Billy Jack Was A BAD ASS Movie – When I Was 10 or 11

Tom Laughlin as The Legendary Billy Jack

 One of my favorite movies when I was 10 or 11 years old was the classic “Billy Jack”.    

Apparently my parents did not pay close attention to what the content of the movies they dropped me off at the local 4-plex to see included.     

Billy Jack was about a “half-breed” American Cherokee Indian, Green Beret Vietnam War veteran, hapkido master who defended the hippie-themed Freedom School and its students from the racist and ignorant townspeople who did not understand or like the school or it’s students.   

Though originally released in 1971 I am pretty sure I did not see it until it’s wide and highly profitable re-release in 1973.    

It’s Marketing Taglines –    

Just a person who protects children and other living things.    

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You’ve got due process, Mother’s Day, supermarkets, the FBI, Medicare, air conditioning, AT&T, country clubs, Congress, a 2-car garage, state troopers, the Constitution, color television and democracy. They’ve got BILLY JACK     

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 When you need him, he’s always there!   

Some Highlights –   

The local rich boy jerk Bernard – dumps flour on some students denied in their attempt to buy ice cream because they are indian in order to make them “WHITE”.  Billy Jack finds out and goes BERSERK –   

  

There is the scene where the aforementioned Bernard is forcing a very well endowed female student with the nickname “Miss False Eyelashes” in to having sex with him and cuts her bra off and you see her large breasts DROP as the bra is cut away.  Trust me very cool when you are a 10 or 11-year-old boy.   

Billy Jack forcing Bernard to drive his Corvette in to the water on the count of three and then saying  ”1…2….FLOOR IT”.  Very cool when you are a 10 or 11-year-old boy.  Also worth watching to see how inflation has affected the price of Corvettes.   

  

Billy Jack kicking Bernard in the testicles when he confronts him prior to killing him in an act of revenge for raping the head of the school. Very cool when you are a 10 or 11-year-old boy.   

In general it was a very good movie for one that claimed to be about non-violence and acceptance.   

Here is the original trailer which will give you a nice overview.  Watch for a  young Howard Hesseman.  At that time a member of “The Committee” Improv group out of San Fancisco but more popularly known a few years later as Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati.  

  

And of course there was THAT SONG –  

  

I wonder if this movie could be considered to have a liberal agenda?

As always –    

You can follow me on Facebook at “I am Dazed and Confused” or Twitter – www.twitter.com/iamdandc    

cs

I Can’t Afford To Lie In Bed Like Brian Wilson Did

Brian Wilson - Upright

My motto has always been – Nervous Breakdowns are only for rich people – I have to make a living.  I don’t mean to make light of mental illness but how many people can afford to check in to the hospital or a facility for “exhaustion”.   The ultimate symbol of this for me has always been when Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys took to his bed for three years in the early 70’s. 

I’m human and have had some down periods in my life.  In one instance I was in a horrible job in a horrible town.  This always made me wonder, was the town just horrible because the job was horrible? or was it truly a horrible town.   I’ve never compeletly decided on the answer to that. 

I was depressed with the situation and it was shear TORTURE to even drive myself to the office every morning.  I felt like I was going to have a Nervous Breakdown.  One of the things that kept me going was whenever the song “Brian Wilson” by the Bare Naked Ladies came on the radio.   

If you don’t remember the lyrics they included –  “Well I’m lying in bed just like Brian Wilson did.
So I’m lying here, just staring at the ceiling tiles. and I’m thinking about what to think about.” and “if you want to find me I’ll be out in the sandbox”.  The second part being a reference to when they moved his piano into a giant sandbox his family and “therapist” had constructed in his living room to inspire him. 

The reason a potentially depressing song like this inspired me was that it always made me realize – “I have to keep moving and make a living.” 

I have taken to my bed a few times because I was stressed or depressed and thought I might have a nervous breakdown.  These episodes though usually only consisted of sleeping late or taking a nap in the middle of the day.  Usually the naps were less than an hour long because they were interrupted by a phone call or email of someone needing something.  That usually distracted me from my self and off I went to complete the task requested by the interrupting phone call.  Incidentally – this method was greatly helped by the fact I am too paranoid too turn off the phone. 

Then I discovered while writing this post that there is no such thing as a “Nervous Breakdown” anymore.  They now call it “situational depression”, “anxiety disorder” or “burn-out”.   Gee – That isn’t nearly as dramatic as the term nervous breakdown. 

Brian Wilson as it turns out probably didn’t have a nervous breakdown anyway.  The new thought is that he was  in the developing stages of Schizophrenia.  Totally Different Head.

As always – 

You can follow me on Facebook at “I am Dazed and Confused” or Twitter – www.twitter.com/iamdandc 

cs

Almost Forty Years of Drama – And The Answer is David Geffen?

 

UPDATE – 10:15 P.M. EST 2/26/10.  It Appears the story was not true!!! Per This Vanity Fair Online Post by Juli Weiner (CLICK HERE TO VIEW)

The Famous Nipple Picture

I am in shock.

There has been speculation for almost 40 years about who was the subject of Carly Simon’s classic “You’re so Vain”. 

 The answer is David Geffen?

Not Mick Jagger, not James Taylor, not David Bowie, not Kris Kristofferson, not Cat Stevens or the most heavily rumored Warren Beatty.

David Geffen?

Dick Ebersol paid $50,000 a few years ago to find this out.  If I were him I’d be pissed.

David Geffen?

One story is that she finally announced it to raise her visibility prior to a new album being released.

David Geffen?

David Geffen - Circa 1970's

“All the girls dreamed that they’d be your partner”

David Geffen?

Remember the fake rumors a few years ago about David Geffen being in a relationship with Keanu Reeves and taking him shopping for “outfits”?

David Geffen?

Carly Simon should have taken this to her grave.

As always – 

You can follow me on Facebook at “I am Dazed and Confused” or Twitter – www.twitter.com/iamdandc 

cs

En Vogue Was Right – FREE YOUR MIND

This song came out in 1992 so it is hardly Dazed and Confused.  It comes to my mind periodically however.  It was originally written as an anti-prejudice song after the Rodney King Riots in L.A..

But I think it can be an anthem for all aspects of your life.  Politics, religion, relationships and especially personal growth. 

Right now everybody seems to be looking for a GURU to tell them the magic potion or silver bullet for reaching their maximum personal potential.

The first step you need to take in order to meet your maximum personal potential is to –

FREE YOUR MIND

AND THE REST WILL FOLLOW

I need to work on that.  This will be my new MANTRA. 

As always – 

You can follow me on Facebook at “I am Dazed and Confused” or Twitter – www.twitter.com/iamdandc 

cs 

 

 

I Think My Whole Neighborhood May Be Dazed And Confused

The other day I was driving out of my neighborhood and I saw on the community billboard where announcements are posted “Did you know, it’s impossible to fold in half any sized piece of paper more than 7 times”.  See the proof in the picture on the left.

 Doesn’t that sound like something a stoner would come up with?

I’ve been suspicious about activities in my neighborhood for a while and have even blogged about it (Click Here to See That Post).

But this really sounds like a bunch of stoners sitting around at 3:35 or 3:34 in the morning.  Trying to come up with something to write.  You know – Like in the Chicago song “25 or 6 to 4”. 

Which makes me wonder, did the administration and/or band director at my junior high school know, what potentially the song was about when we played it in the marching band?  Because other than the time reference there is still debate to this day of the song’s meaning.

As always –

You can follow me on Facebook at “I am Dazed and Confused” or Twitter – www.twitter.com/iamdandc

cs 

 

 

My Wife Is Delusional About The Who

The Who's - Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend at the 2010 Super Bowl

This is my Super Bowl inspired post.

My wife has been a fan of  The Who for most of her life.   Her brother was a little bit older and was seriously in to their music in the very early 70’s and was her introduction.  Now he sometimes acts as if he doesn’t know who they are even though he was the one that took her to one of their concerts when she was probably 12 – 14 years old and there has been a love affair ever since.

She does like their music and we have seen them in concert INNUMERABLE times.  In both Stadium and Arena venues. 

One of the most unique was in an outdoor amphitheatre setting that was actually a Roger Daltrey solo concert.  A torrential downpour  let out about half way through and the crowd scattered so we moved from our medium priced seats to the UP CLOSE seats.  I will say that it was a near religious experience watching him sing “Love, Reign O’er Me” while the rain came down in torrents.

The last time we saw The Who was probably in the late 90’s in Atlanta they were good but not great.

Tonight’s Super Bowl appearance was good but not great.

She disagrees with me about both of these performances.

I just think when it comes to The Who, she will always be that awestruck  adolescent seeing her first major stadium show of some true Rock Legends. 

Although she does question – Why is Pete Townshend so desperate for money that he licenses songs from The Who for every TV show and commercial on the air?

She’s delusional not stupid. 

As always –

You can follow me on Facebook at “I am Dazed and Confused” or Twitter – www.twitter.com/iamdandc

cs 

 

 

 

Wierd S%#T Happens on Twitter

The CD "Tipping Point" by The Cringe

I’ve had the @IAMDANDC account on Twitter for 2 or 3 months now and of course the people who follow that account are varied.  There have been some writers, comedy clubs (no I don’t do standup) and a wide group of miscellaneous.

Today though was the strangest and or coolest.  I got followed by a band called “The Cringe”  (Twitter name @thecringe).  Now if they were a 70’s cover band I would understand.  But they are based out of New York and record contemporary music.

After following them back, I went to their Website – www.thecringe.com and was checking them out and I knew one of the band members looked familiar.  I’m thinking where do I know this guy from?  So I clicked on the “about” tab on their website and started reading their bios. 

One of the names ALSO seemed familiar but 1+1 was not equaling 2 yet.  But I assumed the familiar name matched the familiar face.  So of course I went to google and googled the name.

This guy who is their lead vocalist and one of the guitar players – IS MARRIED TO RACHAEL RAY FROM THE FOOD NETWORK!!

I knew I recognized that dude.

Check em out and if you are in New York City maybe stop in at one of their dates – which are listed on their website or follow them on Twitter.

As always –

You can follow me on Facebook at “I am Dazed and Confused” or Twitter – www.twitter.com/iamdandc

cs 

 

 

Burn, Burn Like A Wicker Cabinet

80's Style Wicker Cabinet - Caution Flammable

 

I always loved those song lyrics.  They are from “Inside Out” by Eve 6 (video below).

The song is no great masterpiece but the lyric wicker cabinet always reminds me of the first apartments my wife and I had together in the early 80’s.  Wicker was both the stylish and affordable choice in home decor and World Bazaar was where you got it.   

Hey, it’s not like we were freakin rich and could buy things from Pier One.

We had one neighbor whose apartment opened out on to the parking lot and they left their drapes open all the time so we could see in to their apartment when we were coming and going.  

We nicknamed them “Wicker/Rattan”.  At the time we pretended to each other that the nickname was out of derision for the lavish use of wicker in their Home Decor.  Looking back now I realize we were just downright jealous.

I partied with them a few times and did learn their real names.  The last time I saw either of them was about a year after we moved out of that complex and when I ran in to him he had lost like 30 pounds, looked like a definite coke freak and ready for rehab.

I guess a beautiful apartment with Wicker Home Decor just wasn’t enough.

You can follow me on Facebook at “I am Dazed and Confused” or Twitter – www.twitter.com/iamdandc

cs

My Thoughts On Simon Cowell Leaving American Idol

A Lot of people are talking about Simon Cowell leaving American Idol.

Here are my thoughts –

In my opinion it   “jumped the shark”  last year.

So

I DON’T CARE

 

cs