May

First Felon in Chief?

The First Felon President?
Romney is Guilty of Assault
by Charles Karel Bouley II

All right, enough is enough.

Imagine, if you will, being a little different; perhaps, even a lot different. Imagine trying every day to fit in but simply not being able to; or, maybe not even wanting to try any more. Imagine expressing yourself through dressing a little differently; wearing things that may not be deemed “normal” by most. Your parents are “OK” with it, but would prefer you shape up.

You decide to grow your hair long; part because you like it, maybe part protest. You even color it. After all, you’re almost 18, you’re about to be on your own.

The kids at school are the usual asshats they can be, calling you names, queer, fag, homo, referring to you as a girl or a loner or any one of a thousand names people can come up with when they don’t understand someone that’s different.

You pretty much just man up and take it. Spring break was pretty fun, you feel pretty good about yourself, you’re looking good. You decide to go study by yourself when suddenly the door bursts open.

What the ?

Before you even know it, six guys are on top of you screaming and yelling and calling you all of those names again. What are they going to do? You don’t suppose they’d…no, they wouldn’t do THAT…what’s going on, is this a joke?

You scream for help, trying to get away, you struggle, you fight, but there’s six of them. They hold you down, they hate you. Why? What did I do? What have I done? Don’t do it, don’t hurt me…wait, what are those? Scissors? Are they going to stab me? Poke out my eyes? Cut off my balls? Dear God get away!

You scream for someone, anyone, your mom or dad, but they just laugh and hold you, others look on. Why won’t they help? Why are they standing there?

Then the leader, he takes the scissors. He begins yelling how you can’t run around looking that way. That you’re a freak and need to be taught a lesson. He begins cutting your hair!

Yes! Your hair! He’s hacking away! You’ve been growing it for over a year. He’s cutting it all and hurting you! He hits your scalp! Ouch! STOP!

Finally, he does, they flee as quickly as they came. You’re left, bruised, battered, you’re hair cut in clumps and fits, branded a freak.

That’s assault. That’s a hate crime. That’s not a high school prank. It’s terrorizing another human being, like a band of terrorists. It’s behavior that is learned, accepted and doesn’t change. Particularly if the person that did it did it so much that can’t even recall the episode.

Mitt Romney, you are guilty of assault by all accounts. We’ll never hear from the victim, as he died in 2004. But there’s been enough said, especially by you.

An apology won’t cut it. You, sir, should be no where near the White House.

The Republican Party should prove they have at least a shadow of the principals of its founder, President Lincoln, and in light of these accusations pull their support from candidate Romney and appeal to the delegates to nominate in to the actual nomination the candidate with the second largest votes in the primaries, all of them.

But it won’t. Which is why it truly has become something unrecognizable and destructive.

Mitt Romney, if these stories are true, and no one to date is discounting them and you, yourself simply say you can’t remember (?) and you allegedly committed an assault whether you knew the kid was gay or not. And you try to apologize it away?

You sir, are a disgrace in my eyes. A bully through and through. You would continue to bully Americans to your will; inflicting your master’s beliefs on a country disguised as morality; telling women what they can do with their bodies and their lives, telling tax paying Americans who can and cannot get married…on and on.

You should withdraw. You should feel lucky if criminal charges are not brought against you. You certainly violated that kid’s civil rights and that’s a federal offense if true.

Republicans, you should neither nominate nor vote for this man. He has no real remorse and he is allegedly a criminal. A real one.

Grow some. Put your money where your mouth is and if you really disapprove of bullies, say not to Mitt. We don’t need another Bully in Chief. Eight years of Bush was enough.

Sent from Karel’s iPad

Apr

Radio Rules the Day as Adam Carolla Wins 36th Toyota Pro / Celebrity Grand Prix

Radio Wins the Day As
Adam Carolla wins Celebrity Grand Prix
By Charles Karel Bouley II

Kim Coates (Sons of Anarchy, Resident Evil: Afterlife) felt pretty good starting the ridiculously beautiful Saturday April 14, 2012 36th Toyota Pro/Celebrity race as part of the 38th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. After all, even in one of the worst storms to roll through Long Beach in some time on Friday the 13th, he managed to take the top Poll position, qualifying at 1:49:385 with Adam Carolla right behind him at 1:49:940 and Eddie Cibran right behind with 1:50:077; and those times were off of the morning qualifying heat due to the storm.

Coates’ poll position won him the 15th Annual People Pole Award from People Magazine and a check for $15,000 to his charity One Heart Source in Africa.

“My daughter is involved with this charity, so you’ve made her very happy and this has made me a very popular dad,” he said at Friday’s qualifying event as People Magazine awarded him and his charity a check for $15000.

Kim Coates accepts $15k for Charity From People Magazine for the People Poll Award at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Photo: Brandon Crispo

But how one evening can change things.

At Saturday’s Toyota Pro/Celebrity race the tide quickly turned for Coates.

Remember, this may be all in good fun and for charity, but the celebrities and pros want to win. While there is a sense of team spirit, there is also real competition. For many, like Coates, this is not their first race or Grand Prix.

“It’s fun when you get to crash other people’s stuff for charity,” Adam Carolla joked prior to the race.

It didn’t seem too fun for Coates. His race ended early, after a promising start, in Lap 7, when a crash sent him to the wall and then to be checked out by doctors shortly after the checkered flag was lowered. His car remained dangerously in lanes on the dreaded Hairpin curve of the track.

Coates wouldn’t be the only celebrity to taste the wall or metal. Even before Coates left the race Brody Jenner and Eddie Cibrian clashed after Cibrian had trouble with a corner and Jenner collided with him in Lap 3, leaving Jenner out.

Brody Jenner talks to Karel in the People Magazine Celebrity compound.

“It’s a shame to ruin such a beautiful day this way,” he said shortly thereafter. “I really wanted to finish, because, it’s fun! Plus, I wanted to win. But it wasn’t in the stars. I ran in to Cibrian, well, he ran in to me! Or somehow we ran in to each other.

WIn or not, it must be fun being Brody Jenner. This star of reality TV who the term “bromance” was coined was the definite attention getter as women, and a few men, from behind the fence of theToyota Grand Prix People Celebrity Paddock screamed for his attention.

“Well, at least if the fans are having a good time, and people are here for the race, it makes it all worthwhile. It is for kids, after all,” he added.

Many celebrities talked of the charity, The Miller Children’s Hospital and Racing for Kids. Toyota donated $5000 to Racing for Kids in the name of each celebrity and pro participant and an additional $5000 to Adam Carolla’s charity, because of the win.

Carolla was quick to clarify the charity aspect of this after.

“FIrst of all, this is the best part of being a celebrity, and one of the best perks, so i encourage you all to become celebrities quick,” he joked as the press conference after the event began. “But let’s remember, there’s a lot of talk about how this is for the kids. Well, the kids are great, they are fine, but they could know me or anyone else from Adam at five or six. It’s really the parents that need as much support. I can’t imagine what it’s like to hold your kid’s hand time and time again, surgery after surgery, to be there, sleeping on chairs and cots, sometimes through very trying times. We need to remember it’s as much for those heroes as it is for the kids. For us? It’s just a blast,” he concluded.

Adam Carolla about the Charity. Video by Karel

Racing for Kids is a national nonprofit program benefitting children’s hospitals in Long Beach and Orange County, CA. Toyota has donated more than two million since 1991. People magazine goes above and beyond by awarding the winning Poll placer $15k to their charity.

CSI:NY’s Hill Harper took the race very seriously. He challenged Carolla for the lead for the last third of the race, never letting up until the end and taking a very decent second. Harper had the fastest lap of any Pro or Celebrity.

Hill Harper at the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Grand Prix of Long Beach. Photo: Karel

“The instructors were so great,” Harper started. “We train for weeks out at Willow Springs and they take this race very seriously. Things happen fast out there, and you have to be prepared. I listened and studied hard, and I wanted to win,” he added. “I will definitely come back if I can, I want this.”

Latin superstar Kate del Castillo (NBC/Mun2) finished first amongst the women, including Grand Prix Queen Jillian Barberie Reynolds (the female veteran).

“Jillian has done this before, so it wasn’t fair to paint us as rivals,” Casitllo laughed after. “We drive like this in my country all the time, I like to speed,” she continued in good spirits.

When asked about her involvement on behalf of the large Hispanic community now represented at the Grand Prix (Bellanova is the headliner Saturday, April 14th, a wildly popular Latin band) she said it was overwhelming to see the response.

“My fans brought banners and were so loud, it was so wonderful to see them all turn out here in Long Beach. I’d love to come back and reconnect with them again, and of course, do the race!” she concluded.

William Fichner (Contact, The Lone Ranger, Entrouage) finished second in the pro, a category he earned by winning last year’s Celebrity Grand Prix, with Pro racer Frederic Aasbo finished first in the pro. Record Producer and American Idol Mentor Jim Jonsin took third in Pro and Bryan Clauson fourth.

In all it was Carolla, Harper and Biff Gordon taking the top three podium spots in the 36th Annual Toyota Celebrity / Pro Race. Gordon is a Toyota Dealer who drives through winning the spot on silent auction (again, for charity). Rutledge Wood came in fourth, with Cain Velasquez, Adrien Brody, Kate del Castillo, Jerry Westlund, Jillian Barberie Reynolds, Doug Fregin, Eileen Davidson (Daytime TV), Eddie Cibrian, Kim Coates and Brody Jenner finishing out the pack; with the last two not finishing.

Jim Jonsin

The average speed for the celebrities was 63.866 with the best speed 66.147. However speeds in excess of 100 are not uncommon during Grand Prix.

The 38th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach continues all weekend with the main race beginning at 1:30 on Sunday, April, 15. The race brings hundreds of thousands of people to Long Beach and is a major source of economic stimulus. It is the largest event in Long Beach and one of the top three in the State. Go to http://www.lbgp.org for more.

Thanks to Chris Esslinger and Sharon Noot for their assistance. Photos and Video by Charles Karel Bouley and Brandon Crispo.

To hear the Karel Show, read the blogs, including HuffingtonPost get the Karel App from either iTunes or Google Play from the website http://www.thekarelshow.com

Video Below:

Start of Press Conference:

Adam Carolla on vintage cars versus Grand Prix cars.

Carolla on winning the trophy.

Carolla on threats while racing

Brody Jenner and Rutledge Woods on the crash

404 days ago Short URL Comments

Daily Feed

Adam Carolla/Adrien Brody/Aprilia/billboard/bouley/Brody Jenner/charleskarel bouley/comedy/economy/entertainment/gay/huffingtonpost/karel/longbeach/motorcycles

Sep

Shame on CNN for Mainstreaming the Fringe

The CNN\Tea Party Express Debate leaves liberals like myself in a precarious position: while many of us are upset with the Democratic Party up to and including President Obama and have not been shy in making that upset known if that upset or criticism causes any one of the eight people onstage Monday, September 12, 2011 to be elected to the White House then we will have let despots win.

Each of the eight candidates on stage in Tampa, FL in an event sponsored by and filled with Tea Party loyalists, at some point or another in the evening made it clear that Poor America, Middle America, Thinking America was not welcomed at their table and must, in fact, be defeated. The audience had vitriolic members in it, people that would yell
“Yes!” when asked if a man that needs six months of intensive care to recover should have his bills covered or die…the answer was clearly heard in the crowd, yes, die. And no one denounced it. No one chastised the audience. Not any of the eight, or moderator Wolf Blitzer; no one.

Some of these people are truly evil or severely misguided and uneducated about America, how it works and what its core and real values actually are.

As I sat listening, I couldn’t help but remember my interview with David Holthouse from mediaMatters.org who went undercover with the skin head movement. He told me about American Third Position, a3p, a white nationalist movement (read legitimized skin head lobby) that is operating within the Tea Party and how no one has denounced them or refused to take their money, playing it off as the tea party is comprised of local groups and what those groups on their own do is their own business; plausible deniability at its best. Could some of that money have sponsored this debate? Or any of the groups that were in the audience? Who are these people? And why are Republicans pandering to them and CNN legitimizing them? In all fairness, the syndicator of my radio show takes ads from a3p, and should I ever hear one I use my freedom of speech to remind people who they are, what they stand for and how racism under any catchy title is still racism.

Perry, Bachman, Romney, Paul, Cain, Santorum, Huntsman and Bachman all made it clear that anything that protects the environment, like the EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency (started by Republican Richard Nixon), or inhibits business, read regulation, was bad, that corporate taxes were too high and health care reform, dubbed Obamacare, was the cause of all the nation’s woes. There should be no Dream Act or anything but deportation and fences to solve immigration and as for health care if you can’t afford to buy it you simply shouldn’t have any and yes, in the words of the audience, die.

And yet I have to be careful about what I say about them? I must not be too harsh, too divisive. As a non conservative I must have productive rhetoric, non judgmental, no name calling. But they can say an American should die without health care and that’s all right. America’s, and especially liberal’s outrage is so often misplaced.

The fact is that audience members and candidates alike repeatedly proved to be un-American in their views, their ideas, their plans and schemes and in their tone. Corporate America was and is the only America they seem to care about and the audience is too dense to know it. They use catch phrases like regulation reform, tort reform, personal responsibility…each meaning something totally different to the candidates than the audience.

Personal responsibility simply means it’s your fault you are poor, uninsured, without food or a job or cash. As 15.1 % people live in poverty now, the largest number since 1983, each of them is responsible for getting themselves in the mess and should get themselves out without things like food stamps, MediCare, Social Security, unemployment insurance. You are responsible for your safety net, not government, so stop looking for help from it. It’s annoying to the candidates, it takes the focus away from pleasing their corporate masters.

Smaller government? Only small minds preach for small government. A more streamlined, efficient government is one thing, but we’re a big country with millions of people and that takes lots of government. And these decriers of big government don’t really mean it. Republicans grew the government more than anyone with the Department of Homeland Security, and according to Professor John Mueller from Ohio State University when I spoke to him recently, it’s a total waste of money. His new book “Terror, Security and Money: Balancing the Risks Benefits and Costs of Homeland Security” does cost analysis for the war on terror, particularly the DHS, and finds it’s a total waste of money given the benefit. According to his book, we stand a one in 3.5 million chance of being attacked or killed by terrorists, and given the risk, the cost of protection is way out of line. The DHS cost us $t70 billion or more but no one talked of abolishing it. But the EPA, that must go, it’s a job killer and too expensive.

Yes, government of a nation of 309 million should be grand in its scope. And they want it to be, but only for their almost villainous causes. It’s fine to expand government to deport undocumented workers, to build huge fences, deploy national guard to the borders, to do whatever it takes to stop the Brown people from coming in and taking good American jobs and sucking off the American government nipple to bankrupt our medical services, social services, school districts and more. Naturally the corporations benefitting from this cheap labor go unscathed. But oh yes, it’s THEIR fault our economy is partly in the mess it is in, according to the eight candidates at this “debate.” And while there is no truth to their claim, truth was not a factor in this arena. Only things that could get good applause lines and go unchallenged by the “moderator.”

In fact, so many egregious things were said by each that all that can be concluded from the event is that these people really, truly do not like America as it is today, do not like Americans as they are today, do not understand the very documents they pro port to follow (Michelle Bachman and the rest get the Declaration, the Constitution including the Bill of Rights so wrong so often they can’t have actually ever read them) and really have nothing but contempt for anyone not like them, or attached to a LLC or corporation.

So when does the press treat them like the subversives they are? When does the press stop legitimizing these people and their views, and the hateful views of their acolytes? The Republican Party is no longer a credible political party, it is a party of war criminals, of corporatists, Evangelical zealots and oligarchs; at least at the top. It’s the party of millionaires and do-not-cares; obstructionists to anything not of their own design. A party willing to take a country hostage and negotiate like terrorists: give us this or we’ll end unemployment extensions at Christmas; give us that or we’ll cause the United States to default for the first time in 235 years.

As for the Tea Party it is a well funded creation of the Right with members that are downright dangerous to America. They are fringe hate groups, both of them. And if anyone wants to take me task for writing it or saying it I can back it up with countless hateful statements made by either party and its members, from the “Die!” heard during this particular debate, to statements from each and every person on that stage that evening. These people are blatant in their contempt and disregard for the rank in file Americans and their seditionist rhetoric is reaching a fever pitch.

Shame on CNN for legitimizing this bigotry, this hatred, this Anti American movement in the name of free speech, and shame on America for living in the past. The Republican party once might have been a legitimate second party, but now it should be broken up like any mafia ring. And as for the Tea Party, it and its members should be seen in the same light as any other fringe element (insert your comparisons here) hell bent on promoting their extremist agenda. And if you aren’t any of these things but find yourself in one of those organizations, get out. The Republican Party abandoned those in it that were true to the principles of its founder, Abraham Lincoln. And the Tea Party is staying true to its founder’s principals (The Koch Brothers); protect the wealthy by manipulating the uneducated poor.

Yes, I am upset with Democrats and don’t see that party or its members as beacons of hope living up to their mandate or charter, their core principles either. Obama is a disappointment along with Pelosi and the rest. I do wish Obama had a primary challenger so he would have to mix it up in a debate or two and we could hear more ideas from the progressive side.

But that being said, the upset with that party pales by comparison to the absolute need to keep any of the eight people on that stage and their followers far, far away from the White House and any kind of legislative power. The Democrats may be weak and spineless at times, but at least they don’t want to give the country over to those that would truly harm it and aren’t blatant in their contempt for many Americans not like them, Americans like you and I.

To hear Karel’s daily radio show go to http://www.thekarelshow.com M-F 3pm to 6pm PST, weekends on KGO AM 810 San Francisco 7pm to 10pm and in iTunes. To read more columns get the book Shouting at Windmills: BS from Bush to Obama available at Amazon.com and CreateSpace https://www.createspace.com/3512223

Aug

Pigs Flying Off The Grill in Orange County Aug. 18-21

By Charles Karel Bouley II

There are three things that don’t often appear on my to-do list:

1. Listen to lots of Country music
2. Eat in public with my fingers tearing meat off of bones (when you have as many dinner or lunch meetings as I do, you just stop ordering something you’ve got to pick up and get in to)
3. Hang out in Orange County, CA (I used to live there and now that I don’t I know why everyone used to joke that I lived behind the “Orange Curtain.”)

So it took something pretty special to get me and a guest to gear up, hop on the Aprilia Mana 850 and ride down PCH to Warner and over to Mile Square Park at Brookhurst and Heil (The Fountain Valley Sports Park is the official name now, but when I lived across the street everyone knew, and knows it, as Mile Square Park).

That something special ended up being the lure of the best BBQ available in the area this weekend as The Orange County BBQ Bonanza takes over the Fountain Valley Sports Park (Mile Square Park, Heil Entrance off Brookhurst, Fountain Valley, CA).

Now living in Long Beach there’s no shortage of great BBQ. Not many can beat the wonderful offerings at Porky’s on Redondo and 10th or Johnny Reb’s at 4663 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach.

But the OC BBQ Bonanza did not disappoint. If pork ribs are your thing then this is the place to be this weekend. Six BBQers from across the country will compete for titles while diners serve as beneficiaries to the competitive spirit.

Aussum Aussies, Porky-N-Beans, Coyote Roadhouse, Cowboys BBQ & Rib, Johnson’s Bar-B-Que, and the KC BBQ Team have each brought their “A” game, their pork ribs rubbed and marinated, their wood pits all fired up, thrown in some chicken, links, tri-tip and trimmins making for an old time country festival right in the heart of Orange County.

Coyote Roadhouse served as my favorite, with meat just falling off the bone, a sauce that was smokey and not too sweet, the absolute perfect rib. But that’s like saying you like diamonds more than rubies really, since there was no bad BBQ to be had.

No BBQ would be complete without Country music, and the OC BBQ Bonanza has it covered all weekend long. A complete list of entertainment can be found here, but be sure and check out Bennie and the Swamp Gators (Zydeco/Cajun) and AJ Gibbs billed as the Mydeco Dance King..

Admission is $5 and includes a $2 off rib coupon. There’s a VIP Rib Village with all the ribs, beer, wine and fixin’s for $100/ea. Individual menu items range from $2 to $25 depending on the amount ordered.

For more information call 562.495.5959 or go to OC BBQ Bonanza

Mar

The Trip Goes Full Circle: Ireland After St. Patricks

The Trip Swings Full Circle: Ireland After the Party
By Charles Karel Bouley II

And it ends as it began. Seven days previous, myself, my niece Heather McGrath (pronounced McGraww! In Ireland) and the very special Brandon Crispo hopped off US Air (willing) and hopped on to BMW Sport Adventure bikes through Celtic Riders (http://www.motorental.ie). Now, seven days later, we are back at Celtic Riders about to embark on a day trip to the “Garden of Ireland” the Wicklow Mountains and Wicklow National Park. It was Saturday, two days out from St. Patrick’s Day and the day of big rugby match that we wanted to return in time to see prior to going to the 0-2 Concert Venue to see the 20th Anniversary reunion of The Commitments.
Gone were the maddening crowds from a few days back. In fact, the Friday after St. Patrick’s Day 2011 was a sedate, controlled night in the Temple Bar area of Ireland, the part of Dublin set aside for the party animals and Bohemics.
In fact, Friday morning after St. Patrick’s as we walked to a tour at the Jameson’s Distillery (http://jamesontickets.visrez.com/ticket_booking) in the heart of Dublin, it was back to work for many. It wasn’t a four day holiday, so many Dubliners were back at work bright (?) and early Friday morning. Offices were bustling, stores and the locals were now mingling with the tourists that were left. Brits and others were filling the hotel rooms left vacant from the holiday for Saturday’s match. Little signs could be found of the night before, an occasional patch of puke and several people sleeping (yes, sleeping) along the bridges over the Liffey still in their party hats left to sleep it off; but for the most part, it was back to work.
The Distillery is another great tour as Jameson’s Whiskey is a big part of the Dublin and Irish culture. It sells over 31 million bottles world wide a year is the most popular Irish Whiskey made; it is also the fastest growing whiskey brand in the world. Established in 1790 by a Scot, John Jameson, it is distilled in Cork, Ireland with vatting taking place in Dublin. It is a single distillery whiskey, adhering to the single malt tradition with difference being Jameson’s combines malted barley with umalted or “green” barley. Then they use what is known as the Pure Pot Still distilling tradition and used sherry and brandy kegs brought from Kentucky and other places. The tour is great fun and ends with a tasting, and be sure to see the actual cat that caught 20 mice per day for the brewery. They stuffed it. No lie. It’s a great place for gifts for those that like whiskey as they will print the name of someone on a label of their Distillery Reserve, available only there in Dublin.

Dinner was in the Grand Canal Square area of Dublin, a newly redeveloped waterfront area that is where modern meets traditional on the waterfront. It is developing in to a very trendy area, think SoMa in San Francisco or SoHo in NYC and that includes the restaurants springing up. This is where you could get a bit of West Hollywood in Dublin; places like the Ely Gastro (http://www.elywinebar.ie/en/ely-gastro-pub.html) I suppose for locals this is great, but for me…ehh…I didn’t travel all this waysto have service I could get in America (read, less than stellar) and food that was more style over substance. The patrons really seemed to be enjoying themselves at the bar and I could see this as a very trendy night spot for young urban hipsters. There’s much better food in Ireland and places that mix more traditional Ireland with the modern. The Grand Canal is full of them, and so trendy, upscale, modern night life on an incredible waterfront by a spanking new theatre exists just a five minute cab ride from the City Centre.
Friday night Dublin was sedate, having shot an incredible amount the night previous. Pubs like Hogans or The Stag’s Head that were far too crowded to attempt were now readily accessible with good crowds and good fun. The George rounded out with an evening of dancing and street food (Cod and chips) in the Temple Bar and it was back to the hotel by 1am, the earliest!
Saturday night after St. Patrick’s Day was a huge concert event for Dublin, the 20th Anniversary reunion of The Stars from The Commitments. The film, now two decades old, and the actors and singers who made it all under the writing prowess of native Roddy Doyle came together for a special night at Dublin’s O-2 (http://www.theo2.ie/) . The house was filled to capacity as the various members of the group did R&B covers and a host of material from the movie and other albums. The band has broken up a few times over the years and as singer Bronagh Gallagher said in jest when they first came out “we’ve already broken up 20 times today. She was joined by Andrew Strong, Robert Arkins, Angeline Ball, Michael Aherne, Glen Hansard, Felim Gormley, Dave Finnegan Ken McCluskey and Dick Massey for a rousing two-and-a-half-hour set. Even though these are actors and such who have gone on with their lives, I see a tour in their future. The night was a mix of a Blues Brother’s concert and some real Irish spirit, a great combination. In fact Heather looked over and said “I didn’t know Ireland had this much soul!” and when Brandon exclaimed “Look, White people CAN dance!” I exclaimed, “They’re not White! They’re Irish!”
The after party at the Premium Club was the best industry after party I’ve been to, and I’ve been to countless. The Premium Club is on the third floor of the O-2 and singer Bronagh’s mom was behind us during the show. We got to hug that very pride woman and shake her father’s hand, you could see the joy in the parents as the daughter worked the room. Irish celebrities abounded, Bushmills was the drink of the evening and before one knew it, it was
But the star of Saturday was the ride, back on the bikes and out to see more of Ireland. Paul Rawlins and Liam from Celtic Riders met us after we transferred to the Radisson Blu hotel at the airport. It’s a grand hotel, with lush rooms and very modern appointments. It’s a big cab ride to City Centre, about 30 Euros ($45) but it’s worth it when flying out the day after because you can walk to the new terminals at the airport.
Rawlins was going to take us in to the high country, the national park just 30 minutes outside of Dublin. I thought after the ride to Cannamara that I couldn’t be overwhelmed yet again, naïve little me.
We headed out of town on the M50 and then quickly cut off to begin a twisting turning four hours that would lead us through some of the most spectacle views and scenery available in any country, any where and solidifying that it is worth going through a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course (http://www.msf-usa.org) and getting a class C in America and practice on rental bikes JUST to do this tour. Even if you never saw yourself on the back of one, this drive alone would make it worth months of preparation.
Along the way we stop at a graveyard for German soldiers from WWII. The Germans would fly over Ireland and run out of gas near the mountains and crash. The Irish would bury them out of decency and kindness. Ones that survived or lived through the crashes only to then die were sometimes heard asking “Why? Why help us?” As Paul explained Ireland was basically neutral and just felt it was the human thing to bury young men who were doing only what they were told. They weren’t an evil dictator, they were kids, dying and deserved a beautiful place to be. And they are in one indeed marked by one of the few remaining Celtic Crosses standing in the land

Next stop was a famous part of the Wicklow National Park and Wicklow Mountains (http://www.visitwicklow.ie/attractions/wicklow_mountains_national_park.htm). It’s in these mountains that many films of Ireland have been made, including a large battle scene from “Braveheart” with Mel Gibson PB (pre breakdown) that even got the Irish Army involved as extras. There’s a great vantage point (well, every 20 feet really) of the vast bog that is the beginning of the River Liffey in Ireland. Bog is Turf, which is thousands of years of compressed organic material that is moist. Things buried in it like people or animals are preserved almost perfectly. It is used for fuel, to burn, in homes and pubs after it is dried. While moist, it is the sponge that soaks up the rains that feed the Liffey which runs from that point to the sea through Dublin.
As we stood at its source the uniqueness of the place can be felt. Camping is allowed or just sitting for a while. There aren’t many resources around, so come prepared (gas, food, snacks, etc). It really was standing on the top of Ireland.

Heather McGrath, Brandon Crispo, Karel
Then it was more overwhelming beauty after more as we went by waterfalls, lush valleys and rivers out of every painting one has ever seen about lush country cottages. The road goes to the heart of the Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough where an ancient monastery, church and spire sit. A lovely lunch at the Glendalough Hotel and a stroll through the grounds juxtaposes the modern and the ancient all in a serene setting.

Brandon, Liam (from Celtic Riders), Heather, Karel and Paul (Celtic Riders) in Glendalough.
Leaving on the bikes it began to rain. This is a very dangerous time for bikers and the roads of Ireland are unforgiving; one doesn’t control or conquer them, one respects them or gets hurt, especially in these conditions. This is where bike and gear makes all the difference in the world.
AlpineStars supplied the gear (http://www.alpinestars.com) including the Gor-Tex jackets, gloves boots and pants. The wisest investment ever for a biker in these conditions whether in Ireland or Arkansas, Seattle to L.A. As the winds whipped and the rain began to fall hard, we were dry and warmer than anyone could imagine, even myself.
The BMW 1200 GS and F 650 GS, as Rawling says, “are the only bikes for Ireland whether in the West or here,” and I agree. From the heated hand grips to the incredible traction and sturdiness, as I rode with Heather as my passenger on roads that switchback and are barely 10 feet wide I actually wasn’t too worried to check out things like the village of Hollywood, yes, the first, the lake scenery, gorges, valley and other things along the way. It was an initiation by fire (well, rain) and thanks to the leadership of Celtic Riders Paul and Liam, the craftsmanship of BMW and the protection of AlpineStars, it proved to be another exhilarating experience.
We rode back and said goodbye to new friends, fast friends, friends we will be seeing again with our minds full of such joy, beauty, so much that it’s too hard to process. So here’s what Rawlings wrote in an email to me when I returned. “It was really nice to meet and talk to 3 down to earth American people, we enjoyed immensely bringing you all for a ride on Saturday afternoon. I know for a fact that Brandon’s never ever going to forget his baptism of fire riding in Ireland. I read his eyes during our ride when we stopped to admire the landscape and he was wired straight to the grid, electrified with adrenalin and pure happiness. That makes me so happy because these feelings are the feelings I want to bring out in overseas tourists when they visit our island.”
Well Paul, mission accomplished there.
Wired, electrified, adrenalin, overwhelmed, connected, alike, friends, family, laughter…how many adjectives, how many descriptors does the human language have; I need more.
In America, we are lucky if we take a week off from work by ourselves or with our families.; Let alone two or three or four. And in today’s economy, where there is so much uncertainty, the thought of a vacation has been put aside for so many.
But why do you work? To live? Define living. Is living working hard to simply pay corporations interest, conglomerates fees. If the past three years has taught us nothing it’s that living is what is important, connecting, being present, being there. People saved their whole lives for later, for retirement, never taking vacations longer than a few days, never spending money on a concert or play, and where are they today? So many were wiped clean, back to work.
We have to go and blow it out, go and explore, go and be different people and meet different people and see how NOT different we all are or else what is the point of being here? Today as I sit and wade through the bills from the last seven days, the calls, the “back to life, back to reality” I realized what I did was priceless and the relationships and memories I made forever.
Ireland may be a world away for so many of you, but let me tell you, it’s waiting to welcome you. It’s been welcoming people for thousands of years and will go on. Try to be one of those one day and do just a few of the things I may have suggested and you’ll see life from a whole different point of view when you return home.

Mar

Irish Motorcycle Diaries Part 1: Arrival and Galway

By Charles Karel Bouley

Ireland at St. Patrick’s Day and riding motorcycles are two things that interest me greatly as I have done, or do, both. So when Tourism Ireland (www.discoverireland.com) offered to bring my radio show to Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day for our fifth time and then threw in a cross country motorcycle tour the only answer was yes, economy (mine included) be damned.

Ireland throws quite an annual party for St. Patrick’s Day, and it stands on its own and is one of the biggest tourist events for the country generating much needed revenues at this time of global meltdown (quite literally, news from Japan is dominating the trip so far, even in the Irish high country).

Because of production requirements we decided that Sunday the 13th to Sunday the 20th would be the best time to come and plans were made and interviews set up.

The first leg of the trip, of course, is air travel. We were booked on US Air, an airline foreign to me as I truly have never traveled on it. And while it is easy these days to find a topic about air travel for a radio show, if one hasn’t been through the wonders of the airport and air travel recently, it can be a rude awakening.

For instance, in today’s world, buying a ticket is not necessarily buying a seat on the plane. Airlines have become corporations that are basically in to reduced service at all levels, fees and a litany of things they won’t or can’t do. Two days prior to departure I wanted to call and get seat assignments. Our tickets were not the lowest bargain basement coach, as they were booked relatively last minute: no, they were full price seats. I rang up the representative at US Air thinking it would just take a moment to pick three seat; silly me.

The policy as explained to me was basic: if I wanted to get our seat assignments prior to airport we had to pay $30 each per ticket, or $90 because these would then be “preferred seats;” I guess because I preferred to have them assigned early. I was told we could wait to the airport and the same seats would be available for free, if they were available. US Airways isn’t the only one doing this now. Jet Blue once you are ticketed asks you to pick your seat. It then charges you more money if you want to sit in certain rows because of their leg room; the ticket again doesn’t give you a seat, it gives you a space.

So airlines start the relationship by clearly violating your Fourth Amendment right under the Constitution to not be unreasonably searched because they can’t do the job of getting passengers from point A to point B safely without violating our privacy and then they continue the relationship by charging for every little thing they can.

I decided to wait to check in at the airport. At US Airways at LAX that means you go to an automated kiosk with an employee assigned to two machines. The employee then tells you what to push and enter on the machine, how to run the passport through and confirm flights and bags. They stand next to you the entire time, and check your passport. So why don’t they just stand behind the counter and do the entire process like before? Why must I now type all the info and do all the steps on a touch screen if an employee has to stand by me anyway to verify documents and tell me what to touch?

The plane ride from LAX to Philly was horrendous. Last row, row 33, window seat. No cool air, no reclining and no food or snacks except what you purchase for huge amounts, credit cards only. A full price ticket, but because we didn’t want to pay an extra $90 we get the worst seats on the plane, and we got the airport three hours early. Did I mention the plane had no in flight entertainment at all? No sound system, no TV, no movie, nothing. But it did have WiFi. For a nominal fee of three billion dollars a second (well, not exactly, but you get the point).

On the trip it never ceases to amaze me why we, myself included, allow these corporations to treat us this way and still hand over billions of dollars a year to them. Hell, we even bailed them out before the banks. And thanks to Regan’s deregulation air travel in the U.S. is a mess. Airlines simply have stolen the entire joy from traveling, and they do it by pleading poverty. When a company cannot provide excellent customer service and a product worth the price they should go out of business. Instead, we funnel more money to them and line up for the abuse because we have no alternative form of high speed travel (rail, for instance). They have a monopoly on moving people in short amounts of time and because of that we are forced to take what we get or stay home. And the classism of giving better or more service to people who can pay more used to be bad enough from coach to business class to first class: now making coach people pay more and more for less and less is simply a business formula that cannot, and should not, be sustained.

Philadelphia to Dublin was a much better flight, at least there was oxygen, entertainment options and even some really bad airplane food (but at least it was offered for free). Sleep was the order of the flight because once on the ground in Ireland, there’s never a dull moment.

Dublin airport is modern and newly redeveloped. They were going to build another airport outside of town where there was military land, but opted to expand the existing one. Over the last two years, according to tourism figures from the country, the airport hasn’t seen as many Americans (or others) as tourism has taken a hit with the economic turndown. However, in 2011 there is some improvement and positive growth being seen and while it may not be enough to save some of the companies that went away, it is much needed stimulus for the Irish tourism industry.

We (my niece Heather and friend Brandon) were met by a representative from Celtic Rider in Dublin (www.motorental.ie) who took us over to their shop to get geared up and on BMW motorcycles. Celtic Rider is a small company that provides motorcycles to tourist and locals that want to see Ireland the proper way and without huge gas prices. Gas in Ireland right now is closer to those in the U.S. than ever before, hovering about $11.50 a gallon for unleaded. Most of the four wheeled vehicles here have switched to diesel and it is available at every petrol station.

While at the shop the conversation quickly turned to the economy. Each staff member (three that we met) at Celtic Rider has a horror story, and the word Banker appears to have been added to George Carlin’s original seven and is extraordinarily dirty here. No one has a kind thing to say about the bankers, the way the government has handled the bailout of their financial institutions and their resulting economic troubles. From taxi driver to restaurateur, anger at the Banks and those who profited off of people losing their homes and jobs is palpable.

Brandon and I mounted our BMW bikes while Heather drove the Sante Fe sport utility vehicle with the luggage and it was immediately off the Galway, all the way across the country! Yes, not more than an hour on the ground and already on a cross country motorcycle ride.

And what a ride. The Irish countryside is some of the prettiest in the world. Ireland is currently having it’s coldest winter on record so to many riding just wouldn’t be on the agenda. Brandon trained for weeks, including taking the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s three day safety course before the ride (www.msf-usa.org). That course removes the need to take a driving test at the DMV and is a great way to get acquainted with motorcycling. I recommend it for anyone getting on a bike. As for the weather, AlpineStars (www.alpinestars.com) provided gear for extreme weather and it really works. The Gortex jacket, pants and all weather riding boots and gloves from their moto collection cuts the wind and insulates the rider very efficiently. We rode across at 120 kilometers per hour in 40 degree temperatures and were not subjected to the biting cold.

Galway is a port city on the West side of Ireland. It is more sedate than Dublin, a city of extremes in many ways. While it is a city of great history, it is also a university town, with the pubs and streets teaming with 18-23 year olds along side people who have lived here for generations. There are accommodations here to suit any traveler, from a castle-like setting in City Center (The Merrick) to the extraordinarily trendy G Hotel; our launching pad for Galway activities.

The G is Hollywood glamour in the middle of charming and rustic Galway. Located right on the Bay it is consistently placed in the top five of hotels in Ireland by critics and public alike. Designed by top designer to the stars Philip Treacy the hotel is ultra modern (think Better Midler’s house in “Ruthless People”) and glittery chic in a subdued Irish way. It features themed lounges with movie star art, black-and-white Marilyn Monroe movies shown and the glass walls of a lounge adored with artwork of the star on a car hood on the wall and a bar with Svorsky crystals cracked in a billion pieces under plexiglass. Breakfast is served as part of the stay and the choices include five star faire.

The rooms are large and well appointed, from the heated towel holders and mirror in the bathroom to the vanity for dressing. The TV is interesting not so much because it’s a TV but because what’s on it. In Ireland, in Galway there are 17 channels on our hotel TV and five of the stations are news stations. No Fox here, it’s CNN International, BBC, RTE, SkyNews, local news and even France24. I consumed more REAL news in 30 minutes in the hotel room than Americans can all day; real news, about Japan and other places, in depth reporting, zero spin or opinion and no pompous politicians lying to the Irish faces.

The first live radio show from the G Hotel went off without a hitch, thanks to two things: Technology and sponsors. Radio stations, print outlets, can’t afford to send shows or reporters a lot of places these days. So I approached the Buena Vista Café in San Francisco, Vitucci and Associates financial planners in the Bay Area and Limboland.net, a search engine optimization company run by a friend of mine. They each came to the table so we could afford the trip, because in today’s world it’s smaller business and people helping people, not larger corporations.

As for technology, the fact that I can plug a small box called a Comrex Access in to an Ethernet cable (standard internet), plug a microphone in to it, connect to my network, GCN in Minnesota over the internet (free), beam that to a satellite and have it picked up by six radio stations instantly is beyond remarkable. As one listener said “It’s the coolest thing that in San Francisco my headphones are connected directly to Galway, Ireland, through you!”

Day 2

Day 2 in Galway began on the bikes. Tourism Ireland arranged interviews for me in advance on a world class moto ride through some of the prettiest high country in the world; winding roads, meandering fields of green, lakes, snow dusted mountains, goats, horses and cows roaming about and the nicest people on the planet.

In fact, the first stop was the Dan O’Hara Cottage at the Connemara Culture Center, about an hour outside of Galway. On the way we stopped at a very rural pub and petrol station, in fact, it was just that, two gas pumps, a general store, a craft shop and a pub. The pub was the Paddy Feist. We entered to tape a radio segment. The first thing noticeable was the TV, it was tuned to news on Japan. Here, in this rural part of this island in the North Atlantic is the pub owner and patrons playing pool, having a pint, and watching a meltdown. Surreal, really.

We hadn’t gotten Euros yet, and we find out after ordering that the pub didn’t take credit cards. In fact, out of the five pubs we’ve been in, none have taken credit cards. In any event, I panicked because there was no ATM or any way to get money. Oh no, my first international incident! Shorting a shopkeeper!

In America, there’d be a scene. Not at the Paddy Feist. “Just stop the cash by the next time you’re by here, no worries, cheers then!” the owner said as he handed me the three pints. I was flabbergasted, literally. That single act alone not only spoke volumes, but really describes the attitude here.

We enjoyed the pint, waited a few, and then it was back on the bikes.

The Dan O’Hara cottage and Connemara Culture Center sits alone on the road that leads to the Connemara National Park area. It’s run by Martin Breatneach and his lovely wife; they also live there and are 80% self sufficient meaning they grow their own food, get their own fuel and so on.

We were taken up the side of a mountain in a trolley car pulled behind a large tractor. On the way up we hear about the Connemara ponies, original descendents of the only indigenous horses in Western Ireland. Word on the street is that in the 1700 hundreds a Spanish Galleon crashed off the shore and two horses made it to shore and mated with the ponies so there’s a little mix in the bloodline.

We were taken to Dan O’Hara’s cottage and heard his tale of woe, a tale that is so relevant today that it is eerie. O’Hara was a tenant farmer, and his cottage and houses were made for him and his seven children. The house became a meeting place, a social place, a place for parties and gatherings. Then O’Hara added a bigger window with glass to his house, and the landlord wanted double the rent. Double. And they wanted a tax. A new tax. A tax that would become known as Daylight Robbery to the locals because it centered around a window.

O’Hara couldn’t pay, and he got evicted. In those days that meant they came and burned your roof and caved in your walls; and while modern day banks don’t do that today, metaphorically, they do. 70,000 Irish were thrown out of their homes this way and headed out of the country; O’Hara included. On the journey to America half of those died, including O’Hara’s wife and three of his children. When he arrived in New York he didn’t speak English and became a street peddler of matches. He died a few years later, and there’s no real record of what happened to his children. To date, none have returned to the cottage.

A man, thriving. His family, thriving. Then, the bank/landlord doubles the rent, throws up a tax, and takes back the house. As we have 2600 foreclosures a day in America this year according to RealtyTrac amounting to 1.1 million in 2011 I can’t help but think of the parallel stories. It ends tragically, and in America, so many of those stories are as well.

After a great tea in the B&B located on the property it was back to Galway and a walking tour with archeologist/tour guide Connor Riorden of Legendquest, www.legendquest.ie

It seems Galway has quite a history, both present and past. There’s Kennedy Square, where JFK made a speech for an hour five months before his assassination. That same square years earlier was used for public lynchings. As for lynchings, there’s a building near there that Mayor Lynch hung his own son from a window for committing murder and it is told here that’s where the term lynching originated (although they acknowledge the connection to the South in the U.S.). There’s the medieval part of time, with buildings dating back hundreds, some thousands, of years. And there’s the pubs. The Quays, The Kings Head and countless others filled with young and old.

After the tour it was time for the radio show and then a night out at those pubs.

And all night, in each pub, in each cab, in each restaurant, everyone was talking about three things: the economy, Japan and Charlie Sheen. Yes, his crazy extends here because there’s a connection. His father, Martin, went to University here for a semester. Everyone knows, they all tell you when you ask! In fact, they’ll tell you a lot. Did you know 22 American Presidents have Irish ancestry? Or did you know that 40% of the milk produced in Ireland is used for Baileys Irish Cream, a huge export? Just ask, people here are so friendly they’ll tell you.

So a world apart, and yet, in the exact same boat.

Next stop, cliffs of Moor and Dublin!

Mar

Karel on ABC 7 San Francisco Friday

Karel on KGO with Michael Finney, San Francisco

Feb

Moving forward going back…

It’s official. As of March 26, 2011 I’ll be back on KGO AM 810 San Francisco Sat/Sun 7p to 10p. My old job, basically. To do that, I’ll have to pull my M-F show from Green960 San Francisco, and that saddens me greatly. But effective March 25th that show will be pulled. I will continue M-F in my other markets, KRXA AM 540 Monterey/Salinas/Santa Cruz, KYNS San Luis Obispo, KJRB Spokane, KGOE Eureka, KJRB Spokane and Green1640 Decatur 3pm to 6pm M-F PST.

It’s been a long two years away from KGO, and I welcome the chance to be back in that family. I’m sad I have leave Green but I continue to have the support of Don Parker and Alan Eissenon there, two gentlemen and radio pros indeed.

As for KGO, Jack Swanson has always been and continues to be a supporter, and now I’ll be in his stable of talent yet again.

So, seven days a week of Karel. Not sure the world is ready for it, but here it comes!

Feb

“Spring Awakening”— Teen Masturbation, Pregnancy, Incest, Suicide and Rape In A Catchy Musical

by Charles Karel Bouley II

Photos by Andy Snow / Spring Awakening Tour

Watching the touring company of “Spring Awakening” at their premiere night at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, CA was awkward at times; but then again, so was puberty so that’s the point. Watching all the foibles and fumbles everyone goes through when it comes to sexuality and growing up, seeing them played out on stage can not only hit close to home, but can make someone downright fidgety.

The play’s themes are so universal they span time. Originally written in Germany in 1891 by Frank Wederkind the play was actually banned for some time due to the subject matter: teens coming of age sexually, dealing with societal pressures and confines and finding out the they don’t fit, things don’t add up, that their bodies are saying something that their parents aren’t and that there’s sexual secrets in all families, even the best of them.

This rock musical adaptation with music by Duncan Sheik (yes, that Duncan Sheik) and book and lyric by Steven Sater roared in to the Pantages in full Hollywood fashion, with limos and celebrities, red carpet and lots of flashes going off. It’s great that Los Angeles still has the Pantages in full glory (thanks to a Disney rehab years back for the debut of the “Lion King” and Nederlander’s management); a little piece of Broadway theatre and excitement on Hollywood Blvd. There is something about live theatre, small and large, and anyone that hasn’t been to a big production, should. Yes, even in a down economy. Especially in a down economy. If you can find a way (and there’s many half priced ticket outlets and discounts), see theatre.

My date for the evening had never been to a premiere and even after 32 years of them I still enjoy them. Richard Schiff sat directly behind us, and I just kept thinking I’m feet away from Toby from the “West Wing” (a show I miss greatly) and a great actor; singer / songwriter Melissa Manchester milled about as Margaret Cho found her seats, Camryn Manheim, Michael Gross, Lorenzo Lamas, Max Adler, super choreographer Kenny Ortega (Michael Jackson), on and on. There’s something magical in these nights, in Hollywood, in theatre. That magic sells billions each year and has crafted dreams for decades, one of the United States’ biggest exports and industries remains the Entertainment Industry, theatre included. Yes Los Angeles celebs and audience came out to see why “Spring Awakening” won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and stir up just a little stardust.

It’s an inventive production, one that reminded me oddly of another Rock Musical that changed things for theatre (and film) “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” Both dealt with sexual identity and discovery, both had bands on stage with them, rock bands, instead of the traditional orchestra and at key moments of the story both used rock-themed songs to tell an important part. Oh, and John Cameon Mitchell’s Hedwig was from Germany and this play is set in 19th Century Germany. And sexual repression rules the day.

While the themes are universal, the presentation is far from ordinary. Musical numbers are separated out by the cast grabbing hand held mikes instead of the traditional hidden body microphones, often with microphone stands and other production typical of a music artist’s stage show and not a play. Then, it’s mikes away and back in to the scene; and oh the scenes.

Remember puberty? Remember (guys, mostly) someone knocking on the bathroom door or bolting in to the bedroom just at the WRONG moment? The embarrassment? Well, imagine what’s going on inside the bathroom, yes, the masturbation, being set to song. So, as a young blonde star, in this case Devon Stone, pumps under his bathrobe to the music dancing girls swirl around him. When Christopher Wood’s Melchior and Elizabeth Judd’s Wendla figure out a lot can go on in a dark hayloft, we actually see the sex act (implied, but some partial nudity) and then the awkward moments thereafter. When Aliya Bowle’s Martha is told to “be sure you put on that lovely nightgown, the one daddy got you that he likes so much…” we don’t have to be told what that means, the song “The Dark I Know Well” makes it very, very clear. And Stone returns in another scene where he finally makes a play for his object of affection—another male castmate—and the resulting scene provides some comic relief; in fact, the gay relationship is rarely touched upon although present throughout.

Almost every stress point an adolescent can face at that time is examined, from unwed pregnancy to teen suicide, and it’s all filtered through the pressures the kids are under from parents and society, especially religion. Finding out who you are, discovering who you like sexually is a never ending process, and changes in time. Sexuality is fluid, if there’s seven billion people, there’s seven billion sexualities, and the feelings are universal yet teens are often told the feelings are wrong, to deny them, that they are going to hell because of them.

The sad part is that as I watched a play written in 1891 the Puritanism it expressed, the repression, the denial of things like incest, homosexuality and such remain in full force today.

For instance, prior going to the theatre I did my syndicated radio show. On it, I spoke about the app “Confessions” an app for the iPad / iPhone approved by the Catholic Church to digitally allow one to confess. I could write 2000 words about that alone, and may, and spent an hour going through it on air. But the point is the questions. The app does a Spiritual Examination, a checkbox quiz for each commandment. These are samples: “Have I encouraged anyone to have an abortion?”; “Did I give scandal to anyone, thereby leading them in to sin?”; “Have I mutilated myself through any form of sterilization?”; “Have I encouraged or condoned sterilization?”; “Have I engaged in sex outside of marriage?”; “Have I been guilty of masturbation?”; “Have I sought to control my thoughts?” “Have I been Guilty of any Homosexual Activity?”; “Am I careful to dress modestly?”

That’s not Torquemada and the Inquisition, it’s the Confession App from the church at the iTunes store in 2011. It calls a vasectomy or tubal ligation mutilation. It assigns guilt to homosexuality, masturbation, non-marital sex, hell, even dressing “non modestly” whatever that means. As I watched “Spring Awakening” I was forced to say we have come no further to help these kids at all.

Gay teens are still killing themselves in record numbers. In fact, the Los Angeles cast of “Spring Awakening” did a benefit for the Trevor Project at M Bar the night after the opening (Feb. 9, 2011). The Trevor Project is to help GLBT teens not kill themselves. Teens are still getting pregnant because they don’t know about safe sex and many parents are leaving it the schools or society to teach their kids the do’s and don’ts. Abstinence is still taught and condoned, promise rings worn, on and on and on. And yet behind the scenes, we see each day the reality of sex and kids. They’re having it. People are having it with them. Some people that shouldn’t. Some are gay, straight and every shade in between. And they make mistakes. And some don’t make it through.

“Spring Awakening” pulls back a curtain on issues we’d rather not see, but ones we have all encountered. It’s a reminder through song and stage that growing up is tough, and figuring out who you love, when and why is tougher (and an evolving question for life). The cast is spectacular, young, exciting, incredible voices, full of hope and promise much like the characters they play. They filled the Pantages with laughs and moments a little risqué for some. But was it the “blueness” of it, or was it the fact that the sentiment was touching on a past journey of their own? Because everyone in the theatre, cast member and audience alike, has lived through something as a teen portrayed on the stage.

It’s only in Los Angeles for a short time, February 8 through 13 but then moves on to Denver February 15-16, Albuquerque February 18-19 and Bloomington Indiana February 22. For more info go to http://www.broadwayla.com

To hear more of the Karel Show go to http://www.thekarelshow.com

Feb

Feb 2 what a difference….

Feb 2nd … What a difference a day makes.

I owe my fans so much. And I have them, real ones. People who would fill a cabaret at $25 a head in the middle of a depression. How can that not renew even the most tired soul?

And I did it. I pulled off the day. Meetings, radio show with bosses listening, sold out Rrazz room, dinner with friends, yes friends I’ve made in San Francisco. The audience liked it so I must have been ok. And I have to give myself that finally. Not in a cocky way but I at least have to know I got this. Nerves aside and all I got this.I can entertain it seems. Not always but more times than not.

Reality is here. A bill collector rings me on the Bart on my way to the airport. Do you know when you’ll be making your enormous payment sir? No, actually, I don’t. But oh well. That is reality now it won’t always be, I hope, because I can do this on THAT level.
O
Paths. I’ve thought a lot about them over the last few days. Karen’s, mine, those of cabin drivers, the homeless guitar player coughing wildly at the Powell street entrance to the Bart. Each is on a path, a unique one, uncontrollable by me, even my own to some degree. I have set up a different life, I’m a different person. I’m not Karen, cancer may not await and my senior years may, in fact be happy ones. I’m not the millions that never make it; I’ve worked my ass off in radio, in print, on stage and even tv and gotten noticed a little. I have something to build upon it’s not too late to try, or keep trying. In fact, it’s all I, you, we, have.

I don’t know the financial reality of the next six months. Will add be sold? Will more stations take the show? Will it work out? Will tv or other things happen? I honestly don’t know any more but al. I do know is there are thousands of people hoping for me that it will. And today, I’m one of them.

But how? What path to choose. Professionally. Personally? How do I find those four people that could change my world? Today I don’t know. But I know that I must. With help. Whose? I don’t know. Yet. But I’m putting it out there.

RadioKRL Blog

Tagged with karel …