The Velvis Underground

Crimson Pirates Gig tomorrow night!

2009-05-29T15:10:43Z

I know I never post here (WMAO!) but there's always time for Pirate Promotions!

The Crimson Pirates playing the Waterfront Museum and Showboat Barge in Hoboken, NJ tomorrow night (Saturday, May 30)
Hoboken Terminal
1 Hudson Place
Erie Lackawanna Plaza
Hoboken, NJ 07030

It should be a blast. Two set, some new stuff, some "classic."

$10 admission. Join us if you can!

Don

Happy Birthday Ladyjoust!

2008-12-18T19:53:22Z

Happy Birthday to the loveliest, sweetest, toughest, smartest lady I could ever imagine spending my life with. Happy Birthday, ladyjoust

Newsweek on Gay Marriage

2008-12-07T14:13:45Z

I just read a wonderful article on the religious argument FOR gay marriage. It's not a gimmick. My initial thought was, "Well, this writer is just going to take jabs at Christians over their "love everyone EXCEPT the homos" hypocrisy." But it's actually a very well crafted discussion of biblical marriage standards.

I have always believed the best way to destroy a bible-based argument is to demand the reference. Know this, folks: When someone says to you "Jesus defined marriage as between one man and one woman" they're lying. That's NO WHERE in the Bible. Just ask them for the reference.

I can breathe now

2008-11-05T04:36:41Z

Our country has righted itself. We've remembered who we are. Hope is alive and the promises I was made as a child are fulfilled. America really IS the land where anyone can earn the highest office in the land.

I think of Barack Obama''s grandmother, who passed just yesterday. So many commentators keep saying "She died too soon to see her grandson''s triumph." But they're wrong. She suffered for a long time, and wasn't able to travel. Had she lived a few days longer, she would have heard the news through a painkiller-induced fog. Only by dying was she able to fully be with Barack Obama today.

God bless America for making the choice to hope.

Open Letter to Jim Webb

2008-07-18T23:48:58Z

Dear Senator Webb,

I understand your decision not to seek the Vice Presidency. In fact, I applaud it. You can do much more good in your role as Senator and war-tested Democratic statesman. It is in the latter role that I'm now asking for your help.

Senator, we need someone to get very angry. And I think you're the guy. We need someone to put a very big infantry-boot-shod foot down about one specific talking point being tossed around by the McCain campaign.

John McCain has been saying on the stump that if we elect him President, he'll win the Iraq War and our soldiers will be able to come home with honor. Someone needs to tell John McCain that whenever our soldiers come home — be it this very evening, or, as he has suggested, 100 years from now — they will come home with honor. The only people who have acted without honor in this conflict are the civilian leadership of our military. They acted without truth. They acted without foresight. They acted without concern for the reputation of our nation on the word stage. But our soldiers obeyed the orders of their Commander in Chief. They acted with courage, selflessness and tremendous effectiveness. They covered themselves in honor.

Every conversation with or about John McCain begins with the obligatory "We honor his service." And that's as it should be. But John McCain should remember that we LOST his war. We retreated. Vietnam fell. Just like his plane did. Yet we still honor his service. As we should. But the soldiers in Iraq WON their war. Saddam fled. He was captured. Killed. There were and are no weapons of mass destruction. There's a new sovereign government in place of Saddam's torturous regime. Our military has won. They have wrapped themselves in honor and do not need John McCain's 100-year occupation to prove it.

Senator Webb, you may be the only person in Washington with the spine and the boots to make this point heard.

And by the way, thanks for your service.

Don Kilcoyne

CD Party Reminder - Irelands - NOT the NYRF SITE!

2008-06-27T14:48:58Z

Just a reminder to anyone who reads this and is planning on joining the Crimson Pirates for our CD party — we're at Irelands in Suffern, NOT the NYRF site. If you know anyone who's going, please please please remind them NOT TO GO TO THE NYRF SITE!
Thanks!

D

Nothing beats a Sunday full of pirates

2008-06-16T17:40:34Z

I'm still exhausted from the Long Island Pirate Festival, hosted by Ye Pyrate Brotherhood. Six of the Crimson Pirates were able to head out to the Long Island Maritime Museum and I, for one, had a blast. (My sweetie ladyjoust was teaching yesterday morning, so she missed the festival, and I missed her.) We saw picoland and fjordhopper, which is always a double pleasure.

This was the "first annual," which I know is a grammatical faux pas, but I do hope the event takes off. For a first year event, they did a great job. They had a few terrific bands (particularly The Brigands, who musically plundered the place and Pirates for Sail who are not only a hell of a lot of fun, but actually have a bigger crew than the Crimson Pirates.), the food was delicious and cheap (two of my favorite things!) and the kids who came out were ready to play. I got to try out the "What would you do if your ship was captured by zombies?" game and the little scoundrels loved it.

We did three sets, all a lot of fun. Then around 3:00 the skies opened, soaking pirates, guests and instruments. So we packed everything up and loaded the cars. Technically, we were done for the day. But Dan, Robin, Ann and I hadn't really eaten yet, so we came back in to grab a bite and a beer. When we got to the main picnic tent, we found that the Brigands, Pirates for Sail and, I believe, Bawdy Buccaneers, were gathered under the tent doing a "shanty-jam." SCHWWEET. They quickly called us over, and we got to perform together for another hour or so. Perfect ending to the day. It made the 5 hour round-trip completely worth it.

Crimson Pirates CD Party — NEW VENUE

2008-06-14T19:09:39Z

We have great news about the Crimson Pirates CD, Come 'N Be A Pirate.

First of all, it sounds great. The finished product shipped yesterday, so we'll have them in our hands in plenty of time for… wait for it… The Crimson Pirates CD Party on June 28th!

The Party has been moved to Irelands 32 at 32 Orange Avenue, Suffern, NY. We'll be in the downstairs party room. Doors open at 7:30, food and music start around 8:30. There's a $5 cover charge and a cash bar. We'll have trays of bar snacks (hence the cover charge!) but if you want a nice meal, I recommend you come early and try Irelands' awesome Corned Beef or Shepherd's Pie.

Wondering why we're not at the Ren Faire as previously announced? It's simple. The Faire folk are busting their humps trying to make the grounds look spectacular, and we don't want to pull resources that could be sprucing up those beautiful fields.

The party is open to anyone who enjoys our piratical antics. If you have any questions, contact me here!

D

Were you there?

2008-05-26T22:52:15Z

"When Mister Safety Catch Is Not On, Mister Crossbow Is Not Your Friend."

Politically Pugnacious

2008-05-23T19:51:51Z

When I was a kid there was a very stupid game where someone would run up and punch your arm, then immediately yell "No backs!" Meaning "I can swipe at you but you can't swipe at me." It was stupid then and it's stupid now. I punched back then and I punch back now. FOR INSTANCE I can't believe a grown man I work with starts political conversations with ridiculously deranged right-wing distortions, then, when he finds out I'm actually INFORMED about the subject he's distorting, he immediately says, "Well, I'm not going to convince you and you're not going to convince me, so we should call it a wash." In other words, it's "Blah blah distortion smear blah blah NO BACKS!"

Today's game: The Reverend Wright says offensive things. Granted. But he never "attacked America." He also never preached that Hitler was sent by God to chase the Jews to Palestine, or taught that the Catholic Church was The Great Whore of Revelation, or blamed the death and devastation of Hurricane Katrina on a Gay and Lesbian parade, or claimed that our country was founded to wipe out Islam. These are all actual claims made in the pulpit by John McCain's "religious role models," John Hagee and Rod Parsley. These kinds of claims support murderous bigotry. They're a far cry from "America's chickens are coming home to roost." Yet my "No Backs!" playmate feels the two are a wash. And he runs away before he can be challenged on his dittohead BS.

Somebody please argue with me.

I'm venting. But I guess it's better to do it here than bring it home.

Happy Birthday!

2008-05-23T15:03:54Z

Happy Birthday to madmage01

Happy Birthday, Mad Mage
You stink like wet sage
Your old tartan
reeks of fartin'
were you raised in a cage?

Have a great one, amigo!
D

barleymash @ 2008-05-16T21:05:00

2008-05-17T01:06:42Z

Happy Birthday picoland !

A Gay Old time in Cali!

2008-05-15T18:42:56Z

Congratulations to California, and thanks for leading us into a more civilized 21st century!

Top California court backs gay marriage
SAN FRANCISCO — In a monumental victory for the gay rights movement, the California Supreme Court overturned a voter-approved ban on gay marriage Thursday in a ruling that would allow same-sex couples in the nation's biggest state to tie the knot.

Domestic partnerships are not a good enough substitute for marriage, the justices ruled 4-3 in .

Outside the courthouse, gay marriage supporters cried and cheered as news spread of the decision.

The city of San Francisco, two dozen gay and lesbian couples and gay rights groups sued in March 2004 after the court halted the monthlong wedding march that took place when Mayor Gavin Newsom opened the doors of City Hall to same-sex marriages.

"Today the California Supreme Court took a giant leap to ensure that everybody _ not just in the state of California, but throughout the country _ will have equal treatment under the law," said City Attorney Dennis Herrera, who argued the case for San Francisco.

The challenge for gay rights advocates, however, is not over.

A coalition of religious and social conservative groups is attempting to put a measure on the November ballot that would enshrine laws banning gay marriage in the state constitution.

The Secretary of State is expected to rule by the end of June whether the sponsors gathered enough signatures to qualify the marriage amendment, similar to ones enacted in 26 other states.

If voters pass the measure in November, it would trump the court's decision.

California already offers same-sex couples who register as domestic partners the same legal rights and responsibilities as married spouses, including the right to divorce and to sue for child support.

But, "Our state now recognizes that an individual's capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual's sexual orientation," Chief Justice Ron George wrote for the court's majority.

In a dissenting opinion, Justice Marvin Baxter agreed with many arguments of the majority but said the court overstepped its authority. Changes to marriage laws should be decided by the voters, Baxter wrote.

Happy Birthday

2008-05-15T14:08:20Z

toosha and tinkerkelly.

You're both wonderfully weird. Keep up the good work.

Crimson Pirates CD Party!

2008-05-06T03:42:22Z

Come 'N Be A Pirate! That's not just a good idea, it's the title of a the newest CD by The Crimson Pirates!

I designed the packaging.
Join us June 28th
We'll be throwing a GREAT CD Release Party at a completely unexpected, yet totally perfect location — maybe some of you have heard of it — the Silver Swan Stage at the New York Renaissance Faire!

That's right. More than a month before Opening Day, Crimson Pirates friends can come and party at the sacred grove itself. We'll have a great sound system, and, of course, beverages will be available to those with the appropriate ID. Details on tickets will be announced as soon as they're hashed out.

We hope to see you on the 28th. In the meantime, check out cafepress.com/crimsonbooty for piratical T-shirts, bags, and more.

Don

barleymash @ 2008-05-05T11:40:00

2008-05-05T15:42:09Z

#1 sure sign that you don't check Live Journal often enough: When you're a week late thanking your friends for their birthday wishes. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! And sorry for the LJ neglect.

D

Lyrics!

2008-05-03T03:31:56Z

Some silly songs I'm working on. We may or may not ever do them with the Crimson Pirates, but I thought I'd post 'em here anyway.
The Buccaneer's Brawl
(Swing tempo)

We don't want no hornpipe
Tired of reels an jigs.
We don't want no hornpipe
Tired of reels an jigs.
The pirates have a new dance.
This one's really big

CHORUS:
Will you join me in the buccaneer's brawl tonight?
It's the Pirate's Prom it's the Privateer's Delight.
If you won't dance we're just gonna have to fight!

Put your hand on your cutlass
The other on your gun.
Put your hand on your cutlass
The other on your gun.
Draw them out. Wave 'em about.
Now the fun's begun.

Walk like a pirate
A peg upon your leg.
Yeah walk like a pirate
A peg upon your leg.
Now light the fuse
on your powder keg.

Now put it together your hands up in the air.
Walk like a pirate and stumble round the square.
To finish up you spank your derriere.

CHORUS:
Will you join me in the buccaneer's brawl tonight?
It's the Pirate's Prom it's the Privateer's Delight.
If you won't dance we're just gonna have to fight!

Now mix it up Let's haul that anchor in!
Grab a partner, make that capstan spin.
Now thrash around like you lost a belaying pin!

Will you join me in the buccaneer's brawl tonight?
It's the Pirate's Prom it's the Privateer's Delight.
If you won't dance we're just gonna have to fight!

Mix it up!
Join me in the buccaneeer's brawl tonight.
It's the Pirate's Prom it's the Privateer's Delight.
If you won't dance we're just gonna have to fight
If you won't dance we're just gonna have to fight
If you won't dance we're just gonna have to fight

©2008, D. Kilcoyne

barleymash @ 2008-05-02T23:12:00

2008-05-03T03:15:04Z

Dear wench18 — ladyjoust and I both send our love and prayers to you and Joshua.

Barack Obama's speech about race in America

2008-03-18T17:13:22Z

This is one of the most inspirational speeches I've ever read.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/18/obama-race-speech-read-t_n_92077.html

Why do we need a Democrat in the White House?

2008-02-06T03:19:34Z

Because the CIA just admitted torturing 3 suspects. But they admitted it on Super Tuesday to make sure the news got completely bulldozed by wall-to-wall primary coverage.

Now, a lot of Americans believe it's OK to torture terrorist suspects. Those Americans are wrong in so many dimensions it's almost dizzying.

1) It's against the law. It just is. The Attorney general doesn't make the law. The Congress does. And they did.
TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 113C > § 2340A
§ 2340A. Torture

(a) Offense.— Whoever outside the United States commits or attempts to commit torture shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both, and if death results to any person from conduct prohibited by this subsection, shall be punished by death or imprisoned for any term of years or for life.
(b) Jurisdiction.— There is jurisdiction over the activity prohibited in subsection (a) if—
(1) the alleged offender is a national of the United States; or
(2) the alleged offender is present in the United States, irrespective of the nationality of the victim or alleged offender.
(c) Conspiracy.— A person who conspires to commit an offense under this section shall be subject to the same penalties (other than the penalty of death) as the penalties prescribed for the offense, the commission of which was the object of the conspiracy.

2) Suspects are suspects. Not convicted criminals. They've not been tried. We don't know if they're hardened killers or innocent youth caught up in a military sweep. If we let the government torture people with impugnity, what recourse do we have if they come for us? To paraphrase a relatively famous torture victim, "whatsoever you do to these least of your brothers, might one day be done unto you."

3) Torture doesn't work. Torture victims will tell their interrogators anything to get the pain to stop. And in an emergency, bad information is more dangerous than no information.

4) What's good for the goose… If we claim the right to torture, how can we deny other nations the same right? Anything we claim the authority to do to foreign nationals in our custody can and will then be done to US — to our soldiers, our diplomats, our tourists.

United States policy on torture goes beyond immoral all the way to stupid. It's creating enemies, alienating allies (Canada now has the U.S. on a torture watch list along with Syria and Egypt. How humiliating is that?) and destroying our ability to teach our own American children the difference between right and wrong. How can we preach fairness and justice when our government, elected by us, drowns people in our names?

That's why, no matter what happens on Super Tuesday, a Democrat MUST be in the White House next January. Gitmo must be closed. Our 200-year-old rejection of torture must be reaffirmed. We have to show the world that the sadists who've soiled the good name of the United States of America have been rejected by the PEOPLE of America and that we want to fight to regain our standing as a nation that believes in justice.

We need to do more gigs.

2008-01-26T23:12:05Z

Last night was our Crimson Pirates gig at Yesterdays. What a blast! We squeezed 8 performers in, plus a couple dozen awesome friends. I hope anybody who reads this and saw the show knows how much we appreciate you coming out on a cold night on such short notice. I LOVE doing the Yesterdays gigs. John and Peggy are complete sweethearts who totally turn their lovely restaurant over to us. (And nothing makes you feel loved like having more fans than chairs.)

So my sister got to see the show, as did ladyjoust's kickboxing boss and a bunch of local friends who've never seen the band before. We've already been approached about doing more local gigs (huzzah.)

Anybody who saw the new Crimson Pirates Ts and liked 'em can visit www.cafepress.com/crimsonbooty. We've got lots of cool stuff there. I'm completely hung over. We got to bed at 4:30 AM and then went rollerskating today. I'm near paralyzed with fatigue. Feels great.

We're playing at Yesterdays! (Benefit for Limping Tim)

2008-01-19T16:20:46Z

Woohoo! So we got approached last night (very short notice, but what the heck…) to play THIS COMING FRIDAY (January 25th). It's a three-fold event.

One, we get to see friends (we hope!) who we haven't seen for a few months and show off new songs, new schwag, etc.

Two, it's a going-away party for the coolest bartender there (Katrina) who's going to Australia (exile, Botany Bay, you know how it goes).

And Three — the Pirate Schwag we're bringing (T-shirts and a new Prepare to Be Boarded Thong) will be auctioned off to raise booty for our favorite Limping 3-Pinter, Tim!

And another really cool part, from my point of view? We're going to unveil an amazing song written by my Bride and Joy called Distant Drums. Bring tissues. It's awesome. (And wait 'til you hear what Robin does on the penny whistle. Holy Crap!)

So yeah, I come out of a 6-month LJ hibernation to hype a show. What can I say? My day-to-day is like a pirate's — long spells of boredom broken by short bursts of frenzied activity. Believe me, you DON'T want to read about the doldrums.

My bride is a fitness instructor

2007-12-31T15:15:56Z

How hot is THAT?

Great class, baby! I'm so proud of you!

The Eagles have Landed, Baybay!

2007-03-17T15:18:26Z

For anyone who believes in omens, this is spectacular news. I personally don't believe in omens, but, like Batman, I believe criminals are a cowardly, superstitious lot. So the GOP should be just about shitting themselves right now:

Bald Eagle Nest Found in Philadelphia

- - - - - - - - - - - -

March 16,2007 | PHILADELPHIA -- Wildlife authorities have found the first bald eagle nest in the city in more than 200 years, the Pennsylvania Game Commission said Friday.

Officials are not disclosing the exact location of the nest to avoid disturbing the site, but agency personnel and volunteers are monitoring it closely, the commission said.

"We don't know if the nest will result in the pair successfully breeding and laying eggs yet, but we are very hopeful," Dan Brauning, commission wildlife diversity supervisor, said in a statement.

About one-fifth of the eagle nests in the state fail each year due to disturbances, predators and bad weather, he said.

Brauning said the confirmation of a nest within the city "demonstrates the resilience of this species and its apparent growing tolerance to human activity."

Officials said last year that they had confirmed more than 100 bald eagle nests in the state for the first time in more than a century. The state began a campaign to re-establish the eagle population in 1983, when only three nesting pairs remained in Pennsylvania.

Preliminary counts indicate that bald eagles are nesting in at least 31 of the state's 67 counties. The largest concentrations are found in the wetlands of Crawford, Mercer and Erie counties; along the lower Susquehanna River and its tributaries in Chester, Lancaster and York counties; and in the Poconos and Upper Delaware River region, officials said.

Bald eagles were upgraded from endangered to threatened status by the federal government in 1995 and by the state a decade later.

Someone tried to derail our train

2007-03-10T13:58:05Z

From the scary and weird department:
My commuter train hit a huge pile of debris just outside of Rutherford and nearly derailed last night. We felt an impact, the lights went out, then we felt half a minute of jouncing as if we were rolling over a series of potholes (not something you expect on a rail line.) We stayed on the tracks and got past the debris. Later we stopped so the crew could inspect the damage and we were told someone had piled boulders on the tracks. Boulders. Someone carried boulders to the tracks and placed them in the path of a commuter train. Fuck me. What kind of scumbag does that kind of thing?