Why this Gritty, Non-Descript Little Man is My Hero

I know everyone is sick to death of hearing me talk about why this man means so much to me and why his horrifying illness is so devastating to me.

 A fuck I don't give. I will speak of it until eternity if I want to.

Ah, your unsolicited opinion regarding the things I care about?

Still looking...

The Daily Post asked me who my hero is. Actually, I have a few, but this one goes way back.

"But Cheese," you might say. "That dude totally does not look heroic. He's really low key. Heroes should dazzle!"

He does. He's just not flashy.

However, even though the music was the first thing I noticed, this isn't why he's my hero. A lot of people are musically talented (although this not flashy musician was kind of special.) That makes them admirable, but it doesn't make them heroes.

It's when I found out about the people behind the music that they became my heroes.

I was one of Those People. 

I was one of those people that other people put down to try and make themselves feel big.

I was ugly, or at least that's what I heard all the time.

So I deserved to be picked on.

So it was said.

I hated myself.

But I loved music.

I loved the raw power of this new music that I'd just found out about.

When I found out about the musicians behind it...

I knew they were making the music for people like me.

They didn't give a fuck about appealing to the cool crowd. They weren't part of the cool crowd. They'd probably been ostracized by the cool crowd, just like I had. 

They didn't approve of being shitty to people who didn't fit in, I could tell that. These guys weren't some trend, they were real. 

Someone like me really needed to know that people like this existed. People who would have been nice to me, even though I wasn't part of the Cool Crowd. People who would have told the people who were bullying me to go fuck themselves.

Gettin' it done low budget pre-MTV style.

"Well, that's all very nice, Cheese," you might say. "But you're a heterosexual female, and I guess the little guy has kind of a cute face, but a woman needs a real Manly Man to be her hero, and this dude looks like he'd blow away in a strong breeze. A hero should look something like this and make all the ladies swoon!"

Image Source

Well, ya know, who doesn't love them some Val Hallen? But what makes a person truly heroic is strength of character, not muscles or epic hair. Now, Val is a nice guy, and he does have strength of character, so I guess that makes him something of a hero. Still, I want to talk about why the little guy is my hero even though he doesn't look like one.

For someone living with mental illness, he was something of a role model. He was very shy, but bravely went into a career which meant being in the spotlight a lot of the time even though he was uncomfortable with being scrutinized. He struggled with depression and managed to overcome alcohol addiction in spite of the fact that without alcohol he would no longer have the ability to have a shot of Sociability.

He was known for being self-sacrificing, and even when he became extremely ill he didn't want to burden others with his problems. He was more concerned with the effect his illness would have on other people than with the effect it was having on him.

That he no longer knows what he did during his remarkable life, who the people he loves the most are, or even who he is breaks my heart in a million pieces. I will never forget him or what he did for a badly bullied, mentally ill girl through his music.

You are my hero, Malcolm Young. I love you. I don't care how saying that makes me look in the eyes of those who are concerned with keeping up appearances. You taught me not to give a fuck about those who look down their nose at those of us who are different. I know you struggled with some of the same things I struggle with. I think you were and are beautiful both inside and out. You are always in my heart.

Love always,

Cie

Monday's Music Moves My Broken Heart: AC/DC: TNT Live 1981

We love you so much, Malcolm Young, forever; and my damn broken heart feels like it's gonna fall out on the floor.

Love Always,

DJ Helena

for the KHEL 666 Krew

This week’s theme our spotlight dancer, Joyce Lansky wants ..

It’s called the Brevity Challenge.  

#1 Write ONE sentence or less on your post.

#2 Post ONE song that is under three minutes.

#3 Visit and post a SHORT comment on EVERY blog that follows the rules.

So the video is more like three and a half minutes and I totally don't care. In fact, just kill me or something. I already feel like my heart's been crushed to a pulp. Fact is, the only reason I'm participating in the blog hop is to make people aware of this horrible disease and that people who have it are still people deserving of kindness and respectful treatment; cause I sure don't feel particularly social right now.

~DJ Hell's Belle~

Wordless Wednesday: We Love You Angel

Original Eye in the Sky image credit:

Copyright: zadvinskiy / 123RF Stock Photo

Photoshop manipulation to add Lewy Body Dementia awareness ribbon:

DJ Cheesy

Six Word Saturday: Words We Can't Say Enough

We love you always, Malcolm Young

Like anyone who allows themselves to age naturally, Malcolm's face became wizened by time. He was a tiny person. However, he never looked frail until recently, and he always looked alert, as if he was taking everything in and processing it, figuring out what came next at all times. In recent photos, that look was gone, as if he was struggling just to get along. It's heartbreaking.

Dementia sucks. It sucks. And then it sucks some more. It robs its victims of their minds, of the light in their eyes, of their ability to recognize even those they loved the most. It robs those who love the sufferer of his or her ability to give the gift of themselves. 

Fuck you, dementia in all its forms. Just fuck you. 

I wish I had something more intelligent to say. Unfortunately, that is how helpless such a condition leaves everyone it touches.

~DJ Blooming Psycho~

Angus and Malcolm Young: Real Brotherly Love

 

We have learned that Malcolm Young's dementia is so fast-moving that his wife had to put him in a long term care facility. He doesn't remember things that happened just minutes before. His short term memory has been totally wiped.

Some of the team have gone through this sort of thing with parents or uncles and aunts, or grandparents. But to endure it with your sibling, your best friend, must be a hell beyond compare.

Angus has said of Malcolm that he felt that Malcolm was actually the better guitarist. He wasn't flashy, he provided a solid wall of sound. But Malcolm, according to Angus, could kick anyone's ass, including Angus', had Angus ever acted like some sort of prima donna.

Malcolm Young put up with no shit. He was scrappy. But he was also a generous, caring soul. He took it upon himself to call Bon Scott's mother personally following Bon's death, so she wouldn't have to learn about the devastating loss from the news. He said it was one of the hardest things he ever had to do, and he agonized over it for a long time afterwards. He believed that Bon told him that he "did good," stating that he felt a hand on his shoulder and the presence of his departed friend.

Malcolm believed in doing the right thing. He once walked off the set of a TV show after they tried to goad him into swearing to make him look like more of a bad boy. He was moved to tears by the crushing death of fans at an ill-planned concert venue with general admission, and was deeply saddened by the deaths of the children at the Waco disaster.

Malcolm was married to his wife Linda since the late 1970's. He has a daughter named Cara and a son named Ross. It would be heartbreaking to see the love of your life and the father of your children decline so badly so quickly that you had to opt to put him in a nursing home because you could no longer properly care for him yourself. It would be heartbreaking to see your devoted father decline into a state where he no longer recognizes you.

For Angus, watching the person who was not only his brother but also his best friend fall into a state where he no longer recognizes those who mean the most to him must be a hell beyond compare. Only two years apart in age, these guys were close as could be. Both stated that they scrapped at times when they were younger, but it certainly didn't keep them from forming one of the deepest bonds we've ever seen. They didn't have to say it in words: they love each other and each would do anything for the other. They were inseparable.

We can only offer our sympathies and our greatest respects. There will never be another Malcolm Young. He was one of a kind. He always had such a spark. Who would have imagined that his life would play out in such a tragic way?

We never know what awaits us. We have to treasure the moment; we truly do. This sort of thing could, sadly, strike any one of us or someone we loved with great depth; perhaps someone we thought would always be there.

A bond like that which exists between Angus and Malcolm Young can never really be broken, not even by a tragedy of this magnitude. Their unmistakable loving filial ties will outlast both of them. A friendship such as theirs is forever.

All of our love to these two iconic brothers. You are in our hearts always.

 

Blooming Psycho

for the KHEL 666 Krew

Fire Danger

Such a tragedy. I don't know the details but I had some thoughts come to mind about greater fire danger in buildings that are poorly maintained or depreciated.

There are many people who live in sub-standard housing. The intent of my writing is not to blame those people for living in such conditions. If one is impoverished (or not even technically impoverished but nonetheless struggling financially) it is hard to keep up with proper building maintenance.

I myself live in a depreciated manufactured home. The fire dangers here are less than they might be in many homes. My furnace is not operational. I utilize space heaters in my sleeping area. The space heaters of old were very dangerous, but the modern ones have many safety features such as cool housing and a fail-safe which turns them off if they tip or overheat.

The stove which came with this building stopped working years ago. I have a countertop convection oven, a microwave, and a slow cooker. And if I were to be completely honest, I eat a lot of takeout food.

Most of us are ill equipped to go into the world and start raising a family. Unless you come from a family with a parent who is very savvy about building safety (my father was. Sadly, he died in an accident when I was fifteen, but he passed on some good knowledge for his children.) you don't know what to look for. I had some idea what to look for. I also had my older brother with me when I was looking for my first apartment. He was like a second father.

People live in poverty for many reasons, most of which are no fault of their own. Mental and physical illness are two primary reasons for people ending up in sub-standard conditions.

However, it isn't only depreciated or sub-standard housing which has fire danger. One of my cousins moved into a townhome which, while not high end, was not sub-standard by appearances. It had been built in the mid-seventies. The wiring was aluminum, which was a cost-cutting method used at the time it was constructed. It is also very risky. She and her then-husband had to spend $800 to have copper pigtails placed on the tips of the wires for safety.

This is the kind of stuff that isn't taught in schools. If your parents don't know it, the likelihood is, you won't either. And believe me, homebuilders and even regulatory agencies really do not give a shit.

Jukebox Heroes Badfinger Documentary

Another documentary about Badfinger.

Firefighter Heroes of 9-11-2001

This photo was shared by the Texas Fire Fighters page on Facebook.

They also shared a list of the firefighters who lost their lives in the 9/11 attack.

Thank you, folks. Rest in peace.

09.11.01
These are the names of The FDNY's 343 firefighters that gave their lives that day, this is in memory of them...

Joseph Agnello, Lad.118
Lt. Brian Ahearn, Bat.13

Eric Allen, Sqd.18 (D)
Richard Allen, Lad.15
Cpt. James Amato, Sqd.1
Calixto Anaya Jr., Eng.4
Joseph Agnello, Lad.118
Lt. Brian Ahearn, Bat.13
Eric Allen, Sqd.18 (D)
Richard Allen, Lad.15
Cpt. James Amato, Sqd.1
Calixto Anaya Jr., Eng.4
Joseph Angelini, Res.1 (D)
Joseph Angelini Jr., Lad.4
Faustino Apostol Jr., Bat.2
David Arce, Eng.33
Louis Arena, Lad.5 (D)
Carl Asaro, Bat.9
Lt. Gregg Atlas, Eng.10
Gerald Atwood, Lad.21
Gerald Baptiste, Lad.9
A.C. Gerard Barbara,
Cmd. Ctr. Matthew Barnes, Lad.25
Arthur Barry, Lad.15
Lt.Steven Bates, Eng.235
Carl Bedigian, Eng.214
Stephen Belson, Bat.7
John Bergin, Res.5
Paul Beyer, Eng.6
Peter Bielfeld, Lad.42
Brian Bilcher, Sqd.1
Carl Bini, Res.5
Christopher Blackwell, Res.3
Michael Bocchino, Bat.48
Frank Bonomo, Eng.230
Gary Box, Sqd.1
Michael Boyle, Eng.33
Kevin Bracken, Eng.40
Michael Brennan, Lad.4
Peter Brennan, Res.4
Cpt. Daniel Brethel, Lad.24 (D)
Cpt. Patrick Brown, Lad.3
Andrew Brunn, Lad.5 (D)
Cpt. Vincent Brunton, Lad.105
F.M. Ronald Bucca
Greg Buck, Eng.201
Cpt. William Burke Jr., Eng.21
A.C. Donald Burns, Cmd. Ctr.
John Burnside, Lad.20
Thomas Butler, Sqd.1
Patrick Byrne, Lad.101
George Cain, Lad.7
Salvatore Calabro, Lad.101
Cpt. Frank Callahan, Lad.35
Michael Cammarata, Lad.11
Brian Cannizzaro, Lad.101
Dennis Carey, Hmc.1
Michael Carlo, Eng.230
Michael Carroll, Lad.3
Peter Carroll, Sqd.1 (D)
Thomas Casoria, Eng.22
Michael Cawley, Lad.136
Vernon Cherry, Lad.118
Nicholas Chiofalo, Eng.235
John Chipura, Eng.219
Michael Clarke, Lad.2
Steven Coakley, Eng.217
Tarel Coleman, Sqd.252
John Collins, Lad.25
Robert Cordice, Sqd.1
Ruben Correa, Eng.74
James Coyle, Lad.3
Robert Crawford, Safety
Lt. John Crisci, H.M.
B.C. Dennis Cross, Bat.57 (D)
Thomas Cullen III, Sqd. 41
Robert Curatolo, Lad.16 (D)
Lt. Edward D'Atri, Sqd.1
Michael D'Auria, Eng.40
Scott Davidson, Lad.118
Edward Day, Lad.11
B.C. Thomas DeAngelis, Bat. 8
Manuel Delvalle, Eng.5
Martin DeMeo, H.M. 1
David DeRubbio, Eng.226
Lt. Andrew Desperito, Eng.1 (D)
B.C. Dennis Devlin, Bat.9
Gerard Dewan, Lad.3
George DiPasquale, Lad.2
Lt. Kevin Donnelly, Lad.3
Lt. Kevin Dowdell, Res.4
B.C. Raymond Downey, Soc.
Gerard Duffy, Lad.21
Cpt. Martin Egan, Jr., Div.15 (D)
Michael Elferis, Eng.22
Francis Esposito, Eng.235
Lt. Michael Esposito, Sqd.1
Robert Evans, Eng.33
B.C. John Fanning, H.O.
Cpt. Thomas Farino, Eng.26
Terrence Farrell, Res.4
Cpt. Joseph Farrelly, Div.1
Dep. Comm. William Feehan,
(D) Lee Fehling, Eng.235
Alan Feinberg, Bat.9
Michael Fiore, Res.5
Lt. John Fischer, Lad.20
Andre Fletcher, Res.5
John Florio, Eng.214
Lt. Michael Fodor, Lad.21
Thomas Foley, Res.3
David Fontana, Sqd.1
Robert Foti, Lad.7
Andrew Fredericks, Sqd.18
Lt. Peter Freund, Eng.55
Thomas Gambino Jr., Res.3
Chief of Dept. Peter Ganci, Jr. (D)
Lt. Charles Garbarini, Bat.9
Thomas Gardner, Hmc.1
Matthew Garvey, Sqd.1
Bruce Gary, Eng.40
Gary Geidel, Res.1
B.C. Edward Geraghty, Bat.9
Dennis Germain, Lad.2
Lt. Vincent Giammona, Lad.5
James Giberson, Lad.35
Ronnie Gies, Sqd.288
Paul Gill, Eng.54
Lt. John Ginley, Eng.40
Jeffrey Giordano, Lad.3
John Giordano, Hmc.1
Keith Glascoe, Lad.21
James Gray, Lad.20
B.C. Joseph Grzelak, Bat.48
Jose Guadalupe, Eng.54
Lt. Geoffrey Guja, Bat.43
Lt. Joseph Gullickson, Lad.101
David Halderman, Sqd.18
Lt. Vincent Halloran, Lad.8
Robert Hamilton, Sqd.41
Sean Hanley, Lad.20 (D)
Thomas Hannafin, Lad.5
Dana Hannon, Eng.26
Daniel Harlin, Lad.2
Lt. Harvey Harrell, Res.5
Lt. Stephen Harrell, Bat.7
Cpt. Thomas Haskell, Jr., Div.15
Timothy Haskell, Sqd.18 (D)
Cpt. Terence Hatton, Res.1
Michael Haub, Lad.4
Lt. Michael Healey, Sqd.41
John Hefferman, Lad.11
Ronnie Henderson, Eng.279
Joseph Henry, Lad.21
William Henry, Res.1 (D)
Thomas Hetzel, Lad.13
Cpt. Brian Hickey, Res.4
Lt. Timothy Higgins, S.O.C.
Jonathan Hohmann, Hmc.1
Thomas Holohan, Eng.6
Joseph Hunter, Sqd.288
Cpt. Walter Hynes, Lad.13 (D)
Jonathan Ielpi, Sqd.288
Cpt. Frederick Ill Jr., Lad.2
William Johnston, Eng.6
Andrew Jordan, Lad.132
Karl Joseph, Eng.207
Lt. Anthony Jovic, Bat.47
Angel Juarbe Jr., Lad.12
Mychal Judge, Chaplain
(D) Vincent Kane, Eng.22
B.C. Charles Kasper, S.O.C.
Paul Keating, Lad.5
Richard Kelly Jr., Lad.11
Thomas R. Kelly, Lad.15
Thomas W. Kelly, Lad.105
Thomas Kennedy, Lad.101
Lt. Ronald Kerwin, Sqd.288
Michael Kiefer, Lad.132
Robert King Jr., Eng.33
Scott Kopytko, Lad.15
William Krukowski, Lad.21
Kenneth Kumpel, Lad.25
Thomas Kuveikis, Sqd.252
David LaForge, Lad.20
William Lake, Res.2
Robert Lane, Eng.55
Peter Langone, Sqd.252
Scott Larsen, Lad.15
Lt. Joseph Leavey, Lad.15
Neil Leavy, Eng.217
Daniel Libretti, Res.2
Carlos Lillo, Paramedic
Robert Linnane, Lad.20
Michael Lynch, Eng.40
Michael Lynch, Lad.4
Michael Lyons, Sqd.41
Patrick Lyons, Sqd.252
Joseph Maffeo, Lad.101
William Mahoney, Res 4
Joseph Maloney, Lad.3 (D)
B.C. Joseph Marchbanks Jr, Bat.12
Lt. Charles Margiotta, Bat.22
Kenneth Marino, Res.1
John Marshall, Eng.23
Lt. Peter Martin, Res.2
Lt. Paul Martini, Eng.23
Joseph Mascali, T.S.U. 2
Keithroy Maynard, Eng.33
Brian McAleese, Eng.226
John McAvoy, Lad.3
Thomas McCann, Bat.8
Lt. William McGinn, Sqd.18
B.C. William McGovern, Bat.2 (D)
Dennis McHugh, Lad.13
Robert McMahon, Lad.20
Robert McPadden, Eng.23
Terence McShane, Lad.101
Timothy McSweeney, Lad.3
Martin McWilliams, Eng.22 (D)
Raymond Meisenheimer, Res.3
Charles Mendez, Lad.7
Steve Mercado, Eng.40
Douglas Miller, Res.5
Henry Miller Jr, Lad.105
Robert Minara, Lad.25
Thomas Mingione, Lad.132
Lt. Paul Mitchell, Bat.1
Capt. Louis Modafferi, Res.5
Lt. Dennis Mojica, Res.1 (D)
Manuel Mojica, Sqd.18 (D)
Carl Molinaro, Lad.2
Michael Montesi, Res.1
Capt. Thomas Moody, Div.1
B.C. John Moran, Bat.49
Vincent Morello, Lad.35
Christopher Mozzillo, Eng.55
Richard Muldowney Jr, Lad.07
Michael Mullan, Lad.12
Dennis Mulligan, Lad.2
Lt. Raymond Murphy, Lad.16
Lt. Robert Nagel, Eng.58
John Napolitano, Res.2
Peter Nelson, Res.4
Gerard Nevins, Res.1
Dennis O'Berg, Lad.105
Lt. Daniel O'Callaghan, Lad.4
Douglas Oelschlager, Lad.15
Joseph Ogren, Lad.3
Lt. Thomas O'Hagan, Bat.4
Samuel Oitice, Lad.4
Patrick O'Keefe, Res.1
Capt. William O'Keefe, Div.15 (D)
Eric Olsen, Lad.15
Jeffery Olsen, Eng.10
Steven Olson, Lad.3
Kevin O'Rourke, Res.2
Michael Otten, Lad.35
Jeffery Palazzo, Res.5
B.C. Orio Palmer, Bat.7
Frank Palombo, Lad.105
Paul Pansini, Eng.10
B.C. John Paolillo, Bat.11
James Pappageorge, Eng.23
Robert Parro, Eng.8
Durrell Pearsall, Res.4
Lt. Glenn Perry, Bat.12
Lt. Philip Petti, Bat.7
Lt. Kevin Pfeifer, Eng. 33
Lt. Kenneth Phelan, Bat.32
Christopher Pickford, Eng.201
Shawn Powell, Eng.207
Vincent Princiotta, Lad.7
Kevin Prior, Sqd.252
B.C. Richard Prunty, Bat.2 (D)
Lincoln Quappe, Res.2
Lt. Michael Quilty, Lad.11
Ricardo Quinn, Paramedic
Leonard Ragaglia, Eng.54
Michael Ragusa, Eng.279
Edward Rall, Res.2
Adam Rand, Sqd.288
Donald Regan, Res.3 Lt.
Robert Regan, Lad.118
Christian Regenhard, Lad.131
Kevin Reilly, Eng.207
Lt. Vernon Richard, Lad.7
James Riches, Eng.4
Joseph Rivelli, Lad.25
Michael Roberts, Eng.214
Michael E. Roberts, Lad.35
Anthony Rodriguez, Eng.279
Matthew Rogan, Lad.11
Nicholas Rossomando, Res.5
Paul Ruback, Lad.25
Stephen Russell, Eng.55
Lt. Michael Russo, S.O.C.
B.C. Matthew Ryan, Bat.1
Thomas Sabella, Lad.13
Christopher Santora, Eng.54
John Santore, Lad.5 (D)
Gregory Saucedo, Lad.5
Dennis Scauso, H.M. 1
John Schardt, Eng.201
B.C. Fred Scheffold, Bat.12
Thomas Schoales, Eng.4
Gerard Schrang, Res.3 (D)
Gregory Sikorsky, Sqd.41
Stephen Siller, Sqd.1
Stanley Smagala Jr, Eng.226
Kevin Smith, H.M. 1
Leon Smith Jr, Lad 118
Robert Spear Jr, Eng.26
Joseph Spor, Res.3
B.C. Lawrence Stack, Bat.50
Cpt. Timothy Stackpole, Div.11 (D)
Gregory Stajk, Lad.13
Jeffery Stark, Eng.230
Benjamin Suarez, Lad.21
Daniel Suhr, Eng.216 (D)
Lt. Christopher Sullivan, Lad.111
Brian Sweeney, Res.1
Sean Tallon, Lad.10
Allan Tarasiewicz, Res.5
Paul Tegtmeier, Eng.4
John Tierney, Lad.9
John Tipping II, Lad.4
Hector Tirado Jr, Eng.23
Richard Vanhine, Sqd.41
Peter Vega, Lad.118
Lawrence Veling, Eng.235
John Vigiano II, Lad.132
Sergio Villanueva, Lad.132
Lawrence Virgilio, Sqd.18 (D)
Lt. Robert Wallace, Eng.205
Jeffery Walz, Lad. 9
Lt. Michael Warchola, Lad.5 (D)
Capt. Patrick Waters, S.O.C.
Kenneth Watson, Eng.214
Michael Weinberg, Eng.1 (D)
David Weiss, Res.1
Timothy Welty, Sqd.288
Eugene Whelan, Eng.230
Edward White, Eng.230
Mark Whitford, Eng.23
Lt. Glenn Wilkinson, Eng.238 (D)
B.C. John Williamson, Bat.6 (D)
Capt. David Wooley, Lad.4
Raymond York, Eng.285 (D)

9-11-2012

For the Victims of the Aurora Movie Theatre Massacre

Damn right. An awful tragedy perpetrated by a sick, twisted mind.

Retro Cool

Dime was sporting the cool hair even back in the day. Such a sweet person, such a damn shame what happened to him. And such a shame that Ronnie lost his battle to cancer. Rest in peace, dear ones.