Choogle On with Uncle Weed

Beginning with a static-y 1996 AM radio interview during a power outage on the island of Guam Micronesia, then checking in from a goat farm in Japan decades later, then again from tiny isle in Indonesia, Uncle Weed weaves hempen stories and personal anecdotes about life on this remote USA “territory” including: selling hemp bags at Jeff’s Pirate Cove, advocating for legalization of cannabis in all forms, weird jobs (and quitting same), and current situation as Grassroots activists seek to fulfil will of voters for medical and recreational uses.

Ensure you have batteries for: Deep Cuts of Weed in Guam – Choogle On! #125 (.mp3, 192k stereo, 97MB, 1:10:33)

Notes:

Namechecks include:

Jobs at: SS Neptune, JFK High School, Star Sand Private Beach Club and Uncle Weed’s HempenWare

Anecdotes about cannabis use in: BC, Netherlands, Japan, Palau, and Federation States of Micronesia/Saipan (or is that Commonwealth of…), cloth from China and Hungary

Plus call-in question by: my Mom, Lauralee Elliottt (RiP)

Snippets of music from: Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, Bad Religion, Black Crowes, Talking Heads

Original music by boat captain Chris Jacobsen (Spilt Milk Music) and a story about Shabba Ranks and greetz from Black Ras in Westmoreland, Jamaica… and bespoke outro music by Bex (Lonesome Lost Traveler).

Thanks to John Bollwitt (audio tuning), David White (photo collage) and mysterious Japanese surfer girl 

Bonus photos: 

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From SXSW 2008 – amidst sirens and Austin, Texas 6th St. street noise – comes an interview with filmmaker Erich Weiss premièring “Hori Smoku, Sailor Jerry” about the originator of contemporary tattoo-ing – and iconoclastic libertarian American – Norman Collins who combined Japanese technique, Polynesian traditions, and American motifs in Hawaii during WW2.

The interview delves into the the “screwed, boozed (blued), and  tattooed” wild culture as a million sailors and soldiers descended upon the idyllic islands (especially Hotel Street), plus Mr. Collins’ complex life, the artistic lineage of Sailor Jerry, rivalries and legacies of various tattoo artists/legends, mentorships of Don Ed Hardy and others, and the remarks about “fad” tattooing and (lack of) regret. 

https://archive.org/download/choogleon-124-tattoo-culture-sailor-jerry/choogleon-124-tattoo-culture-sailor-jerry.mp3

Might hurt a bit: Sailor Jerry Tattoo Culture – Choogle On with Uncle Weed #124 (.mp3, stereo, 30MB, 14:44)

View the film (c/o Sailor Jerry Rum et al) at: + Sailor Jerry brand Youtube (via Sailor Jerry blog) + title art sequence on Vimeo / R. Kyle Shoup + IMdb for Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry: The Life of Norman K. Collins (2008) + Buy on Hori Smoku on Amazon

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On a forgotten forest walk, Dave riffs a story about first trip to Europe – starting with trying not to puke over an Amsterdam bridge after a meeting new temporary coffee shop pals – with flashback to Mexican desert trips with Grandpa, LSD trips with VW bus-fixing pals, and family Grateful Dead road trip to in Arizona.

Foreshadows future stories of an rapid exit from London to Florida then a (rather dangerous) driveway car to Dallas, bus to SLC, flight to Vancouver, then to Japan…

https://archive.org/download/postcards-73-eyes-towards-europe/postcards-73-eyes-towards-europe.mp3

Stuff your rucksack for: Eyes Towards Europe – Postcard #73 (54MB, 37:18, mp3, stereo)

Features music by Grateful Dead in Phoenix, Arizona, March 6, 1994, (Desert Sky Pavilion) playing “Eyes of the World” and “When I Paint my Masterpiece” via Archive.org, (taped by Mike Darby, transferred by Keo).

photo by DaveO

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High in Jamaica, Uncle Weed visits Black Ras’ abundant mountain growfield to discuss “swamp weed” grown in morass versus “hard land weed” grown in volcanic soil with bat guano, plus varieties of ganja strains – both domestic and imported. Plus background about his family teaching him the ways of growing most anything and living an Ital lifestyle.

https://archive.org/download/HumbleBoysHardLandWeed-ChoogleOnWithUncleWeed123/choogle-on-123-humble-boys-hard-land-weed.mp3

Head to the hills for: Humble Boys Hard Land Weed – Choogle On with Uncle Weed #123  (.mp3, stereo, 30MB, 14:44)

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In-depth discussion with rock art photographer bev. davies including: hippie days with Neil Young and Joan Anderson (Joni Mitchell), shooting punk pioneers DOA and Subhumans, Motörhead in a park, David Bowie in a stadium, Brian Jonestown Massacre flipping off crowd and so many more.  Also stories from backstage with Iron Maiden and Twisted Sister, Nardwuar collaborations, Duran Duran posing at soundcheck, and remarks about various Vancouver venues.

Plus insights about role of photographer as artist, conundrums of accreditation and access, reasons for a long hiatus, crafting the perfect shot, shoes versus sneakers, origins of calendars and exhibits, and plans for a book. Recorded August 2010 in Strathcona, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

https://archive.org/download/PunkArtPhotogBev.Davies-ChoogleOn122/Punk%20Art%20Photog%20_%20bev.%20davies%20%E2%80%93%20Choogle%20On%20%23122.mp3

Load your film for: Punk Art Photog / bev. davies – Choogle On #122 – (59:35, .mp3, 85MB)

bev. on internets: Twitter, Flickr (since Sept. 2005) “Return to the Scene of the Crime” – bev. davies’  photo exhibit at Smilin’ Buddha Café (DaveO video) Building A Scene – Rock & Roll Photography – panel w/ bev. davies & Kris Krüg (DaveO preso  at Northern Voice 2009 / Video + re-cap)

Bev Davies’ 144 Punk Rock Photos 1979-1984 at Gem Gallery, Jan. 5, 2007 (DaveO photo gallery)

Forgotten Vancouver Stories – comments and anecdotes by bev. (DaveO preso at  Northern Voice, 2013) The black-and-white world of photographer Bev Davies – Article by Tom Hawthorn (March 7, 2012) w/ photos of Joan Jett, James Brown, U2 etc.

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Embarking on meandering natural healing journey around Asia, Indian sub-continent, Arabia, Mediterranean, across Canada, US rocky mountain canyons, and to Grateful Dead anniversary shows while emerging from a fog after chronic and complex illness diagnosis resulting in lost years due to prescription meds. 

https://daveostory.com/wp-content/uploads/Field-Notes-from-Elsewhere-Choogle-On-121.mp3

Hit the golden road for: Field Notes from Elsewhere – Choogle On! #121 (160k .mp3, 105MB, 1:03:20)

Now, rebuilding after period of de-identification, I’m sharing stories into the world again – plus riffs about upcoming dispatches, other audio/video projects, annoyance about former prosecutors / cops / “carpetbaggers” getting into nascent legal cannabis industry… and hence, the importance of recognizing hemp pioneers.

Background soundscapes from a balcony in Istanbul, trail in Nepal, cafe in Rome, Whiskey Hickon Boys (from Utah) in Chicago and others in Grateful Dead lot + Lazarus by The Black Tories.

And i misspoke saying “Desolation Row” when i obviously meant “When i Paint my Masterpiece” – drrr

HempenRoad – 1996/7 documentary about commercial industrial hemp with activists (including recently departed Dennis Peron), scientists and entrepreneurs

Practical Guide to Cannabis – guide for policy makers made with Hemp Ed in WA state circa 1997

Postcards from Gravelly Beach – spoken word literature/poetry pod series exploring beats writers like Kerouac, Snyder, Ginsberg et al who were nascent cannabis enthusiasts

NOTE: All Choogle On! back-episodes are (back) online and archived thanks to mysterious elves. Refresh your feeds, reports errors.

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With scant days to go, Uncle Weed reflects on expectations, better realized – plus shares affection for kind people, the important of finding authenticity and supporting local economy– all while embarking on final steps before leaving, including: visiting Mr. Lawrence, the lifeguard; packing up jerk spice and mango chutney; detailing the geometric woodwork in the Queen’s Cottage’s roof; plus mops up a few stories, chats about PM Michael Manley’s Canadian ties, and dives into the sea… before saying good-bye to the Jamaican people by celebrating optimism about the free island’s place in the world.

http://http://archive.org/download/TheWayHomeforeverWillISeeYouMoreChoogleOnJamaicaScheme10/TheWayHomeChoogleOnJamaicaScheme10.mp3

Last time for everything in The Way Home (Forever will i see you more) ~ Choogle On Jamaica Scheme #10 (.mp3, stereo, 128kbps, 28:18)

Music Snippets: Pressure Drop, Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros Love Fever, Roy Rayon Bam Bam, Toots Hibbert Sun is Shining, Bob Marley and the Wailers

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“Mongooses are like ninja squirrels – stealth, rat-eating machines. They kinda look like squirrels but squirrels are gentle, nut-eating creatures and mongooses (mongeese) are feared sniper killers.”  

After more banter about lobsters, reggae and food, Uncle Weed offers observations about music industry, taxi drivers, civic pride, pothole filling, corrupt government and cynicism, devalued currency, human potential, news of the day, Patois remix, ninja squirrel mongoose, Rasta culture, fireflies, coconuts, kids doing homework, bats catching mosquitos, meaning of goats, donkeys strolling, swimming (or lack thereof), varieties of crabs, Prime Minsterial hijinks, calling elections, cruise ships, markets, churches, and Jamaica-Canada connections. 

http://http://archive.org/download/CulturalFieldNotesForRamblersChoogleOnJamaicaScheme9/CulturalFieldNotesForRamblersChoogleOnJamaicaScheme9.mp3

Notebooks and pencils ready for Cultural Field Notes For Ramblers ~ Choogle On Jamaica Scheme #9 (.mp3, stereo, 128kbps, 42:00)

Music Snippets:  Dance Dis Ya Festival by Freddie McKay Boom Shaka Laka by Hopeton Lewis Give Thanks and Praises, by Ray Rayon Play Di Music by Tinga Stewart Proud to Be Jamaican by Eric Donaldson Stop and Go by Unknown Cherry Oh Baby by Eric Donaldson Land of my Birth by Eric Donaldson Come Sing with Me by Stanley and the Turbine Sweet Jamaica by Eric Donaldson Jump in the Line by Marvin Brooks

Bonus:  Map of Little Bay Photo Gallery Little Bay Cabins Facebook  Little Bay Cabins web Zimbali Retreat Also appears on Dopefiend podcast network

Podcast Goodness Postcards from Gravelly Beach – Literature podcast – Feed – iTunes – Blog Ephemeral Feasthouse – Prezo, interviews & spiels – Feed – Blog – Podcast Archived at: Archive.org

Visit Uncleweed.net for more writings, podcasts, paintings and photos Follow along via Twitter @uncleweed and/or @choogleon

Gear I use Koss Sterophones, M-Audio MicroTrack II, M-Audio Solo audio interface, Griffin iMic and Sony Microphone – in case you were wondering.

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