BS: Wot no Rick?

Subject: RE: BS: Wot no Rick?
From: catspaw49
Date: 20 Jan 00 - 10:07 AM

Well there ya' go...........A lot of bucks up in smoke because someone has a conscience. I dunno' what the world is coming to anymore. Here we are, ready to join the "Big Bucks Club" and retire to the islands, when the moralist rears up and declares a lack of verisimilitude, whatever ta' hell that is....but it don't sound good....kinda' like a dog fart in bed. Oh well.......

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Wot no Rick?
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 20 Jan 00 - 10:20 AM

"Spaw,

Not to worry, verisimilitude is just the proper name for that marvelllous stringed instrument known as a Swinette, another thing we could market a commemorative issue of.

Subject: RE: BS: Wot no Rick?
From: Peter T.
Date: 20 Jan 00 - 10:31 AM

Hmm. Do I sense an underlying lack of committment to this enterprise? I think it has a real chance of working as revised. yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Wot no Rick?
From: kendall
Date: 21 Jan 00 - 08:48 AM

This has been a very entertaining thread. You people are great! Now, back to the original thought. How do we get the powers that be to give Rick the recognition he deserves? In any case, Boots, I think, like Penelope, you should decide who takes Ricks place. That will take some time I'm sure.

Subject: RE: BS: Wot no Rick?
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Jan 00 - 09:21 AM

Well Kendall.......Since we can't seem to go into the Dead Zone, perhaps we need to work on his image. I mean the guy is one helluva' singer, picker, and songwriter, but that obviously doesn't enter into the equation here. Celine "gives up" her career because of her husband's illness. The fact that he has gone through some of the worst times alone while she was still out on the road doesn't seem to bother anybody for some reason...I guess better late than never. But it sure has boosted her "pity" factor. Let's not put 'Boots through all that. Maybe there is something in the Neil Young thing for us. If we can get Rick to act completely crazed, spout off random nonsense in copious quantities, not bathe on a regular basis, and scratch like a man with jock itch, chiggers, and head lice, then we might have a shot.

I fear that writing campaigns and the like will have little effect except to bring you official government cursory responses in PR jargon that can be summarized in two words..."Blow Me." But, I'm open to other ideas on Rick's behalf.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Wot no Rick?
From: Áine
Date: 21 Jan 00 - 10:03 AM

Hey 'Spaw -- You had a great idea there 'If we can get Rick to act completely crazed, spout off random nonsense in copious quantities, not bathe on a regular basis, and scratch like a man with jock itch, chiggers, and head lice...'; however, I'm afraid it's been done -- I don't know whether it was the US or Canada, but some woman just came down out of this tree that she's been sitting for two years protesting some lumber company's policies.

But, on second thought, the tree-sitting thing could be worked out, if we could wire Rick to the 'Net, then he and Max and Bert could do 'live from Rick's Tree' broadcasts on Mudcat Radio! Yea, that's it! See, that would still tie in all the great marketing ideas we've come up so far -- and I'm sure that YOU can think of some wild-a**ed thing Rick could be protesting up there in the tree. And himself really shouldn't mind staying up there a year or two -- Think of the song possibilities!!!

Wadya think??

-- Áine

Subject: RE: BS: Wot no Rick?
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Jan 00 - 11:16 AM

(OP)Toronto- In an act of unselfish hope, Canada's unsung hero, Rick Fielding, has been perched high above the city, in a huge tree, for the past year. In a pathetic effort to gain attention for folk music, he and the owner of the Mudcat Cafe, along with a Brit sidekick, have been broadcasting live on the Internet, every Wednesday for several weeks. No one can really understand what they are saying or playing, so most just smile, nod their heads, and encourage it as a seemingly harmless obsession.

Until now that is. Tonight tragedy struck. It seems Fielding and his cause have stirred up so much support, finally, that every member of the Canadian High Commission, along with members of Parliament, climbed their own tree in a counter-protest. Only thing is they failed to choose a big enough tree to support them all. Ambulance crews, led by the inimitable El Swanno, a mustachioed, flashingly heroic figure, are on the scene now, trying to sort out politicians from tree branches, while protesters of the Green Party, led by the elegant and righteous PeterT, picket the pols for tree murder.

All the while, the social activist members of Fielding's cadre, are passing out matchbooks, not to ignite anyone's pyre, but to make sure everyone celebrates with safe sex. The matchbooks cleverly hold one condom with instructions for proper use. On the cover of each matchbook is a picture of Fielding in his tree, with the caption, This one's the dreamer!

Now that international attention has gone to a full bore Fielding mania, the Canadian powers that be have declared every day a Rick Fileding/Folk Music day, legislating a mandatory hour of each morning and evening in which every man, woman, child, and beast is required to sing or play folk music. Fielding has been set up as the Minister of Folk and will inform all, each day, of what songs/tunes are appropriate for that day.

This reporter has it on good authority that Fielding, who has come down out of his tree to accept this new position, will be aided by a shadow government. From an unnamed source it has been discovered that members include the infamous Catspaw49, no one is sure if it really is only 49 personalities; the Mad Á Zamboni; fellow Torontian, using his real name, S. Latimer; a great big Mick who requires signatures and committments from everyone involved, and many others purported to be members of the Infinite Number Gang, associated with MudcatMax and his minions.

More reports as news happens.

END

Subject: RE: BS: Wot no Rick?
From: Peter T.
Date: 21 Jan 00 - 12:48 PM

Now we are talking Mudcat -- a tree house! "Broadcasting from high atop the lonesome pine, Rick Fielding and his Branch Swingers bring you the sweetest music this side of maple syrup.
And there is a bonus: if he takes his clothes off, he can be Yossarian.
(totally hilarious, kat).
yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: BS: Wot no Rick?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 21 Jan 00 - 12:50 PM

Hmmmm, still here eh?

Well, I rarely allow myself to "spout off nonsense" in public (even cyber-public) although I've been known to vent at great length into the ear-lobe of kindly folk sages like Sandy P. who never fails to give me proper advice.

Kendall (how's the truck buddy?) I have to tell you that recognition (in a mainstream way) is inextricably connected to:

1.Youth. "which I ain't"

2.Beauty. "not on the best day of my life"

3.Ambition. "next to most of the singer-songwriters I know, I have none."

4.Clout."can't stand coctail parties, won't join a political party, haven't had a hit record, never slept with Emmie Lou Harris, Lynda Ronstadt, or Joni Mitchell.

5.Death. "haven't done that yet".

6.Visibility. "too lazy to tour more that 7 weeks a year."

7.Acceptable Repertoire. "still sing too many traditional songs to be taken seriously."

8.Priority management. "spend more time on Mudcat than on career promotion."

But thanks for the support, anyway!

Rick

Subject: RE: BS: Wot no Rick?
From: Áine
Date: 21 Jan 00 - 12:56 PM

All that stuff is great, Rick -- but can you climb a tree?

-- Áine

Subject: RE: BS: Wot no Rick?
From: Wesley S
Date: 21 Jan 00 - 12:56 PM

Rick - Maybe if you ASKED Emmy Lou, Linda or Joni......:) :) :)

Subject: RE: BS: Wot no Rick?
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Jan 00 - 12:58 PM

Super kat!!!!!!!!

Now look Rick, all that's well and good but there's bound to be something.........I mean, if you just sit in a tree nekkid for a few days it could jump start your entire career.........Wait a minute.....I just got a mental image of that............................Gotta' think of something else.........

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Wot no Rick?
From: kendall
Date: 21 Jan 00 - 01:32 PM

Rick, I finally got my car running right, but, I just got hit with a phone bill for $1625.65 cents. It seems that the guy who set up my computer put in an access number which is a toll call for me. Now, the way I read this is, the gods dont want me to go to Florida, and, they are pulling out all the stops to keep me here. Now if I can only figure out why....

Subject: RE: BS: Wot no Rick?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 22 Jan 00 - 02:13 AM

Oh to hell with it Kendall, come to Toronto. It can't be any colder than New England.

Rick

Subject: RE: BS: Wot no Rick?
From: Peter T.
Date: 22 Jan 00 - 01:10 PM

O.K. !!! Now we are in bidding war for kendall!!!!!!We have no crocodiles here in Toronto, we don't have mosquitos, we love our swamps, we have Rick Fielding. What has Florida got that we don't? Many many more Quebecers, that is what Florida has.
yours, Peter T.