neighborhood on WordPress —NOW- you have a great chance at finding your voice and becoming a real blogger.

Whatever that means?

I think it means that you feel at home with your site and move forward with conviction and passion.

“It’s not much of a tail, but I’m sort of attached to it.” – The wisdom of Eeyore explains how most of us feel about our sites.

So whether you are: music, photo, flowers, conspiracy theory or erotica. Whatever you are – there is a place for you here.

AND – thank you my friends – I am not going to list you and leave people out because this post is about inclusion. But you know who you are!

This sketch will need a follow-up post.

Hopefully I can add some color.

Cheers from the cave!

Buddhism and accepting my Ox-ness

~ Cave_Guy ~ 7 Comments

wall-4

Chichén Itzá wall: photo credit Wayne at Cave of Fame

Road to to Chichén Itzá part 2:

“There are no accidents, there are doorways that will open to change your situation but there are no accidents”.

I am paraphrasing what the Chinese man said to me on a bus ride through the Mexican scrub-land. This is how he, as a Buddhist, approaches his day and his life.

This led to a brief discussion on the linear nature of Christianity and the circular nature of Buddhism with a heavy dose of Chinese Zodiac thrown in the mix.

My animal is a Spring Cow according to this deal.

I am destined as a hardworking-unappreciated-oxen with a life of struggle – strike one up for his religion … pretty much nailed my existence to this point—-“What about those doorways again?”

He was not looking to convert me and I was not looking to convert him – We are just two guys from different cultures having a discussion on a bus over a beer.

I found it fascinating down to my core.

No accidents

Not even one minor slip on the traction of fate?

No.

No accidents.

Weeks later that is still starting to sink in – concepts that hold deep validation tend to churn around in my brain over and over until they find a place to rest.

Less thinking and more doing is always the right path for me – my brain is going to spin endlessly with little result if I let it. Maybe I better get back out in that field and pull that plow? – That is where I am at my best — maybe the dude is right?

The bigger part of me says that all things work together for the good of those with faith.

I have been running on faith for a while now – I got to say that you find yourself in some amazing places when you do that.

Places like this.

When you meet up with other pilgrims on roads to discovery; clashes of thought leave deep impressions. Even different cultures and different beliefs become splashes in the same river of universal truth.

Good is good and bad is bad and we are better helping each other than hurting each other.

My Chinese friend said we get along in this life because we treated each other well in a previous life.

I am really glad I met him and made a new friend (my perspective), which is reacquainting with an old friend (his perspective).

Either way – it works

No accidents.

 

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/wall/

 

Road to Chichén Itzá

Image ~ ~ Cave_Guy ~ 17 Comments

el-castillo

“El Castillo” The temple of the winged serpent Kukulkan. He was a bit of a bass-ass and live-heart-ripping-out monster-god-dude.

temple-up

It is impressive to look up and think – “Glad I’m not being sacrificed today!” … but, you can imagine the scene.

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Kukulkan guards the steps to his Temple.

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Here he is again on the “wall of skulls” where they use to place the heads of defeated warriors. No – these ancient Mayans were not easy going in any way. Small and very angry people by all accounts on the walls at this site.

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More graphics with common themes of heart-ripping by various animal type gods.

ball-pit-top

The ball game arena is impressive. This is detail of a high place for important people to sit. Kind of Mayan luxury boxes -This is where Mayan Chris Christie would hug Mayan Jerry Jones after the game.

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They call this “the snail” – believed to be an ancient observatory…you know, so the sacrifices lined up with the stars.

the-snail

Another view of “The Snail”

me-ruin

Here is “actual size” me in front of some ruins (I am not tall,…ok,…I may not even be average height, but here – I am good!).  This ancient world is a good fit, except for all the extreme violence and hardship of course.

bus-wheel

Shipping tourists to this site is big business – these buses are new, clean and plentiful. Here is a selfie of me and my son taken in the reflection of a shinny wheel.

This was a great trip — I need to say that all the violence and sacrifice came from the tour guides who would remind us of a chilling new way to be dispatched at each ruin we visited. This site was already abandoned a couple hundred years before the Spanish arrived – where we had another great round of blood-letting and savagery ensue.

I loved the food at the Mayan restaurant we visited after touring the site.

And I feel a connection and sadness for the Mayan people that still live in the area of their “lost’ civilization. It seems that they do not share in the fruits of this great peninsula  as much as those that came after them.

I was only here a week so I may not have an accurate grasp — they have been here for thousands of years — they have already seen their world completely destroyed at least twice over — and they still approach the day with a smile.

Cheers from the cave!