What the World Needs Now

The hurricane has been a great reminder that all this shit is real--and getting realer. It's also been a blessing to help me focus and get committed. There is no way to create an economy where everyone is employed without radically expanding the top.

If you create a job a the bottom of the economy you create one job for one person. If you create one at the top, everyone moves up. We've been so afraid of succes, growth and prosperity, and felt so guilty about it for so long that we've had a very difficult time seeing it's loving benifits. I do. And I'm creating the most loving economy I can as fast as possible. If someone would love me $7-10 million dollars it would be a lot easier, but I'm learning from this as well.

Once we expand and enlighten the top (imagine a pyramid with a huge sphere on top), hurricane relief, debt relief, and war will cease to be significant problems. Because we'll erase most of the global downward pressure that's the root of our biggest challenges. Once the folks in charge quit pretending they're fulfilled managing the regional bureau, the national line, the third-best brand. Driving the best car to the worst job. And once they quit pretending they're victims. As I see it we've accomplished just about every thing that has ever mattered to us. From putting a man on the moon (and a rover on Mars) to finishing that report before Monday. It may take a little longer, and require a little more faith, to do what they've always wanted, but as Katrina shows us, growth happens whether we want it or not. Stasis doesn't exist. We've grown as much as we can materially, if we refuse to grow spiritually, we just won't last. As individuals or a society.

Enough pontificating. You should have seen the diatribe I wrote and erased before that. Phew. What about the truth?

I finally made it into the house across the street yesterday. It's beautiful. I took video and the footage will be in the upcoming White Gold documentary ($160/episode). For those of you who pay attention to such things I was lying in bed the night before imagining what it would feel like to be going to sleep surrounded by that house. God willing, I'll live there. It's $1.6 Million currently I believe, but I bet I can negotiate $1.2. You gotta hurt 'em with the first offer (and explain why).

I'm almost done with my third song. I'm still waiting for some mixing and mastering tools so it'll be a minute before I post anything. I can't believe how patient people are. If I knew someone like me who was doing something like this, and I had $20K in the bank, I'd give him the damn money just to hear the shit. Hell--just to be a part of what was going on. So I could tell my golf buddies I was down from the start.

Oh, but I haven't even asked for it. And we're not to the gift economy yet (I haven't even had time to describe it because I'm spending four days trying to save $200 on a computer.)

Wait, instead of me pretending I'm a victim, I'll just ask for what I want.

I want $4400 to upgrade my computer to mix and master the ALL*MYTEE album (and edit the documentary). For $4400, White Gold will sell you a pre-mastered copy of the ALL*MYTEE cd, a regular version when it comes out, a signed copy of $40 The Love Artist (a run of 100, certain to be a collectors item once the $120 version hits it big), and one painting.

I also want $8000 to print the second version of my book. For $8000 you will get an original laser-printer, galley copy of The Love Artist, a copy of my book of poetry The Failure of Poetry, a galley copy of my novella November, and a galley copy of the collected works N::teb::::ks. All signed.

I also want $25,000 to advance production on my documentary. Right now it's creeping along because the cameraman isn't getting paid. He can't work weekdays and I don't believe in working weekends. You don't get enlightened art by straining on the sabbath, after work, or when you're hungry, tired or lonely. It's also going to be visually compromised because I have to choose between eating, recording music and a $3000 video camera (and as much again for lights and sound). The real shit costs more. You can't just chug a beer or cup of coffee and fake it. You can't play it on a kid's Casio keyboard (contrary to what punk rockers and the electroclash movement will tell you). If you ain't got butterfly wings, if you're not tanned, rested and ready, if you don't have decent gear in front of you, it doesn't exist. I'll do it with whatever gear I can get, but I guarantee a lot of people are going to be annoyed to have to watch video shot on a $100 video camera. For the want of a nail, millions were annoyed. For $25,000 I will explain to you in writing the gift economy. If what I write now inspires you, you ain't seen shit. The future is more beautiful and loving than almost anyone alive can fathom. Radically beautiful. For another $15K, I'll put what I write up on the blog for at least 6 months.

I also want $125,000 so I can pay off White Gold debts and live hassle-free for at least eight months to finish the ALL*MYTEE record, put out The Love Artist at a more magnetized price-point, connect with more magnetic consumers, and negotiate some exclusives. I'd also like a few weeks to work on the business plan and screenplay. For $125,000 White Gold will sell you a copy of the ALL*MYTEE master cd, a signed copy of either the $40 or $120 Love Artist, and put your name in the thank you credits in the White G documentary.

I should note that purchases not donations. I tried the donation route before and a some people had problems giving unconditionally. Ouch. So I don't give with strings and I don't take with strings--financially or emotionally. Sales tax will apply inside Illinois. This is a business--based on simple self-interest. If you want to see more of what I create, buy what I have for sale. If not you can be confident that I'll get to pretty much all of it in the next 20 years or so. As god and the current economic climate allow. I believe, but I can also believe more privately and be very happy.

I don't know if I'll keep giving it away for free on the internet or not. Y'all don't even comment on my shit. Just lap it up and bounce. Take the love and go put it into other uses--ones that probably get you laid or paid, too. I guess I should expect that coming from such a low-energy delivery system as the internet. This is exactly why our culture isn't ready for the gift economy. And doesn't properly value love. You think something is worth-less when it's free. And you think you're too poor to give. And as artist we create what we feel and think--what we believe. As a result, people spend a lot of extra time kissing your ass and marketing to you (this blog included). Trying to get you to believe. But then again you get what you pay for. I think I'll sell a hell of a lot more books more efficiently at Barney's for $120 a pop than I do here and at hipster Quimby's for $40. And I guarantee you I put more energy into avenues that support what I'm doing more energetically.

Once we value love above the products it produces, being happy, paid, in love, real, feeling every minute of it, and ad free will be as natural as breathing.

White Gold is now taking pre-orders for the 2nd printing of The Love Artist. Sure to be a collectors item. $120 plus $4 shipping (and tax in IL).

PS: A big shout-out to the Mighty, MIghty Bulldogs! Seattle's Garfield High School Class of 1985, of which I am a proud member, is re-unioning this weekend. Have fun everyone!

The Doghouse was a pretty special place. We silkscreened our own t-shirts (and counterfeited our own Van Halen tickets), took trips to Hawaii to study the physics of body surfing, had pictures of Eek-A-Mouse on our lockers, and oteable alumni: Quincy Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Lee. Ernestine Anderson, Yasser Seirawan (Chess Grand Master), Debbie Armstrong (Olympic Gold Medalist), Minoru Yamasaki (World Trade Center Architect).