Pedro Angel Serrano

2012-01-03T22:46:00.000-08:00

I'm pulling together photos of some things I like to stare at.

2012-01-02T21:25:00.000-08:00

Technically it's not a motivational poster but sometimes the obvious isn't so obvious.

2011-11-23T12:32:00.000-08:00

Agree with Gay marriage or not. You know this is true.

2011-11-23T12:14:00.000-08:00

Made Saturday the 18th November 2011. I'm proud of this one. :-)

Caption courtesy of Karl von Uhl. Layout by Yours truly. Nuff Said.

2011-11-23T12:11:00.000-08:00

The Raritan River. Bordering the cities of New Brunswick and Highland Park, New Jersey. The tide was coming in.

2011-11-10T17:45:00.000-08:00

2011-11-09T15:56:00.000-08:00

OK, the proposed law defining a fertilized egg as a person was voted down. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Stop scratching your head. I ask the same question whatever the situation.

In this case the question brought me back to the 20th century when an amendment to the Colorado state constitution ("Amendment 2") was passed that would have prevented any city, town or county in the state from taking any legislative, executive, or judicial action to recognize gay and lesbian citizens as a protected class. The part that stood out for me was that no Gay person could even make a Claim of discrimination.
It was so incredibly unconstitutional that even the Supreme Court noticed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romer_v._Evans

After it was struck down Anti Gay/"Pro Family" activists pledged to take there campaign to other states and rewording there proposed amendments so as to pass muster in future supreme court battles. It didn't turn out well for them.

I expect history to repeat itself with with the Zygote Rights movement. Other states will have similar proposals up for vote. There will be new campaigns with different a different focus and if one should pass then we all will be hitting the road to the steps of the Supreme Court.

Hmmm... I wonder if that will be a good thing or a bad thing?

2011-10-06T22:54:00.000-07:00

If you know someone in the New York/New Jersey area who would want a dog...

2011-09-25T16:47:00.000-07:00

I'm posting the info found on a Face Book page called Urgent Part 2/ Urgent Death Row Dogs. I've share the bios of dogs and am posting this here to help spread the word. My hope is it'll lead to a dog being saved and a lucky human will have a appreciative companion.

=====================================

Welcome to Urgent Part 2 / Urgent Death Row Dogs. This page was created to help advocate for NYC's Death Row Dogs. What started as a desperate attempt to save some dogs turned into an enormous community of caring people, just as outraged as I am.
Together, we are fighting to reform the NYC shelter system and save the thousands of adoptable animals being destroyed every year. The battle is long and the list of casualties continues to climb but we will not give up… not until there are none.

Adopting a Dog From The “To Be Destroyed” Album If you decide to adopt a dog that is on the “To Be Destroyed” list, you must act fast. Any dog on the list, can be destroyed the following morning.
We try to post the list every night by 6PM. You then have 2 hours to call the shelter and advise of your intentions. After 8, you must either have a rescue call, and place a hold, or YOU MUST CALL THE SHELTER THE NEXT MORNING BEFORE 8AM! Do not wait because I guarantee that the shelter will not wait either. Euth's begin at 6am. Call early! When calling the shelters, you will get a recording. Do not leave a message! They do not check those machines!! Hit 0 at the end of each message cycle and, eventually, someone will pick up. It may take 30 minutes, but they will answer.

The photos are from the Urgent album of saved dogs who are now living happily with there very own loving human: https://www.facebook.com/#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=288718661154469&id=100000490115190&notif_t=close_friend_activity

Do not give up, a life is depending on you! For more information on HOW TO ADOPT, please go to: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=275973442415542&set=a.275017085844511.78596.152876678058553&type=1&theater For more information on fostering a dog, please contact your local rescue. LIST OF RESCUE WHO CAN PULL FROM NYCACC: http://urgentdeathrowdogs.org/how-you-can-help/how-togroup1/adopt.html

The Facebook page is
https://www.facebook.com/#!/Urgentdeathrowdogs

No. Seriously. It tasts like chicken.

2011-09-14T15:39:00.000-07:00

GOP Jobs Plan: More Snakes?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/09/gop-jobs-plan-more-snakes.php

For the record I am caretaker to a Ball Python named Huey and a King Snake named Kingy.
Both are beautiful examples of millions of years of evolution. Humans are also beautiful examples of hundreds of millions of years of evolution. Too often though we act like fur-less Chimpanzees. And it only takes a few of these fur-less chimps to screw things up for those responsible enough to do a little research into taking care of a living thing.

Now I'm a pro-business kind of guy and if I was a republican who wanted to promote small business and help the environment I'd push for government loans for people who want to open restaurants that serve Burmese Python on the menu.
Do I have to run for office to bring some logical out of the box thinking to congress?

Who's the cutest Ball Python? Who's the cutest Ball Python? Who's the cutest Ball Python? That's right! You're the cutest Ball Python! Oh, yes you are!

2011-08-15T13:31:00.000-07:00

2011-08-08T22:24:00.001-07:00

2011-08-07T23:26:00.000-07:00

2011-08-05T18:53:00.000-07:00

2011-07-19T23:07:00.000-07:00

Hold Still

2011-07-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

The only camera I have is on my camera. Good visual quality but like most digital cameras there's a delay between pressing the shutter and the camera taking the photograph.

There are times when I need to just point and shoot. Want to get a film camera again.

Took this one on the 13th of July 02011. Walking the path on the shore of the Raritan River. I wanted to go swimming that night.
No, seriously. The ideal spot I found. There was a drain pipe. That wasn't the deciding factor. It just happened to be at a spot where I could access the shore made up of large gray stones.
Turned out the stones are black. The gray was from silt in the water.
I stacked up a few stones on top of each other. It's something I do. I have no explanation except that rocks piled up on each other just right look cool.

I had decided that it was an unwise act to swim in a river ranked as the 16th most polluted river in the country.

I clamber up the concrete base of the path and head back.

The moon was nearly full that night.

2011-07-11T21:34:00.000-07:00

"Streams of Whisky" Jay Insult DJ The Court Tavern, New Brunswick, NJ

2011-07-08T14:17:00.000-07:00

Americas Birthday Wish

2011-07-04T21:19:00.000-07:00

If America had a birthday cake what would her wish be before blowing out the 235 candles?

J.P. at The Court Tavern, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

2011-06-28T20:52:00.000-07:00

Bouncing Souls in Wilkes Barre, PA.

2011-06-24T16:51:00.000-07:00

For a photo book project I'm working on. It's of the early years of the band The Bouncing Souls.

Woman walks through market holding severed head of man who tried to rape her.

2011-06-23T12:30:00.000-07:00

I didn't expect her to be so young. I imagined a 78 year old women who when realizing she was being attacked thought, "After all the shit I've been through I have to deal with this? Fuck that!" And then the great grandmother showed them what "Old School" used to mean.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1078520/Woman-walks-market-holding-severed-head-man-tried-rape-her.html

Wednesday 20th April 02011

2011-04-22T00:19:00.000-07:00

My middle name.

2011-04-02T19:10:00.000-07:00

From Given The Power: Education

2011-03-28T23:00:00.000-07:00

I'm really proud to have been involved with this project.

From the website:
Given the Power is a national video survey project. The organization seeks responses in a series of single, same question interviews. Given the Power illustrates and celebrates variety, similarity, honesty, humanity and history.

For each single question, GTP, will release a film of responses, online enhancements of the content and the opportunity for others to add their response. Each question will remain open permanently on the site and continue to accept new answers to even our old questions.

Ongoing, online history in the answering.

Given the Power is a reflection.
http://www.giventhepower.com/

A Gallup Poll taken just two months ahead of the 2008 Presidential Election showed that only 44% of Americans were satisfied with the quality of primary and secondary education in the country. The No Child Left Behind Act had been a flint rock of controversy and speculation since its inception in 2002 and through out the 2008 Election. The condition of our American school system might not have been as volatile an issue as the void in American's wallets and pocketbooks, but as GTP traveled around asking the "president question" there were few subjects spoken about with as much enthusiasm as education. Americans across all races and age and economic background were concerned for the state of learning in our country. Responses ranged from simply railing against what are children are being instructed to solutions that included investing more money or reevaluating how are children are being instructed. Whether or not the GTP subjects had a solution, a renewed, refined focus on education, for many, seemed to be essential towards building a better future. If, after watching GTP - Education, you aren't convinced that investing time or money into learning isn't part of the answer, when any question is asked, stare into the faces of children and see if you can come up with a more informed response.

Given The Power - Education from Steve Rogers on Vimeo.

March 22nd 02011

2011-03-22T16:44:00.000-07:00

Not Just Another Gay Skinhead Role Model.

2011-03-12T10:40:00.000-08:00

When I was in my mid 20's a goal of mine was to be an out Gay role model for Gay kids.

I'll be 52 this year and I am indeed an out Gay role model. I wasn't expecting to be an out Gay role model for mostly straight punk rockers and skinheads but I'll take what I can get.

I'm not complaining it's just not what I expected. Maybe it was my not having a role model of my own. How does one become and behave like a Gay role model?
The standard Gay stereotype was the basis for the sitcom Will and Grace. To me it wasn't much of a "How To..." manual.
What I expected when the show premiered was something like a Gay version of the TV show Friends.

Had I a say in the conception of Will and Grace I would have had Will the white Gay lawyer, Jack the graceful sexually liberated Gay man who was so flaming you could light a cigar off him. Then I would add the adorable bear couple who lived a few doors down, the wise black drag queen, a lesbian couple who run the small used book store, the gay Puerto Rican Skinhead with HIV, who mentored the kids in the punk scene, (You write what you know.), and of course the radical Lesbian activist.
Instead I got a Will and a Jack living in a New York where all Gay guys were obsessed with fashion, show tunes, and a New York where AIDS didn't exist and 9/11 never happened. OK, I wouldn't mind visiting there once in a while.

But the influence of the media is such that I was told by a heterosexual friend that until they met me the only Gays he knew were from Will and Grace and that knowing me made him realize how diverse Gays could be.

I think I've done a decent job and have been told by an old friend that my presence in the scene helped change attitudes about Gays and women in the scene.
He also said, "I think you should be retroactively paid for social work."
I wonder if there are grants for that?

I did have difficulties with the role I played. OK, not the role but the responsibilities involved and accepting the praise offered to me.
Being available put me in a situation where as well as offering help I needed to be honest with my own feeling, hopes and shame, and unworthiness.
But it helped that I wasn't fooling anybody and the kids turned out and the kids could be just as encouraging as I was for them.

One wake up call came when after months of seclusion I attended a show in Philadelphia. A skinhead asked me why I wasn't hanging out much.
I said that I was coming out of hibernation and would be out and about more often and ended my explanation saying, "I understand I have responsibilities."
Pointing his finger at me he said, "You have responsibilities Pedro." and handed me his bottle of beer for me to take a swig from.

Another thing I didn't know how to navigate was how to interact with the parents.
I usually don't get to meet them but when I do they always say how much there kids talk about me.

I'm not sure if they were proud, impressed, or bragging.

I remember one summer day walking down a street in New Brunswick, NJ with a couple of the kids in the punk scene. Our small talk was interrupted when the phone of one of the boys rang.
He answered and this is what I heard.

"Hello?"
"I'm in New Brunswick walking down the street with a 48 year old Gay guy. No. OK.”

It was his father. This was the conversation they had.

"Hello."
"Where are you?"
"I'm in New Brunswick walking down the street with a 48 year old Gay guy."
"Are you Gay?"
"No."
"OK. Be home by 7."

I'm sure the father would have some questions when the kid got home. But that's great. Call me old fashioned but I feel every parent should meet the 52 year old Gay man their 16 year old son is hanging out with.

You Know You're Being Manipulated When...

2011-03-11T01:30:00.001-08:00

2011-03-10T19:56:00.000-08:00

Hey. A friend took an old spoken word performance and edited several bids from it.
Thanks to Dominic Bruno for getting this on my You Tube channel for me. And thanks to Steve Keever for the digital recording. Much apprieceated! Click on the link and check it out. I hope you laugh till you puke.

http://www.youtube.com/user/OldManPedro

I'm Back to Making Show Fliers!

2011-03-03T17:04:00.000-08:00

I really enjoyed making fliers for shows. I first started when I was sharing a house with a band called The Bouncing Souls.
Me and the bassist would sit at the kitchen table and using scissors and glue sticks make fliers to promote there shows. This was before computers were the standard tool for this kind of thing. I'll post the cut and past fliers we made back in the late 1980's early 90's when I find them. Google Bouncing Souls and you may find some posted there.
The 3 black and white fliers below I made in 2010. I mentioned to folks in the scene I was up for making more.
Took a while but Wednesday the 2nd of March a friend who plays for the band Kicking Spit asked me to make fliers some basement shows he's booking in New Brunswick, NJ.

So here that are: the most recent fliers I've slapped together using a very old desk top publishing program.

I get moody at times but wasn't thinking about spewing on paper. A friend of mine put the word out on Face-book put out the need for someone to make a flier for a show he had booked. I volunteered and pulled this together. I found the image online and can't remember the link. If anyone knows please share it here.

I made this flier not knowing the singer for the band Voetsek was lesbian. I thought it a Great coincidence. Voetsek are amazing by the way. If your into Metal, Google them now!

With a new president I was hoping for an improvement in the economy. Guess it was on my mind when I made this. I don't know if anyone got the message.

And here is the most recent effort. My friend told me that he was asking others to make fliers as well. He liked the idea of different fliers for the same show. I e-mailed this out to him today with the message,
"If anyone can come up with a better flier then this I'll suck there dick!"
Why should I worry?

Virtual Reality.

2011-03-01T09:37:00.000-08:00

I can see a computer game based on this story. For the nonviolent protests - The Sims.
Rebels-Thwart-Gadhafi-Forces-Push-to-Take-Key-City.

"A mixed drink has no more then two ingredients. Ice is an ingredient."

2011-02-26T17:17:00.000-08:00

I'm practicing my Noir style. Check out my inspiration by clicking the link.
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1053&bih=511&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=film+noir+stills&aq=4&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=film+noir

Streams of Whisky.

2011-02-26T14:35:00.000-08:00

Streams of Whiskey with DJ Jay Insult at The Court Tavern, New Brunswick, NJ.

Portrait taken at a basement show in New Brunswick, NJ. Thanks Deborah

2011-02-26T14:15:00.000-08:00

.

I look an accountant who works for the owner of a speak easy.

.

General Education 101: A discussion with Jennefer Edwards of the Huffington Post

2011-02-05T11:09:00.000-08:00

This interview with Jennifer Edwards was conducted back in 2005 was done after the release of her award winning spoken word album "Exposed."
Today this is still is one of my favorite discussions. Very smart, open minded and passionate about helping people and making the world a better place. But don't hold that against her.

She presently writes for The Huffington Post. Yup. Less then 5 years after I interviewed her she's writing for the Huffington Post. Coincidence? Ummm. Yea it probably is.

ON THE ROLE OF GAYS IN THE PAST.

PS: I've been reading a lot about ancient Greek civilization for the last couple of years; fascinating. Before they settled down and started building cities and temples they were nomadic sheep herders. When they actually started settling down they kept some of there nomadic traditions and that included there attitudes about sex and what today we call sexuality. And it wasn't exactly a homosexual Disneyland but it seemed really familiar to me in the way I relate to young straight people. Of course, today I wouldn't present myself to the parents asking to be a mentor…

Jennifer Edwards: (Laughs)

PS: But that's what they did.

JE: Really?

PS: Men whom today we'd refer to as Gay, or homosexual, Bisexual; they didn't have terms like that then. But in Athens if there was a young man and I was enamored with him for whatever reason, I would have dinner with the parents one day and I'd say, "You know I'd be willing to pay for his gear when he joins the military." Because you had to pay for all of that and I'd be willing to sponsor him and if the parents approved of me then I'd show up a week or so later. I'd show up with a puppy which was the traditional gift. Cause he'd be about 16 or 17 years old which the Greeks referred to as "The dangerous age" because they had all that testosterone going, and they would get unruly, and the Greeks thought having as many adults around was a good thing.
And if he (the boy) approved, I would be, for lack of a better word, a mentor. And sex was not a given. There may or may not have been sex. It was up to the boy. Maybe on some drunken outing there would be some messing around. I'm reading this and I'm thinking "this is my life!"

It just got me to thinking about how our attitudes about sex really aren't that sophisticated.

We have orbital satellites, interplanetary space probes and um...Oh! Those plastic sandwich bags that seal in the freshness! We have all this stuff but we're not as sophisticated as some of our ancestors were. And Native American cultures they had um...

JE: Oh yes. They had the Two Spirit tradition. They were very accepted, very revered actually. You could have both genders be represented in one body. They were the healers, they were the teachers.

PS: They had a role to play. Some of them would be living libraries; others would know what all the rituals were. We don't have that today. What do you think happened?

JE: Well... (Laughs) A very "white" very "male" mentality took over I think. This is something I'm looking at right now in my work.
Not white male mentality as in male having a penis or white having a white skin. But there is this western European mentality that has just over taken everything. This idea of colonizer weather it's within your family, within your town, within your country, or within the world. This idea of privilege and morality is dictated by a religion that's not even based on the teachings of the individual they claim it's based upon! It's just this kinda sick fantasy world that seems to be dominating our culture right now.

PS: You don't think there's any kind of discussion going on about this morality in our culture. Do you think people are talking about it? "Is this working or not?"

JE: I see a lot of turning back. Back, back, back back. Turning back and reading books that don't apply any more.
Even in really very open philosophies. I'm a practitioner and a teacher of yoga and yogic philosophy. Particularly the Tantra tradition which is very female based and is demonized in the Hindu culture.

PS: Really? I didn't know this.

JE: Well in western culture it translates to sex: Tantra is "sex." Somewhat like Wicca. It's very similar. They have fertility rites. They have these systems of celebrating creativity. And unfortunately that's been extracted and held up as what this system represents, instead of "No that's the pinkie finger of the whole body of this philosophy."

So I see a lot of looking back to the ancient books and texts. Even in that system, which the people writing in that time had a baseline which doesn’t exist anymore. They were self sufficient first of all. They took care of themselves, they farmed they gardened, they grew there own food.

PS: Everything they ate they either grew or killed it themselves.

JE: Exactly. They had this relationship with the earth, this relationship with each other this relationship with there bodies and themselves. This very tangible, visceral sense of what it was to be a being; a creative and animal entity. And we've lost that completely. So I think that this idea of morality based on turning back always to what was written about a culture that doesn't exist anymore is really flawed.

PS: And it doesn't matter what religion it would be.

You’re right it's a different perspective. There are individuals today that believe, God bless em, that the world is flat and that the sun revolves around the Earth because the Bible infers it. And yet thousands of years ago, that's what they believed. But today when I watch a sunrise, because I live in the Twenty-First Century, I know that it's an optical illusion.
I'm actually on a planet which is rotating on its axis and it's circling the sun, which is actually a star really close, and all those stars I see at night are part of a galaxy which is one of billions of galaxies. So science explains what I'm watching but it doesn't get in the way of all my feelings when I watch a sunrise. I watch a sunrise and I still feel what everybody else feels when they see it. So it doesn't get in the way, it actually expands it.
And I think religion, when it works, does that; it explains the divine experience. But that doesn't seem to be the case today.

ON THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY MIND AND THE NATURE OF REALITY

JE: Well I think we've allowed the mind to dictate what the heart used to dictate. Spirituality comes from the spirit, from the heart, from that experience that we have. And I think what "religion" does, which some people think of as spirituality, has made all that very mind oriented. The mind doesn't think like the heart thinks. The heart thinks very purely. The mind thinks, good, bad, right, wrong, should, could, would, have done X, Y, and Z and it's very confining and constricting.

PS: Well I think a disciplined mind...um... I was watching some program on PBS. They were talking about physics and this one scientist was talking about gravity.
And he was saying "If I take a ball and I throw it, it tends to fall to the ground."
And then he said something after that but I don't remember because all I was thinking of was
"It tends to fall to the ground. It Tends to fall to the ground."
Now it's highly unlikely that it would just keep on going, but in an infinite universe with infinite time anything is possible.

JE: Right! Exactly.

PS: This scientist, for him, literally anything is possible and he had so disciplined his mind to the point that he's open to anything. This drives a lot of This drives people nuts.
"What! Aren't you sure? But you're a scientist!"

They have gotten to the point of embracing uncertainty. I'm starting to appreciate that now. It's nice to be certain, but it's an illusion.

JE: Yes. I don't know if you've read the Tibetan Book of Living and Dieing.

PS: Why yes, I have.

JE: It's a fabulous text and it address that exactly, this idea that nothing is fixed. And I love the visual explanation of the mind which in Tibetan thinking that's everything: the mind is the world, it's everything,
it's the universe. And thoughts or experiences or things that we consider reality are the clouds in the sky and the only thing that's fixed is that blue screen, that blue sky behind it.

And that's what I was talking about when I was talking about the heart versus the mind. The only thing that's fixed is love, peace: real things that exist in the universe and can manifest in all of us and in all of our lives all of the time. And everything else, everything that we perceive, people that we perceive, everything else are those shifting clouds constantly changing, constantly morphing into different shapes, and colors, and sizes and densities. That was one of those things you read and you think, "Whoa!" (Laughs)

ON THE ROLE OF THE ELDERS AND THE POWER OF ART.

PS: I'm in the punk rock scene spoken word was anything from Exene Cervenka to Henry Rollins to Jim Carroll. There were all these ways of being a spoken word artist. Now when I tell people I do spoken word I say "Well it's like a stand up comedy routine only I don't care if anybody laughs." What I do is storytelling.

JE: What I do is similar I would say. What I do is story telling with a subtle rhyme. But not a specific style. If you spent a night at The NUYOUiCAN Poets Cafe I'm kinda not really like that. (laughs)

PS: The problem with single terms is that eventually people want to define it as a single thing. That's why I have a problem with the word "Queer." Because God bless em they think that it's going to help. But really I think they do it cause there kinda sorta lazy and don't want to say Bisexual-Gay-male-Lesbian-Trans. Because there are too many syllables. People gravitate to nice single terms. There are six billion people on the planet and there's no single term that's going to work.

JE: No. And no single term that everyone is going to feel comfortable applying to them selves. That's something I hear a lot of, especially from older L, G, B, T individuals, is a real discomfort with the word queer. And that's very understandable.

PS: Well it's understandable to you. When this issue comes up its usually leftist "queers" explaining why they use the word, and I've listened in on black folks talking about "The N Word" and how younger folks are using it constantly. And when older folks are around who don't like "the N word” it’s never said. There is no discussion. And I totally understand that because there is this attitude of just being respectful of people older then you because they just are older. You just show em respect. And I think it's interesting that we (Gays) have to have this discussion no matter what!

JE: I think that's interesting because that points to something that is also really interesting to me that I never thought of until about two years ago when I was attending a Pride rally in New York. I can't remember the individuals name but he was involved with....a musical (Thoroughly Modern Millie.)
He was speaking and he said, if you grow up in a particular culture, you have elders that teach you about the history of that culture. And that's the one thing that we're missing in the "Queer, or LGBT" culture, is this real transference of history from the elders to the younger, intuitively you know; as grandparents would tell stories to there grandchildren. And that struck me.
It had never really occurred to me what exactly I was missing in my experience today as a lesbian, as a queer as... (Laughs) All this talk. But as a Women Loving Women, what was missing. And it is missing; It's that history, it's that true understanding, and that idea of community based on what came before.

And so I think that's a real risk that we run, because we are constantly trying to re-identify without ever having a firm foundation from which to react, respond, and interact with.
It's just inventing the wheel over and over again without ever bothering to look under and see what your driving on. (Laughs) Four of them!
I don't know if that analogy works but you know what I mean.

PS: When I was in my twenties, one goal I had was to become a role model for Gay youth. I'm now 46 years old and I'm a role model for heterosexual Skinheads and Punks. and...

JE:(Laughing) But you Are a Gay role model!

PS: Yea, you're right, I am a Gay role model.
But what fascinates me is that I couldn't find a venue or a place to be a Gay role model for Gay youth, where as in the punk rock scene it was very easy.
I remember one day I was at some Bar-B-Q at a friends place and I was with this other Skinhead around my age. We were sitting on the stoop telling stories. And suddenly there were these young skinheads sitting cross legged looking up at us, listening. And I just had this feeling of "This is as ancient as it can get. This is the way it's been for thousands of years." and then this other Skinhead walks by and he says, 'What's going on? You listening to the elders speak?" We all laughed. And I thought "That's it exactly!".....

And I'm wondering how many Gay men have that experience? How many Lesbians have that experience of just talking and having the kids come there.
And it happened so often that I had to just say "Yea, elder! it works." You get the lesson presented to you over and over again and I’m finally "This is what's going on." That's what's needed. And I wonder do Gay kids have access to that?

JE: (Sighs) I think it's hard for gay kids to have access to that and I feel that we're raising a generation now: both the individuals who are young adults at this stage, and kids that are coming up, you know teenagers, don't have access even to there own familial elders. You know Grand Ma and Grand Pa so often are inaccessible or in a nursing home or living far away. I've been in two situations where I can kind of relate to this. One is I teaching queer youth yoga at the L,G,B,T, Center in New York, which is great, but again it's not exactly that elder relationship I mean yes, I'm 32; I'm older but I'm not an elder. I'm possibly an example, but not necessarily of that rich history.

But another thing that I have encountered was while teaching dance and choreography at a community collage out here in New Jersey. And getting into a conversation about culture and how it effects art and all of this stuff and it was last fall when the election was going on and I had a student stand up and raise her hand and say "I'm staunchly republican because I don't believe in abortion."

And of course it sparked this big debate. It was mostly women in the class. And it turns out that these girls had no idea that women ever died from back ally abortions. These girls never knew a world without that kind of access and what happened in the past.
And even from that perspective, you know, where ever you sit on abortion that's kind of immaterial. It's a fact that it's a crucial piece of information to have when you're making decisions and moving toward the future.
And in thinking about things like Gay marriage: Weather you agree with the system or not, it's a huge step forward to just have equal rights. And I think that a lot of people that are saying "Well I don't believe in marriage, why do we want that anyway? Who cares?" aren't really looking way back to Gay and Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people being put in institutions, and given lobotomies, because of a lifestyle that they were leading and how important it is to take that step. And that's the vital element in history.

PS: It kind of brings up the issue of memory.
I'm 46 years of age, so I have 46 years of memory. But with history books, from talking to people that are older then me, and through science it could be said I have a memory; a cultural memory, an historical memory, going back centuries, or even billions of years going back to the creation of the universe. That's the kind of memory that we have now. What you're describing is a community, an oppressed community, whose memory is either being erased or is just limited to begin with.

JE: Yes. Limited in so many ways. I mean, going back to the idea of art and why it is I'm sitting here talking to you today, is the censorship of artists and the lack of our reach into the greater community to bring any message other then what's being channeled through every other media outlet.
The oral tradition of story telling and telling of history through art, whatever your medium, is how culture upon culture have learned about there history. And so to limit that is really as you've pointed out, either limiting or, if you want to go there, which I would say, erasing history, memory, and the ability to think and reason. Because that's how we can make good choices, is to know what came before us.

PS: There are some things you really don't have much control over. The monopolization of the media by corporations: I'm kind of limited in that area.

I identify as an artist. And I feel that the left or the Queer left doesn't really appreciate art the same way that Evangelical Christians do because I know that they hate it. They want to put stickers on it, they want to ban it. They hate it because they know how powerful it is. Whereas on the left artists are in my opinion basically fund-raising tools. They really don't appreciate it. OK, here's a true story.

A couple of years ago some friends of mine The Bouncing Souls, and two other bands The Dropkick Murphy’s, and The Dwarfs they were going on tour. It started in Canada. The show starts and the kids are dancing around. And the bouncers, described as "football player jock types," were literally slamming kids on the ground because they didn't like the way they were dancing. So the kids revolted and literally jumped on top of these guys. The bouncers got disgusted and left.

The owner of the venue cut the power and called the cops. So the cops come and the kids are sitting on the floor chanting "Sham 69, Sham 69, Sham 69..." For folks that don't know Sham 69 is a punk rock band going way back who wrote a song titled "If the Kids are United They Will Never Be Divided." But that's to long to chant so they did "Sham 69, Sham 69 Sham 69..." And the cops arrive and one takes a bull horn and shouts "BE QUIET!" Silence!

Then "BE QUIET, BE QUIET, BE QUIET..." Those kids started chanting "be quiet." Those kids were united by a song. And someone from the Dropkicks said (to the venue owner)
"If you just let us play things would be fine." And the cop said that if they performed they would be arrested for inciting a riot. If they sing a song, they’re inciting a riot.

The singer for the Dropkick Murphy’s went on stage and told the kids that they were going outside and that they would perform an acoustic set in the parking lot. And that's what they did. They went outside, they performed in the drizzle, the kids danced and sang along, and even the cops had a good time.
But those kids knew they had the power and they had a choice as to who they would give there power to. That's what music does and I don't think the "Queer Left" has stories like that.

JE: No it’s really sad. Queer left or just left. I also do speaking engagements where I talk about what I do and why I do it. And I was asked to speak at a collage in upper Manhattan and the topic was "Why Is Art Important in Activism?" And they almost had to be convinced.
There was a group of students who had asked for this topic be addressed. And none of there superiors understood why this this was a meaningful discussion to have. And it blew me away! Especially because these were women who were 40 and 50 years old, who should know why art goes hand in hand with activism. Who should, you would think, have grown up with art as activism. And I feel like there is this potential idea that it's almost passé' at this point; "Well that's been done. Let's do something else now." But it works. You can see it. The example you gave is perfect. And I've seen it over and over again.

It happened again this past weekend on Long Island at a Lesbian bar. People are talking playing pool kind of hanging out for all the bands that played before which drives me nuts by the way. It drives me nut! Because I perform with a lot of singer songwriters. And I'll get up and because I'm talking and because people will "shush" there neighbor because someone is just talking people will be quite. But then the next guitar player gets up whose singing just as powerful stuff if not more and everyone’s talking again. It drives me nuts.

But anyway, everyone’s talking through the bands; talking, talking, talking. And I get up to talk and in this case it was the bands before me except for one weren't necessarily political or feminist.
So I got up and started talking and there was this pull. I started telling these stories. And people were "That's me." I started telling this story about my mother and I compare the time she was living with breast cancer to the time were living in now. She died during the Regan administration and here we are in the second coming of Bush and it's so similar. We are just turning the clock back. We are in worse shape then we were at that point. And I'm talking and people stopped there pool games and they stop talking and just listened. It's so powerful.
Not just what I have to say but what all of us have to say is so powerful. And it needs to be heard.

And I think your right. The Right is terrified because they know that if people start tuning in, if people start listening, if people start understanding that we all share similar stories, we all share similar history, regardless of gender, regardless of sexuality, regardless of religion, regardless of race, that we do have some fundamental similarities it's going to destroy everything.

(Pause)

PS: Which is not a bad thing: Destroying
everything isn't necessarily a bad thing.

JE: Which is a wonderful thing! But if you're trying to control a population, and control the thought process of a population you can't start having them to identify with one another. If you want all Middle Eastern men to be evil you can't have those lines being fuzzy and crossed.

I hope ypu got something positive, or at least mostly positive, from this interview. For of my Gay and not so Gay expierience you can go to my BLOG: http://pedroangelserrano.blogspot.com/

I hope you got something positive, or at least mostly positive, from this interview. For of my Gay and not so Gay experience you can go to my BLOG: http://pedroangelserrano.blogspot.com/">

My visit to the Kennedy Space Center.

2011-02-02T18:08:00.000-08:00

This is what comes from being in a rush because you're late for work.

The Jetsons come here all the time!

When a big fookin country does big fookin things it does em in a big fookin way! (FOOKIN!)

"Do not crush insulation" Unless you want to void the warranty.

Heard a kid say "Daddy. Can bad guys come and steal these?"
So um, kid? Whatcha planning?

Watching the first moon landing July 20, 1969. I was 10 years old. As you can see I matured early.

The shuttle standing ready for launch. Count down doesn't start at 10 seconds. It starts 3 months before launch! It's behind all that he main fuel tank is the orange bit showing. It took 8 hours to move it from the building where it's prepped for launch traveling at 1 mile per hour.

It takes less time to get the little pine tree deodorizer situated.

Lesson learned from watching Antiques Roadshow. If they cleaned the scorch marks from re-entry, it would have decreased it's value.

"Fantastic! A garage sale! My luck the wallet is at home."

Actually it's called "The Rocket Garden".

And here we have the astronauts memorial.
The odds are 1 in 10 that there will be a fatal accident. Usually at lift off.

It's like a stand-up comedy routine, only I don't care if anybody laughs.

2011-01-23T14:38:00.000-08:00

2011-01-19T13:15:00.000-08:00

Santa. Take a hint. From now on Complex Carbs!

2011-01-13T22:48:00.000-08:00

2009

2010-12-30T18:52:00.000-08:00

I thought that it was obvious but sometimes you have to be direct.

2010-12-23T23:45:00.001-08:00

DADT Repealed. Now What?

2010-12-22T15:43:00.000-08:00

There's nothing quite as inspiring as victory. The repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" has given many people, who at one time would never have considered themselves as activists, the belief that people united on a common cause can effect some change.
But before you announce "Mission Accomplished" consider this.

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans reports that about one-third of all homeless people in the US are veterans, but about 1.5 million more veterans are at risk of homelessness "due to poverty, lack of support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing." They also report that 56% of homeless veterans are Black or Latino.

Some studies also show that one in four veterans becomes disabled as a result of physical violence or emotional trauma of war. There are currently 30,000 disabled veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Half of the US budget in 2009 was made up of military spending, including current expenditures, veterans benefits and the portion of the national debt caused by military costs, according to the War Resisters' League. That is more than the US spent on Health & Human Services, Social Security Administration, Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Education combined.

If you're the easily bored kind of queer then you're considering one of these issues to take up the free time that's opened up from DADT's repeal. Or there are other issues that your new found confidence can be focused on. Even if you just want to sleep in for the next 12 years consider making a donation time, money, or committing to having civil informed discussions on the pressing news of the day that effects everyone.
Sounds like a new years resolution doesn't it? Trust me, it's easier any other resolution you've made in your lifetime.
If you think it'll help here's a possible mantra for 2011: Gay Activism! It ain't what it used to be.

As a comment please share the issue you want to focus your attention on for 2011.

.

It's in Highland Park, NJ. 08104

2010-12-02T13:18:00.000-08:00

On the eve of Black Friday a new chain store opens.

2010-11-26T11:53:00.000-08:00

Photo by Robin Carson Cloud
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=614475835

College Ave New brunswick, NJ_Speptember_02010

2010-11-23T16:16:00.000-08:00

Novembeard.

2010-11-18T16:50:00.000-08:00

Prohibition is a Hell of a Drug.

2010-11-15T13:22:00.000-08:00

If energy drinks with alcohol and caffeine are bad, then ban it. And replace it with a true energy drink! One with caffeine and weed.

+

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local-beat/Local-Officials-Ask-FDA-to-Ban-Boozy-Energy-Drinks--108216794.html

The A List NY - Promoting Gay Stereotypes or is it a Documentary?

2010-11-07T21:47:00.000-08:00

I've been hearing complaints over the lack of diverse images of Gays on TV and film my entire life. Well, maybe not till I was 7.
The latest has been over a show called The A List.

I've never watched a complete episode. These two promotional videos is are I know about the A List.

OK. Now I know all I need to know about the A List. Let's me move on.

Reality shows are cast just like any other show. In this case what I suspect is that casting director was asked to look for Gay guys who fit what straight people expect.

This is how Salon.com described our ambassadors to middle America.
"...They all embody slightly different versions of a manicured gay stereotype. Mike is a beefy musclebound celebrity photographer who claims he is one of the most sought-after professionals in the business. Derek is a model agent who loves to get spray tans and says that Lindsay Lohan stays with him when she comes to New York. Austin is a cute, sly Southerner who once dated Marc Jacobs for three minutes and is coming back to N.Y. to resurrect his modeling career. Ryan has a sugar daddy husband, owns a hair salon, and has a bitchy best friend. "I consider it A-List to have a personal designer on speed dial,"... http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/2010/10/05/a_list_reality_show_mike_albo

Is this a good thing? Maybe.
Is this a bad thing? Maybe.

What this series can show is how much influence commercial media has on how any minority is viewed: literally and figuratively.

What I suspect is that when straight folks realize that we're all not so flaming that you could use a Gay guy to light a cigar off of, that's when you'll see more diversity.
Hate the game not the players.

If you're still annoyed by what you feel is an uneven representation of Gays inthe media check out the documentary "Color Adjustment."
A new perspective can be a very positive and empowering thing and this documentary created by the late Marlin Riggs gave me such a new point of view.

It's described as "A study of how network television absorbed deep-seated racial conflict into the non-threatening formats of prime time television. Clips from Amos 'n' Andy, Good Times, Roots, and The Cosby Show among others are inter-cut with interviews with producers, cultural critics and actors."

Marlin Riggs was a Black Gay man who crossed cultural and community borders and came back from each sojourn with wisdom to share with his various communities. Color Adjustment provides something every minority community can learn from. Check out the intro. Consider this was a documentary on media depictions of Asians, Jews, Muslims, Gays. Give it a shot.

Getting ready for the Winter

2010-10-28T13:02:00.000-07:00

Coming out as heterosexual.

2010-10-11T09:45:00.000-07:00

A couple of years back, 2008 I think, I was walking down the street with a couple of kids I met through the local punk scene. I don't remember what we were talking about or where we were headed. I do remember one of the kids answering his phone. This is what I heard him say.

"Hey."
Pause.
"I'm walking down the street in New Brunswick with a 49 year old Gay guy."
Pause.
"No."
Pause.
"OK."
And he hangs up.

It was his father. This was the conversation.

"Hello."
"Where are you?"
"I'm walking down the street in New Brunswick with a 49 year old Gay guy."
"Are you Gay?"
"No."
"OK, be home by 7."

It's never gonna be that easy for all of us, so Gay or not, I wish you all a happy coming out day.

.

Vigil at Rutgers University in memory of Tyler Clementi - 1st October 2010

2010-10-03T22:47:00.000-07:00

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/10/rutgers_university_holds_candl.html

Presidential Rumor Mongering - an American Tradition

2010-08-26T15:31:00.000-07:00

When Lincoln was running for president a rumor was spread that one of his ancestors was an ape. They were not referring to evolution. When F.D.R. was running the rumor was that he was a Jew. With Kennedy the rumor was that he'd be the puppet of the Pope. Today 20% of Americans believe that Barak Obama is Muslim. Interesting fact. The largest percentage of this 20% are between the ages of 18 to 25 proving the rumors about George W. Bushes education policies.

The Little Rats That Could.

2010-07-24T13:09:00.000-07:00

Listening to NPR Radio last week I heard the details of an experement I first heard of in the late 1980's.

To prove a theory this experiment was conducted.
Researchers took 2 groups of rats.

With the first group, individual rats were placed in a jar of water with a stream of water falling down onto them.

The average time it took for the rats in the first group to drown was about 15 minutes.

The second group of rats were put into the same jar but after one minute it would be taken out, dried off, and given a couple of minutes to relax. Then it was put back into the jar of water.

The average time it took for the rats in the second group to drown approximately was 60 hours. I listened to the interview twice to be sure I heard correctly.

What was it that caused this difference?

The answer given was that the second set of rats were given a choice.
They had two experiences. One of being in a desperate situation then suddenly being in a safe environment.
When placed back in the jar of water they kept swimming until they got back to that safe place.
This might be interpreted as having hope.

And the other set of rats that drowned after only 15 minutes?

They were quitters.

Teen Wolves First Show - July 02010

2010-07-17T12:08:00.000-07:00

2010-07-15T12:50:00.001-07:00

McCormacks Pub, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 Year 02010

2010-07-10T16:23:00.000-07:00

Assorted shots from the last show at The Terror Dome in Philly PA, June 02010

2010-07-10T16:04:00.000-07:00

At The Terror Dome Philadelphia PA June 02010

2010-07-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

Latest flier for June 14th Show in New Brunswick.

2010-07-10T15:29:00.000-07:00

Looking forward

2010-06-19T14:05:00.000-07:00

It's been about little over a year since I started saying "Looking forward to it." as my farewell to folks who say, "See ya later." One friend looked back aafter I said it with a confused look on his face. I say it because it's possible that I may not "see you later." Not to sound morbid but we all live on the border between life and death. There's no way of truly knowing if this day will be the last we spend with those we care about.
So, yea. I do look forward to it.
I also replaced "what's going on?" with, "How ya feeling?"

One friend stopped to think about it for a few seconds. I said that it seemed like a more relevant question then "How ya doing?"

He agreed.

Photographs I took of a Friends Garden

2010-06-16T15:57:00.000-07:00

My Tag as Intreperted by Pat Lonigan

2010-06-16T15:05:00.000-07:00

Flier For Local New Jersey Punk Rock Show.

2010-06-16T15:02:00.000-07:00

Flier I made for a Local Punk Rock Show.

2010-06-16T14:56:00.000-07:00

Haiku Conversation. Sorta

2010-03-12T14:42:00.000-08:00

A Textversation
Wednesday 3 March till… 02010

This Textversation began with a message to a friend named Chuck. It began with an apology over my not visiting him more often, allowing “…weeds to grow between us.” I deleted the original message. A lesson there for me - write this stuff down.
Chuck by the way is a professional piercer at Sparks hair salon in New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08901. And yes, I’ve paid him to pierce holes in me.
He’s a good guy as well as a good friend.

Below is his response to my text.

Chuck Schupe --- March-3-02010

Weeds grow from small seeds
Forcing frosted cracks wider
Paths lie untended

Reply only in cryptic haiku.

-------

ME –Friday 5 March 02010

Sunlight on the snow
Tracks in both directions
They type with there thumbs

---

March-5-2010

Street salt tangs the air
Grass is mud but green shoots rise
Snow is black with schmutz

-------

Friday 5 March 02010

Snow pulls down a limb
Five pear branches bloom white

Five green beer bottles

---

Saturday 6 March 02010

Can’t remember shit
‘Senior moments’ are less fun
Did I take my pills?

Remorseless androids
Stare bitterly at the sun
Pass me the ammo

--------

Sunday 7 March 02010

Gray snow hides in shade
New Jersey tranquility
White walls, black milk crates

---

Tuesday 9 March 02010

In Dealy Plaza
Jackie reaches for his scalp
A magic bullet

A border skirmish
Sock monkeys versus sad clowns
Lost balloon drifts north

In nine Buddhist hells
Demons flay away your skin
In one, mother does

-------

Wednesday 10 March 02010

Clouds fog the window
Whiskey warmed by hot water
Unscented candles

---

Wednesday 10 March 02010

Wisteria breeze
Cheeping of mating toads
Moonlight on a mask

-------

Thursday 11 March 02010

Not hunting this night
Pumas tracks in melting snow

The young lions call

---

2:29 pm Thursday 11 March 02010

Black centipede flesh
oranges and red poppies
William Shops in Tangiers

Sorry for the miscount!

2:32 pm Thursday 11 March 02010

Black centipede flesh
oranges and red poppies
Bill Shops in Tangiers

-------

Thursday 11 March 02010

Visions of Tangier's
Dreams or hallucination
The numbers add up

---

Friday 12 March 02010

Burning coal soul stare
poisoned, shot, strangled, and drowned
He smelled like a goat.

-------

To be continued.

2010-03-10T10:12:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago I got depressed.
I texted three friends. They all responded. One who's in Florida phoned
because he was in a rush and promised he'd call when his business was done.

Below is one of the two text exchanges I want to share.

A Textversation
Monday 22nd February 02010

Me: Me: Feeling kinda down.

Him: What’s up fool?

Me: Emotionally tired/depressed. Thought typing with my thumbs would help.

Him: Type away nigga. I’m here

Me: Me: No one thing I can point to. Little things, little failures, tear me down sometimes. Feeling a bit better. Glad you’re there.

Him: Damn nigga you’re making me tear up a bit.

Me: Don’t mean too. I’ll make good on my promise to get to Philly.

Him: Love and miss you.

Love and miss you too.

Him: My girl is jealous of you.

Me: You’re kidding right?

Him: Yea fool. She loves you too she thinks you’re sweet.

Me:
Shucks now ya got me blushing.

Him: I hate to text that. LOL

Me: : - )

Me: Well I got tickets for the train. I can come and spread the sweetness around.

Him: That just sounds dirty.

Me: Yea, now that you mention it…

Me: Then again some folks pay extra for that.

Him: I hope you got a smile on your face now.

Me: Yes I do.

Thanx.

I’ve taken on the habit of reaching out for help so sent this text message to three friends. For me on that night “Feeling kind down” meant sitting at the kitchen table, head resting on folded arms, tears welling up in my eyes.

These were not the usual friends I call. Why this choice? Perhaps it was my not wanting to bother the usual comrades with my troubles. I also had the subtle feeling that it was best to expand my circle of intimate friends. Besides I wasn’t fooling anybody.
They could all see my emotional exhaustion. In the last year I’ve dropped the heavy shield I’ve been carrying for decades.
This felt like I dropped it. At least while I’m with them. They make it easy.

I sent a text after my visit to Philadelphia.

Me: Hey. So glad we got to hang for a bit. Lifted my spirits.

Him: Love you too.

.

2010-02-12T12:55:00.001-08:00

Is there such a thing as "New Jerseyness"

2009-11-19T10:24:00.000-08:00

This is a trailer for a documentary series titled "Driving Jersey."
It's still in production and the man doing it is involved with a couple of other projects
as well. Busy guy.

You see me somewhere halfway in talking about rain.

.

Interview up with president of the Rutgers University Student Vets organization.

2009-11-18T13:08:00.002-08:00

.

Sunday the 8th of November I interviewed Mark Pollard,president of Rutgers Student Veterans. We talk about the history of the group, it's goals, special events,
http://rutgersnewark.collegiatelink.net/Community?action=getOrgHome&orgID=28663
as well as Gays in the military, care for the wounded, plus listen to rocking tunes!

Check it out and please leave a comment. Even if it's just a :-)
http://hearnewbrunswick.com/widgets/play-podcast.php?id=5023

The groups Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/Rev.Pedro?ref=profile#/group.php?gid=123030973238

Interview up with president of the Rutgers University Student Vets organization.

2009-11-18T13:08:00.001-08:00

Interview up with president of the Rutgers University Student Vets organization.

2009-11-18T13:08:00.000-08:00

http://hearnewbrunswick.com/widgets/play-podcast.php?id=5023

Interview with Author of "Dear Roz: Finding the Truth about My Father in his Wartime Love Letters to My Mother"

2009-11-18T12:43:00.000-08:00

Next Sunday 22nd from 2 till 4 pm on Hear New Brunswick I'll have Mr. Richard Leitman author of
"Dear Roz: Finding the Truth about My Father in his Wartime Love Letters to My Mother"

From the web site: http://dear-roz.com/
"Dear Roz is a documentation of my journey to find the truth about my father, and at the same time, to find pieces of myself which lay hidden in my shadows, most notably anger and fear. It records my search for the truth by reading my father's letters to my mother from WW II and speaking to him through letters of his own; letting my sorrow, fear, joy, anger and a host of other emotions flow freely from me onto paper. Since this is my search for the truth to foster my growth and healing, this was not the place to put on the proverbial rose-colored glasses and present my father, or myself, as more or less than we were."

The interview will broadcast Live Sunday the 22nd of November on Www.HearNewBrunswick.Com
from 2:pm till 4 pm EST. That's 19:00 till 21:00 GMT
The programs are archived for Pod Cast.

My "Patski"

2009-11-09T12:15:00.000-08:00

Pat had packed for a cross country trip with a friend.
First stop Nashville, then New Orleans and then whatever lay between him and Seattle, Washington.
"Hey Pedro, think I'll need a watch?"
I look at him holding his watch up to me and try to think a need to know the time.
Pat says, "Nah!" He hands me his watch and says, "You keep it till I get back."
I'd think of him every time I checked the time.

November 1st broadcast available for Podcast.

2009-11-09T10:46:00.000-08:00

Not a great show but OK.

The show I did Sunday the 8th was with Mark Pollard president of the Rutgers Student organization of Rutgers Newark That was a fun interview.

I'll let ya know when it's up.
Also have an interview with Rich Leitman the author of Dear Roz: Finding the Truth about My Father in his Wartime Love Letters to My Mother.
Here's the website http://www.dear-roz.com/

Looking forward to that one.

So that every Sunday 2 pm till 4 pm Eastern time. That's 19:00 till 21:00 GMT. (I think)

Re-thinking Thanksgiving.

2009-11-09T09:46:00.000-08:00

So when does the Holiday Season begin?
For me it starts with Halloween, (The Gay holiday!)

OK, so it's not officially the Gay holiday. It's a good kick start though.

The Holiday season for most folks begins with one of my favorite meat eating holidays, Thanksgiving. It's a time when I see and get e-mails wishing me a Happy Thanksgiving. But I can't help but remember that for American Indians this isn't exactly the message there want to hear.

From what I have heard from American Indians is that for them it's a time of mourning. There are politically "progressive", "radical", "Leftist" etc... folk who boycott the holiday or have days of silence. Although it's intended to show solidarity to me it seems divisive.

My day of remembrance/silence comes the day before Thanksgiving Day. This I do between my two thanksgiving observances. One the week before with the "adopted" family, and friends. And then time with the biological family on the official holiday.

This has been my policy since the late 1900's when me and the local punk rockers had our first Thanks giving Punk Pot Luck. Rethinking and adapting a holiday seems more practical in making it meaningful.

A couple of years back I listed to an American Indian women comment on Thanksgiving.
She approved of the holiday because she felt we should always be "...in a state of thanksgiving."
She then explained that for her people when the whales returned from there migrations it was a time of thanks giving, as well as when certain flowers bloomed.

For me it's seeing the Queen Ann's Lace blooming that has me recognizing that Summers peak has arrived.
Even though it's hot and sunny the days are growing shorter. I may not have noticed but the Queen Ann's Lace has and is preparing by blooming to put out seeds. It leads me to feeling grateful for what's left of the Summer.

One other theme of Thanksgiving is to be charitable and to feed those who are lacking. Times are tough for most folks it seems but for those who can contribute here's a list of American Indian charities I found.

This to me is also a way of expressing solidarity.
To either contribute or to "just" spread the word.

American Indian College Fund
http://www.collegefund.org/

Southwest Indian Relief Council
http://www.nrcprograms.org/site/PageServer?pagename=swirc_index

Sioux Nation Relief Fund
http://www.nrcprograms.org/site/PageServer?pagename=snrf_index

Navajo Relief Fund
http://www.nrcprograms.org/site/PageServer?pagename=nrf_index

National Relief Charities
http://www.nrcprograms.org/site/PageServer?pagename=index

Native American AID
http://www.nrcprograms.org/site/PageServer?pagename=naa_index

Council of Indian Nations
http://www.nrcprograms.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cin_index

American Indian Relief Council
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Review of Right To Assembel Vol. #2

2009-09-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

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Not that I can really find this confirmed anywhere, but it is in-fucking-sane that The Right to Assemble Volume Two is seemingly made up entirely of almost completely previously unreleased material. This is hard enough task, but it all comes from the New Brunswick, New Jersey punk and hardcore community. That means that not only do you get a massive and well-spanned portrait of the current New Brunswick scene, but that you're offered rare songs from almost every one of those bands.

The record begins with a spoken word intro by Pedro Angel Serrano, who became a sort of scene figurehead over the years for being a pretty unique character: a Puerto Rican homosexual skinhead. I'm only familiar with him thanks to Ronen Kauffman's excellent 2007 memoir of sorts, New Brunswick, New Jersey, Goodbye: Bands, Dirty Basements and the Search. But you should be pretty familiar with him after this short clip where Serrano stresses the importance of diversity. It's a pretty fitting introduction for a record that, while largely containing a variety of no-frills hardcore acts, also contains a smattering of pop-punk, indie rock and more melodic hardcore stylings.

Early on are some of the more notable names here. The Degenerics kick it off after Serrano's speech with what seems to be their newest song, "In This Skin," recorded in December 2007. It's vocally way more intense than anything else I've heard from them and it pushes the song well. Seasick's contribution sorta sounds like it would've fit well on Billy in a Bearsuit, their somewhat recent split 7" with A.N.S., though it's pretty much better than any of those songs. Static Radio NJ offer a standout from their recent full-length, An Evening of Bad Decisions....

More standouts come from the likes of other bands I was previously familiar with, like Zhenia Golov, Scream Hello, Ensign, the Ergs!, the Measure [SA] and the Fire Still Burns. Zhenia Golov starts off with some muttering, cynical and depressed spoken word ("Afloat in a sea of piss-yellow license plates and shifty eyes / I can't relate to anyone else as they stare at the ground") before picking it up a bit with "Barriers." Scream Hello's "Nights, Fights, Cries, Jokes, Laughs, Songs, Love, Life" is recorded a tad raw for their sound, but it bristles with a bustling pace and their signature playfulness contrasted well against reminiscing lyrics that you can't tell are sad ("We're no good at socializing...") or bright ("...because we're all out of practice"). Ensign's "A Wreath and a Rifle Salute" is damn awesome, with rad mood and tempo changes; it somehow reminds me more of Bane than I ever remember them sounding. Don't get too excited, though -- the liner notes claim a 2004 copyright on the song, so it's probably like an old demo or something. Hopefully they get in gear eventually and put out something new. The Ergs!'s "blahblahblahfuckyoublahblahblah" is a bouncingly stupid and catchy number...not much of a shocker there. The Measure [SA] provide raw Plan-It-X-style pop-punk with "Spanish." The Fire Still Burns' gruff and rather complex "Disingenuous" sounds like what I'd hope Rise Against could still muster up on a major after revealing that mediocre single, with a certain sincerity in the delivery and perfectly placed backing "whoa"s in its early parts.

Other bands that made a good impression on me here include Rock,Star, Staring Problem and Risk Relay, all of whom lay it down towards the end of Side B. Rock,Star's "Timeclock" has a neat and meaty hook, which caught me off guard considering I wasn't too huge on their Inamorato discography thing. I found Staring Problem's vocalist really goddamn obnoxious at first, but after a few listens of the drug-abusing parent indictment of "Trash Trade" you can really visualize kids losing their shit and causing ruckus across the floor in some dingy bar basement. Risk Relay close the album with "Mizenmast," easily the comp's most unique song -- a more musically restrained, early emo / post-hardcore-beckoning song that seems to draw from Moss Icon and Fugazi's gentler moments.

There's a clearly generous amount of effort that are put into the black-and-white "liner notes" packaged with the LP. It's basically a zine -- each band drafted up a half-page graphic with whatever they wanted (usually lyrics and song credits, of course) put to a band photo or special drawing/image/whatever. Zhenia Golov win for best of these designs with a three-panel comic strip integrating the lyrics and song info.

Oh, you want more? Sure, the purchase of the LP comes with a download card that lets you grab MP3s of the whole record (as I think every current vinyl release should do; not everyone can be that guy on "Pimp My Ride" who had a fucking record player installed in his dash). But you also get eight songs that didn't make the cut (probably due to space more than anything), and a complete download of The Right to Assemble's original volume one 7". That's another 14 songs -- basically another whole compilation. Though that seems largely like leftovers, some of the tracks are good, and some are really good. The Bloodreds' goofy street punk-tinged-but-really-pop-punk romp "Something to Lose" ain't bad. In First Person's tremendous emo-violence-encrusted "Effrontery" fucking rips -- it's one of their heaviest and most intense songs, and fuck, it rules, with plenty of instrumental change-ups and utilizing the dueling male-female screams wonderfully. But ugh, PxCxP's "Single Cell Lifestyle" -- DO NOT WANT. The basic equation of obnoxious unmelodic screams and keyboards are not desirable unless you're An Albatross.

Though bogged down by a handful of fairly middling background hardcore tracks (Hunchback, RSO and Mother Night are hardly terrible bands, but they do end Side A pretty clustered, and moments on the B Side are kinda eh), few releases have bore such a well-rounded and significant display of a concentrated scene as volume two of The Right to Assemble. This is a wonderful document that, with more attention and regard, should hopefully open up punks around the world to a community of obviously talented and diverse songwriters.

http://www.punknews.org/review/7655

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From "The Otherside of Skinheads. by Eric Deggans, Staff Writer, Asbury Park Press Sunday June 25, 1995

2009-09-17T13:10:00.000-07:00

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http://www.io.com/~qsb/words/news/pedro.html

Pedro Serrano

The crowd surges as an earnest but ragged punk band kicks into action, heating up the drizzly evening with blasts of furious guitar work and spat-out vocals.

Dozens of partying skinheads are packed into a performance space called the Gas Station in New York's Alphabet City district - a vision of Mad Max style punk nihilism, its walls fortified by corrugated metal topped with barbed wire. Jutting from a disintegrating corner of Avenue B, the former gas station's courtyard is now filled with sculptures made from old bicycle pans and castoff construction materials.

Inside, the crowd is a rainbow of counter-cultural colors, with black, Asian and Hispanic skins quaffing beers while slam dancing over and into their white brethren.

ln the middle of this maelstrom of sight, sound and fury sits Pedro Serrano, his close cropped head topped by a well-worn cap, swaying to the kinetic groove. Though he's surrounded by friends, Serrano seems to be in his own world.

"Everybody who knows me knows me as a friendly person, but few people understand me," said Serrano later, smiling slightly.

A welfare child born to Puerto Rican parents, Serrano, 36, stands as an anachronism. A racial minority in a subculture known for its violent racists; a gay man in a movement known for its homophobia; a man nearing middle age in a scene where many are just past adolescence - he often walks alone, even in a crowd.

Serrano has devoted himself to reclaiming skinhead culture from its racist stigma. Due to hit the streets soon, his fanzine, Brother Outsider, will combine news on racist incidents and tips on fighting "boneheads (a derisive nickname for racist skins), with record reviews and listings of upcoming ska and punk shows.

"Most skinhead 'zines don't seem to be into discussing politics - mostly because the extreme right and left are both trying to co-opt the scene," Serrano said. "Most skins are just interested in street politics - what affects them. Maybe through this, I can get the local skins together."

Spend some time in his element, and it's obvious Serrano serves as a father figure of sorts to the young skinheads around his New Brunswick home base.

Drawn to the skin scene through punk music - where in the mid '70s emerging star Patti Smith helped him come to terms with his own sexuality - Serrano finds himself standing on the other side of a road his younger contemporaries are just beginning to cross.

"In high school - being gay and not knowing how to deal with it - I was miserable and angry and crazy," he said. "Most people (I knew) who were gay then either tried to kill themselves or someone else. The music was a nice leveling off between that."

At WRSU-FM, the Rutgers University-based student radio station where he helps assemble speciality programs on world music and gay issues, Serrano scans the wire services for material to place in Brother Outsider.

"At least once a month I'm asked, 'Why be a skinhead?'" Serrano recounted. "It was more or less a reaction to other scenes I had been in," he said. "The gay scene was disco and stuff, but in the punk rock world, you're encouraged to express yourself. Being part of the skinhead thing, I learned to find people who accepted me for what I am."

Alone in the crowd

In the threadbare living room of the New Brunswick crash pad where his crew of skinhead buddies hangs out, Serrano squats next to a pair of garbage cans overflowing with beer bottles and pizza boxes while waiting for friends from the ska band Inspecter 7.

A group of 10 or so skins, all friendly with members of the band, hope to pile in the group's van for a trip to an all-day punk and ska concert in New York. While they wait, some discuss the latest event: a scuffle the night before with racist skins at a New Brunswick nightclub.

"They were from that band Aggravated Assault," jokes one skin, holding up a battered CD case of the group's music. As another reads off song titles like "The Eternal Jew" and "Kill a Red," a black friend of the group shows off a recent gift: a flight jacket taken from one of the racist skins, its neo-Nazi patches still intact.

''Can't believe they tried to come into town," another skin says, shaking his head. "I bet they'll think twice next time."

According to these young skins, New Brunswick has remained fairly free of openly racist skinheads, while areas like Atlantic City, Trenton and Staten Island maintain a strong racist skin presence.

"Some of the things anti-racist skins do is beat up racist skins," admitted Serrano later. "(Anti-racist skins) really do see themselves as being at war with these people - because they see their subculture being hijacked and associated with racist elements."

Before long, the ragtag group arrived in New York for the show - itself a fund-raiser to help pay legal costs for a black skinhead accused of a vicious assault. Serrano again found himself alone in the crowd -and not minding it much.

"It used to be, the only time I felt comfortable was at shows ... now it's being at shows and seeing people my own age," he joked.

And what about finding a significant other who can bridge his different worlds?

"That's really impossible," Serrano said. "I really think I'm working on myself. A lot of gay guys talk about finding the man of their dreams - I want to become the man of my dreams."

- Eric Deggans

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Interview From April 18, 2004

2009-09-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/2004/vol8n38/WiseGuy.html

Home News Tribune

Wise Guy Skinhead Rutgers Disc Jockey Pedro Angel Serrano Is Happy To Be The `Old Wise Man'

LAURIE GRANIERI STAFF WRITER

April 18, 2004
Copyright © 2004 Home News Tribune. All rights reserved.

Pedro Angel Serrano's got a painfully skinny, 6-foot-1-inch frame, mutton-chop sideburns, a sprinkle of acne scars across his cheeks and a well-loved pair of combat boots laced up his calves - not necessarily a look that screams "guru."

But to some people, especially kids in the local punk scene, he's exactly that - an inspiring, been-there-done-that counselor who can dole out sage advice without a hint of judgment.

That doesn't mean Serrano's not opinionated.

"I wanna toughen gay kids up," says Serrano, a spoken-word poet who alternately identifies himself as "intermittently gay" and "homosexual." He says he prefers to be called homosexual because the term doesn't tend to conjure a raft of stereotypical images.

Serrano tends to blast stereotypes every day - just by existing. He has referred to himself as "Central New Jersey's resident Puerto Rican gay skinhead." Add to that that he has been ordained a nondenominational minister via the Internet, and he becomes even more of a head-scratching curiosity.

For more than a decade, Serrano has been a disc jockey at Rutgers University's radio station, 88.7 WRSU FM. (He's also a monthly host of "OUT-FM" at WBAI 99.5 FM New York City.) His RSU show, "Generation Q," a blend of talk, interviews and music by out gay artists, airs from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays.

In Serrano's own wry estimation, the show's mission is to "promote a positive, progressive and humane culture for the 21st century."

It's also about providing alternative viewpoints - viewpoints often contrary to Limbaugh-speak.

"A lot of adults think not changing your mind is somehow a good thing," Serrano says. "I see adults digging deeper and deeper into their rhetorical loops. This (show) is supposed to supply additional discussion." Serrano claims he'll "listen to anybody," regardless of their stance.

But Serrano also challenge the gay community, which he seems to believe has its own limitations.

"I went through this phase where I thought I had to hang out with gay people because `I'm gay, too,'" he says. "Then I realized, `No, I don't.' Because there are a lot of messed-up gay people.

"I think society makes a lot of gay people nuts," Serrano continues. "They never gave up the defenses they developed when they were younger, and they become these control queens who have a view about how everything is `supposed' to be ... and aren't willing to adapt or change or grow."

Even Serrano's cheeky Web site, www.oldwiseone.com, refers to his quasi-paternal status on the Central Jersey punk scene. "Rants" and "sermons" - also called "Rev. Pedro's famous moral and ethical musings" - are featured on the site.

Actually, the url is a little misleading: At 44, the Perth Amboy resident is not exactly wizened. But he's clearly got his own brand of hard-won wisdom, not the chin-stroking kind, but the street-wise kind that often comes to people by accident.

Brian Keinlen of the successful New Brunswick punk band The Bouncing Souls has known Serrano since 1988, when they crashed together in a "punk house" on Welton Street.

"Pedro was one of us," Keinlen writes in an e-mail, "but we knew there was much more depth to this guy, we knew he had been through a lot of (expletive) in his life. Somehow, this positively charged force had come out of a dark past."

Serrano grew up in Newark's Columbus Homes housing project but has spent much of his adult life in New Brunswick. (He has performed his spoken-word act on several occasions at the Court Tavern. His next CD is tentatively titled "Gay ... but cool!") He is the oldest of five kids. His parents, a warehouse-laborer dad and a homemaker mother, moved here from San Sebastian, Puerto Rico, before he was born.

Serrano's first job was in a warehouse. He tried school for a while, at Middlesex County College, but eventually left because, as he tells it, "I was nuts." He says he has struggled with manic depression.

Punk bands like the Cro-Mags, War Zone, the Dicks, the Big Boys and the Buzzcocks offered salvation.

"They had gay characters" in their songs, Serrano says. He describes his reaction: "`OK, this is cool; I exist.'

"In the gay scene, I got attention for being cute," he continues. "In the punk rock scene, I was praised for being assertive, for being a bad (expletive)." In the punk-rock scene, he says, "nobody is fat - you're big."

"I didn't know what to make of Pedro when I first met him," New York City-based out gay singer Freddy Freeman writes in an e-mail. "He appeared the antithesis of every gay stereotype I had ever heard of but had a distinct queer sensibility at the same time. He seemed to embody some kind of Zen duality. I found it very `hot.' It hasn't changed a bit - only intensified ... He opens his ears to new voices or forgotten or ignored voices."

Serrano quickly disproves the perception that skinheads - a subculture largely made up of white, working-class males who first emerged in England in the 1960s - are homophobic neo-Nazis.

Sure, he still dresses the part (no pleated Dockers or carefully aged baseball caps here) - he's got the buzzed hair and the requisite flannel shirt - but he says the concept of being a skinhead, as it relates to daily life, has changed as he has aged.

When you're young, Serrano says, "you want to take something seriously, (something) that's your own. The music was expressing what I was feeling. It's a youth culture, something to take seriously until they find a family or career."

Zak Kaplan, general manager and art director of the New Brunswick-based Chunksaah Records, met Serrano about 10 years ago.

"I didn't know many skins before I started hanging around New Brunswick," Kaplan writes in an e-mail. "I wasn't reallysure what they were all about. I wasn't sure if the whole racist skinheadstereotype held up or not. I thought it was interesting and a lot morecomfortable having a skinhead around who was not white and not straightand not young but still a skinhead who obviously held a lot of respect.

"The reason people respect him so much is because he doesn't judge people, he usually knows what he's talking about, and he doesn't talk down to people," Kaplan continues. "These are all things that you know about Pedro from sentence number one ... Very few things in this world stay consistent; Pedro is one of the few."

These days, being a skinhead means "being available for the younger punks and skinheads in the scene. It's all ego gratification," Serrano cracks.

"I like being the Old Man," he says, referring to his nickname. "I have a reputation as someone who will listen to anybody. Kids turn to me for advice."

"Pedro was one of our first mentors," Keinlen writes. "He taught us a lot when we were `green' kids just out of high school. He taught us respect and opened our minds.

"He once used an analogy to describe most people as `walking reflex machines,' just sort of sleepwalking and reacting, but never fully awake," Keinlen continues. "That has stuck with me to this day. I have learned that it is true, and that I have the responsibility of being an original thinker and creator. Pedro inspires people to wake up and embrace their destiny; his life is a great example."

Serrano's a complicated guy. On one hand, he says warm-and-fuzzy, up-with-people things like, "I make a point of pointing out that we're all connected," "gay Americans are Americans" and "gay kids should look inside themselves and find out who they are," rather than feel they must conform to a gay stereotype.

But Serrano's also a provocateur: "I'm not gay; I just have sex with guys," he writes on his Web site. "Truth be told, I haven't been gay in years. There's too much work to being gay. There's all these meetings you have to go to. Then all that furniture you have to buy. The designer clothes to keep up with. And don't get me started on the designer drugs. JESUS! ... Oh, and in my opinion, with all due respect: the music sucks."

During our interview, Serrano describes himself as "tortured" and mentions, "I have a need to do a scary thing once in a while to keep myself awake." He says he's been journaling in pencil for "years and years," then will obscure the pencil markings with new thoughts in ink to "erase the misery of that day."

In 1991, Serrano learned he was HIV positive. He says his health is relatively stable these days, although at one point, he says, his weight plummeted to 135 pounds. His volunteer dee-jaying at WRSU and the money he brings in selling T-shirts with logos such as "I'm Queer for Strong Beer" don't provide health insurance, but he says he is able to obtain medicine through the federal Ryan White CARE Act. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the program, for those suffering from HIV disease who have little or no insurance, serves 533,000 people a year.

Obtaining a steady job is tough, Serrano says; it's not easy to find an employer who will be patient with his complicated drug-taking schedule, which often calls for him to rest for an extended period after he has administered the medicine.

"It's a part of my life," Serrano says. "At the same time, it's a burden.

"There's the impression that people with AIDS tend to live more fully. Other people learn these things from owning a dog or tending a garden," he says in a voice that indicates he's invoked this analogy before.

"You don't need AIDS to have these things," Serrano says. "Get a dog."

17 March 02009

2009-03-28T12:22:00.000-07:00

It was in the middle of a LOST DVD marathon.
Me, a straight guy, and a women.
I shot my hand up and asked, "Who hear would marry Hurly?"

Of the three of us it was me and the women.
When asked why the consensis was that Hurly was, "the niceist guy on the show."

As we continued to watch the women gave a constant stream of details to us. And when some one entered the room she would start whth an update with a spoiler at every dramatic moment.
It was getting on my nerves.

A scene with Lock came up. I shot up my hand and asked, "Who hear would marry Lock?"

Again it was the womwn and I who imediatly had our hands up.

Slightly slower our other male member raised his hand with a, "Yea, OK."

It confermed a statement I've heard repeated throughout my life. "Maybe you just havn't met the right guy."

Him and me both.