JOHNNY RHINO

http://www.bighornmusic.com/
www.myspace.com/rhinomusic1

is the Rhino being cynical or does every new piece of music you hear on the radio sound familiar? Granted, most music heard on commercial radio stations is made to fit a formula. Wether it is easy listning or contemorary or whatever there is a blueprint the artist must fit to be played on the radio.

The large record companies have these formulas down pat. They even have teams that come in and build that formula into any new talent the A&R man brings in. By now listners are growing weary of rumaging through all the mediocrity in the internet "piles" of indepent music at the indepent music sites. The good stuff (like the Rhinos music lol) is burried under much rubish.

Excavation in these musical piles often brings in some unique sounds but has anyone heard what could be classified the sound of the new century? It has been the Rock, British invasion, Disco, Punk, Grunge, Singer songwritter. Now it all seems to Neo the preceding.

If you have any idea what the new sound is let us know.

SUPER ILLEGAL AILIEN TUESDAY

2008-02-07T23:43:00.000-07:00

Here is a statement written by William Gheen Head of ALIPAC (immigration reform) as a reaction to the super Tuesday vote. He has spent many years working hard for the immigration reform movement. He is bright. His couple of pieces of liberal bashing turn me off but he is an true conservative and is angry in this piece. No matter where you stand on the issue William speaks for many like me who are severely disappointed with the candidate selection last Tuesday. You will swim in illegals and your kids will compete with a whole new round of foreign labor (legal and illegal) with the resultant 2.

No I am not interested in drafting Lou Dobbs as Gheen suggest but I truly believe in my heart the two party system of government in America is a threat to American citizens way of life.

www.alipac.us/ftopicp-615131.html#615131

REAL ECONOMIC STIMULUS FOR AMERICA

2008-01-18T22:33:00.000-07:00

Well the president and the democratic congress are going to let us borrow 800 dollars a piece from ourselves, to be paid back with interest, to bail out businesses that have sent our jobs over seas and brought down our wages with illegal aliens who we subsidize daily. We can spend our 800 on the foreign goods in the stores so the money can go over seas. Oh and lets give those all American companies a tax break while were at it. Lets borrow some more to give to poor people to spend. The can’t pay it back but we can. HOT DAMN

The Rhino has another idea to stimulate the economy. If we are going to borrow 150 billion dollars, lets spend it on infrastructure projects, roads, bridges, levies, greening federal buildings etc. Priorities would be given to funding projects already underway and those deep in the design stage so they can be implemented quickly. New project design and implementation would be fast tracked. Businesses involved in these federal projects would be required to:

1. Use American products

2. Hire American

3. Keep profits onshore.

Would these projects cost more? yes. But, they would create jobs and trigger spending in short order. The outcomes of these slightly overpriced projects would be here for all Americans. The economy would be stimulated and we could look back with pride on things that were accomplished during this tough and unusual economic time.

I know everyone from tinkerbell to uncle Remos has promise you that you can borrow some money to spend on yourself, but its not designed for you. Tell them to give you something you can really use.

2008 THE YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY

2008-01-01T14:08:00.000-07:00

2008 is gonna be great! This is the year when it all comes together for you. Here in America, changes will occur. working people will take back the country and make friends abroad. The current recession will embolden ordinary people to take back the wealth from entities.

Here are some things to look for:

1. Consolidation and outsourcing have created inferior products and services. Smart entrepreneurs will educate the public on the return on investment in quality. Quality products and services will require quality workers which will mean quality jobs for Americans.

2. John Edwards is right when he says it is time to shake the tree of the greedy corporations and individuals. The greed by the wealthy few persons and entities has created a true "us and them" mentality. For the United States to move forward wealth needs to be redistributed. The Regan trickle down economic theory has stifled progress through greed. The recent oil company government subsidies shows the corruptness of the democratic congress and the president. People will no longer be led by the government. They will take the engines of the economy in their own hands. Translated more money floating around.

3. Mitt Romney is right it is past time to secure the boarders, punish employers, and detain and deport illegal aliens. America can not afford to continue to subsidize business with cheap labor. The direct cost in lost wages and taxes to Americans is great. The burden of social benefits, medical, education, subsidized housing etc. is sapping dollars from the public economy. It is time for business to pay its own freight on workers. The focus will be on American workers training and pay.

4. The cost benefit of the war in Iraq has diminished. It has not stopped of even slowed terrorism in the world. Even the greatest supporters of the military realize it is time to leave Iraq. It is not "cut and run" it is "knowin when to hold um and knowin when to fold um." The American military has done there job it is time for world leaders to patch up Iraq and move on. The war on terror should be fought by global coalitions fed information by a "competent" Central Intelligence Agency. Bringing American military personnel home will supply American business with a competent intelligent work force. Whoa to the government if they come home to the competition of foreign labor.

5. The seeds of giving have started. People are beginning to awaken to the fact that this country will improve as people get involved with their communities. Look for physical and psychological support systems to increase. If there is any ability left in government it is at the local level and people want to build communities that provide pleasure and security. Look to community leaders to stop kissing the Chamber of Commerce butt and start looking for ways to improve the quality of life for its citizens.

This is the year of the person. A chance for the regular guy and gal to enjoy their friends and put a little more cash in there pockets. Keep your helmet on while the large government and business entities fall to the ground. When they land, scour them for the wealth that might be there and use it to rebuild a people friendly community.

2008 the Rhino can’t wait!

TERRORIST WAITING

2007-12-17T22:30:00.000-07:00

www.bighornmusic.com/bushton/

Hey the Rhino has just finished a new song with his buddy Steve Delahunty. It is called TERRORIST WAITING. Steve speaks the new preocupation in the minds of the sabre rattlers here in the U.S. Steve provided the fantastic Guitar work, cool bass, and nails it with his story. The Rhino cut and pasted the backup stuff and takes a cameo key board solo about 2/3 of the way through the song.

Later the Rhino will master it and put it on his upcoming CD. Since Snowcap is getting worse and worse about getting songs to the juke box you can down load the unmastered version. http://www.bighornmusic.com/TERRORIST/ . Let us know what you think (your price of the down load:) feel free to comment below.

ENJOY

PURCHASING 2008

2007-11-28T03:09:00.000-07:00

The Rhino’s first New years 2008 resolution is to buy American. This is not to insult those who read my blog from other countries, but rather to help right the economic ship here in the United States. There is a quiet economic revolution taking place based on the idea of "trickle up" economics taking place. Putting money in the hands of American workers and businesses is the first step toward increasing personal wealth.

1. When making a purchase The question asked will be Is it made here in America. The goal would be to buy items with no more than 15% foreign content.

A. There are many sites that list American made products and services such as
http://www.howtobuyamerican.com/.

B. In stores ask for an American product alternatives
The biggest problem is being in a hurry. Often when something is needed we rush to the stores like Walmart that sell foreign goods. Fifteen percent foreign content leaves room for trading globally.

2. Buy illegal alien free.

A. Locate lists of companies that use e-verify in their hiring. I’ve seen one once but lost tack of it when I see it again the Rhino will publish it’s address here.

B. When buying, (especially services) ask if the product or service is made with
American citizen labor.
Buying products and services involving illegal aliens is a cancer on the earning power of American workers.

3. Ask my State and local government officials to commit to buying American from
companies that use American workers.

A. Letters and emails to all who represent me that this is my desire.

B. Make sure that enforcement measures for compliance are adequately funded.

Here in Colorado, where the Rhino lives, has penalties for companies that use illegal
workers on contracts to the State. This is not being enforced.

If all of us make some kind of effort to buy American, even those of you who live in other countries, we can provide stability for American workers who keep the American economy growing.

APHRODESIAC

2007-11-03T22:18:00.000-06:00

COLORADO SPORTS TOWN #1

2007-10-22T22:21:00.000-06:00

The Rockies are in the world series, the Broncos played a redemption game Sunday night and the Nuggets are going to try to frighten the NBA starting on Halloween. The Avalanche are grinding away and college teams are rocking. Colorado is a sports Mecca. If you grow up here you can’t help but be affected by the sports.

Yes there are those lost soles without a life who go shopping or to the mountains during the Broncos on Sundays. They are people who have lost there way or do not have a TV. Musicians playing a gig will often be asked to wait when a local sports team is on early at the local bar.

Musicians in Colorado wish they made the money illegal aliens do and are often the clowns on the sidelines when something else takes priorities in the bar. Radio stations fall all over themselves when the team is on top. Stations pretending they were always on the wagon. The hoopla is often bigger than the events.

So as Colorado becomes the center of the sports universe these next two weeks, The Rhino will be a voyeur to the festivities. Yes like the masses the Rhino loves his Broncos, Nuggets, and Rockies. So her we go. WIN WIN WIN.

CHANGE IN THE WEATHER - CHANGE IN ME

2007-10-08T22:40:00.000-06:00

www.myspace.com/rhinomusic1/

Early fall is an amazing time of year. If you live where there are seasons, summer slowly says good-bye with a warm heated embrace every couple of days. Winter can barley exert any influence but every once and a while can stir the pot with winds and chills. The colors outside are as good as anytime in the year.

People begin to add clothing like caterpillars spinning their cocoon. Winter can be a time of metamorphous. The Rhino hopes to spend the time growing his live performance. The next step is to bring the keyboard out on stage. Four songs are about ready but it will be intimidating to bring the keys out. Guitar can kind of wash in the background. The keys are very unforgiving mistakes stick out like a sore thumb. So, this winter, the Rhino must stand bravely in front of you and perfect his key chops.

When Spring arrives, like the butterfly the Rhino hopes to have a good one set of songs on the guitar and keys. If the new CD is ready it should be quite a summer and there will be some excitement for the crash. Summer will be a time to sell the opener maybe take it on the road.

Thank you to all who have been so supportive at the shows. Your patience has improved the stage show and abated some of the stage fright. This month, October, has one open mike show listed so far. October will be the last month with guitar before the keys and will be a good time to come out and listen. The Rhino is comfortable with these guitar tunes.

Hopefully when the fall approaches next year we can all begin to party together through the winters to come.

BAD HABITS

2007-09-24T23:23:00.000-06:00

One of the toughest things for the Rhino to let go of is bad habits. They provide there own pleasure that creates its only rationalization for continuing.

Quitting smoking was a matter of money. I was up to a pack and half a day. When I got out of bed, cigarette. Every 20 minutes the urge for a cigarette was calling. Sometimes I might think, "you need to quit it makes you feel weak and you spend a good chunk of money on the habit. Finally after much resolve one morning I handed my last four cigarettes to my roommate and went cold turkey. While the physical craving left in about two days the psychological need was with me for a couple of weeks. For about two years there was a realization of the habit and its social pattern. After two years I stopped dreaming about smoking and now do not even see it as part of my life.

Recently beer has become this type of annoying habit. My average consumption is two or three a night. This is not a large amount but it has a cost and often can de-motivate and make the Rhino lazy. One of the hardest parts of stopping beer drinking is out in the clubs. When you go to a show or play music the expectation is that you are in a club to drink liquor. It feels unusual to me to order a coke or other soft drink.

Some people I know in the music profession have difficulty controlling the urge to drink. Alcohol is easily available to musicians and is a part of the environment they work in. Boredom, stage fright, and being social, can encourage the Rhino to drink. The problem seems to be when it is done repetitively. Soon, like smoking, drinking is part of the person and is a habit.

Like smoking, the Rhino has worked to cut back or quit drinking and has created kind of a stop- start behavior. The goal is to break the habit. Weather abstinence or cutting back, the Rhino is a much more productive animal when he does not drink beer on a regular basis. How bout you?

GETTING WHAT YOU WANT

2007-09-17T23:42:00.000-06:00

GETTING WHAT YOU WANT
How important is it to you to get what you want? It seems whoever you talk to they want something. This a familiar story to all. Some want money, some want fame, some want to be loved, and some want to win the game. The question is how important is it to realize your wants.

When you get out of bed in the morning what is the first thought. (Besides having to go to the bathroom) Are you thinking about how wonderful it is to participate in another day on earth or is there something missing that you think about and plot how to get. If you are not spending the day trying to fulfill that special want do you feel annoyed?

I find that wants become a distraction from thing that are in fact rewarding that present themselves throughout the day. When Steve Covey talks about planning for the week I find it a problem to give in to the important moment with enthusiasm. My wants become a bunched up sock on my three mile run. If a stop to take off my shoe to straighten the sock I lose the intensity of the work out. If I leave the sock bunched up the run becomes a painful and often less than fulfilling exercise.

What would life be like without wants? What if our main focus was our wants? Is there a balance between wants and other things that present themselves? Eckart Tolle, author of "The Power of Now" talks about being in the moment and that is enough. For me that is easy to say and still hard to do. How about you?

OUT IN PUBLIC

2007-09-10T23:10:00.000-06:00

Musicians, when you are out playing in public it takes being aware. There are many variables going on at the same time. If you go out to play open mikes you add to the list. If you go with your eyes straight ahead you will miss everything that makes an open mike a success.

The Club Owner Or Manager

This person may be a music fan or just someone who likes running a club where folks can gather. Either way you can be sure they are betting on the open mike bringing in musicians and there friends to buy food and drink and maybe come back to the club on non open mike nights.

Host

Could be just a sound man, a solo artist or band that (may or may not provide equipment.) The Host determines who plays when and makes sure the performer is heard properly. This person is usually picked by the owner or manager. The host often mentions good acts to open on other nights.

Club Staff

People who work in the club (bartenders, wait persons, buss help, kitchen etc) are the folks who make the club work. They are there on the open mike night but they get the job done on the other nights. Often club staff who enjoy open mikes are great cheerleaders to keep them going during the slow months in the summer. Great resource for how decisions are made.

Suppliers

People who supply food, booze, maintenance and other product delivery products to the bar. They make great sponsors. They are in the bar business.

Patrons

People who come to the club on open mike can be usually divided into two groups, those who came to hear the music and those who came to enjoy other aspects of the bar. Musicians always compete on open mike night with sports, darts, pool, poker, karaoke, etc. Weather they are happening right then or could be happening is something the club looks at when it decides whether to continue open mikes or not. Always being good to those who show at the bar for the music or otherwise creates a good vibe for the open mike. Of course encouraging friends and fans to go to the open mike and showing up on nights when you don't play makes sense.

Open mikes give musicians a chance to hone their skills on stage and off. They are a precious resource to a music community and should be nurtured by all who make up that group.

CREDIT CARD FRAUD THE ANSWER

2007-09-03T22:21:00.000-06:00

Www.myspace.com/rhinomusic1

APPEARANCES

The Rhino will give you the answer to the credit card fraud he was subjected to (see blog entry below) but first a appearance update. If you live in the Denver metro area you will be able to see the Rhino this month. Just go to www.bighornmusic.com and push the appearance button. The first appearance will be on the Rhino’s birthday September 9 Sunday at 7pm:

Ironworks
12354 W Alameda Parkway
Lakewood, CO
303-985-5818

This will be the last open mike for the Ironworks so stop out and enjoy the many artists Warren Floyd, moderator has cultivated at the club. Can’t make it check my appearance button in a day or two I want to be sure the open mikes I play are still a go. The nice thing about open mikes is there is always time to talk and get to know each other. So, if I have met you before or you came to a show PLEASE reintroduce your self.

CREDIT CARD FRAUD

Here is an answer from the company that was misrepresented in the phishing scam that hit the Rhinos card. When they say 10’s of thousands were hit it sounds like a computer program. Banks have lured Americans into debit and credit cards. This is there problem and I would suggest their laibility. They should be responsible to replace cards and notify card member accounts in 48 hours.

If we can ever get the FBI to stop chasing terrorist, (The 21 century federal government excuse for ineffectiveness) They might make computer fraud a high priority. Here is the e-mail I received:

It appears that someone is using our donation number to fish for valid credit card numbers.
We have an online credit card donation site that we provide a link to from October to early January to receive donations from people that are eligible for the Arizona tax credit for donations to schools. (Most people make tax donations just before year-end, which explains the
timing.)

Since January, we removed the link from our school web site. On Aug. 14th, we received a $1.00 rejected donation, with no other activity from April until Sunday. It appears that tens of thousands of $1.00 transactions have been attempted, beginning yesterday. We canceled the donation account this morning as soon as we identified what was happening.

We have also gotten a half dozen calls from across the country from people who received a $1.00 charge with our name on it this morning. We are telling everyone who calls with a similar situation to cancel their card immediately.

That's about all that we know about at this time. I'll let you know if I find out anything more. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.

CREDIT CARD FRAUD

2007-08-27T23:20:00.000-06:00

Well the Rhino was checking his checking account to see if he would make it to the end of the month in one piece when zap! a credit card charge he did not make appears. It was only for a dollar. but , the lady at the bank said it is a pending charge so it could be for more. She said I needed to cancel my card and reverse the charge. New card five to ten days.

My first thought was were some of my automatic bill pays charged through my card. I can just see people calling me because they dont get paid. The bank assured me that it was through my checking account but how can they tell wether those charges were requested through the card.

So the the Rhino will probably be disgraced in the financil community and will have to sleep on your couch. It should be a law that if someone mischarges your card fraudulantly or by mistake you get to beat them 4 times with a rubber hose. If fraudulant they would still have to spend the rest of there life in Jail.

It is like the internet, they create a dependency based on convienience but when you have a problem, it is your problem. I dont like banks, the internet, or the financial community in general. The convienence is dope and the withdrawls are a son of a gun.

HOT SUMMER

2007-08-20T22:00:00.000-06:00

I don't know about you, but where I am it is hot. It is 10:00 at night and the heat just sits like a fart in a classroom. The fan is blowing but it is like a quick wiff of breath that constantly leaves and never seems to take the heat with it.

In the morning the combined night brings a little cool and i put the undershirt back on. This time of year it is best to stay up late. A walk at night is sooo much cooler. The only problem is you tend to isolate yourself from other people. Folks wonder "why am I getting an email from the Rhino at 4:22 am?"

One thing about the internet, someones always up. You can talk to people in China about sugar cane at 3 in the morning. Like downtown, lots of weirdos are up late at night on the internet. A crazy like the Rhino likes the rants of the politically disenfranchised or a naughty picture posted by that geek horny 16yr old boy from Japan that time of night.

When you rise at 1:00 in the afternoon sweaty and sleepy you can't wait for the sun to set. If you got money you can go to the clubs and check out the other humans. It is always fun when you have only been up for a few hours ready to party and the rest want to go to bed.

Like the musicains world wide summer is the best time for a swing shift machine operator.

CRIMINAL CORPORATE MEDIA - THE LIE MACHINE

2007-08-13T22:11:00.000-06:00

This is a bulletin I received from one of the nations top organizations fighting illegal immigration. http://www.alipac.us/

It demonstrates how far the American press will go to fight for the there advertizers cheap labor fix. The Rhino thinks we have passed the time for antitrust action against radio, tv and print media. There size provides no advantages and there lies are the smoke and mirrors that hide the crimes of the nations elite's.

Friends of ALIPAC,

We have documented censorship and press quarantines on many stories involving terrible crimes against Americans conducted by illegal aliens. While the execution style murders of four black college students in Newark, New Jersey, is getting a lot of press, we have detected a press Quarantine on the horrific story about the rape and murder of young Miss Dani Countryman (15yrs old) from Texas.

We have determined that this story is only running on talk radio shows, Internet blogs, and in newspapers and local TV outlets in the states of Texas and Oregon. Dani was from Texas and was visiting her sister, at the time of the rape and murder. There is no sign of this story on any of the major networks. The Reuters wires service has completely blocked the story, while the Associated Press is only allowing media in two states to have access.

We need YOU to take immediate action on this story! Please engage in the following easy activist actions. One, please review our press release and all of the supporting news reports at the link below. Two, please forward a copy of our Press Release to all national and local media you can locate, with a request that they cover this story. ALIPAC will be getting the release out on our end, but it helps when you take action too. Three, please contact the Associated Press and Reuters to complain that they are not telling the whole nation about this tragedy because this death is clearly of national interest and clearly the result of public policy failures in our nation. Four, please contact all of the major networks that we have listed for you. Please write them and ask them to cover this story and to tell the nation about what happened to Dani Countryman and how she would be alive today, if our state and federal governments had secured our borders and enforced our existing immigration laws! Five, please post and forward this e-mail alert to all of your contacts.

Our hearts and prayers go out to Dani's friends and family members. Dani Countryman cannot speak, so let us speak out in an effort to put a stop to these preventable crimes.

Dani Countryman cannot speak, so let us speak out in an effort to put a stop to these preventible crimes and the Americans that will be victims in the future!The ALIPAC TEAMwww.alipac.usTAKE ACTION! Copy of Release, activist instructions, contact info (CLICK HERE)

MAGIC HAS DISAPPEARED

2007-07-30T23:36:00.000-06:00

How come we don’t see more magicians these days? Where have the magicians gone? When I grew up there were variety shows on TV and their was always a magic act. You would sit there for a few minutes and wonder, "how did he do that?"

A friend of mines dad when I was growing up was a magician. My friend was part of a band I was in. Every once and a while we would get to practice or hang at his house but we could never go in his basement. We always wonder what his dad had down there. Ahhh the old mystery.

About five years ago my friend was cleaning out the old family home for sale and I found out the secret. His father was a pack rat he had stuff from the forties on down their and there was no room for us to go down there. His magic stuff was given to the local magic association, yea they got um, and the rest of the artifacts were sold at garage sale or stored at his moms new house.

Should musicians bring music back to the stage? What kind of show would it be if people got their head chopped off or pigeons flew out of a hat. Magic is fun. Maybe there is a way to bring it back so the it will continue on.

LOVE

2007-07-23T23:42:00.000-06:00

Love passes through you to someone else. It can not be saved up. Its very nature is to be transient. When it passes through it gives a great feeling. When it arrives with the next person it gives you personal satisfaction that it has enfrachised a friend in its circut.

The cost of love is giving up suspicion. Many people have been hurt by emotional weakness but love is not made of weakness it is a blinding strong force that can keep going out in spite of the other situations you have had to endure. Your recieved pain is not love. You may need to deal with that recieved pain on a very human level, but, do not fear to love.

Love is seperate from hardhip and dispare. It is not a cure all. It is not going to give you secret power over others. It will elevate the level that you live at because it is constantly passing through you. If your choice is love you have made the right choice. The recipent has to react or not and the quality of his/her reactions will reflect everywhere.

Just build the habit of channeling love. Dont be gullible or a patsy. Resolving conflict is not antilove passive indefference may be. Just be strong and give love. You wont be sorry.

NEW SONGS

2007-07-16T23:26:00.001-06:00

Last week I got back to recording and working on new tunes for the live show. It is amazing how much music is like a job when you go to make your ideas reality. You end up having to do many repetitive tasks to get things to a point that they can be entertaining to the person listening.
Like building a piece of furniture. Once you decide how it should look you go out and buy materials, work to fit things in place, modify, and spend time sanding and finishing. When your done it needs to be functional, to sit on (listen to) and hopefully adds to the overall look of the space it occupies.

People are starting to ask when are you going to put up new downloads? When are you going to play some tunes in public? SWING SHIFT MACHINE OPERATOR the first CD still gets radio play. Even the most friendly radio DJ needs new meat to throw on the airwaves so it is time to get some music together.

My friend Steve Delahunty and I have been working on some songs together. They are a little out there and should be fun. We may even use different band name for an ep if I can talk Steve into it.

If you don’t have The Johnny Rhino CD go to my myspace site www.myspace.com/rhinomusic1 there are four full songs there. Be a friend. I just started working on my myspace and Jessica did a great job making it look nice. It is embarrassing to be a big star with so few friends (lol)

IMMIGRATION VISION STATEMENT

2007-07-09T20:11:00.000-06:00

BE A FRIEND AT MYSPACE: www.myspace.com/rhinomusic1

Steve Covey (Seven Habits of Highly Efective People) Habit two, urges to us "begin with the end in mind." Noman Vincent Peale (The Power of Positive Thinking) "Says your mind will seek to develop this picture."

After the important Senate vote I suggest this vision of legal immigration 2010:

In America 2010 American workers are a highly sought after and prized commodity. American companies take great pains and compete frantically to get involved in public schools to develop students that can provide the necessary skill needed for their large or small business in the next five to ten years. Students wishing to be involved in trades and manual labor are not only encouraged but honored by employers eager to find hard working American young people. A path to a decent lively hood and lifestyle, urban and rural, is brought to the attention of interested students.

National job listings provide information to underemployed areas of the nation. These listings are a conglomeration of large and small businesses looking to aid the unemployed and underemployed to move to those areas where smart employers have created a strong need and compensation for workers. Skills are offered, and upgraded where applicable.

All illegal aliens in 2008 were given the opportunity to return to their country without reprisal. For the last two years the American government has initiated extensive sweeps of employment nation wide and has made extensive arrests for detention of employers and illegal aliens, and deportation of aliens without chance for remployement.

The United States government has already completed a thorough and independent analysis of labor need industry by industry. The first analysis was expensive but ongoing assessments will be done on a rotating industry basis.

This first assessment in late 2009 found four industries where the number of American workers was inadequate. The government database of willing foreign workers that are capable of completing these tasks has been forwarded to employers in these industries when evaluations are complete green cards will be executed.

Employers may keep these employees for up to one year. Employers may have a second year if they advertise the job nationwide at prevailing wage. Immigrants may bring their families (children and spouse) for the second year. After year two the immigrants must leave. Any immigrant or family member overstaying his visa must spend a mandatory 30 days in jail and be deported without chance to be re-employed.

Immigrants who provide labor through proper channels or apply and are accepted for citizenship are embraced in the communities where their valuable skills are needed. Those who follow legal channels can work toward the proper quantity of quarters in social security. Any immigrant providing legal labor to the employers in the United States would be able to apply for citizenship and receive preferred status after ten years.

A shrewd analytical approach to immigrant labor can be a win- win for America and immigrants alike.

American Workers 1st

THE UNEXPECTED

2007-06-27T00:06:00.000-06:00

In life there are always variables. You set yourself in a certain direction and sure enough some new priority comes crashing in. This was the case this week. The power went out on my block last Thursday. It was hot and no fans would run. My neighbor and I joked about not being able to do much but both had those little things to get done.

Someone had mentioned it might be the power grid. I went down stairs to practice, the thing I must do daily or things don’t get better. The acoustic guitar and trumpet were the only things not requiring power. In my mind I got mad at the Governor. Didn’t he make plans after the power outages in California!

There was a loud bang on the door. It was my neighbor. "Can’t you hear them cutting down your tree in the back yard," he said. I went around back and sure enough My tree was laying on the lawn. Public Service had cut it down because it was leaning on the wires. Power came up.

So much for a week of practice and recording. Four new songs are being readied to be taken on stage. The second CD has some tracks down and I wanted to add to it. And, Jessica started helping me with the my space. I wanted to go out and attract friends to the site. Cutting up a tree and bundling it for the trash man while peaceful, is physically demanding. All week long I have walked around stiff as a board and felt like I was involved in a never ending game of touch football.

Things are beginning to get back on track but the lesson learned is that new things are always coming at you. Some you can plan for some you can’t. Even a man rapped up in his art needs to be able to step outside the agenda and get other things done while having fun!

SUMMER FUN

2007-06-18T22:28:00.000-06:00

Well it looks like the Senate has resurrected the illegal alien amnesty zombie. Business is goosing the politicians and reminding them of the huge contributions they make to their political campaigns. Make a point of calling your senator and tell him/her you can dress up a pig but is still a pig all dressed up. If you don’t want to talk to their aide call at night and leave a message. American workers should always be 1st.

Summer is just about to come through here in the northern hemisphere and it feels like everyone has gone off to hibernate. Summer is time to party and throw off the chains. Freedom of movement is the beat of a thousand dancing feet everywhere at random. Drop some clothes put a smile on your face. Whatever is fun. Maybe the Rhino is just restless from being cooped up in his pen practicing. Maybe everyone else is having a ball and the Rhino does not see it.

Lets make the summer of 07 a blast.

1. Play hooky from work.
2. Open up to other people
3. Turn off the TV
4. Go hear independent music. (cheaper than the corporate concerts)
5. Fill the parks and stay up late.

Most of this requires little or no money but puts us all in the way of fun opportunities. When fun does cross your path grab hold and share it with friends. The Rhino is looking forward to sharing the summer with all of you!

WHAT IS JOHNNY RHINO UP TO

2007-06-11T22:34:00.000-06:00

First-- A big thank you to all who stood up to the US Senate in opposition to the rediculous Bush-Kennedy amnesty immigration bill. The Attempt to Blackmail the American People by Threatening to Refuse to Enforce the Law Without a New Bill Is Disgraceful. Stay on them.

Music -- The Rhino is still involved in playing open mics. Right now He is adding 4 more songs and will bring them out in Mid July. If you are in the Denver area, please come out and check the new stuff out. Those in other parts of the world I will try to get a video for youtube or something.

Hope to put some full songs at The rhinos music myspace account and include some new stuff. There are samples at the site. As Covey says no margin no mission. If you like a song please buy it. The Rhino will let you know when he gets the myspace house in order.

Hope to get an EP out by the first of the year and will post songs as downloads as they are mastered.

Thanks for the Emails of support! It is amazing how small the world is. Who would have thought a while back you would regularly hear from people in India an Europe? sheeh.

AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL AILENS WILL COST YOU!

2007-06-06T21:57:00.000-06:00

www.bighornmusic.com

The Rhino is deeply troubled by the Senates insitance on an illegal ailen amensty bill. Million of illegal ailiens using public benifits and reducing wages will be legalized and able to access even more government freebies. Hillary Clinton wants to bring their families and over the next 2o years 20million more will allowed to enter brining the total above 35 million.

This does not include those that will sneak across the border. Jobs of americans at all levels are threatened. This is not about Mexico this is about cheap labor for greedy American companies.

1. Call your senator this week and say no to amenesty. (see 3)
2. Boycott businesses that support this legislation and do not use the basic pilot program.
3. Go to www.numbersusa.com and learn more. They make it easy for you to call and fax your representatives and keep you current.

Below are welfare and assistance number just out. Listen to Johnny Rhino's song on the issue.
www.bighornmusic.com/bushton/

As they debate legalization for illegal immigrants, Senators would do well to keep in mind the most recent data on welfare use by the people in question. According to the Department of Homeland Security, nearly 60% of illegal aliens are from Mexico and 80% of the total are from Latin America as a whole. A new Center for Immigration Studies analysis of 2006 Census Bureau data, which includes legal and illegal immigrants, shows use of welfare by households headed by Mexican and Latin American immigrants is more than double that of native households. Among the findings:

* 51% of all Mexican immigrant households use at least one major welfare program and 28% use more than one program. -- 40% use food assistance, 35% use Medicaid, 6% use cash assistance.

* 45% of all Latin American immigrant households use at least one welfare program and 24% use more than one program. -- 32% use food assistance, 31% use Medicaid, 6% use cash assistance.

* 20% of native households use at least one welfare program and 11% multiple programs. -- 11% use food assistance, 15% use Medicaid, 5% use cash assistance.

MEMORIAL DAY

2007-05-29T00:10:00.000-06:00

It’s Memorial day.

We have an opportunity to honor those who serve America in the military. As we venture toward utopia it is understood that there is a need to have members of our group (American citizens) who will defend us from those who might wish to subjugate us for their own purposes. In Americas beginning, this included a militia to protect us from tyranny even from our own government.

Our military has done a darn good job of providing safety and security to citizens. Often it is a killing and dieing business that makes those willing to sever noble. Their service should be honored and never abused. There first duty is to the American people. If the people through there representatives direct them to act in the business interest of all the people so be it. But, large amounts of our precious military resource should never be used to benefit the few and privileged.

Our government representative need to be sure that they provide support and aid to the military through ongoing diplomatic and humanitarian initiative that make deadly force a rare consequence. The military can be used in many ways other than fighting if relations through out the world are strong. They can transform whole regions and provide comfort to many different peoples.

Like so many who choose jobs of service here in America we need to thank those who serve in the military for their support.

OLD SAYINGS

2007-05-14T23:16:00.000-06:00

Ever wonder where some of those old sayings your parents used to tell you came from?

The authenticity of these little stories has not been validated. It really doesn't matter - each is a fun, quick read.

In George Washington's days, there were no cameras. One's image was either sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George Washington showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others showed both legs and both arms. Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted. Arms and legs are "limbs," therefore painting them would cost the buyer more. Hence the __expression, "Okay, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg."

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As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year (May and October)! Women kept their hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men could afford good wigs made from wool. They couldn't wash the wigs, so to clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the shell, and bake it for 30 minutes. The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, hence the term "big wig." Today we often use the term "here comes the Big Wig" because someone appears to be or is powerful and wealthy.

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In the late 1700s, many houses consisted of a large room with only one chair. Commonly, a long wide board folded down from the wall, and was used for dining. The "head of the household" always sat in the chair while everyone else ate sitting on the floor Occasionally a guest, who was usually a man, would be invited to sit in this chair during a meal. To sit in the chair meant you were important and in charge. They called the one sitting in the chair the "chair man." Today in business, we use the _expression or title "Chairman" or "Chairman of the Board."

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Personal hygiene left much room for improvement. As a result, many women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The women would spread bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their complexions. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to stare at another woman's face she was told, "mind your own bee's wax." Should the woman smile, the wax would crack, hence the term "crack a smile" In addition, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would melt. Therefore, the _expression "losing face."

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Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the front. A proper and dignified woman, as in "straight laced" . . . wore a tightly tied lace. **************************************************************

Common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards but only applicable to the "Ace of Spades." To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards instead.

Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people were thought to be stupid or dumb because they weren't "playing with a full deck."

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Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what the people considered important. Since there were no telephones, TV's or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to local taverns, pubs, and bars. They were told to "go sip some ale" and listen to people's conversations and political concerns. Many assistants were dispatched at different times. "You go sip here" and "You go sip there." The two words "go sip" were eventually combined when referring to the local opinion and, thus we have the term "gossip."

**************************************************************

At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint and quart-sized containers. A bar maid's job was to keep an eye on the customers and keep the drinks coming. She had to pay close attention and remember who was drinking in "pints" and who was drinking in "quarts," hence the term "minding your "P's and Q's."

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One more: bet you didn't know this!

In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon. However, how to prevent them from rolling about the deck? The best storage method devised was a square-based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem...how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate called a "Monkey" with 16 round indentations.

However, if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make "Brass Monkeys." Few land lubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannonballs would come right off the monkey. Thus, it was quite literally, "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey." (All this time, you thought that was an improper _expression, didn't you.)

TRUTH

2007-05-07T23:21:00.000-06:00

The Rhino has been thinking about the concept of truth for a while. What really is the truth. The Rhino mentioned this to his old friend BJ and got this email back from him:

I've always struggled with the same issue. Is it the truth if you believe, is it true of you can prove something through mathematics, science or some empirical method, do philosophy and theosophy provide a higher level of truth - who/what do we trust? I think that I was born a skeptic, so examining the subject from a distance hasn't been difficult. In a way, I've always been envious of people who have blind trust in a perceived truth - life is certainly easier for they in many ways. In the less educated or developed parts of the world (including the US), sometimes trust in a perceived truth is all that people have to live their lives by - whether it's the local shaman or political leader.

My wife's family is very Catholic -her uncle (the youngest of 13) is a priest. For them, trust and truth came primarily from the Church and those who were affiliated with it - family, friends in their small town. I see in her mother, today at 83, that same trust in the ways of the church, but sorely tested with the scandals and general decline of the Catholic religious institution in the US. How deep does truth have to drill into trust to create distrust? For most Catholics in the US, the drill down seems to have struck a nerve. I'm still in Italy, in Rome, so I see the power of the Church - but most younger nuns seems to be from Korea or the Philippines - not white European women. ((stop with the nun fantasies)) We know that in the US, there are very few new priests taking their vows and almost no new nuns - the trust is gone for a whole generation who failed to 'have a calling'. Do intellectual freedom and extensive education dispel the old theosophical truths?

The Urantia Book says, "Truth often becomes confusing and even misleading whein it is dismembered, segregated, isolated and too much analyzed. " It aloso says Free and inexperienced intelligence cannot possibly at first be uniformly wise." Expierience reveals truth? What do you think?

VIRGINIA KILLINGS

2007-04-16T23:06:00.000-06:00

As the Rhino received word of the killings at Virginia Tech, he kept hearing the comparison to the Columbine shootings. When the shootings happened at Columbine High School, in the south metro area of Denver in Colorado, the Rhino worked maintenance at the school district next to Columbine.

The afternoon Columbine occurred there was a state of complete ahh and disbelief that flowed through each of the schools the Rhino visited. At first people did not even grieve. The depth of the deviation could not be comprehended. The look in the eyes of teachers and older students was searching yet bewildered. As the understanding emerged, schools were locked down and parents came for there children. Lock down in schools now is a common practice but at the time of Columbine this was new territory.

After the guessing and second guessing subsided and the anger passed, a pervasive sense of paranoia set in. Teachers were afraid to come to work and feared explosives were in the buildings. Those on maintenance were told to be visible and some were moved to nights. With faculty blessing and encouragement we searched every nook and cranny of the district. Privacy was secondary. Visitors to buildings, who were regarded only casually before, became objects of scrutiny and suspicion.

In incidence like Virginia and Columbine, the doer reaches a point of anger that creates a self righteous feeling of entitled vengeance. To the perpetrator the end justifies the means. It is a pay back that is designed to resolve anger and hurt. Weather these acts are a phenomenon of current history and a product of current problems is open to debate. Could the severity of the crimes be a product of the capability to inflict this mass anger? Over the counter automatic weapons can do as much damage as several guns two hundred years ago. The single or double murder of the 1800’s becomes a mass murder with the same effort and planning.

What can be done to stop that wild card of humanity that engages in this type of behavior? Is the measure of us as humans in our reactions to these almost indeterminate incidents? Are the victims the angels of opportunity for the rest us? Can we learn about our humanity starring into these tragedies? When we speak of peace can we develop it in the our hearts and those around us? What will your long term reaction to this tragedy be?

ONE MAN BAND - MUSICIANS TO DO

2007-04-04T23:44:00.000-06:00

www.bighornmusic.com

When you are a one man band in the music business there are many things to do. You read about small business owners putting in sixty to eighty hours a week and it is no different for the person trying to be heard in the music business and maybe make some money in the process.

First of course there is practice. As Allen Iverson, of the Rhino’s beloved Nuggets might say "You want me to go out night after night and play like the Beatles, and give the entertainment industry something to hang there hat on and we be talkin bout practice." Musicians are much like basketball players. After an initial inspiration there is constant repetition so the move or motif can be executed flawlessly during the song or game. As my cousin used to say about practice. Two hours a day you don’t get any worse, three you show some improvement and over four your strokin it.

Then there is the business of getting yourself and your talent known. When I was in high school, we saw statistics that said to make a living as a custodian - one person in four. To make a living as a musician - one person in 50,000. One only has to look at cd baby or isound artist lists to see the deluge of people wanting to be musicians. About one hour a day is all the Rhino has. But, on the positive side, that hour increases peoples awareness and occasionally sells a CD or download.

Technology is an important aspect of most musicians talents. When you need understanding of recording or equipment, you can either pay someone or you can learn and execute. Sometimes when you are focused on other aspects, it is good to leave technology to the experienced. Even then, you save time and money by having a good understanding of the technology you are using. One hour a day.

Don’t forget you have got to be writing and recording that next song for cd, download, or appearance. Even the lowly Rhino tries to make it out to an open mike once a week. You can see the ones he features at the web site www.bighornmusic.com under appearances. Writing, Recording, and mixing of at least basic tracks tends to pile up if you don’t stay on it. So another hour a day.

Seven hours a day (or more) six days a week, forty two hours. One shudders to think what happens when you play three or four nights a week. Whoa! Musicians are a hard working bunch of swing shift machine operators. Working hard for your respect and a little change.

MUSICIANS - THE NEXT GENERATION

2007-03-29T00:45:00.000-06:00

The Rhino does membership for the local music association. The letter below came from a young lady looking toward music as a hobby or vocation. It is wonderful that the next generation has their feet firmly on the ground and the music industry has such fine people to look foward to:

Hello. I'm M___. I love to sing. I am 11. Many of my friends and family,mydirector of my theater group, and I think I have a great voice. I was wondering if Ihave to be a certain age to work with you. ALso, how much it would cost and if I getpaid. Thank you!

Go get um M_____!

VAUDVILLE - CLARK AND MCCULLOUGH

2007-03-19T22:16:00.000-06:00

When the Rhino often wonders where his show business gene comes from, he has no further to look than his great uncle Paul McCullough. Paul was one of the members of the famous vaudville team Clark and McCullough. This was a hard working duo of boyhood friends who entertained the vaudville stage at the beginning of the last century.

They went on to movies and Broadway. What is impressive is how hard entertainers worked durring period. To check out this wonderful vaudville team go to www.aaronneathery.com/film/CaM/cmcindex.htm

NEW LOOK RHINO

2007-03-12T20:35:00.000-06:00

The Rhino's regular website ( www.bighornmusic.com ) has been changed for you. Now you can get music downloads, buy the cd from cdbaby, and soon will see a list of where the rhino is appearing.

Many friends wanted to just download songs. Right now songs written by the Rhino appear at the site. The Rhino will be talking to the publishers of three cover songs on the CD to see if they will let him post those songs for download. If not the Rhino will gore them with his giant horn.

Please let the Rhino know what you think of the new look of the site. Any input sparks inprovement. www.johnny_rhino@msn.com

REALITY ONLINE

2007-02-06T23:07:00.000-07:00

For years the Rhino has had that fantasy many have had, what if I when I died I could just jump into cyberspace and live there for eternity. Those perfect recipes shown online mmm. The beautiful landscapes, interesting videos, and of course all those babes you see online. All would be part of our eternal online world.

Tonight while reading INC magazine, (2/07) I noticed two articles that made such a dream less of a fantasy. The first story is about the Exponential pace at which information technology is growing. It talked about "energy becoming information technology dominated by massively parallel, computation-controlled molecular manufacturing process." Most of what they were referring to was the improvement of solar panels at an exponential rate but the article alluded to all kinds of predictable changes in information technology as a catalyst for change. It made the assertion that information technology doubles in price performance and power each year. The conversion step from Rhino to virtual Rhino is that a weird idea given these accelerated changes?

The very next article talked about a place in the computer called Second Life. "It is a richly detailed virtual world where ANYTHING a computer programer can imagine can exist." Will these be the virtual communities we live in for eternity if we choose. Will the mind be encircuted in the computer to live on the virtual plane doing things that make sense in the terrestrial world or will there be new interactions not conceived of yet but developed in these communities.

What of the Rhino’s soul? Will moving into the virtual world delay spiritual growth in some kind of ascention plan? Will music be unnecessary and will we feel things in there? Many opportunities and fascination await all of us. Like the old question, If your belly button was a pleasure button how often would you push it? The Rhino would push it whenever possible.

Open up that virtual gate cyber space here I come!

TECHNICAL READING REVOLUTION

2007-01-17T23:12:00.000-07:00

It is amazing the types of documents you and I have sent to us, signed by us, and approved by us. These tedious strings of lawyeristic blah blah blah are used to cover the butt of business and government world wide. They are created with the help of there paid servants, government workers and politicians. Who is the audience of these prospectus, tax forms, insurance forms, bank privacy notices and other corporate CYA drivel? You and me.

Right now on the Rhino’s desk is a small book like document called Transamerica Index Mutual Funds (a prospectus). This long boring piece of information is complete with subscript table of contents and everything else. It is designed to inform me. To be informed it would take me a couple of hours or more.

Recently I rolled over a couple of 401ks for someone from a company that decided they did not want to have that person continue with there investment management when they left. You have a choice. Sit down and figure out how to do the roll over (tedious, paperworkey, expensive if you screw up)or seek “professional” advice. Most of this type of advice wants to sell you something (with lots of words attached). All this is your responsibility. Why, because the people who represent you at state and national levels are owned and operated by those who want representatives to put the monkey on your back.

Should you have to spend more than 1 hour doing your taxes? If the government wants your money they can send you an accurate one page of your earnings and deductions. They and the money changers have all this info anyway. Companies and the government, not providing accurate information should be fined and imprisoned. You should be able to sue both for thier negligence

The law of the land world wide should be that all documents, and financial and property transaction, should be able to be done and understood by a sixth grader in no more than 30 minutes. Not because we can’t do more but because we shouldn't have to. Six grade classes could be used for research and payments for that research could be used for the schools.

The Rhino sees this as a good first step in giving the power of wealth and government back to the people. American (or your countries) workers first. Wealth is owned by the citizens. Let’s shake the money tree.

CREATIVE REALIZATION

2007-01-06T13:37:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while it is necessary for the Rhino to give his "Clark Kent" identity to someone. Often dealing with banker or people selling you a new toilet it is customary to exchange cards so that person can get in touch with you. Those outside of the entertainment industry might find it hard to remember why they are doing business with Johnny Rhino.

It seemed like a good time for the Rhino to create a card so he could hand it out to the proctologist and such. After inserting the name in the card template the rhino considered the descriptive term he might use before inserting address phone number etc. Most of the day, when the Rhino is not goofing off, he is creating. Sometimes he does something similar to work which is referred to as skills practice. So the Rhino decided to confer on himself the title of Creative Realizer.

There seems to be a movement afoot to champion the creative folk among us. Richard Florida, in his book "The Rise of the Creative Class" writes about how this group is transforming work, leisure, community, and everyday life. He states that these beasts roam in "a place that enables them to reflect and reinforce their identities as creative people, pursuing the kind of work they choose and having access to a wide range of lifestyle amenities."

Many people and organizations are hesitant to jump head first in the creative waters. They don’t know how to swim there and feel they might drowned. Tom Peters in his writing Thriving on Chaos might encourage the jump. "A supervisor or cheif executive of a big firm not bent on creating dangerously is apt to lose his or her job or go out of business" says Peters. Might be true for one who wants to realize something new as well.

So now you have a swim coach. The Rhino, who has pursued creative reality for some years, would be glad to be of service. He is hanging out his shingle as a creative realizer. What can the Rhino help you realize?

CHRISTMAS - A NEW PERSPECTIVE

2006-12-25T22:37:00.000-07:00

Christmas has not always been the Rhino’s favorite holiday. It seems so contrived. An old roman holiday that was used as Jesus birthday so more people might celebrate it. Almost like and old times marketing campaign. The Rhino is a Urantia Book reader and the UB dates Jesus birth as August 21 0007B.C. A few times the Rhino has joined Urantia readers to celebrate the August birthday but it seemed a little stiff.

Here in the USA there are businesses that would fold with out good sales for Jesus birthday. There are many marketing campaigns real and implied designed around guilt to get you out and shopping. Here in Colorado a major snow storm closed the malls for a couple of days. You would have thought people were headed to a worship service before they died the way they lined up for hours to get into the mall parking lots just to be sure they did there Christmas duties when the storm abated. "Aunt Frizzy always sends a gift and if we forget her she will think we don’t love her." The media (making a pile on advertising) beats the drum.

At work, home, and social organizations one is expected to fall in lockstep with whatever pagan ritual is current for the group. If you don’t you are some kind of odd ball atheist who surely is not on the right side of God. The dynasty of Christianity that brought you the George Bush encore, demands you pay homage to Christmas. The faithful are taught to love and forgive the recalcitrant that avoids Christmas but the poor thing is probably goin to hell.

Guilt and fear are the primary motivators for Christmas in the twenty first century.
With all this in mind the Rhino tries to find a way to miss the Christmas hoopla without offending his Christmas loving friends. So he has slowly worked to let folks know he does not want to be involved. It would be interesting to hear what miss manner would say to do. This year my daughter said she wanted the Rhino to join her and Thomas, the Little King ( www.bighornmusic.com/Johnny/Rhino/ ) and Sue for dinner. She wants to make it a tradition.
It was difficult to agree, but the Rhino knew she wanted to create a tie to family. When I arrived there was the Little King who wanted time with the Rhino Thomas and Amber made a great meal but did not make it look like a lot of trouble. As The Rhino watched the Little King play with his new sound board toy. He realized it was not so bad and he felt comfortable.

So what does this all mean? Christmas is ok and at last the Rhino loves Big Brother? That the only value to Christmas is to celebrate interpersonal relationships? God is conspiring with the church to make sure everyone celebrates his sons birthday on the 25th using a whole plethora of emotions to bring them rebellious in line? Christmas has turned into a tawdry side show?

The Rhino doesn’t know what do you think?

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND THE AMERICAN WORKER

2006-12-19T00:10:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of foucus on illegal immigration lately. Here is a letter to the editor sent by the rhino and the download address for his song on the issue BUSHTON:

It is important to frame the debate in terms of the American worker. That is the person who is being used for his output to increase wealth for employers. The reason there is and immigration system is to be protect the integrity of the American worker.

Land

Labor

Capital

Businesses goal is to get all three as cheap as possible. When their pursuit is oppressive we use laws to bring employers in line. Immigration laws, monopoly Laws, Zoning, Lending Practices and the central bank.

In this mix all people participate, some legally some illegally. It is the job of the government to referee. On immigration the ref has swallowed the whistle. He is trying to retake control of the court but business keeps fouling. Some suspect the referees are being bribed.

Turning anger toward working people will not solve the problem. Calling names is only an alienating and destructive force. In all matters the American citizen worker comes first he is the economic engine. Comprehensive imigration reform is a code phrase for amnesty, rewarding illegal behavior.

Foreign aid is foreign aid not a jobs program and should not become a tool to subvert American labor by government unions or religion. The focus is, as it has been, on employers and government officials. both should be held accountable.

www.bighornmusic.com/bushton/

Let the Rhino know what your thoughts are....

TIRED OF THE BLUES

2006-12-05T22:37:00.000-07:00

Does it drive you crazy to go to a club where musicans are jamming and listen to hour after hour of mindles three chord noodling they like to call the blues? One of the songs on the Rhino's CD SWING SHIFT MACHINE OPERATOR is TIRED OF THE BLUES. While this song has gotten more air play than any other, it was inspired by the Rhino's early days in bands.

Gigs were often four hours long and when material ran out there was nothing like a slow blues to kill time. Often the Rhino would make up lyrics, two verses, then let the guitar player play a solo of one or two times around the three chord music track. Like a race of fat guys it would lumber on until time was up.

If someone complained the reply "Why it is the blues! sacred music of the black man." Of course you would leave out that the black man had made it an art form not an exucuse for musical laziness.

Today the contemporary musician slinks out to the car, Gets blasted, then comes in an bores everyone with his pentatonic noodling. Sign up group or individual after sign up group or individual boring there spouse and friends to tears. There associates want to encourage there love of music but secretly wish the were home watching the washing machine.

The club, of course, just wants there group of friends to buy drinks and food. So they put up with it and even bring in the leaders of the snooze. They would not ask if they could jam a song or and extended idea. "Thats not the blues you just don't understand."

The Rhino loves a good blues song in the mix. It can get the toe tappin and be very clever. But, as for Jam night, "I've paid my dues and I'm Tired of the Blues.

CORPORATE NATION

2006-11-24T23:47:00.000-07:00

www.bighornmusic.com/corporatenation/

When the Rhino first wrote the song CORPORATE NATION about 3 years ago America was entrenching itself in the war in Iraq. The Rhino began to think about what it would be like to be a soldier on the ground over there. A fantasy look from the inside of a soldiers head. Only a real soldier can give a factual account. Any soldiers should be encouraged to reply.

Now that the war has heated up and Iraq is the number one issue, the song like so many written now, expose the endless treadmill of a protracted war.

For you music appreciators the music is written on a 12 tone row with a retrograde in the music interlude. In a 12 tone row the chromatic scale is used and no note may be repeated until all others have been used. The Row lends itself to the eirie sound in the background.

Let the Rhino know what you think of the music and the message. Truly a song for the moment.

FREE MUSIC

2006-10-19T12:36:00.000-06:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_improvisation

What is this new musical idea Free Music? No were not talking about not having to pay for it. In any medium size metropolis around the globe you can hear live music for free most every night of the week. Are we referring to releasing music from some sort of captivity like a Rhino in the zoo? Or are we talking about a way an artist delivers Ideas in sound?

American Heritage Dictionary defines free as, "at liberty not bound or constrained." What are the shackles music wears that would make freeing music a valid statement? Notice I did not use the words "artistic" statement. Does music need to "be" artistic or is it inherently artistic?

The same dictionary defines music as, "The art of organizing sound so as to elicit an aesthetic response in the listener."

So taking some liberties to combine these definitions, (which is always a good way to draw comments in a blog :) We might say that Free Music is "organizing sound in a unbound and unconstrained manner, taking liberties, but at the same time eliciting an aesthetic response in the listener.

Right or wrong the Rhino always sees the word aesthetic as classist. "Her new dress was purple and looked aesthic on her." huh. "Of or pertaining to a sense of the beautiful." That music is just beautiful. huh. So are we striving to elicit a beautiful response in the listner with free music? Down at a club near the Rhino's cage, three bands put on a show featuring unconventional organiztion of sounds in an unbound manner. They were rewarded by many with-- "THAT SUCKS" "Thats Random" "is that music." Is that music?

Kenny Warner in his book EFFORTLESS MASTERY for musicians comments, "Think back to the first time you touched an instrument. Remember the wondrous sound that came out?" Further on, "Stimulated by the sound, your curiosity about music, could you have grown from there?"

The Rhino would ask would that have been enough or is our ego infatuated with showing our sound paintings to others. Do we play to combine sounds in a manner that gratifys us or do we play to the crowd? And, if we enjoy showing our sound paintings do we have a responsibility to "paint" in the form that is pleasing to the listner?

As time goes on the Rhino may point out some examples of what he might consider free music and invites you to do the same here in the blog (or bog). In music, is it like dad used to tell us freedom comes with responsibilities? huh.

RADIO -- IS IT GOOD FOR LOCAL MUSIC?

2006-10-04T00:03:00.000-06:00