Cruel

Joy Division-"Atmosphere"

Since I heard DJ at his first voice lesson on Saturday, I've been in a contemplative mood musically.

Lately there have several major things I was asked to hold in confidence.That is fine, but since I'm a fairly social animal I have a tendency to then hold everything back. Its learning to find my balance again

First in my family another member recently tested positive for Huntington's Disease. I was honestly hoping to take one for the team by getting HD, but it wasn't going to happen. 

Depeche Mode - "So Cruel" 

Its interesting, this last piece of music. I'm not a big fan of this tune, but I was looking for a song to put here, and my brain kept telling me it would be the perfect place for So Cruel. That is what music is supposed to do, influence how you think.


While I'm on the subject of Depeche Mode, the day I wrote my last blog post I realized my information was a bit off. They were still here until that afternoon working on the new album, I literally missed them by half an hour in fact, being as I was downtown on other business. The same block as the studio. Rumour is that they will be coming here to work so we'll have to see if its going to be another Santa Barbara Sound Design LP like Playing the Angel and the (Bare) rerecordings were. Personally, I love the vibe that studio seems to send the band home with. 

 Destruction Rock at it's best. The first half of today's double feature:

The Police-"Synchronicity II"

On another note, there was some information Dahy's mother did not want to know about her son's final days. Jane and I have no problem with this. We understand and respect their relationship. There's another person who felt differently and took it upon themselves to inform her in a way in which she would not have a choice but to learn. This person felt that they knew better what his Mum would want to know. Needless to say discovering that she was informed of this and then having to field questions to settle her mind was not a pleasant experience. She had wanted to go at this time not knowing, who are you to question whether her decision was the correct one to have made?

The Police - "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"

She is a lot like her son that way. Unlike me, who feels I need every piece of information to make a well informed decision the Kelly's seem to have a strong belief that they don't want or need unnecessary information. 

Pink Floyd - "Another Brick In The Wall"

Last November after Dahy's test results had come back with a very high viral load and dropping CD4 count. That meant he was becoming resistant to his meds and at best it was time for him to try something new. At worst, it was time for him to get his affairs in order.

We went down to Los Angles to see his doctor. Dahy sat down, listened to a quick briefing and then asked three questions. We left five minutes later, he went and filled a prescription for two tablets, swallowed them and proceeded to (try to) work for the remainder of the day. At 4:00 in the afternoon we drove back to the doctor's office and he let the appointment secretary know that the medication made him too sick for a less than 25 percent chance of working. 

Simple Minds - "Belfast Child (live)"

How the hell does someone make a decision like that? I never could. It is not enough to make an informed decision to discontinue medical treatment. For my friend, anything past that small amount of information would only cloud his process over a life and death decision.

If I can't respect that in my best friends and family, then what does that say about me?

Frankie Goes to Hollywood-"Born to Run"

Catch Paul Ware on Facebook or Twitter. I can also be reached via email (delete no spam) but much prefer the Facebook message option. The comments section is fine too.

Want to know when the next blog is coming out or recommend it to a friend? There is an easy Facebook page for that now.

Right Now

I'm half asleep but there are several things that excited me tonight. The first is this new song by Sheffield native Hiem. I like to promote local electronic music so I was honoured when Hiem hit me up in IM to notify me their  new song, which goes on sale today, features Philip Oakey. Here it is for your listening pleasure:

Hiem and Phil Oakey-"2AM"

Also today I was listening to a lot of early Human League and Heaven 17.

The Human League-"Black Hit of Space"

Heaven 17-"Geisha Boys and Temple Girls"

Speaking of Heaven 17, I found a rare clip of the Red Hot Chili Peppers performing a cover of one of their songs. So I twitted it with a link to Heaven 17 member Martyn Ware (formally of Human League) at the end so it would show up in his feed if he hadn't seen it. 

Red Hot Chili Peppers-"We Don't Need No Facist Groove Thang"

I don't know if he'd seen it before but he must have liked it because he twitted the link with a thank you to me. I know its dumb, but I've been a fan of his since I was literally ten years old. To get the digital equivalent of an autograph is still cool, no matter how old I am.

February is Rare Disease Month. Huntington's Disease falls into that catagory so many people are wearing blue on their daily clothes to show support. My wife actually put on blue nail polish. Every time someone asks her about it, there is a chance for Jane to educate them about Huntington's, as well as put a face with the disease.

Joy Division-"Atmosphere"

As part of Grand Round's recognizing Rare Disease Month, I was asked to pick out the best in Medical Blogging on 28 February of this year. I'll be giving you more information the closer we get. This is very important because it will bring more recognition of HD to the general medical community.   

Van Halen-"Right Now"

I went off on a friend's Facebook Wall this morning. I didn't realize how upset I am that there isn't much support for those of us who currently suffer from HD. I blasted the HDSA for lack of support. What is there right now that  helps our quality of life? Nothing except older medicines that treat the symptoms. There is only one drug that is targeted toward HD patients and it only helps chorea symptoms. It does nothing to slow or stop the disease. 

So many people have gone to the so-called "Centers of Excellence". Some get good treatment but there are so many like me who don't. We are treated by doctor's not familiar with HD, who only count the physical symptoms. There is nothing for us NOW. Its time to do something, and thank goodness there are people starting to do that, like We Have a Face

I think that is it, so I'm going back to the BBC to keep an ear on Syria. 

Catch Paul Ware on Facebook or Twitter. I can also be reached via email (delete no spam) but much prefer the Facebook message option. The comments section is fine too.

Want to know when the next blog is coming out or recommend it to a friend? There is an easy Facebook page for that now.

LFC > MUFC

Congrats to Liverpool for showing Manchester United where to put it. Liverpool is headed off to Wenbley for the Carling Cup now, and MUFC is left licking their wounds. Its about time!


The closest American equivalent to this bitter rivalry is the Yankees and Red Sox- times ten.

Donna Summer - "I Feel Love"

Yesterday was very crazy From dealing with the test results to errands to a seizure it was just insane. 


Last night after coming home from a walk, I proceeded to enter the bedroom, made it halfway onto the bed before I had the seizure. It was set off by a street light. The light was nearly dead and flickering very fast. So clearly now I know flickering lights are not my friends. It was most likely the energy saver bulb that set off the seizure in the bathroom. I'll be seeing the neurologist next week but he told me on the telephone today to just hold still and avoid these lights. 


Yeah Doc. Really I don't mind hanging out inside my house or on the street before dark.

Joy Division-""Atmosphere"

The seizure threw me into such a deep sleep that I wasn't able to get more rest in when bedtime came around. I finally fell asleep at 6 am, only to wake up four hours later.

The Human League-"Rock 'n' Roll "

Today was a very long day. I woke up far too early and couldn't get back to sleep. Ever since then I've been on the run. I had to go out three times, which wasn't a problem except I kept forgetting an item, so I'd have to go home to get it and leave again. On the third try a woman with bone cancer fell out of her wheelchair almost at my feel. The poor doll, another man and I helped her back into her chair, made a call to her husband and waited until he arrived to take her to get the bump on the head looked at. 

Human League="Open Your Heart"

Well, its three at night, I'm finally getting sleepy and I'm also getting that strong double vision again. Maybe someday I'll find out what that's about. Until then...a total random song for my friend Larry:

Beach Boys-"Surfing USA"

I'm Paul Ware and I'm still here kicking up the sand.

Catch Paul Ware on Facebook or Twitter. I can also be reached via email (delete no spam) but much prefer the Facebook message option. The comments section is fine too.

Want to know when the next blog is coming out or recommend it to a friend? There is an easy Facebook page for that now.

Changes

I made some drastic changes to my blog layout, and added some sections today. Let me know what you think in the comments section.


See you with the regularly scheduled blog post tomorrow.


A couple videos to hold you over. 


New Order covers Sparks live. The only time they performed this song.

New Order-"When I'm With You"

and our double feature is NO back when they were Joy Division

Joy Division-"Atmosphere"

and

Joy Division-"Love Will Tear Us Apart"

Catch Paul Ware on Facebook or Twitter. I can also be reached via email (delete no spam) but much prefer the Facebook message option. The comments section is fine too.

Want to know when the next blog is coming out or recommend it to a friend? There is an easy Facebook page for that now. 

Random music Videos

Having a lazy day Sunday. My eye lids don't want to stay up and for the life of me I can't figure out why. The only thing I can figure out is the med change. I have these great ideas but once I get out I feel like I'm going to fall asleep. Its driving my half crazy, but I decided to take the early part of the day off, and I just read. Its still hard to get my attention span locked on the book for more than a couple minutes, I'm putting the book down and resting my eyes.

If someone says they don't like Abba I 

really wonder if they are in my age

range. Some things are instinctual.

The new YouTube format isn't working too well on my computer. Its not reading the time bar, so it sits at 0.00 while playing through the entire song. Since its not recognizing the time, the pause button isn't working either. Its just happens randomly, say every 20th video or so. Of course, that 20th time has to be  when my lunch is cooking.

This man has influenced just about every 

modern musician-or influenced their influences.

The lyrics in this song are poetry.

Kraftwerk-"The Model"

I always felt like they were close to selling out here.

Here they are singing in English!

Their native German would fit the music better.

You can skewer me for my opinion now.

Music doesn't get any funner than this. M doesn't even try

to take itself seriously.

Brilliant song from Chess. Written by a couple members of Abba 

and Tim Rice. Something happened to this play on the way to 

Broadway. It was rewritten and trashed. 

A bit like Taboo. But worse.

Today's Double Feature is the genius known as Thomas Dolby

I'm going to end my day with a rewatch of this documentary.

Its worth it just to hear Martyn Ware decide if he 

should spend his paycheck on a synth or a car

I always get something new from Synth Britannia

Today its I Feel Love

produced by Moroder

and Joy Division's Atmosphere

Take care and hope you survived the weekend.