Haven’t seen flying people in the city for years!

Maybe there are no more heroes left in the world, but there’s no question that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one.  Few have done more to create positive change in this country, during any era.

There’s also no question that racism and bigotry remain embedded in these United States.  It may not be nearly as overt as it was a half-century prior, but megalomaniacs like Newt Gingrich are intelligent enough to couch their brand of racism in code.  That’s the true legacy of how they have spun political correctness:  Coded, shaded communication that hides the true agenda of those whose fear of change manifests itself in the most despicable ways possible.

BUT…there are a few hard-working angels out there and Julie Hansen, the Head of School at The Stevens School in Lyndon Center (on the Lyndon Institute campus) is one of them.  A true First Amendment School, in past years, their annual candlelight vigil to honour Dr. King was held an hour south, at Dartmouth College.  But this year, they decided to host their own, partly in response to the tremendous LACK of response to anti-Semitic graffiti discovered nearly a year ago.  Swastikas and the words “Die Jew” appeared on a building at a public park in early Spring and stayed there through the summer.  A young lady (the daughter of a dear friend) brought it our attention, we brought it to the attention of Amy Ash Nixon, a writer for the Caledonian Record (and another angel.)  There was a written response from several evangelical Christian pastors, not a peep from those who are resp0nsible for the running of the park, blather from the municipal administrator and grumbling from a chief of police who apparently had better things to do than investigate what even he acknowledged was a hate crime. Shame on all of them.

But kudos to the 100+ people, young and old, who showed up on a chilly January night to watch Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech, share their thoughts and sing.

Yes, we’ve made great strides.  But there’s still…so much…to accomplish.  Don’t. Ever. Stop.

For the second time this year, Charter Communications, the ISP that is supposed to send our music stream to Shoutcast, has had a catastrophic faiilure. Apparently all of Northern New England is down again. Charter bills itself now as “America’s #1 Internet Service Provider!”

Bullshit.

We are sorry, the music will be back as soon as they get their act together.

Thanks for understanding,
The Caffeinators

(Sent via Droid on Verizon Wireless)

• The soundtrack to ‘Here At The Water’s Edge,’ a cult movie that was released in 1963.  The ‘music’ was recorded in and around Manhattan.  If you would like to learn more, CLICK HERE.  Back in ’63, liner notes were really something.
• ‘Corned Beef Confucius,’ a comedy LP recorded at the Stage Deli in the early ’60′s.  The MC was the deli’s owner, Max Asnas, but lots of recognizable voices can be heard (if you’re 40 or older) and there’s plenty of old-time laughs, some of it highly inappropriate.
• ‘The New York Taxi Driver‘ (1956) and ‘A Dog’s Life‘ (1958), two recordings by the genius Tony Schwartz.  Tony, who died in 2008, was an ad guy who created thousands of spots.  In his spare time, he walked around the city and recorded…life in New York.  Mind you, this was back in the 50′s and 60′s, before digital hand-held recorders,  before cassettes.  He schlepped around all five boroughs with a Wollensak reel-to-reel, captured the energy of a golden era, and shared it on the radio and through these and other recordings.  There’s more to come from this legend.

Special thanks to The Count, creator of Booptrax, for sharing these gems with us!

Oh yeah, because we play music, we also added:

• Three albums by Laura Marling.  The 21-year old from Hampshire, England is wise beyond her years.  This is what is usually called indie-folk music, but with Laura, it’s all about the lyrics. Pay attention when she starts singing.

2012.  Whew.

And you ask me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we’ll find better days
Cause I don’t need boxes wrapped in strings
And designer love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we’ll find better days

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cause everyone is forgiven now
Cause tonight’s the night the world begins again

I need someplace simple where we could live
And something only you can give
And thats faith and trust and peace while we’re alive
And the one poor child who saved this world
And there’s 10 million more who probably could
If we all just stopped and said a prayer for them

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cause everyone is forgiven now
Cause tonight’s the night the world begins again

I wish everyone was loved tonight
And somehow stop this endless fight
Just a chance that maybe we’ll find better days

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cause everyone is forgiven now
Cause tonight’s the night the world begins again
Cause tonight’s the night the world begins again

You might have missed the news, because everybody was talking about the lack of snow throughout most of the country.  That was not the case here in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, where we had a White Christmas, decent (but not great) skiing and we prepare for 2012 with anticipation and views like this…softly, as in a morning sunrise.

Happy last night of Chanukah.  It’s Better Here.

A Jewish pop quiz with Matt Damon and the luscious Scarlett Johansson, with (YES!) mentions of Gwyneth Paltrow. (Jew?)