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The Duke's Views
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The
Eye of the Storm
-- Posted by The_Duke
on Thursday, September 9 2004
Greetings and welcome to more ramblings from The Duke!
I am The Duke and I will be your host for however long
it will take you to read this.
The past seven days were quite interesting. Myself,
Sean Delson (bassist for the not-so-famous) and Shawn
Grove (studio engineer to the stars), left Atlanta last
Wednesday, Sept. 1st and headed for Tampa, Florida.
This proved to be an interesting decision since we were
heading right into the path of a hurricane. The joke
of the trip was that I was going to stand on the roof
of my car, look up at the sky laughing and shaking my
fist as if to taunt God himself, and scream, "Is this
all you got?!" This technique was first mastered by
Lt. Dan from Forrest Gump.
The main agenda of our Tampa excursion was to:
- Continue working on a DVD that will
chronicle the history of Stuck Mojo in video, images
and words.
- On Thursday we would attend the OzzFest and hang
with "The King", Mr Wylde.
- On Saturday we would attend a birthday party for
the lovely wife of Mr. Jericho.
- On Saturday night we would attend the Alter Bridge
(Mark Tremonti’s new band) show in neighboring
St Petersburg.
- Start compiling video footage for an upcoming Fozzy
DVD.
On Thursday afternoon Ed, Delson, Grove and I met up
with CJ (Chris Jericho) in the backstage area of OzzFest.
Jericho brought his wife, her friend Lisa, his cousin
Chad and the WWE's Edge (Adam). All of us proceeded
to Zakk's bus where, for the next two hours, we would
be entertained by Zakk's blend of comedy and story telling.
For those who have not had the opportunity to meet Zakk,
he could be the funniest man alive.
L to R: CJ, Ed, Shawn, me, Jess, Chad, Adam, Lisa, Timmy
(kneeling)
After the visit we watched Zakk rip it up during the Black
Label Society set. Then we shelled out $12 for a chicken
wrap and a Pepsi.
Out of curiosity, Edge and I went back into the venue
to catch a Super Joint Ritual tune and later a couple
from Dimmu Borgir. We even stood on the side of the stage
for a couple of songs during Slayer's set. But in all
honesty, we were all most interested in seeing Judas Priest
reunited. We were all right down front for Priest and
when the Electric Eye intro started we all flipped out.
They were great, but I thought that the sound was a bit
off, so I was a little let down.
Black Label Society tear it up on the main stage.
It had been a long, hot day so our plan was to see maybe
two Sabbath songs and then jet. I love Sabbath, but I
just didn't want to be disappointed and was afraid to
see them this late in their career. Regardless, we stayed
right down front and hoped that it wouldn't be a musical
bloodbath.
Zakk and I examine a box containing a strange, stringed
device.
God All-mighty!!! They were the loudest band that I have
ever heard! And at that moment I knew that I was witnessing
greatness. Geezer's bass rig was so loud that during the
song Black Sabbath, I almost shit myself. The band was
sloppy and Ozzy hit more wrong notes than Miles Davis
sitting in with AC/DC. But it was real and the vibe they
laid down was so thick, I honestly had a physical reaction.
I rarely feel it like that when I go to see live shows,
but I guess that's why they are credited as the greatest
metal band of all time. We left after the show, deaf and
with brown stains in our underwear. It didn't matter because
we next went to Steak and Shake and ate ourselves into
a coma.
The next day Ed and I spent all day going through hours
of interviews and live footage for the Mojo DVD. We also
scanned hundreds of photos, flyers, magazine covers and
other Mojo memorabilia. Around 4:00 p.m. Mark Tremonti
called to let me know that the Alter Bridge show was cancelled
because of the hurricane so we were a little bummed out.
That night we watched Bubba Ho-Tep, a must see for campy
horror movie or Bruce Campbell fans. Then I stayed up
all night watching the replay of the RNC convention. Horror
movies and politics, I'm just keeping it real.
Saturday morning was more of the same. We continued working
on the Mojo DVD. We were also keeping an eye on the weather
because the first waves of the hurricane were due to hit
around 6 or 7 p.m. We left Ed's at 2:00 p.m. and headed
to Jericho's palace for the birthday bash. We got there
right as the Outback caterers had put out the feast and
we proceeded to eat ourselves into another calorie-induced
coma. We hung out with the other guests who included Billy
Kidman, Torrie Wilson, Edge and one of Delson's old pals
from the Tampa area. We left around 6 to avoid to the
50 mile per hour winds that were approaching. We caught
a little weather on the drive back but nothing too serious.
That night we watched a documentary movie called Driver
23. If you love to watch people whose lives are a complete
disaster just so you can feel better about your existence,
then this is your movie.
By Sunday morning hurricane Frances was close enough to
start showing its muscle. We got a little more work done
on the Mojo project until the hurricane knocked out our
power at 11:30 in the morning. So we spent the rest of
the day watching trees get blown down in Ed's neighborhood.
Luckily, his place sustained no damage.
Ed had the foresight to purchase a good-sized portable
generator earlier in the week so, by the time evening
came around, we had fired it up and had the basics covered
(refidgerators, freezer, lights, TV, etc.) We cooked out
that night for dinner and afterwards I watched the NASCAR
race on a TV smaller than a piece of bread (due to the
fact that Ed had neglected to get old-fashioned rabbit-ears
for his other TV’s which normally have cable). I got a
headache from squinting to see the screen, but I was damn
lucky to have it. The power came back on at midnight so
Ed and I worked for a few hours while Grove watched American
Movie. Another must-see film.
The next morning we left for home which is a trip that
should take no more than 8 hours usually. Of course that
timeframe reflects a pace free of hurricane winds and
a constant, blinding rain. After a 12 hour trip that included
witnessing dozens of rollover accidents littering the
side of Interstate 75, we arrived home exhausted, but
unharmed.
So that sums up our little Florida adventure this week.
Just a glimpse into the world of The Duke. Next week Ed
will be coming up to my neighborhood (pending the course
of hurricane Ivan) for his annual pilgrimage to the ProgPower
metal festival. We’ll continue to work on the Mojo and
Fozzy DVD’s as well as some new Duke tunes and other surprises
for you all.
Below is the speech that Arnold gave at the RNC convention.
I found it really inspiring, so I thought that I would
pass it along. Give it a read if you have a moment. In
the meantime, just remember that happiness is a choice
and I encourage all of you to spend this week doing what
you’re supposed to do.
Talk to you again soon!
The Duke
Text of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Address at the RNC
What a greeting!
This is like winning an Oscar! ...As if I would know!
Speaking of acting, one of my movies was called "True
Lies." It's what the Democrats should have called their
convention.
My fellow Americans, this is an amazing moment for me.
To think that a once scrawny boy from Austria could grow
up to become Governor of California and stand in Madison
Square Garden to speak on behalf of the President of the
United States that is an immigrant's dream. It is the
American dream.
I was born in Europe ...and I've traveled all over the
world. I can tell you that there is no place, no country,
more compassionate more generous more accepting and more
welcoming than the United States of America.
As long as I live, I will never forget that day 21 years
ago when I raised my hand and took the oath of citizenship.
Do you know how proud I was? I was so proud that I walked
around with an American flag around my shoulders all day
long.
Tonight, I want to talk about why I'm even more proud
to be an American — why I'm proud to be a Republican and
why I believe this country is in good hands.
When I was a boy, the Soviets occupied part of Austria.
I saw their tanks in the streets. I saw communism with
my own eyes. I remember the fear we had when we had to
cross into the Soviet sector. Growing up, we were told,
"Don't look the soldiers in the eye. Look straight ahead."
It was a common belief that Soviet soldiers could take
a man out of his own car and ship him off to the Soviet
Union as slave labor.
My family didn't have a car — but one day we were in my
uncle's car. It was near dark as we came to a Soviet checkpoint.
I was a little boy, I wasn't an action hero back then,
and I remember how scared I was that the soldiers would
pull my father or my uncle out of the car and I'd never
see him again. My family and so many others lived in fear
of the Soviet boot. Today, the world no longer fears the
Soviet Union and it is because of the United States of
America!
As a kid I saw the socialist country that Austria became
after the Soviets left. I love Austria and I love the
Austrian people — but I always knew America was the place
for me. In school, when the teacher would talk about America,
I would daydream about coming here. I would sit for hours
watching American movies transfixed by my heroes like
John Wayne. Everything about America seemed so big to
me so open, so possible.
I finally arrived here in 1968. I had empty pockets, but
I was full of dreams. The presidential campaign was in
full swing. I remember watching the Nixon and Humphrey
presidential race on TV. A friend who spoke German and
English, translated for me. I heard Humphrey saying things
that sounded like socialism, which is what I had just
left. But then I heard Nixon speak. He was talking about
free enterprise, getting government off your back, lowering
taxes and strengthening the military. Listening to Nixon
speak sounded more like a breath of fresh air.
I said to my friend, "What party is he?" My friend said,
"He's a Republican." I said, "Then I am a Republican!"
And I've been a Republican ever since! And trust me, in
my wife's family, that's no small achievement! I'm proud
to belong to the party of Abraham Lincoln, the party of
Teddy Roosevelt, the party of Ronald Reagan (news - web
sites) and the party of George W. Bush.
To my fellow immigrants listening tonight, I want you
to know how welcome you are in this party. We Republicans
admire your ambition. We encourage your dreams. We believe
in your future. One thing I learned about America is that
if you work hard and play by the rules, this country is
truly open to you. You can achieve anything.
Everything I have my career my success my family I owe
to America. In this country, it doesn't make any difference
where you were born. It doesn't make any difference who
your parents were. It doesn't make any difference if,
like me, you couldn't even speak English until you were
in your twenties.
America gave me opportunities and my immigrant dreams
came true. I want other people to get the same chances
I did, the same opportunities. And I believe they can.
That's why I believe in this country, that's why I believe
in this party and that's why I believe in this President.
Now, many of you out there tonight are "Republican" like
me in your hearts and in your beliefs. Maybe you're from
Guatemala. Maybe you're from the Philippines. Maybe Europe
or the Ivory Coast. Maybe you live in Ohio, Pennsylvania
or New Mexico. And maybe just maybe you don't agree with
this party on every single issue. I say to you tonight
I believe that's not only okay, that's what's great about
this country.
Here we can respectfully disagree and still be patriotic
still be American and still be good Republicans.
My fellow immigrants, my fellow Americans, how do you
know if you are a Republican? I'll tell you how.
If you believe that government should be accountable to
the people, not the people to the government...then you
are a Republican! If you believe a person should be treated
as an individual, not as a member of an interest group...
then you are a Republican! If you believe your family
knows how to spend your money better than the government
does...
then you are a Republican! If you believe our educational
system should be held accountable for the progress of
our children ... then you are a Republican! If you believe
this country, not the United Nations (news - web sites),
is the best hope of democracy in the world ... then you
are a Republican! And, ladies and gentlemen ...if you
believe we must be fierce and relentless and terminate
terrorism ... then you are a Republican!
There is another way you can tell you're a Republican.
You have faith in free enterprise, faith in the resourcefulness
of the American people ... and faith in the U.S. economy.
To those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy,
I say: "Don't be economic girlie men!"
The U.S. economy remains the envy of the world. We have
the highest economic growth of any of the world's major
industrialized nations.
Don't you remember the pessimism of 20 years ago when
the critics said Japan and Germany were overtaking the
U.S.? Ridiculous!
Now they say India and China are overtaking us. Don't
you believe it! We may hit a few bumps — but America always
moves ahead! That's what Americans do!
We move prosperity ahead. We move freedom ahead. We move
people ahead.
Under President Bush (news - web sites) and Vice President
Cheney, America's economy is moving ahead in spite of
a recession they inherited and in spite of the attack
on our homeland.
Now, the other party says there are two Americas. Don't
believe that either. I've visited our troops in Iraq (news
- web sites), Kuwait, Bosnia, Germany and all over the
world. I've visited our troops in California, where they
train before they go overseas. And I've visited our military
hospitals. And I can tell you this: Our young men and
women in uniform do not believe there are two Americas!
They believe we are one America and they are fighting
for it! We are one America — and President Bush is defending
it with all his heart and soul!
That's what I admire most about the President. He's a
man of perseverance.
He's a man of inner strength. He is a leader who doesn't
flinch, doesn't waiver, does not back down. My fellow
Americans, make no mistake about it terrorism is more
insidious than communism, because it yearns to destroy
not just the individual, but the entire international
order.
The President didn't go into Iraq because the polls told
him it was popular. As a matter of fact, the polls said
just the opposite. But leadership isn't about polls. It's
about making decisions you think are right and then standing
behind those decisions. That's why America is safer with
George W. Bush as President.
He knows you don't reason with terrorists. You defeat
them. He knows you can't reason with people blinded by
hate. They hate the power of the individual. They hate
the progress of women. They hate the religious freedom
of others. They hate the liberating breeze of democracy.
But ladies and gentlemen, their hate is no match for America's
decency.
We're the America that sends out Peace Corps volunteers
to teach village children. We're the America that sends
out missionaries and doctors to raise up the poor and
the sick. We're the America that gives more than any other
country, to fight aids in Africa and the developing world.
And we're the America that fights not for imperialism
but for human rights and democracy.
You know, when the Germans brought down the Berlin Wall,
America's determination helped wield the sledgehammers.
When that lone, young Chinese man stood in front of those
tanks in Tiananmen Square, America's hopes stood with
him. And when Nelson Mandela smiled in election victory
after all those years in prison, America celebrated, too.
We are still the lamp lighting the world especially for
those who struggle. No matter in what labor camp, they
slave no matter in what injustice they're trapped — they
hear our call ... they see our light ... and they feel
the pull of our freedom. They come here as I did because
they believe. They believe in us.
They come because their hearts say to them, as mine did,
"If only I can get to America." Someone once wrote — "There
are those who say that freedom is nothing but a dream."
They are right. It's the American dream.
No matter the nationality, no matter the religion, no
matter the ethnic background, America brings out the best
in people. And as Governor of the great state of California
— I see the best in Americans every day ... our police,
our firefighters our nurses, doctors and teachers, our
parents.
And what about the extraordinary men and women who have
volunteered to fight for the United States of America!
I have such great respect for them and their heroic families.
Let me tell you about the sacrifice and commitment I've
seen firsthand.
In one of the military hospitals I visited, I met a young
guy who was in bad shape. He'd lost a leg had a hole in
his stomach ... his shoulder had been shot through.
I could tell there was no way he could ever return to
combat. But when I asked him, "When do you think you'll
get out of the hospital?" He said, "Sir, in three weeks."
And do you know what he said to me then? He said he was
going to get a new leg ... and get some therapy ... and
then he was going back to Iraq to serve alongside his
buddies! He grinned at me and said, "Arnold ... I'll be
back!"
Ladies and gentlemen, America is back! Back from the attack
on our homeland — back from the attack on our economy,
back from the attack on our way of life. We're back because
of the perseverance, character and leadership of the 43rd
President of the United States, George W. Bush.
My fellow Americans ...I want you to know that I believe
with all my heart that America remains "the great idea"
that inspires the world.
It's a privilege to be born here. It's an honor to become
a citizen here. It's a gift to raise your family here
to vote here and to live here.
Our president, George W. Bush, has worked hard to protect
and preserve the American dream for all of us. That's
why I say ... send him back to Washington for four more
years!
Thank you, America — and God bless you all!
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