|
|
Remain calm. . . Letter to Glen Beck 18 June 08 Dear Glen, Keep up the greart work. Analyzing Washington's ignorance of (ignoring) the border issue, the financial crisis of the U.S., the NAU North American Union, and NAFTA, I see that the United States is collapsing and "they" are letting it go, just like Katrina. It is painfully obvious. Bush bought a beef cattle ranch in Argentina two years ago - guess where he will live out his retirement? Everyone of wealth and means has left the country or has made permanent preparations to live elsewhere. They are letting the US currency collapse (indeed, they can't stop it, only slow it) and preparations are made to simultaneously institute the NAU with the new currency - the Amero. Thank you for your honest efforts. Connect the dots and tell it for all of us on your TV show. Finally, let's march on D.C. in legal assemblages. If we don't take it back the (&^^^*&* will keep it. Best Respects, george mcclure, Nashville TN first a musician/writer, fmr NASA JSC research scientist, last a musician and writer Notes on the unfolding dollar collapse 07 June '08 An intro - our current situation Understanding the crisis I Understanding the crisis - more Hillary Clinton - criminal fraud Paul/Clinton May 23, 2008 - It’s Not an Oil Crisis, It’s a Dollar Crisis [fr. Peter Schiff, europac.net, http://www.europac.net/externalframeset.asp?from=home&id=12919 It is unfortunate that the Supreme Court, in its ruling this week that U.S. currency is unfair to the blind, did not make the next logical step and declare it unfair to everyone who buys gasoline. In their search for explanations as to why oil has surged past $130 per barrel, Washington, Wall Street, and the financial media are as clueless as cavemen after a freak summer snow storm. Despite the head scratching, the blame game is nevertheless in full force. Speculators and big oil companies are being trotted out as scapegoats, and increased margin requirements and taxes on windfall profits and futures trading have been mentioned as appropriate sanctions. In fact, this week the House of Representatives overwhelming approved a bill to sue OPEC for violating U.S. anti trust laws. It should be clear that all of this is pure farce, and that no one understands what is actually happening. The reality is that after years of reckless consumption and dollar debasement, Americans are now being priced out of markets over which they formerly held unchallenged title. As more affluent foreigners consume more of the resources and products they previously supplied to us, Americans are being forced to cut back. The rising dollar-based price of gasoline is simply an illustration of this global trend. Poorly concealed behind contrived government statistics, the signs of America’s falling standard of living are everywhere; all one has to do is look. We are unloading SUVs for less desirable compacts, and are paying more to fly on crowded planes (where we pay to check luggage and dine only on what we bring onboard). We drink our lattes at McDonalds or not at all, and we increasingly forego dining out, trips to the mall, and vacations, just so we can scrape together enough to fill our gas tanks and kitchen pantries, pay taxes and insurance, or make credit card, mortgage or car payments. The collective belt tightening is simply the down payment on the Government’s massive bailout of Wall Street investment banks and mortgage lenders. As the Fed creates money to buy bad mortgages and other shaky securities held by banks and brokerage firms, the value of the savings and wages of everyone on Main Street will continue to fall. As a result, the costs of products previously taken for granted have begun to bite. The various housing bills and stimulus packages now passing through Congress will add significantly to the staggering final price tag. In the end, the “free lunch” currently being dished out by Washington will be the most expensive meal ever served. The cost will be borne by ordinary American citizens every time they open their wallets. Four dollar gasoline is just the beginning. For all the talk of increased global demand, few seem to understand from [whence] it actually comes. The surge in global demand is both a function of the increased purchasing power of foreign currencies and the fact that foreigners are choosing to spend more of their incomes themselves. In other words Greenspan’s famous “global savings glut” is turning into a global consumption binge, with Americans unable to crash the party. This trend will only get worse as the dollar-denominated price of just about everything that is either imported, or capable of being exported, goes through the roof. We can look for scapegoats all we want but the [simple] fact is Americans are going to have to get used to a much lower standard of living. Those who have been putting all the food on our tables are finally pulling up chairs themselves. [fr. Peter Schiff, europac.net, http://www.europac.net/externalframeset.asp?from=home&id=12919 Letter to Larry King, CNN 22 May '08 RE polygamy and the YFZ community raid, I don't understand why it's so difficult to be logical about it. Throughout the majority of human history, polygamy is the most popular way of life. It is only illegal to marry (with a marriage license) more than one spouse in the U.S. - it is NOT illegal to live with more than one member of the opposite sex and have children with them. (What percentage of Americans now have children with an ex-spouse and current spouse at the same time?) On the other hand, if crimes were committed against children or women, specifically statutory rape, I support swift and just retribution, and I'm confident that will be meted out at the hands of the Texas state. Can someone tell me if it's illegal to marry at ages under 18 in Texas, with the approval of a parent? It appears to me that the members of the YFZ community may have an excellent class action lawsuit indicting the CPS, county, and State of Texas for illegal seizure, kidnapping, and numerous violations. I hope justice is served and all people remain free. Date: Sat, 26 Jan 2008 22:15:37 -0600 From: "GeorgeMcClure.net" To: info@barackobama.com Barry, Thank you. Thank you for winning [SC Primary], thank you for telling the story of the lady mailing $3.01, thank you for telling the truth and being a true American leader. The Kennedys and others are endorsing you for a reason - Two reasons: (1) you're a winner and (2) you share everyone's ideals and objectives. TELL THE TRUTH. Here are some ideas: Billary are playing dirty. Give some back: "REMEMBER: THE CLINTONS ARE THE ONES WHO STOLE THE WHITEHOUSE TOWELS BEFORE THEY LEFT WASHINGTON D.C." "I DON'T WANT A PRESIDENT WHO CRIES WHEN THINGS GET TOUGH - WE NEED A PRESIDENT WHO REMAINS COOL AND STRONG UNDER PRESSURE AND IN ADVERSE CONDITIONS." "DO WE REALLY WANT A DUAL TEAM IN THE WHITEHOUSE? ISN'T THAT LIKE BUSH/CHENEY? IS OUR GOVERNMENT DESIGNED FOR DUAL PARTNERSHIP PRESIDENTS?" "HILLARY LIED ABOUT HER SUPPORT FOR THE WAR. HILLARY'S CAMPAIGN PLATFORM SHIFTS WITH THE TIDES." "THE THREE THINGS 70% OF ALL AMERICANS CARE MOST ABOUT IN THIS ELECTION: (1) End the war (2) stop illegal immigration (3) everything else. MAKE THE MEDIA TALK ABOUT IT BY TALKING ABOUT IT YOURSELF!" Best Regards, george mcclure, Nashville TN FOR CHRIS MATHEWS 28 Nov '07 Nashville TN Dear Chris I don't understand why a man with your comprehension abilities cannot see the obvious truths in U.S. news and politics. Europeans and Asians have no problem seeing things as they are. You seem to have an integral core, and I am asking you to demonstrate more integrity in giving your honest interpretations and assesments instead of reading scripts and pandering to the (other) powers that be. Without fundamentally honest news reporting, we are lost. It's very interesting to me - and telling - that as soon as I started replying to all political email (especially democratic candidates) with the below 3 items, all but one of them have STOPPED EMAILING ME! Democratic candidates DON'T WANT TO HEAR THE TRUTH EITHER. Apparently no one but Kucinich and Ron Paul want to hear and purvey the truth. SEEING THE BIG PICTURE The outright ignoring (ignorance) of the border issue by Washington and the White House belies a fundamental truth. This truth is that the very first act Bush performed as president was fly to Canada and sign the NAFTA agreement, unifying the Western Hemisphere. It was reported on major network news (two summers ago) that Bush was in Argentina buying ranch property. Following the money trail in the Iraq "war" leads to these factual observations: The war moved Billions of dollars from the general public to petro companies and contractors like Bechtel and Halliburton. Putting the picture together: Refusal to close borders, refusal to regulate illegal immigration, no change in minimum wage for over 10 years (federal minimum wage is still poverty scale $5.15/hr), spending billions in Iraq with no on the ground security (militia) remaining in the U.S., total failure to bail out Katrina victims and recover New Orleans. Conclusion: Bush, NAFTA, and the Federal Government are BANKRUPTING AMERICA. They are turning the U.S.A. into a functional two-class society, third world (the under class) and upper class. Following the money trail always yields the truth. HERE ARE MY THREE POINTS ABOUT THE COMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: The ONLY THREE THINGS that matter to citizens in this Presidential election: 1. End war in Iraq - exit Iraq - immediately. 2. Stop illegal immigration / solve border problem - immediately. 3. Health care for every U.S. citizen. Hillary is only doing ONE of these three (guess who I'm not voting for?) Obama MAY do all three. Richardson will do TWO of the three. Guess who is getting my vote, and 75% of US votes? Best Regards, george mcclure, Nashville TN fmr NASA Houston top secret SBSI SCI computer research scientist love@georgemcclure.net 615 902 0509 [06 Oct '07] (fr. Letter to Bill Richardson) Bill, I think you're the best, and I know you're best for our country and the presidency. I donated to your campaign and will continue to support you. You have the experience and level-headed approach in Foreign experience, you're the BEST on border control & immigration issues, and you're for the people, not big corporations - at least now. And you promise to remove all troops from Iraq immediately. Keep it that way - we'll support you. HERE ARE THE THINGS THAT MATTER THE MOST TO ME, a representative voter and citizen! 1. RUN TV ADS. They work. They work SO well that Bush got on national TV to attack them. DO IT. 2. THESE ARE THE *ONLY* THINGS THAT MATTER IN THE '08 PRESIDENTIAL: i. End Iraq war immediately ii. Close borders / fix immigration problem iii. Guaranteed health care for every US citizen immediately. Please get the message to the Dem Party - they seem to think voters care about hundreds of tangential issues. We don't. These three issues WILL DECIDE THE '08 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. Best Regards, george mcclure miller, Producer & Executive, Nashville TN INTERVIEW: "FrogDaddy Talks With George McClure" Interview on AlienLove.com FrogDaddy considered himself a lucky dude on the night of March 10, 2005 when he got an e-mail from someone calling themselves George McClure. I thought to myself ... yeah sure ... right, like George is going to write to "me" about our website. FrogDaddy considered himself a lucky dude on the night of March 10, 2005 when he got an e-mail from someone calling themselves George McClure. I thought to myself ... yeah sure ... right, like George is going to write to "me" about our website. Those of you that know FrogDaddy are aware that I have pretty good knowledge of country music. After-all, my brothers have had a country band of one kind or another for the last 35 years. They've played all the big houses including the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville Tenn. So, I'm no stranger to Country Music. To make make a long story short, after flipping several emails back and forth, I find that George and I have several common interests and that he'd love to do an interview for AlienLove.com! After studying Georges websites and several more emails I realized there was a whole lot more to George McClure than his famous song "I Made Love to an Alien Last Night" (Alien Love) .... I mean a whole lot more. There aren't enough bytes on AlienLoves servers to tell you all about George McClure, his music, his life, his interests and his political views. But at the end of the interview I have listed his websites and business interests, and highly recommend that you investigate him. He is, without a doubt, one of the most interesting, peaceful, and loving people I've ever met. FrogDaddy: Tell me George, what do you call yourself? ... a musician, songwriter, performer ... all of the above? George: "George", usually; also "beautiful" and "handsome."[smile]. I'm a writer, and producer, showman, singer and musician as well. In terms of income, i'm a producer and entrepreneur, but all successful music people are entrepreneurial. I toured and played for a living two periods in my life; five years in from 1979 to 1983, and eight years in Nashville through about 2001. I transposed Vivaldi's Violin Concerto in Am for acoustic ensembles, I've written two books and a musical, and I've written hundreds and hundreds of songs. FrogDaddy: Well what made you want to be all those things :-) George: I was exposed to a great depth and array of classical music as a child. I was taken out of school to attend symphonies and concerts on a regular basis. In my first year of college, a friend forced me to go to an Earl Scruggs Review concert with him and a group of friends. It revolutionized my life. I never saw anything like it before or since. All I could think of was "banjos" after that, and about a year later I bought my first one and started learning with the Pete Seeger book. Two and a half years later I was playing for a living. The coupling of my extensive ear training in childhood with diving very very deeply into a few genres of music as a musician and writer and performer, has given me depth and vision as a producer. It's a natural progression with my talent set, I think. FrogDaddy: Would you summarize your music for me? What's it all about? George: It's about me and it's about life. Frog, I've played and sung and written many forms of music. I write Latin jazz (Romantico) now, in Spanish. I played and wrote bluegrass and country from the very beginning, and experimented with jazz and neo-classical too. I've written and recorded blues, and funny songs, and childrens ditties. I got very deeply involved with cowjazz (Western swing) touring, and still play it. The TexMex led into Romantico. I aculturated with the native sounds of Sonora, Ranchero, ranch & country, bluegrass, Western swing jazz, Apache and Tohono O'odom, Mariachi, and so on. I would say my music is rooted in the depths of mankind. I've studied songs historically, for example ancient Apache songs and dances rooted back 5,000 years, and I've traced songs back across the ocean to the British Isles to sources dating back three and four hundred years (and more), in some cases. I'm convinced tunes like "Temperance Reel" are a thousand or more years old. Nashville players have said about me "He has a way of making every song his own" [Billy Rose] and "You're a true original" [Britt Savage]. I'm a stylist, playing all the songs my way. FrogDaddy: Hey George, tell us here at AlienLove, what's "I Made Love to an Alien Last Night" (Alien Love) really about? [big smile] George: That's a funny question ... It's about different things to different people, I suppose. Kids seem to like it. I was watching a 60-minute pseudo-documentary on aliens and the Roswell Incident, around 1995. They said in the program that one of four Americans claims to have been abducted or molested by space aliens. I wrote the song "I Made Love To An Alien Last Night" right then. I actually wrote it on banjo. FrogDaddy: That's amazing that you can do that George. But I guess thats how some things come to artists ... just all of sudden, wham! it's there. Did you ever do anything except music? George: No. Oh, I spent eight years in computers and math, culminating in artificial intelligence research for the Space Station Program at Johnson Space Center, Houston. I left there August 1991 to return to my first career, music. FrogDaddy: OK George, people always want to know, what's your favorite song or songwriter? George: Very complex question. [smile] In country, Merle Haggard and the Carter Family (the latter collectors, of course.) In pop, Rogers & Hammerstein. R&B, Ray Charles. Ray Charles' "Hit The Road Jack" was and is a driving force in my life like no other, perhaps equalled by the Supremes. Roger Miller's "King Of The Road" effected me similarly. (I heard these few snatches of popular song on the radio as a young boy.) "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" (Selena), "Amazing Grace" (John Newton), "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (Ian McCall), "Pieces Of You" (Jewel), "I Will Always Love You" (Dolly Parton) FrogDaddy: Lot's of influences hey George, :-) ... here's a question from our membership. We are all avid readers here at AlienLove.com. What kind of books do you read? George: I have very little time for pleasure reading now, but when i do, it is usually history of Arizona/Sonora and native american things. In work, I read about the music business, and have a small reference library. I read voluminously as a boy, up to five and seven books a week, and I have a $200,000.00 library. I've read many of my books two and three times over. FrogDaddy: Who/What do you think has been the most important person or event in your life? George: Man ... You go for the tough ones, don't you? [smile] FrogDaddy: Ha ha ha ... OK George how about this one, Are you helping underlings/wannabe's/young people (musicians etc.) develop themselves? George: Yes, I like to take time to help others. We give the Trowbridge Youth Achievement Award every year, to a deserving youth or child. http://www.nashvillestarsearch.com I give extra personal time to any young person whose parent or parents come with them to learn. I give back to my community as well. On Christmas Day I gather (or buy) candy and food and clothes, and with some friends, deliver to the people living on the streets and byways. FrogDaddy: Do you feel pressure/stress in your work? George: Rarely. It's mostly a time thing. You have to be able to manage certain types of stress very well to be an independent in the music business. I basically love those stresses, they keep my feeling alive, so I like it. FrogDaddy: Can you talk about your latest project? George: We are releasing a country single by Gus Rhein; recording a soul gospel single to release in May, by Debbie Tucker; and starting on a 15-song album - video project for Jacqui Watson. The Gus Rhein single is part of the Band of Writers series on JIP Records (Just Iss Planetary Records) and the Jacqui Watson record will release on Artist Choice CD later this year. You can watch for these releases on Tower Records, GAC, iTunes, cdbaby.com and jiprecords.com Ask for them in your favorite record store. FrogDaddy: George, we ask this question of all our guests and there are no exceptions [smile] .... Have you ever had any unusual or paranormal experiences in your travels? George: Yes. I called the spirit deer out of the woods to me as a boy. She came to me and stood by me, a wild white tailed doe. I charmed the wild grouse and walked up to it and felt its wildly beating heart. I had an astral projection at about nineteen years of age, shooting out over the West and looking down on the Rockies, from Canada to the Southwest. This happened when I was awake. (Later I hitchiked the route, from Fairbanks to Tucson.) In more recent years, twenty eagles circled overhead while I and my friend Danny visited Geronimo's Grave in Medicine Park, Oklahoma. I saw the spirit pony at his grave. I believe this could have been a vision. I have witnessed amazingly strange phenomena in Texas, near the military ranges. I assume they were Harriers hazing me. The Roswell Daily Record reporter who wrote about the Roswell Incident is a friend of mine. When I was about nine, I was fishing on a creek with my father and we witnessed a fireball fall out of the sky. It was so huge and close, I was convinced it landed in our valley. I was also convinced it was something like "The War Of The Worlds" [HG Wells]. I suppose it was a close meteorite. It was fantastic! I have a PhD physicist friend who worked Los Alamos as a research scientist. It was all very top secret so he couldn't tell me anything specific, but one day he came back and said "I saw IT" with this huge awe. I said "What?" and he said "I saw IT". Well, you and I probably both know what it was he saw. I was also top secret clearance at one point in my computer career. FrogDaddy: Wow ... that was intense ... how about 2 more quick questions? Do you feel that you are 'political' - in your music or in other ways? George: I don't feel my music is political, however I write op-ed pieces and press releases on major issues that I feel profoundly. Being a public persona, expressing political views can be a detriment to business, so I try to keep relatively low key in political matters now. I write to my representatives regularly to let them know how I feel about various issues however. I am passionate about freedom in every form. FrogDaddy: Last question George [smile] ...How do you feel about the direction American is heading? George: You're free to read some of my letters and press releases on http://www.georgemcclure.net/ it's all there [smile] FrogDaddy: George .. I want to thank you personally, and, from our readers and guests on AlienLove.com. You are a true gentleman and made it a pleasure to talk to you, and get to know you at a deeper level then just hearing your music. Exposing an inner piece of yourself to the public is not always an easy thing to do, and I want you to know we appreciate the time you took from your busy life to allow us a clearer and more educated view of the inside of your world. We wish you and yours the absolute best, and continued success in whatever you do. If there's ever anything AlienLove.com can do for you or anyone in your circle ... just let us know, AlienLove will be there for you. Thank You. ps... "you're right George, kids do like that song!" [To my sister Dani] for the rest of it, my first visit to Geronimo's graves (even though they say he was exhumed and taken somewhere north for reburial): it was on a tour, i had danny with me (a Cherokee from georgia - fiddle/mando). we both wanted to stop at G's grave while we were in the Medicine Park area. We spent several hours trying to find him on the military park, and finally did. We paid homage, took a few pics, and the boys wandered off somewhere. I wanted to touch my spirit so strolled down the line of graves, slowly passing Geronimo's, and down to the end and on a little path beyond. the flies were buzzing a little, it would be very hot later in the day (90's). I heard the sounds of a truck gate and soft native voices, and i kept moving slowly away. I intentionally didn't turn or look, i felt it was an amrican thing going on, and i didn't want to disturb them. I stood and waited, faced away. Eventually i heard a truck drive away, and after about ten minutes more or so, i turned and moved slowly back. My eyes popped out of my head, as i saw a pony, with a brightly colored blanket, decked out super-fine, things tied in his mane and forelocks and everything. he had a rifle on him too, if i remember right. he was tethered to the tree at Geronimo's grave. I walked to the grave, and i left my gift to aid Geronimo on his way to the spirit land, and watched the pony. I didn't want to touch him because i thought maybe he was an apparition! Eventually i left, and found the guys, and we drove the van to the other area of graves, where i spent another 30 minutes or more. We loaded in and got ready to leave, and danny said look at all those eagles. I looked up and there were three or four, and i thought, i usually don't see more than one or two together, then as we watched, four more flew in very quickly, and then more, and more, and more. It was incredible. I said to danny, eagles don't ever glob up like that; they are solitary creatures or paired or just with the young. He said, there's something going on, it's a sign. I stopped the van and we just watched them accumulate, and they circled in big circles altogether, kind of in layers. There were too many to count exactly, but i know it was at least 20, maybe 24 or 25. I had the realization that it was a portentious sign. I knew, and danny knew, that some great spiritual event was taking place or had taken place. We marvelled, danny and i. Then i thought, maybe it's to do with the spirit pony, maybe it's the date Geronimo died (it was April 22 or 23, 2000.) And the eagles are all coming around because of Geronimo's spirit. But then i remembered the magic deer coming to me from the woods as a boy, and the grouse, and my desert home, and then - then i thought they were there for me. Because i'm the gifted boy, or maybe because danny was with me too, and we were always close, share thoughts and things at times, and i knew he was a large part Cherokee. It was a remarkable experience. Thank you for everything, your spirit brother, george! Subject: Re: CD Baby Digital Distribution update Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 00:39:30 -0500 From: McClure & Trowbridge Publishing Ltd Organization: McClure & Trowbridge Publishing Ltd To: Derek Sivers / CD Baby CC: LEGAL@TrowbridgePlanetEarth.com You're getting into the territory i worked deeply in, at NASA JSC and top secret DOD technology projects. It's *not* amazing that every download system is different. This is the standard model in technology - lots of ideas and methods, shake down, market shake out, then one or two dominant prototypes emerge. This is the time costs drop dramatically. The smart time to enter the market is after the shakedown cycles are over. You told me you had a signed agreement with Apple. I never would have paid $40 to you had i known all the tenuous threads (in your email below) existed. Lucy emailed us earlier in the summer and i refered her to our article on the iPod and affiliated technology, and the issues. We advised her no one knew what was happening and to hold off. Then you emailed saying you had signed an agreement and for $40 you would encode and sell via Apple et al. Now you indicate nothing is solid, and even HFA has their large fingers in the pie. We are a HFA publisher principal. There are volumes to be told of that history, especially with the digital music revolution and their vacillating positions and regimes. They, and the majors, are massively confused. I'm not saying don't work with them, because it makes sense to sometimes. I'm simply saying they are massively confused. I am not happy with your 'fessing up' after the fact. You should have gotten your things together anteriori, like the former derek i knew. It's easy to get a little crazy with the majors (billion dollar corporations) throwing money and influence around. And it's easy to be swayed when they are paying for (operating) a significant part of an operation. Maybe you're in a little over your head, i don't know. You intimate such ("nice old fashioned model".) I am and have been deeply involved in the CARP hearings and all other issues. I am an expert in copyright law. My guru-level background in CS and Grammy-nominated credits in music place me in a unique position of understanding and vision in these matters. I am disappointed. Yes, i want my $40 refunded. I'll join up again AFTER you've settled out. Right now, there is absolutely no guarantee anything will every happen (resolve.) I hope it does, and there are lots of important reasons iPod should succeed. Let's let it happen first, then I'll pay the $40 again and we'll run it through at that time. thank you, george mcclure ps I sure as hell wouldn't waste my time coding to all the different standards, because they're going to go away. Wasted effort and lost time. go back the old smart derek i used to know. pps I sent a copy to LEGAL@ so it is saved for reference. It's not a legal matter to me. "IS IGNORANCE EXCUSE?" Letter to Natalie Maines, the Dixie Chicks 03/23/03 Is ignorance an excuse for making mistakes? We all are responsible for being informed citizens. We don't all have to be thoughtful, or ethical, or speak up for what we believe, but we all have responsibility for being aware of our world and accepting others who are different. I commend you, Natalie, for speaking your mind. Artists are often leaders in society; it's part of our role and responsibility. I personally agree that Bush is a disgrace on the war issue. His IQ is only marginally over 100 and it is obvious to everyone who understands the political process that he was put into office by petroleum interests and billion-dollar corporations. If you think their interests coincide with yours and mine, remember the poisoning of housands and hundreds of thousands in Love Canal, EPA superfund areas like Texas City and Pearland Texas, and now Mexico. Corporations have one objective: profits. They put Bush into office and he is their minion. I don't think he is aware of his grunthood; rather I think he's dull and unaware that he's being played by the smart ones. Personally, I applaud you Natalie, for speaking your mind and standing up for what you believe is right - accountability. Unilateral war decisions are a relic of the 19'th century. We don't need it anymore. Do you think the United Nations members can't do their jobs? Are you trying to tell me the representative from Switzerland, say, is not intelligent enough to safeguard the interests of his citizens? That they don't care about being invaded? They care just as much as you and I care. To reject the world in this decision-making process is audacious and arrogant and short-sighted. It's time to move to the next level in planetary consciousness - democratic world concensus. We do not need a reversion to crocodilian "king of the heap" thinking. It is totally counter-productive. george mcclure Nashville TN [McClure is a Grammy-contender Nashville producer (45'th, first round) and former NASA Houston research scientist.] "IS BUSH A DESPOT?" Letter to Editors / Opinion-Editorial IS BUSH A DESPOT? 03/17/03 I have friends in Kosovo and throughout Europe and I commend our military men and women and support them completely. The U.S. government and Bush's actions are different from supporting our women and men in action. We can question the ethical right and wrong of a government and still support our soldiers. The nations in Europe close to Iraq do not support the U.S.'s position to invade Iraq. The nations and countries of the earth do not support it. Bush's sole steadfast compatriot has been Tony Blair in the UK, and even he waffles. Yugoslavia support the U.S.'s position - but out of fear. They know if they don't, their country will be levelled in a possible war, so they acquiesce. The minute Britain waffled, Yugoslavia announced they might align with their neighbors, not with the U.S. Tom Ridge admitted on prime time TV that the federal "security alerts" issued to local law enforcement were not real, but were "in case a real threat occurs". The alerts were totally false - alerts designed not to protect us, but to frighten us. Oh, I'm afraid, brother; I am afraid sister and mother. I lost my freedom yesterday when a tiny cotillion in Congress tried to pass the second Homeland Security Act, allowing secret arrests of U.S. citizens who are considered "a threat to the economic security of the United States." I lost my freedom when the Homeland Security Act was signed into law and the FBI could wiretap and surveil me with vastly relaxed standards and little accountability. I lost my freedom when the government filtered the reporting of the Gulf War. Reporters were arrested and jailed if they tried to take pictures of the real war. The real truth is thousands of people were killed and plowed into huge graves by military dozers before reporters were allowed to enter, only to photograph freshly worked soil and not the real carnage that occurred. I lost my freedom last night when Peter Jennings said "the disruption in broadcast signal [from the live reporter] is something we'll be seeing more of." The military and Bush are censoring the reporting of fundamental news. They are abridging a God-given Constitutional right, the right to Freedom of Speech. I lost my freedom when Bush held a secret illegal meeting with the Legislative Branch. We are witnessing the dissolution and loss of more freedom than ever in the history of the United States. Heretofore we fought to gain freedom, now Bush wants to fight to take away freedom. I fought for freedom. I killed for freedom. I died for freedom. I served my country on Federal DOD top secret SCI work assignments at Intergraph Corp and NASA Houston JSC. How can I stand idly by while everything I hold precious and dear is stolen from me? It's being thieved in the name of justice, yet true justice is the democratic agreement of the majority. It's clear the overwhelming majority worldwide - of nations and individuals alike - believe a U.S. invasion of Iraq is wrong and will dangerously destabilize the world. Some fear a global war. I fear the loss of my freedoms. George McClure Miller Nashville TN [McClure is a Grammy-contender Nashville producer (45'th, first round) and former NASA Houston research scientist.] Letter to WPLN re the proposed TN Lottery
Subject:
RE: TN Lottery
Date:
Mon, 14 Oct 2002 22:22:20 -0500
From:
"GeorgeMcClure.net"
Subject: Re: REQUESTED COMMENTS Master Recording Delivery Recommendations/P&E Members Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2002 00:52:27 -0500 From: McClure & Trowbridge Publishing Ltd To: P&E Wing General Delivery Hello, I come from a unique position of being both a computer scientist (research scientist at NASA, Houston JSC) and producer/recording artist. My impression on reading of the Master Recording Delivery Recommendations document, is that it agrees WAV is a universal deliverable medium. This is fine. I think it's wise to stay within the actual working consesus used by studios, and my perception is WAV is it. Recommendation: -------------- For hard drive (HD) only masters, "suitable backup/safeties" format SHOULD BE ANALOG TAPE. This is the "old standard" in the computer world, a medium in use since the 1950's. And it's an "old standard" in music recording as well. It's stablest by dint of its longevity; it's likely to be around for a long long time to come. . DAT, and more recent media, would be second choice, as they are under more pressure to change and evolve. You may have addressed this particular point in the document. Just an observation. Cordially, george mcclure, CEO & President McClure & Trowbridge Publishing Ltd JIP Records > OVERVIEW > Master Recording Delivery Recommendations > There are three specific DELIVERABLES outlined herein: > 1. The physical "MASTERS" and "BACKUPS" as specified in the Recorded Delivery Specification. > 2. Specific labeling for each and every element (all tape & tape cassette boxes, DVDs, hard drives) of delivery by means of a Media ID label. > 3. The Recording Map to accompany the physical deliverables. It is recommended that this Recording Map document be maintained throughout the project. > Further it is recommended that electronic copies (metadata, by their very nature) of all of the MediaIDs and the Recording Map Summary. Letter from Gaylord CEO Colin Reed, in response to my Press Release (below). Gaylord also called our office by telephone. Subject: Re: 650 WSM-AM Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2002 10:40:30 -0600 From: Mediarelations To: info@TrowbridgePlanetEarth.com January 28, 2002 Dear Sirs, Thank you for your concern over the future of 650 WSM-AM and the Grand Ole Opry. I know I speak for everyone at Gaylord Entertainment, the Opry and 650 WSM-AM when I tell you that your comments were very much appreciated. As we considered ways to expand the reach of the Opry and improve 650 WSM-AM, I can tell you the passion we felt from loyal fans the world over played a part in our decision-making process. Even though 650 WSM-AM's ratings do not reflect it, we knew there was a large, loyal, and passionate audience out there for country music. Simply said, we believe the Opry and 650 WSM-AM are both gems that just need polishing. We are excited about the future, we are proud to keep the Opry on 650 WSM-AM, and we are looking forward to using new technologies to expand the reach, enhance the quality and bring these wonderful icons of country music to millions and millions of fans around the world. Again, thank you for taking the time to contact us and for being a loyal listener of 650 WSM-AM and the Grand Ole Opry. Colin Reed President and CEO Gaylord Entertainment >>> "McClure & Trowbridge Publishing" McClure & Trowbridge Publishing wrote: > > "Gaylord Crushing WSM Country Music Format?" > -------------------------------------------- > c.2002 McClure & Trowbridge Publishing > > NEWS ARCHIVE: > http://TrowbridgePlanetEarth.com/T2/T2C1/T2C1Cat.html > > FRONT PAGE NEWS: http://TrowbridgePlanetEarth.com/ > > Nashville Channel 5 news reported today that Gaylord > threatened to fire the employee who leaked the plans to > change WSM's format, in an executive meeting berating > Gaylord staff. Gaylord plans to crush WSM's historic country > music format and move to talk or sports format. > > The Tennessean reported "Gaylord Chief Executive Officer > Colin Reed said the company is evaluating the operations of > its three radio stations, and that classic country WSM-AM is > the least profitable of the three." > > In the latest of a long string of policy changes, > cancellations, and unlikely enterprises is Gaylord's format > change for one of the largest and most popular country music > stations in North America, WSM. > > The WSM Grand Ole Opry is the historic, still running live > country music show broadcast from the Grand Ole Opry Hotel > most Friday and Saturday nights. In the 1920's and 1930's > when country radio emerged, live radio shows proliferated. > Two of the biggest were the WLS Barndance broadcast from > Chicago, and the WSM Grand Ole Opry broadcast from Nashville > TN. > > Last year, Radio & Records, a leading radio trade > publication, chose WSM-AM the Country Station of the > Century. > > Nashville's central location in the mid-deep South made WSM > an ideal home base for country music entertainers, and WSM's > far-reaching signal covered the entire United States. Other > major country music stations broadcast from just over the > Mexican border in Tijuana, Nogales, and Juarez and attracted > the best of U.S. star entertainers. The Mexican stations, > with unrestricted powerful transmittors, were a major > competitive force in the radio market for years. > > The history of Gaylord's mismanagement and poor decisions is > well known (see "Gaylord BMI Insider News", 05/04/01) and > spans decades. Losing money is another thing the company is > good at. > > Repeatedly placing themselves in losing ventures, Gaylord > has axed its 'less productive' lower earning divisions in > rash attempts to improve their bottom line. Often these less > productive divisions were mainstays of the company and of > the country music industry. > > Bob Meyer, vice president and general manager of WSM-AM, > WSM-FM and WWTN-FM, retired March 31, 2001, after eighteen > years with the stations and a broadcasting career that began > in 1968. > > Cancelled Gaylord divisions include Opryland, themepark home > of live music and jobs to thousands of musicians and support > staff; Songs.com, the ill-planned and mismanaged Internet > branch of Gaylord; and Southern Publishing, Gaylord's > attempt to enter the music publishing business which ate up > budget and never progressed beyond the planning stages. > > WSM may be anticipating a format switch, but it's official > at KYCY-FM in San Francisco. KYCY's exit will leave San > Francisco without a country music station. > > NEWS ARCHIVE: > http://TrowbridgePlanetEarth.com/T2/T2C1/T2C1Cat.html > > FRONT PAGE NEWS: http://TrowbridgePlanetEarth.com/ > > c.2002 McClure & Trowbridge Publishing > -- > Thanks for cruising TrowbridgePlanetEarth.com ! > > McClure & Trowbridge Publishing > P.O.Box 70403 NASH TN 37207-0403 USA > CDs http://JIPrecs.nu/ 1+(615)902.0509 > > info@TrowbridgePlanetEarth.com Sept. 12 2001 on WashingtonPost.com We must not polarize our people and the world over this attack with retaliation before we have proof and consensus. We must protect ourselves - jet fighters on the East Coast is NOT sufficient! My first thought on seeing the Pentagon ca.1983 - "Why is it above ground?" We must examine WHY millions of people around the planet dislike Americans and the U.S. We are notoriously ethnocentric, and ignore others' views, cultures, and opinions. We have destroyed cultures and economic systems for 400 years. We committed genocide against the American Indian. It is time to stop these policies! WHY did the attacks occur? Public statements indicate anger over U.S. backing of Israel. If our concern in the Middle East is oil, we should let it be oil. We have no place in a cultural or religious war - anywhere! The U.S. has an abysmal record in cultural dogmatism and injustice. PEACE. Martin Luther King, Jr. said "I have a dream." Let's move to see that dream, let's move to make that dream, real today. WE CAN DO ANYTHING IF WE BELIEVE. George McClure Nashville producer & writer, former NASA space scientist Nashville TN Sept. 15 2001 Press Release "ON TERRORIST ATTACKS, PROTECTION, AND THE COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEM" George McClure 09/15/01 Nashville producer & writer, former NASA space scientist Almost no one is examining WHY the attacks occurred on U.S. sites, at least in the United States press. Approach: 1. Protect immediately from further attacks 2. Determine why the attacks occurred 3. Plan courses of action to stop further attacks 4. The communications infrastructure problem 1. Protection What we see is reactive defenses which are woefully inadequate. Jet fighters and aircraft carriers in position over part of the US Eastern seaboard IS NOT ADEQUATE protection. Terrorists can enter the country and attack from many routes and through many means. The entire west coast is unprotected, easily targeted. We need to protect ALL our borders immediately and put the entire nation on full military alert, controlling all entry and exit. Terrorists WILL NOT only attack with pirated airplanes! Think like a terrorist - they may use boats, trains, bombs, chemical and biological agents. We need FULL ALERT protection from all these "routes and means" immediately. 2. Determine why the attacks occurred Public statements made 3 - 4 weeks prior to the attacks warned if U.S. backing of Israel did not stop, the U.S. would be attacked in a severe ongoing fashion. If we stop backing Israel will the attacks stop? These threats seem to indicate "yes". We must examine WHY the U.S. is backing Israel. If it's to protect oil interests, let's call a spade a spade and protect U.S. oil interests, and drop the charade. It's dishonest and counterproductive. If we are backing Israel because we support the Israelites' side in a holy war, we MUST ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES of taking sides in a battle that has raged for two to four thousands years. 3. Plan courses of action to stop further attacks How do we stop air attacks? 24 hour full alert military jet patrols of all borders. Build bubbles around target buildings or cities. Build DOWN instead of up. Down is safe. How do we stop train/auto/bomb/chemico/agent attacks? Close all borders and seaboards. This is a war situation. Do you think people who destroy buildings containing 50,000 people won't hike across the Mexican border with a bomb? And board a bus to anywhere and explode the bomb? WE MUST SEE FURTHER AHEAD THAN MERELY REACTING TO EACH SITUATION AS IT UNFOLDS. Rebuild buildings either down, underground, or with protective bubble shields. You've seen comics and movies - the city of the future look - cities and buildings in bubbles, so they can repel attacks. 4. The communications infrastructure problem The U.S. communications network infrastructure is wide open to attack. The entire U.S. economy is run via networks including the Internet, data communications, satellite and WAN networks, and voice lines. A hit a few blocks from the World Trade Center towers would have destroyed AT&T communications strongholds. Removing only a few of these centers nationally would bring the country to a standstill - no groceries, no gasoline, no telephones, no communications, no trucking, no TV, no nothing. And this standstill would be ongoing for weeks, months. Attacks From Within The Communications Infrastructure: The attack and crashing of Yahoo was indicative of the power of attacks on the Internet. The Internet uses much of the same infrastructure used by business, commerce, and communications in this country. We have yet to experience a malicious attack on the country's communications infrastructure; it has been limited to joy-riding hackers attacking a specific company, heretofor. WE NEED DOUBLE REDUNDANT NETWORK SYSTEMS AND CONTINGENCY PLANS IMMEDIATELY so we can function with major infrastructure points out of commission. We must TREAT THE WTC ATTACK AS A WAKE UP CALL to mobilize protections world wide, in all industrial countries. In closing, I have a word for peace and hope, and new beginning: PEACE. Martin Luther King, Jr. said "I have a dream." Let's move to see that dream, let's move to make that dream, real today. WE CAN DO ANYTHING IF WE BELIEVE. Respectfully, George McClure, producer and writer, Nashville TN former NASA computer scientist Subject: Re: POLI pin number Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001 19:14:57 -0500 From: McClure & Trowbridge Publishing Organization: McClure & Trowbridge Publishing To: lbehrman@harryfox.com References: 1 [I had written her seven times telling her we cannot open .doc attachments and requesting a .txt, pdf, or other universal format] "this here your ignorant ill-bred Southerner (with four university degrees from top US schools) an' we wan' some directions in text format, please, m'um. thank you kindly, your ill-bred underfed interwed hillbilly cuzzins, McClure & Trowbridge Publishing" Subject: Re: Job Offer Date: Thu, 03 May 2001 23:52:48 -0500 From: McClure & Trowbridge Publishing Organization: McClure & Trowbridge Publishing To: Chris & Gigi Rehm >> By the way, who the hell is this "Miller" Dude anyway? "it's history, history. well, long, long ago, on a small dark planet, an evil plan was hatched. the salient beings there decided on a star voyage, to escape boredom in their otherwise high-IQ, uniformly dull, existences. they came to Nashville and founded an earthling company, "McClure & Trowbridge Publishing", and decided to take over the worlds' human psyche through growing the company and influencing peoples' minds. the salient beings believed earthlings were far off track spiritually, and focused only on "mind" and "body", leaving out "heart" and "soul", resulting in massive damage to the planet and its heart-mind-body-soul. After a little research, the beings found stunning evidence - scientifically, spiritually, and historically - of some profound errors in the fundamental philosophical bases of western civilization (european civilization), the dominant driving human society on planet earth. First, the salient beings tried to work within the world of science to make the world a better place, and to spread their ideas of a balanced philosophical framework for advanced human forms on the planet. They found, even after experimenting in interplanetary voyage operations and some of the most advanced technological projects on the planet, that it would take ten to twenty years, optimistically, to disseminate some of their ideas to the populace of earth. And they feared it could take much longer, as with a monkey-god called Einstein, whose relativistic ideas took eighty years to really seep into the human psyche. So they decided on a plan to more immediately touch peoples' lives, and to effect the good and the change in a more direct and immediate fashion, and they noticed an almost universal phenomenon called 'entertainment' which seemed to lift people, make them laugh, make them cry, and take them out of themselves for a time, and change them. And they found the plan was good, and they brought about change, a little at a time, touching one human soul at a time, in journeys over the planet. their change was immediate and might touch one, or ten, or a hundred, or a thousand; it was not change on a greatly reduced time table of technical wizardry necessitated by the god of western civ, "science". And the salient beings saw it was good. And they continued in their plan and their work." Correspondence with Bill Purcell, Mayor Nashville: Subject: RE: Number 1 PRIORITY: CLEAN THE AIR! Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 15:03:52 -0600 From: "Mayor@metro.nashville.org" To: "'info@TrowbridgePlanetEarth.com'" Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and concerns about the air quality in Nashville. Please be assured that protecting the air quality in Nashville is and will continue to be a priority for this administration. Again, I appreciate you taking the time to write. It will always be important for me to know about the things that matter to our citizens. Bill Purcell Mayor -----Original Message----- From: McClure & Trowbridge Publishing Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2001 9:08 PM To: mayor@metro.nashville.org Subject: RE: Number 1 PRIORITY: CLEAN THE AIR! Mayor, I am a writer/recording artist, George McClure. I moved to Nashville Fall 1991 to pursue my music career, having resigned my NASA space scientist (software engineer and artificial intelligence research scientist) position in Houston. I make my living singing. I have lung disease BROUGHT ON BY AIR POLLUTION. My continued health and career DEPENDS ON MY BEING ABLE TO BREATHE. I CANNOT BREATHE POLLUTED AIR. Please make CLEAN AIR YOUR TOP PRIORITY IN NASHVILLE THIS YEAR. All of our health depends on it - children and adults. Cordially, George McClure (S.George McClure Miller) BA, BA, MCS Thu, 30 Nov 2000 Correspondence with Gene Hoffman, CEO and President, eMusic.com Gene, Please see http://TrowbridgePlanetEarth.com/T2/T2C1/T2C1Cat.html We are a Nashville, TN niche publisher and artist management firm, with an ex-NASA computer software scientist on staff. We are keenly aware of issues regarding mp3.com, Napster, your company, and all of us in digi music online. WE URGE YOU TO CAREFULLY JUDGE AND ANALYZE ALL ALL INFORMATION AND ALL SIDES AND POINTS OF VIEW BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR DECISIONS. Music rights online is a VITALLY IMPORTANT issue since it involves some of OUR FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS IN THE U.S.A. PLEASE view the Internet Radio/TV/Webcast as WHAT IT IS: a MEDIUM PLEASE view Napster as what it is: individuals sharing copies of music, just like individuals share cassette and CD copies of music. IT IS NO DIFFERENT. THE SOLUTION IS TO LEVY FEES ON MANUFACTURERS OF THE EQUIPMENT, AND DISTRIBUTE THESE MONIES, JUST LIKE WAS DONE WITH CASSETTE TAPES 15 - 20 YEARS AGO. IT IS EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM, AND COLLECTING TARIFFS FROM MANUFACTURERS WORKS. So let's all get together and Use Our Heads instead of our emotions, and LET'S WORK TO EFFECT A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL AND AGREEABLE SOLUTION. Let's work TOGETHER. It is not a tough problem, just one that needs some insight and thought to work out. Cordially, George McClure, President McClure & Trowbridge Publishing Nashville TN USA This is the letter from Gene Hoffman at eMusic.com, to which I responded (above): Dear EMusic affiliate, Recently we announced an initiative aimed at Napster, Inc. to stop the rampant distribution of EMusic tracks through the Napster service. Since the announcement, there has been much written about our activities and I want to make sure that you understand exactly what we are doing and why. As you know, EMusic represents thousands of artists and hundreds of independent labels - all of these artists and labels have specifically made their music available in the MP3 format through EMusic. We have a responsibility to our artists, labels, investors, partners, employees and most importantly, our customers, to do whatever possible to protect the valuable copyrights with which the company has been entrusted. We have been in discussions with Napster for the past six months in search of a consumer-friendly way to prevent the unauthorized distribution of our music. Despite our good faith efforts, Napster has been unwilling to work with us on any level. Napster has repeatedly told us that if we want to stop the illegal trading of EMusic tracks, we should send them a notice and they will block the applicable users account. Because Napster refuses to explore reasonable alternatives, we've been left with one option -- to do what Napster has suggested. As a result, we have begun to implement activities aimed at educating Napster users who are distributing EMusic tracks illegally. Here's how it works: * EMusic has developed a software application that will continually search for Napster users that are illegally distributing EMusic tracks. When an infringing user is identified, he/she will receive an instant message making them aware of the infringement and providing 24-hours to stop distributing the track. * If after 24 hours the user continues to make the tracks available via the Napster service, we will notify Napster of the infringement. Napster has told us that they will then block the account. As previously noted, Napster, in multiple communications, has said that this is the only action they will implement. Our hope is that we will have to send Napster very few user names. We trust consumers and believe that with the right information and education most will do the right thing. We DO NOT believe that this is the best solution to the problem. EMusic has provided detailed technical solutions that would allow Napster to remove tracks from its database without canceling user accounts. Despite the absolute technical feasibility of this solution and EMusic's willingness to provide additional technical assistance, Napster has refused to even explore these options. Unlike the major labels, EMusic and the labels we work with cannot be written off as unwilling to embrace new technology. EMusic was the first major Web site to offer legitimate MP3s from established artists. We also recently introduced the first downloadable subscription service. We absolutely understand the excitement and benefits that consumers see in Napster and believe it has exposed millions of new customers to downloadable music. That said - Napster is trying to build a business based on artistic work it has not created and on rights for which it has not received permission. Since the announcement, Napster has suggested that we may be violating its privacy policy. We are surprised that Napster's executives would question the right of EMusic to enforce its copyrights. We would remind Napster that the process of submitting infringing user names to have their accounts blocked is exactly the process that Napster has told us to follow and is the ONLY solution that Napster has suggested to EMusic and other copyright holders. As we have stated above, there are technically viable alternatives to blocking user accounts - alternatives that EMusic has discussed in detail with Napster. Napster's refusal to implement a system to protect the rights of artists and labels leaves no doubt about the true motives of the company: to profit from the illegal distribution of music. Napster is clearly raising the issue of privacy as a smokescreen to sway public opinion against EMusic, our artists and labels, and our legitimate downloadable music service. Our company - from day one - has been a strong and vocal advocate for the rights of music consumers and for privacy on the Internet. EMusic is not using any technology that violates privacy. EMusic only accesses information that the USER makes PUBLICLY AVAILABLE for all of the world to see. Our software simply searches and downloads music just like any Napster user. Each user is solely in control of whether he/she wants to make that information available to the public. Making music publicly available without permission of the copyright holder is both a violation of US Copyright law - specifically the No Electronic Theft Act of 1997 - and a violation of Napster's own Terms of Service. We continue to leave the door open to Napster to work with us to implement a more consumer friendly solution. Until then, we will take the only action Napster has made available to us to protect the valuable rights of EMusic and its artists and labels. If you have additional questions about these activities or EMusic's policies, please contact evangelists@emusic.com. You can refer to fan-friendly policy on the rights and responsibilities of MP3 users at http://www.emusic.com/about/rights.html. Sincerely, Gene Hoffman President and CEO, EMusic.com Bluegrass Unlimited Letters, July 2000 issue: REGIONALISM, CLIQUES, AND BLUEGRASS MUSIC I have lived and played music in the Southwest, the Carolinas, Alabama and Texas, Alaska (and others) as well as Tennessee. In all these regions, bluegrass is played a little differently, songs have different verses or words, and sometimes the melody and chord progressions change somewhat. The songs evolve through "the folk process" -- people changing a little here and there, and others learning from them in the aural/oral tradition. I also "collect" or study songs and their origins, it's kind of a hobby. A good example is the song "Goin' Back To Georgia", which I learned first from Leslie Keith, who brought it to Arizona in his personal repertoire straight from Appalachia. It has the same melody and progression and phrasing as the Southwest's "Big Balls In Cowtown" (Bob Wills), which I also learned in the oral tradition in Arizona. What amazed me was coming across the song "Big Ball In Boston" published in sheet music in the 1800's. It was a parlor song hit, and moved via oral tradition to these different parts of the country where it took on different words and contexts to fit Appalachia and the West and Southwest. Perhaps it was natural, learning Southeastern music in the Southwest, to be concerned with "authenticity" of the sources of our music. One of the first characteristics of the Nashville bluegrass jam scene I noticed on my drives up from North Alabama around ten years ago, was a total rejection on the part of most pickers, of regional variations of songs, and an attitude of "There is only one right way to play this song, and this is it." I had hoped to find a great "melting pot" of stylistic influences here but did not. I found this is a "Flatt & Scruggs town", e.g. everyone knows and plays F&S material, and other material, such as Stanleys or non-Opry acts, are brushed off. This is very different from eastern Carolina and far-eastern Virginia, for instance, where Reno is king and nearly everyone plays Reno & Smiley repertoire extensively. After getting to know a lot more people in Nashville, I found a broader view and more tolerance, mostly among the "upper echelon" players. And, I found after moving to Nashville in 1992, that there is a pronounced bluegrass jam "clique" or social group. I just think it's a real shame that God-given talent and real gifts are overlooked because of shallow "political" things, or narrow-mindedness. Look at Willie Nelson, and what about Larry Cordle? How often we fall victim to judging by superficial criteria without really considering merit on its own grounds. I just think it negatively impacts the music we love -- bluegrass. It took Dolly Parton 35 years to release a bluegrass album, music she credits as being one basis for her creativity. Innovators and explorers and "carvers of new territory" are sometimes overlooked, often misunderstood -- or not given the wide acceptance they deserve. Is it any wonder, with these parochial attitudes (and ignorance), that people move outside bluegrass music in their careers? George McClure Nashillve, Tenn." (sic) / July 2000 "DATE: 06.19.97 TO: Dan Hill FROM: S.G.Miller/Trowbridge Publishing RE: Further Communications In light of recent phone conversations and events, I would prefer not to hear from you again lest it be with news concerning any of your songs Trowbridge has published. Your remarks concerning my bread and butter existence (my performance venues) were offensive, unfounded, and without merit. You have shown yourself to be perhaps narrow and surely ignorant, apparently through your choice. Your remarks and attitude is offensive because I do not play to audiences who do not choose to be where they are; that is, in nine out of ten shows the audiences drive or walk in from other buildings or homes in the campus. Like your shows, if I do not please my audiences, I am not booked for repeat performances. Instead of "singing them Merle Haggard and whipping them into a frenzy" (as you referred to what you do), I sing them "When We Were Young, Maggie" and other songs from a broad and varied background, which do the equivalent of whipping my audiences into a frenzy. I did what you do now, during 1979, '80, '81, '82, and '83. I did it well enough to land a job in a recording studio (Charlotte, NC) and successfully write and market a music instruction book. What I do now is much broader in scope than what you do. Maybe that's why you seem to have a hard time accepting it as valid. Your attitude and remarks were offensive because I work very hard to achieve excellence in my shows. I had a problem with you in Memphis a few years ago because your attitude was "I'm just subbing, I don't care if I do a good show or not". This [is poor] -- you should know that. I'm disappointed that you didn't show more integrity and sense of musicianship or professionalism. To tell you the truth, I had forgotten all about the Memphis problem when this trip to Kentucky came up and I thought of inviting you to guest on the show. I just figured if you had grown and gotten over those weaknesses displayed in Memphis, that now there would be no problems at all in Lexington. I guess we both know what happened, though, in Lexington on my trip there. Your attitude that your playing and your venues are "the real thing" and that I am "missing the real thing" is absurd. Yes, there is a special something about playing for a crowd of your peers -- I've done it (for five years, for a living) -- but what you don't know is that there is something special about turning on a group of children or senior citizens too. Maybe if you were better you would know that or be able to see it, not that being narrow-band is bad, just don't knock me down for being broader band than you unless you know what you're talking about. And you, sir, do not know what you're talking about. Just because I don't play the same kind of shows you do, or to the same kind of audiences as you, does not mean I am inferior somehow. On the contrary, I'm making a living playing and singing; are you? I am well respected by top performers in Nashville, in my field; are you? Don't knock me down unless you can cut it. -- george" / 06.19.97 In response to my 1997 letters to TN US Senators & Representatives, pleading and insisting that songwriters' and recording artists' intellectual rights be protected, and expressing my support of extending the copyright term to life plus 70, to match the European Union terms: from the Honorable Fred Thompson, U.S. Senate, TN: "Dear Mr. Miller, ...As a Tennessean, I understand that laws affecting the music industry have an impact on one of our largest enterprises. These two bills [Fairness In Musical Licensing Act and Copyright Term Extension Act] revise federal copyright law to provide that ... transmission of a work via cable, satellite, or other transmission wouild not be a copyright infringement unless an admission fee is charged. I have a great amount of respect and admiration for singers, songwriters, publishers, and all who make their livelihood in the music business. In my view, it is clear that individuals who work diligently to create and produce music should be justly compensated. I share your concerns about these bills and worked to defeat them when they were ... I will continue to oppose legislation such as S. 2B and H.R. 789. I also share your support for the Copyright Term Exteension Act, H.R. 604. In fact, as in the last Congress, I am an original cosponsor of the Senate version of the bill, S. 505 ... I am pleased that we agree on both of these issues. Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. Sincerely, Fred Thompson United States Senator" / June 5, 1997 from the Honorable Rep. Bob Clement, 5'th District, TN (in response to the same letter as above): "Dear Mr. Miller, ...The only acceptable resolution is one which recognizes the value of your work and protects your livelihood. H.R. 789 offers no such assurances and I will not support it in its current form... ...You may be assured that I will continue to monitor this issue, and work with my colleagues to ensure that songwriters, and the music industry, are treated fairly. ...I am happy to inform you that I am a (sic) original cosponsor of this essential legislation. ... Rest assured, I will continue to promote your views and protect your interests. Sincerely, Bob Clement Member of Congress" / May 28, 1997 I wrote Charlie Bailey when he was sick in 1995, and told him how much one of his albums with his brother, meant to me early in my career. from Charles Bailey, 3-31-95: "Hi Stephen Thank you for the card & kind words. It was swell of you to take time from your busy schedule to write. Was good to know you like the album. Thank you so much. I wish you and your fellow musicians & associates the very best in success and with your attitude you will succeed I'm sure. The Dr. told me yesterday I was doing swell. Again Thanks. Musically your friend Charles" / 3 -31 - 95 |