I swear by Apollo, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea....

A few nights ago I went and saw Michael Moore's new movie SICKO. And sitting next to me in the theater was no other than Salman Rushdie, the author of one of my favorite book's Midnights Children and the carrier of a death fatwa from the Muslim world on his head. I got to thinking about it and it seems that Michael Moore is the Salman Rushdie of the documentary world. Just the mere mention of his name in some circles can incite a murderous rage....

The movie, itself, was disturbing. How can we let all these people suffer and die, especially when we have such tremendous innovation and resources right here on our soil? Why are we allowing a select group of people decide who can live and who can die in the name of ROI and profit? It is criminal really... (Is it a mediated death? Or worse, is it a genocide of sorts?) Why are people in the states so afraid of socialized medicine? Why is universal health care such a radical notion?

Health is a subject close to my heart. I have spent a good part of my professional career dealing with the subject of health and human security, espicially in reference with the topics of HIV/AIDS and cancer in the developing world. I have spent time in Russia and CIS region, Latin America and Africa working on health policy. I am even now working on my applications to get in a PHD program where I hope to focus on health policy and infrastructure building in populations in or just getting over a crisis. My long term goal is to restructure health care in the states. the irony as I write this, I am without health care myself.

I truly believe that health and the access to good health care should be a fundamental human right. Even if you strip me of everything I own or my identity, restrict me from movement and speech, my body will still be there. It is all I have. It is me - the essential element of my being. Therefore, its health dictates my ability to obtain my full potential.

It seems so elementary.. How could it be contested?

Bright Lights, Big City......

When I was the NEW kid in NYC, a man dressed in black looking a little like a NARC and a little like a PUBLIC PERVERT that hangs on the subway gestured to me come over as I was looking for the NEXT EXIT out of this grimy UNTITLED, illegal lower east side dive. To much forced PDA and stilted conversation here.

The man in black seemed like another OBSTACLE 1,2 but this bar was EVIL tonight and NOT EVEN JAIL would make me stay. He said C'MERE while he beckoned me to the door with his MAMMOTH fingers. I was lonely in this big city - never in my life before did I feel it a TIME, TO BE SMALL so I moved forward slowly, remembering PACE IS THE TRICK. SLOW HANDS wrapped around my wrist pulling me out in the light of street lamp. I was ALL FIRED UP by this boldness and came at him like a WRECKING BALL and growled at him "HANDS AWAY buddy. WHO DO YOU THINK you are?"

He said "I am the SPECIALIST.. And I want to TAKE YOU ON A CRUISE." I just rolled my eyes, oh the SCALE of the lies men will go to for LENGTHS OF LOVE. The MASCARA on my eyes smudged on my cheek and he bent forward brushed it away. I felt my heart PRECIPITATE as the REST MY CHEMISTRY became flushed. He grabbed my hand and said come with me to PIONEERS TO THE FALLS. What I said? A bar on Avenue A.

We moved like LEIF ERICKSON in search of a beacon from a phantom LIGHTHOUSE on unchartered shores.

SAY HELLO TO ANGELS as we walked into the half empty bar and then he introduced me to ROLAND, who was cutting with array of knives limes, made them perfectly CUBED. Then I met his other mate. HEINRICH MANUEVER close to me while my STRANGER IN THE NIGHT got me a drink. Both his friends leered at me in a hungry way and I knew that there would be NO I IN A THREESOME tonight with them and slinked away slowly.

The man in black returned. And said come with me to the jukebox. I want show you something. He said play SONG SEVEN. I did.

As the room became filled by a booming voice singing "STELLA IS A DIVER AND SHE IS ALWAYS DOWN," I turned to my companion who was quietly gaging my reaction while smoking a marlboro red and asked him what his name was. And he replied Paul and I was listening to a song of his new album.

And that is how i became introduced to INTERPOL*

(It is mostly somewhat true story. Please note names of people and places have been changes to protect the innocent and maybe to get all the names of the songs in their catalog to fit).

So, I wrote this little story to try to win tickets from Gothamist to Interpol's concert in Atlantic City. I have not heard anything yet so I assume I was not the winner. Oh well, It occupied a good hour or so on a very boring work day at the NRDC.

Day after day....

I guess I have not posted my blog in almost two years. Alot has happened since the halcyon times in good ole London town. I promise I will fill you in. In fact, there is much I need to tell you of my past. And I will.

But for now, all you need to know is I am back in the East Village again..

100% Better Club

Today, Babyshambles put on a vibrant and kinectic show at the famed 100 Club on Oxford Street (gawd, the last time I was there was in the early 90's to see a big band play swing.) Anyways, Babyshambles seemed to be having a grand ole time playing at this small, smoky basement venue. There was a much nicer vibe than the Brixton show, even though there seemed to be just as many celebs: Jonny from Razorlight, the guy from Primal Scream and a few faces I recognize from somewhere but I am not a native to the land so the names escape me...

Babyshambles shows are always better when they are closer in proximity to the fans...

Pete also seem to be in a better mindset. He joked around with Patrick and even made an attempt to leap into the crowd but the hired muscle pulled him quickly back...He even quietly wished me happy birthday in between sets* Ah sweety petey.....

Here are my photos:

Guerrilla Gig

The Others just announced that they are going to hold one of their signature Guerilla gigs tonight.

They will be doing a gig on the pavement outside the South Kensington museum at 7.45pm.

If you missed their infamous Guerilla gig on the tube. Here is your chance to be part of what make the British music scene so much fun and just plain cool.....

Transformation

I was once this http://londoncallingtothefarawaytowns.blogspot.com/ and now I am this