Grateful Dead

Frankie Knuckles (January 18, 1955 – March 31, 2014) http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/apr/01/frankie-knuckles It won't be the same without you. May your journey through the stars be peaceful.

November 21, 1944 – February 24, 2014.

leaving behind a wife, a young son and two young daughters. He had everything. When you and I hit rock bottom from addiction, it's usually because we've lost our relationships and our material items. With help and time, both of those can be repaired and replaced. Wealthy addicts often hit rock bottom when their heart stops. I wouldn't want to live the Hollywood lifestyle for anything. No, thank you. If you haven't seen "Capote", you're missing a very fine cinematic performance; PSH won an Oscar for Best Actor in 2006, and deservedly so. He was one of my favorites. He was also the right-hand-man of the Big Lebowski. Charlie Rose paid a nice homage to him tonight by replaying clips of interviews from past years. As far as heroin goes, a recent NPR program highlighted the fact that Afghanistan is currently in line to be the world's largest producer of opium.......by far. Far more than anytime in their past. And that's saying something. What it's saying is this: you can't oppress poor people forever; "we will survive, we will get by". When most of the men have been killed by foreign forces and the Taliban, a mother of 5 will be more than willing to grow beautiful flowers for more cash than any possible form of legal employment she could get in a war-torn, 3rd world country. She has a family to provide for (survival): plain and simple. Sometimes we choose to live, sometimes we choose to escape.....old news, but still relevant. PS. There is a fellow whom we all admire who struggled with a similar taste, remember?

I've mentioned elsewhere on this site about the switch from prescription meds to heroin. I actually think this premeditated by the GOD business. The more tolerance people build up, the more they demand higher potency, thus fent rears it's ugly head. Heroin is an epidemic where I live, with all the attendant horror stories. Medical professionals need to get their heads out of their asses and manage people's pain meds. and getting licensed to treat with Suboxone, the only true way to lick this habit for good in a short time without rehab for 30 days. Methedone is no answer. I don't know PSH's personal story. It may have been depression or a death wish.

The story here for me is not only the sad loss of such a great actor, but also the insidious nature of heroin. I've seemingly been hearing way too many stories of tragedy and woe stemming from heroin especially lately. Ace of Spades, Ace of Hearts, Bud Light, Theraflu (all street names), heroin laced with potentially deadly fentanyl that junkies are actively seeking out despite being 80X stronger than morphine; what the hell is going on here?!?

Actor died on the bathroom floor with the spike still in his arm in his East Village apartment at the age of 46. He played small roles in many movies, you may remember him as the long hair in Twister. He is most remembered for his role in the stage play Long Day's Journey into Night. Good part for him.

'THIS MACHINE SURROUNDS HATE AND FORCES IT TO SURRENDER' - inscription on Pete's banjo

Raising consciousness and connecting with working people for a whole lot of years. A great entertainer, too. Last saw him at The Grove in SF in '83(?)

One of the great warriors of our time has passed away. Pete Seeger has joined the heart of gold band. There will never be another like him, passive resistance thru song.

Rest in peace, Pete Seeger. You touched a lot of hearts and changed a lot of lives...