Turn On Tune In and Rise Up!

Music and art can change our World for the good. You already know how chaotic it is these days if you are awake: Swine Flu hype, G20 Riots, Vaccinations, Nuclear Standoffs, RFID chips, health care arguments, economy, Iraq War, terrorism, the New World Order, 1st amendment violations, unemployment, and the list can go on and on.

Now if we all rise up together we can push the oppressive things out of the way. I have compiled a Jamendo only playlist of artists I really like because of their honesty and musical quality. Please download at the link below and pass around. We can do this. It isn’t over and as long as we are breathing we can do something.

And here is another idea: If you can play guitar or piano, sing or write, get going and make a song about whatever you are going through. No matter what. Flood the internet with your viewpoint. Let’s not give in to the elite bullies in charge who want to manipulate, con and destroy us with their fear-mongering. These are all distractions.

if you paint or draw do that, too. Flood the internet with your world. We have more numbers behind us than those elite. They hide behind their power and wealth. Come and get going.

Make youtube videos, too and post. Do it!

Here’s where you can play or download the playlist for free:

Turn On, Tune In, and Rise Up Playlist

1. Rancho Relaxo – From The Hip
2. Rancho Relaxo – Quebec
3. The Zombie Drivers – There Is No Law
4. The Zombie Drivers – Shine in the Rain
5. The Henry Chinaski’s Ashtray – A Girl Got A Car Accident
6. The Henry Chinaski’s Ashtray – One-eyed-woman’s dream
7. The Ragas – Blues Raga 2
8. The Ragas – What Ya Say
9. The Dada Weatherman – What Gandhi Said
10. The Dada Weatherman – Flying On A Cloud
11. Timado – True Blue
12. Timado – Turning
13. THE GOLDEN DAWN – Enjoy the Nature
14. The Golden Dawn – Let the Sunshine In
15. I Am Not Lefthanded – Falling
16. I Am Not Lefthanded – Long Goodbyes
17. Jamison Young – Live On A Moon
18. Jamison Young – Cold World
19. Blancheneige Bazaar Orchestra – Monkey Boy
20. Blancheneige Bazaar Orchestra – Meshugge
21. Jim Guittard – BJM-Like Song
22. Jim Guittard – The Sun Shines Today
23. Ben’s Imaginary Band – Connectiveness
24. Ben’s Imaginary Band – My Self-Centered World
25. Charline Lucie – Crimes de compagnie
26. Brad Sucks – Overreacting
27. Brad Sucks – Gasoline
28. Waterfalls – The Dandy Bell
29. Waterfalls – Get Tight And Loose
30. alterlabel -Optimystic
31. Blood Ruby – Midsummer Fires
32. Blood Ruby – Babel Babel
33. Illusion of Art – Machines
34. Illusion of Art – La Plano
35. The Heavens – Echo Serena
36. The Heavens – This Beautiful Machine
37. The Wagner Logic – Conflicting Sound
38. The Wagner Logic – So Hard
39. Glass Waves – Hey Nuclear
40. Glass Waves – Virginia Tech
41. FATHER JOHNSON – Treat Ya Kind
42. FATHER JOHNSON – Transcending
43. ARTSomerville – Are You Sleeping?
44. ARTSomerville – I know, I know
45. Chapter 9 – In the Universe
46. Chapter 9 – Small Apocalypse Song
47. The Verandas – Rescue Me
48. The Verandas – Anemone
49. Charlie Gibson – Eu Só Posso Cantar
50. Charlie Gibson – Porto ou Faxinal

In economic downtown, more across Texas, U.S. choose to volunteer

06:54 AM CDT on Monday, April 20, 2009

By MARK NORRIS / The Dallas Morning News
norrism@dallasnews.com

Applications are up for the Peace Corps, Teach for America and AmeriCorps as Texans turn to service organizations in increasing numbers during the economic downturn.

The state numbers mirror national figures that show year-to-year increases beginning in 2007. Initial numbers of applicants this year are far outpacing those for any previous year.

Jim Guittard, who returned in late 2008 from a two-year mission for the Peace Corps, isn’t surprised.

“With the economy the way it is, people are looking for other things,” said Guittard, who lives in northeast Dallas. “They’re searching for a more satisfying or fulfilling life.”

Officials with the Peace Corps are still tallying the number of applications received in February, but according to the Dallas office’s Shannon Borders, it will probably be a record for one month.

AmeriCorps tripled the amount of applications it received in February this year compared with last.

Kerci Marcello Stroud, Teach for America’s regional communications director, said more people mentioned the economy during the just-completed application period than in years past. Some applicants told her the economic downturn made them re-evaluate what was important to them.

“There’s a growing interest among young people to engage in public service,” Stroud said.

The vast majority of applicants for AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps and Teach for America are recent college graduates.

Of the 35,000 applications Teach for America received this year, 25,000 were from graduating seniors. The remainder was split between graduate students and young professionals less than five years removed from graduation.

Sandy Nunez volunteered for Teach for America after graduating in spring 2007 from the University of Texas at Austin. She thought about joining the Peace Corps or other service organizations before deciding she could be most effective teaching children in underperforming schools.

“It seemed like a very appealing way to get involved,” said Nunez, who is about to complete her two-year commitment in the San Benito schools.

She recently decided to stay on for a third year, saying the state of the economy was a small part of her decision.

Borders said the Peace Corps targets recent college graduates. The median age of its volunteers in 25. There is no age limit, however, and 5 percent of the volunteer force is over 50. The oldest current volunteer is 84.

Guittard joined the Peace Corps 10 years after graduating from college. He had worked at an insurance company among other jobs and decided he wanted to take his life in a different direction.

“In college, I had considered the Peace Corps,” he said. “I didn’t want to have regrets in my life, so I decided to go apply.”

Guittard wound up teaching English to high-school-age students in Bulgaria for two years and taking away an appreciation of how tight-knit families were and how tough his students’ lives were.

He said people who apply need to have the maturity to handle being the situation they are entering.

That vetting is part of the application process, said Borders. She said the biggest surprise is people finding out it can take six to12 months to complete.

But it’s worth it, according to Guittard, who said, “I learned a lot and I’m more appreciative of what I have.”

JUAN GARCIA/DMN
Jim Guittard taught English to high-school-age students in Bulgaria for two years.

Letter To Dallas Morning News

America is rather silly right now. More and more news is negative about the crisis at hand. Where are the positive stories about good news. All we hear is bad and slanted toward going deeper and deeper down. Let’s write some positive stuff. It is funny that my having spent two years abroad as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bulgaria isn’t worth mentioning. Many papers that I have contacted have turned down the story.

Seems that greed and money is the only thing that is important to write about these days. There are a lot of hardworking, sacrificing people out there that need notice. And I am writing to toot my own horn maybe. I taught in rough school in Pernik, Bulgaria for two years getting paid less than $400 a month. I returned to America just last November and like everybody else I am also looking for a job. I have seen how the world views America and it is not so positive. We need to do our part and get back to hard work in whatever it is.

I think America is obsessed with money and careers. You know what? It doesn’t matter so much the career that one takes if there is passion and purpose behind it. If you want to be a street sweeper then go for it. There is respect in working hard and not just collecting hand out and doing nothing.

Jim Guittard
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Bulgaria
Dallas, Texas

Jim Guittard Talks With ‘Tangra Mega Rock’ Radio

Back on September 30, 2008, I was interviewed for Sofia, Bulgaria Internet Radio Station ‘Tangra Mega Rock’. Radio DJ Vassil Varbanov ran the show. Various tracks were played and I got a chance to explain the real scoop behind my 3 Psychedelic/Folk-Rock albums, living in Bulgaria as foreigner, and my previous work teaching as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Pernik. The Albums are:

2008 ‘Busted in Bulgaria’
2004 ‘The Notorious G.I.D.D.’
2002 ‘California Daze’

Listen here for radio show.

Tangra Mega Rock

Link To Tangra Mega Rock

You can download all three albums for free at:
Free Albums

“Busted In Bulgaria” Album Commentary Podcast Part 2

This is part 2 of a series of commentary about my album, “Busted in Bulgaria”, that I recorded while I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Pernik, Bulgaria. From April 2006 to July 2008 I taught English in the Bulgarian high school. It was while confined to my Post-Soviet style block that I documented my whereabouts through song.

The songs comment on life outside America and are in the Psychedelic and Folk-rock genres.

In this episode are the following tracks:

1. Listen To Your Voice

2. Rico

3. Pernik

4. Stachkata

5. Survival Mode

6. This Is Random Song

7. What’s Your Role In Life

8. Don’t Know Jack

9. Raga Train

10. The Sun Shines Today

Stay tuned for other commentaries on my albums.

You can listen to Part 2 of the podcast here:
Podcast 2

You can subscribe to my podcast at ITunes under “Jim Guittard”.

“Busted In Bulgaria” Album Commentary Podcast Part 1

This is part 1 of a series of commentary about my album, “Busted in Bulgaria”, that I recorded while I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Pernik, Bulgaria.  From April 2006 to July 2008 I taught English in the Bulgarian high school.  It was while confined to my Post-Soviet style block that I documented my whereabouts through song.

The songs comment on life outside America and are in the Psychedelic and Folk-rock genres.

In this episode are the following tracks:

1. Breaking the Language Barrier

2. Gangster 

3. Hoola Hoop Girl 

4. 8A Class 

5. Be Real True 

6. Babas On Their Bench 

7. I Wanna Go To The Moon 

8. Kakvo Pravish? 

Stay tuned for part 2.

You can listen to Part 1 of the podcast here:
Podcast 1

You can subscribe to my podcast at ITunes under “Jim Guittard”.

The Speedy Deletion of Jim Guittard

The Speedy Deletion of Jim Guittard Screenshot

I just found that there is a website where all the Speedy Deletion pages from Wikipedia are uploaded there. It’s a site called: http://deletionpedia.dbatley.com

My page was in this category.  The specific reason for my removal from existence is because user Toddst1 opined that the article claimed nothing “important or significant.”  I would, of course, tend to disagree and I am sure that many others would, too.  I am not claiming to contribute to society in a big huge way but at the very least worth mentioning.  Sometimes I need to pat myself on the back for sticking to my guns.  And believe me, this is an accurate summation of my creative pursuit.  I’m putting in my dues. 

I have done many things since April 2008 date of being banished from Wikipedia.  I have released 3 albums for free on Jamendo.

• California Daze – 2002
• The Notorious G.I.D.D. – 2005
• Busted In Bulgaria – 2008

In addition, I released the debut album of the Ragas on Jamendo.  (The duo I was in in Los Angeles with Henry McGuinn.) 

In early October, I appeared on the Tangra Mega Rock Radio station for a live interview over my happenings here in Sofia, Bulgaria.  I am still here digging my way around, trying to rise up from the underground.  But I don’t know why some people get deleted on Wikipedia and some don’t. 

Here is the explanation why Toddst1 deleted the article at Wikipedia:

Jim Guittard (deleted 05 Apr 2008 at 00:09)
Jim Guittard has been deleted from Wikipedia. An archived version is shown below. Other versions of this page may be available.
Toddst1 deleted Jim Guittard because A7 (group): Group/band/club/company/etc; doesn’t indicate importance/significance.
This page was created 4 April 2008 and deleted 5 April 2008 (0 days).[show]

The page was edited most often during April 2008. (info). 

This page was deleted in a speedy deletion. The reason given was It is an article about a band, singer, musician, or musical ensemble that does not indicate the importance or significance of the subject. (CSD A7).
 The speedy deletion was contested.

Jim Guittard is an American singer-songwriter who has played in the Southern California duo the Ragas with the son of Roger McGuinn, the founder of the Byrds. The music of the Ragas is in the raga rock or psychedelic rock styles patterned after the Byrds.

In July 2005, Guittard told the Dallas Morning News that he hoped to head to Eastern Europe or Central Asia for the Peace Corps in the fall.

Jim followed his heart and he is currently a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bulgaria. In 2007, there was a country-wide Bulgarian Teacher Strike. He was written up in the Sofia Echo, the leading English language newspaper in Bulgaria for a song he composed on this issue.

He continues to write music while being overseas.

References
Teachers Tussle In Bulgaria. Petar Kostadinov. The Sofia Echo. September 24, 2007.
Introducing the Ragas. Jim Guittard. Alt.Music.Byrds. May 31, 2007.
As Generation X begins to hit 40, it’s finding its place in the world. Katherine Yung. The Dallas Morning News. July 8, 2005.

External Links
Jim Guittard on Myspace
The Ragas on Myspace
Psychedelic Central Online Magazine
Music Archive

Check out the link below.  This is my entry on the deletionpedia site.  Make a search for your favorite bands.  They’ve probably been deleted too.  Post your results as a comment to me.  I’m curious how many honest people have been deleted.

Even Roger McGuinn has had his run in with Wikipedia over pictures he has tried posting. 

Wikipedia deleted the photo I put on my page as a blatant copyright violation. Hey I own it and their removal of it is vandalism! 

and

Trying to put a photo on my Wikipedia page is extremely difficult! I put it up they delete it and say “You aren’t Roger McGuinn himself?”

Look here: 

 

Retrieved from http://deletionpedia.dbatley.com/w/index.php?title=Jim_Guittard_%28deleted_05_Apr_2008_at_00:09%29

Bard Fest 2008

Last weekend I played at a festival in Lovech, Bulgaria.  There were over 40 guitarists who call themselves “Bards.”  It was a rather nice event.  I will admit that I was very nervous getting up to play because I hadn’t played  public in over two years.  I guess it was kinda similiar to Elvis’ 1968 Comeback but I didn’t have the nice leather outfit.

The whole Bard movement is especially needed in Bulgaria.  The whole Chalga thing will wither away I predict when people wake up to how stupid it is.  I mean Aziz, what’s so great about this guy?  Nothing at all. 

The Bards sing about meaningful and important stuff not just kickin’ it with your homies in da club.  So I hope that those in Bulgaria with take up the Bard cause.  The Revolution Is Now!  Are you tuned in or tuned out?

My girlfriend filmed me and so here I post me playing my song “Stachkata.”  I wrote the song back a year ago and it caused quite a stink with the powers that be:  namely the Peace Corps.  I almost got kicked out of it.  The song has survived.  For you non-Bulgarian readers, the song was written for the nation-wide teachers strike in Bulgaria that lasted two months.

Jim Guittard – Stachkata

Rico Chords

*Use capo at 4th Fret

Intro
Am Dm Am Em

Am
Rico’s loudly barking
Dm
At the door guarding
Am Em
Only he knows against what.

Am
Could be another mutt.
Dm
Or maybe a rat.
Am Em
There’s something behind the door.

G D C Am C D
Only he knows what is there
G D C Am C D
He’s a cool dog you should trust.

Am
He’s a cool dog.
Dm
Sleeps like a log.
Am Em
In the morning, he’s out to jog.

Am
He’s white like a sheep.
Dm
Jumps at every beep.
Am Em
Even from a deep sleep.

Am
He’s a bit hyper.
Dm
Would be a good sniper.
Am Em
He’s as sly as a viper.

G D C Am C D
Only he knows what is there
G D C Am C D
He’s a cool dog you should trust.

Am
Now he’s asleep again.
Dm
Dreaming with a grin.
Am Em
What will he do the next day?

Am
Who knows he’ll do something.
Dm

Am Em Am

Words and Music by Jim Guittard 2007
Rico

Chords for “Pernik”

Pernik

Intro
A       G       D       A 2x

A       G       D       A
Az znam malko Bulgarski.
A       G       D       A
Az iskam da oocha Bulgarski.
A       G       D       A
Sega az jivaya v Pernik.

E                               D       A
Moje bi posle ste znam minogo Bulgarski.
E                               D       A
Moje bi posle ste znam minogo Bulgarski.

Break
A       G       D       A 2x

A       G       D       A
I know little Bulgarian.
A       G       D       A
I want to learn Bulgarian.
A       G       D       A
Now I live in Pernik.

E                               D       A
Maybe later, I ll know a lot of Bulgarian.
E                               D       A
Maybe later, I ll learn a lot of Bulgarian.

Break
A       G       D       A 2x

A       G       D       A
Az znam malko Bulgarski.

Words and Music by Jim Guittard 2006

Pernik