ITR - Letter from America - Bay Area California 30.4.08 InTouchRadio.net

For InTouchRadio.net UK & GLOBAL from Callfornia USA

D U S T I N G

First, I'm going to tell you a little about me and my family. My name is Jeff. I am a Police Officer for a city which is known nationwide for its crime rate. We have a lot of gangs and drugs. At one point we were #2 in the nation in homicides per capita. I also have a police K-9 named Thor. He was certified in drugs and general duty. He retired at 3 years old because he was shot in the line of duty. He lives with us now and I still train with him because he likes it. I always liked the fact that there was no way to bring drugs into my house. Thor wouldn't allow it. He would tell on you. The reason I say this is so you understand that I know about drugs.

I have taught in schools about drugs. My wife asks all our kids at least once a week if they used any d rugs. Makes them promise they won't.

I like building computers occasionally and started building a new one in February 2005. I also was working on some of my older computers. They were full of dust so on one of my trips to the computer store I bought a 3 pack of DUST OFF. Dust Off is a can of compressed air to blow dust off a computer. A few weeks later when I went to use one of them they were all used. I talked to my kids and my two sons both said they had used them on their computer and messing around with them. I yelled at them for wasting the 10 dollars I paid for them.

On February 28 I went back to the computer store. They didn't have the 3 pack which I had bought on sale so I bought a single jumbo can of Dust Off. I went home and set it down beside my computer. On March 1st, I left for work at 10 PM. Just before midnight my wife went down and kissed Kyle&nbs p;goodnight. At 5:30 am the next morning Kathy went downstairs to wake Kyle up for school, before she left for work. He was propped up in bed with his legs crossed and his head leaning over. She called to him a few times to get up. He didn't move. He would sometimes tease her like this and pretend he fell back asleep. He was never easy to get up. She went in and shook his arm. He fell over. He was pale white and had the straw from the Dust Off can coming out of his mouth. He had the new can of Dust Off in his hands. Kyle was dead.

I am a police officer and I had never heard of this. My wife is a nurse and she had never heard of this. We later found out from the coroner, after the autopsy, that only the propellant from the can of Dust off was in his system. No other drugs. Kyle had died between midnight and 1 AM. I found out that using Dust Off is being done mostly by kids ages 9 through 15. They even have a name for it. It's called dusting. A take off from the
Dust Off name. It gives them a slight high for about 10 seconds. It makes them dizzy. A boy who lives down the street from us showed Kyle how to do this about a month before. Kyle showed his best friend. Told him it was cool and it couldn't hurt you. It's just compressed air. It can't hurt you. His best friend said no.

Kyle was wrong. It's not just compressed air. It also contains a propellant called R2. It's a refrigerant like what is used in your refrigerator. It is a heavy gas, heavier than air. When you inhale it, it fills your lungs and keeps the good air, with oxygen, out that's why you feel dizzy, buzzed. It decreases the oxygen to your brain, to your heart. Kyle was right. It can't hurt you. IT KILLS YOU!

The horrible part about this is there is no warning. There is no level&nbs p;that kills you. It's not cumulative or an overdose; it can just go randomly, terribly wrong. Roll the dice and if your number comes up you die. IT'S NOT AN OVERDOSE. It's Russian Roulette. You don't die later. Or not feel good and say I've had too much. You usually die as you're breathing it in, if not you die within 2 seconds of finishing 'the hit.' That's why the straw was still in Kyle's mouth when he died. Why his eyes were still open.

The experts want to call this huffing. The kids don't believe its huffing. As adults we tend to lump many things together. But it doesn't fit here. And that's why it's more accepted. There is no chemical reaction, no strong odor. It doesn't follow the huffing signals. Kyle complained a few days before he died of his tongue hurting. It probably did. The propellant causes frostbite. If I had only known. It's easy to say hey, it's my life
and I'll do what I want. But it isn't. Others are always affected. This has forever changed our family's life. I have a hole in my heart and soul that can never be fixed. The pain is so immense I can't describe it. There's nowhere to run from it. I cry all the time and I don't ever cry. I do what I'm supposed to do but I don't really care. My kids are messed up. One won't talk about it. The other will only sleep in our room at night. And my wife, I can't even describe how bad she is taking this. I thought we were safe because of Thor. I thought we were safe because we knew about drugs and talked to our kids about them.

After Kyle died another story came out. A probation Officer went to the school system next to ours to speak with a student. While there he found a student using Dust Off in the bathroom. This student told him about another student who also had some in his locker. This is a ra ther affluent school system. They will tell you they don't have a drug problem there. They don't even have a dare or plus program there. So rather than tell everyone about this 'new' way of getting high they found, they hid it.

The probation officer told the media after Kyle's death and they, the school, then admitted to it. I know that if they would have told the media and I had heard, it wouldn't have been in my house.

We need to get this out of our homes and school computer labs. Using Dust Off isn't new and some 'professionals' do know about. It just isn't talked about much, except by the kids. They all seem to know about it.

April 2nd was 1 month since Kyle died. April 5th would have been his 15th birthday. And every weekday I catch myself sitting on the living room couch at 2:30 in the afternoon and waiting to see him get off the bus. I know Kyle is in heaven but I can't help but wonder if I died and went to Hell.

This Officer is asking for EVERYONE who receives this email to forward it to everyone in their address book, even Law Enforcement Officers. Even if you do not have children, you can still forward this to friends & family who do.


Gail Holotuk
Coroner Agent - Kamloops
BC Coroners Service
Phone: 250-861-7429
Toll Free: 1-888-991-2111
Fax: 250-861-7515

ITR - Hemp & Alternatives In Response to Letter From America InTouchRadio.net

In Response to Hemp and other Alternatives!

For every reason there will be an answer, for every answer there will be a reason (why we cannot do something).

As much as I try (objective) not to become Political or remain A-Political I cannot help but look at who and what is running the countries around the world and their aims and conclusions.

Soon the world will sit either paralyzed or in its power, The situation, because that's what it is, has been felt before; every time the 'people' start to challenge the powers-that-be then the foundations and goal-posts are moved that little bit further apart. This condition can be seen with MS where the Myelin Sheath breaks down and the nerve signal cannot jump the synapse gap, this is where the human race finds itself - trying to make that leap. This is an illustration only not with deference to MS sufferers.

We allow the goal-posts to be widened; we are responsible for our actions and our greed. Not long ago, back from 1989 through to 1996 we saw the fall of the economy here in the UK. People lost their businesses and, in some cases, their houses by falling into negative equity.

I escaped in loss but the stress also meant a weakening of the family; always the weakest point is targeted like today, the weakest link if you like. This resulted in division further weakening any power within that structure. I, for one, swore I would never make that mistake again, but I watched over the decade greed start to raise its ugly head – just because we are offered doesn’t mean we have to accept.

People, by their nature, never learn apart from the few! Then Crunch – Chaos – the Illusion is broken the people reduced to the lowest common denominator.

In the past decade, like the 80's, banks threw money in the form of Credit Cards, Mortgage companies threw open-ended fact-less background-checked 100% loans to people who ~ self-certified ~ their incomes; people the banks and mortgages companies knew could not sustain the payments - in amongst this - people within those institutes took or creamed-off huge amounts and then left and disappeared, this included Pension Funds leaving the people foundation-less once again, déjà vu!

We are in that place now, but this is being accelerated by our conscious mind and our limited small-brain thought patterns that we cannot therefore we have not and we are free-falling into the hands of that powers-that-be stranglehold.

What do we do, in answer to your blog response?

We can utilize our connectedness, our Oneness by constructive use of what we have i.e. vegetable power (but not at the expense of our food supplies, just look at what happened in South America and our de-forestation of the rain forests – the lungs of the world. All in the name of a Beef Burger; there are so many crops I’m sure that can be put into production.

The inventors, that have been held back because they challenged the corporations, can be supported by the whole (you and me) rather than into the hands of the few.

You so rightly mentioned the crop hemp, in whatever forms (Cheech & Chong) is an easy crop to grow, even the government have their testing fields somewhere around the Oxfordshire (UK) area – maybe that’s the paranoia we’re seeing within the higher echelons of parliament? What is that strange smell coming from those corridors of power!

But more than this there is the ~EyE~ of the Future; the seeing-as-One EyE, not the hugely un-empathic singular vision view point of so many today – especially the young to middle years age group who only see what they want to see for themselves as a singularity (just what corporatism wanted and have succeeded in establishing) “I don’t care about anyone else as long as I’m ok - *u*k the others” – this was said to me today in a telephone conversation – “I don’t give a flying f*c* about the rest of the world as long as I’m ok and mine” – and no I won’t say who said this.

I’ll diversify here for a moment: Years ago back in the 1970’s I lived in Cornwall with a young family; we couldn’t afford to buy a property in Windsor, where I came from. Our neighbour, Norman Hacker (now long passed on) and elderly gentle man, a retired gardener told me one day when we were talking politics (I am a word person as you can see) and about socialism and conservatism, he was conservative. He said “you see out the back here (of the terraced cottages ex- foundry workers cottages) our stone sheds were once pig sties and if you imagine this, a conservative will look into his and see he has two pigs and you have none. He will offer you one of his pigs saying he only needs one, not that he’s generous but he knows it will come back later, he’s thinking ahead. Now if that was a socialist ask him to give you one of his pigs and see the reaction, show me a socialist today who would share what he has”! That left me thinking.

At the same time we had befriended another Gil Biglin – shoemaker/seller of Stratton in Cornwall (also long gone) – he explained the British Empire and what we did around the world (none of our histories are untainted) he said “we would go into a country with a glass of wine in one hand and a gun in the other and then say – take your choice! Then we would ritualistically go into that country and rape and pillage whatever they had, mineral or other wealth and when it was all sucked dry we would leave”. These were two stories that have stayed these years with me. Now is the time to make amends – we are responsible for our actions. Let’s do what we can to change and heal our past mistakes.

So you see, there are ways around everything, perhaps we have to go back to zero, no – thing / nothing, to find that perfect state that the Buddhist philosophy suggests. But then, this is my issue, how would we cope without computers, the Internet, MySpace, Face Book, etc – again – these, dare I say – things - are put up by the corporations for us to buy into and haven’t we just done that. Remember divide is to conquer!

But then, one might suggest “what would they do if we all went back to zero, because they would too and their power dissolve into fragments of what it had been!” – Rightly so – that’s why we have never, in modern times, have ever gone back quite to the beginning. They base their power on knowing we are built on Greed and that Greed is Their Power. The only thing I am considering is what a private letter from America mentioned that this is very similar to the Depression of the 1930’s but because very few experienced people are left from that time we have only film and audio footage to understand the, overnight, experience that happened at that time.

The Internet has been as invaluable in getting information around as it has to establish a further control, that of Fear! Much of what I have mentioned above and in blogs is fear-driven, my only expression is to say what I think as I think it, write it without looking to check (apologies for contextual or grammatical errors). I tune, as many of you know, as a Clairsentient, some of the words are not knowingly mine, they come, I type and I upload. If I offend I apologise for the offence but I do not apologise for the words for I truly believe they are there to help in allowing the individual to make up their own mind and take responsibility for their situation as I am responsible for the place I have found myself in.

BTW it was nothing to do with such figure heads as Thatcher, Major, (rare-as-air) Blair, nor the incumbent Brown or from the Wild West – G. Bush and friends. I rest my case with the words of a band I would love to meet from the early 1980’s (so if any of you know of their whereabouts, can contact them and ask them to get InTouch – this is what InTouchRadio.net is all about getting and keeping InTouch) called The Call – with the words from their album Modern Romans “There ain’t no Russians, their ain’t no Yanks – just Corporate Criminals – playing in Tanks…” go buy that album, feel the energy and listen to their very futuristic, one thinks - psychically tuned album and songs such as – The Walls Came Down.

There are No Politics – just an Illusion of what we would Like To Believe.

The Power is Underground – lost to you and me – run by people who are not the same as us. We will never know them, see them, well maybe briefly – the corridors run deep and illusion founded and no matter the propaganda or the conspiracy theory – it doesn’t matter. The changes have to be within us that are untouchable no matter the outward circumstance!

Get the Hemp out and let’s blow the mind of the modern motor car and release that Water Engine Car from the mid 1960’s – those oil barrens are part of the reason why this world is in the state it is. (This is only a personal opinion)

Let me hear what you think but more than that spread the word about www.intouchradio.net online and let’s all get together as One and help our future generations.

On Wed, Apr 30, 2008 at 11:13 AM, Angelswithinus wrote:

Angelswithinus has left a new comment on your post "NewsFlash from Our Correspondant Californian, USA ...":

Wouldn't it be interesting if we found out we could run cars on peanut oil, sweet potatoes or hemp?

What if we could run them on (dare I say?) Marijuana???

Would there be less cancer? Happier people?

Less need for pills to cure our ills…
As silly as it sounds...Like a Cheech and Chong movie even...

But what if Hemp was the answer?

Is it possible?



Posted by Angelswithinus to InTouchRadio.net at 30 April 2008 11:13

ITR - Letter From America #01 Jeanie Our Correspondent in California

29 Apr 2008 10:23

GLAD TO SEE YOU ARE UP & RUNNING, MICHAEL!!!

GOOD JOB WELL DONE!!!

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT OUR AMERICAN PRESIDENT SAYING OUR ECONOMY IS JUST SLOW AT THE MOMENT. HE SAID IT AGAIN THIS MORNING HERE ON TELLY!

NOW WE HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY DUPED INTO THINKING WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ASSIST OUR FAMILIES' NEEDS BY RECEIVING THE STIMULUS PACKAGE CHECKS THIS COMING MONTH TO SPEND DOLLARS IN AMERICAN FREE ENTERPRIZE MARKET STATESIDE, WHEN IT WAS JUST A HEAD COUNT, ANYHOW, I THINK.

WE ALL KNOW IT WILL HAVE TO BE USED TO BUY GASOLINE JUST TO DRIVE OUR KIDS TO SCHOOL & WORK, ETC.

WHILE OUR TROOPS FIGHT OUR BATTLE FOR US FACING MORTAL DANGER WE CANNOT POSSIBLY TRULY COMPREHEND & THE OIL BARONS & FAT TYCOONS GET MORE DOLLARS IN THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS!!!

WE HAVE TO SPEAK OUT & REMIND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT WE ARE AWARE OF THE FACADE!!!

IT CAN'T LAST! FOOD SHORTAGES ARE ALREADY RAMPANT & WE CAN FIX ALL THIS WITH A LITTLE FOCUS ON OUR MORAL COMPASS!!!

YUH THINK? - JEANIE B.

ITR - Letter From America #01 Pip Our Correspondent in California USA

4.29.2008
From Pip - California USA to InTouchRadio.net Glastonbury, UK
(www.InTouchRadio.net)

It is between $4-6.oo per gallon here.

I pay $60-100.oo to fill my tank.

It will not stop till it hits $200 or we refuse to pay more than TEN dollars a barrel, like we used too! Why don't we drill Alaska?

If we refuse to pay more, whom will they sell it too? The great depression was purposely caused by the world banking system, and now they are trying to bring us to our knees with the price of food and gas. And they do not even admit we are in a recession when it looks like we have been in a depression for the last ten years, when asked President Bush was quoted as saying "we are not in a recession the economy is just slow!"

it would seem we are the slow ones, sadly....We must wise up and change over to water powered cars and solar powered energy and wind power too! Thomas Dolby wrote a wonderful tune "Wind Power"

I wonder why we aren't moving faster on this really? WE ARE ONE! ~SPREAD THE WORD! ~LOVE TO ALL! Pip

Posted by Pip on Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 11:16 AM

ITR - Letter To America #02 Pip Our Correspondent California

InTouchRadio.net
29 April 2008
Glastonbury, England

I’m sharing this letter to Pip our Correspondent in California – now-turned-blog – this was the second the first follows – at the same time please join the InTouchRadio.net family – join in with the news and stories from your part of the world - contact me michael@intouchradio.net.

Join me Michael Dixon and the others on the InTouchRadio.net team as they come on board on this new Internet radio station there for you now matter where you live or come from, your belief system, faith, colour or race. InTouchRadio.net is there for you.

Born this month – still only a few weeks old and so tiny we almost don't exist but our energy so large we can touch the world. Some might say we are so small that in fact we are no more than an illustration on an imaginary page on an entity called the Internet.


Small we are and yet the heart of InTouchRadio.net beats with the heart of the One in all of us.

Come on over join the InTouchRadio.net family (www.intouchradio.net) - it's a Co-operative Collective - it is Not - a Corporate Selective - that doesn't mean we can't all change this world to a better place – together as One!

Back to the Letter…

Hi Pip

News in the night on UK BBC 4 World Radio

Well we've got Diesel here in the UK at £1.29.9 pence per litre (£1.30 in fact) that's an approximation-al equivalent to yours being $11.80.4c per Gallon here.

I have based this on £1.30p per litre there are 4.54 litres to 1UK Gallon at this time the US $ is around 2$ to 1 UK£. That makes 4.54 Litres @ £1.30 = £5.90.2p x 2 ($=£) and you have an amazing $11.80.4c per UK Gallon - now tell me the world's not gone crazy and we are not stupid for accepting this! Of course this is the Ultimate Control.

I heard someone complaining to me in NY the other day that they were struggling on $4/Gallon - Bless - they need to try it over here.

Oops! Another Blog coming on... maybe not.

What is it there in the SF/LA area, I did hear a month ago fuel was £2.30c/Gallon in Texas but that's where they bring it ashore I believe?

Oh, nearly forgot - they're saying that the price of Oil hit a new high yesterday of £120 per barrel - they finished the sentence saying they were looking to go as high at $200! I was half asleep but I'm sure I heard that the price of Oil ten years ago was $27 per barrel and we, here in the UK were complaining at 87pence per litre just last year! Where do the exclamation marks end and the expletives begin.

Spread the word - let's hear what people are paying around the world - bet they can't get as high as we are but then I think the Tax is only around 80p per litre tax - don't quote me it might be higher but that's the price of living in such an affluent country - Not - here in the UK.

Yep sounds like a Blog...

Well the illusion is ours, we've helped it into reality, we've bought the package in whatever shape, size or Politic you wish to colour it - now it's up to us to turn it around - no one else can do it - only us. Greed is self-consuming - we are consumed!

Give my love to the California InTouchRadio.net family and to all the others around the world who support the ethos of ITR.

From a cloudy and sunny Springtime Somerset with the House Martins and Swallows all arriving back after their Winter in the South African sun - have a good day.

Lots of Love
Michael x

InTouchRadio.net (Glastonbury, England)
www.intouchradio.net
Online Now and growing.

A Co-operative Collective - Not - A Corporate Selective - Connecting the World As One

The above was from a sleep-denied memory so if I got one or two figures wrong then I apologise but more than this – come on over to www.intouchradio.net and share what it is that you know and what we can all do, together, to change the world to a better place.

Michael x
Contact me here:
michael@intouchradio.net
or through the website:
www.intouchradio.net

ITR - Letter To America #01 Pip Correspondent California USA

Sunday 27 April 2008

From Michael InTouchRadio.net

Hi Pip

This Bee situation you are experiencing in America is just one situation going on right now around the world. There are many things going on right now that are out of balance, out of order, the heart has moved from its rightful place.

The Human Race is self-indulgent, greedy, and self-consuming and the external powers are, I feel; now here, re-arranging - getting the place back to an order; sorting out the wheat from the chaff (no puns intended with globalise’d food shortages).

Can I ask you or those who may see this, what is America doing with bulk-buying, why are they buying into the falsehood of greed and saving the Me when We are All One?

I’m sorry but you realize this is now both letter and Blog and please, should you feel you wish to – then please pass this on.

Who designed Genetically altered foods? Why? For what reason – and no I don’t buy into problematic difficulties in growing what we’ve grown for thousands of years suddenly needing change.

Who instigated the over-growing of Soya in South America to feed Beef/Cattle/Cows – are McDonalds that popular – have you ever looked into what goes into a – Burger?

Who, recently, with another falsehood started the – must-have-now Bio Fuels (All GM of course) for vehicles because of an-apparently world running out of oil, when some of the largest finds are now being found?

Yes we must change our fuel type and high-flying aircraft are undoubtedly affecting our upper atmosphere. I can assure you that my ex-late father—in-law Bill Richardson who invented the metal for Concord, the Space re-entry vehicle (1960’s), the Trident missile, the Polaris submarine – Ferenium (my spelling may be incorrect here) to replace the Phosphor-Bronze propellers of the Navies around the world and inventor of many other metals (he was a scientist and that’s what they do, maybe now they are more conscientious – I’m not sure that they all are!) he told me that the governments had turned down the water engine as long ago as 1965, as they had the ever-lasting light bulb and many other inventions to save money – Corporate’s don’t like this – it doesn’t make money nor allow the control they need to exercise over others…

We all have to look at our own doorstep to see what’s going on and then we all have to be responsible with our intentions that follow; that which we find and whether we then agree with it!

It is because we can't see all the realms that exist around us with our, still-in-use Three Dimensional vision (although this, I feel is rapidly changing), this is what is causing the dis-comfort of many people right now, no matter their country, creed or other belief systems.

Soon, as we shift our consciousness away from materialism and into the higher nature of our, dare I say, spirit having a Human Experience, rather than Humans trying to have a Spiritual Experience. What is happening now on Earth, is, I feel, far beyond our Human knowing, beyond that of our simple Human small-mind and the Earth voyage we are travelling is waking us all up to a better understanding of who and what we truly are – Spirits having that Human experience as part of our Soul’s never-ending journey of progression.

Heavy stuff and I shall leave it there, only to suffice that in amongst all that which, appears to be our current chaotic situation around the world, is only an illusion, there to trap the unwitting, if we buy into this illusion we are lost and the journey back more difficult to any form of previously understood reality.

I have known my whole lifetime that I am here to witness something spectacular in Earth history or Human-Spirit advancement, ever since my first thinking breath. I am not sure whether my return at this time was to be a contributor or an activist, an awakener or a realizer - I just don't know, but I will at the right time.

For those others on this segue I have been brought into connection with it would appear that I have a knowing for them, not of myself but as a catalyst or conduit; I do not understand the whys or wherefores, or the reasons for those connections - those meetings, it is not for me to necessarily know - I accept this and allow whatever happens simply to happen. Of myself I am no – thing. It was with this passion for people and injustice and my deep feeling for music and the musician and the arts that I started InTouchRadio.net (www.intouchradio.net) - it is with the help of people like yourself Pip and all those others around the world that this is happening, growing, very slowly – the journey from birth to maturity takes time and mistakes, ups and the downs. It certainly is not about me but this co-operative collective that is about being InTouch that was the reason for the name InTouchRadio.net and the logo A Co-operative Collective – Not – A Corporate Selective.

BTW my printer is not turned on, it is not connected and yet it has, without powering up, started some activity as I am writing this, perhaps an acknowledgement to what I am saying, I don't know, it has now stopped and it is still turned off, you see things like this happen. It might be a tug at my tee shirt or jumper, a smell, I get these a lot - usually the smell of a wet dog or cat, a pipe or smoke, the smell of man - these could be the residue of people who lived where we live, accents of a past incarnation that comes back to remind us of their presence - lots of sensitives get this.

It is important that people realise, while reading this, that although this letter-turned-blog was/is aimed at those reading this on MySpace, that wonderful corporate that has allowed for whatever reason this inter-connectivity InTouchRadio.net is based on the Internet not within MySpace by logging on www.intouchradio.net. It is here that you can Blog, leave Messages, let me know what is needed to be done. Here that you send (by post) music, photos, movie clips and other information and then with providence we can pass that information around the world.

And you know it is not funded at all at the moment, we need Sponsorship, Advertisers and so forth to enable this to continue. Even a small donation from friends and we also need link-backs to web sites – of course these must be reciprocal otherwise it would be just one-way and in co-operation we share.

Oh, something I almost forgot – I am doing the unthinkable but am offering companies, small businesses or even groups, it doesn’t matter who the opportunity to have, not just a 30 second or 60 second Sting (Advert) but a whole hour just about them, if you like their own radio show, this is something that would be prohibitive on national television or radio, in fact no network would ever give that amount of advertising time. This would be permanently online and clients can be directed to the show-advert at any time, as it will be always ready to be played back. This can include pictures and movie clips – enabling the client’s product, company, people and client/s to be involved and a way of bringing in revenue that will keep InTouchRadio.net afloat. This unusual idea offering such extended program time of up to an hour is a wonderful opportunity for client to show their product off on their own show to its best advantage.

Remember it is also up to the listener, friend and advertiser of InTouchRadio.net to spread the word, that’s the co-operative bit that will benefit all of us.

There are many around the world that, I’m sure, would be happy to support InTouchRadio.net because of its ethos.

Back to the beginning and I hope the above explains not bores and I apologise that this letter now blog is so extended, it’s my only way of letting you and friends know about InTouchRadio.net (www.intouchradio.net).

I feel that our peoples and this world are currently in transition – transformation; actually moving into a different plane and we have to leave the past behind where it belongs, it no longer serves any purpose. Many will have seen friends suddenly depart whether through sudden health issues or even, dare I say, through their own hands as in suicide. These, I feel, couldn't make the adjustment, couldn't let go as we shift our vibration, our frequency - you see that's all we are - is a frequency; a set of random molecules held together in an atomic shape called Pip, Jeannie, Michael - it doesn’t matter the name - much the same as the chair you're sitting on, the carpet or flooring, the paint, the electric cables, all atomic shapes held in this glue we call Ether or the Etheric Field. We can't see it (like the wind or air) it simply just is. It is timeless, endless and it holds the all of everything. Therefore if I hurt the floor, the table, the chair or another I, in effect, hurt myself.

I clearly remember my son Seth when he was a little boy coming home from a school trip with a sweet paper in his pocket and when asked why hid didn't put it in a bin he simple said - because it would be lonely - the mark of innocence and the mark of aware-responsibility, one for not littering which so many do today but also the unconscious knowing of a connected-ness that only the innocent can see or sense, most lose this as they turn into their teens but not all.

Many are the few that are waking up; soon the reactive actions that are taking place will accelerate. I’m sure you and many others are aware of this. We must continually look at the bigger picture. It’s not about my village, or your town or city. It’s not about my family or yours; it’s about combining as a singularity for therein lays the strength, moving as One.

Neither is it about your music or my music or any music it’s about the melody of human race co-operatively operating together with One goal in sight – Responsibility for what we do and what we are forging for the children and the children’s children of the future. Every pollutant we put out, every sweet paper we leave for another to pick up, every action that interferes with another are only hindering the prospect of a civilised future world. Otherwise we might just as well be like some germ spreading out of control that one day the Earth will shake off and start again until the next virus lands from space ready to start the process all over again.

Well Pip I didn’t start this with a blog in mind but the words were there so I’ve shared them. I may put this up as a blog – I’m not sure it even matters what I say, but the peoples of this wonderful blue/green planet do need to connect and maybe, just maybe that’s my reason for being and the reason why I spend so many hours (up to 20!) a day with InTouchRadio.net and why you along with those others who believe as passionately as I do are there helping.

Thank all those in the Californian ITR Family and those in the MySpace ITR Global Family and especially you for your continued help in spreading the word and there is only One word and that word is Love. Now where’s that millionaire who’s going to help…

Do you think I should use this as a blog?

Michael x
InTouchRadio.net (Glastonbury, England)
A Co-operative Collective – Not – A Corporate Selective

ITR - NewsFlash from Our Correspondant Californian, USA Today 25 April 2008

Oh boy share the info!~If I dissapear I told the truth to
help us all

Grain Shortages, Rising World Food Prices -
and Ethanol Backfires?

© 2008 by Linda Moulton Howe

“Achieving the 15% (Bush) goal (to replace 15% of domestic gasoline
with biofuels in 10 years) would require the entire current U. S. corn crop,
which represents a whopping 40% of the world's corn supply.”
- Colin Carter, Ph.D., UC-Davis




Corn ethanol plant in South Dakota. Image © 2006 by Greg Harp.



April 18, 2008 Davis, California - In February , I received a phone call from a North Dakota farmer who I had talked to before on other farm issues. He said he and his wheat farmer colleagues were having a hard time finding durham wheat seed to plant for a crop later this year. He wondered why there was such a short seed supply. Wheat prices have risen from $4/ a bushel in 2007 to around $25/bushel this spring of 2008.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirms that global wheat stocks are at their lowest level in 30 years, while U.S. wheat stocks are the lowest they’ve been in 60 years. Hard red spring wheat, used especially by the baking industry, has been scarcest of all. North Dakota leads the nation in acres devoted to certified seeds and Steve Sebesta, North Dakota's Deputy Seed Commissioner, says hard red spring seed is down 15% from its North Dakota volume in 2007.

East Coast bakeries have faced huge increases this year in the prices they have to pay for flour. Len Amoroso, Executive Vice President of Amoroso's Baking Co. in Philadelphia told The Wall Street Journal, “We are talking about prices that are just unheard of.” The middle of February 2008, he was paying $48 per 100 pounds of flour from hard red spring wheat, which he uses to make sandwich rolls and other bakery products. A year ago, Mr. Amoroso said he was paying about $14.60.

Then came worldwide headlines from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warning that mounting food prices in 37 poorer countries was going to provoke more violent riots, as already happened in Haiti, Egypt and the Philippines.


On April 11, 2008, Haitians look at the damages
caused by looters at a gas station in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, during riots
to protest high food prices. At least five people died. On April 12, 2008, Prime
Minister Jacques Alexis was fired over the food riots. Image © 2008 by Reuters.

On April 14, 2008, President George Bush ordered Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer to release $200 million from a reserve known as the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust in emergency aid to help where rising food prices are causing people to starve and riot. That money was released the day after the World Bank called upon the international community to "put our money where our mouth is" to help immediately the poor in Haiti, Egypt and the Philippines where protests over escalating food prices have provoked violence. At least 34 other poor countries in the world are also struggling to eat.

What happened between last year and this year to cause wheat, soy, and other grain seed shortages in at least some local American regions and what is forcing food prices to rise so rapidly in the United States and internationally?

I took that question to Colin Carter, Ph.D., Prof. of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of California – Davis. Prof. Carter received his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the Univ. of California – Berkeley in 1980 and has spoken before Congressional committees on agricultural economy issues.

A year ago in the May 17, 2007 issue of the Los Angeles Times, he co-authored an Opinion piece entitled, “Why Ethanol Backfires.” [ See Websites below.] The article begins:

“Policymakers and legislators often fail to consider the law of unintended consequences. The latest example is their attempt to reduce the United States' dependence on imported oil by shifting a big share of the nation's largest crop, corn, to the production of ethanol for fueling automobiles.

President Bush has set a target of replacing 15% of domestic gasoline use with biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel) over the next 10 years, which would require almost a fivefold increase in mandatory biofuel use, to about 35 billion gallons. With current technology, almost all of this biofuel would have to come from corn because there is no feasible alternative. However, achieving the 15% goal would require the entire current U.S. corn crop, which represents a whopping 40% of the world's corn supply. This would do more than create mere market distortions; the irresistible pressure to divert corn from food to fuel would create unprecedented turmoil.

...it would make far more sense to import ethanol from Brazil and other countries that can produce it efficiently (from sugar cane and corn) - and also to remove the 54-cents-per-gallon tariff on Brazilian ethanol imports.”

So, I asked Prof. Carter if it were correct to focus on the ethanol policy in the U.S., which is increasing the amount of American soil devoted to ethanol production instead of food, as perhaps the cause of dominoes falling in grain seed shortages, higher food prices and a growing international food crisis in poor countries?



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

Interview:


Colin Carter, Ph.D., Prof. of Agricultural
and Resource Economics, UC-Berkeley.

Colin Carter, Ph.D., Prof. of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of California – Davis, Davis, California: “One bushel of corn gives you approximately 2.8 gallons of ethanol. So, it would take virtually the entire corn crop to produce 35 billion gallons of ethanol to meet President Bush's goal.

You take 10 billion bushels of corn x 3 instead of 2.8 to make calculation easier = 30 billion. So, there’s your total U. S. corn crop right there. There's also talk about using other materials for ethanol, such as switchgrass. That’s great and there’s a lot of research going on in that area and it would be wonderful if we found a new crop that was virtually costless. But, the technology is not there. The infrastructure is not there. It’s true you can produce ethanol from switchgrass. But we don’t have the mechanism for collecting and transporting it. What are the economics of that?

[ Editor’s Note: Wikipedia - Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a warm season grass and is one of the dominant species of the central North American tallgrass prairie. It can be found in remnant prairies, along roadsides, pastures and as an ornamental plant in gardens. Other common names for it include tall panic grass, Wobsqua grass, lowland switchgrass, blackbent, tall prairiegrass, wild redtop and thatchgrass. Switchgrass can be used to make cellulosic ethanol.


Field of 12-foot-tall switchgrass.

In his 2006 State of the Union Address, U. S. President George W. Bush touted switchgrass as an efficient and environmentally friendly biofuel that could reduce the USA's dependence on oil. Currently, the bulk of ethanol is made from grains, primarily corn. Cellulosic ethanol on the other hand is made from the woody matter of plants, such as the corn stalks.

Two grasses have been prominent in cellulosic discussions: Switchgrass, and Miscanthus. Switchgrass is a species native to North America and is well suited to the Great Plains and even the depleted cotton farms of the American South. It needs little water, fertilizer or pesticides. The DOE has demonstrated yields that support the average fuel requirements of three cars per year from one acre. Miscanthus is reported to double the yield of switchgrass. Miscanthus is native to Europe. Sterile strains are available for those concerned with invasive species.]



As we say in the article, producing ethanol from sugar is much more efficient than from corn. With corn, you have to turn it into sugar first. So, producing ethanol from sugar cane is a heck of a lot more efficient. That’s what Brazil is good at. But we keep that product out with a tariff.

SO, WHY DID THIS ADMINISTRATION FOCUS ON CORN?

Corn farmers! (laughs) ADM.

[ Editor’s Note: Wikipedia - Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), is one of the largest agricultural processors in the world. ADM website: “Serving as a vital link between farmers and consumers, we take crops and process them to make food ingredients, animal feed ingredients, renewable fuels and naturally derived alternatives to industrial chemicals.”

Founded in 1902 and incorporated in 1923, ADM is headquartered in Decatur, Illinois, and operates processing and manufacturing facilities across the United States and worldwide. ]

“Who do you suppose benefits from this policy? It’s companies like ADM, who have ethanol plants. And the corn producers. Now we have the problem that a lot of farmers have invested money into building ethanol plants in their communities. Have you read about all the problems associated with those?

NO, PLEASE EXPLAIN.

Oh, it’s a mess! If you look at the website, Renewable Fuels Association, that has a lot of information about this. The number of ethanol plants have just exploded and lots of those are owned by farmers.


Purple dots are 139 biorefineries in production. Gold squares are biorefineries under
construction. Source: Renewable Fuels Association, January 24, 2008.


So, if we reverse the current ethanol policy, we’ve got a problem where all these local ethanol plants will go broke. But right now, the communities are pushing back because the ethanol plants use a lot of water, are drawing down water tables and they are polluting the local environment - versus those who benefit from the higher price of corn and subsidized ethanol. Those are the ones pushing the Bush ethanol policies.

SO, BUSH'S ETHANOL POLICY IS AN IMPOSSIBLE ADMINISTRATION GOAL, CORRECT?

Well, it’s a ridiculous goal! People say that in ten years, we’ll have all this other technology up and running. Maybe, but we’ve been working on that for a long time, too. Meanwhile, look at what’s happening to the price of corn.

IF THE U. S. KEEPS PUSHING FOR A 15% DOMESTIC GASOLINE REPLACEMENT BY BIOFUELS, THEN WE WOULD CONTINUE TO BE HURTING THE WORLD’S INTERNATIONAL SUPPLY AND DEMAND IN GRAINS AND CORN?

Yes, absolutely, in terms of the poor consumers of the world. So let’s import ethanol from Brazil!

AND WHY NOT?

Well, why not is a good question. It’s the National Corn Growers Association, Linda. Look at their website. They don’t want to reduce the tariff with Brazil. If you reduce the ethanol tariff, all the local ethanol plants would go out of business.

I grew up on a farm. If I were a corn farmer in Iowa, I’d be real happy right now. It’s American politics. You’ve read about lobby groups and how Congress really works. There is no turn over in Congress. Re-election depends upon getting money. How do you get money? You give people favors.

BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT A GOVERNMENT POLICY HAS SAID WE’RE GOING TO SET A GOAL OF REPLACING 15% OF DOMESTIC GASOLINE USE WITH BIOFUELS, WHICH INCLUDES ETHANOL AND BIODIESEL. AND THIS MEANS THAT THE UNITED STATES IS MAKING A FIRST TIME CHANGE IN HOW IT’S GROWING ITS FOOD AND THAT IS HAVING A DOMINO EFFECT ON THE ENTIRE INTERNATIONAL GRAIN AND CORN MARKET.

No question. We made a decision to move massive amounts of our farmland into the production of fuel. And people were told this will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, it will help reduce greenhouse gases and so on. All these points, you really have to question.

THAT’S WHY YOU WROTE THE LA TIMES OPINION PIECE IN MAY 2007, ‘WHY ETHANOL BACKFIRES.’

That’s right.



Ethanol Future?

CAN YOU NOW EXPLAIN YOUR PERSPECTIVE A YEAR LATER ABOUT HOW ETHANOL CONTINUES TO BACKFIRE AND WHAT YOU SEE COMING IN THE FUTURE?

I hate to say it, but I think we were right. The past year certainly has demonstrated that we were right when we wrote that article. It continues to backfire because the U. S. government has increased the goal for biofuels by a huge factor this past December 2007 (even beyond 15%).

THAT WOULD MEAN THAT THIS CURRENT BUSH ADMINISTRATION IS COMMITTING ALL OF THE CORN ACREAGE OF THE UNITED STATES TO PRODUCING GASOLINE OVER THE NEXT DECADE.

Well, they won’t admit that, but it's true. And in the legislation, Linda, there is a limit on how much can come from corn. But it’s still high!

BUT FROM YOUR POINT OF VIEW, WE’RE ON A DISASTROUS POLICY PATH.

It’s an absurd policy, not unlike a lot of other policies that we observe in Washington, D. C.

WHAT COULD WE DO TO CHANGE THE UNITED STATES TO A MORE LOGICAL AND SENSIBLE PATH THAT WAS NOT HURTING THE REST OF THE WORLD’S CORN AND GRAIN MARKETS?

The first thing is to drop the import tariff on ethanol from Brazil. Allow our American industry to compete.

Second, eliminate the subsidy for blending. There’s another 50 cents/gallon subsidy. If ethanol is a great idea, it should not have to be subsidized.

SUBSIDY FOR BLENDING – COULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT?

As you go to the gas pump these days, most of the fuel you put in your car is blended, right? It’s got maybe 5% ethanol of something else. There’s a tax credit that oil companies receive when they blend ethanol with gasoline and I believe it’s 51 to 52 cents/gallon now.

WHICH IS REINFORCING THE POLICY SHIFT TO ETHANOL AND THE USE OF CORN ACREAGE FOR CREATING ETHANOL.

That’s right. We have mandated a quantity of ethanol that must be used in the country now and it is 9 billion gallons. So, that’s 3 billion bushels of corn, which is 25% to 30% of the American corn crop.

AND THE GOVERNMENT WANTS AT LEAST 35 BILLION GALLONS IN TEN YEARS, WHICH WOULD TAKE THE ENTIRE AMERICAN CORN ACREAGE.

If it come only from corn. But presumably in ten more years, we’ll be using other feedstocks.



Mid-West Drought Could Send
Grain Prices “Through the Roof ”

FROM APRIL 2008 GOING FORWARD, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE WORST CASE IS IN A YEAR OR 15 MONTHS FROM NOW?

Worst case is that we have a major drought in the corn belt and acreage yield suffers 15%. That’s worst case.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?

I think we pointed out in the LA Times piece that grain prices would go up through the roof if there were a major drought. Or some other catastrophe.

IF THE U. S. STAYS ON THIS PATH OF ETHANOL, WHICH YOU HAVE DESCRIBED AS BACKFIRING, WHAT IS THE WORST CASE IF WE DO NOT CHANGE THE POLICY OF TRYING TO REACH 35 BILLION GALLONS OF ETHANOL REPLACEMENT OF GASOLINE IN TEN YEARS?

People start to starve to death. How many deaths will it take before we admit that the ethanol policy has backfired? How many people have to starve to death in Africa? If prices continue to rise sharply, I would hope there is pressure put on politicians to reverse the ethanol policy. But I really don’t know if that will happen or how long the backfiring ethanol policy will keep going.”


The price of corn has doubled in 2007 to 2008 from $2 to $4 a bushel.
Until the recent ethanol boom, more than 60% of the annual U. S. corn harvest was fed domestically to cattle, hogs and chickens or used in food or beverages. But with
the U. S. diversion of corn to ethanol production, even the price of tortillas
has jumped rapidly in Mexico. Image courtesy USDA.



InTouchRadio or any of the InTouchRadio Friends around the World do not necessarily agree with any content received - we provide a service for you to respond to.

----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: In Touch Radio
Date: Apr 23, 2008 11:30 AM

ITR - NewsFlash From Pip Our Reporter California USA for InTouchRadio.net

From Pip Our Reporter in California USA Today 25 April 2008

Honey Bees Are Disappearing - We Are In Trouble

Share the news!

To Michael at InTouchRadio.net
Honey Bee Collapse Now Worse on West Coast

© 2008 by Linda Moulton Howe

“It's worse than last year, and last year was worse
than the year before. So, it's bad. And there are a lot of good,
big beekeepers that are having a lot of problems. I think we're coming
in for a big train wreck.” - Gilly Sherman, Beekeeper



Western honey bee, or European honey bee (Apis mellifera),
gathering pollen from purple aster. 34% of American honey bees in
commercial hives have disappeared this spring of 2008, in a
persistent mystery known as “colony collapse disorder.”



April 10, 2008 Gainesville, Florida - On April 5, 2008, England's BBC News carried a report entitled, “U. S. Fears Over Honey Bee Collapse.” A California beekeeper, Gilly Sherman, was interviewed and he said sobering words: “It's worse than last year, and last year was worse than the year before. So, it's bad. And there are a lot of good, big beekeepers that are having a lot of problems. I think we're coming in for a big train wreck.”

I took that quote to Jerry Hayes, Chief, Apiary Section, Florida Department of Agriculture, and President of the Apiary Inspectors of America in Gainesville, Florida and asked for his comment.


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

Interview:

Jerry Hayes, Chief, Apiary Section, Florida Department of Agriculture, and President of the Apiary Inspectors of America in Gainesville, Florida: “Certainly West Coast beekeepers were more dramatically affected this year than perhaps East Coast beekeepers. Last year, East Coast beekeepers had the first and dramatic events happening to their bee colonies. Sometimes, the West Coast beekeepers said, ‘Well, it’s not happening to us. You must just be bad beekeepers.’ So, now the shoe is on the other foot and they are suffering as badly as anybody has been. Everybody is on an even playing field right now.

Bees are not healthy. Bees have not been healthy for a few years and they are becoming more unhealthy. The beekeepers, the industry that uses them as a tool, is in a precarious situation.

SO WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THE BEEKEEPER QUOTED BY THE BBC NEWS, ‘I THINK WE’RE COMING IN FOR A BIG TRAIN WRECK’?

We’ll never know these things until after the train wreck. It certainly does not look good. I’ve been reading some reports about whole populations of bats dying and disappearing in the Northeast. The quail population in the southeast has virtually disappeared. I don’t know if any of these things have parallels and links, but it certainly is interesting that something in the environment is impacting these other animals.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATE OF COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA?



34% Bee Loss in U. S. by Spring 2008

The Apiary Inspectors of America (AIA), of which I am a part – we just completed a survey of 327 beekeepers and we came up with about a 34% loss rate over this past 2007 to 2008 winter season.

THAT’S EVEN MORE THAN LAST YEAR?

Yes, a little bit. [ 2007 estimated American loss was 25%.]

GOING INTO THIS SPRING OF 2008, WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST WORRIES?

Beekeepers cannot continue to take these kinds of losses and rebound in any kind of way.



Cause of Colony Collapse Disorder?

“Unfortunately, we still don’t have a clear picture of why this is happening.”

THE LAST TIIME WE TALKED, IT WAS THE ISRAELI VIRUS UNDER SUSPICION OF COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES THROUGH AUSTRALIAN BEES THAT HAD BEEN BROUGHT IN BECAUSE THE NORTH AMERICAN BEE POPULATION HAD BEEN WEAKENED. IS THERE EVIDENCE THAT THE ISRAELI ACUTE PARALYSIS VIRUS IS STILL CAUSING THE MORTALITY? OR IS THERE STILL SOMETHING TO BE FOUND? WHAT IS CAUSING ONE-THIRD OF ALL THE BEES IN THE UNITED STATES TO DISAPPEAR IN THE WINTER OF 2007 TO SPRING OF 2008?

[ Editor’s Note: See 090707 Earthfiles: Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) September 2007 journal, Science.]

Boy, if I knew that, I’d probably have a statue some place, Linda. Obviously it’s all the issues that are still on the table right now. Viruses – whether it’s the Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus, or other viruses that are known and impact honey bees? There again, pesticides, poor nutrition, stress whatever that is from moving bees back and forth, a shallow genetic pool in our managed bee colonies. Some how, all these things are interacting. Basically, we need more funds in order to hire smart people and expensive equipment to figure what is going on. Research is never quick.

DID YOU EXPECT AN INCREASE IN THE DISAPPEARANCE OF BEES IN NORTH AMERICA?

I was personally interested to find out if it was going to continue and to find out what was going to happen to our West Coast beekeepers that seemed to have dodged a bit of the bullet last year. I was hoping that it would not, but I knew that something like this just generally does not go away on its own.

BUT ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT THE WEST COAST BEEKEEPERS ARE BEING HIT HARD NOW IN 2008?

No, not really. You know how things spread – if this is a pathogen or something in which all populations are not hit equally. So, it was unfortunately their turn.

HAS THE ISRAELI ACUTE PARALYSIS VIRUS BEEN FOUND IN THE WEST COAST HONEY BEES?

Yes, it’s there, but not at any dramatic levels. In fact, there’s kind of an East Coast variant and a West Coast variant of the Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus. There’s also the Kashmir bee virus that has shown up in quite large numbers. Then you add in all the other things we talked about that could cause the immune system collapse. All those things are interacting.

SO, IN APRIL 2008, YOU CAN’T SAY EVEN NOW THAT IT IS THE ISRAELI VIRUS THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MOST OF COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER?

No, because in the CCD, the Israeli acute paralysis virus was found in most of the samples and at the moment is considered just a marker. It was not present in tremendously high numbers. And we can’t say it’s the varroa mite because in CCD, varroa and trachea mites are in very low levels. The Nosema protozoan was found in less than 50% of the colonies. Unfortunately, we still don’t have a clear picture of why this is happening.



Future Almond and Other American
Crop Pollinations in Jeopardy?

WITH A 33% DISAPPEARANCE RATE SO FAR IN 2008, WHAT HAPPENS TO ALMOND POLLINATION AND CROPS BECAUSE THEY WERE STRETCHED LAST YEAR TRYING TO IMPORT ENOUGH BEES FROM THE EAST COAST AND AUSTRALIA TO GET THE ALMOND GROVES POLLINATED. WHAT HAPPENS NOW WITH EVEN MORE BEES DISAPPEARING?

Well, almond pollination is over right now. And most of the bees fell apart during or towards the end of almond pollination. I think the almond guys got by in good shape, so they don’t care as long as they get pollination for next year because this year is over with. To them, honey bees are an input, just like fertilizer, pesticides and fungicides. So, until next year, the almond growers probably don’t care.

WHAT HAPPENS TO ALL THE OTHER CROPS THAT ARE DEPENDENT UPON HONEY BEES, IF THEY HAVE FALLEN APART IN SUCH GREAT NUMBERS TRYING TO POLLINATE THE ALMOND CROP?

That’s a great question. The bees are coming back to Florida now and we’re talking about watermelon pollination. And then the bees will be moving north for blueberries and apples and cranberries. But yours is a good question and I don’t have an answer for it at this moment in time.



U. S. Headed for Reliance On
International Food Imports

”The USDA projects that something like 40% of our vegetables
are going to be coming from China in 2012 or some date like that and the
U. S. is going to be a net food importer in fifty years.”

I’d like to see people at the federal level and others realize how important honey bees are! But if people don’t care where food comes from, if people are happy that food is at the grocery store and they don’t care how it gets to the grocery store, then maybe all this concern is a moot point. People have to care about this. The USDA projects that something like 40% of our vegetables are going to be coming from China in 2012 or some date like that and the U. S. is going to be a net food importer in fifty years.

We already have someone who has us by the nose for energy production, oil (Middle East). And so now, we’re going to turn our food production over to someone else? This all has larger strategic implications than just honey bees. This is talking about the food supply and how secure our food supply is in the United States?

So, I just hope that people realize how important honey bees are and somehow give support. We support sugar people. We have been throwing money at the corn people for years and everything else. Why not honey bees, if they are important?



Implications for Increasing Decline
of American Honey Bees?

“If the almond people come up short, my guess is that probably the Mexicans will petition to bring their Africanized bee colonies across the border to fill that gap. And that will probably destroy the U.S. commercial beekeeping industry.”

YOU AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER AND THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SO MANY HONEY BEES IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA NOW FOR A YEAR. I THINK I THOUGHT, AS A REPORTER, THAT BY THE SPRING OF 2008 THAT WE WOULD BE SEEING A RESTORATION OF BETTER HEALTH TO THE BEES AND THAT EVERYTHING MIGHT BE GETTING BETTER. THE FACT THAT IT’S GONE DOWN HILL EVEN MORE, THE FACT THAT EVEN MORE BEES HAVE DISAPPEARED THROUGH THE WINTER OF 2007 TO 2008, THE FACT THAT AFTER THE ALMOND POLLINATION THAT, TO USE YOUR WORDS, ‘THE BEES ARE FALLING APART IN THE UNITED STATES.’ WHAT HAPPENS WHEN EVERYTHING IS GOING DOWN HILL IN APRIL?

There might be crops that are potentially impacted and as the almond acreage grows, the almond growers will try to use every honey bee colony in the United States. If the almond people come up short, my guess is that probably the Mexicans will petition to bring their Africanized bee colonies across the border to fill that gap. And that will probably destroy the U.S. commercial beekeeping industry.

BUT WOULD YOU AND OTHERS IN AGRICULTURE ALLOW THAT TO OCCUR?

I’m just a mid-level civil servant. The almond people and value of the almond crop – money talks in our capitalistic society and the almond people will not be denied.

BUT DO YOU SERIOUSLY MEAN THERE COULD BE A DECISION THAT WOULD BE ONLY POLITICAL AND ECONOMICAL FOR THE ALMOND INDUSTRY THAT COULD END UP BRINGING IN AFRICANIZED BEES THAT WOULD DESTROY THE REST OF THE NORTH AMERICAN HONEY BEE?

It’s very possible.

THAT IS ACTUALLY BEING DISCUSSED NOW AS AN OPTION?

I didn’t make that up! (laughs)

I’M VERY DISTRESSED TO HEAR THIS.

Me, too.



A Year from Now in 2009?

“(Richard Adee, largest beekeeper in U. S.) is truthfully shell shocked and numb and doesn’t know what to do. You can’t replace 60,000 colonies overnight.”

GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE PERCENTAGE IN THE NUMBER OF BEES DISAPPEARING IN 2008 IS EVEN HIGHER THAN IT WAS IN 2007, AND THAT THE BEE HEALTH IS NOT GOOD, WHAT WOULD YOU EXPECT TO BE THE STATUS A YEAR FROM NOW IN 2009?

I don’t know. I don’t know if this is Darwin in action and that this might go away as the weak are culled out and the strong survive – because if this continues on for another year or two, there won’t be many commercial beekeepers left. There will be some small beekeepers left, but not of the size that can load up colonies on semi-trucks and take them over the United States.

The largest beekeeper in the United States [ Richard Adee Honey Farms, Brookings, South Dakota], I think lost 60,000 colonies out of his 80,000 colonies this past late winter and spring. He had something like 100 loads of empty equipment that he had to bring back from California. You just can’t replace those kinds of numbers very quickly.

WHEN YOU TALK TO THAT LARGE HONEY BEE KEEPER, WHAT HIS IS ASSESSMENT, TALKING TO YOU, ABOUT THE NEXT FEW MONTHS INTO NEXT YEAR?

He is truthfully shell shocked and numb and doesn’t know what to do. You can’t replace 60,000 colonies overnight.

WOULDN’T THIS RISE TO A NATIONAL SECURITY LEVEL? WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE LOSS OF POLLINATORS THAT AFFECT SO MUCH OF OUR FOOD SUPPLY?

You would think so. Obviously, Senator Boxer is meeting tomorrow. So, certainly at high levels of the government, there is interest. And of course, we’re at war and spending a lot of money on the war, and money can be authorized, but is it appropriated? So, the whole political scene has to play out its course here in the way we handle things here in the United States.

ARE YOU OPTOMISTIC OR PESIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HONEY BEES IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA?

I’m pessimistic. We have a tendency to wait until a crisis happens in western civilization. We might lose control of our food supply at some point.

IF ONE-THIRD OF THE HONEY BEE POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES DISAPPEARED IN THE 2007 TO 2008 WINTER-SPRING, AND IF NEXT YEAR, THE PERCENTAGE CLIMBS TO ABOUT A 50% LOSS, HAS THERE EVER BEEN A TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY IN WHICH HALF OF THE HONEY BEE POPULATION DISAPPEARED AND WAS ABLE TO COME BACK?

Boy, not that I’m aware. We are in a precarious situation strategically for maintaining food supplies for our population. We need to have somebody at some level decide that honey bees are important. It’s like a lot of other agricultural industries in the U. S. – the Chinese have basically wiped out the American apple industry; the Brazilians have virtually wiped out the citrus juice industry; and these trends continue. Maybe this is the natural order of things.

DOSN’T IT SEEM THAT THIS WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY THE OPPOSITE OF THE NATURAL ORDER OF THINGS?

Yes, I would agree with you, but I’m a pragmatist and the low-cost producer gets the orders. It doesn’t make any difference where it’s produced or how it’s produced. Look at the Chinese goods that have come in over the last year and there are other scary things coming in, not only from them but other countries that don’t have quite the regulations and pesticides and chemical oversight that we do.



Genetically Modified Crops Could
Also Be Killing Honey Bees

IS THERE ANY MORE HARDER DATA LINKING THE GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS TO THE WEAKENING AND DISAPPEARANCE OF THE HONEY BEES?

Yes, that’s certainly being looked at. In fact, I read an article the other day talking about some genetically modified crops that had the BT toxin in it (genetically modified crops with built-in pesticide) and they found that with the BT toxin, there are a couple of different toxins involved, and one toxin they found was actually opening up the cell walls of insects and animals to allow this second toxin in to affect it. So, we don’t understand what we do - and places such as Monsanto.

So, we’re going down a precarious path and we don’t know everything. Unfortunately, we will make mistakes as human beings, but the repercussions as things grow and become more global and widespread is that the repercussions will be more severe and more dramatic.

SO, WHILE WE ARE PROMOTING A GM FOOD INTO THE FUTURE ON THE ONE HAND IN GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS, WE COULD BE KILLING THE VERY INSECT THAT KEEPS PLANTS ALIVE.

Yes, but there again, if the seed companies can develop plants that don’t need insect pollinators, and keep selling seed to the farmers, maybe that’s the goal.

WHAT I’M HEARING IN YOUR VOICE AND YOUR WORDS IS THAT YOU ARE FEELING AND SENSING THAT THIS IS A VERY DEPRESSING SITUATION WITH VERY LITTLE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

Boy, is that coming through my voice? I’m sorry, but yeah, it is. I’m sure there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, but I can’t tell if it is an answer, or a train coming down the track.

WHICH COMES BACK FULL CIRCLE TO THE BEEKEEPER WHO SAID TO THE BBC THIS WEEK, ‘I THINK WE’RE COMING IN FOR A BIG TRAIN WRECK.’

It’s possible. We’ll know in the future. But the take home message is: honey bees are not healthy and we, at this moment in time, have no way to make them healthier.”



On March 29, 2007, Brent Halsall, President, Ontario
Beekeeper's Assoc., Greely, Ontario, Canada, opened his hives
and found about 40% of all his bees dead - some dried up;
others fresh as if not long dead. Image © 2007 by CBC.


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

More Information:

For further information about honey bees, colony collapse disorder (CCD) and other threatened earth life, please see related Earthfiles reports below in the Earthfiles Archives:

• 02/29/2008 — Mysterious Bat Deaths in New York, Vermont and Massachusetts
• 01/18/2008 — Amphibians Dying Out At Alarming Rate
• 10/13/2007 — Now Bumblebees Are Disappearing, Too.
• 09/26/2007 — North American Honey Bees Still Weak
• 09/07/2007 — Honey Bee DNA Study Finds Australian Virus in Colony Collapse Disorder
• 06/28/2007 — Hackenberg Apiary, Pennsylvania - 75-80% Honey Bee Loss in 2007. What Happens If Colony Collapse Disorder Returns?
• 05/04/2007 — Environmental Emergency Updates: Part 1 - Spreading Honey Bee Disappearances - Nosema ceranae Not the Answer?
• 04/06/2007 — Collapse of Honey Bees in U. S., Canada and 9 European Countries
• 03/22/2007 — Genetically Modified Crops: Playing Dangerous Genetic Roulette?
• 03/17/2007 — Honey Bee Disappearances Continue: Could Pesticides Play A Role?
• 02/23/2007 — Scientists Hope "Amphibian Arks" Can Save Frogs and Toads
• 02/23/2007 — Part 1: Earth Life Threats - Alarming Disappearance of Honey Bees
• 08/26/2005 — What Is Killing Amphibians Around the World?
• 06/25/2005 — "Junk DNA" That's Not Junk
• 08/27/2004 — Global Warming Impact On Birds - More Extinctions Expected
• 12/22/2001 — Scientists Warn That Climate and Earth Life Can Change Rapidly
• 11/26/2000 — Environmental Updates
• 11/12/2000 — Update On Increased UV Radiation and Amphibian Decline
• 05/27/1999 — Amphibian Decline - Parasites and Increased UV Radiation
• 02/28/1999 — Chickadee Beak Deformities in Alaska



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

Websites:

AAAS Science Journal: http://www. sciencemag. org/cgi/content/summary/317/5843/1304

Mid-Atlantic Apiculture Research and Extension Consortium (MAAREC): http://maarec. cas. psu. edu/

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD): http://www. ento. psu. edu/MAAREC/pressReleases/CCDSummaryWG0207. pdf

Apiary Inspectors of America (AIA): http://www. apiaryinspectors. org/

Biology of Honey Bees: http://plantphys. info/Plants_Human/bees/bees. html

Varroa Mites: http://www. uky. edu/Ag/Entomology/entfacts/struct/ef608. htm

Honey Bee Tracheal Mites: http://creatures. ifas. ufl. edu/misc/bees/tracheal_mite. htm

National Bee Loss Survey: http://beealert. blackfoot. net/~beealert/surveys/index. php

American Beekeeping Federation: http://www. abfnet. org/

American Honey Producers Assoc.: http://www. americanhoneyproducers. org/

The Xerces Society (Pollinators At Risk): http://www. xerces. org/Pollinator_Insect_Conservation/pollinators_at_risk. html

American Assoc. of Professional Apiculturists: http://entomology. ucdavis. edu/aapa/aapapubs. cfm

Bee Culture, The Magazine of American Beekeeping
http://www. beeculture. com


Credits

Copyright © 1999 - 2008 by Linda Moulton Howe.
All Rights Reserved.
www. earthfiles. com
earthfiles@earthfiles.com
----------------- Original Message -----------------
From: In Touch Radio
Date: Apr 23, 2008 11:30 AM

ITR - Dr. Alan Clemens Reflects his Life With The Legendry Joe Meek for InTouchRadio.net

Dr. Alan Clemens Reflects About his Friend The Legend JOE MEEK-The 60's Producer Who Changed The World of Music.

ONLY on www.InTouchRadio.net NOW!

An accidental meeting last Sunday brought Michael Dixon of InTouchRadio.net together with friend and work colleague Dr. Alan Clemens together at the Holiday Inn, Stradford upon Avon in the unlikely reception hall of the Osteomyology Association (want to know more about Osteomyology - you'll have to listen to the show, very interesting too!). What transpired from an innocent conversation was previously unheard reflections of a friend now long passed on but never far from the mind of the conscious music who knows his / her history of modern English Pop - ular music.

Joe Meek changed the world forever with his inventions and his unique way of putting music, whether Pop or (would you believe) Electronica together, using Echo (Reverb), Compression, Oscillation and so on; he even used to send the Decca engineer over to spy on the new device when he accompanied such musical luminaries as Tom Jones!

Not only that - don't think you were there first if you had a bedroom studio, without doubt Joe was right back in the early/mid 1950's with his Holloway Road (London) Flat above a Leather Shop.

This is a real coupe - listen in with all the atmosphere of a busy Holiday Inn Osteomyology convention meeting going on in the background - truly fascinating.

It made my day and I would like to thank Alan Clemens so much for his informed help is Osteomyology and the enlightenments about his friend Joe Meek.

If you love music and want to know how you arrived at today's equipment - listen back to what it was like in the pioneering days.

Enjoy.

Michael x

ITR - Osteomyology Interview - Stratford u Avon Sunday 20.4.2008 Michael Dixon

Windsor, Berkshire UK.
08.00am GMT +1Hr

Osteomyology Interview - Stratford u Avon Sunday 20.4.2008

With
Michael Dixon ~ InTouchRadio.net

Reason:

Call to interview and meet the Osteomyology Group for their Conference at the immensely huge and very friendly Holiday Inn in Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire (Home of Willie Shakespeare - one time writer and poet "Ah, but 'tis a Wanton trick"!)

We departed overcast Somerset with a huge yellow sun fighting the upper atmosphere thin layer of cloud at 06.30am to drive the journey up to Stratford upon Avon. The M5 motorway was Sunday-morning quiet with few cars travelling north and the occasional flashing blue light coming in the opposite direction racing to the aid of someone in distress.

We left the motorway at Tewkesbury, many will remember the dreadful floods around that part of the UK last year, and headed towards the Vale of Evesham, famous as a fruit and veggie-growing region, ah, Strawberries and Cream I hear you thinking.

Soon the roads narrowed as we ventured further into the Cotswold escarpment. Oh, how I hate the new road systems we have here in the UK, neither one thing or another, hidden speed cameras, road calming signs flashing 30 miles per hour – you are going too fast or slow down signs (I actually much prefer these and I feel are much more affective), many different flow systems and now these huge front facing cameras that seem to say “I’m going to get you anyway” – then out of nowhere the road widens into two-way three lanes.

A car proceeds just below the normal, everyone congregates as if waiting for a never-arriving sermon – then just as one thinks it’s clear to overtake the slow-moving vicar speeds up while you’re alongside.

Alert, Alert sings out the discordant voice on my Road Angel anti-speed camera thingy – Mobile Speed Camera – what does one do – two side-by-side cars, an approaching car, the rear space now filled with multiple cars all waiting to do what I had started to do and the Road Angel chanting and flashing as if the world’s about to end?

I did get by, didn’t see the Mobile Camera so have no idea whether I have been ~ had ~ as they say, don’t think I was going over the speed limit anyway but I’d like to say a few things to that vicar – you know what really got me – the (sorry) bugger proceeded to overtake me on the next section, I think he was an undercover copper setting me and/or some other unsuspecting early Sunday-morning traveller up and that’s how the police here in the UK make their money – Easy Meat – I bet the late Frank Zapper would have sung, come back Frank we need you.

The road signs are clear but the knowledge of this part clouded by now ever-increasing traffic, the clock is ticking and the time now nearing 08.30am and the fuel gauge lowering like a sun waiting to set.

We look for fuelling points, they come, the signs outside show unreadable prices, figures not meant for those from rural locations. Petrol 1129 Diesel 1279 – are these the numbers for next weeks lottery my mind tries to work out as it numbs out the possibility that these are figures never heard of before in the history of motoring. Do they really mean that a Litre – Not – a Gallon is £1.12 point 9 which means £1.13p per Litre! Or that my economic Citroen Picasso which just made the amazing age of 3 years this week and passed by its £50 + Ministry of Defence sorry Ministry of Transport Certification with flying colours, apart from a tiny split, I think they called it, back wiper blade – cost £20, you know why, because it’s specially made for you. Sorry I digress. This is a Blog remember…

Diesel was at its best or worst, £1.29p per Litre that saying we’re closing the £6.00p per Gallon gap anytime in a place near you (in the UK) – the lady in the garage, I got mine at £1.21p per Litre, said there were going to be 2 – yes you heard it – two price hikes next week – dear God what are accepting. No other country in the world is suffering these prices. They blame it on world fuel supplies – well there’s a word we use meaning testicles over here and that’s precisely what they’re saying. In fact it is TAX – TAX – TAX – check out other European prices and you in the States, how would you feel if you had to pay these prices that we’re suffering over here in the UK?

Rant over, £20 lighter and only half a tank full we carried on to our destination – Stratford upon Avon.


Stratford upon Avon is home to the great Bard in the sky William Shakespeare although there is much questioned about his writings and another, a certain Mr. Bacon but that’s for another blog and out of my or this remit.

The lady in the fuel station had kindly hand-written me a map to guide us round the one-way system of Stratford u Avon. Stratford is a beautiful place set on the banks of the River Avon, which too suffered major flooding last year. It is also the place where my daughter, Sophie used to work in that famous global hairdressing group Toni & Guy (she now works in their Bondi Beach, Sydney salon, so anyone out there in down-under-land please pop in and say hello from Dad).

We navigate the one-way system and end up on the road to Worcester or Warwick – after 3 miles realization and turn around pretty dam quick, meeting 09.00 am – time 08.50 am – find place, park, reception find the Osteomyology group chairman and registrar – minutes to go.

Another wrong road, this time a cul-de-sac, oh, how I love cul-de-sacs (read my book Mind()Cluck when it comes (know of any good publishers out there? out it will explain more).

A friendly Stratford lady jogging her way round the cul-de-sac gave us a breathless route – no time to personalize just time to turn, meet the one-ways system yet again and hey presto there it was big and bouncy and full of very expensive out-of-town cars and luggage and people, people who know the higher levels of life, a place I once knew, now receding into the annuls of my own personal history of not-that-many-years-ago but now I am here in a different time and space.

Car-park boom lifts after I push the button and take the ticket – did it really say minimum charge £3? I didn’t wait to check. Round and round we went like a Magic Roundabout scene off a fading TV show – confused and dazed like a Zeppelin groupie I almost imagined Brian, Dougal, Dylan, Ermintrude, Florence or Zebedee would suddenly appear to meet me and show me around the set.

I opened the door, foot touches ground, crunch, oh, God I haven’t stood on Brian have I? (Brian is the a snail – mollusc in the children’s series Magic Roundabout, check it out, brilliant)

The remains of a half opened Bronte Golden Crunch Holiday Inn biscuit remain under my foot. No time to wait, dash for the doors which are dual layered and automatic opening to reveal an almost classical Greek Pythagoras interior stretching away to the future that would guide me to my meeting with the Chairman Dr. Alan Clemens.

The next stage wasn’t without diversion. Reception, huge walk-through restaurant full to the brim with breakfasting guests, and the follow-the-arrow signs directing to that part of Holiday Inn where the Osteomyologist’s were encamped.

The almost silent mental alarm-clock and internal voice hit mid-brain at the same time; bells started to chime nine o’clock and all is well- we’ve arrived, we’re in – almost done, my impulse to check my watch whilst carrying the Audio Technica AT825 stereo microphone in Rycote wind shield on stand, Tascam HDP2 recorder in flight case, shoulder bag and Nikon camera in camera bag overwhelming an already tired and traffic-stressed Michael slid through the final door into the Osteomyologist reception area.

As I stood there, smiles exchanged, greetings acknowledged, no time to wait as people arrived from all parts of the country including an Italian Osteomyologist called Gabrio who’d arrived via Switzerland from Florence in Italy, very Italian, a very pleasant and enthusiastic man. I, like many of you are probably asking what is an Osteomyologist? Well to describe it better in the Osteomyologist’s Founder and Chairman Dr. Alan Clemen’s words you really need to listen to the interview, which will be on-line in the next few days. Briefly from what I understand of Osteomyology, principally involves structural realignment and soft tissue work to bring about the body back into harmony and balance. However, each Osteomyologist is often qualified in a wide range of therapies, which they integrate under the umbrella of Osteomyology.

The Osteomyologist’s unique blend of skills offers a much wider perspective and depth of understanding with respect to treatment. It is this Holistic approach that defines their uniqueness in addressing imbalances within the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies, all which contribute to a person’s well being.

Osteomyologist’s are specialists with a very broad base that encompass the principals of Holism unlike the average Chiropractor or Osteopath who are conventionally trained.

I was very impressed by the welcome I received, their enthusiasm and determination to call into question attitudes and practices that do not serve practitioners or the public, with respect to health-care either in a conventional or complementary sense.

Alan’s dream-turned reality is at the cutting edge of redefining old and established practices with more open and integrative approach, which challenges the ‘so-called’ powers that be to get his message across and full recognition for the very real contribution his Association and Osteomyologist’s are now making.

The meeting I’d rushed up from the depths of a slumbering Sunday morning Somerset was repaid many times over, if not for the immediate smile, welcome and Alan’s “grab yourself a drink, herbal, caffeinated? What’s your choice?” Coffee came to mind to wake the over-taxed, over-stressed, on-time brain. The machine buzzed behind the Osteomyologist’s display board as Registrar Karen manoeuvred around the working drink-making machine.

Alan Clemens, to be precise, Dr. Alan Clemens is a direct; to-the-point man with a rich timbre to his voice that commands one to listen. His passion for everything Osteomyology is evident, he is a Londoner through and through with an, what I would call, Cockney accent. His years defy his looks; his eyes are fresh as any young Cockney Rebel that has seen more than he would ever admit to. We exchange ages, I don’t believe him, he says I’ve got looks I say he’s got character, we are soul mates from the first second we talk and ‘I touched his shoulder’ he later tells me.

I’m there to find out about Osteomyology and I do, reams of it, it comes in passages from Alan’s mental database. His knowledge of all things Osteo are amazing and I try to keep up, thank God I’m recording this.

The name Osteomyology is Alans’ simply means: Osteo = bone – Myo = Muscle – ology = well we all know about ‘ologies don’t we… Alan’s concept now turned reality can be heard here on InTouchRadio.net please don’t miss this. We all will have suffered physical impairment in one form or another, from an aching back, to a pulled muscle, a misalignment due to lifting at work: if you need help don’t hesitate to contact the Osteomyology Association www.osteomyology.co.uk or contact Alan direct chairman@osteomyology.co.uk and don’t forget to say you heard about them on InTouchRadio.net your Internet radio station.

Finally before Alan and I moved on to another pet subject that the two of us shared, music we are left with Karen, the Osteomyology Association’s Registrar and her work within the Association.

Some thoughts:

Osteomyologists are:
• Educators
• Aiming to be ‘The Ultimate Therapists’
• Pass on Their knowledge to each other – in the words of Hector in the film The History Boys “Pass it on boys, that’s all I ask, Pass it On”.

I, for one, will be passing on what I learned with my short time with Alan, Karen and the other Osteomyologists that I met on an overcast Sunday at the Holiday Inn, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire – they speak my language, that of co-operative collectiveness. For a list of practicing Osteomyologists contact: www.osteomyology.co.uk

© 2008
Michael Dixon
InTouchRadio.net in Association with UseYourEars.com

www.intouchradio.net
www.useyourears.com

ITR - To Touch Without Touching - To Love Without Thinking

To Touch Without Touching - To Love Without Thinking

Right now somewhere far away from where you are sitting someone is desperate for touch, for a helping hand, a knowing smile, a loving word, while we sit in the comfort of some illusion that we are in the same situation - we are not. We like to think that we are in the same situation; but we are not.

We say we Love, sometimes we do but what do we Love, is it ourselves over another or is it Love without charge or question?

We say we are there for another, are we? Chances are we are not! We may well be but only when it suits us, do you know what I mean?

Somewhere on this planet with, who knows truthfully how many other souls there are here at this time, some say 7 billion – maybe nine, and right now on Earth there are as many people alive as have ever lived and died in the whole of Earth’s history! Makes you think doesn’t it!

Now, more than at any previous time, there are people in need, with a voice that cannot be heard, are we listening?

In some distant location, some dusty far-off corner of our planet; some one is calling for help – do we care?

Someone is dreaming for a better life in a world without fear and hunger, without oppression and imposed imprisonment; will we do anything?

As you climb into your car to go to the supermarket, just have a thought about those that have to walk miles without shoes, without support, struggling to survive not living to enjoy the freedom that we believe we have, albeit an illusion, so what are we going to do to amend the illusive reality of all these injustices.

Individually we are minute – almost impossible to be measured; in this reality that manifests the numbers that are somewhere between 7 and 9 billion! But Collectively we can make a difference!

We have a consciousness and we have the ability of a group consciousness. We have history, many thousands of years of history and maybe a history beyond and before that.

How is it conceivable that we are still acting under some contractual agreement where 98 % are Sheep and 2% Controllers! Are we really Sheep – are we really Voiceless, Powerless, or even vaguely interested?

We Are ‘Energy’. That ‘Energy’ was formed at our birth. We then entered this life-agreement - ‘Energy’ never dies, it is Endless – goes on forever (ask any scientist) and our unique emblem was shaped and we sojourned to meet this Earth-Life experience.

We all have the ability to shape-shift and change the circumstances around our own singularity (we come in alone and depart alone – what we do in the intervening time we are here is the measure of the person or ‘Energy’ we are.

I’ve waffled on again. It’s hard to put into single sentences the essence of my thoughts that have come in paragraphs.

If we start with a thought, like prayers, they are always heard, our thoughts substantiate into the solid, become the reality of the thought we had.

Through the power of modern technology and the Internet we now have the ability to communicate. Through the power of that interconnection we have such a wonderful communicative possibility given to us that we can almost instantly, almost at will make changes by the sheer power of our thought - our intent and by numbers in collective co-operation we can change our world to what it is we want for all not the few.

The vast numbers of people on the Internet are staggering. The opportunities endless, with the Co-operative Collective-ness of InTouchRadio.net along with such Internet meeting places as ‘MySpace’ making infinite possibilities and yet we still sit doing no – thing when we have all these opportunities to do something.

It was my passion about people along with my own life-long history with musicians and music of all genres and from every aspect and every nation that pressed me into making InTouchRadio.net a reality.

So remember We all can make a difference Collectively not Singularly but Collectively – let’s make that difference together as part of the InTouchRadio.net Family.

Contact me – let’s see what We can do.

Michael Dixon
InTouchRadio.net
A Co-operative Collective – Not – A Corporate Selective

ITR - SubSource At Waveform Festival 2007 The Complete Deal

SubSource – A Dub-Sub & Souf London Street Musical Coalition

Ok right now as I write this whizzing up through the etheric realms missing particles and sub particles, atoms and molecules of resistance is/are the parts that make that Souf London - Upper Surree (South London - Upper (more wealthier) County of Surrey - Stockbroker Belt Land) shall we be more specific Ger - Ger - Guild, slight pause, Guild-fer fer fer - d - Guildford Band - SubSource and yes Source not Sauce - Kimber was specific about that and so was the slightly shorter Stu.

Michael Dixon of InTouchRadio.net met SubSource before they set foot on the still virginial stage at Waveform Project Festival in September 2007. It was Waveform's first outing as a festival, sister'd or brother'd to Sunrise Celebration Festival. Innocent you would think in the normal sense of the word but devilishly different. Sunrise - taken as the first festival of the season, heralded in the wettest festival season on record, for consistently wet weather. Strangely enough after only one down pour which set some tents afloat it proved to be deliciously sunny and early summer creamy, not that the others would see it quite the same way, Sunrise was lucky, some others were too. Now in Galactic talk - several light seconds later and in another part of the Universe came the last festival, the untouched, unknown, but much waited for Waveform Project.

Set in another county from South Somerset's Sunrise we segue across the county line into Devon and follow around the Roman capital's (Exeter) city-ship and keep the sea estuary to our port side before coming into the lands of Powderham Castle, home of landed gentry with palatial grounds, beautified by rolling countryside, stately home and the estuary waters of the River Exe reflecting the natural Devon countryside.

It was here that Michael (InTouchRadio.net) arrived and set up camp outside the Press Tent, which had been moved due to some dramatic happenings prior to his arrival. A new tent had been secured and the whole area slid back nearer the main stage and there in the middle of what had been the secure area of Press and media people stood the forlorn Festival Toilet, now exposed and the territorial right of anyone and everyone passing. Stress sectioned the Dixon mind into loitering thoughts about purloining the stars loo's stage right, maybe it was stage left, at this point it makes little difference - just a marker or pointer to give the right emotional festival 'feel'.

Getting back to that Souf London - Upper Surree band SubSource. They were unloading their prestigious ex- Post Office, I believe Stu later told Michael (InTouchRadio.net), much travelled and much loved, van. Their passion and ‘much-loved-ness’ of that van; Michael couldn't quite make out. Whether it was love or something more unmentionably disagreeable may have had one considering the use of a more apt term than ‘love or loved’!

The first thing to grab Michael's attention as he slid his hand into his pocket groping for pen and an InTouchRadio.net Waiver form, was this four-string naked beast standing upright against the main stage tent sidewall. His hands sweated making their own minds up - pen and Waiver or the slinky broad beamed neck of that fretless, bodiless bass. Suddenly there was a shorter version of Michael with less hair staring him straight in the eyes and threatening without speech or action.

"Hi - I'm Stu of SubSource - who are you and why are you salivering at my bass". Recoiling back somewhat at the sheer openess of a smaller less haired, what he thought, of obviously Italianate origin, Michael went into one of his stuttering apologies and mentioning his connection with EchoPress, audio frequencies and his newly set-up on-line (well sometime in the future) internet radio station called InTouchRadio.net (coming soon somewhere near you).

Stu's eyes glistened and warmth came into his voice and a knowing sigh slipped out of that, so obvious, Italianate thought form. (Actually Stu’s background is Spanish) He instinctively knew another bass player, even one of such apparent older age. "You a bass player too?" he said with conviction and absolute knowing.

Michael relaxed, felt around his pocket for the missing Waiver - one hand had already gripped the Bic Biro, which until a few moments ago had slept unceremoniously on the EchoPress table in front of Tamzin's open mineral water. He never could resist the unguarded pen, never.

The ever-present Stu reminded Michael of his question. The two were suddenly talking bass player's dirty talk, makers, weight, individual neck lengths for the shorter person and the fact that most bass players have short fat hairy legs.

Michael now waking up to real-talk finally found the crumpled Waiver and the two discussed the finer points of what was the best rig to have in such open spaces, an older Michael was learning fast, times had moved on, amp power meant little these days and neither did the size of your 'speaker cabinet’. These two were now inseparable, Waiver forms and bass and bass and Waiver forms meant little in those moments backstage.

InTouchRadio.net Waiver signed Michael, keeping the bass in view made his way to the main desk, his usual stance took place not legs side by side in a normal human but one slightly ahead of the other, giving him the appearance of one that if needed, could make a quick exit, especially if he could see it clear to the 'artist's' loos.

Out came his portable recorder, the cables were connected, the levels set and driver-ship was given to over to the main stage engineer who promised faithfully to keep everything running, which he did. Michael however put on another hat, somewhat dishevelled in appearance and looking 'far out' with a few glasses of wine under his belt, he slid his Nikon out of its 'festival tried' bag.

No one would have recognized that same energy as it slid on bended knees, hid behind bass bins, middle and top bins, tables and tripped the light fant-tangle of mics and stands, and all because SubSource controlled that now incensed human called Michael. No-one noticed the punishing look that only another bass player travelling with the power of ten billion butterfly sneezes could give, SubSource knew they had him. The rhythm rocked; even with failing stage-engineering issues, they carried on driving polker dots of street music across the 360 degrees of Waveform main stage.

Expletives have been left in, it is a festival, it is your choice to listen or not or perhaps you may consider trying to under stand our modern-day living English language usage; the ambiguity of a free thinking society and the power of those ten billion bass-player Stu's butterfly sneezes.

BTW Stu fell off the main monitor while he was watching me, that was my fault, he couldn't hold the power of an aging hippy any more than he could hope to jump the light years between bass bins, only the leggier Kimber could do that.

Michael (InTouchRadio.net) observed when his senses returned that there that been a strange, what he thought Chinaman on stage called Dennis, others' calmed his still-delirious mind, "No - No", just a figment of your imagination, "Yes - Yes" he shouted back, "playing some weird instrument and a shrunk keyboard and wearing some strangely European cowboy Stetson hat!" "oh, and, and another really odd looking guy with a guitar strapped to his back playing a secret keyboard with the most unbelievably deformed lips that would have made Mick Jagger look like he'd got flat tyres, oh, yes and some crazy guy who seemed to be playing drums with arms flying like a mosquito’s and who kicked something at me when I walked past, yes, yes, he nearly broke my foot, look you can see the bruise - oh, ouch!" Tamzin and Steve from EchoPress found Virgilio and Nathalie from UseYourEars.com and they took Michael back to his tent, his eyes glazed and still rolling after being so evidently SubSourced.

Enjoy the interaction of a truly great Souf London - Upper Surree Dub, Sub and musically brilliant band called SubSource.

And thank's guys for becoming such good friends and look forward to Stu's marriage in the next couple of weeks to his lady Nathalie.

Check out SubSource on www.subsource.co.uk and on www.myspace.com/i_am_michael_dixon and www.myspace.com/intouchradionet where they are friends of InTouchRadio.net


Michael Dixon
©2008
InTouchRadio.net

ITR - Thank You's Are Necessary - Here's A Few to Friends of InTouchRadio.net

Remembering To Say Thank You

The most important thing in this life it not to forget those who have helped you - even though, at the time we might not have recognized that it was help.

Setting up anything on your own can be fraught with 'unknowns' - we think we 'know' but we don't always see the underlying currents that are there to pull one down or the currents that will take one back up to the top.

We can't please everyone (people pleasing does not work, never did, never will, something I'm still learning even at this great age) but I would hope that I have not knowingly hurt anyone, although I'm sure I must have, throughout this journey called 'Life'. If I have hurt or affected you then I am truly sorry and if you have in anyway hurt or affected me then I forgive you, for these are the only two actions that can release us from the prison of the small mind and open the gateway to free the soul and its karmic baggage.

It was always said as you climb the ladder don't forget to remember those who you pass along the way, those that were there to support you because those same people will be there to watch you should you find yourself descending that same ladder in different circumstances.

I shan't place all the surnames of those who I am saying ‘Thank You’ to, you won't know them (maybe a few) - they will know who they are.

The names are in no specific order.

UK

Virgilio F/ITR Web - Nathalie P ITR/Web - Ian & Nicky & Lily B/Music - Simon & Sarah D/Music - Dave C/Music - Barnaby H/Pics - Bob & Wendy C/Delta X-Ray Radio - Wilf & Fay B/Ears– Julian B/Beyond Python – Mary B/And Why Not – Tony & Karen P/From Tape to Radio/– Steve B & Tamzin W/Press Ass – Matt & Aby/HM – Paul & Rob/IT – Malcolm M/Maurice of the Web – Dave W/the Fish – Massimo & Ann/RPGT – Ross H/GR – Ashera H/Input – Stu & Nat/SS – J-D-H & Crew S/R & Wave – Mick A/Wizard of Delta X-Ray & Hooker – All the Band ‘Hooker’ – Roger T of DD – Green Radio/BGG – Don Owen/Skipper-Teacher – John & Lyn B – Paul M & Bryan VizD/AV – Marc & Jan J/IT-Fund – Stephen B/RFSMS Windsor – Penny K/BGG – Terry O’D & Terry L/2^nd Music – Bruce R/1^st Music – Stevie J & Lyn/Relaxx - Dave E/PT Essences – Robbie F/TCA->CT – Rachid A/HHB London – Carrie T/Music – DZ/DZ – DreamMachine/DM/Music – OzRiCs/OT/Music – EatStatic/M&J – Ashtech/Music – OrchidStar/Music – Gaynor O’F/Music – The Storys/Music – George Reed/HM-RFSMS Decd (Musical Inspiration) – Harvey & Joyce C/ RDEC Decd/TW-WP – George & Barbara S/Film-TV PHA – Musicians’ Union – Heron/Music – Julian Ll-W/Music – J & A-Wells/Music – Thank You and apologies to the endless number of friends working in the background.

Ireland

Seano/GreenMan/SaveTaraCampaign

John H Snr/Uni-Letterkenny, Donegal

John H Jnr/RetCat – Letterkenny, Dublin

South Africa

Carlynn de Waal/Contractors - J'burg

JH/Educ - Tanzania

India

Kashish B/Radio-Mumbai

Australia

Jan E/Support from Down Under

Sophie D/T&G

New Zealand

John G & ASR

British Virgin Islands/Cayman Islands/France/India/UK

Mumta & Taka I/On Mission

Denmark

Henrik A/One Nation U A Groove

Italy

Massimo/RPGT

Canada

Paul & Nicola H/French-Candle-Connection

USA

Pip Reynolds/ITR Support California

Jeannie B/ITR California

Lisa L/Music/Support California

Lisa/Support NY – Taina/Texas

Mallorca

Heather C/Music/ITR&TWM

France

Nathalie P/ITR – Vigier Guitars/Basses/Instr-Music (France & UK)

Vanessa B/’67-

There are many more to say ‘Thank You’ to – if I have omitted you please take it that I am now sending a special ‘Thank You’ right now through the ethers.

Please get InTouch and stay InTouch and don’t forget to say ‘Thank You’ to all those that have helped you along the way.

I was told a long time ago that Prayers are Always Heard, so here’s a Prayer to All Those In Need that Their Prayers Will Be Heard as will the Silent Thanks you’ve sent just by Thinking about Those Who Helped You.

One final thought / Wherever you find yourself – that’s where you’re at – and that place will always be the ‘Now’ in your life.

With Love and Thanks

Michael

InTouchRadio.net

ITR - Free World Word Thoughts - Just Linking Words to Consider

Free World Word Thoughts

Anti - Establishment - ar -ism / 'ism like an 'ology - Psychology - Pathology - My 'ology - Your 'ology - Method 'ology - Mesmerism - Disillusioned - Misaligned - Corrupt - Segregate 'ism - Social 'ism - Republican 'ism - Passive 'ism - Conservative 'ism - Co-operative 'ism - Real 'ism - Free World Word Thoughts.

InTouchRadio.net

These are a few 'trigger' words that seem to come up in emails regularly - therefore I thought just to mention them, there is no meaning, no answer and the only conclusion is to forget the 'isms and 'ology's and live the life we were meant to in Freedom and with Love

InTouchRadio.net

How about your daily thoughts on how to make this world a better place?

InTouchRadio.net

Smile at a stranger and you just might make a difference - we need Interaction and Connectivity and Co-operation.

Michael
InTouchRadio.net
www.intouchradio.net
A Co-operative Collective - Not - A Corporate Selective

ITR - Stu - Bassist of SubSource talks to Michael following Waveform Festival 2007

SubSource Bassist Stu talks to Michael Dixon following Waveform Festival at Powderham Castle, Exeter, Devon 2007.

Tune in and have a listen - the Waveform Interview with the other guys in SubSource is on its way.

After a back numbing slip Stu was unable to be part of the Interview at Waveform with Michael Dixon of InTouchRadio.net. He was coming back to Somerset to complete his wedding plans a couple of weeks later and called in to see Michael in his small studio down on the Somerset Levels in SW England. As always, light, informal, reflective and with a little bit of mischief thrown in Stu & Michael discuss Waveform, Music, Festivals and future possibilities.

And SubSource will be back again at this year's Sunrise Festival.

Check out their album: www.subsource.co.uk
Email them: mail@subsource.co.uk

Tell them you heard this on InTouchRadio.net

If you've got news from around the world, stories that need telling, contacts you wish to send to us, video footage that is relevant (within reason) and music for us to play (this must come with a signed Waiver for permission for us to play and express permission from your record company if you are signed) then contact us: info@intouchradio.net - remember this station, unlike any others, is about you - it's about making this world a better place - it's with your Co-operation that's why InTouchRadio.net is a Co-operative Collective - Not - A Corporate Selective.

Please pass the word, come on and Blog, Message, and Keep InTouch.

ITR - New Programs on Way - SubSource - Orchid Star at Waveform 2007

Festival Interviews with InTouchRadio.net
(Glastonbury, UK & GLOBAL)

Get ready for more informal interviews off-stage at the Festivals. Here we have more from the newly fledged and already widely respected off-shoot of Sunrise Celebration albeit another guise, another face, another objective. The first and last or the last and first, whichever way you choose to look at it. Sunrise opens and Waveform sets.

Michael Dixon of InTouchRadio.net, living life to the full in a one-man tent with his Citroen Picasso at his side in the lea of the Press Tent and integrally part of the EchoPress team, inspired by hope, the hope of those 2007 has presented to him and running on latent energy from cold nights and camping like a over-aged boy scout, drinking with the best of them and then realizing the intervening years of non-camping life struggles and enthuses like a mountaineer without oxygen. But with hope and the energy of those he meets does his best to remember all the things he's just been told and comes to terms that his memory might need updating with a larger chipset...

Waveform Project's first outing at Powderham Castle, on the very edge of the Exe Estuary near Exeter in Devon on the South West peninsular was a great success and the final major festival of the 2007 season. For a first it achieved acclaim, it stood the ground of intent, the intent of everyone who worked hard for it to succeed. Even the local Devonshire Constabulary were helpful, unobtrusive and nice to talk to, more than could be said of other festivals own policing forces.

Get ready, they're in the pot right now - SubSource - Interview with Michael Dixon of InTouchRadio.net after the event at Lower Godney with Stu the Bass Player who came especially down for the interview after he seriously hurt his back on stage trying to compete with Kimber jumping from main monitor to stage - ouch! The Bass survived and so did Stu. Listen in . Later you will hear above the back stage din the interview with the other SubSource members and their set.

In edit right now, the interview and set with Orchid Star, beautiful people, great sense of family another informal meeting of souls in the Press tent with the EchoPress team ever-present in the background.

Both these acts are set for Sunrise Celebration 2008 - with the ending of one season we are looking forward to them opening the new with all the wonderful openness and reminders of what a festival should be, how did Michael Eavis express it "how Glastonbury was 35 years ago".

Have a listen and pass the word around about InTouchRadio.net remember this is an internet radio station for you - each and everyone has the right to have their voice heard.

For further information or to contact:
info@intouchradio.net

ITR - Message to Friends of InTouchRadio.net

Update Message

Hi Friends of InTouchRadio.net (www.intouchradio.net)

If you have music that you wish to send to me for air-play - please contact me by email - michael@intouchradio.net and I will give you the address here in the UK to send. I will need a short Biography, some Pictures, even a Movie, along with a Waiver for Permission to air-play on InTouchRadio.net

If you are signed to a label you must get their express permission for us to play on air waiving any charges, royalties or any other fees, we are a small global internet station there to give people and musicians the opportunity to be heard.

Come on over to www.intouchradio.net and leave a message, Blog or just say hello and see the site grow and become a World Friend of InTouchRadio.net

InTouchRadio.net is now looking for World Friends who can be the Ears and Eyes, friends who can Interview & Present on behalf of InTouchRadio.net. Let me know if you can help. This is a Co-operative Collective – therefore we are all part of InTouchRadio.net. The main objective to give the people a voice, musicians a place to be heard – and an end product that unifies and joins by communication the people of the world as One without separation or segregation.

Michael x

InTouchRadio.net (Glastonbury, UK)

A Co-operative Collective - Not - A Corporate Selective

ITR - Letter of Thanks to Pip in California & Virgilio of UseYourEars.com UK

Well I don't normally do this and I hope Pip forgives me for sharing my letter to her today because she has been outstanding with help in promoting www.InTouchRadio.net from the very beginning of my dream. Pip along with her many friends have been coming over and joining in - thank you to them also. But somewhere along the line it's only good manners to say Thank You for your help.

InTouchRadio.net is not about a single person it's about the people of this world, this is my passion helping to connect those people together as One.

Another InTouchRadio.net friend, someone who is, with his partner Nathalie Plessis, the reason that there is an On-Line presence with InTouchRadio.net is Virgilio Fino (sounds like Feeno). Virgilio has given up hours from his own very busy life with UseYourEars.com (www.useyourears.com), which co-incidently is the UK's largest On-Line web site for the Working Musician - check it out, register your intent no matter where you are in the world - and watch for the New UseYourEars.com web site coming very soon. Virgilio like Pip in California have been there to inspire when I started to lose the dream through spending so many hours on the computer, times when I thought this is just a waste of time, especially as I've forgone earning for over a year now setting this up and going through my learning experience with other radio stations.

There are so many of InTouchRadio.net's friends out there and now it's time for them to come on over and make their presence known on the Internet - On-Line and show that this is all worthwhile.

Of course, we now need Adverstisers, from the smallest to the largest - every little helps. Please read on the letter to Pip and Pip forgive me for doing this but I thought it was necessary to say Thank You/

Hi Pip

Just touching base. I'm working up to 20 hours a day editing Audio with Picture content - do go have a look at the site as it builds - I need to get people on the site Blogging and Interacting as I need to get people to come on board with advertising from the smallest costing ads upwards - whether its Links, Banners, Ads, Programs built around Businesses or Companies or Bands etc to get some money in and get this venture off the ground.

If you know of people with their own Websites who would like to Link it will be reciprocal, I will make sure that the link-back is put on InTouchRadio.net Links page once they have InTouchRadio.net on theirs.

I have to get more content up on line to get people interested and each program of about an hour duration is split into approximately 10 min sections and each section has Pictures - Still or Movie content with Affects to make it interesting. We can now add Movies to the site so any bands can send me or Virgilio in London their performances or other interesting Movies so they can be included. The time taken to Edit, Add Movie/Still Pictures and then Convert and Upload to the server is about 2 - 3 days solid work - you can see the strain this is putting on me but in the end there will be something for people to get involved with – this is an exciting time as you can imagine and the work all worthwhile.

I am arranging friends around the world to become Interviewers/Presenters on behalf of InTouchRadio.net - they can do their own interviews with Pictures/Video and then send them to me and we will then begin to expand the way I envisioned InTouchRadio.net, a global family, a co-operative family, but not just a way for people to use InTouch for their own ends. It has to have the Ethos of InTouchRadio.net which is to bring the worlds peoples together - not just music but stories about people, where they come from, whether its downtown wherever or the middle of the Sarah Desert in Africa - programs that tell us what's going on, who they are, what they're doing, how they are living; the good and the bad, the pretty and the ugly, what their dreams are, we are all the same, with the single heart of humanity beating as One.

I'm off once again to start another day. Hope you and your family are well and thank you so much Pip for your wonderful support.

Don't forget to go on line, send your friends over there, get them to say hello, leave messages, make it as interactive as MySpace which is one of the best things given on the internet for us all to meet, and it doesn't matter that it is a Corporation, because it is serving a purpose and in the end that purpose will be realized with the likes of InTouchRadio.net and all the other people around the world who are not just thinking about themselves but the Collective Whole will become the future, inspired by the interaction of all with Love being the interactive connection.

Visa vi A Co-operative Collective - Not - A Corporate Selective and now more than ever before in our recent history we are going to need that Co-operative Collective as the Corporate Selectives slip into obscurity.

Feel free to pass on the above in whichever way you feel necessary.

Lots of Love

Michael x

InTouchRadio.net

www.intouchradio.net OnLine Right Now. (Glastonbury, England)

One Love - One Heart - One People - Simply One

ITR - ASHTECH - Live At Waveform 2007 - Now On Line + Interview

ASHTECH

‘Walkin’ Target’

Interview:

Michael Dixon

for

InTouchRadio.net

Location:

Press Tent WaveForm Project,

Powderham Castle,

Exeter, Devon

Date: 14September 2007 Time:18.39 Hrs

Tiredness overcomes mental attitude and sensibility, cold numbs the senses and the thickness or thinness of the fabric of a Halfords’ ‘Festival’ £14 (UK Pounds) tent with a crammed-in blow-up air bed to soften the ground and easy aching bones doesn’t help after a life-time of mattress, bed and blanket.

It was after two sleepless nights of cold autumnal weather, freezing in a single sleeping bag and fully dressed after crawling through the darkness surrounding the Press Area at Waveform that I would find myself tripping over tent pegs, slightly intoxicated, maybe more that I realized at the time and cursing and muttering to myself as I way untied tent strings before falling into a nose-chilling sleep that I was to meet Ashtech – just listen to how I forget my own radio station...!

Rushing towards the main stage to get the Waiver to allow their set to be played on InTouchRadio.net I clearly remember sliding down the ramp almost taking Ashtech’s Steinberg headless bass guitar with me and seeing the surprise of this ‘sliding target’ slip by headlong into the side of the main stage awning.

This informal meeting made for an interesting interview as I felt we knew each other well enough and Ashtech was surprisingly understanding of the tired and somewhat older interviewer before him. If you look closely you will see the look in his eyes as we talk intimately about him and the band that is Ashtech.

I hope you enjoy the interview and the following set off Waveform Project’s main stage down in the Devon countryside alongside the Exe estuary at Powderham Castle.

Thank you to Barnaby Hodges of InTouchRadio.net for the photographs mixed in with my own of Ashtech’s set. Check out Ashtech’s Album ‘Walkin’ Target’ out now ichill cd 029 www.ashtech.org & www.myspace.com/ashtechmusic say Michael sent you from www.intouchradio.net and send he and his lovely lady my love.

ASHTECH SET (

Includes such tracks as best I understood it:

Beat da Drum, Gringo!

Essential Credential

EarthForce

Walkin’ Target

Mahayana

ITR - AFRICA CALLING - HELP NEEDED

AFRICA CALLING

I am not one for posting onwards unless it is necessary, this was sent from a friend in the UK who has ties still in Africa and this friend will not ask for help unless it is very necessary.

In response to this email I have copied the following - now your turn. Please forward to as many as you can.

We are all responsible for the world we live in.

Michael
InTouchRadio.net (Glastonbury, UK)
A Co-operative Collective - Not - A Corporate Selective.



A call for help from the wilderness that is now Zimbabwe



Regards



Marc Quesnel

+2783 984 6510




From: Clive and Liz Thomas [mailto:hupthomas@buzzbb.net]

Sent: 06 April 2008 05:33 AM

To: Clive and Liz Thomas

Subject: Borland family under siege - Masvingo, Zimbabwe

Importance: High

This email received from my aunt and uncle this morning. They believe that a repeat of what happened to us Zimbabwean farmers in 2000, is about to start again. I know that those of you (and us included) who no longer live in Zimbabwe, and have lived through all this already once before, would rather just look the other way and put it out of our minds. But I don't think we can do that. Too many of us still have family and friends living in Zimbabwe. We have to stand up and tell the world ;

"Enough is Enough"! Enough of Mugabe and enough of Zanu PF. The people of Zimbabwe have spoken. They want change, they want democracy, they want a better life. If we just stand by, watch and do nothing - are we not just as much to blame as those in power in Zim? All I am asking you to do, is forward this email to as many people, who have an interest in Zimbabwe, as possible. Send it to the news makers in your area, plus SABC, BBC, CNN, Sky, Fox News, etc.

Thank you,

Liz Thomas, Bundaberg, Australia



"Dear Family and Friends,

Well never thought I would have to do this email, do not know if it may be my last from Chidza Farm, Masvingo, Zimbabwe. At 3.30pm today (Saturday), a lorry load of warvets arrived at our gate to take over our land, equipment and cattle. It is now 6pm and they have been singing their war songs at our gate and more and more of them have arrived. We managed to get Alison (our daughter) and baby John to town and for now it is just John and myself and our dogs in the house, now on the farm. They have said that our labour will not work tomorrow and that they want us to kill them a sheep, which John refuses to do, so no doubt they will kill one for themselves.

Graham Richards was under siege at the same time as us, so it has to be orchestrated. The Goddards and Deidricks are in the same boat. They have already taken over PaNyanda Lodge, Graham and Callie Richards are in town. Alison is at Lorna's in town and Carl is expected back from Bulawayo tonight andwill go to Lorna.

Lorna's no. is +263 39-264323 ; Ali is on +263 11216643

Our Phone Landline is +263 39-266080

Cell Phone Nos. +263 11-215275 ; +263 23-258810

Please pass this email on to as many folk as you would like to. If you know of anyone in the Media all the better. We have to let the world know what is happening.

Well done to Zesa (the state electricity company). As they load shedded us and I phoned my friend in the Zesa Faults and he phoned Harare and they have switched us back on.

So for now please keep all of us in your prayers and we will send a follow up tomorrow if we are able.

Our love to you all.

John and Joy Borland from Chidza Farm."

ITR - Unedited News From Africa - Please ReSend

AFRICA CALLING

I am not one for posting onwards unless it is necessary, this was sent from a friend in the UK who has ties still in Africa and this friend will not ask for help unless it is very necessary.

In response to this email I have copied the following - now your turn. Please forward to as many as you can. We are all responsible for the world we live in.

Michael
InTouchRadio.net (Glastonbury, UK)
A Co-operative Collective - Not - A Corporate Selective.



A call for help from the wilderness that is now Zimbabwe



Regards



Marc Quesnel

+2783 984 6510




From: Clive and Liz Thomas [mailto:hupthomas@buzzbb.net]

Sent: 06 April 2008 05:33 AM

To: Clive and Liz Thomas

Subject: Borland family under siege - Masvingo, Zimbabwe

Importance: High

This email received from my aunt and uncle this morning. They believe that a repeat of what happened to us Zimbabwean farmers in 2000, is about to start again. I know that those of you (and us included) who no longer live in Zimbabwe, and have lived through all this already once before, would rather just look the other way and put it out of our minds. But I don't think we can do that. Too many of us still have family and friends living in Zimbabwe. We have to stand up and tell the world ;

"Enough is Enough"! Enough of Mugabe and enough of Zanu PF. The people of Zimbabwe have spoken. They want change, they want democracy, they want a better life. If we just stand by, watch and do nothing - are we not just as much to blame as those in power in Zim? All I am asking you to do, is forward this email to as many people, who have an interest in Zimbabwe, as possible. Send it to the news makers in your area, plus SABC, BBC, CNN, Sky, Fox News, etc.

Thank you,

Liz Thomas, Bundaberg, Australia



"Dear Family and Friends,

Well never thought I would have to do this email, do not know if it may be my last from Chidza Farm, Masvingo, Zimbabwe. At 3.30pm today (Saturday), a lorry load of warvets arrived at our gate to take over our land, equipment and cattle. It is now 6pm and they have been singing their war songs at our gate and more and more of them have arrived. We managed to get Alison (our daughter) and baby John to town and for now it is just John and myself and our dogs in the house, now on the farm. They have said that our labour will not work tomorrow and that they want us to kill them a sheep, which John refuses to do, so no doubt they will kill one for themselves.

Graham Richards was under siege at the same time as us, so it has to be orchestrated. The Goddards and Deidricks are in the same boat. They have already taken over PaNyanda Lodge, Graham and Callie Richards are in town. Alison is at Lorna's in town and Carl is expected back from Bulawayo tonight andwill go to Lorna.

Lorna's no. is +263 39-264323 ; Ali is on +263 11216643

Our Phone Landline is +263 39-266080

Cell Phone Nos. +263 11-215275 ; +263 23-258810

Please pass this email on to as many folk as you would like to. If you know of anyone in the Media all the better. We have to let the world know what is happening.

Well done to Zesa (the state electricity company). As they load shedded us and I phoned my friend in the Zesa Faults and he phoned Harare and they have switched us back on.

So for now please keep all of us in your prayers and we will send a follow up tomorrow if we are able.

Our love to you all.

John and Joy Borland from Chidza Farm."
Publish Post

ITR - What Is InTouchRadio.net?

InTouchRadio.net

What is InTouchRadio.net?

Well InTouchRadio.net is about people, you, it is about all of us.

InTouchRadio.net is part of a dream, the dream of Michael Dixon. His, my dream, as I am writing this, is to Unite the peoples of this wonderful World of ours which is set in the infinite space of time and reality. Here we are sitting on a ball spinning in space. The space we are spinning in is vast, timeless, endless – unreal in our small mindedness for the absolutes are extraordinary to our concept of our being-ness and unimportance in the whole of everything.

My dream is realised with the help of Virgilio Fino webmaster general, photographer, inspirer, his lady Nathalie Plessis, presenter and passionate of all things musical, both of www.useyourears.com - ‘Use Your Ears.com’ are the sponsors web hosts of InTouchRadio.net. Other family members include Barnaby Hodges, scorpion of photography, wizard of finding the right shot. Stephen Jones, relaxxed presenter, musician and astute friend of those that need help and support. Marc Jenkins I.T. & Funding, Steve Benton (ParallelPR), Julian Bending, Pip Reynolds USA, Jan England, Australia, Kashish Berry – Mumbai, India presenter, Carlynn de Waal – Johannesburg, South Africa presenter. This is just a tiny part of the InTouchRadio.net team. If you have something to offer then get InTouch and let us know.


We waste time and energy and time, is all we have in the short spans we are allowed on this segue called life. Although, I believe, in many re-incarnations, these don’t help in the span we are in and the reality we find ourselves, and the time we are allotted.

My dream, therefore the dream of InTouchRadio.net is to bridge the gap of the indifference and ego. Who cares who I am or you or them, I don’t nor should you because we, you and me and them are all One. If you cut me I bleed and so do you, well in this reality at least lest you are an alien visitor and if you are please come and say hello and what it’s like.

Every One of us has the right to be heard. Every One of you has the right to say your word. Every One of us has the right to listen and to learn from the other. Whether by word, story, visual or by musical expression, collectively we have the right to be able to express and the right to be heard and seen.

InTouchRadio.net is a Co-operative Collective – Not – A Corporate Selective – you, we, are all part of that Collective and as such you are not especially selected, welcome to the InTouchRadio.net family, we are One.

Now please spread the word and let this beautiful world of ours Unite as One with InTouchRadio.net – your family. One final thought, with Hope we have Possibility – with Love we have Every-Thing – may we spread the word of Love to a world that has Hope and that the Dream becomes Reality.

We need help with this mammoth task on such a global scale. If you know of, or are a Philanthropist or business that can help with sponsorship, which can come in many ways or if you would like to advertise or have your own program or story told please contact info@intouchradio.net now.

Michael Dixon
Founder InTouchRadio.net

ITR - What Is www.InTouchRadio.net?

InTouchRadio.net

What is InTouchRadio.net?

Well InTouchRadio.net is about people, you, it is about all of us.

InTouchRadio.net is part of a dream, the dream of Michael Dixon. His, my dream, as I am writing this, is to Unite the peoples of this wonderful World of ours which is set in the infinite space of time and reality. Here we are sitting on a ball spinning in space. The space we are spinning in is vast, timeless, endless – unreal in our small mindedness for the absolutes are extraordinary to our concept of our being-ness and unimportance in the whole of everything.

My dream is realised with the help of Virgilio Fino webmaster general, photographer, inspirer, his lady Nathalie Plessis, presenter and passionate of all things musical, both of www.useyourears.com - ‘Use Your Ears.com’ are the sponsors web hosts of InTouchRadio.net. Other family members include Barnaby Hodges, scorpion of photography, wizard of finding the right shot. Stephen Jones, relaxxed presenter, musician and astute friend of those that need help and support. Marc Jenkins I.T. & Funding, Steve Benton (EchoPress), Julian Bending, Pip Reynolds USA, Jan England, Australia, Kashish Berry – Mumbai, India presenter, Carlynn de Waal – Johannesburg, South Africa presenter. This is just a tiny part of the InTouchRadio.net team. If you have something to offer then get InTouch and let us know.


We waste time and energy and time, is all we have in the short spans we are allowed on this segue called life. Although, I believe, in many re-incarnations, these don’t help in the span we are in and the reality we find ourselves, and the time we are allotted.

My dream, therefore the dream of InTouchRadio.net is to bridge the gap of the indifference and ego. Who cares who I am or you or them, I don’t nor should you because we, you and me and them are all One. If you cut me I bleed and so do you, well in this reality at least lest you are an alien visitor and if you are please come and say hello and what it’s like.

Every One of us has the right to be heard. Every One of you has the right to say your word. Every One of us has the right to listen and to learn from the other. Whether by word, story, visual or by musical expression, collectively we have the right to be able to express and the right to be heard and seen.

InTouchRadio.net is a Co-operative Collective – Not – A Corporate Selective – you, we, are all part of that Collective and as such you are not especially selected, welcome to the InTouchRadio.net family, we are One.

Now please spread the word and let this beautiful world of ours Unite as One with InTouchRadio.net – your family. One final thought, with Hope we have Possibility – with Love we have Every-Thing – may we spread the word of Love to a world that has Hope and that the Dream becomes Reality.

We need help with this mammoth task on such a global scale. If you know of, or are a Philanthropist or business that can help with sponsorship, which can come in many ways or if you would like to advertise or have your own program or story told please contact info@intouchradio.net now.

Michael Dixon
Founder InTouchRadio.net

For more information contact InTouchRadio.net: info@intouchradio.net

ITR - Dave Eastoe Interview - Tibet Will Be Free

Tibet Will Be Free - Program Now On Listing

'Tibet Will Be Free' is now on listing on InTouchRadio.net.
by
Michael Dixon

This is an interview with Dave Eastoe of Glastonbury, England about the late James Cameron who was a mutual friend of both of ours some years ago.

James, unbeknown to me had met Dave Eastoe in the Cafe Galatea in Glastonbury High Street in 2001 "with a beaten up old Spanish guitar" and had played a new song he'd written called 'Tibet Will Be Free' - Dave heard this and suggested coming into his studio, conveniently situated at the back of the Cafe Galatea.

James had written a very powerful set of words but his timing was not good and he needed the experience of Dave's musical background to help put together the final song. It was a laborious effort on the behalf of Dave Eastoe, this was interjected by James' insistence of bringing backing singers in from the Cafe, these are the Glastonbury Street Singers - some were good, some were not so good and with many hours of intense labour Dave edited out the good and amended the timing.

The resulting song was sent, Dave believes, directly to the Dalai Lama and to many other parts of the world, including the Bay area of California where it was taken up by the Buddhist sector and was, apparently, their top song.

Within two years James was to suddenly die in his sleep - I'm not sure of his age but he could only have been in his late 40's or very early 50's. It was a shock to all that new him. My memory was of James the hairdresser. James, I believe, had been a London hairdresser and I believe he had, at the time, a hairdressing salon in Cheddar, between Glastonbury and Bath.

Recently many of you will have heard me talking about and spreading the word about Tibet

After listening to the song I realized that the melody was sticking in my memory so much so that I started to play it over a couple of days - then I phoned Dave and suggested, with everything that was going on about Tibet, which we are both passionate about, that he come over and I interview him informally about James, the song and other things.

What you have is the interview in four parts with a simple slide show which I put together after being tutored by Virgilio Fino of Use Your Ears.com (www.useyourears.com) who is the sponsor for hosting InTouchRadio.net. I make no apologies for the synchronicity of the picture but by the end of the second part I'd started to get the hang of it and I hope it expresses the powerful possibilities that James was hoping for. Certainly during the interview you will hear us talking about James being in the room and he has been here since, every time I talk about this song and every time I post more information, so perhaps James is still with us but coming in from a different perspective.

Please listen and I hope you enjoy. If any of you have pictures of James please let me know and I will add them.

InTouchRadio needs your help, please spread the word among your friends around the world, if you have your own web sites come on over, grab the banner and link sites, we will reciprocate links. If you would like to advertise with us then please contact me - that is - michael@intouchradio.net - please read the other Blog of today 8.4.2008 for information.

Look forward to hearing from you.
Michael Dixon both on the radio and on my sites on MySpace (www.myspace.com/i_am_michael_dixon & www.myspace.com/intouchradionet) - Dave Eastoe picked up one of these talks and Blogs and sent me a copy of James' song.

InTouchRadio.net

ITR - InTouchRadio Update

InTouchRadio.net is now On-Line and working in collaboration with ‘Use Your Ears.com’ www.useyourears.com networking the Music Industry and is the sponsor for hosting InTouchRadio and with the help of Use Your Ears’ founders Virgilio Fino and Nathalie Plessis who are also and integral part of the InTouchRadio Family Team.

InTouchRadio.net www.intouchradio.net is a new Net Radio Station Global radio station – here for the Peoples of the World to give a voice to those who cannot be heard and an outlet for music that need air-play. We are not evangelists but it is about time we all took responsibility for our unique individual dreams and not at the behest of the other person. This is the time of group consciousness on a scale never before known and all because of this wonderful opportunity with the Internet that we now have. Never before have the Worlds’ peoples been able to connect on such a massive scale and we now need to join back into that aging statement The Brotherhood/Sisterhood of Man – don’t question my (modern term) political correctness (PC) all I am saying in the late John Lennon’s words Give Peace A Chance – in fact let’s go the next step And learn to Love and Respect your Family – the Family of Mankind and Womankind.

If you are a Musician, Group, Band, Artist – a Poet, Writer, Artist, and Movie Maker let us know and let us see if we can do something to help.

This is a mammoth task as you will understand and maybe I’ve taken on more than I can chew but I’ve had a life time watching injustice and so maybe in my small way and with your help we can make a difference, that’s You and Me, Us.

So far I’ve funded this dream off my own back literally with nothing only my dream and my own studio equipment and I’ve spent over a year now putting this together every day gaining knowledge from my previous experience with the help of other radio stations as a presenter and outside broadcaster/interviewer etc and my knowledge as a producer, writer and musician with Touchwood Music www.touchwoodmusic.com The challenge has not been easy and recently it took its toll and I had to back off the amount of hours I was spending setting up this dream of InTouchRadio.net www.touchwoodmusic.com and at this point I really must thank a Corporate – MySpace www.myspace.com, for without them I would never have been able to spread the word and neither would I have met such truly wonderful, albeit cyber-friends, friends that I have come to know and trust and I value their advice and help.

The next stage is the inevitable – Funding.

I am aware, so evidently aware, that I chose a difficult period to start putting this dream into reality. But then I got to thinking – why? Only something that is meant to be will be. If I can touch where things need to be touched – putting us all In Touch, then this will become the reality and you will have made my dream real and maybe the World a better place for our future.

You know, throughout history the Dream if strongly enough believed in succeeds and we all know that the right time is now; this is the time that the World needs the greatest help environmentally and who caused it? Us And Who can put it right? Us. So let’s all get together and make it so.

It doesn’t matter our Race, Creed, Colour, Belief System, or Gender, we are all individually responsible for where we have arrived at – at this point in time and only we can put it right, that’s my dream to help in whatever small way I can do to help, just think of what we could do together!

Funding:

There are several ways to get funding.

Slow ways, tiring-of-energy ways, ways to put off the strongest in time and effort – endlessly cap-in-hand.

Fast ways: cash – real money – instant energy allowing energy progression to get on with the work at hand.

Other ways:

Equipment and Goods - yes I could do with some more equipment relative-to-what-I’m-doing equipment (so if you know some of the people at: Tascam, Sony, Apple-Mac, PC and the associated-items-needed-companies – let them and me know, if you are part of those organisations do something good and work between us). For them it’s a tax break and they will get unlimited sponsorship advertising on In Touch Radio.net

Advertising on InTouchRadio.net:

• Having a Banner or Logo and Link at a small charge.
• An Audio Advert with Logo etc.
• An Audio/Visual Advert (short Film clip)
• A Program about you and/or your company/product – whatever you choose (subject to content) – tell the World – remember this is a Global radio station and as local you wish it to be
• Sponsorship – I believe all Sponsorship is Tax Relievable (you must check this out)
• Company Sponsorship – I believe all Sponsorship is Tax Relievable (you must check this out)
• Silent Partnership – buying your way in without a ‘Take Over’ and being part of the dream
• Philanthropist – someone as passionate as me who has the necessary funds to be able to say “This is my contribution to help the world and do something for the future”. Remember we come in with no-thing and we go out with no-thing – it’s what we do in between that make the measure of the person!

InTouchRadio.net Content that you can send to us:

You must send a Waiver to give us permission to play your material on-air – without this we cannot help you – if you are labelled you must obtain their express permission and waive rights to any air-play or other fees. We don’t have the funding as yet.

You can send your Music on CD or DVD with Pictures and a Biography of the Band/Artist etc. Including Still and Movie Clips of the band please send those as well, as our programs are being put up on line in movie format as well as audio. (Subject to change)

We’ll do out bit and now your bit please spread the word and let all of your friends know about In Touch Radio.net www.intouchradio.net on the Internet and on MySpace – www.myspace.com/intouchradionet and www.myspace.com/i_am_michael_dixon this way InTouchRadio.net which is a Co-operative Collective not A Corporate Selective can grow from little Acorns around the World into the truly magnificent self-sustaining forest of mighty Oaks to be the support of the Worlds’ peoples and their art and music.

Other Items of Interest:

If you have other information that may be of interest – other music of any nature (as long as it is well played and recorded, it does not matter whether it is Western in type – I am also looking for that music from the Worlds’ Cultures that may have been denied an audience as well i.e. Siberian, Aborigine, South American, African, Asian, Pacific etc.

Contacting In Touch Radio.net:

Email: michael@intouchradio.net for address details in UK where to send your material

Kind Regards

Michael Dixon

InTouchRadio.net

One World – One Nation – One Voice – As One

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