Brianland

the Best in Kerouac & the Beats, Adventure, Politics, Music, Movies, Poetry & other Lifejoys

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Taylor Swift, the Grateful Dead and The Beat Generation

November 30th, 2023 · 28 Comments · Grateful Dead, Kerouac and The Beats, Music

. Why this Deadhead Beatnik Beatlemaniac loves Pop’s Princess   I’ve been into Taylor Swift since a New York Times profile in 2008 talked about her confessional songwriting and use of social media — at the time, MySpace.  (!)  Her second album Fearless was set to come out (and would go on to win Album […]

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Al Franken “Giant of The Senate” book review

December 27th, 2017 · 9 Comments · Politics

. Al Franken is a great writer of our times.  When you read even just the first chapter of this book — “Why I’m A Democrat” — it’ll make you wanna throw every one of his sanctimonious accusatory quasi-republican Democrats off a cliff — not under a bus, like they did him. I really enjoyed […]

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Bill Clinton’s First Inauguration 1993

January 20th, 2016 · 12 Comments · Blissfully Ravaged in Democracy, Politics

. Originally published in Interchange Magazine, and TransForum Magazine, Jan. and Feb. 1993. . “We march to the music of our time.” ……………………………………….Bill Clinton at his Inauguration . Little Dorothy Washington slowly snuck up to the Iron Curtain of Oz, and peaked behind the screen. Her eyes popped when she discovered only a hungry old […]

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Grateful Dead Farewell in Chicago

July 11th, 2015 · 20 Comments · Grateful Dead, Music, Real-life Adventure Tales

  I saw the best minds of many generations, dancing, hysterical, naked … at the Farewell send-off of the Gratest live band in history. While The Grateful Dead were breaking the all-time attendance records for Soldier Field stadium in Chicago — I was seeing them in a small venue from about 5th row center.  I […]

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Pranksters in Wonderland

May 10th, 2015 · 19 Comments · Grateful Dead, Merry Pranksters, Real-life Adventure Tales, Weird Things About Me

. Somewhere in America . . . Pranksters are gathering . . . and in this case it was Wonderland. A dozen acres of wilderness hills and valleys, with a sunken natural amphitheater on the highest point of land in sight. 150 or so Pranksters came from across the land, traveling by every mode there […]

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Merry Pranksters on A Mission

January 8th, 2015 · 13 Comments · Merry Pranksters, Music, Real-life Adventure Tales

The Pranksters on A Mission to The Mission . . It’s New Year’s Eve in the universe ………..and we’re on a mission. The Wizard of Wonder called on Christmas Day.  Seems The Pranksters are needed for a little Merry Jerry conjuring on New Year’s Eve in O-Hi-o.  The official good-time resident Grateful Dead-vibed band of […]

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