Reinhold Niebhuhr's Serenity Prayer:

This from Reinhold Niebhuhr:
The Serenity Prayer: "God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other."
That is what good voters are able to do. To distinguish between the good and the bad. The real and the made up.

This is something interesting Joe Klein said...

The story of the day out here in Minneapolis is the McCain campaign's war against the press. This has been building for some time. Those of us who have criticized the candidate--and especially those of us who enjoyed good relations with McCain in the past--have been subject to off-the-record browbeating and attempted bullying all year. But things have gotten much worse in recent days: there was McCain's rude, bizarre interview with Time Magazine last week. Yesterday, McCain refused to an interview with Larry King, for God's sake, because Campbell Brown had been caught in the commission of journalism on CNN the night before, asking McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds what decisions Sarah Palin had made as commander-in-chief of the Alaska national guard. (There was an answer that the unprepared Bounds didn't have: she had deployed them to fight fires.)
So what's going on here? Two things. McCain is just plain angry at us. By the evidence presented in the utterly revealing Time interview, he's ballistic. This is a politician who needs to see himself as the man on the white horse, boldly traversing a muddy field...any intimations that he's gotten muddied in the process, or has decided to throw mud, are intolerable.
The second thing is more insidious: Steve Schmidt has decided, for tactical reasons, to slime the press. He wants the public to believe that there is an unfair--sexist (you gotta love it)--personal assault going on against Palin and her family. This is a smokescreen, intended to divert attention from the very real and responsible vetting that is taking place in the media--about the substance of Palin's record as mayor and governor. Sure, there are a few outliers--and the tabloid press--who have fixed on baby stories. That was inevitable....the flip side of the personal stories that the McCain team thought would work to their advantage--Palin's moose-hunting and wolf-shooting, and her admirable decision to have a Down Syndrome baby. And yes, when we all fix on the same story, whether it's a hurricane or a little-known politician, a zoo ensues. But the media coverage of the Palin story has been well within the bounds of responsibility. Schmidt is trying to make it seem otherwise, a desperate tactic.

There is a tendency in the media to kick ourselves, cringe and withdraw, when we are criticized. But I hope my colleagues stand strong in this case: it is important for the public to know that Palin raised taxes as governor, supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she opposed it, pursued pork-barrel projects as mayor, tried to ban books at the local library and thinks the war in Iraq is "a task from God." The attempts by the McCain campaign to bully us into not reporting such things are not only stupidly aggressive, but unprofessional in the extreme.

the sadness of being a republican

The sadness of being a republican.
by jo nathan dudley

So after 7 years of missed opportunities, bungled hurricanes and out right serial lying, the republican convention looked like it might just be a wash. John McCain, once a dignified war hero who ultimately had to cozy up to Bush to get back into the Presidential game, was looking old and stale. This is the same Bush who skipped out of service in Vietnam while flying (when it suited him) National Guard jets in the dangerous skies of Texas and Alabama.

McCain had no hope of being relevant this election other than possibly hammering BO with the experience issue and that only was taking him so far.

But alas, he chose Sarah Palin to be his running mate. The Alaskan savior who leaned on none other than God to get elected governor and to get another oil pipeline.
McCain then switched gears and promised country first but acted like POLITICS first all the while calling Obama elitist. I guess Obama can not hide from his background and his elitist single mother and super elitist Grandparents who raised him in spite of his father. Elitist always buck tradition in favor of liberal survival techniques.

McCain/Palin stood for reform but that was just lipstick on a porky pig. Even though McCain spent his career trying to kill the pork, he still can't convince anybody other than his choir that Palin isn't the queen of pork. Not even lipstick can cover up that lie.
They said she was a reformer with executive experience. They were right. She had reformed her town's budget so much that when she left office the town was in debt and spent the surplus budget the town's previous administration had accrued. Maybe I am missing the underlying point of the McCain Campaign, with all that executive experience w/ pork and overspending, they knew she would be a natural in Washington. However, now I see why McPalin can now go after the change mantra because as soon as she joined the campaign they changed their approach to straight-up-all-out lying as opposed to small lies with bits of truth.

Then after her vast experience was disproved the republicans still kept drinking the koolaid and they spun wildly out of control into McCain/Palin madness. Each trying to out do another in making up excuses in defense of Wasilla's favorite gal. For so long, McCain had bashed Obama's lack of experience and then he turns around and picks someone who was Mayor of a city of 6,000 people and Governor of one of the least populous states. A politician whose foreign policy experience is limited to lying about trips to Iraq and mostly based on her ability to see Russia from an island of the coast of her snow capped dominion.
WAY TO GO GUYS!

The New Americans...
I have a feeling that the november election will come down to the new vs. the old. Youngsters voting for a black man and oldsters voting against that same black man. It's sure to be interesting and at least worth to some extent the 6 months of media bullshit we'll go through just to know the outcome. However, that doesn't mean we'll enjoy it although I'm sure there will be quite a few moments to savor with Barack putting John McCain in his place...which is right beside the Bush Administration.

The times may be a changin'....thanks Obama

CHECK OUT HIS ARTICLE HERE
Joe Klein wrote this in a piece for Time Magazine in reference to the democratic primary race:

"Politics will always be propelled by grease, hot air and showmanship, but in the astonishing prosperity of the late 20th century, we allowed our public life to drift toward too much show biz, too little substance. Yes, the low-information signals — the bowling and tamale-eating — are crucial; politicians have to show that they are in touch with the lives of average folks. But a balance needs to be struck between carnival populism and the higher demands of democracy, and as a nation, we haven't been very good lately with the serious part of the program. As a result, there is a festering sense — I've seen it everywhere I've traveled this year — that the country is in "the ditch," as Clinton said. A general-election campaign between John McCain and Barack Obama doesn't need any hype. It won't be boring. The question is whether we, politicians and press alike, will grant this election — and electorate — the respect that it deserves."

In reference to what politics became in the 90's and is now such a part of the new decade in which we live. The problem has not only been part of our politics but has been the unfortunate cornerstone of our society. In modern music this is illustrated by the purveyors of style. Not "style" as in an original sound and approach to music, but a "style" conscious approach to marketing the music...elaborate photo shoots (sure a lot of bands dressed up crazy back in the day but many of those groups backed it up with a great "sound"), writing songs that appeal to males or to females but not to both and just general ignorance in regard to the history of Western Modern Music.
For many of these so called "artists", there is little substance in the music. Now I am not advocating that artists should have no style, but rather I am advocating all style when it comes to the actual music. I don't give a FUCK what these dopes wore in their band shots or what image that they want to get across. I want to listen to their music and I want to be entertained and enlightened. I want to hear their story. Their voices. Either way, I just hope this is over soon.
Jo Nathan Dudley Reporting.

How Jwonder and the world got to this point...well really just Jwonder...

THE REBIRTH OF JWONDER

Jo Nathan Dudley Reporting.

4 years ago, right before we lost the best thing that ever happen to us as a group and before Fern the Third would enter this realm, we lost another bass player this time to football even though he disguised as he “found God”. Where he found him, I have no idea. But either way, we were about to lose the best practice space ever. Padded, carpeted, sound proofed with the size of two giant rooms separated only by the fact that one was a foot higher than the other. A musician’s paradise per se.

At this point Dave and I had waded through countless talented bass players but we had not found a good fit. Someone who actually was more than just a musician filling a roll.

We lost momentum as a group many a times because we could not figure out the missing puzzle piece. We knew all the bass players coming in were just going to fill a short term need for us. We must thank those 3 creative musicians for their contributions. They made us better but more times than not we sounded more like Jo Nathan & Dave featuring 1 bass player than we actually sounded like jwonder.

Don’t get us wrong, we are so thankful we were allowed to make mistakes and learn from them. We recorded our first full-length album only to find that what we got out of it was “how not to make an album”. I guess we really should of listened to the producer and waited but that was the way it went down. Sure, there have been many people we have met that liked that album and Righteous really actually turned out better than we actually sounded as a band. However, without J Steele the Great we would have never ever had that experience and would have never gained anything whether negative or positive.

Also playing with these fellas allowed us to discover the foundation of what is now our sound. The rest of the unearthing came in our cutting the umbilical chord of using studios to craft the final draft of the Jwonder sound. Either way. It is not a situation in which we are bitter. There is just no way that you can get “your sound” in an environment in which there are the lurking limits of time and money.

We weren’t completely ready the 1^st time and although we were more prepared the 2^nd time, we really only captured the peripheral part of our sound but not so much the essence of jwonder. We were prepared the 2nd time as in "ready" to do a good take every time but not a great take that is necessary for doing your best in the studio. As if you are preparing for a live show which is a way different ball of wax from recording. The live environment where rewinding, especially real time rewinding, does not occur. Live is much more of an energy based art form whether it is in the form of a play, a concert or a comedian's set.

We found that you just can't schedule the first drum/full band session without the intent of many follow-ups and listening sessions to ensure that we, the band, come across completely on tape. Sure, any decent producer can mold your sound into something he or she has heard before but this does not resolve the question of what do you sound like and who you are. Once again, time and money are your worst enemies at the local studio on a musician’s budget. You’re control of the most precious process, other than a live performance, is dictated to you.

Sure, I have heard bands that did get a good sound out of the local studio, but they paid a whole hell of lot of money and may have given up part of their soul to do so. (That was a little bit of a joke). And for what, to be eventually exposed for the frauds they are. Another joke.

From the musicians standpoint how could we know going in that this was going to happen and the studio owner deals with green bands who have never really entered the professional world of recording. So studio owners start to come up with short cuts and 1 size-fits-all solutions for these cash strapped deer in the headlights. This may save the producer s money and make the process easier and uniform but that is exactly what its not supposed to do in my humble opinion. Its supposed to be messy, fun, difficult, rewarding and challenging. You give part of yourself to the process. Unfortunately, our “gotta have now” culture and society we exist in is all about image and appearance. Just ask the beat writer David Simon. He will point out the flaws in the reliance on style and so little on substance in our current society. To me this same theory applies to the state of music. I am referring to a lack of substance in the music especially in the mainstream. Of course, I know that style is important when it comes to being musically original. But to many bands, style is not seen as a musical endeavor but rather a physical look or gimmick or fashion they use to "brand" their band.

The process of recording, however, does not need to be completely rethought and we knew this going. Looking at from the perspective of a major label made some sense to us. Major labels many times or at least in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, allowed their artists the time and resources to make a work of art.

These major label artists have access to the studio 24/7 and they don’t leave until its done and done well. So when, at the moment when the practice space was done I knew I had to start recording to have something to do w/ my time. It was time to record. We didn’t have a bass player nor did we anywhere to jam with this imaginary bass player. I spent a good amount of money on visiting other studios, but this time all the money I spent was on equipment that I could use over and over. During our no practice space period I also was helped by Kevin Turner who allowed Dave and I his house for drum recording sessions.

So before we had EJ, we were wood shedding in order to get better at the recording process and without Kevin’s kindness, we would have been up a creek without a paddle. These sessions allowed us to release the ten song demo/album that was the wicked burn. Six songs from this release made up almost half of the songs that were on our latest album, the democratic republic of norFOLK. It was before this album was completed and after the wicked burn was released that we started playing with EJ at our new studio/practice space in the summer of 06’. It was then that EJ recut many of the bass lines on those 6 songs and also contributed to the writing process on a few new songs that in many ways are the prelude to the songs on this album. Those songs, along with US Today, which was co-written with Fern Glass, are the blueprint for our new sound which I was best describe as a rock n roll funk explosion that is peppered with group choruses, jazz based chord changes and some reggae rhythm. It is not much different from the original concept of Jwonder, just more purposeful and powerful. With EJ aboard on bass and vocals and Fern in the role of producer, Jwonder is not recording its first deliberate FunkPunkJazzRock Epic. The lyrical focus of this said epic? The Game, pure and simple. The name of the album is Parley: The Greek Gospel.

Even when I started off just recording in my tiny Ocean View Apartment I didn’t want to only rely on the digital box I purchased to record. I sought out in 2004 good inexpensive tube and analog pre-amps, channel strips and eq’s to assist with making our first record. Since then I have obtained more mics, both solid state and tube as well as plethora of analog and tube gear to craft our sound. We wanted it to sound interesting and warm, something that always didn’t go as plan but in the end the sound was still original. At the start of the recording Fern and Jwonder seemed to be in the same boat. During the time I was recording on my own and with Dave, Fern Glass was perfecting the art of being a complete musician. Parleying his extensive bass fret board knowledge, his creative songwriting style and his unique approach to production he became the equivolent of a GOOD one man band with the use of his digital recorder and his tube equipped keyboard as his mothership. He already had vast experience behind the board while at NSU and during his time with Crab Nebula he produced his band’s album as well as another band’s album. Every time Fern and I hung out during and after the “practice space” years our conversations and shared philosophy were on a crash course for not only collarborating on music and working on the democratic republic of norFOLK but also having him in the chair for the album Parley: The Greek Gospel. All those times while he lived above the practice space listening to our music and hearing the direction we were going in. Many times Fern would challenge me to let him or someone like him, a local musician who knew our music specifically and “got” our approach, should produce, mix, engineer and master the album. I did want to work with Fern and I must thank him for being diligent in his pursuit of this idea. We owe him a lot.

The last thing that I want to make sure is known about our survival and growth into the band is based on Dave Samson’s loyalty and patience with me coupled with the spark of gaining a band member like EJ. Without Dave staying aboard I may have given up a long time ago. He can play his ass off and is always appreciative of the original music. Thanks. EJ is our other new secret weapon and we owe are current state of affairs to him joining the band. He has arranged and written great bass parts for the song as well as written and co-written music on our latest 2 albums. Bringing in EJ has allowed a new perspective on our style.

The new jwonder

(DISCLAIMER...I wish someone other than Fox owned MySpace.)

yes, I would like to state that our band name consist of one word...jwonder. The name comes from a nickname I was given while working 2 jobs when I was younger. Of course it stuck and we have yet to discard yet or shake it yet. In terms of the name having any meaning pertaining to specific members. I can claim the "J" and Dave and EJ are the "wonder". As in its a great wonder why they even play with me still. Thanks guys. Speaking of Jwonder and specifically EJ and Dave. Without those guys the new Jwonder would not be impossible. Dave kept us relevant when all we were was a recording band from 2004 to 2006. He doesn't show up and we don't learn the recording process and become not only self sufficient but also somewhat good at recording our own material. Given that situation I was dying to get myself on a piece of property. Preferably one with a 2 car garage and in May of 06' Eureka! We found the house that fit the bill as the future home of norFUNK RECORDS and Spirit of 76' studios. The place also had a 2 car garage we converted to a studio/practice space.

Since the 4^th of July 2006 EJ (bass/vocals) gave us a second chance in both the studio and live environments. It is in the studio where we are creating a piece of art & not a piece of crap hopefully. Sure, we’ve had our shares of misfires before, but lately we have started to realize our potential and come into a new level of thinking about music. Luckily we have learned that we had to take the whole process into our own hands. Ownership. We take ownership from being there from the start to the end of making this album. We brought in Fern Glass (bassist/songwriter/producer), formerly of Crab Nebula, to put his mark on the album. Fern put his mark on the album by assisting in mixing, engineering and putting together every song with Jwonder. This allowed us to focus on finding the right tone on the album. To really tell a story not just with a standard but good performance of the music and lyrics but rather a unique performance. One that stands out.

See, we believe that music and original music specifically is taking a hit lately and especially music that is album oriented. We see music and the old mechanisms used to get the music to you are all dying slowly and painfully. Just one look at record companies suing 12 year olds for illegally downloading material is evidence of their gasping downfall. Fortunately for us there is some good news. Good in that this new world is so fully digitalized and it is easier for us to afford the mechanisms to record. Now that we have the equipment we can fully craft our music. Not just write and perform the songs but also record them as well. Now that the playing field is level per se for recording, the brave new world of digital recording and the internet also has it downside. Instead of having to buy an album, you can just download the songs you like off the internet. This takes away the chance that just maybe by listening to the whole album you might find that after a few listens that you have a new song as your favorite. This also does not allow the listener to hear the full idea from an artist. “OH, but you can listen to each song before you buy it.” However, sometimes a 20 second snippet does not give you a chance to really digest what the artist is trying to get across to you the listener. Not to mention the many times that a song will grow on you over time as you get tired of the other songs on the album.

This new digital technology also provides the vehicle for the ever growing file sharing orgy happening on the internet. The reduction in the value of music is a painful change especially for those who weren’t getting much per album as is are not getting less. However, for us this is a good thing because we can sell our stuff for less than the major label artists and still make more per album than they do. All we have to do is sure up this Internet album sales thing.

Hopefully you will allow us to present for you the listener our new album Parley: The Greek Gospel. We will do our best to provide you this album at a reasonable download price at around 5 to 6 bucks and a copy of the album in CD form for less than 12 bucks shipping included. For a download that is less than most Apple albums and $11.99 for a cd off the internet delivered to your door is better than most sites. We would love to have our CDs in all the cool little stores all across the country but we're still waiting to hear back from the Lottery.

TO HEAR OUR NEW SOUND...click this link bitch!

A brief hello from Jo Nathan Dudley

HELLO!
Jo Nathan Dudley reporting.
Thank you for stopping by my blog.
Over the next few weeks I will be reporting to you on the state of Jwonder...the band, the idea and the music. However, I understand as Mr. Simon does, that blogs are not as good as getting your news from a qualified news source and thus I will be only reporting on Jwonder and offering opinions on the news of the day and the state of our city, state, country and world.
Talk to you soon.
Jo Nathan Dudley