Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Sweet Neurology Of My Heart: Love Poems To The Universe

I have written that it is the purpose of the artist to
act as shaman in today's culture. Not merely
to entertain; but to point out the path to solving
the problems that educators and politicians
and diplomats cannot unravel. Below on pageone is
a cartoon by the great VIP  (Virgil Partch) published
circa 1945. In it I percieve the root of nearly all
of the suffering we experience on this Earth today.

In expanding this cartoon's dharma into a science text addressing
the affect of the subconcsious mind upon human brain chemistry
 requires first creating an outline of the human concepts that make
up subject matter. As I isolated 14 such concepts I felt to be relevent
I used the device of naming these concepts to aid in their utility of use
in interaction and comprehension. See page 17 for my list of named
concepts addressed in this short poetic work. Each concept is expanded
into an eight line (octane) expression of what I define as 4D thought.

4D expression is capable of integrating information directly into the readers 
mind by interacting with data already present in there. This information is
assimulated immediately upon reading without the need for memorization or
repetative study, although re-reading it may be both pleasant and rewarding
for some individuals. My thought is that these expressions make connections
to data already contained within the readers brain structure, which I have
always seen in my own head as a series of spiderwebs, tracks on which
The Bus of perceptions travels to collect thoughts for expression.

01



02



03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Love,
Comic Book Shaman


Sunday, September 25, 2011

Pre Columbian Computer Technology: Still Crazy Useful For Life

 This piece I call 'Even A Heart Of Stone Can Be Broken'
 The rock appeared in my path in 1992 on Nick Martin's ranch near Johnson City, Tejas. I saw my own heart immediately and we we began a conversation.
I think I love you.
You love only yourself.
I think I will have you.
I weigh nearly 4 pounds unpainted.
That Is little enough.
It is quite some distance to camp, and further yet to the truck.
I can bear any burden for my desire.
Fool.




 Indeed rocks may have Spirit.
Also the pelts and skins of our sustanence
share their Spirit to carry us on in life.
The Spirit of our own
the Spirit of all animal, insect, fish and plant life
contribute
to our perceptions and conceptions,
and put this Spirit into our materials
that we use to make Art objects that contain
and convey this dharma to our people
to amuse and inform them of our great
love and compassion.
Persons of all cultures experience suffering from causes beyond physical injury or disease.
Commonly we keep reminders of past and present loves, coups, lessons of life and
even defeats experienced with honor.
If we have nothing to keep these momories alive in us they become like ghosts, and in
time we may come to wonder if they were ever real at all or figments of a
lonesome imagination. Seek out the Steve McQueen version of the films
'Tom Horn' for a touching account of the medicine bag in Native American culture.
A human being might need such medicine on a long journey of quest or discovery that may cover hundreds
of miles and months or even years.
Along the way a person may gather or trade for items that relayed personal meaning
Such tokens may include items that appear as other living spirits, such as plants,
animals, birds, fish or other creatures. Or they may be beads, bits of ochre or other
natural pigments made or found, or gifts recieved from others met.


There are also objects that are totems, things that represent concepts, freedoms and ideas that
are not tangible objects in this world, but are real none the less to human beings.

This depiction might illustrate one such human being's journey. It might be cast to
illustrate a past adventure, or as a plan for the future, or to track the expected progress
of a loved one or an enemy. These lines express my undestanding of the use of these objects in pre Colombian native culture in our land called now the United States of America. Actual
Native Americans may and do hold different interpretations of these objects, and the reader may
take some truth here and modify it to her own purpose.

This is itself the strength and value of Native Cultures that exists still for us to discern.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Conversations With Osama bin Laden: Part 2.mpg



***



***
George W Butch

I don’t have to conquer the world
and a good thing too because the
sun is high in the afternoon heat and
there’s a dern ol’ bunyon on the
bottom of my foot that hurts me every
time I put ‘er down, but that’s nothing
next to the hurt the criminal G W Bush
and his low companions have wrought
upon our nation; bless their empty hearts.

When a puppet controlled by wealthy
men who care only for more, throws his
entire dedication, energy and, as it were,
soul into doing the devil’s work waging
unjust wars and fear mongering for the
benefit and profit of his masters we may
see clearly the legacy of that honest, no-
blow-job receiving President succeeding
President Clinton.

Oh well, fucked again. That is our lot as
free people. No good deed goes unpunished.
This indicated whore will retire to Texas on our
dime and surround himself with purchased
reminders of all the good that came from
his term in office. Still I can’t raise much beyond
distain for the turd because really he is all we
sorry ass Americans deserve unless we may open
our eyes with compassion, and maybe try that.
Love,
Comic Book Shaman
8/07/07

Perhaps this poem I wrote in agony on that date seems far from reconciliation, But we do not owe so much to our leaders who serve without honor, for sale to the highest bidder. That 'turd' Former Vice President Cheney has the gall to publish his book of distortions that prove every little thing he did was magic. He was sucking the tit of the public trust for decades on end, What did he or any of the 'fucking turds' that rule us do to deserve anything but scorn and shame? They sit in judgement of pensioners and paupers, telling lies and stirring fear and unrest among their constituency with cunning distortions.

I am loathe to comment here about political thought. Find politics addressed here, dharmas 55-71 Under Depravity. These meditations composed a decade past; speak the truth and the distortion of the nacent tea cell group; conservative movement choking our politcal system today. When I wrote this book I termed 'serving' politicians 'whores', doing any and everything for money in a marketplace where ideas could at least bid for currency. Todays fractured media reporting only 'us vs them' like swill to hogs wrapped in bogus patriotism. Repeat a lie over and over on TV and that is a spell to manufacture truth as if Red State Sneeches, "they have 50 stars upon thar's. Now the media pundits who distort on que are the whores in service of the "fucking turds" serving themselves; and NOT us in cushy little rackets they have going for them (government) not you and I much or at all.
******
 

***
[[[ I crawled up on bob dylans back back in 1966; standing on his shoulders and woody's too now I reckon. ]]]


Come gather around people wherever you roam
and admit that the waters around you have grown
and accept it that soon you'll be drenched to the bone
if your time to you is worth saving
Well you better start swimming or you'll sink like a stone.
'Cause the time they are a changin'.

Come writers and critics who propehecize with your pen
keep your eyes wide the chance won't come again
and don't speak too soon 'cause the wheels still in spin
and there's no tellin' who that its naming
but the loser now will be latter to win.
For the times they are a changin'.

Come congressmen, Senators please heed the call
don't stand in the doorway; don't block up the hall
for he who is hurt will be he that has stalled.
There's a storm outside ragin'
we'll soon shake your windows and rattle your halls.
For the times they are a changin'.

Come fathers and mothers throughout the land
and don't criticize what you can't understand
your sons and your daughters are beyond your command
your old road is rapidly aging
please get out of the way if you can't lend a hand
For the times they are a changin'.

The line it is drawn; the curse it is cast
the slow one now will later be fast
as the present now will later be past
the order is rapidly fading
and the first ones now will latter be last
For the times they are a changin'.

Robert Zimmerman 1964
***





***





The Bryson Inn Gang Live At The Fillmore East circa 1976



Matt  * John R * Topper * Rob * CBS (Cat Hat) * John L
Comic Book Shaman's earliest extant work, kept and preserved by Topper Helmers for 31 years.
Price: 2 carrots and one stick.




Conversation With Osama bin Ladin: A spell of Reconciliation



***
CTRC Sutra
in 8 vedas

I was born to be inappropriate
War Is Over
We Can All Go Home

 ***
I’ve heard I’m sick
of you often enough
It’s true. But some folks
are truly sick no matter
how I behave.

I came across sweet
as can be, but I am
afraid to stay. My labor
bending down does not
keep we loved after.

I learned what I know
and forever gathering
thought to my lovers
Is the method of
life’s comprehension.

Osama come slowly
we are leaving the cave
to come now to our
families. Let them
Taliban have their own.

Silly rabbit, to shake the
hive with penetrating
questions of brain chemistry
and the subconscious mind.
Tricks are indeed for children.

When I come to the Tea
Party we wear a pretty
smile on the lips that say,
after hard work, that
my English is not too good.

Read a thousand books,
Love a thousand poems
enjoy as many friends
as may be and never
relent in trying.

When Dorothy Parker comes
pirouetting home in their
combat boots and body amour
save a seat for the girl
with the ringing in her ears.

 ***
President Obama deserves praise
Bad Company and Riot contributed
written by:

Comic Book Shaman
10/05/10







Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Return Of A Lost Object Spell

Topper Helmers Pencil Sketch
by Comic Book Shaman circa 1976
I met Topper Helmers at a one day comic book show outside of Cleveland, Ohio in the summer of 1975. It was a so-so kind of a show in a school gymnasium, as I recall. It was a little after noon and I had made my nut, and I was hoping to make some more cash because a guy down the row had a couple boxes of pre-code crime, horror, teen, and romance stuff I wanted to tap into. He wasn't doing that well because it was pretty much a Marvel/DC hero crowd.

I looked up to see a tall bearded guy with a cute blonde in tow. He asked how much for my Thunda #1, taped up on the folded bleachers behind my tables. I think I was holding the line at a hundred bucks or so on the book, more than he had to spend. To make a long story short, he offered me his original Frazetta sketch in trade. We jumped in my Mom's car and booked it for Youngstown to do the deal.

Our friendship was based on art, illustrators, books, sketches, beer and pot. I moved to Youngstown the next year, into a big old house on Bryson Street. We were 4 roomates, me, Topper, Rob and John, and two regular visitors John L. and Matt. I made a large pen and ink drawing of us titled The Bryson Inn Gang At Fillmore East, based on the Allman Brothers double live album cover of a similar name.

Some two years or so later we were both residing near Orlando, Florida. He was married to his first wife, and I was moving out of my apartment and taking on a nomadic (homeless) phase of existance.  had a pickup and a crummy camper shell, and a lot of friends to crash around with. I asked Topper to keep some of my larger pieces of artwork for me, the above named piece in particular, but also my copy of his first large lithograph, and other items I've forgotten and don't care about.



Topper Helmers sketch in blue ballpoint ink drawn while working in the basket room at the Youngstown JCC circa 1976 (detail).
Copyright 2011 Comic Book Shaman all rights reserved
 I went to Tejas by and by; Topper to California. A lot of water under the bridge. I found his phone number on the net in the late 1990's (I think) I called him up, we sort of caught up on the past decades. I asked if he still had the drawing, he said he did; I asked him to send it back to me and he refused. I asked for a copy at least, which he agreed to but never did. He did sell me a collection of books which I recieved, so I knew he knew where I was.

Some years later I contacted Topper Helmers again. I asked for it again, trying to reach out with our old connection of collecting books, but he told me to go look on eBay and don't waste his time by calling again. I have nothing but fond memories of my friendship with Topper Helmers (1976-1980?). I learned a lot from him, we had good times, he got me jobs, and I have stories and sketches. Lots of stories; and lots of sketches. I sold a lot of comic books with the thought of retaining a lawyer I met in San Francisco in 2008, to sue for the return of My drawing, which you may by now understand I really wish to have returned to me. Before so dire an act, and as asking nicely was a dead end I am beginning this spell. Next post I will recount one of any number of anticdotes of Topper Helmers' past artwork and behavior. I know... how about lots about this:

ha
Love,

Comic Book Shaman