Music!!!

From "Simon's Sorrows"

When I'm in a situation where I'm meeting new people there are a few things that I do each time as a way of trying to get a grasp of who it is that I am talking with. Without a doubt the most informative one is "What kind of music do you listen to?"

The magnitude of responses is infinite and often times uninteresting. Most people will say "I listen to everything", really meaning that they don't give that much thought into music. Others will immediately have a specific sub-genre of music that they jump right into, backyard birthday canonballstyle! These are the types of people who interest me. Because when you hear them tell it to you, it's not about the music, it's about the passion.

There are certain types of music that I haven't been able to understand....yet. But hearing about them from people who are passionate about music lets you hear through their ears for a minute. When someone is truly passionate about music they appreciate what is going on and how it connects with them regardless of anything else. A country music fan who loves country music talking to a deathmetal rocker who loves deathmetal actually have a lot in common. The level of excitement they share about the music they listen to is the profound beauty in their lives.

Can you believe that some people I asked this question to said "I don't really listen to music"

"What!!"

They don't know what they're missing.

Where Has The Love Gone?

From "Simon's Sorrows"

Doesn't it seem like the world has gradually become less and less friendly?

I look around now and all I see is people being rude to one another. Perhaps a roll of the eyes, or a thumb of the nose, or any other generally offensive gesture. They're becoming more common with each passing day, and I for one am really getting sad about it.


I look at days gone by and say "where has the love gone?"


August 14th, 1945 "Kissing the War Goodbye"



Who hasn't seen this timeless photo of a soldier being swept up in the glorious moment gloriously sweeping a stranger into his arms in a heartfelt embrace.

Can you imagine trying this now?

He is sure to be met with a slap in the face and if he's not lucky a paternity test. Where has the love gone?

August 15th 1969 "Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace and Music"




A country ripped apart by war coming together to celebrate peace and love with music. Naked hippies covered in mud embracing one another in the pouring rain. Does a more romantic image even exist?

30 years later they try this again. The result tractor trailers being lit on fire. And that was in 1999. Try it in 2007? Steroids, Dog Fighting and Match Fixing are bound to be involved, hell you'd probably have a hobo fighting league erupt in the middle of it. The humanity!

Where has the love gone?

I Simon McGuillicutty demand change! I am making it my mission to reverse the evil trends of the past 35 years and bring this world back to the love filled oasis that it once was. And it all starts here.

This August will be known as Random Acts of Love Month.
Feel free to walk up to women on the street and dazzle them with a random act of love.
Ladies you get in on it too.
Don't let fear of commitment or not wanting to make the first move stop you. Walk up to that man on the subway and grab his rear end in the same sort of heartfelt embrace that was captured in time forever in "Kissing the War Goodbye"

Where has the love gone? I don't know, but I tell you this, it is coming back.