DEAD PRESIDENTS CLUB

The pomp and sensationalism are still running amuck and the demons are still crawling under my skin.

An ex president has passed away and instead of dignified obituaries the primates have elevated him to superhero status. Maybe pomp and sensationalism is in the DNA, along with stupidity and incompetence…

"He marked the history of Cyprus"
Correct me if I'm wrong but, isn't the history of this nation good enough to make the Guinness Book of Records (™)? I mean, in 50 short years our politicos have achieved everything. A coup d'etat, a war the effects of which are still felt today, blew up the energy infrastructure to smithereens, bankruptcy etc.

Perspective, please…

"He helped establish Democracy in Cyprus"
What colour drugs are you on? Where is Democracy? I've searched in all my pockets. One had a hole so, I should guess, it slipped right through it? And then it dawned on me that I have never experienced Democracy in this place other than the one I've created within me…

"He was instrumental in safeguarding the Freedom of the Press"
Oh, I guess that explains the fact we have so many paid for paperboys full of pomp and sensationalism.

We live in a country where 60 year olds (politicians included) still go by the names they had when they were four years old. Do we have time to listen to a Yannakis (Little John) or a Michalakis (Little Michael)? Seriously, little boys lost in big mens' shoes...

So, perspective, please..

An OK politician…so his name will be given to a dozen of avenues and streets and half a dozen of buildings. By 2112 if this place exists all the streets will be named after politicians. Everywhere you look there will be no escape. No groundhog day, though…
"Please deliver the pizza at 5 Glafkos Clerides street…"
"Is that 5 Glafkos Clerides street in Acropolis, Engomi, Ayios Dhometios, Kaimakli or Strovolos?"
Every municipality will have one except, maybe, Aglandzia… Talk about a taxi driver nightmare worst than the DeNiro flick.

Only the fact that his last wish was to stay off life support, an act of dignity devoid of vanity, should have grounded politicos, journos and primates alike. But, I guess, it's in the DNA…

When my synapses pause in my quest for applause
When my ego lets go to my end of the bone
To focus instead on the love that is precious to me
Then I shall be free


"Flickering Flame"                   (ROGER WATERS)

KARAGOZ & HACIVAT

SCENARIO 1
An ex mega developer is suing an ex president  for the sum of 600000.00 euros.


SCENARIO 2
Karagoz and Hacivat were two hilarious characters who were actually construction workers on a mosque in Bursa in the mid-1300s. Their clownish behavior distracted other workers, slowing down construction thus, the ruler of the time had them executed. Their antics were so sorely missed that they were immortalized as the silly puppets in Shadow Theater in Turkey, then in Greece and eventually and inevitably, in Cyprus.



(Imaginary) SCENARIO 3
In steps Hollywood, sniffing big bucks by realizing the potential of merging SCENARIOS 1&2 into
a big budget spectacula (without the "r"). Spot on casting has Forrest Whittaker in the role of the ex president while Eddie Murphy lands the coveted role of the ex mega developer.
Here is an excerpt of the first draft of the screenplay :

ex P :    Wassup* homie*?
ex MD :(angry) I'm suing yo ass* for 6000 benjamins*, that's wassup!
ex P :    (suprised) Why you suing my ass, nigga*?
ex MD: Fixed up yo crib* muthafucka* and you stiffed me!
ex P:     (perplexed) Whatcha on about, nigga? I gave you cash and you wouldn't take it! I made you a    
             playa*, nigga. Gave you jobs, gave you a football club, nigga, and you gone and fucked it all
             up!  
ex MD: I'm bustin' on yo ass, muthafucka. All I got now is dem threads* on me. Yo bitch better be
             payin' up 'cause we ain't straight* no more.
exP:      Fake ass nigga*, what you on about? Like you built a crib for Queen Elisabeth or somethin'?
exMD: Aight*.  Football club my ass! See yo ass in court!

GLOSSARY
Wassup                    : What's up
Homie                      : A friend from back home/own kind
Ass                           : Arse
Benjamins                : $100 bill, as the face of Benjamin Franklin is on the bill
Nigga                       : Negro
Crib                          : House
Muthafucka              : Oedipodean fornication (sort of)
Playa                        : Someone who dates many people or mover and shaker
Threads                    : Clothes
We straight               : All is well
Fake ass nigga          : Pretentious, not the real deal
Aight                        : Allright




Tell me why things don't look the same
In this shadow play
I have to find my way
In this shadow play
I have to get away
From this shadow play


"Shadow Play"             (RORY GALLAGHER)

THE INJUSTICE SYNDROME

Pharmaceutical companies and psychologists, as some of the more dangerous entities and professionals, have been inventing ridiculous "diseases" in order to gain money or give credibility to a profession that maybe, should have not existed in the first place.

* The Attention Deficit Syndrome. That is a good one. Because at that age kids are predominantly    
   having their mind geared towards sex and could care less about which the capital city of Burkina
   Faso is....

* The Sexaholic Syndrome. Well, excuse us for enjoying the most instinctively natural act of human
   behaviour. First you give us the blue pill to correct then another to nullify?

* The Overeating Syndrome. F..k you! Ban chocolates!

The list goes on and on, of course. And they pump gullible people full of pills they don't need in the first place because everybody is different, has different vices and you have to see the beauty in these "flaws" or you are doomed to live a life cloaked in a shroud of fear...

Here's to the losers
Substance abusers
To the rejects
All the imperfects

'Cause I think we're beautiful...



"The Losers"                           (WARRIOR SOUL)




So here is a new syndrome for the consideration of psychologists and pharmaceuticals. The Injustice Syndrome suffered by the somewhat inbred primates of the grand isle of Cyprus. It is so embedded in the DNA of these peoples from the simple primate football fan to the (ex) president. Done wrong by the referee, done wrong by the Investigative Committee, done wrong by God... you name it, the injustice gene is characteristic of the people of this island.
So why not a pill to cure this "disease"? Mind you, it must me multicoloured to match the loudness of these people. What is that you say? It's a small market?

People suck, and that's my contention. I'm tired of this "Aren't
humanity neat?" bulls..t. We're a virus with shoes, OK?

You ever notice that people who believe in creationism look really
unevolved? Eyes real close, big furry hands and feet.
"I believe God created me in one day."
"Yeah, looks like he rushed it..."


                                                      (BILL HICKS)

COMPETITIVE VULTURE CULTURE

It is a silly notion that, to this day, has impregnated the western world with this culture of competition.
Be the best in sport...
Be the best in the classroom...
Be the best in what-have-you...
And keep the prices down (if you grow some hairs on your b***s and fight the Cartels...)
Or, when we were kids, "my dad can beat the s**t out of your dad".

It has become a cutthroat industry. Succeed! Win at any cost!
Whatever happened to the noble and humane "live and let live"?

Stick a needle in, swallow a substantial amount of pills and then go ahead and win the race. Here, take
some more drugs and go on, parade your trophy on TV...


If competition's good for you, is it bad if I wish to wake up, do my job and go about my day?
I'd certainly give up top honours (which I do not have anyway) for a couple of drops of enjoyment and
enlightenment...



Who is the strongest
Who is the best
Who holds the aces
The East or the West
This is the crap our children are learning


"The Tide Is Turning"                   (ROGER WATERS)




Someone tried to sucker me into a conversation re "who is the best vocalist ever, in rock music" the other day. I avoided of course...
There are NO "bests". There are NO "winners". Success cannot be measured by the headlines one creates but by the satisfaction of his/hers creative "libido" (need).
There are no "bests". It is, maybe, experience you carry along that develops your taste. So, opinions differ and believe me competition has nothing to do with it.
So, being true to my accumulated experience, I'd say : "f**k me if I've ever heard anything like the voice of Peter Hammill". It still intrigues me how he explores this most expressive of "instruments".
Jeff Buckley embarked on a similar exploration with undoubted potential before his life was cut short.
Peter Hammill! I'll enjoy this while you parade your trophies...

HEROES AND THE PINK ELEPHANT

Woke up this mornin'.....walked out the room
turned a stone over.....there was a hero there, too

Excuse my amateurish blues tsiattisto (traditional Cypriot rhyming) but I need to keep perspective. I need sanity. I need my spirit NOT to be broken.

No disrespect to the families who lost their loved ones in a blast two years ago but, it seems to me we are the loudest, most sensationalist group of people on this earth. We change the meanings of words at will. I had to go back to the dictionary and look up the word again. No disrespect, but it was a clear
situation of "wrong place, wrong time?". Any way I look at it, it spells VICTIM to me. Innocent victim but still, victim.
Besides, what are the chances of coming across a hero these days in this place...

Reminds me actually of the talking heads on TV :
"TRAGEDY!!! Blood on the asphalt. Another person has tragically died after his car..."
Now, I'm no expert in ancient Greek drama but I'm sure the death of ONE person does NOT a tragedy
constitute.
What next? The animal lovers will hold vigil every time a cat gets run over in the street? Don't get me wrong, I love cats, they're my favourite pets but these f....rs don't look right, left and right again before crossing the street. Not to mention them being too lazy to walk twenty meters down the road and use the bloody zebra crossing...

It used to be every stone you turned on this island there was an alizavra (lizard). But today, only heroes.
"You blind yourself with comfort lies
  Like lightning never strikes you twice
  And we laugh at your amazed surprise
  As the ark begins to sink" wrote Justin Sullivan

no, there are no more heroes, just victims, incompetent fools and loud people...



There are no more hummingbirds
Like there used to be
They're fat and slow and careless now
They turned blue and mean

And the parrots sound like monkeys
Screaming from the trees
As the decent people
Fumble for the keys

"Civilians"                            (Joe Henry)

CYPRIANS OR CYPRIOTS

Lately, I can't be arsed...
But this jewel of an Attorney General is something else...

First, his son is cited by the police for drunk driving. The citation ends up on the Attorney General's
desk. He does what any father would do. He drops the case. And then he appears in front of a camera
supporting his action as if it were the normal thing to do...

Why are we not called Cyprians?

Banana Republic
Septic Isle
Screaming in the suffering sea
Sounds like crying


"Banana Republic"             (THE BOOMTOWN RATS)






Then, our clueless one, appears in front of the Supreme Court to argue a case for the Government against the judges who refused to accept paycuts in these crisis/bankruptcy times.
The verdict of the Supreme Court should have hit him like a ton of lead. The Attorney General's argument was POOR, they said.
Now, if I were him, I'd have gotten the message, went back to my office and picked up my coat...
But, of course, I'm thankfully not him and he's definitely and unfortunately not me...

Ever wonder why we are called Cypriots?


The purple and the pinstripe
Mutely shake their heads
A silence shrieking volumes
A violence more than they condemn


"Banana Republic"                  (THE BOOMTOWN RATS)






Lastly, our hero announced that he will investigate a case NOT because it is his constitutional duty and obligation but because "he has dignity"...
Like, we have to sit around and wait for this dimwit to chase after the badguys whenever his dignity is compromised!
As I've been preaching (hehehe-Father Bob) ,  we cannot go after the officials. They are there by default and we are here but for the grace of God. And I'm not even a believer...
It is this Democratic system that allows for, or better still, breeds these officials and politicians.
I kid you not, IQ tests for all people in office and then, just maybe, I will be arsed to vote again...

Why are we not called Cyprians but Cypriots? One could argue on strong evidence that it is a synthesis of two words. Cyprus and idiots...

Do you remember Dick Tracy?
Do you remember Shane?
Could you see him selling tickets
Where the buzzard circles over
The body on the plain
Did you understand the music YOKO?
Or was it all in vain


5.01 AM (The Pros And Cons Of Hitchhiking)      (ROGER
                                                                                  WATERS)          

NO MOON ON THE WATER

My Tribute To Jason Molina

no moon on the water
the way I'm acting it's no wonder
the blues come
I can't outrun 'em
I ain't foolin' me
I ain't foolin' no one
I have to work hard to suffer alone
I have to work harder to be so alone
don't like half of who I've been
but I've kept my promises to all of them
tie my wings behind my back
cut out my eyes and fill 'em with lead
cut off my head and put the black mules there
trade my heart for a fire
fill my bones with the grey wolf
face me to the shore
give me one reason to live
give me one single reason to live
don't have to be good

Jason Molina had one million songs inside him. Prolific does not do him justice.

Jason Molina battled demons and ghosts within him.

We witnessed these battles with every song he wrote and recorded.

Jason Molina battled himself.

Fragile, vulnerable, tormented, haunted, weak...

A losing battle.

Jason Molina was the most lethal cocktail the music world has ever seen.

One part Nick Drake. One part Townes Van Zandt.

Jason Molina's most preferred lyrical instrument was the moon.

Not the serene moon of tranquillity.

Not the big fat lovers moon.

But a moon that shone its pale light preventing the closure of day.

A moon that prevented the darkness from engulfing the demons.

A moon that haunted every inch of his being.

A moon so sad and relentlessly familiar to Jason.

Each song Jason Molina wrote and sang was a teardrop of the moon.

So, what comes after the the blues, Jason?

An immeasurable loss. Unlike that of Cobain. Unlike that of Buckley.

I just hope you knew you were deeply loved and deeply respected.

Even by the few.

Even by this handful.

It took me the better part of a month to find the courage for this humble tribute.

Humble as your demeanour.

Hubmling as the experience of listening to Jason's music.

I spent night upon night listening to the music this past few days.

I can't remember... was the moon pale when you left?

On that fateful day, didn't it rain?

 

Saints alive

And all the saints be praised

I see them all around me now

They've called and raised

Their jaws gone slack

Their yellow nails long and curling back

To scratch the phantom ache

Of our lost days

Oh, my love is here to stay

"Parker's Mood"                (JOE HENRY)

A GENERATION OF IDIOTS

Whenever people are certain they understand our peculiar situation
here on this planet, it is because they have accepted a religious Faith
or a secular Ideology ( Ideologies are the modern forms of Faiths)
and just stopped thinking.


                                                      (ROBERT ANTON WILSON)




Is this generation of European leaders the most idiotic ever?  Every time Mr Djisellclot opens his mouth
the Euro trembles and the stock markets run for cover. And this intellectually bankrupt character presides over the Eurogroup? I mean, beam me up Scotty, there's no intelligent life left on earth...
This bunch of idiots running Europe have their policies being dictated by the market forces. It doesn't
matter whether you studied at Harvard or Vavatsinia. If you don't have the IQ to handle properly the
information you have wasted your money and your time and, alas, other peoples lives.



Help conquer the IQ shortage less and think more


                                                     (ROBERT ANTON WILSON)






Do you make money for making the Guinness Book of Records? If so, where do we sign up?
In 53 short years we have achieved everything. We had a coup d' etat, a war, lost almost half the country, blew up a power station and became bankrupt.
We are unique, we are one of a kind, where do we sign up?



I could be foreign forever
To your otherland
I could be foreign forevermore
To your promiseland
One life was great
But another...
No, I don't wanna live on the edge
I won't follow you
I found my own
I will stay
"The Depth Of Self-Delusion"                        (RIVERSIDE)

DIGNITY VS WELFARE

I don't want to disappoint you
I'm not here to anoint you
I would lick your feet but is that the sickest move?
I wear my own crown of sadness and sorrow
Never thought tomorrow
Would be so strange

"E BOW THE LETTER"      (R.E.M.)



Philosophically, welfare comes and goes. Once it's gone, it may come back again.
But, on the other hand, dignity.....


At this point in time, there is nothing that would give me more pleasure than to slap (not sexually)
Madame Lagarde.
I mean, her predecessor used to jump on anything on two legs that walked in front of him. The Madame can't  get any whether on two or four legs...
As for Frau Merkel, I'm afraid I'll have to throw three leggeds in the equation...
And Mr Schauble (however the hell it is spelled), there is nothing to fear but fear, and maybe staircases...


No jobs I guess they're like wild geese
They all went flying overseas
I'm standing in the rain
Smoking my last cigarette
It's morning in Europe*
And it's cold+dark+wet

"COLD+DARK+WET"       (Greg Brown)
*Poetic License/Justice



Democratic Capitalism has been replaced by Corporatism and its voracious appettite is spreading like
a prairie fire. It could be the final act, the last stretch of the mile, when Corporatism and Government
are tangled in a deadly tango. If you believe in God, you should start praying. If you are smarter start finding ways to exist outside the system...


We watched the tragedy unfold
We did as we were told
We bought and sold
It was the greatest show on earth
But then it was over
We oohed and aahed
We drove our racing cars
We ate our last few jars of caviar...


"AMUSED TO DEATH"          (Roger Waters)

ELECTION DAY BLUES

So, one deluded big shot politico said :"Today is the pinnacle of the glory that Democracy is (or something to that effect), as he walked out of the polling station.
Translation : Election Day is the most important act/expression of the (beleaguered) Democratic system. So say, the people who are trying to boss our everyday lives.
Because, for them, it's about percentages.
Because, for them, it's about 50.01%.
Because, for them, it's about my 35% plus your 16%.

But the REAL Boss understands Democracy as :
"One for all and all for one.
 Because if it's not one for all and all for one,
 then it's all for NOTHING."



"Boy, is my thumb NOT on the pulse of this nation"
                                                         (BILL HICKS)








Way back when I returned to this dryland after an absence of many years, I went out for a drink only to find the bars and establishments closed. It was a saturday night. The reason?. Sunday was election day. Now I'm using cold hard logic to get to grips with this. Someone told me : "They don't want people getting drunk and starting fights over politics."
Silly me, I thought the bars were closed because once you saw who was elected to office you definitely needed a drink (or two).
This medieval mentality exists today, too. The same people who preach that football is not politicized on this dryland are postponing matches on election day out of fear of trouble outbreaks between fans of clubs.

Is it true that the jargon used in political campaigns can cause serious health damage?
Prosperity, Safety and Dignity are still elusive...

So! Come on ye childhood heroes!
Won't you rise up from the pages
Of your comic books, your super crooks
And show us all the way.
Well! make your will and testament
Won't you? Join your local government
We'll have Superman for president
Let Robin save the day...

So you ride yourselves over the hills
And you make all your animal deals
And your wise men don't know how it feels
To be thick as a brick

"Thick As A Brick"             (JETHRO TULL)

BEST MUSIC OF 2012

MONO - "For My Parents"

Dynamics is the secret to make exciting, stirring music. Pink Floyd understood this and was the first to reintroduce dynamics to popular music since the days of classical music.
This japanese combo have been perfecting their post progressive epic soundtrack(ish) music to soul stirring effect with powerfully sweeping melodies and a timelessness that is as deep as the ocean.
Probably the best album of 2012.




                                                        

GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR - "'Allelujah! Don't Bend!             

                                                                         Ascend!"

Nobody saw this one coming. The giants of post rock released this album out of the blue. Another legendary and triumphant chapter in the history of this groundbreaking band.

EXTRA CLASSIC - "Your Light Like White Lightning, Your Light

                                     Like A Laser Beam"

One of the freshest releases of 2012 instilled with soulful 70s psychedelia and reggae. Wonderful to see and hear Dri Verhoeven again. She deserves recognition and hopefully this is the vehicle with which she'll achieve it although I must stress out of respect to the excellent musicians playing with her, this is a band project, not just about Dri.

BILL FAY - "Life Is People"

Kudos to producer Joshua Henry for resurrecting this most vital and important English voice. The wonderful musicians embrace these songs with sublety, never overshadowing Fay's voice, letting the message be heard loud and clear. After watching his rare early albums sell for hundreds on the internet, he may be able to retire comfortably. Let's hope there will be more records before he does...

NE OBLIVISCARIS - "Portal Of I"

The australian underground band have conspired to produce a stunning progressive concoction of extreme music. This exciting, complex progressive extreme metal pays no respect to formula and is so organic, it sometimes smells of the earth after the rain. Essential!

CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX - "(Mankind) The Crafty Ape"

This band has been a work in progress and maybe, finally, they are settling into a stable lineup. The influence of post rock is giving progressive rock a more organic sound that will help it stand the test of time. The trained ear may detect a Pink Floyd influence but this will always be a pro rather than a con.

AMANDA PALMER - "Theater Is Evil"

& Grand Theft Orchestra

She asked for a hundred thousand and raised 1.2 million on Kickstarter. Despite the controversy following the "local musicians paid with beer and merch" announcement, the whole affair is nothing less than staggering. Controversy always followed Palmer. It follows every daring, free spirit that takes chances.
The music is brimming with inventive arrangements and sometimes she wears her 80s influences on her sleeve. She is fast becoming one of the most amazing stories in rock music.

IN MOURNING - "The Weight Of Oceans"

The Swedes have created another masterpiece of progressive death metal. Passionate, powerful and atmospheric.

AMERICAN HOLLOW - "Screaming Into The Void"

Quite silly to categorize them as a prog metal band. There is much more to American Hollow who probably got their name from the documentary with the same title. They are more organic and atmospheric than your run-of-the-mill prog metal band and explore ambient sounds. A most promising band. Check out their wonderful EP, too.

PASSENGER - "All The Little Lights"

Oh, well. Sometimes you're in the mood something sweet and this fits the bill perfectly. Very smooth and very sweet. It has been building up slowly and now they are playing to sold out venues.

WILLIAM BASINSKI - "The Disintegration Loops"

Temporary Residence has released a comprehensive box including vinyl (for the first time), cds and DVDs documenting this fascinating and poignant music. The story behind the Disintegration Loops is as fascinating as the music which was assisted by bad storage and time degeneration of the original tapes. What has eluded critics who don't have recording engineering knowledge, it is not only the effect of the ferrite breaking off from the tape that adds to the sublime effect, but also, a significant amount of "crosstalk". Thanking my good friend Stavros P. for bringing this wonderful work to my attention.

RODRIGUEZ  -  "Searching For Sugarman"

Just when you thought you heard every single astonishing story ever to have come out of rock n' roll, comes the amazing, heartwarming documentary that unearths a talented singer/songwriter, virtually unknown to 99.9% of the world. Of course, the documentary would not have been as fascinating had his songs been forgettable. A must see and a must hear (vinyl).

JONI MITCHELL -  "The Studio Albums 1968-1979"

Lest you forgot how essential Joni is...

THE PENTAKOMO CAMEL

A presidential election debate on TV where,
a) The journos are not self disciplined enough to construct a question within the agreed time frame. So      
    self righteous, obviously, that they are enamoured by their own voice.
b) The 3 presidential hopefuls bob-and-weave at the questions avoiding to answer to the point and
     sell hope while the debt of the country has not been, yet, agreed upon.
and where,
a) and b) both are much more part of a star system than their respective professions.

But let's see who are fueling the careers of these people...
a) Special interests
b) Grovelers
c) Dimwits


They are all IRRELEVANT to me...

Well we're heading for a past that you leave not defend
Where the downtowns hold the sadness of you can't go back again
It's there you'll find all the debtors
Motel signs with broken letters

And we can be the super shoppers
We can say we're really smart
We can say our town is doing fine without a beating heart
We can even say the money saved is all our own
It's bought and sold, it's bought and sold
"Bought And Sold"                 (DAR WILLIAMS)


Of course, 11 people are running for the Presidents office but this democratic system will choose only the 3 that are affiliated to political parties to appear on TV. Talk about equal opportunity...
Of course, we never had real politicians, on this island. Spin doctors, yes, but, politicians...it's not funny. Our politicians will answer anything but the question, bringing to mind that exquisite old Cypriot saying : "Camel farts at Pentakomon". And while we are at the subject of farts...

These people are IRRELEVANT to me...


And you can say they're out to hunt you
You can say they are out to fish you
You can join a gang of restless youth
Or start your own militia
You can even say your violence is all your own
It's bought and sold, it's bought and sold

"Bought And Sold"        (DAR WILLIAMS)






To Vote Or Not To Vote is the argument in a (not so) parallel universe.
If you think the problem lies with the faces, then vote.
If you think the problem lies with the system, then don't.
Now, even the last dimwit half-brain can understand that this mutation of democracy is the problem.
Faces come and go and still every year we are worse off.
The system is decaying fast and only when the pool they fish their votes from becomes smaller and smaller maybe, just maybe, they will realize the need for change. Until then, let the TV shows on offer
make you numb(er)...

-"Hey mister. You MUST vote. If you don't like any of them, then cast a blank vote... That's the protest
   vote. The blank vote..."
-"No, mate. The only blank thing is on the page of your IQ test results..."
-"Hey mister. What you're saying is wrong. The right to vote is sacred..."
-"Sacred? Well, while you choose to introduce religion into the conversation be prepared to turn the
   other cheek..."



Well I look up to the people who are less bought than I
You can show them what you're selling and they'll only ask you why
Their paychecks don't have lots of zeros
They're my friends, they're my heroes
And the TV sets are angry 'cause they can't make them pay
But I like the way these people read the signs and walk away

And we can call ourselves the makers and the keepers of our time
We can spend our sand dollars and sand nickels and sand dimes
We can even say prosperity is all our own, it's bought & sold
We can even say our loneliness is all our own, it's bought & sold
"Bought And Sold"                        (DAR WILLIAMS)