After catching approximately .17 seconds of the new Britney Spears "reality" TV show, "Chaotic," (now that's a George Carlin worthy oxymoron: Reality? TV?) the importance of live and organic, do it yourself, entertainment struck me like a ton of cinder blocks. Corporations and record companies buy critics and columnists by greasing palms and stroking egos (as well likely stroking and greasing other parts of the anatomy as well). Polls are spun and industry awards are nothing more than a popularity contest rigged by block voting. Any real "Critics" have been rendered ineffectual by the never ending flow of teeny bop-oriented magazines that have as much bearing on a performer's actual success and/or fate as magazines such as "The Watchtower" have on my chances of entering into heaven or hell.

Brainwashed, browbeaten, and bribed from every direction by hype and overkill, the masses just bend over and grease up every time the big green weenie of the consumerism machine calls, and yet, and yet, people STILL miss the point. These so-called "artistes" are nothing more than a creation of an industry and its own media machine that many of these so called "Gangsta's" (LOL) and "Rock 'N Roll Rebels" are supposedly bucking against. Because they're SO unestablishment. About 99.7 % of all the "entertainment" out there is nothing more than pre-fab trash, and any relationship between artistic abilities, true talent, and commercial success is shaky at best, if not downright non-existent. Plainly put: Consumers are gettin' f**ked, but they sure ain't gettin' kissed.

Is there a remedy to all of this? Can we be saved from the unforgiving & brain deadening rays emanating from our small screened savior? What is the answer? The answer is simple really: Live entertainment. Make your own music, start a band, get together with friends and jam. Write poetry, stories, blog, pick up some cheap 8mm movie camera and make cool home movies or videos. Get together with like minded artistically inclined friends and stage a happening. Get out in the world. Relate, create, & communicate. Do something, anything. Bored people are boring people. You don't need that much talent. It's helpful but not a necessity.

Know three chords? You can start a band. Many of my favorite songs only have one or two. "Boogie Chillun" by John Lee Hooker only has three friggin' NOTES fer chrissakes! Live music is my favorite form of live entertainment. And one of the most easily accessible. Even the smallest town is likely to have a venue for live music. If not, create a venue.