Grateful Dead

I think the JBP passing puts it in perspective. No one really cares about the endless Era Debate anyway.

"Defensiveness often reveals an area of our lives where we're in denial." - Kyle Idleman "Defensiveness is usually someone silently screaming that they need you to value and respect them." - Sharon Alder "My defensiveness in life really helps me as a driver." - Larry David

Hallucinations: Last Wed. I got up early to see what all the fuss was with the super/full/blood/eclipsed moon or whatever it was. I was out on my front porch drinking some strong coffee in the dark. As I looked West, I found the sinking full moon. Over the next 15 minutes or so, the eclipse hit just right. As I looked through a couple of oak trees, the moon appeared as a SYF. It was actually a pretty nice hallucination as the crickety thin branches formed crows feet lines around the eyes and a mouth. Some times, it does pay to actually wake up. This is all a dream we dreamed...row row row your boat! G

I usually end up telling this almost annually if not more often, because of the smear campaign from the "clique"....just for some context. Lengthy post ahead... Prior to the announcement of the second Spring '90 box, I had been actively advocating for Dave to fulfil the promise of era diversity of picks in the Dave's Picks series, as per originally advertised with the flashing dates from their entire career. After the first several picks came out, and every one of them from the same general time frame in the 70's with one lone exception from the 60's, my advocacy became more of a tone of disappointment. Around this time I became hit with financial difficulties (medical related actually, plus loss of job at same time). I even hit a point where I became homeless for a couple of months (I haven't told that part of the story here, so this is the first time mentioning my personal affairs here). I knew there was no way I would going to be able to afford any luxuries for a while, but did have the subscription. This is when the S'90 (TOO) box announcement dropped. My frustration and disappointment at the lack of variety in the Dave's Picks series was compounded by the fact that they were finally releasing something I was truly interested in, but it wasn't inexpensive, so was priced out of it. With the track record of previous limited edition box sets like FW '69, the two Winterland boxes, E'72, the 1st S'90 box, most of which I missed out on at the time, knew it would sell out before I could afford one. I expressed frustration and disappointment that fans of later era's had to shell out larger sums of money than a subscription or ala carte. This is when jrf68 totally dstepped-up and surprised me by offering to help me get a S'90 (TOO). I was hesitant to accept, as I've never had a complete stranger offer me something, I thought would be too good to be true, so initially leaned towards declining the offer. I also wasn't very keen about giving personal information to a random person online I've never met. After a couple of days of sitting on that, I had recieved a bunch of personal messages urging me to take him up on his offer. Jrf68, being the true gentleman and brother he is, in a true selfless act of generosity, facilitated some kind of crowdfunding effort to get me a box. I had no idea to what extant he did this, or even who all donated. I wasn't "in the know" of how he was going about this and with whom. All I know is several people stepped up, and I continue to thank them and express my gratitude for his and their generosity, as I have on many of these threads for the last 5 years. Jrf68 offered with no strings attached or expectations to have to repay him, though I've offered on to purchase releases for him as compensation, yet he so far has declined to accept (or already had them on order). A true act of class from one of the coolest people I've never even had the pleasure to meet in person. He truly personifies the spirit of what being a Deadhead is supposed to be. Kind and generous, even to complete strangers. The unfortunate thing is, jrf68 was attacked by the "clique" for helping me out. While they have since held resentment towards me for expressing my opinions, personal tastes and criticisms of the pick choices, as well as being miracled a S'90 box with no strings attached, their treatment of him is inexcuseable. This probably won't be the last time I have to explain myself and this story, unfortunately. Some people, who more often than not get what they selfishly desire, harbour resentment towards those they disagree with for catching a break, like being miracled a box set (one that I neither solicited to get, or asked for....it was offered freely....and I hesitantly accepted at the urging of others). It's always been clear to me that some who harbor resentment towards me for expressing my desire to see more 80's releases in the Dave's Picks series, have used the miracle box was part of an agenda to shut me down. My final point of this post is directed at AJS.... You've been an asshole to me for years. You say you put in $20 towards the box jrf68, yet turned around and attacked him for helping me out and attacked me for recieving it. After treating me like shit, you turn around and attack me for not handing you money for crowdfunding for other people (did those people even ever get their boxes you crowdfunded for? I haven't seen any mention of them recieving them anywhere since). Why would I hand over a single dime to somebody I've never met, who for years has been spiteful, rude and mean to me? There's a reason I blocked you from sending me pm's. I even felt the need to bring your last pm to me to the attention of MaryE. You definitely don't want me to publicly share that message that I blocked you over. My suggestion is...get over it....move on. If my expressing the advocacy of more 80's releases, expressing opinions of 80's shows and criticisms of not following through on advertised promises of variety in the Dave's Picks series bothers you so much, that's your problem. I've even reached out on multiple occasions to find a way to put our differences aside, yet you refuse. Oh well.... Ostracizing is as against the spirit of the Grateful dead as it gets.

I think you are confusing him with Bob Bralove.... "I just read that John has died. 70 years old. This is a hard pill to swallow and it will take me weeks to process this. Condolences to all who knew him and worked with him, to his family and to Bobby, I just don't have the words, like he did, to explain this feeling. One of the great Dead lyricist and no one will ever replace him. His work on Infrared Roses (one of the best "space exploration" dead lp's out there) was nothing short of genius. Second Sight was a great band and one I wish I had seen before they disappeared like the wind. 70 years old. Think about it, we all know our time is short on this blue ball, so make every moment count, you never know when the reaper will come for you. Thank you John, say hello to Bear and Jerry in that tye dyed part of heaven that I hope I get to visit. Vaya con dios my friend."

Well said, Unkle Sam. I am also sorry if I have made people angry in the past by going on about what I like and what I don't like. We all have more in common that we have differences. Its a shame we can't always seem to debate things without resorting to personal attacks. Liking the Dead, maybe especially in England, is quite a specialist interest, so we may not have the opportunity to discuss things concerning the band anywhere else but on here. A couple of weeks ago, I was listening to shows from March and April 1972 . Then I switched track, and started listening to shows from 1982. A fascinating study in contrasts-but not one I can discuss with the next door neighbour. Or on here it seems-it has become such a loaded topic. Maybe even saying this is provocative-but I hope not-its meant well.

A lot of people are "signing up" for the "digital petition" to get 6/10/73 released (along with 6/9). I think even cooler than having the music released, would be if we truly all bonded together to get our voices heard and our online family recognized. I think it would be awesome if, along with this release, Dave mentioned us in the Seaside Chat and maybe even the liner notes. Nothing is impossible, and I have had email responses from DL himself in the past. 1973 is in Dave's "wheelhouse" and 6/10 is a very high demand show, from a period during the year where we haven't had a release - so I really believe, if ever there is a chance that the online community's vote could sway the tides, this is it. Why not, right? http://www.dead.net/show/june-10-1973 Just put RELEASE as the subject and I'LL BUY IT in the comment section. Jack Baller voted as I'm writing this - that's 40! "I'll ride the wave where it takes me...."

Thanks, man. That made my morning, and will definitely keep me chuckling throughout the day.

.... on the same thought vein, I had a customer in one night and asked if he'd like a "FREE" lighter. His reply, "what type?" I looked at him for a moment and said "a fuckin' free one!"

Pretty impressive to look at. This is just what he did with the Dead: Mexicali Blues Cassidy Looks Like Rain Walk in the Sunshine Black-Throated Wind Let It Grow (Weather Report II) Finance Blues The Music Never Stopped Lazy Lightnin' Estimated Prophet Heaven Help the Fool I Need a Miracle Easy to Love You Saint of Circumstance Lost Sailor Feel Like A Stranger My Brother Essau Throwing Stones Hell in a Bucket Gentlemen, Start Your Engines I Will Take You Home Picasso Moon We Can Run But We Can't HIde Blow Away A Little Light