I thought Chris was interesting

because the concept of doing what he did and is doing was so foreign to me. Then today I met brad, from Florida. He is roughly the same age and his story is pretty much the same (except that he started in Europe and Asia and is continuing now through Australia and New Zealand before heading home in May.

Is there anyone who has information of similar people? this is apparently more common than I thought.

I had the coolest time today.

On the flight to Sydney I had the privilege of meeting an interesting young man named Chris.
The first person to coin the phrase, " Youth is wasted on the wrong people." was not talking about Chris.

Chris sat next to me on the flight over to Sydney. I recognized the US accent, which at this point I am beginning to miss more than I thought I would.

In the next several hours I came to discover that Chris has taken the opportunity to travel around the world, with no particular destinations in mind and no particular time-frame. He is spending the night in Sydney before going on to Singapore.

How many of us wish we had the carefree spirit it would take to make such a huge leap of faith?

Anyone who has ever traveled with me before knows that I am the sort who keeps to my own business and really don't much want to know about the person sitting next to me- save that they have bathed within the past week. But Chris has an infectious and friendly demeanor that led me to actually want to hear what he had to say. I found myself greatly admiring-as I said to him -the sense of adventure it would take to leave a relatively secure position in order to see the world and travel unencumbered. We ended up sharing a shuttle into town and continuing our conversation into dinner (a late dinner by my standard). I hope the conversation was half as exciting for him.

The point of my even mentioning Chris is that meeting this interesting sort of person demonstrates exactly the kind of thing that can happen on any journey- no matter how brief.
Chris shared his travel blog information with me. I hope to follow him for a bit and see where his adventures take him.

I hope his story - even as briefly shared as it is in this spot- encourages others to take the risk and live life to the full.

A review from the second concert in Christchurch New Zealand

March 8th Review,
Okay, after last night’s concert I understand a bit better why Christchurch folks are so reserved.

There was a guy behind me who looked about 25 or so. Married to a girl, he says who “hates Neil” so he was there with his dad. They both were very stoic in their appreciation (arms crossed and all that) but seemed to get a huge kick out of me. As the show progressed I noticed the older of the two was singing and clapping along with every song . At “America” I stood and my whole group was right with me. I would later learn that the commentary before the song would perhaps not be well received by many there given the political climate. The group standing for this song was again a small minority.

I got the first hint of what can happen when a kiwi let’s his guard down (probably because someone around them is being more foolish than they could ever look themselves) during “Forever In Bluejeans”. The stoic, macho father/son pair behind me, my whole row, and eventually the whole stadium (save about 6 really stubborn kiwis in the first raised row just to the left of my seats) were on their feet and quite unwilling to sit at the end of the song. Loud sing-along from a group in my section during You Don’t Bring Me Flowers was a surprise even to me. I don’t think I have ever seen that before.

Now when kiwis cut loose, and they did, a reasonable person might fear, just a bit for his life.
How many of you have ever been the person in the center of a row during Sweet Caroline when the half to your right is swaying to- and- fro and the half to your left is swaying fro- and- to? I was getting seriously squished ( the son from the father/son team behind me found that very amusing, btw). I even tried without success to get the two groups to come together but ultimately decided that my best move was to duck and cover. At this point the whole crowd was pretty well into the show. They stayed on their feet through “I’m a Believer” and seemed quite reluctant to sit as “Glory Road” began.

The crowd, once they came to life were quite lively indeed. They stood (every one) from the end of IAIS until the band left the stage. Other than the fact that I am a bit black and blue - this could well be one of the best concert experiences I have ever had (perhaps a top-10). Neil was rock solid tonight. His voice was rich and his timing is really coming together.
As I sit here in the airport at Christchurch, there is much more to reflect on regarding my experience here. I learned that the further south you go in NZ, the more culturally conservative the people are (remember folks, no pink shirts on guys south of Aukland). I also learned that you should be careful what you ask for when trying to get people to come out of their shell. There is usually a party animal locked somewhere deep inside. In groups this can be quite dangerous.

I also benefited from conversations with the natives which helped me to understand relations between our nations and a bit about the Kiwi economy. Given their liberal politics and conservative lifestyles, any mid-westerner from the US would feel quite at home here. I recommend NZ for anyone whether you are coming to see Neil or take in the sites and possible a rugby game.

In the Band intro, Neil promises, “we’re gonna rock this town.” He delivered big time.
A few doses of pain killer and a good couple of nights sleep and I will be ready for Sydney.

bland sausage and runny milkshakes, bad news

all this leading up to the big moment when neil takes the stage three hours from now.

The news here had an interesting piece about the italian killed by US troops. I am curious if US media covered it at all. Please Share!!!

The New Zealand Star-Times had this with an excellent Photo

Neil Diamond Electrified a capacity - if elderly- crowd of 32,000 at Wellington's Westpac Stadium last night. The 64 year old, who made his sequinned body suits famous, (why don't they let it go already?)will play two further sold out concerts in Christchurch tomorrow and Tuesday. He has insisted ticket prices for his tour remain under $100 because he wants as many people as possible to see his shows.

I don't see any sequins on his shirt, which is black and has a tight flowered embroidery over the shoulders and front. I tried to work out a way to email the photo but am still having tech problems.

Just under two days before I see for myself.

Arrived in Christchurch

There was a car that drove by blairing Neil Diamond out his windows. That was cool. It is obvious why that guy is here. Met a woman today who didn't know Neil is in town. She was on a flight out and was understandably bummed. More later.
jon

The next 11 days

Join me as I embark on a journey down under to follow one of my truest passions. Neil Diamond will be touring in New Zaland and in Autralia. I will be at the concerts in Christchurch and in Sydney.

I will do what I can to give periodic updates from new Zealand and Australia focussed on the concerts (March 7,8, 11,12,13) and the sites as I take them in. If you don't see updates, assume I am an idiot and unable to handle the technology.

Peace.

As Reported on Air America Radio...

Al Franken, after giving due consideration to the possibilities, and after dragging out the announcement for the whole of his three-hour program (broadcast today from Washington DC), has decided that he will not run for the Minnesota US senate seat being vacated by Dayton in 2006.

What this will ultimately mean for Minnesota has yet to be determined. I have not been very warm to the idea of Franken actually running except that I wanted to see him give Norm Coleman a whapping in public ( a race that would take place in '08). I have always thought Franken is a bright man but he has spent his carreer making people laugh. The big question that remains for him is whether or not people will now take him seriously.

The field for 2006 remains wide open and the pundits for local and national radio are focussing only on the right-wing side of things. Perhaps Al Franken has a heart-felt desire also to take it to Norm Coleman publicly. The 2008 race gives Al a chance to develop his viability.

His recent work as a talk show host puts him in good company as far as Minnesota politics is concerned. Our current fluffy junior senator, Norm Coleman, worked for the local right-wing hack station (KSTP AM) as did our former Governor Jesse Ventura. Former Senator Rod Grams also had experience as a small-time TV news anchor.

His candidacy would certainly make any race much more interesting. The legacy of Hubert H Humphrey, Walter Mondale and Paul Wellstone, as it would be lvied out in Al Franken, will have to wait a bit longer.

I wonder what Paul's older son is doing in 2006.

Dayton decides not to Run!!!

Mark Dayton, Democrat, Senior Senator for Minnesota, announces today that he will not seek a secon term. I am befuddled. This is a man who has been trying to be a senator for as long as I can remember.

In the past Month Dayton seemed to have found his voice and his seat was marked as one of the top 'must have" seats for Republicans in the next cycle. So why, just when he seems to be growing a pair, does Dayton decide to step aside? If you figure it out let me know. I always thought this guy was a hack. In his own words - he isn't the strongest candidate the dems have to offer. This from the incumbent senior senator.

Does Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybek have what it takes to be the next Wellstone? Will Patty Wetterling dust her self off from her miserable congressional run last fall and claim the mantle for herself? And what about Al Franken?

I know we are two years out on this thing but expect an interesting and active few weeks in Minnesota politics.

And a Word about the State of The Union

GW must have been very grateful to Joe Leiberman. And I doubt no one was more shocked than Joe Leiberman when GW grabbed the back of his head and planted a big wet one on his cheek.

I watched for a bit and did not see the Prez kiss any other members of congress, even from his own party - for better or worse, those odd times when Joe was the only member in the whole chamber to applaud paid off (albeit in a very odd way).

Bush's proposed SYGA

Second of two articles about Social Security.

This is a final indicator that we are in a new "Me Decade".

First of two informative articles about Social Security Privatization.

Give 'Em the Finger.!..

Kudos to the Iraqi people. They turned out, by all reports, in high numbers, especially when compared to the pathetic turnout reported in the US. They should be proud of themselves.
I resist my natural cynicism in order to celebrate this historic moment and will wait until more information is given to us about what exactly they have voted for.

I love the purple index finger idea. It would seem that this idea, along with others implemented in Iraq to increase voter turnout and accurately discern who has voted (presumably to avoid voter fraud) could have easily been used in the US last November.

Some of these ideas, if slightly modified, could have served us well last November. The purple finger, for instance, needs only minor modification- move one digit toward the center (isn't the center the way of today's politics after all). We could then all exit the polls and extend an instant message to the pollsters, pundits and media in general while at the same time renew the sense of defiance that an informed vote should express.

Secondly, all parties and political leaders should do whatever they can in their power to make sure that every citizen has easy access to the polls. I have heard no reports of guns or snipers last November but anyone who follows the news is well aware that efforts were made to squelch the voting of particular groups in particular areas of the country. And to be clear, I am not pointing "a finger" at the right or the left in this regard.

Again, let's celebrate with and for the Iraqi people, but let's hope they did better for themselves than we have done of late.

Something New

A busy life of moving and trying to reorganize has kept me away for a while. Look for renewed activity in the later part of next week (around Feb 10 or so). Until then, I invite comment as to what you might be looking for in this blog space.

It woud be good to stir up some rousing conversations.

Until then, Peace.

What is you new name?

Use the third letter of your first name to determine your new first name: a = poopsie b = lumpy c = buttercup d = gadget e = crusty f = greasy g = fluffy h = cheeseball i = chim-chim j = stinky k = flunky l = bootie m = pinky n = zippy o = goober p = doofus q = slimy r = loopy s = snotty t = tootie u = dorkey v = squeezit w = oprah x = skipper y = dinky z = zsa-zsa Use the second letter of your last name to determine the first half of your new last name: a = apple b = toilet c = giggle d = burger e = girdle f = barf g = lizard h = waffle i = cootie j = monkey k = potty l = liver m = banana n = rhino o = bubble p = hamster q = toad r = gizzard s = pizza t = gerbil u = chicken v = pickle w = chuckle x = tofu y = gorilla z = stinker Use the fourth letter of your last name to determine the second half of your new last name: a = head b = mouth c = face d = nose e = tush f = breath g = pants h = shorts i = lips j = honker k = butt l = brain m = tushie n = biscuits o = hiney p = chunks q = toes r = buns s = fanny t = sniffer u = sprinkles v = kisser w = squirt x = humperdinck y = brains z = juice

Just call me Zippy Wafflebrain