THE A.C.I. NEWSLETTER

from the myspace profile ACIN

I had written up a long essay focusing on society's tendancy to absolutely ignore the problems regarding globalization to the point where the denial can only be considered a psychiatric issue. Instead of posting it I decided to just cover a couple of points that were in it and save the rest for another day.
Within the past few months a major hurricane nearly wiped out an American city. Now that the scenes of carnage are no longer extreme and the sound bits about poor people being used to living in horrible conditions have past so has the public's attention. Just as a car bomb in Jordan or Egypt or Iraq is just another car bomb, just as a school shooting is now just another school shooting, just as another chunk of ice the size of Delaware slipping into the ocean is just another chunk of ice... Where are we going?
In Pakistan an earthquake of epic perportions flattened town after town. There's a good article in Rolling Stone about where the poor people of that nation are. One short passage of the article states "The world watched the corpses pulled out of the rubble, sent a check (maybe) and said its prayers, and mistakenly assumed the worst was past."

Most of that magazine is full of ads, some even interactive, prompting you to purchase a music player through pop-up style promptions. The article after that was in regards to extras on the Star Wars DVD. Even the internet article has ads for a Garth Brooks CD and new video game releases. In that article there is a story about a woman needing transportation to a hospital. The fifty dollars worth of their currency needed to get there was far beyond what she could even imagine obtaining. Another man needed an operation and was given the luxery of Tylonol. He was sure to die and by now has been buried in a mass grave for sure.
The hundreds and hundreds of dollars on the average shopping list (hell, even thousands for some people), money spent on plastic crap for people who will enjoy it for the moment then toss it out or add it into their pack-rat style of possession collection... that money could save many many lives.

I went to Wal-Mart on Buy Nothing Day. The crowd was intense. The way people moved, the way people talked, the speed at which the system was pounding pushed the adrenaline through my veins, and I was only there to watch. I couldn't imagine being one of the people waking up at 4 am to go out on the battlefield of aisles and full parking lots, the muzac interrupted by announcements on how many minutes are left on the next level of sale. Right before I left there was an announcement that one of those major sales was being extended an hour. All the cashiers cheered in an obviously planned gimmick to get more stuff in the carts. It's a drug.

I bought something on Buy Nothing Day later on while at a discount store down the street. I'm letting you know this so you don't think I'm preaching from some high alter saying "Shame on you! You should burn in hell!" I needed a hammer. And while I got the hammer for a house project I saw chocolates in the impulse buy section by the cash register. I bought the chocolates as well. And there was a coffee cup warmer. When I read a book I'll forget about my coffee and it'll often get cold far before I even get a quarter of the way into it.

I rationalize just like the person who says "I need my Hummer" and like the person who says "It's my right to buy tons of plastic crap from Wal-Mart!" This is something we have to work through. An addiction we all have. Buy Nothing Day has come and gone, but you can have your own any day you like. Mine is today, and I might have another tomorrow.

Detox yourself. Spend a dollar to help your less fortunate neighbor, whether he's dying in Pakistan this winter or if he's got no place to go for Christmas dinner.

Be the change you want to see in the world.

Happy Holidays.

-Clay for the ACIN

---------------------------

The sounds of Ironic Music

By Sue-Elaine of Detroit

I wanted to share a little something on the music industry, especially after the last two award shows were aired: the Country Music Association Awards and the American Music Awards.
When Andre Agassi was the hottest tennis player to exist back in the 1990s, he made a Nike commerical. One of the slogans that became sort of a motto for him at the time was: Image is everything. I think that became the company's self-fulfilling prophecy, because these days in the entertainment industry, image is truly everything, especially when it comes to the music.
Why do I choose to focus on the musicians or lack there of good singers and songwriters? Because I'm sorry to say, but it's in baaaaad shape.

Lately, I've seen a lack of originality, and a lack of good quality. Thats unless you count American Idol, but all that's about is trying to find a singer that they can package (which is why its good to see Kelly Clarkston trying to escape that mold and actually writing). All the songs you hear now are happy songs, or songs that say "I love you baby!". And why not? The executives are happy making money and they love the artist for making the money for them.

If you think about, what a lot of these young performers don't realize is that they are being forced against their will by parents, managers, and/or others who are looking to make fast cash and run, to go on every talk show available on the planet and perform non-stop, sometimes against their will. While at the same time, some are told to lose massive amounts of weight or they won't make the real cash. Lindsay Lohan and Hillary Duff are perfect examples of this pressure. When the first started, they looked cute and healthy. Now they look scary and slightly anorexic. Even Mariah Carey, an established singer has been waaaay over exposed and forced to ho herself out to make money by wear a-little-too-over-the-top clothes and mini-skirts. Girl, put some clothes on, you know better than that!

Isn't what im talking about a kind of slave labor, especially in the Wal-mart sweatshop sense?

If you look at what's being put out today, its like the same song and the same singer in a different skin. Sometimes its a matter of looking like the performer who just sung about 15 minutes ago on an awards show (ala Lindsey Lohan, Britney Spears, and Hillary Duff). A lot of rappers are talking about drinking or having sex with the first ho that gives them a lap dance and says yes. Its not about what's truly going on in the world anymore. Its about dancing and saying, "Hey look at me!" Its truly pure narcisstic egotism.

Sure, we all want to forget our problems every once in a while, but we can't run away from the real issues or the reality we face each and every day of our lives. You have to face the reality of being poor, homeless, the war, abuse, and the environment some time in your life and take action to help solve those problems instead of bitching and moaning and not taking action about it.

At least you have some musicians who are or have become activists within the last few years like U2, Neal Young, Ludacris, and Bon Jovi. They not only know the meaning of making good music, but also backing up their actions for the cause they care about. Those are artists I truly respect. You know what else? These are also THE musicans that are really putting butts in the seats when they go out on tour, not the Jesse McCarthy's of the world.

Even home-grown country music has fallen prey to this morbid mainstreaming (and thats a scary thought in itself). When I was watching the Country Music Awards, I found them trying desperately to reach an audience and slowly start to morph into something they are not. That's because the sales of this particular genre are falling.

Quite honestly, there are a lot of hardcore songwriters (which makes it unique). I also don't mind the duets with the rock performers singing the same song with a country artist.

Crossroads on CMT has done a great job with that, and those duets are composed of hardcore, good, long-lasting musicians. I also dont mind mixing styles of genres, such as Sugarland with country-hard rock or Dierks Bentley with his country-alternative sound. They also dont have that typical "country look" that you expect to see from the popular mainstream artists in this category. They are trying to be themselves and have a style all their own.

What I do mind in regards to the country music establishment is the award show airing live in New York City, and also getting "has-been" but also established artists on the stage to try and prove that country is alive and and that country has credibility.

Duh, it always has.

What made their awards shows unique was the original sound, live performances, and that down-home personal feel. Thank god the awards show will be back in Nashville next year, because thats the roots of the music.

You see, there will always be people who are going to buy a specific genre of records like metal, alternative, or country music, but generally if the artists remain true to themselves and their song writing. I gurantee that most people do not like artists who buck under the systematic establishment to churn something that gives them an image of something that looks plastic and fake like a country artist lip syncing their own songs. I thought lip-syncing was banned from an awards show with I last checked.

At the same time, even if the artist is original, different, new, and they gain absolute popularity in a heartbeat, that image will be overexposed and tarnish pretty quickly. That slave labor idea I mentioned earlier will be guranteed under no circumstances. These are the folks who buckle under that pressure to fit in, and sometimes become drug addicts or alcoholics because of that pressure to conform and censor themselves for the establishment.

Thats the key reason why you see many established artists so pissed off and outspoken these days. They don't feel credited. They also feel shunned and disrespected or are shunned and disrespected without them knowing it, until its too late and pointed out to them.

Look at the Rolling Stones on the AMAs for example. Established artists, good songwriting, and just all around good musicans. Yet as much as their performance was a promoted at least a week leading up to the award show, their peformance was cut off and we are whisked away into commericals while they are STILL PERFORMING! Then when the commericals are over, its now onto the next item on the program. Thats truly disrepect!

Why do you think artists like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kid Rock, Prince, Eminem, and Tupac have gotten some credit, but not real credit they deserve sometimes? It's because they write real songs. It's also why they cross some generational boundaries. They truly respect the elders of the industry, AND they are not afraid to be who they are, and flash the middle finger to people to those who try to change them.

Personally, I like those singers and also underground or indie artists, especially if it's musicans that I happen to know and are making music for the pure enjoyment of it, or because they feel its their calling in life. Myspace.com is full of them, but if they want me to add them as a friend, they gotta make good indie music, and not B-movie rip-off sounds or images.
I've got a couple artists as my myspace friends that I really like because they write great songs and they have a great ear for music:

Harrisen, a Korean-born singer is playing in small places right now around the United States and tours alot. His songs are strong, powerful, and emotional. He sounds like an established artist and one that should be seen on MTV or other performance-based shows, but he's not. Why? Because he doesnt exactly fit the "image-that-will-sell".

There is also the group the Paybacks, which was founded by my cousin Marco, and has changed band members alot, however lead-singer Wendy Case has a kick-ass voice, and the songwriting strikes to the core of the garage band/punk sound. This group has gotten minimal exposure in Entertainment Weekly, and a song of theirs "Hollywood" appeared on last year's Oscar preview show on ABC. However, not many people are running out and putting their posters on the walls...at least not much nationally, but a lot locally.

We shouldn't feel so bad in our country, however. I've been inside South Korea to see that this overexposure and workaholism idea to make profit and fame exists there as well, but on a more extreme level. Take popular Korean singer Kangta, as an example. Every other cell phone store plays his music every top of the hour, every day, over and over and over again, until he makes a new single and video. Some of these singers have buckled under the pressure to be perfect in sound, voice, looks, and attitude. Eventually, singers like Kangta become robots until they can't take it any longer, change to a wilder image so the population doesnt care for them anymore, and move on in their life. Some of the Korean female artists end up in reported sex scandals because of management pressure and promises of big fame and fortune. It's not only embarassing for the singer, but shameful that an industry could elevate to this level of sneakiness and blackmail.

Like television that had its Reality T.V. fad curse and lack of good screenwriters, the music is in a bimbo/himbo image phase and lacks good singing and songwriting. I know that hump will change, and it should.

These days regular scripted television is coming out with fantastic new shows like Desperate Housewives and LOST, or edgier updates of Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Reality T.V. is slowly fading into oblivion (unless a few choice celebrites are involved, and its always fun to see them make fools of themselves).

The music industry will and is following this same path. It's just a matter of time until we hear more established speakers speak out, and better songwriters come into gear.

-------------------------------------

(Untitled) by John Henry

Lately I have been looking at the power a social movement can wield, and power can be a scary thing. It can be good or bad. Actually, at one stage or another in the lifespan of said movement; it is both. Labor Unions were an absolute necessity back in Samuel Gompers day, [Look him up] and the concept of organized labor groups is still needed at times, but when said group becomes so powerful it forces change to benefit only its membership, and the hell with the rest of mankind, then it is time to start looking for the expiration date. All of us can think of businesses we would like to see unionized. I won’t start naming names or this article will become way too long. I am not in the mood to wander off on Soapbox Ruminations anyway. We can also see unions that need to go away.

Social Movements are not that different from unions.

Social Movements are born out of need, just as unions usually are. However is it right for that movement’s agenda to inhibit the right’s and needs of others just for its own good? Green Peace has done many good things for those of us living on this planet. Of that I will agree. There are many things they have done of which I do not.

Case in point. Several years ago I was posted at a naval station in the Pacific Northwest that came under fire by the above mentioned special interest group. They had discovered we were about to integrate the use of dolphins in our routine operations, and the proverbial shit-hit-the-fan. It didn’t matter we were using them in a peaceful fashion, as had been done for several decades. No, in their opinion, we were horribly mistreating them. We could not divulge to the public as to what the dolphins were being used for, but let me pose this to you, the reader. Do any of you have a pet that is also your protector? Do you not love and care for said pet? If injured or sick, do you leave it to hopefully heal itself? Do you neglect its nutrition? I think not. We ended up having to discontinue the program after we received international exposure. I personally preferred the company of the dolphin to many humans. Far more interesting, far more fun.

Are you starting to see the picture?

They fired up their zealotic engines with a fervor that was unreal to see, let alone experience. They tried to block entry to the naval base. No big deal. They followed us when we left the base. A bigger deal. They were starting to invade my privacy, not knowing what I did for a living, just assuming that I was one of the Evil Ones. There was more, but the straw that broke the camel’s back was when my children came home upset and crying because the parents of their classmates had told them to ignore my children because their daddy was a bad man. Some teachers even treated my children scornfully. They were using children as a form of Moralistic Terrorism.

That type of action is wrong, wrong, wrong! Even today I feel myself getting steamed. I also saw the result of Green Peace activists hammering spikes into trees. Their aim was to keep loggers from encroaching on the habitat of the Spotted Owl. Their result was to damage the trees and cause injury to the unfourtunate logger who had the razor sharp chain come flying toward a body part as a result of hitting the spike.

I guess murder and mayhem is condonable. The logger had no right to make a living, and feed his family, even if his employer was involved in reforestation.

We here at ACIN are a social movement in its infancy, and I personally think this is a good thing, but if we are to become a viable voice, then both sides of the coin must be analyzed.

McDuff, hold me back because I’m taking off the gloves!

One of the cancers eating up our way of life, here in America, is the two party systems. We will not be able to survive unless this changes. The Republicans and Democrats fight one another for power, and we all become losers as a result. I listen to Air America, which is a largely Democrat oriented broadcast, but I do not listen to it exclusively. I listen to other venues as well. I even listen to Limbaugh until I become so nauseated I have to find some classical music to calm me down. I don’t personally care for McDonald’s, but they contribute millions each year to support something I passionately care about; Children’s Hospitals. I still can’t find anything good to say about EXXON, but I will keep looking. I don’t care for war, and there are aspects of what is going on in Iraq, but I will not hesitate to take up arms against anyone who threatens the safety of my friends and loved ones.

Power is a giant see-saw, one side goes up; one side goes down. Power is a coin. It has two sides. We need the pros and cons. We need evil so we will know what good is.

I am not a Republican, nor am I a Democrat. I never voted straight ticket in my life. I am a meat eater, I always will be. I don’t knock those who don’t eat meat.

It is all about individual rights and freedoms. Thinking can bring about action and action can bring about change. How that change affects others is the most important thing. Are you willing to go through life looking at only one side of the coin? Are your beliefs the only ones that are correct? Are you in such a hurry to get up on your soapbox that you ignore how it will affect the rights and freedoms of others?

I don’t expect, nor do I desire everyone to see things as I do. I personally love a pastoral view of life far more than the attraction of huge steel and glass towers; however I do enjoy the cultural advantages found in visiting the city.

I hope I shall always be able to look at both sides of the coin. It shows me the path to the center, to harmony.

------------------


Again, happy holidays from everyone here at the ACIN.