njbeast - I'm pretty sure the version of The Crush Of Love that plays over the DVD menus is the LISF version.

Now that I have your attention................. I believe that every single one of us can make a difference in this world. I believe these differences can be big and small and can be made as often as one attempts to do so. Im not sure how many of you will understand this but please let me try to expand upon this.

Being a baby of the sixties and raised in the deep south, I have very emotional and first hand experiences with the civil rights movements. Segregation was "a part of life" and very prevalent at this time and place. Although our family was very decent to mankind and fair with compensation, it was a "norm" to think that the color of one's skin made them in a different class of people.

From the beginning of my life, I never understood this and spoke out against it even as a toddler. It hurt me to think that groups of people could impose upon us their tainted views of a harsh society and that people went along with it to "fit in". I would not let them teach me to hate. That was very brave for a little girl.

For a white person to think the way I did in the deep south was certainly not the norm. People made prejudice jokes all of the time without thinking once that it wasn't right..... especially when almost everyone made the jokes or thought it was funny. I refused to be taught that this slight to humanity was OK because everyone that I came in contact with thought it was OK. The "n" word still turns my guts inside out!!!!

I was most certainly "in the dog house" when I spoke out many times against vigilante prejudices. Words cannot even convey the "norms" at this time and how even "upstanding" and popular individuals participated in the prejudices. As time went on and changes were made by very brave people to make a difference in an oppressed society, segregation began to be abolished by laws.

Times began to lighten up about the violence towards colored people but the jokes continued. People didn't see a problem with laughing and joking about it. after all, it was just a joke right?

I didn't find them funny. It seemed the entire planet did. It hurt me to allow it. I also found that some people laughed and participated in these jokes not necessarily because they thought it was funny, but because it was what the majority was doing and no one wanted to be an outcast. As unpopular as it was for the time, I still took a hard position that I would not participate in any sort of prejudice activity..... including something as small as "joking". Many times I was an outcast which put me in the "dog house" for speaking against the majority..... many were friends and respected people.

My senior year in high school on my way to school one beautiful sunny morning (in the MID EIGHTIES!!!!!) a smart young innocent black man was hung in the downtown square for all of us to see during our morning commute for no other reason but hate. I shutter at this thought which brings tears to my eyes now when I think back at the horror. This was just a few blocks from my high school.

Stricken with disgust with humanity and deeply saddened, I made a VOW to myself at that moment that I would forever "speak my peace" (my sanctity) against society wrong doings and inappropriate joking and that I would continue to put myself in the dog house to speak out so that hopefully, once in a while, I would make a difference to humanity.

A few of you may be making a connection to the correlation. Still others are thinking.... "so what does this have to do with Fruit loop joking on the talk to Joe page"?

The jokes themselves are insignificant. The act of the joking allows for a tainted concept of another deep issue for me.... Infidelity and the collapse of family. It just so happened that the fruit loop joke (which was actually pretty tame compared to many other "sexual" jokes on this site made repeatedly by a few that are considered the majority) was a catalyst for me to speak out.

continued to next post.........

continued from previous post.........

I find the divorce statistics alarming in this society. As small as it may seem to some, I feel that participating in inappropriate jokes (of any kind) that are destructive to mankind as a united people is detrimental to humanity. It just so happened that the fruitloops joke got to me as I put myself in the position of the hearts of the person(s) being wronged..... those people committed to family.

Most definitely an apology is in order and I am sorry for attacking you Michelle. I am not sorry for speaking out against the jokes but I could have done it in a more gentle fashion. I will not try to justify my inappropriate behavior in attacking you but I will justify my position against any sort of joking that goes against my being. I would hope you would do the same.

Those who know me know that I am a very humorous person and love to laugh and fit in with the group. But when a nerve is struck in me, I speak out. I would want everyone to be bold enough to stand up for what they believe in. I honestly believe that we can all make a difference in this world.

Thank you to those that took the time to reach out to me in support. I appreciate your e mails.

guitarzbabe: i'm sorry but you can't tell someone is an idiot and afterwards explain the story of your life to justify yourself.

Naty honey...... you havent heard the story of my life.

i think it's neat that since joe's music is instrumental that people who don't understand english can still enjoy it since i'ts not about words, but about music :)

Alex Sure dude, I'm in! LOL We should form a committee of some sort, with the only goal of having Joe make a gig somewhere close to us. With the recent discussion on this forum in mind, I guess nude pics are out of the question.... LOL Anyway, I don't have any. How about you Alex? ;)

Nah, I suppose the way to do it is bugger the record company or their agents here in our countries and make them see that there is a demand for a show. My next plan is to go out in the streets and threaten people with a gun to make them sign my petition "Joe to Stockholm"......... or maybe I will be better off playing his music for them?

mr nick - getting together for a jam sounds like a great idea...

the backing trax are on a set of minidiscs that I have not seen since I moved house a few months ago... I'm pretty keen to find them and as soon as I do I'll give you a shout..

Git means 'contemptable person, also fool'.. it is often used as a mild substitute for the word bastard.....

so... old git = me... lol

Kinger - you're not saying that I'm an old git but.... lol lol

I'll give Favoured Nations a try... At Jemfest I met Rob Balducci who is signed to them.. great plyer.. great guy too... I'll talk to him... maybe he can help.... good idea...

guitarzbabe, thanks for the apology Twig. I'm sorry you had to see something as horrific as a man getting hanged. I'm sure that left a deep wound in your heart. I understand your wanting to speak out when you see something is wrong, but no one was being "wronged" when you flew into a tizzy. If it would have been anybody else who made the F.L. comment, you would have let it slide and barely remembered it, but I feel that because it was me, you resorted to calling me trampy, rude, and a bully, when in fact, YOU came after me! I would never say anything in a negative way towards the Satriani family, or any other band member. IF you knew me, you would know that. I've learned that no matter what compliment I make towards a band member, be it whatever, you take it as I want to sleep with them, which is incredibly shallow, and comes from YOUR brain, not mine. I would appreciate it if you ignored my posts and stop talking about me to others behind my back. I don't deserve your time. Let it go. I would like to tell you to email me personally if you have a gripe with me, but that offer has come and gone. I really don't want to hear anything more you have to say. Give my regards to Eric. I hope he's doing well.

Joe is back, finally.

I've been a satch fan since 1988. I was disillusioned by engines of creation. Not only was it $22 (got it the day it was released), it wasn't at all what I liked in Joe's tunes.

I gave up on him for a while, then checked back here a couple days ago and realized he'd released a new album months ago. I listened to the samples and decided it might be worth it. I can say that strange-beauty is the music that made me a satch fan.

hey all,

dragonchild : ok cool!!.. the scandinavian joe revolution starts now **lol** i'll start the campaign here in odense and you can kick it off in over there in enskede (hvor ligger din hjemmeby henne?)...

the petition to the record companies is a great idea, just be careful with the gun tactic with the public or you might find yourself on aftensnyhederne... :-) and the pictures are reserved only for my wife :-)

clarky : whats the story behind 'talking to stones?'...