Archive for the ‘Youtube’ Tag

Its Veteran’s Day, 2022   2 comments

Sgt. 1st Class Lance Amsden, platoon sergeant for the 1st Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne),
25th Infantry Division, watches as CH-47 Chinook Helicopters circle above during a dust storm at Forward Operating Base Kushamond, Afghanistan, July 17,
during preparation for an air-assault mission.
— Army Flickr Stream

On this Veteran’s Day, in honor of those who served and died, I share this song written and recorded by Tom Russell, which was also recorded by Johnny Cash.

One of the blogs I follow is So Far From Heaven.  Old Jules writes about his old running buddy, Phil:

“I hadn’t thought about my old running buddy, Phil, for a while. That last blog entry got me chewing on thoughts of him. I’ll tell you a bit more about him.

Phil went to the Marine Corps as the result of being a 17-year-old driving from Temple, Texas, to Austin with a case of beer in the car. A Williamson County Sheriff’s Deputy stopped him on a tail light violation, asked for his driver’s license, and saw the case of beer. Old Phil, being a clever youth, gave the officer a Texas Drivers License with an altered date of birth so’s to keep from being arrested as a minor in possession of alcoholic beverages.”

Veteran’s Day

Well I used to hang out down at the VFW hall
And stare at the photographs up on the wall
Of the neighborhood boys that died
in the wars we’ve been through
And the hand lettered sign that said
remember Jimmy McGrew
Well Jimmy went to Nam back in 1965
But there’s a lot of men here that think
Jimmy McGrew’s still alive
Though they carved his name
on a stone in Washington DC
His brother said that stone
don’t prove a thing to me

It’s veteran’s day and the skies are gray
Leave the uniforms home cause
there ain’t gonna be a parade
But we’ll fill up a glass for the ones
that didn’t make it through
And leave a light in the window tonight
for Jimmy McGrew

Well I used to hang out down at the VFW hall
And stare at the photographs up on the wall
Of the neighborhood boys that died
in the wars we’ve been through
And the hand lettered sign that said
remember Jimmy McGrew
Well Jimmy went to Nam back in 1965
But there’s a lot of men here that think
Jimmy McGrew’s still alive
Though they carved his name
on a stone in Washington DC
His brother said that stone
don’t prove a thing to me

It’s veteran’s day and the skies are gray
Leave the uniforms home cause
there ain’t gonna be a parade
But we’ll fill up a glass for the ones
that didn’t make it through
And leave a light in the window tonight
for Jimmy McGrew

— Tom Russell

All Tangled Up In Barbed Wire   Leave a comment

All Tangled Up In Barbed Wire — Image by kenne

I don’t know, why I don’t
Put it out baby
We kiss and the flames
Just get higher
But yeah I know
When I hold onto you baby
I’m all tangled up in barbed wire
I get burned, I don’t learn
I’ll be back, give it time
Yeah, I know it sounds crazy
But guess I like playing with fire

— from Playing with Fire by Thomas Rhett

 

Birding In Ecuador   1 comment

Andean Cockof the Rock — Image by Hugh Poland

In early February, my stepson-in-law went birding in Ecuador. Upon his return to Kingwood, Texas, Hugh put together this trip video.

— kenne

Antelope Canyon   Leave a comment

Antelope Canyon Boat Tour On Lake Powell (June 9, 2014) — Image by kenne

The cool way to experience Canyon is by kayaking through Lake Powell to the slot canyons, but us more

mature people take a boat. If you want a more virtual experience, there are several videos on YourTube.

— kenne

Another Existential Moment — Charles Bukowski   Leave a comment

Charles Bukowski

Tom Russell has great respect for Warren Zevon’s work, but probably none more than “Carmelita,” which he combines
with Charles Bukowski’s, “Crucifix In A Deathhand,” on his Modern Art CD. By putting the two together, Russell
demonstrates his appreciation and understanding of Bukowski’s words and the lyrics of Warren Zevon. It just so happens
that “Crucifix In A Deathhand” is my favorite Bukowski poem.

Crucifix In a Death Hand

yes, they begin out in a willow, I think
the starch mountains begin out in the willow
and keep right on going without regard for
pumas and nectarines
somehow these mountains are like
an old woman with a bad memory and
a shopping basket.
we are in a basin. that is the
idea. down in the sand and the alleys,
this land punched-in, cuffed-out, divided,
held like a crucifix in a deathhand,
this land bought, resold, bought again and
sold again, the wars long over,
the Spaniards all the way back in Spain
down in the thimble again, and now
real estaters, subdividers, landlords, freeway
engineers arguing. this is their land and
I walk on it, live on it a little while
near Hollywood here I see young men in rooms
listening to glazed recordings
and I think too of old men sick of music
sick of everything, and death like suicide
I think is sometimes voluntary, and to get your
hold on the land here it is best to return to the
Grand Central Market, see the old Mexican women,
the poor . . . I am sure you have seen these same women
many years before
arguing
with the same young Japanese clerks
witty, knowledgeable and golden
among their soaring store of oranges, apples
avocados, tomatoes, cucumbers –
and you know how
these look, they do look good
as if you could eat them all
light a cigar and smoke away the bad world.
then it’s best to go back to the bars, the same bars
wooden, stale, merciless, green
with the young policeman walking through
scared and looking for trouble,
and the beer is still bad
it has an edge that already mixes with vomit and
decay, and you’ve got to be strong in the shadows
to ignore it, to ignore the poor and to ignore yourself
and the shopping bag between your legs
down there feeling good with its avocados and
oranges and fresh fish and wine bottles, who needs
a Fort Lauderdale winter?
25 years ago there used to be a whore there
with a film over one eye, who was too fat
and made little silver bells out of cigarette
tinfoil. the sun seemed warmer then
although this was probably not
true, and you take your shopping bag
outside and walk along the street
and the green beer hangs there
just above your stomach like
a short and shameful shawl, and
you look around and no longer
see any
old men.

– – Charles Bukowski (Source: Oldpoetry.com)

There’s a video on YouTube of Russell in a live performance talking and singing about Charles Bukowski, Warren Zevon, and Dave Van Ronk that will give you a better feel for this morning distraction.

— kenne

Another One Bites The Dust   Leave a comment

Singer-songwriter Mac Davis Dead at 78 — Source: soundslikenashville.com

A lot of people who love music are mounding the death of Mac Davis,
who died after heart surgery on September 29th. Known for writing songs
for artists like Elvis Presley and Glen Campbell and also enjoyed a successful
career of his own, releasing a number of crossover hits including
“Baby, Don’t Get Hooked on Me” and “Stop and Smell the Roses.”
Two of my favorite are “Born In the Gaitto” and “It’s Hard To Be Humble.”

Charles Bukowski — The Genius of the Crowd   2 comments

Charles_Bukowski_Grunge Art blogCharles Bukowski — Grunge Art by kenne

The Genius Of The Crowd – Poem by Charles Bukowski

there is enough treachery, hatred violence absurdity in the average
human being to supply any given army on any given day

and the best at murder are those who preach against it
and the best at hate are those who preach love
and the best at war finally are those who preach peace

those who preach god, need god
those who preach peace do not have peace
those who preach peace do not have love

beware the preachers
beware the knowers
beware those who are always reading books
beware those who either detest poverty
or are proud of it
beware those quick to praise
for they need praise in return
beware those who are quick to censor
they are afraid of what they do not know
beware those who seek constant crowds for
they are nothing alone
beware the average man the average woman
beware their love, their love is average
seeks average

but there is genius in their hatred
there is enough genius in their hatred to kill you
to kill anybody
not wanting solitude
not understanding solitude
they will attempt to destroy anything
that differs from their own
not being able to create art
they will not understand art
they will consider their failure as creators
only as a failure of the world
not being able to love fully
they will believe your love incomplete
and then they will hate you
and their hatred will be perfect

like a shining diamond
like a knife
like a mountain
like a tiger
like hemlock

their finest art

“Poetry is just the evidence of Life” — Leonard Cohen ~ 1934-2016   Leave a comment

leonard-cohenLeonard Cohen — Image source: balkanrock.com

This morning I learned of the passing of one of North America’s greatest poets, novelists, and singer/songwriters of our time. Like many others who listen to public radio, it was just a few days ago I was listening to KCRW’s Chris Douridas interview Cohen after the release of his latest album, “You Want It Darker.” At 82, he had not been in the best of health, but such news always carries an element of surprise. Click here to listen to the Chris Douridas.

kenne

Hallelujah — Leonard Cohen (YouTube Video)

 

 

 

Capturing Moments To Remember — Five Naturalists Hike To Thimble Peak   9 comments

Thimble Peak-1 blogPanoramic Image from the Mountain Meadow Below Thimble Peak — Images by kenne

As Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists (SCVN) we spend a lot of time in the Canyon and the Santa Catalina Mountains leading children and adults on outdoor activities. One of the iconic images of the Canyon is Thimble Peak. It can be seen from the Sabino Canyon Recreational Area Center, the tram ride up through the Canyon, Bear Canyon and many of the area’s hiking trails.

One very popular trail is Blackett’s Ridge trail located between Sabino Canyon and Bear Canyon. This difficult hiking trail ends about a mile from Thimble Peak, separated by a deep ravine — “So close, yet so far,” is the thought most people have when reaching the end of the Blackett’s Ridge trail. Serious rock climbers might venture on, but most adventurous hikers look for other options for hiking to this majestic pinnacle.

One option is to hike, or take the tram, up through Sabino Canyon, then taking the Sabino Canyon trail to the East Fork trail, looping around to the Bear Canyon trail.

Another option is to take the Bear Canyon trail out of the Sabino Canyon Recreational Area up through Bear Canyon passed Seven Falls.

A third option is the one that five SCVN members (Phil Bentley, Alexa Bieberstein, Tim Ralph, Ed Rawl and Kenne Turner) decided to do when learning that the elementary school class coming to the Canyon on November 7th had been cancelled.

Thimble Peak-8673 blogWash Leading Out Of The Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Site (Historical WWII Prison Camp)

This option involved driving the Catalina Highway to the Gordon Hirabayashi Campgrounds, where under a beautiful blue-sky morning, we began the twelve-mile hike in cool temperatures, with a forecast of sunny warm temperatures in the afternoon — windy with gusts of 40 mph.

Thimble Peak-8684-2 blogTim, Ed, Alexa and Phil At The Sycamore Reservoir Trail Saddle (Part of the Arizona Trail)

The Arizona Trail, which runs from Mexico to Utah goes through the area making use of many existing trails in the Santa Catalina Mountains. As predicted, the winds were gusty.

Thimble Peak-8687 blogPhil, Alexa & Tim

This sign at the saddle on the Sycamore Reservoir trail is a common site for those hiking to the Sycamore dam. On our way to Thimble Peak, we stopped at the dam for a break before continuing on to the Bear Canyon trail.

Thimble Peak-8718-2 blogThe Peak Is In Sight! (Phil, Alexa, Ed and Tim)

Even with the very windy conditions, it didn’t take long before we began shading layers of clothing.

Thimble Peak-8729-2 blogPhoto Taking Time (Phil and Alexa)

This scene is located where the Bear Canyon trail goes left down into the canyon to Seven Falls. After a few photos, we headed off to the right through a beautiful mountain meadow toward the trail that would take us to Thimble Peak.

Thimble Peak-8789 blogThimble Peak

We were now only a few hundred yards from the pinnacle. You can click here to see 44 images on my Flickr account of our hike in a full-frame slideshow. 

In addition to many photos, I managed to take several video clips, which I have edited into a video posted on YouTube and inserted below. The video contains a special treat with naturalist Phil Bentley singing America the Beautiful overlooking the Tucson valley from the base of Thimble Peak pinnacle.

Thimble Peak-8756-2 blogAt The Base of Thimble Peak Overlooking the Tucson Valley (Ed, Phil, Alexa and Tim)

Thimble Peak-8768 blogAlexa Climbing The Pinnacle (Thimble Peak)

A Thimble Full Of Life

All one needs
in life is

a thimble full of
this and that
to experience life. 

We determine
what 
makes up
THIS,

what makes up
THAT.

Do you have a thimble full?

— kenne

You can see all 44 images at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kennetu/sets/72157637734025706/

“. . . From Where I Sit, Rust Looks Pretty Good”   3 comments

Christmas 2012Old Rusty Tractor — Image by kenne

Last night I spent over three hours watching the documentary, “History of The Eagles.” I love every minute of it!

The documentary, which had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival last January, is in two parts and is currently on Showtime and can be purchased on DVD, or streamed — there are so many options in today’s digital would.

Like most rock ‘n roll bands, much of their creativity comes from the battles with their demons, which are the vital spirits of creative imagination. For me their music takes the listener to an extrasensory event that is seeking Lorca’s “Duende,” ” . . a momentary burst of inspiration, the blush of all that is alive, all that the performer is creating at a certain moment.” This is what makes music intoxicating.

So, “What’s with the rusty old tractor?” you ask.

One of the things that stood out the most in the Eagles documentary was something Don Henley said near the end, when he referenced a Neil Young quote about quitting before you rust. The reference was about music, or was it?

Most of us who have lived with the music of the Eagles are beginning to feel old and rusty, but Henley put a new perspective on it:

“I don’t see rust as a bad thing. I have an old 1962 John Deere tractor that’s covered in rust, but it runs like a top. You know the inner workings are just fine. To me, that rust symbolizes all the work done and all the experiences gained. From where I sit, rust looks pretty good.”

Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
“Relax, ” said the night man,
“We are programmed to receive.
You can check-out any time you like,
But you can never leave! “

— from the Eagles, “Hotel California”

kenne

12artsbeat-eagles-blog480Glenn Fry and Don Henley of The Eagles — Sam Jones/Showtime

One of the best covers of an Eagles song is that of Tucson native, Linda Ronstadt – Desperado (Simple Dreams Tour – Atlanta 1977)

Capturing The Moment — “Lipstick Sunset”   8 comments

Rain Clouds August 2013“Lipstick Sunset” Image by kenne

Lipstick Sunset

There’s a lipstick sunset 
Smeared across the august sky 
There’s a bitter-sweet perfume 
Hanging in the fields 
The creek is running high 

And I left my lover waiting 
In the dawn somewhere to wonder why 
By the end of the day 
All her sweet dreams would fade 
To a lipstick sunset 

Well, a radio was playing 
And that ol’ summer heat was on the rise 
I just had to get away 
Before some sad old song 
Brought tears to my eyes 

And lord I couldn’t tell her 
That her love was only killing me 
By the end of the day 
All her sweet dreams would fade 
To a lipstick sunset 

Well it’s pretty as a picture baby 
Red and blushing just before the night 
Maybe love’s like that for me 
Maybe I can only see 
As you take away the light 

So hold me in the darkness 
We can dream about the cool twilight 
‘Til the end of the day 
I can make my getaway 
To a lipstick sunset 

Til the end of the day 
I can make my getaway 
To a lipstick sunset 

There will come another day 
Then I’ll make my getaway 
To a lipstick sunset

 
— John Hiatt
Rain Clouds August 2013
Rain at Nightfall — Image by kenne

Raining at nightfall
is a red lipstick sunset
followed by storms.

— kenne

Support Live Music   Leave a comment

Zydeco2006-09-24-19 Texas Live Music blogTexas Live Music — Image by kenne

Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons.
You will find it is to the soul what a water bath is to the body.
~Oliver Wendell Holmes

Remembering Mean Gene Kelton — One Year Out   1 comment

Mean Gene Kelton — Image by kenne

One year ago today, our very good friend, Mean Gene Kelton died in an auto accident. I first met Gene at a Houston Blues Society (HBS) board meeting we were attending to explore how a group we were forming, Friends of the Blues — Montgomery County, might work with HBS. The focus of our group was an educational series on the Blues, which would be offered through the continuing education department at Montgomery College. Gene expressed an interest in being a part of our new project, and for the next year he and Joni would drive from Baytown to The Woodlands once a week — to say the least, we were impressed and appreciative of their involvement. That kind of support and commitment says more than words as to the kind of man Mean Gene Kelton was.

Over the past decade I had plenty of opportunity to photograph Gene, and in recent years to also video some of his gigs. (See links below.) As fate would have it, Joy and I were in Houston over the holidays last year and were planning on being at his New Years day matinée at Rowdy Bucks in Crosby, Texas, which we had also attended two-years earlier. The video on this post contains clips from the events that followed Gene’s tragic death.

Tragedy

Brings shock and uncertainty –

Shocked,

By sudden erratic change,

Evading control –

Uncertainty,

For the future.

In the end, it’s

How we act that

Serves to

Nurture new beginnings.

kenne

Blog Postings

https://kenneturner.wordpress.com/2008/05/07/gene-kelton-ken-marys-blues-project-may-5-2008/

https://kenneturner.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/mean-gene-kelton-the-corner-pub/

https://kenneturner.wordpress.com/2009/10/22/20-years-and-out-mean-gene-kelton-the-texas-saloon/

https://kenneturner.wordpress.com/2010/02/04/mean-gene-kelton-westfield-by-the-railroad/

https://kenneturner.wordpress.com/2011/01/01/capturing-the-moment-mean-gene-kelton-t-99-nelson/

https://kenneturner.wordpress.com/2011/01/03/capturing-the-moment-memories-of-mean-gene/

https://kenneturner.wordpress.com/2011/01/21/they-call-it-stormy-monday-mr-v-with-mean-gene-kelton-the-die-hards-revisited/

https://kenneturner.wordpress.com/2011/02/12/mean-gene-kelton-the-corner-pub-august-2008/

https://kenneturner.wordpress.com/2010/12/30/mean-gene-you-gave-so-much-now-its-our-turn/

https://kenneturner.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/mr-mrs-v-kpft-remember-mean-gene-kelton/

Flickr Sets

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kennetu/sets/72157612015323911/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kennetu/sets/72157604902077550/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kennetu/sets/72157604138948800/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kennetu/sets/72157602416286003/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kennetu/sets/72157601104138219/

Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_r6fJhiRAE&

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g86mC0Y5TV8&

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuQRp-2g2fs&

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WooiK2tMfuo&

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIzt8CFM8CQ&

Video of The Week — Desert Blues   Leave a comment

. . . I love it!

kenne

Posted September 29, 2011 by kenneturner in Blues, Music, Video of The Week

Tagged with , , ,

Video of The Week — Empire of the Sun-We Are the People   Leave a comment

This duo is good — very refreshing!

kenne

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