KERNOW SKIVERS - 100 YEARS AGO THEY WUD HAVE BEEN DOWN THE MINE - NOW THE CAPTAIN, LEROY, HAS TO FINISH ORF THE JOB! 

Who are you?

Follow the link - answer all 45 - Link: http://similarminds.com/movie.html

Gord an dunnit

Oh no! Another earthquake off Indonesia.

They are hoping no Tsunami but already hundreds are dead - under the wreckage. Go to WWW.oxfam.org.uk in the morning - Vera and me will be there.
God Please Help Them

Every credit to Steve from Kernow- will someone summarise what he is saying- are men or women the superior X

The Joy Of X.

The defining difference between women and men lies within our chromosomes. To be precise, women have two copies of the "X" chromosome, while men have one X and one Y chromosome. Reports in the latest issue of the journal Nature describe the sequencing and analysis of the X chromosome. The results shed more light on the secrets of the sexiest and most mysterious of all the chromosomes.

Our DNA is packaged into compact bunches, chromosomes, enabling the precise segregation of genetic information when cells divide to give rise to two daughter cells and allows the successful passage of genetic information to daughter or son. Our chromosomes, one from our mother and one from our father, are orchestrated into pairs during meiosis, cell division in preparation for sexual reproduction. We have 23 pairs of chromosomes and one of each pair will be inherited by our children. 22 of the pairs are virtually identical and are called autosomes. One pair differs quite dramatically. Women have a pair of almost identical "X" chromosomes, while men have one X and one Y.



Above is what's known as a karyotype, a collection of one person's (in this case a man's) chromosomes arranged on a grid. The chromosomes are "painted" with fluorescent probes which recognize and stick to particular DNA sequences. The fluorescence pattern shows the near identical nature of each chromosome, one from each parent, in the autosomal pairs ( 1 through 22). The near identity reflects the presence of almost identical genes in the same position on each chromosome; the two corresponding genes on the chromosome pair are called alleles. During meiosis, an event called recombination takes place in which adjacent autosomes exchange pieces of chromosome between one another. Since the pairs are so similar, and since recombination occurs at the same positions on the chromosomes, there is usually little change in the genetic composition of the chromosomes. However, the little change that does occur contributes to genetic diversity, which is essential for the survival and evolution of species.
We can clearly see that X and Y are the odd couple of the karyotype. A woman's karyotype would show two almost identical X chromosomes, however, the male karyotype above reveals an X that is painted differently and is much larger than the Y, which looks like it could use some help from the drug discussed in a previous post. Why are the X and the Y so different?

The Evolution of X.
About 300 million years ago, the ancestors of the X and the Y were probably another autosomal pair. As mammals started to evolve, the X and the Y started to develop their own identities, forming the basis of gender determination; they became the sex chromosomes. Over the course of the next 300 million years, the Y gradually shed many of the genes that were also present on the X, since both females and males had at least one copy of the X. On the other hand, the X kept most of its genes and probably added some, the result being that it now has about 1,100 genes along its length, while the Y has less than 200. As the X and the Y diverged, they began to share their genetic information through recombination less and less, the result being that they now have very few genes in common. There is a small region of commonality, called the pseudoautosomal region, where they can recombine, Since this region is probably essential for pairing during meiosis, it is likely that the divergence between the X and the Y has gone as far as it will go.
One consequence of the X and the Y not switching genetic information through evolution has been that the X has probably been subject to different evolutionary selection pressures than all the other chromosomes. Genetic diversity, as mentioned above, is fostered by recombination between parental chromosomes during meiosis. The X can not do this and so is, in a sense, stuck with what its got. However, because males only possess one copy of the X, any change in the X, by rare recombination or mutation events, will be completely exposed and not masked by a normal allele on the other X. Because males had the ability to foster multiple offspring with multiple partners, any change in the X "for the better" would have prospered over those changes "for the worse". It is quite likely, therefore that a certain category of beneficial genes may have been evolutionarily selected for on the X in a way that they might not have been on other chromosomes. I'll discuss what this category might be at the end.

The Consequences of X.
More than a hundred years ago it was recognized that certain hereditary diseases that were expressed early in life were far more prevalent in boys than girls. Since then a large number of hereditary diseases have been found to be "X-linked", including certain forms of hemophilia and muscular dystrophy, and a wide range of mental impairment disorders, the most common of which is Fragile X Syndrome. The X-linked disorders arise from inherited mutations in genes on the X that result in the production of defective protein products from these genes. These mutations are recessive, that is, in the presence of a normal allele, the normal protein produced from this allele overcomes the effect of the mutation. Therefore girls with one recessive X allele are disease-free, since there is always a normal allele on the other X (it's actually a bit more complicated, as we'll see). Of course boys don't have the protection of the normal X and will develop the disease; girls generally inherit an X-linked disease in the rare event of a "carrier" mother having sex with a father with the disease.

The Silencing of X.
You may have been asking yourself (if you weren't, pay attention, dammit!); "If women have two copies of the X and men have just one, does that mean that women produce twice as much of X-coded proteins as men? Can this account for the obvious differences between the sexes?" Well, if both X chromosomes were active, the answer to the first question would be yes. Gene dosage, in other words the number of active alleles, generally correlates with gene product (protein) levels. However, early in embryonic development females randomly inactivate one of their X chromosomes, leaving only one active. X-inactivation is initiated by one of the genes on the X itself, which produces an RNA molecule called XIST. The XIST molecule randomly sticks to one, and only one, of the X chromosomes and this triggers a chemical modification of the DNA in that particular X which prevents it from coding for protein production. The modification is permanent and is passed on to all successive generations of cells. The result is that women are a mixture of cells in which some cells have one X, and other cells the other X, inactivated. This mosaic explains why girls usually escape X-linked disease, even in the face of X-inactivation; while some cells have an active recessive, "bad" gene, others have an active normal gene. This is apparently sufficient to protect against the disease phenotype.

The Sequencing of X.
A large consortium of scientists reported the complete sequencing of the X chromosome in the March 18th issue of Nature. Although there were no major surprises in the sequence, they were able to gather some important information. It has been thought that genes on the X play little role in the control of cell growth, and therefore in proliferative diseases like cancer. However, the consortium found that a surprisingly high number of X genes code for so-called cancer related antigens. These are proteins normally expressed only in the testis in healthy individuals (whether this is an ironic coincidence or has some meaning is not known) but are also expressed in tumors. Although they probably don't play a role in cancer progression, they have been regarded as good targets for anti-cancer vaccines. It will be important to find out why they are clustered on the X.
In another paper in the same issue of Nature, researchers from Penn State and Duke examined more closely the efficiency of X-inactivation. When an inactivated X chromosome is transferred from a human cell to a mouse cell in the laboratory it remains inactivated. Using this knowledge, Carrel and Willard devised an experiment to find out whether any X-linked genes might escape inactivation. They found that a surprising 15% of all genes repeatedly remain active on a silenced X, and that another 10% sometimes escape inactivation to variable levels. This means that 15-25% of X-linked genes are more active in women than in men, a finding that may have profound implications in terms of our understanding of inherent differences between the sexes. This is a subject that has always been hotly debated, even more so in recent weeks, following controversial comments from the president of Harvard University, suggesting that women are innately less equipped, on average, to do well in the fields of science and mathematics*. Moreover, the 10% of variably inactivated X genes suggests an unexpected diversity in the female population that can not be present in the male population. (Remember, in an evolutionary sense, genetic diversity is a good thing .....).

The Secret of X.
It has become clear in recent years that the X, once regarded as somewhat dull, is the most unique and intriguing of the chromosomes. It, along with the Y, determines an individuals sex, it is the only chromosome to inactivate one of its copies, variants among its genes are responsible for a significant number of hereditary diseases, and now it seems it may play unexpected roles in other diseases and in genetic diversity between and within the sexes. All of these features notwithstanding, however, the X may hide an even greater secret.
The first clue that the X may harbor more than its share of genes involved in higher brain function came from the realization that a large number of X-linked diseases cause mental impairment, far more than those associated with other chromosomes. More circumstantial evidence has come from studies of identical twins. Identical twin girls inherit one X from their mother and one from their father, however, one of these is randomly inactivated. Moreover, as mentioned above, there seems to be variable expression of ~10% of genes from the inactivated X. Identical twin boys, on the other hand, have just the one X from their mother. Therefore, variations in behavior that are observed in twin girls, but not twin boys would be expected to involve X-linked genes. It was found in a large survey of identical twins that attributes linked to intelligence, such as verbal skills and social behavior, were more variable between identical twin girls than twin boys, pointing to a link between the X and intelligence traits.
As discussed above, the X has evolved in a unique manner. At some point in evolution, increased intelligence probably became the primary motivator for survival and it has been suggested that early in evolution females became more attracted to "more intelligent" males. As a result, it is likely that genes associated with intelligence and cognition co-evolved and became selectively clustered on the X.
So, it may well be that the X harbors many of the genes that separate us from our closest animal relatives. The genes that enable us to appreciate the genius of Mozart or Bowie, or to wonder at the beauty of a sunset over the Pacific or a meadow of desert flowers in the morning light, or to carry out the mass deception and destruction of our own kind.

Is it possible that the X acts as the genomic guardian of humanity? If so, how ironic would it be that women, who in many of the world's societies are denied the same privileges and freedoms enjoyed by men, have two copies of the X to man's one?

Gordon Confusious

Made 13 Quid today at Hatherhleigh

had some laughs though - who care about money - laughter and the crack is what life is all about!
Happy Gordon.

Hatherleigh boot market tomorrow 1300 - 1600 -

drive carefully. I am the man - all the jewels 50p!

Who said I was a mean Chancellor - and no VAT!

Malty Gord.

Kernow history lesson - Roy the Boy is Leroy Waka and

Jethro is Jeff Roe. Here endeth the first lesson!

Gordon Praying, that the runt upstairs will stop *hagging Cherie and close the noise down or I will get an ASBO served on the little turd!

Tired Gord.

MOTD - Gunnislake 5 St. Austell 0 - left click to enlarge the pickies!

ignore the World Cup this is proper football - ne money just sheer enjoyment!

Gordon Brewing.

Netting the salmon! 

Five Nil. 

However the Director of Coaching and his Assistant remain confident! 

The board of directors look worried! 

Wakey Wakey! 

Take me orf manager I'm Knackered! 

Grand little mover! 

The God of the Tamar Valley says, "Well done boys" 

Beat that for a stadium - New Wembley! 

Who's exposing their back parts? 

Opportunity missed! 

Where's that to? 

Lambent Beauty

Answer on Easter Monday.
Gordon Brown.

Left click please!

Hush blue moon! My valley sleepeth.

An Engishman, A Welshman, A Scot, a yank, An Irishman and A man from Kernow are sitting in a pub -

They are allowed one word only:-

1. The Weshman says "leeks" and rushes to the loo.

2. The Scot says, "jock" and straps orf.

3. The Englishman says "snob" , and the rest agree.

4. The American says, "gun" , and proceeds to kill the taffy, the snob and the jock.

5. The Irishman picks up the yank and throws him all the way back to the Us of A - he lands in a native ameican reservation - his punishment - to be blinked to the tele for the rest of his life - watching the Simpsons.

6. The Kernowman and the Irishman have anothe pint and walk home hand in hand with a lovely lady called dignity.

Gordon Brownie

Bad Friday. Christ was crucified on this day -

to rid man of sin. But Blair and Bush continue to murder in his name. When they meet thier maker - whoever she/he is I am sure that they will be sent to burn in hell.

Angry Gord on a sacred day.

If

1. You could plant beetroot seeds tomorrow or do something else - what will you do?

2. In your mall Elvis or Ochs' said "Hi" which one would you recognise?

3. You are starving tonight would you contact www.oxfafm.org.uk or George Bush?

4. You were Judge Dread, and you were innocent what would you plead?

5. You could pick one player anywhere in the world to play for Birmingham City F.C.
who would it be - MJ is excluded from any answers = by SK's orders. But the answer may be at www.birminghamcity-mad.co.uk

Gordon Brewing

Drink beer, whiskey or bourbon but not water -

fish fuck in it!
Groucho Marx

Teeeee Gord _ see I do have a sense of humour!

It's all out WAR

Europe V the US of Arseholes . Our dirt dumped itself on your shores rejects from a nation with history. Feck off America. Perverts, killers, and terrorists.
Name and address supplied - but you can't BEAT ME -YOU CAN KILL ME - BUT YOU CAN'T DEFEat ME. TOSSERS - RUN FOR YOUR WESSONS OR YOUR KALASHNIKOV'S.
CLEVERER THEN YOU - TAKE ME ON FULL FRONTAL - bush and blair are roosters - know what I mean Margaret!
Outgoraged

War criminals - Blair and Bush! Stick em in prison.

A real test for the International Criminal Court in the Hauge ( money passing hands as I write) - their war was illegal, therefore BANG EM UP with MILOSOSVICH,HITLER AND STALIN. Thousands of people's blood are on their hands.

Will they be up to it - I think not - they are not Slavs or Germans.

Bent world gord!

Classic car. 

Blues stick one up the Villa. 

Kernowdoc - I am ill!

I have severe lower abdominal pain! Kernowdoc advise drink two pints of beer between now and 0030 and if the pain does not go away ring them - if it hasn't it's a cafferta. !.5 pints to go - cherio!
Gord and NHS direct - time for another pint!

Help! Tingha & Tucker are missing - this is serious.

Agents Spionkop and Speks are on the case. Information (anon.) in the comments box please.

Follow the link http://freespace.virgin.net/greg.taylor1/watched_it/tingha.htm So serious is this matter that we have had to appoint a hard man - Deputy Dog Hoots - as an assistant - to rough up the hardies who stole' em.

Gone and Back!

Left click on the two pictures below to see the images at their proper size.

Geevor tin.

Roy's birds!

Blues 2 The Vile 0

This is the most important footie match - in the wold cup, forget it. European Champions league - piece of piss. Today Stan, Carter, DJ, Emile, Jamie and Clemence
showed how the beautiful game should be played. Magnanimity in victory - they are shortly bringing out a fab DVD - how to keep goal - copyright the Vile and Doug Ellis!

Going to get mizzled!

InnSpired of Kernow - near the cathedral -

Bar mirrors.
Bottle stoppers.
Simpsons bar range.
Home bar accessories.
Wobble and Leaning Glasses.
Boozy games.
Wine bottle covers!
Yard of Ale.
Gunnislake collection.
Pub Garden Umbrellas.
Keltek brewed Ales and wines.

New Bridge Street, Truro.
Gor for it.

Poll time! Johnny Cash a man's thang?

I understand everything he prays but women don't seem to understand. Comments please???

Fuck the American Govts.

Europe unite - we have the old and decent standards. Vive, Greetings, Danke Schuen, Gracios, Por Favor America Fuck off.
Angry - Follow the drinking Gord.
P.S. No scotch vin, vino, Vw's, olives to be exported to the US of Fuck All!
RG

The BBC, The Mirror and the Guardian will not print this story so here goes-

In 1973 whilst working as a desk officer at GCHQ, I was posted for one week to the Middle Eastern Branch. I was in charge of reporting on Egypt.
 On my desk, one day, landed a telegram from the Egyptian government to their embassy in Jordan dishing the dirt on what Kissinger was telling them during his shuttle diplomacy. He was a serial liar telling governments what they wanted to hear, whilst his main mission was selling arms. I was very pleased with the reoprt that I had produced but it was never published. I asked why?
"Spiked" was the reply -"Why", says I - "because you need to know that everything that we get on the Arabs is passed to the Israelis and Kissinger has an agreement with us that enables him to veto any intelligence of ours from being published ", (e.g. from  going to the Joint Intelligence Committee and The Prime Minister and other customers in Whitehall). He thinks this casts him in a bad light and does not want it published. 
On grounds of conscience I asked for a move, because I had not joined GCHQ to have the results of my analyses given to the Israelis. I did then and have always remained totally neutral on this issue. I was moved the next day. I believed that my human rights had been breached because I had not been given this information before starting to produce intelligence on the Middle East. For all I knew innocent Palestinians may already have been killed by Mossad as the result of information that I had produced, which I  thought would only be distributed to Whitehall and our known intelligence partners. So much for British sovereignty and our neutral stance in the Middle East.
Fuck em all says I.
Gord and Bennet!

THE BEAST OF BODMIN - HE'S LOOKING AT ME!

I'm terrified! He's about three foot high,- - a lynx or a massive ferrule - he's staring at me and I'm staring at a VDU and he's won. No way hose am I going out to say shooo pussy!
RG

Bogs!

"Once you stoop to lavatory humour, you know the writings on the wall"

Every credit to Gordon Bennit!

My valley, green and grey in winter. 


Left click on the thumbnail above to see the picture in full. This is infuriating Picassa, Hello and Blogspot cannot get their act together.
Gordon

The Lynx Helicopter!

Much used by the British Military. Has a bad crash record. Very versatile will loop the loop and has a display team called the BLUE ARROWS ( read more at www.birminghamcity-mad.co.uk ).

Reasons for the crashes:-
1. Our government only services it every 5000 hours and the manufacturers recommended service interval is 2000 hours.

2. Boy racers. Unfortunately they race it at much higher revs than they should do and the engine blows up. Governors are being fitted.

3. Some design faults - mods have been made to the rotor blades and other parts.

But the major cause of death to the young men who fly in it is the negligence of the British Government- as usual.

Angry and Disgusted

Gord 'elp us!

When I'm Gone

by Phil Ochs

Capo 1st fret

Intro:D/Bm/G/Em/A/D/A/Bm/Em/A/D

D                                           Bm
There's no place in this world where I'll belong when I'm gone
    G                Em             A
And I won't know the right from the wrong when I'm gone
                  D                     A               Bm
And you won't find me singin' on this song when I'm gone
   Em                   A               D
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

And I won't feel the flowing of the time when I'm gone
All the pleasures of love will not be mine when I'm gone
My pen won't pour out a lyric line when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

And I won't breathe the bracing air when I'm gone
And I can't even worry 'bout my cares when I'm gone
Won't be asked to do my share when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

And I won't be running from the rain when I'm gone
And I can't even suffer from the pain when I'm gone
Can't say who's to praise and who's to blame when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

Won't see the golden of the sun when I'm gone
And the evenings and the mornings will be one when I'm gone
Can't be singing louder than the guns when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

All my days won't be dances of delight when I'm gone
And the sands will be shifting from my sight when I'm gone
Can't add my name into the fight while I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

And I won't be laughing at the lies when I'm gone
And I can't question how or when or why when I'm gone
Can't live proud enough to die when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

Many Thanks and respects to Trent Ochs for the above from his brother Phil.

GB

If thingy-

1. You could plant beetroot seeds tomorrow or do something else - what will you do?

2. In your mall Elvis or Ochs' said "Hi" which one would you recognise?

3. You are starving tonight would you contact www.oxfafm.org.uk or George Bush?

4. You were Judge Dread, and you were innocent what would you plead?

5. You could pick one player anywhere in the world to play for Birmingham City F.C.
who would it be - MJ is excluded from any answers = by SK's orders. But the answer may be at www.birminghamcity-mad.co.uk

Think!

Geordie

The 00h's are like the sixties in Great Britain!

The tories will be kicked out, the renaissance in music , art culture, music, humour, real pubs, cricket, rugby and people has arrived. We are an orgasmic nation again. 'Tis true - wakey, wakey the rest of the world British is best, and Brummie is even better!

The workers united will never be defeated.

Follow the drinking Gord!

Ebay and Paypal it's a scam - don't buy or sell!!

Robbed me of 84 quid. Go to http://www.paypalsucks.com/ and SEE ALL!

Gordie meaning!

The Thinker! 

Carlton ITV West Country 1200 British Winter Time

Watch it on Sunday March 13 - Grassroots. Beware the ides of March!
Gord an Dunnit!

THERE ISN'T ANY!

Night Oil!

Gordon

GOLDFISH - protection at last!

Here in tthe caring UK if your Goldfish dies from, neglect, and the major cause is over feeding - you will be prosocuted. Fish have rights, above animals, and most of all the planet's greatest destroyer - man/womoan!

Tanked up Gordon!

IP Freely do you exist?

or are you disappearing into the night?

Who wrote this?

"The next he knew he was dimly aware that his tongue and that he was being jolted along in some kind of a conveyance. The hoarse shriek , of a locomotive whistling a crossing, told him where he was. He had traveled too often with the Judge not to know the sensation of riding in a baggage car. He opened his eyes , and into them came the unbridaled anger of a kidnaped king. The man sprang for his throat, but Buck was to quick for him. His jaws closed on the hand, nor did they relax till his senses were choked out of him once more."

Poweful stuff - in my opinion the greatest author ever!
GOD

Joke time!

What is football?

"The rules are very simple, basically it is this;
If it moves kick it .
If it doesn't move kick it till it dose"

I thank you Phil Whoosamanvilea

Gord

GCHQ /NSA where do your loyalties lie?

I once voted communist whilst working for that lot. In those days you had to be a socialist to be a member of the LP. Now you need to be a card carrying member of the Tories 'fore they will let u in.

I was asked where do your loyalties lay? I replied:-
1. To my conscience.
2. To my family.
3. To the world.
999. To my country.

May your God Bless you whoever she/he/it is!
Agnostic Gord!

MI0 -just had wordes with 'em

If as our PM say's , it is the the interests of National Security - a balmket cover for imprisonmnet without trial of you spies -where are you to? In Wormward all of you. You are lechers of the taxpayers pusrse.

OPTIONA,L FECK OFF YOU KNOW WHO I AM- BUT I HAVE MORALS AND
YOU HAVE MURDERED HUNDRED's OF PEOPLE - CHALLANGE ME, ANYWHERE IN COURT, IN MY GARDEDEN, WITHIN THE MAGGOT THAT TAREST THE ROSE OF ENGLAND . I award you a darkhood for services rendered against society.

Russian spy - vote communist - grow up!

Fairtrade Fortnight

Go to http://www.fairtrade.org.uk and buy goods for which workers get a decent wage instead of pennies and cents.

Rocking Gordon

Nissan

Don't buy until I advise you to do so. They pay companies to scan the media to pick up that keyword and it is on the Chief Executor's desk the next day - for a few thousand dollars - if you understand what I mean. Buy Toyota. More later.
Gord 'elp us!

Farewells and Fantasies!

Phil Ochs fit no mold. He was a folky protest singer in the early sixties, but he didn't sing, look, or act like Bob Dylan. In the last few years of that decade Ochs tried his hand at electrified melodies and intellectual lyrics. Many of his fans deserted him for the prettier folk-rockers who wrote catchy hooks and covered Bob Dylan songs (yes, I'm talking about the Byrds). It didn't help that Ochs seemed to simultaneously develop writer's block, alcoholism, and a unique variety of schizophrenia. He lost his recording contract to the studio hit-mongers. He lost his voice to an African mugger. He lost his life to himself. He committed suicide in his sister's Far Rockaway, N.Y. home in 1976.

Now that I've managed to brighten the mood a bit (that's heavy sarcasm, by the way), let me get down to reviewing Farewell and Fantasies, the three-disc compilation released in 1997. This collection contains 53 songs from Ochs earliest albums (the singing journalist phase) to his last recorded efforts (the under appreciated folk-rocker phase). The collection is certainly representative of his career, that is, it is inspired, inspiring, uneven, lovely, humane, at times naïve, and deeply moving.

It would be nearly impossible to provide a comprehensive review of all three discs in one Epinions review. Therefore, begging your pardon, I plan to write a separate piece for each. Since the discs are arranged according to the phases of Ochs' career, this seems to make the most sense.

Disc One

1. What's That I Hear? (Ochs)

What's that I hear now ringing in my ear
I hear it more and more
It's the sound of freedom calling
Ringing up to the sky
It's the sound of the old ways falling
You can hear it if you try
You can hear it if you try

This song is definitely early sixties material. It's still optimistic, almost patriotic. We had Kennedy. Vietnam was still a little Asian country that most people had never heard of. Ochs guitar work here is almost two fast. As if he were compelled to get the message across before you left to go watch Dobie Gillis or something

2. Bells (Ochs/Poe)

The Poe listed here as the co-writer is Edgar Allen. Ochs felt that Poe's poem was actually a song, so he set it to music.

3. Morning (Ochs)

Drinks are done, daylight's come
It's morning
Crowd's moved on, everybody's gone
It's morning

One of the reasons for buying a boxed set is to discover hidden, previously unreleased material. Such is the case with this song, written shortly after Ochs arrived in Greenwich Village to play in the coffee houses with the likes of Dylan, Tom Paxton, and Eric Anderson.

4. Bound for Glory (Ochs)

Now they sing out his praises on every distant shore
But so few remember what he was fightin' for
Oh why sing the songs and forget about the aim?
He wrote them for a reason, why not sing them for the same

This is the best tribute song ever written to Woodie Guthrie. Its lyrics are powerful and they still resonate today with the success of Billy Bragg's Mermaid Avenue recordings and the Ani Difranco produced 'til we outnumber them concert.

5. Highwayman (Noyes/Ochs)

This is yet another traditional poem, set to music and performed by Ochs.

6. Power and the Glory (Ochs)

Yet she's only as rich as the poorest of her poor
Only as free as the padlocked prison door
Only as strong as our love for this land
Only as tall as we stand

Ochs performed this song, which he considered the best thing he ever wrote at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival, a breakthrough for him. It is pure passion for an America that is difficult to love but worth the continued effort.

7. That's What I Want to Hear (Ochs)

Woodie Guthrie and Pete Seeger sang songs to organize workers to fight for their rights. This Ochs song urges Americans to band together to fight for the rights of others. It's a great example of the singer as activist model that Phil really never totally abandoned.

8. Links on the Chain (Ochs)

When Ochs, accompanied by Arlo, went to visit Woodie in the hospital, this is the song Phil played for him. When he heard it, Woodie spoke the only word he could during the entirety of the visit. The word was "Good".

9. Love Me, I'm a Liberal (Ochs)

I vote for the democratic party
They want the U.N. to be strong
I go to all the Pete Seeger concerts
He sure gets me singing those songs
I'll send all the money you ask for
But don't ask me to come on along
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

Just to prove that he was an equal opportunity judgmentalist, Ochs wrote a scathing but hilarious attack on his core group of fans. I'm about as left wing as your likely to find in these Clinton-hating days, but I still wish this song could be played at the next Democratic convention.

10. Too Many Martyrs (Gibson/Ochs)

Written with fellow folk legend, Bob Gibson, this is a tribute to the likes of Medgar Evers and Emmet Till, black men (actually Till was only 14) murdered by cowardly whites during the Civil Rights movement.

11. In the Heat of the Summer (Ochs)

Remember, these tunes are from Ochs singing journalist phase. This particular song is about the riots that swept Harlem in 1964.

12. Here's to the State of Mississippi (Ochs)

I think I'll let Phil himself introduce this one "This song might be subtitled Farewell to Mississippi, for in order to write a few more songs like this, it might be wiser for me to stay away for a while. I was down there last summer and must admit that I met some nice people and that the state isn't as bad as my song implies, unless you are a Negro who has forgotten his place, or unless your last name was Chaney, Goodman, or Schwerner."
Phil Ochs, liner notes for I Ain't Marching Anymore (Elektra EKS-7287), 1964

13. I'm Going to Say It Now (Ochs)

And things they might be different if I was here alone
But I've got a friend or two who no longer live at home
And we'll respect our elders just as long as they allow
That when I've got something to say, sir, I'm gonna say it now

This was the first Phil Ochs song I ever heard. It's the opening tune on the In Concert album. Its cockiness is a little disconcerting when I realize that a young man was singing it to someone my age.

14. One More Parade (Gibson/Ochs)

Another collaboration with Gibson, this is a satirical look at a Veteran's Day parade.

15. Draft Dodger Rag (Ochs)

I've got a dislocated disc and a racked up back
I'm allergic to flowers and bugs
And when the bombshell hits, I get epileptic fits
And I'm addicted to a thousand drugs
I got the weakness woes, and I can't touch my toes
I can hardly reach my knees
And if the enemy came close to me
I'd probably start to sneeze

This oft covered Ochs composition once again kind of spits in the face of some of his loyal fans, the draft resisters. I think Phil kind of figured out that not all of then were motivated by high idealism. Some might actually be shirkers and cowards.

16. I Ain't Marching Anymore (Ochs)

This is the acoustic version of one of his best-known tunes. An electric version is on Disc 2.

17. We Seek No Wider War (Ochs)

Here, Ochs lets LBJ hear how stupid he sounds with his bland denials of the ever-growing horror in Vietnam.

18. Ringing of Revolution (Ochs)

Sadly they stared and sank in their chairs
and searched for a comforting notion.
And the rich silver walls looked ready to fall
As they shook in doubtful devotion.
The ice cubes would clink as they freshened their drinks,
wet their minds in bitter emotion.
And they talked about the ringing of revolution

To me, this is the most poetic of all of Ochs' songs.

19. When I'm Gone (Ochs)

And I won't feel the flowing of the time when I'm gone
All the pleasures of love will not be mine when I'm gone
My pen won't pour out a lyric line when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

This is an eerily prophetic song written by a man destined to die young.

20. Song of My Returning (Ochs)

This song was a sign that Ochs was finally able to start looking within himself for inspiration. The singing journalist writes his first feature story so to speak.

21. There But for Fortune (Ochs)

Many feel that this tune, which Joan Baez took to the pop charts, is one of Ochs greatest. Personally, I don't quite get it.

I hope some of this intrigues you enough to make you want to learn more about the man and his music. Stay tuned for Disc 2.







Recommended
Yes

Gord

Halifax - Robbing Bastards!

They were okay when they were mutual - but now they are owned by a Scottish bank. Mean and miserly and on the fiddle.
Don't save, mortgage, bank or insure with them.
E.G. My buildings insurance was 300 quid a few years ago, next year 400, 500, 600, 700 - get my drift - thought they had me handcuffed 'cos of subsidence. No thank you Halifax - I now pay 144 quid.
E.G. They tried to re-posess a house which was not their's. See you in court you robbing bastards.
Gorging Brown

How are your nuts?

Mine are fine - but - if you have loads left after Xmas then throw the walnuts on your fire, cheaper than wood or coal and don't pollute the environmnet.
Mind you hang on to your Brazils - spit like hell - vote walnut!
Gordon

Bugger it - I will not be the next Scottish P.M.

Charlie Kennedy will - vote Liberal!

Not a good day really - went tothe flow clinic this morning - torture - had to drink six pints of water in an hour - pee three times and be scanned three times. I'm in agony. What do I do?

Running Gord