Holiday In The Sun - Off to PEI for Family Reunion!!!

My dad's family is from Charlottetown PEI and so we're having the Trainor Family Reunion down there from August 5th to August 8th. The last 2 reunions were in 1989 and 1967 so this is a fairly big event for us!

Please check my other blogs and don't hesitate to support my sponsors (eg click on ads) so that we can pay for this trip!!!

Harness Horses Racing Breeding

Wind Energy Investing Info

Geothermal Power Stocks

PV Solar Power Companies

Windpower Stocks to Watch

Water Purification Desalination Stocks

A Green Realtor Blog Website

Peace 2 All,

Joe College

Deepwater Horizon UPDATE: Please God help BP make this one stick!

Not sure if it is just different camera angles than usual, but most of the underwater cams seem to be missing the usual culprit, gushing oil, out of control.

As I write at 8.19pm EDT, it seems the cap fits and the blowout is contained. Now it's possible that higher up, the oil is spilling out of the top of the cap, but even if so, the next stage would be to attach a pipeline to that, at least to get it on to a tanker.

BPs live camera feeds from the Deepwater Horizon oil blowout

Video footage of cap being placed on BP Deepwater Horizon spill

This thing has had me down, a ways down, as I feel the damage will worsen for 5 to 7 months at least after the blowout is contained, and we will begin to see environmental improvement in 10 to 15 months. Full recovery could take a decade or more, and some areas will never fully be what they were before man's folly (arrogance of dangerous deep drilling) obliterated undersea life.

Hockley Valley Summerjam featured Trevor Jones, Joe College and Sami Sayn

If you were in the vicinity of Alliston (north of Orangeville, west of Barrie) yesterday afternoon and evening and happened to attend a wonderful garden party at Mike's place, so sorry if we didn't get to chat! I just got my Northern electric guitar (Canadian-made vintage SG copy) out of the shop last week, and it sounds and plays better than it has in decades, and it was hard to stay away from it!

The Hockley Valley Summerjam featured noted Toronto singer-songwriter Trevor Jones, Markham rapper / actor Sami Sayn Abdul, and yours truly, the Original Joe College. Mike's son Mitch was a melodic wizard on the keyboards, and his friend Scott sat in on drums for the afternoon, and took over on guitar in the evening. I played a bunch of rock standards (Goin Up the Country, Light My Fire, Hey Joe), Trevor played everything from Marley and Tosh's Get Up Stand Up to The Who's Won't Get Fooled Again and was the highlight of the afternoon; Sami Sayn spat a serious freestyle flow, interspersed with some Drake and Marshall Mathers gems.

Many thanks to Mike and Colleen and all who helped make this a truly memorable "day in the park"; a grand time was had by all and everyone's looking forward to the 2011 Hockley Valley Summerjam!

SHIT that REALLY Bugs Me!!!

Downer alert, this is the serious stuff:

1. Gulf of Mexico ecological calamity

2. Congo trouble in paradise

3. Darfur, Sudan, Islamic extremism

4. Gaza humanitarian crisis

5. Iraq sectarian divide

6. China without real democracy

7. Growing deserts

8. Not personally doing enough

9. Ethiopia stifling legitimate political opposition

Anybody want to add more shit to the list? Please do so in the comments below.

Now I'm not saying nothing can be done about these issues, just that these are some of the ones where I feel the pain. Add Native and justice issues here in Canada and we can go on and on, so let it out and let it fly.

Just Joe Itatron

UPDATE 12JUL10: Added to the above list would be

a) recovery in Haiti,

b) peace and good governance in Somalia

As the new cap on the oil spill may lead to shutting down the blowout within days, I am thinking of perhaps making a quarterly Scary Shit List, just to keep an eye on things that frighten and/or depress I and I.

Ethiopia: Judge Birtukan Medeksa remains a political pridoner

Ethiopian Opposition Leader Birtukan Mideksa has been imprisoned by the Ethiopia Government for not apologizing for her independent viewpoints.

Story of Judge Birtukan Mideksa and her UNJUST Imprisonment

Birtukan Mideksa of Ethiopia webpage on Wikipedia

FREE BIRTUKAN MIDEKSA website

Watching the Wheels by John Lennon

Other than being an early punk single from Canada, one of the reasons my 45 sells for what it does is because of the John Lennon cover on the B side, a punk version of the classic Working Class Hero. Though many think this is a 1979 Vancouver single, I was actually in The Reactors in Vancouver that year, while Joe College and the Rulers existed only during the spring and summer of 1980.

A few months after we pressed that single, Marianne Faithful released her heartfelt version of the song, and within another two months John had been killed.

The following is one of the last few songs John wrote and recorded:

Watching The Wheels

by John Lennon

People say I'm crazy doing what I'm doing
Well they give me all kinds of warnings to save me from ruin
When I say that I'm o.k. well they look at me kind of strange
Surely you're not happy now you no longer play the game

People say I'm lazy dreaming my life away
Well they give me all kinds of advice designed to enlighten me
When I tell them that I'm doing fine watching shadows on the wall
Don't you miss the big time boy you're no longer on the ball

I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go

Ah, people asking questions lost in confusion
Well I tell them there's no problem, only solutions
Well they shake their heads and they look at me as if I've lost my mind
I tell them there's no hurry
I'm just sitting here doing time

I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go
I just had to let it go
I just had to let it go

Jokerman by Bob Dylan

Jokerman

Standing on the waters casting your bread
While the eyes of the idol with the iron head are glowing
Distant ships sailing into the mist
You were born with a snake in both of your fists while a hurricane was blowing
Freedom just around the corner for you
But with the truth so far off, what good will it do?

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman

So swiftly the sun sets in the sky
You rise up and say goodbye to no one
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread
Both of their futures, so full of dread, you don’t show one
Shedding off one more layer of skin
Keeping one step ahead of the persecutor within

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman

You’re a man of the mountains, you can walk on the clouds
Manipulator of crowds, you’re a dream twister
You’re going to Sodom and Gomorrah
But what do you care? Ain’t nobody there would want to marry your sister
Friend to the martyr, a friend to the woman of shame
You look into the fiery furnace, see the rich man without any name

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman

Well, the Book of Leviticus and Deuteronomy
The law of the jungle and the sea are your only teachers
In the smoke of the twilight on a milk-white steed
Michelangelo indeed could’ve carved out your features
Resting in the fields, far from the turbulent space
Half asleep near the stars with a small dog licking your face

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman

Well, the rifleman’s stalking the sick and the lame
Preacherman seeks the same, who’ll get there first is uncertain
Nightsticks and water cannons, tear gas, padlocks
Molotov cocktails and rocks behind every curtain
False-hearted judges dying in the webs that they spin
Only a matter of time ’til night comes steppin’ in

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman

It’s a shadowy world, skies are slippery grey
A woman just gave birth to a prince today and dressed him in scarlet
He’ll put the priest in his pocket, put the blade to the heat
Take the motherless children off the street
And place them at the feet of a harlot
Oh, Jokerman, you know what he wants
Oh, Jokerman, you don’t show any response

Jokerman dance to the nightingale tune
Bird fly high by the light of the moon
Oh, oh, oh, Jokerman

Rastaman Live Up, lyrics by Bob Marley

Rastaman Live Up

by Robert Nesta Marley

Rastaman, live up!
Bongoman, don't give up!
Congoman, live up, yeah!
Binghi-man don't give up!
Keep your culture:
Don't be afraid of the vulture!
Grow your dreadlock:
Don't be afraid of the wolf-pack!

Rastaman, live up!
Binghi-man, don't give up!
Congoman, live up, yeah!
Bongoman, don't give up!

David slew Goliath with a sling and a stone;
Samson slew the Philistines with a donkey jawbone:
Iyaman, live up!
Rastaman, don't give up!
Binghi-man, live up!
Congoman, don't give up!

Trodding through creation in a irie meditation;
Seen many visions in-a this yah Armagiddyon:
Rastaman, live up!
Congoman, don't give up!
Rastaman, live up, yeah!
Natty Dread, no give up!

Saw it in the beginning, so shall it be in this iwa;
And they fallen in confusion, well-a just a step from Babel Tower
Rastaman live up!
Congoman, no give up!
Rastaman live up, yeah!
Congoman, no give up!
Grow your dreadlocks;
Don't be afraid of the wolf-pack!
A-tell you, one man a-walkin';
And a billion man a-sparkin'.

Rastaman, live up!
Binghi-man, don't give up!
Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up!

Rastaman's Prayer by Lucky Dube

Here are the lyrics to the beautiful Lucky Dube song Rastaman's Prayer:

There comes a time
In everyman's life where he's got to face
The truth no matter what.
We are coming to you father
With our sins and everything
To thank you

Those that smoke marijuana
Wanna thank you father
For making it grow internationally,
They wanna thank you lord
Even though police cut it down,
Sometimes they burn it down
But it grows again
Thank you father

Chorus

We wanna thank you father
For everything you've given us

Nations that oppress other nations
Wanna thank you father
Even though it's painful to be oppressed
But they thank you...
For making them strong

Politicians thank you father
For making them to be able
To lie with a straight face
While the nation cries
They wanna thank you lord

Rastafarian Prayer; Princes come out of Egypt

Rastafari Prayer

Princes shall come out of Egypt

Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hand unto God

Oh thou God of Ethiopia, thou God of divine Majesty

Thy spirit come within our hearts to dwell in living righteousness

That the hungry be fed, the sick nourished

The aged protected, and the infant cared for

Teach us love and loyalty as it is in Zion.

Deliver us from the hands of our enemy

That we may prove faithful unto the last day

When our enemy has passed, and decayed in the depth of the sea

Or in the belly of the beast.

O' Give us a place in thy Kingdom forever and ever.

So we hail Our God Selassie I, Jah Rastafari, Almighty God

John Hoy Rastafari, great and terrible God Rastafari
Who sitteth in Zion and reigns in the hearts of men, and women

Hear and bless us and sanctify, and cause thy loving face to shine upon us

We are thy children, and We pray that I and I may be saved.

Blessed is the name of the Lord God Jah Ras Tafari, and

Blessed is he who comes in the name of Jah

His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I

Let the name of His glory be blessed.

So be it, so be it, so be it blessed.

Selah.

Redacted with Thanks:

Sacred-Texts.com Rasta wisdom

RastaSpeaks.com Rasta Theolgy website

In Development: Gospel of Ras Tafari

Ancient Essene Prayer, Third Year Initiation

I shall love God and be just to my fellow man
I will not harm another, either of my own mind
Or at the command of another’s orders
I shall forever hate the unjust and will battle for the just
I will share my faith with all men, regardless of rank or origin
I shall accept responsibility proudly, never abusing the benefits of privilege
I will dress humbly, always loving truth, and exposing liars

Ghana World Cup run: Asamoah Gyan is STILL THE HERO!

While it is true that Gyan could have won the match versus Uruguay with a penalty kick at the end of overtime, Ghana would not have made it this far without Asamoah Gyan's goals and leadership up to this point. Also, in the shootout he scored on his kick, while the 3rd and 4th shooters for Ghana each missed on what seemed to be puzzlingly feeble efforts. Aaaahhhh the pressure...

The Ghana Black Stars were and are the Pride of Africa at the 2010 World Cup, and as the youngest squad in the entire tournament, may these emerging Lions roar again and again.

Best Ghana Websites Links Page

Deepwater Horizon vs Chernobyl; Lessons for the 21st Century

As we transition from a fossil and planetary decay (nuclear power accelerates radiation) fueled economy to Our Infinite Energy Electro-Hydrogen Economy, it has been apparent since TMI and Chernobyl that a part of the path involves safely decommissioning atomic power reactors, and finding ways to store and/or break down the radioactive waste.

Three Mile Island was a loud warning and Chernobyl marked the end of Atoms for Peace expansion; Deepwater Horizon already looks to be the greatest environmental disaster ever in the Americas, and it is threatening to be an even wider problem.

Now that BP's Deepwater Horizion oil well blowout has revealed the global danger of deepwater drilling, ecologists must now bring forth a plan for the decommissioning of deepwater oil wells, starting with those exhibiting the most dangerous pressure readings, and those in the most environmentally sensitive areas. Progressive countries must halt all new deepwater drilling for oil, though in many areas natural gas drilling may still be able to proceed.

Peak oil involves earth changing decisions, required to avoid planet shattering calamities. Beginning the off-oil path by eliminating the most dangerous sources is extremely logical. This is the tip of the iceberg, and though this issue may be a world-uniter, we're still headed for the iceberg. We need to put the brakes on burning, and hit the gas on sustainable clean power.

Here's a proposal: Mr. Pickens, please open up your new Texas wind farm to solar energy developers, and invite the top fifty to try and get the maximum energy out of one hectare each, and I bet at least twenty-five or thirty will take you up on the challenge. The top performers can then win the right to bid on multi-hectare properties within the complex, improving again the efficiency of the operation, optimizing results for stakeholders and citizens.

Just as we know biodiversity is crucial, and monoculture can be threatening, know also that independent power is most logically deployed utilizing an array of technologies including solar, wind, geothermal, biofuels and more. Check back as I plan on posting a list of a dozen or more green energy stocks under $5, and I've noticed a lot of these seem to be bottoming or resuming a climb.

Green Energy Investing Links:

Tidal Energy, Wavepower, Water Purification Stocks

Geothermal Energy Company Investing Info

Wind Energy Stocks Investments Blog

PVintell Photovoltaic Solar Power Companies