Long Overdue.

DNA has graciously accepted that he will never be a world famous musician. He sells some records, does what he likes, keeps a good job and stable family life. For a long time, even until recently, the musical goal was to make good records, entertain people, maybe even make a few bucks, and have a lot of fun doing it. The goal has changed. DNA no longer cares if he makes a plug nickel from any of his music. It's still for sale, don't get DNA wrong, but starting today, the first installment of free DNA music, a CD called The Hole Truth, will be available to download for free, for ever. It collects all of DNA's first two releases, "Twin Rockets Are A Go, Baby!" and "Unnatural Selection." Over the next few weeks, or months, or really, when DNA gets to it, he will put up everything on the website for you to have.

FEAR Is The Mind Killer....

Sure. But DNA is still afraid of what this nation will become if its course is charted by religious zealots in the clothes of conservative politicians. In the past, we had the likes of Jimmy Carter, religious conservative, social reformer; Ronald Reagen, social conservative, religiously tolerant; Bill Clinton, socially liberal, and compared to his immediate peers, actually fiscally conservative, religiously questionable; George Bush, socially conservative, but fiscally out of control, religiously very conservative; and Obama, socially liberal, fiscally liberal, religously tolerant. In other words, not one of them were purely conservative across three axes: social mores, religious views, and fiscal policy.

If we get someone who is socially conservative, religiously conservative, and fiscally conservative, what we should get is someone who cuts military spending and funds socially responsible, religiously guided aid for those among us who are less fortunate, but unfortunately, what we will get is someone who will gut social programs, ramp up military action across the globe, and justify it all in the name of God.

So, when the good people of Massachusetts go to the polls tomorrow, and either the democratically controlled congress maintains its control, or a very conservative republican will become a wedge which will truly make our current president ineffective(regardless of what you think now of Obama, I think things would be so much worse in country right now without some of the things he helped make happen). If DNA felt that the addition of a republican would do anything to make congress more effective, then he would be supporting this guy. DNA thinks that republicans will be trumpeting the "end" of the Obama presidency if the guy wins however, and will be even less inclined to actually work with the majority in power right now.

DNA is really looking into New Zealand. New Zealand still has that "new liberty" smell about it, and considers things like free speech, freedom of expression, independent thought, the separation of church and state, the separation of powers, a free press, and the independence of the judiciary more like the rights of its citizenry instead of annoyances to work around.

I have taken to posting these two quotes on almost all political conversations I have had lately:

"It is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country." Hermann Goering, 50 years ago, talking about how Nazis grew to power.

Sinclair Lewis, first American novelist to receive the Nobel Prize in literature, feared the kinds of tactics we see everyday on Fox News would one day take hold in America. He wrote, in 1935, "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross."

Jesus would have been the first to disavow a national identity; historians will tell you that the roots of almost all major conflicts over the last several centuries are nationalism and religious fervor. Jesus would have been the first to disavow a symbol like a cross or a book in place of living a christ-like life. Yet bible-thumping, flag waving "patriots" are going to ram a definitively un-Jesus-like way of life down our country's gullet. Sinclair Lewis was right, and DNA is sad for it. If indeed, folks like Pat Robertson and his ilk grow to exercise real political power, then we will march down a road toward becoming the thing we hate....a radicalized religious theocracy. As DNA has stated before, he believes this is actually the agenda of many on the far right. They are attempting to bring about the apocalypse, because they know they will ascend to heaven and leave the rest of us behind. If for no other reason than that, even those on the right-hand side of the road should think twice before trying to establish a conservative religious party in power. Our days as a country that values liberty will surely be numbered. And that number will be 666.

Reverbnation.....Has Been Dominated.....

DNA is currently #4 on the local charts with the song, "Here Again." If you want to see DNA's ego get bigger, log on to Reverbnation and become a fan. If you do, DNA will give you something special.....

It's a New Year, Charlie Brown

DNA has been busy over the last month. In his geekier alter ego, he spent part of December arranging and preparing for a marathon game of future apocalypse d20 gaming with a module he wrote for an old game called Systems Failure. Prep included reading, writing, and printing materials, and painting figures for the game. Painting is a hobby DNA enjoys but usually doesn't have time to do.

Also, DNA has been hastily preparing a grant at his real job. It is coming down to the wire, and that means DNA has spent little additional time on the internet doing the fun stuff.

Briefly, here are the highlights of 2009 for DNA, and his New Year's Resolutions:

Played bass in the local production of Little Shop of Horrors. Very fun.

Wrote a new song in honor of DNA's 25 year class reunion:Here Again

Did great in his Ph.D. classes, and is starting a research project with the possibility of publication.

Watched his kids grow up a little bit more, had two of the kids break their arms, suffered through the full blown teenage angst of his son, and watched it develop in his daughters.

Took a cool mini-vacation this summer!

Got some cool games, got one of my basses fixed, and as a Christmas present to ourselves got a big screen HDTV.

RESOLUTIONS:

Lose some weight. (Want to lose 10 lbs of ugly fat fast? Cut off your head! Thanks, Don Rickles.)

Record some more music. Now that the Reverend is recording on Garageband too, DNA thinks it is just a matter of time before he tries to get the Hand of God to play for him.

Win the grant DNA is writing to start a program of supports for students with high functioning autism and Asperger's syndrome at SIUC.

Do great in his upcoming classes.

Write some more about racism, sexism, gender, politics, religion, intolerance, and God. Oh, and music. DNA should write a little bit about music on his music blog.