I recently received a forwarded message about a statement Ben Stein made on a commentary show.  It's reproduced below.  I just have some random rants about this I'd like to post as follows...

Well, I agree that everyone should live in harmony and that if you believe in God, you should be allowed to.  However, I don't believe the world has turned their backs on God.  Instead, those of us who don't believe have asked to not have it stuffed down our throats (you can still pray in school, just don't force others to).  I can't believe people like Ben Stein are already stating that we are an atheist country!  My experience is quite the opposite, and it doesn't matter where I go (Seattle, West Plains,  Washington DC, etc), God is still alive and well in the hearts of those who believe. 



Also, I really don't think God has anything to do with tragedies like Katrina, Columbine, 9/11, etc.  God, if he exists, doesn't interfere with our lives unless he has a specific purpose.  He doesn't sit back because we've asked him to, he simply doesn't interfere.  I think my step-dad (a weekend theologian) would agree that, for the most part, God created everything and gave free will to us, so the decisions people make and the tragedies that ensue are the cause of the things.  If he exists, sure he could intervene, but then that negates free will, period.  It's a hard thing for people to grasp... a loving God that doesn't act when we are in trouble, but I say to you, he lets us learn from our mistakes. 

What mistakes?  Providing crappy school systems, parents that don't teach their kids right from wrong, and a society that doesn't care for everyone.  This is what lead to school shootings.  God let us make those decisions (and WE let our government make those decisions for us). 

Or how about the government of Louisiana not getting the levees up to par as was suggested by experts long before Katrina hit?  That's not God's fault.  In fact, you may argue that he worked through those experts to try to head off the disaster, but the powers that be (IE government) didn't listen.

And don't even get me started on 9/11! 

People worshiping celebrities?  Yes, it's true!  Who's to blame?  The celebrities?  Nope.  Try big business and their marketing and capitalism turning human being or ideas (like Spider-Man, Star Trek, Scientology) into gods.  

If we want to point the finger, let us look in the mirror and point there first, because we are the ones allowing these things to happen.  God, if he exists, has equipped us with the ability to think, reason, and react, but we let others suppress those abilities.   That's probably got something to do with why Ron Paul wasn't elected. :(

Phil, an druidic agnostic atheist who believes in something a little different

Message I'm replying to:
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary  along with someone else's add in after paragraph 4.  Regardless to who added to it, I still agree with the whole thing! 

My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish.  And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees..  I don't feel threatened.  I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are:  Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me.  I
don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto.  In fact, I kind of like it.  It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu .  If
people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few
hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians.  I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period.  I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country.  I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my  throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him?  I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too.   But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little
different:  This is not intended to be a joke;  it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response.  She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives.  And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out.  How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc.  I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.  Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school, or pray.  The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your
neighbor as yourself.  And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr Spock's son committed suicide).  We said an expert should know what he's talking about.  And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they
don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out.  I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell  Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.  Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.  Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send i t to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass
it on if you think it has merit.  If not then just discard it... no one will know you did.  But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards,  Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein

I posted pics from my first ever beer tasting extravaganza!  Go to the photos and look for the newest photo album (der!).

Also, just realized I could post 6 songs instead of four, so I got a new arrangement going for the playlist.  There are several songs you've probably never heard ranging several styles, so be sure to try 'em all.  You'll be happy you did.

Let's see.. oh yeah.  I also posted several additional songs below the traditional playlist thingy.  They are are free, but you can actually buy the ones on Tuneflow, so why not do that now?  When I sell around 40 songs, they send me a check for $25, so I'm not making a fortune or anything. :)

Probably going to play at The Yellow House's '60s Night Saturday, July 26th.  Will post an official deal about that when it feels confirmed. ;)

There's never been a better time than now to get some Wages!

I stole the following from my music newsletter....

Third official "Wages" e-mail newsletter for those who have shown an interest in my music or who I assumed has said interest.  ;-)

New "show"!  Despite sinus and congestion problems (which makes me sound more like Jerry Seinfeld), I will be performing at The Yellow House open mic night for the fifth month this Friday, the 11th of April (perhaps some "good will" will help the congestion go away?).  The open mic starts at 7 p.m., and I will likely perform sometime between 7 and 8:30.  I intend to perform at least three original songs I’ve never performed and probably one cover song. Tell everyone you know to be there; my ego demands it!  :-)

New Songs I wrote four songs last month for Tuneflow.  One tune ("The Ground Beneath Your Feet") was done with my online band "The EAF" (The European American Friendship), and in just 8 days it has sold a whopping TWO copies (it’s got some of the best production values I have ever been a part of)!  Go the The EAF page to listen to it and the other songs we have done together.  I also wrote three other songs for Tuneflow: "She’s a Keeper" and "Ignorance Is Bliss" (both of which I intend to perform Friday night) as well as "Eyes Now Open".  You can check out all three of those puppies on my Tuneflow page.

Website  No changes, but if you haven’t already checked it out, there are some cool tunes you should bleed your ears to at  www.philwages.com.  There are also four songs on MySpace: www.MySpace.com/philwages .

The Band  Ben, Dan, and I have been practicing practically every Sunday.  I think it’s going well, but we still need a lead guitarist.  I hope a guitarist will be sitting in with us this weekend.  As far as the songs we’re working on, we’ve got a Weezer tune down, and we’ve got some tricks up our collective sleeves.  I won’t give you any details at the moment, but let’s just say I’ve got a sickness and the only cure is more cowbell....

Hope to see you at The Yellow House this Friday!
Phil

The following has been lifted from and a modified from the second "Wages E-Mail Newsletter" (it’s about the music)...

New "show"!  I performed at The Yellow House open mic night for the fourth time on Friday, the 14th of March.  I think I threw the set list away, but it was probably as follows (but I’m really doubtful about the order; if the song is online, there is a link to it):
He Just Might
I’m Yours
Coffee and Tacos
Basketcase (Green Day cover)
Rub It Out (Charcoal Heart)
You Inspire Me (the lyrics refer to Sean)
Shattered Hearts (just scroll down, and it is there; I will get it on my site eventually)

In other news, Last time I wrote that I participate in online songwriting competitions (Songfight, Tuneflow, and The Purple Tapes).  Well, last month was February Album Writing Month (don’t know if that was official, or if the website just made it up) located at www.FAWM.org.  The point of the site was to encourage people to write 14 songs by the end of the month of February, one every other day.  I did this, and it was a lot of fun!  In fact, I feel there are at least five or six promising songs that came from those writing sessions, two of which I plan to sing tomorrow night: 
You Inspire Me, Vampire Lovers Lament, Coffee and Tacos, When It Dawns on You, Me and My Couch Were Born on the Same Day, and Granny Got a Gun . (Warning!  These are all super demo-y!  Portions may be offensive to your ears)

I updated my website in the last few weeks.  Mostly, I added links to song selections I thought might be worth your while to listen to.  GO CHECK ’EM OUT NOW!  By the way, my site is www.philwages.com.  There are also four songs here on MySpace: www.MySpace.com/philwages .

The Band  For the last, I think, four or five Sundays, I have been practicing with a couple of friends.  We have been working on some tunes which we may play at a friend’s party.  So far, I think three songs are coming along pretty well, and more are surely to follow!

So, I get the "West Plains Community Calendar" weekly e-mail, being the good citizen I am wanting to keep up with ALL the cool happenings around town.  This is what got me performing at the Yellow House open mic (every 2nd Friday of each month), and I believe how I first found out about the beer tastings at Cafe 37.  But I think on the 2nd or 3rd beer tasting, the tasting was not listed in the "community" calendar. 

"Hmmm, musta forgot."

But then, when it came time for the next beer tasting, it was still not listed.  Dismayed that this great event was not rightfully listed in the community calendar, I contacted the person who maintains the list so that it could be added.  I had noticed that last-minute additions and changes have been made before, so I thought that it would not be a big deal.

However, I was met with a response stating that the calendar has started as a school calendar for kids and parents (elementary, middle, or high, I can’t remember which).  But now, it is around 10 years since it was started there, and I know I have been receiving the e-mail for least three years if not longer.  I have seen lots of great stuff listed, though most of it does not interest me personally.  Unfortunately, the opinion was that it "would not be appropriate" for a beer tasting to be listed in a community calendar (apparently, someone complained).  So, why is it that something like two men beating the shit out of each other (Friday Night Fights boxing) is not deemed inappropriate for a community calendar, but a beer or wine tasting is inappropriate?  Whatever.  So I put it behind me and accept what the system dictates.  But...  then I see this ad (taken from this week’s calendar):

"Mar. 20, 21 & 23:  Special Holy Week Services are being held in many area churches.   The WP Daily Quill published a 56-page Church Directory this week and copies are available free from their offices at 145 N. Jefferson."

I do want to censor anything, but I just don’t like the bias.  It is probably someone heavily involved in church who complained about the beer tasting (which they moved off Wednesday nights FOR church), and of course, a tasting is just as much a community event as "Holy Week Services". 

I guess when it all comes down to it, I just wanted to vent.  I suppose there are worse things to worry about, but I’m not in the mood for a political discussion.

Pictures from Clark and Stefani's (correct me if I have the wrong spelling) first party are now posted.  You can check them out here:
Clark's first party at his new digs

The open mic performance Friday went great!  We had 7 people in our group and maybe another 7 who were just there (okay, 3 or 4 were musicians who were also playing;  One dude, Casey, was really good despite amp issues, and there was a Hawaiian guy there doing poetry...also cool), so it was a good turnout...and they tell me the sound was good too. :)

Set List (all songs originals unless otherwise noted):
Don't Try to Stop Me
Interstate Love Song (by Stone Temple Pilots)
Vicious Deadend
When You Were Mine
He Just Might
Shattered Hearts (No More)

Be sure to check out the photo album containing:
*great photos by Sean (at performance and after party)
*mediocre photos by Phil (at the after party)
*sheer wackiness!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 2, 2008
 
CONTACT: Committee to Elect John Wages
P.O. Box 4171
Tupelo, MS 38803
 
Wages Leaves Election Commission and Announces Plans
 
John M. Wages, Jr., announced his resignation from the Lee County Election Commission effective December 15, 2007.
 
Wages was elected as the Election Commissioner from the 3rd District in 2004. State law provides that Election Commissioners declare their party affiliation, which is then listed on the ballot. Wages is the first Green Party candidate elected to office in Mississippi. While serving on the Election Commission, he worked for paper ballots and provided options and recommendations for voting systems to the Board of Supervisors. In 2005, Lee County became one of three counties to opt out of Secretary of State Eric Clark's plan for a uniform, statewide system of computer voting using touch-screen voting machines. This decision preserved paper ballots that can be recounted or audited, and also provided a more cost-effective voting system for the taxpayers of Lee County. The State Election Code provides for the Board of Supervisors to choose a replacement to serve the remainder of the term until the next election. In his resignation letter, Wages stated, "For the past three years, it has been a sacred honor and my great pleasure to serve the citizens of Lee County on the Election Commission. I now look forward to serving the community in other capacities."
 
Speaking to friends and supporters on January 1, Wages announced plans to run for Congress, "With respect for the past, hope for the future, and confidence in the rightness of this quest, in accordance with the State Election Code, I have submitted qualifying papers to the State Executive Committee of the Green Party of Mississippi, seeking its nomination for the 1st Congressional District.
 
America faces challenges unlike any we have ever faced before this time:
* An incredible burden of debt amassed by banks and other financial institutions threatens to dissolve our economy. We must begin to address this crisis not in terms of saving Wall Street, but of saving Americans who stand to lose their homes, savings, and retirement accounts.
* Even after the folly of NAFTA, Congress continues to approve free trade pacts that send America's jobs overseas and that undermine workplace protections for American workers. We must replace NAFTA and similar treaties with Fair Trade agreements that benefit and protect American workers as well as their trading partners.
* Here in Mississippi, we have begun to experience global climate change firsthand in the twin disasters of a devastating hurricane and the ongoing drought. No one person, city, state, or nation can address this problem. Working with other nations, we can limit human suffering and the worst effects of climate change.
* Global petroleum production appears to have peaked in 2006. Our economy is based on the cheap energy contained in liquid petroleum. We must begin a crash course of implementing a national energy policy anchored in conservation and renewables.
* Hiding behind a curtain of lies, the Bush-Cheney administration launched an illegal war of aggression in Iraq. We must immediately end the war, dismantle our bases in that country, bring our soldiers home, and give our veterans the health care and support they deserve.
* Despite these daunting problems and the others space and time do not permit me to mention, the politicians we sent to Washington to represent us spend their time raising campaign cash, strategizing, and winning the popularity contests that our elections have become. Problems in education, healthcare, and other areas are never solved because of the influence of money in politics. We must enact radical campaign finance reform that outlaws all corporate contributions, severely limits contributions from wealthy individuals, mandates equitable media coverage for all candidates, and provides a fair and reasonable level of public financing for campaigns.
 
* Furthermore, we must call to account, whether by impeachment or by trials in a court of law, all members of the administration and Congress who have violated their oaths of office to support and defend the Constitution. This is not only the Constitutional remedy for "high crimes and misdemeanors," it is the requirement and obligation of all those in elected office who take their responsibilities seriously under the Constitution.
 
Every challenge is also an opportunity. If we rise to the occasion, with grace and humility, we may not only overcome these problems, but enjoy the fruits of Liberty that are the unrealized vision of Washington, Jefferson, and Madison. If chosen as the nominee, these are the things I will speak about during my campaign.
 

Overall, I thought the "Zebra Twilight" EP by Varsity Club Sunshine Coach was excellent and professional. Even had I not known the musicians (Lennon Bone, Thom and Tof Hoglan), I feel I would still love it as much as I do, especially the tracks "Hope I'm Right Here" which has a wonderful groove and is my personal favorite on the EP, "Open Wide" which would surely be the hit single with its driving feel, and "On My Way" with its touching and heartfelt "guy and guitar" presentation. I would love to see more of your songwriting in Varsity as well as Ha Ha Tonka. Overall, 9/10.

It's time.  Time to dive in. 

I haven't performed in front of people beyond Amber and a couple of friends since 1998 (at church and at our high school contest dealie).  A LOT has changed for me since that year, and I feel it's time to make another big change: sharing my music with you. Sure I've posted a few tunes on MySpace... but that allows me to hide in my cave like a mad scientist never having to face the audience.  The implications of that are.. well..nothing.  Nothing changes. 

So, I'm going to play a song or two at open mic night at The Yellow House.  At least one original tune, and possibly a cover song.  I expect everyone I know that can to be there to boo or cheer, but also to hang out at The Yellow House where Andrea is really getting things going.

This is like a new beginning to me, one that will continue.  So yeah, sure, I seem to be making a big deal about it, but it is a big deal to me.  Hopefully in a few months performing in front of people will become second nature.  That's the goal.  Then I can look back here and say, "What the hell was the big deal? Performing? Piece'o'cake!"