Finally!

Wow. After a two-year election cycle, it's finally over. I'm predicting an Obama blowout--over 300--but I will obviously be elated if he just squeaks by. Next stop: January 20, 2009.

Don't know where to vote today? Really? Well, if not, go here to find out: barackobama.com.

There are 76 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

A New Direction for the USA?

I have been nominated but, if elected, I will not serve. Still, I cannot stop supporters and their campaign efforts: www.tsgnet.com/pres.php?id=370617&altf=Tdpuu&altl=Tjefst.

There are 109 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

Sarah Silverman on Obama

Check out the video Sarah Silverman made for the Jewish Council for Education & Research: www.thegreatschlep.com/site/index.html.

There are 110 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

Blondie

Wow, it's been awhile since I wrote anything in this space. Things have calmed down quite a bit since we moved and got settled.

We saw "Jack's Third Show" this past Saturday, which featured Twisted Sister, Blondie, Billy Idol, Devo, REO Speedwagon, and a a couple other hilarious bands. Good times. We were backstage for the entire show thanks to Matt being Blondie's keyboard player on their last world tour.

Will Congress do something this week, or are we headed for "The Great Depression: The Sequel"?

There are 111 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

Condo

Our housing "crisis" is almost over. We just purchased a condo here in Long Beach and move at the end of the month. It's a great place in a spectacular location just two blocks from the beach and about a mile from downtown. Want to help us move? Yeah, that's what I thought.

If you haven't been there yet, check out the Novo Web site and feel free to post any comments about the site here. I've been thinking about adding a blog to start blogging about copywriting, marketing, etc. Any thoughts?

There are 157 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

Check Me Out on LinkedIn

Anybody want to connect with me on LinkedIn? Check out my Novo profile and other info and be my super cool new friend.

Oasis Underground

Interesting news on the et cetera et cetera front: "Thomas Edison Was a Really Cool Guy" was selected to be on Oasis' Underground Volume VIII Radio Sampler CD, which is sent to radio people and so-called "industry insiders." I'm not expecting to be heard on the radio anytime soon. I'm not that delusional. Really, I'm not. It's just cool to be included on the CD.

Hey, if you're cool you'll be the first to write a review of et cetera et cetera on http://cdbaby.com/cd/scottsiders. But you can't write a review if you haven't bought the double CD yet. Be a pal and do that now: http://www.geocities.com/sssiders/store_page.html.

Thanks for all of your continued support. I owe you dinner, or at least a margarita.


There are 203 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

The New Farm

Down the road to the new farm

a busted Ford truck in the ditch

and above it a circling of birds.

The red rusted frame is a backdrop

for a picture we’ll never take—

the geese, those vulture imposters

gray and swooping in pairs, eyeing

the heap—the wreck finally even

an eyesore for them. When we

approach, they stream slovenly away

to the new farm, our shoes

dusting up the dry, the old rutted road

a shortcut to the new farm.

Our walking and summer sweat

are reasons for mosquitoes, flying

unafraid—their kamikaze missions.

One wasp, wings humming up

the drum, cuts its way through and finds

its airstrip on your bare shoulder.

Luckily fingers were built

for flicking. We walk on, saving

our breath for the new farm.

A crash and suddenly rain, the edge

of today’s storm pushing past

the slow hills, the sun

a thing to cower from. At the last

curve before the new farm, a dog

is dying. It’s not too late to pick

his busted body up, to carry what blood

he has against my chest.

There is no hastening in our step.

Ahead the dust is swirling

around the new farm. The workmen

are out of some painting—their blue jeans

tight and creased, their white shirts

so bright they might just catch fire.

Even the hats are clean at the new farm.

We deliver the dead dog

to the best-dressed-man

and he turns in disgust when he sees us.

Something muffled escapes under

your breath, a quiet hate or pride

falling from your mouth.

A few of the men come at us as if

they were shooing birds.

The best-dressed-man picks out

my gaze, my grimace, my grimy

ideas that he’s certain are good

for nothing. He pulls his gun

and places it harmlessly at his side.

He is not bent on murder, and means

no harm, just as we are not

meant there. Grandfather must have done

some talking some years before.

His voice is silent now, but his will

still echoes in what was built here.

The best-dressed-man plays

his game of chance with a dead man

over which is the true martyr

and it is only for the slow, swarming

and constantly growing seasons

to decide now. The best-dressed-man

places the gun in his holster, grunts

and smirks as he turns away.

He has won, but the spoils are shady.

Our long walk back begins, our new

dead dog a passenger, a hostage.

Where the weeds meet the old Ford

we stop and fit our bodies in its bed.

We say nothing. The dog is a witness.

Stars emerge from their own pick-up trucks

and show themselves. We’re steeped

in the blood of the dog, wind smooth

and running these fields, our home

up there in the balance. Night becomes

early morning. We leave the truck

holding the dog. I silently wonder

if there is something we could have done.

Finally we find our way and our feet

hit the old road away from the new farm.

It seems like one of us should

say something, but the wind, in every

trite way possible, blows up loudly

around us. The mosquitoes are ferocious

at the splintered gate, and suddenly

I come to, alert and ready

for anything, like he would have been

all those years ago in that horrible war.

My words are sharp and quick:

“Here we go again, alive and sinning—

blindly searching for reasons

where only relativity makes any sense.”

There are 234 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

"Musings of a Cockfighting Enthusiast" Wins . . . Something

Members of www.GarageBand.com voted "Musings of a Cockfighting Enthusiast" as the "Best Male Vocals" AND "Most Original Song" AND "Best Lyrics" in the spoken word genre. Check it out here: http://www.garageband.com/artist/ScottSiders.

Check out the entire spoken word double CD at www.scottsiders.com.


There are 249 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

Today's Dust

Barefoot and sprinting through some desert—
sharpened weeds and cacti and occasional lone flower
go about the business of bending for the wind.
By midday, the body’s chest heaves again, sweat

bursts into the world wherever the body
lets it. How long, how hard the sun hits.
How blistered and torn the feet
on hot sand, how red the face, how tears or sweat

burn eyes in the rush, the speed
of the body and always the wind. The only sound
the rhythmic pounding of feet
against sand. Ahead the illusion of water

or woman, the blurry shaping
a way out, a way into another country
where wind is carnivorous and sand
a puff of smoke. But still the running, still

the subtle grace, an end of knowing. At dusk
a slight ringing in the ear, a sharp
pain in the side, muscles tearing
in the heat of thighs, bloody feet: each a reason

to keep at it, the possibility of what the body
can do. And in the false distance
the focus, unwavering and unconscious—
a lone, withered flower flutters a little.


There are 264 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

"Looking to Land" Named Track of the Week

"Looking to Land" was selected as the "Track of the Week" in the Spoken Word genre by www.GarageBand.com. It's moving up the charts: http://www.garageband.com/artist/ScottSiders.

There are 301 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

"One Shot at the President" named Track of the Day by GarageBand.com

The et cetera et cetera track "One Shot at the President" was selected as the "track of the day" on March 2, 2008, by www.GarageBand.com. Check it out here: http://www.garageband.com/artist/ScottSiders.

Visit www.scottsiders.com to get your grubby little hands on Scott's new spoken word double CD.

There are 319 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

More Recognition for "Tom"

Members of GarageBand.com voted "Thomas Edison Was a Really Cool Guy" as having the best lyrics in the Spoken Word genre last week. So that's nice. Y'all should really buy a copy of the double CD. It's really quite good. I swear. Have I ever lied to you? Be a pal and buy it easily and securely at www.scottsiders.com.

There are 336 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

"Tom" is Track of the Week

"Thomas Edison Was a Really Cool Guy" was named the "Track of the Week" by www.GarageBand.com. It's moving up the charts: http://www.garageband.com/artist/ScottSiders.

There are 336 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

"Looking to Land" named Track of the Day by GarageBand.com

The et cetera et cetera track "Looking to Land" was selected as the "track of the day" today by www.GarageBand.com. Check it out here: http://www.garageband.com/artist/ScottSiders.

There are 340 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

GarageBand.com Selects "Dis" for Track of the Day

"Dis," a track from et cetera et cetera, was named "track of the day" today by www.garageband.com. You can listen to the track and write a short review at http://www.garageband.com/artist/ScottSiders.

There are 355 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

Track of the Day

"Thomas Edison Was a Really Cool Guy," a track from et cetera et cetera, was named "track of the day" yesterday by www.garageband.com. If you have a minute, please go to http://www.garageband.com/artist/ScottSiders to post a review.

There are 362 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

Farmhouse Magazine

More news on the publishing front: The online literary journal http://www.farmhousemagazine.com just published "Treasure Map 1," a long poem I wrote this year. It will be featured in Farmhouse Magazine's January/February issue. The exact link is http://farmhousemagazine.com/16Psiders.html.

There are 383 days remaining in Bush's presidency.