Grateful Dead

Hey Direwulf, interesting post. Can you identify any communist country that hasn't devolved into totalitarianism? I can't think of any, which is why is appears to me that communism and socialism are doomed to devolve into totalitarianism. Totalitarianism is a feature of these systems, not a bug. Not trying to stir things up, but you obviously want to discuss this futher, so why not? I feel like we can be civil and still disagree.

Do you remember So Far that came out in 87 on VHS? I just watched this again on Amazon prime recently. So great, 50 minutes of sound check and concert footage from 85 and they sound great. I remember watching this at my buddies house in 87 and always wondered what happened to this one. Jerry looks so different in this footage then he looked like in 87. If you have never seen it or haven't seen it in over 30 years like me, check it out.
How is this box selling? I bought on in the first day.

Woodstock and Vietnam conflict, I think most people's concern with the labeling of all poorly governed countries as "communist" is because the fact is they arent actually communist but financially corrupt totalitarian oligarchic regimes, with sprinklings of other suppressive systems of governance. Right wingers like to simplify arguments and therefore label all countries "communist" and then if you dont like America you're "communist". Its a catch all term to lump anything deemed "unpatriotic" by right leaning citizens, they then use it to negatively identify and label anyone they value to be a "lesser American and a communist. " Unfortunately, these tactics never disappeared and are out in full force today with revised tactics. Also many citizens do not support wars the US participated in after WW2 because they became political wars instead under the disguise of American values. The military prior to the end of WW2 was like a sheathed sword, always kept ready for conflict. After WW2, the military became a cheap switchblade to pull out and hold against other US citizens whose "perceived" lack of support became a litmus test for patriotism and citizenship...disgusting. That's why there is so much fervent military worship and why they choose to tie it so intrinsically with the NFL, its indoctrination and repurposing of the military war machine for political purposes. It's been happening since the 50s and it's a natural step on the way to true fascism. And to me that is a much more realistic and dangerous word than communist.

The military is a vital and important part of our history but it is not anywhere in the definition of the word patriot, American, or citizen, and it is not what defines this country. It is what keeps it safe so it's citizens can define themselves, whether others like it or not, that's the whole point...freedom to live, choose your own path, and make your own choices...supposedly.

Yes, that is quite grim. It must be what all Dead music sounds like to those that don't like them. To me, the best Lovelight's clock in at around the 15 minute mark, which includes the ones from whenever they first played it, to about March 1969-and then those great few versions played during Europe 72.

Interesting listening to Woodstock again. Its surprising, in a way, that given that it was apparently something of a mass acid test, very little of the music actually sound psychedelic. The bands I have most enjoyed listening to over the last few days, that I had forgotten about a bit, are Jefferson Airplane, Sly and the Family Stone and (look away now) Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Jim's comment about the fading new car smell of 31 got me wondering what 32 might be, but then I wondered, when are we getting a look at this box? I for one am really curious about the size and layout, particularly since I am essentially out of shelf space for boxes and cd's. Given that the box is focused on Giant Stadium, I have a minor worry that someone might think a truly giant box would be just the thing. I'm also a little concerned, because when I commented to my wife that I was running out of shelf space for box sets and cd's again, she had sort of a negative vibe when she suggested that it would not be cool if a new box set were to remain on the coffee table in the living room indefinitely. It seems like she may have made this same point previously when I was trying to figure out how to fit the PNW box on the remaining shelf space;)

The show Sunny in Philadelphia did an entire episode based on the premise of the gang trying to top Wade Boggs' record for drinking beers on a cross country flight. Good show, clever low-brow humor and I kind of dig that kind of comedy. Not for everyone I suspect, but what is?

all this airline talk....I can't help but think about the George Carlin bit where he mentions being stuck on a plane next to a guy in a Grateful Dead t-shirt who's "working on his 9th little bottle of Kahlua!" Ha! I'm afraid I missed out on those good old days. I had a fear of flying most my life and didn't start flying till after 9/11. Sounds like I missed a lot of fun. On the other hand, I have some good memories of cross country Amtrak rides with a backpack of my own provisions, including my walkman and Europe 72 bootleg cassettes. Hopefully, the trains are still a bit lenient about such things.

I finally gave the Palladium 4/30/77 (Download Series) a close listen today. Amazing show. It's really hopeless picking favorites from the Spring 77 tour!

Alvarhonso..

I listened to the same portion of 30 today doing some woodwork in the heat this afternoon. I had almost the exact same thoughts. I had a long drive this morning that got me through discs one and two, and finished the rest fine-tuning some cherry trim that hopefully will be in my kitchen by weeks end. What a great release.

Not so weird I guess.. it's the best part of that release and it doesn't really let up until the end of the bonus disc. Still, a bit serendipitous. I keep listening to Dave's 5, 13 and 30 to see which one I like best. Gives me something to do. 29 was stupendous, but I really do like the unpredictability and surprises of the earlier years. White Rabbit. :D

For our fellow sparing partners out there, let it go.

Exercise your 1st amendment right to protest a questionable war.....patriot. Make propaganda films and speeches in the enemy territory......TRAITOR. You're welcome to believe what you want jr. but she said and did the above without question.
Oh yeah it's hip to believe the lies. Here's some more truth for you. Fonda wasn't against the war , she was a communist in favour of the communists winning. Proof? 1977 after the communists did to their people that we said they would Joan Baez a true antiwar pacifist decried what they were doing to their people. Fonda, Dellinger et al called her a CIA dupe.
As I said in this country you have a right to believe what you want. So Uncle Ho was an agrarian reformer, Mao had all the answers in that little red book. Even though he was responsible for over 60,000,000 deaths of his own people. And of course the height of the new citizen Pol Pot. How many communist countries have you been to

Wade Boggs would drink Hunter S. Thompson under the food tray on a normal cross country flight.

https://youtu.be/75Gx8OmO9Rk

He later admitted his record was 107, in the above video he's a bit more cagey about it.

Dave's 30 is pretty damn outstanding on a third listen. The Feelin' Groovy> Soulful Strut portion of Dark Star is just fantastic, and the whole quiet jam that precedes is just beautiful. I started out listening to the Dancing, and went back around to the beginning on the USB.