After his success with steady-rolling new folk-rock tune, “Only A River,” that features the Aaron Dessner, on electric guitar, and Scott Devendorf on bass and vocals, alongside Josh Kaufman, Ray Rizzo and Rob Burger. Bob Weir now announced his new CD. Blue Mountain is a solo album by former Grateful Dead singer and guitarist Bob Weir, released on September 30, 2016. The album was inspired by his time working as a ranch hand in Wyoming when he was fifteen years old. Musicians on the Blue Mountain album include Ritter, Nelson, Josh Kaufman, Scott Devendorf, Joe Russo, and The Walkmen’s Walter Martin, along with lyricists Gerrit Graham and Barlow. Josh Kaufman is producer along with Bob Weir himself.
Throughout history there have always been ill mannered, dishonest men and women. It is up to us if we let them tear us apart, or whether we use them as an inspiration to improve the fabric of our society.
For the past 40 years, we have allowed our wages to dwindle, our integrity as people and as states, and a country to dwindle. We have stood by as investors have sucked ever more money out of the economy, and as the entertainment industry allowed philanderers, sexual predators and adulterers become pop idols. We have allowed men and women into politics who abused their power for personal gain, and who have used blackmail to gain ever more power.
We all agree that this is not a wonderful situation. Young women are raped at colleges, young men are raped in the army, unarmed people are shot in the streets and in parks, and management no longer is urged to build strong companies but instead they are representing themselves and the investors, who view themselves more and more as the “ruling class.” Workers’ rights have diminished through lack of organization, and because many Union leaders are not reasonable and often corrupt.
We can be overwhelmed and start the “blaming” game, or we can pull together and hold ideals that we cherish up high for all to see. We can stand together to give “the people” a voice once more. This is not a matter of right wing or left wing. This is not a matter of North or South, coastal states or inland states.
This is a matter of getting a back bone and uniting to stand up for what we know is right. It is time that we stop the excesses of all the people who take advantage of those weaker than themselves. It is time to unite to keep freedom of the press alive and to stop all people who think that dishonesty in whatever shape or form it takes, from holding positions in public office. Let’s evaluate one person at a time. We know that when we are called to turn a blind eye to people who support those who have no regard for truth, justice and honor we are complicit. This has nothing to do with politics. It is a matter of personal responsibility and decency. If we don’t stand up for this free country, we will lose our freedoms.
Violence, dishonesty, adultery, sexual assault, oppression, slavery, should be pointed out in every corner of this country. When we shine the light on the truth and on what is really going on, we can make room for leaders who actually care and who are smart and honorable.
Right now one thing should be clear to everyone who is upset about what is going on, is that we all have a lot of work to do to clean up the mess we allowed this beautiful country to become. As Patrick Henry said: United we stand and divided we fall. He also said: “Give me liberty or give me death.”
The idea that we have to be silent about abuse, disgusting behavior, and oppression, greed, public theft, excesses, and sexual assault, assault on our water, earth, and air, about anything that is just plainly wrong, has been shaped by those who want to silence us so they can take advantage of us and take our rights away.
The US is the first free country and we should shout that from the mountain tops and across the sea. United we stand and divided we fall. By urging us to pick sides they want to distract from what is wrong on each sides. Let’s pick truth, honor, justice and liberty for all. We the people have a right to pursue happiness and right now we are not happy at all.
Rolando Morales Group performs at Seahorse in Sausalito October 8
PUBLIC PERFORMANCES FOR OCTOBER 2016
SundayOct 2, Maria, Maria Cantina, 1470 North Broadway, Walnut Creek, approx. 2-5pm. Rolando returns for the Maria, Maria Tardeada series. Enjoy a Mexican brunch outdoors and Rolando performing on the newly renovated front patio on solo guitar and voice by the creek. He may be joined by flautist Bob Harrison.www.mariamariarestaurants.com, (925) 946-1010.
Friday Oct 7, Don Pico’s Mexican Bistro, 461 El Camino Real, San Bruno, 6 to 9 pm. Rolando returns to the place The Examiner and Independent have proclaimed has the “Best Seafood and Best Mexican Food” anywhere, on solo guitar and voice in the Restaurant Room. Call (650) 589-1163, www.donpicosbistro.com.
Saturday Oct 8, “An Evening with the Rolando Morales Group,” Sausalito Seahorse, 305 Harbor Drive, Sausalito, approx 8:30-11:30pm. After many months away, the Rolando Morales Group returns to put on their unique show at this fun waterfront restaurant and club. Rolando will play a short set to close out the dinner hour, followed by a concert and dancing to an exciting version of the World Class Rolando Morales Group featuring the exciting Latin percussionist/vocalist from George Benson and Prince, Estaire Godinez; the funky bassist from Tower of Power, Marc van Wageningen; from Brazil, the exciting drummer from Airto and Steve Winwood, Celso Alberti; from Michael Franti and Spearhead, the return of the killer keyboardist Bob Crawford; and the powerful Rolando Morales leading the journey on guitar, guitar synthesizer and vocals. Don’t miss it! $15. Make your reservations at (415) 331-2899.www.sausalitoseahorse.com
Tuesday Oct 11, Maria, Maria Cantina, 1470 North Broadway, Walnut Creek, approx 6-9pm. Rolando returns to Carlos Santana’s Walnut Creek restaurant for Taco Tuesday. $1 tacos, baby! Enjoy Rolando on solo guitar and voice with his huge repertoire and big sound out on the front patio. See www.mariamariarestaurants.com, or call (925) 946-1010.
Friday Oct 21, Don Pico’s Mexican Bistro, 461 El Camino Real, San Bruno, 6 to 9 pm. Rolando returns to this popular dining spot on solo guitar and voice in the intimate Restaurant Room.(650) 589-1163 and see www.donpicosbistro.com.
Saturday Oct 22, Pairings Cellars, 310 Main Street, Pleasanton CA 94566, 8-11pm. Rolando returns to this new, exciting social hotspot in downtown Pleasanton. This new wine bar features fine wines, tapas and Rolando Morales performing his broad repertoire on solo guitar and voice. Free! www.pairingscellars.com, (925) 398-8846.
Sunday Oct 23, Maria, Maria Cantina, 1470 North Broadway, Walnut Creek, approx 2-5pm. Enjoy a Mexican brunch at Carlos Santana’s lively cantina and Rolando performing on thenewly renovated front patio on solo guitar and voice by the creek. He may be joined by Bob Harrison on flute. www.mariamariarestaurants.com, (925) 946-1010.
Tuesday Oct 25, Maria, Maria Cantina, 1470 North Broadway, Walnut Creek, approx 6-9pm. Rolando returns to Carlos Santana’s Walnut Creek restaurant for Taco Tuesday. $1 tacos, baby! Enjoy Rolando on solo guitar and voice with his huge repertoire and big sound out on the front patio. See www.mariamariarestaurants.com, or call (925) 946-1010.
Saturday Oct 29, Vine at Bridges, 480 Hartz Avenue, Danville, approx 8-11pm. The Rolando Morales Duet returns to this cool winery and nightspot. Enjoy a wonderful selection of wines, superb dinners and munchies while enjoying this powerful duet. Tonight Rolando reunites with the enchanting keyboardist/vocalist who shared the stage with Stevie Wonder and Sting, the great Janice Maxie-Reid; and on guitar, voice and his pedal board of magic, the passionate Rolando Morales.They’ll cover the musical spectrum. Don’t miss it! www.thevineatbridges.com,(925) 820-7210.
Sunday Oct 30, Maria, Maria Cantina, 1470 North Broadway, Walnut Creek, approx 2-5pm. Rolando returns for what may be the last Sunday tardeada performance of the season. Enjoy a Mexican brunch at Carlos Santana’s lively cantina and Rolando performing on the newly renovated front patio on solo guitar and voice by the creek. He may be joined by Bob Harrison on flute. www.mariamariarestaurants.com, (925) 946-1010.
Rolando Morales performing Sionfonds Fundraiser for Haiti Families at Paella Venga on Sunday, September 25, 2016
Sunday Sept 25, “Sionfonds for Haiti Presents: Party & Fund Raiser to Support Children & Their Families in Haiti,” Venga Paella, 229 Brush Street (at 3rd St.), Oakland 4 to 8pm. Rolando lends a hand to some dear friends in their mission to provide education, nutrition, job training, community improvements and health care to rural Haitian families. Enjoy a great party at this cool Oakland spot that will serve up a splendid paella dinner and drinks. Bring a friend and meet smart, fun, caring people while Rolando Morales provides live entertainment on solo guitar and voice. Bid for unique local and Haitian crafts and amazing services you’ll want, such as Haitian crafts, catered dinners with live music with Rolando Morales and more! $45 includes dinner. http://www.pingg.com/rsvp/pk8a76g22yq3zbkhp
Enjoy fundraiser to assist kids like this cute little girl.
Sionfonds supports Haitian Families, through education, opportunity and healthcare. All of our programs are conceived and implemented by Haitian families, teachers, doctors, farmers, social workers and community leaders. When appropriate we bring visitors from outside Haiti to share their skills and expertise in order to further the cause of Haitian autonomy. Learn more by visiting Sionfonds.org.
Rolando Morales at Don Pico’s Bistro on Friday September 16, 2016
Friday Sept 16, Don Pico’s Mexican Bistro, 461 El Camino Real, San Bruno, 6 to 9 pm. Celebrate Mexican Independence Day with Rolando as he returns on solo guitar and voice in the intimate Restaurant Room.(650) 589-1163 and see www.donpicosbistro.com.
Tonight Rolando Morales with Bob Harrison at Maria, Maria Cantina, 710 Camino Ramon Road, Danville CA,
Sept 13, 2016
Hola, Mi Gente!
I wrapped up another jam-packed week with an intimate patio performance on Sunday September 11 at Maria, Maria in Walnut Creek. The full, attentive patio (and even those inside) were receptive to an impromptu musical tribute to the significance of the day. I allowed the gentle wind to select the songs from my book for my 9-11 segment and shared them with the audience. From Stevie Wonder to John Lennon to Djavan and beyond, the wind chose songs I hadn’t done before and the lyrics, mood and passion were perfect for the moment. Very special.
One never knows what’s going to happen from gig to gig. Every day is different. I enjoyed a great private concert up in Oakville on Friday with my talented friends Carlos Reyes, Janice Maxie-Reid, Estaire Godinez, Gary Brown and myself. We created stirring and entertaining moments.
And on Saturday, at Pairings Cellars, a unique version of my Trio — drummer Celso Alberti, bassist Dewayne Pate and myself— surprised and excited the Pleasanton audience with forms of music they weren’t used to seeing there! Hell, I even surprised the band with some of the tunes I called out. Several we had never done before, but I wanted to take advantage of the talent. We hit them strong.
This week I have some big private weeknight events with my band in store, alongside solo public appearances Tuesday at Maria, Maria in Danville, at Don Pico’s Friday, Barone’s Restaurant on Saturday Sept 17 and Maria, Maria in Walnut Creek on Sunday. Details below.
Remember, too, to make your reservations for the annual fund raiser put on by my beautiful friends at Sionfonds to benefit the children and their families in Haiti. It happens next week on Sunday Sept 25 from 4-8pm at Venga Paella in Oakland. These people really do exceptional work, have big hearts and kick it all off from right here in Oaktown. It’s a great night out with authentic paella dinners, sangria and other libations, Haitian crafts, and I’ll be providing the musical sound track. I urge you to click on their site to learn more and make your reservations. www.sionfonds.org.
Norah Jones will release her new CD on October 7th, 2016
Norah Jones has announced the October 7 global release of Day Breaks (Blue Note Records), her stunning sixth solo album which is a kindred spirit to the singer’s breakout debut Come Away With Me and finds the 9-time GRAMMY-winner returning to the piano and her roots. The album features jazz luminaries including her Blue Note label mates saxophonist Wayne Shorter, organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, and drummer Brian Blade on a 12-song set that presents 9 new originals alongside covers of songs by Horace Silver, Duke Ellington and Neil Young.
“This new album, Day Breaks, feels full circle because I’m going back to my early influences,” says Norah. “After the first record, I drifted away from the piano a little bit. I still played it, but was more inspired to write on guitar. I really loved playing piano on this record.”
Born March 30, 1979, in New York City, Norah Jones, the daughter of Ravi Shankar quietly grew up in Texas with her mother. While she always found the music of Billie Holiday and Bill Evans both intriguing and comforting, she didn’t really explore jazz until attending Dallas’ Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. During high school, Jones won the Down Beat Student Music Awards for Best Jazz Vocalist and Best Original Composition in 1996, and earned a second Best Jazz Vocalist award in 1997.
*2-27-16* Keith Okie and Friends. Guitar solo on, “Make the Rich Man Pay.” Ft. Tory Campbell, Stan Dulkoski and Matt Cole at THAT Brewery in Cottonwood, AZ. www.keithokiemusic.com
Laurent Mercier was born in France in 1967. He spends a good part of his childhood on the road with his parents who are working in the music industry. Later he studies at the « école nationale supérieure des Beaux-arts » in Paris. He started his career as an independent multimedia artist, organizing collective exhibitions. He also worked with the publishing firm, Association for the Development of Multimedia Literature.
He exhibits regularly at the Galerie Donguy, 57 rue de la Roquette, in Paris. He organizes collective exhibitions from the artist action group created by Michel Journiac. He takes part in events on the subject of the artist condition and status in the society, in institutions like Unesco.
He joins Jacques Donguy in his publishing structure “Association for the Development of Multimedia Literature.”
He eventually created his own school “Studio Mercier” where he trains CG Artists, who are working currently in international production studios. He created his own production studio Callicore which allows him to provide services to musicians without any of the restraints often found in major media conglomerates. Laurent Mercier, in short, has devoted his life to break through boundaries and to bring genuine, true art and freedom to his creations counter-balancing the boredom of what he calls “the cultural dictatorship of corporate media”.
Now with his own company, Callicore, he is in charge of all aspects of its projects, from pre-production to post-production, and retains a relatively independent and free nature. It is working out well for Laurent Mercier and his artist clients. They won a Webby Award with John Lee Hooker, Jr. with the animated music video ”Blues ain’t Nothin’ but a Pimp” and expanded Callicore’s service offer with music production and music publishing. More than a collaboration, John Lee Hooker Jr and Laurent Mercier developed the strong bond of a real brotherhood. Among the many illustrious artists co-produced by Laurent Mercier are a variety of projects with John Lee Hooker jr, Arrested Development, Carbon Silicon,The buzzcocks, The Meteors, The Washington Dead Cats, Marky Ramones Blitzkrieg, We Are The Fury, CAKE, Brian Setzer, Lee Rocker, Clinic Rodéo, Dr Feelgood and recently Iggy Pop.
Iggy Pop’s rendition of the classic “La Vie en Rose.”
At Callicore Studios, Laurent Mercier is the producer, director, CG artist, who collaborates with Marius Legrand, producer, lead animator, and are supported by their production assistant Anaelle Majidate.
Washington Dead Cats fun video of a groovy nightmare blues song.
One of the first collaborations between Mercier and Xavier Semens, who joined Callicore in 2006, was the animated video for Phantom Rider, a song from the 2007 album, Hymn for the Hellbound, by the British psychobilly group The Meteors. That same year, Callicore produced an animated video for Sound of a Gun, by the British punk band The Buzzcocks (the initial video was considered too violent for broadcast television, and a second, less violent version was released).
Callicore created the animated video for Blues Ain’t Nothin’ But a Pimp, a song from John Lee Hooker, Jr.’s Grammy Award-winning album, All Odds Against Me. The video portrays Hooker as a comic book character, “Bluesman”, who plays in clubs at night and cleans up the streets during the day. The video was a Webby Award honoree in the Special FX/Motion Graphics category in 2009. An image from the video was featured on the album’s cover.
In 2008, Callicore produced its first video for Carbon/Silicon, a band founded by Mick Jones, the former guitarist for The Clash, and bass player Tony James. In 2010, the studio produced the video for hip-hop group Arrested Development’s Bloody, as well as for When We Were Angels by Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg, a project of former Ramones drummer, Marky Ramone.[2]
In 2011, Callicore created the video for Cake’s Long Time, a track from the band’s comeback album, Showroom of Compassion. In an interview with Cake singer John McCrea, Mercier said the gloomy mood of the video, which follows the plight of a man and his monkey imprisoned in a dystopian world, was inspired directly by Cake’s music, which reminds him of “melancholy things.” McCrea was impressed by the video’s general movement and choreography, which he suggested are often lacking in music videos, and appreciated how Mercier perceived the non-humorous side of Cake’s music.
Callicore produced and directed videos for artists such as Brian Setzer, Lee Rocker, Eagle-Eye Cherry and Dr. Feelgood, from 2011 to 2013. The studio has continued its collaboration with John Lee Hooker, Jr., with several videos featuring the “Bluesman” character created for Blues Ain’t Nothin’ But a Pimp.
You can learn more about Laurent Mercier via his website, wiki, and facebook page.
Mylan Stock in free fall again.. Fortune Magazine (2015 Article)
Who is Heather Bresch? Did she not learn from the Shrekli affair? Did she not realize that the Pharma Industry is in dire need of an overhaul and governmental oversight? If she did, she just doesn’t care. Who is she? Where does such an awful misguided corporate CEO come from?
Heather Bresch grew up in Framington, West Virginia. She graduated in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and international relations, from West Virginia University. She is the daughter of a Democratic Senator, Joe Manchin. After her under graduate degree she taught aerobics in San Diego before moving back to her home state as a 22-year-old newlywed in need of a job. Her father met the CEO of Mylan during a baseball game and urged him to hire his daughter in 1992. She started with the company as a low level quality control clerk, where her job required her to type labels. Mylan’s executive offices back then were located in a double-wide trailer in Morgantown.
She surely can be admired for having come a long way since then. So how did it happen? Well, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Perhaps she loves making money at any cost? Her father a long time Senator for West Virginia has been accused of using his office to enrich himself. Perhaps she is just “daddy’s little lady.” She seems to have very similar values as her father and her second husband.
Caught up in needless lies as nobody cares about the MBA
The Post-Gazette reported in 2007 only 8 years after Heather Bresch started her clerical position at Mylan that Ms. Bresch mysteriously ended up with an MBA, which initially was reported by Business Insider Singapore which listed 29 executives who had steep careers despite their “soft” MBAs. The University explained that she had completely only half of her course work. Apparently WVU initially told the Post-Gazette that the 38-year-old Ms. Bresch did not have an MBA, but reversed itself days later after she insisted she earned the degree in December 1998. The article stated: “An Oct. 22 letter advising the admissions and records office to award Ms. Bresch the degree retroactively was signed by R. Stephen Sears, the Milan Puskar Dean of WVU’s business school.”
Ah, we are getting warmer. Why would the University decide to give our a “Free” MBA from the Milan Puskar Business School to the Senator’s daughter despite the fact she didn’t earn it? Apparently is must have been a “private” matter. The University kept insisting that they could not explain anything citing privacy laws. Well, family matters must not be aired in public. It kind of makes sense that her boss, Mylan’s Chairman Milan Puskar, who gave Heather the her initial job while he was still CEO upon the Senator’s urging is reportedly, a “longtime friend of the Manchin family”. Mike Garrison served on the governor Bob Wise’ transition team with other members of WVU’s board of governors, when Heather Bresch’s classmate Mike Garrison was appointed as the University President. As former Gov. Bob Wise’s chief of staff, he was involved in selecting five members of WVU’s Board of Governors, including Chairman Stephen Goodwin, the Charleston attorney who headed the search committee for WVU’s new president. It was convenient since Heather Bresch, graduated from Fairmont, W.Va., West High School in 1987 in the same class as West Virginia University President Mike Garrison and attended WVU with Mr. Garrison, earning an undergraduate degree in 1991. She joined Mylan in 1992 as a data entry clerk, and was quickly promoted to served in several posts, including as a lobbyist, but her fortunes at the world’s third-largest generic drug maker rose dramatically after she was Mylan’s spokesperson during the 2004-05 proxy fight waged against the company by hedge fund operator Carl Icahn. At the time of the article she received a $500,000 salary as COO. So Mike and Heather are pals and each has government connections. Additionally, Mylan donated $20 Million to the University, so the all around friendly attitude toward Heather’s mysterious and hence-forth unexplained matter of the MBA is understandable, right? Poor Mike Garrison had to resign from his post following this unnecessary scandal. Full Article
Show me who you love and I tell you who you are! Let’s check out Heather Manchin’s second husband Jeff Bresch
Apparently she got married to first Douglas Kirby and soon divorced. He is the CEO of a tech company that provides facial recognition software that can search videos. Bloomberg reports: “MXSERVER is used by law enforcement to monitor large-scale events, process live surveillance feeds identifying potential threats and conduct investigative analysis following a terrorist attack or criminal act. MXSERVER v2.7 is a significant upgrade to prior versions, improving back-end video/photo processing and face search speed and reliability. Numerous functional enhancements have been made which simplify and expedite video/photo analysis and biometric enrollment.” Very cool and much needed technology. That marriage didn’t last very long.
Heather Kirby married her true love with whom she has four children, Jeff Bresch. Jeff is a litigation lawyer at Jones Day. This law firm protects their clients against attacks. His corporate resume shows that he represented Education Management Corporation against “false claims.” The company was sued for defrauding the public. While Jones Day still claims the allegations were false the negotiated a successful settlement agreement with the Obama Administration and various US states. In an article by TribLive it was reported: “The company’s CEO, Mark McEachen, said prosecutors were flexible in negotiating the settlement and the agreement with attorneys general in 39 states and the District of Columbia. The state prosecutors agreed to end their investigations into EDMC in exchange for the company implementing more transparent recruiting practices and improving staff monitoring. ” They also agreed to a $95.5 Million fine without admitting any wrong doing. Full Article Jeff Bresch’s resume also shows that prior to working with Jones Day he gained experience. “As lead trial lawyer, successfully defended several exploration and production companies in connection with OSHA investigations and citations arising out of alleged work safety violations, including a fatality and environmental losses from drilling operations in the Marcellus Shale.” Heather’s husband is clearly an effective attorney fighting successfully for his clients. Full resume
Jeff Bresch’s value system is similar to the one Heather’s father Joe Manchin espouses. Here is a report about Joe Manchin’s first speech in Congress: “Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is making millions from a private coal company even as he fights public health efforts that would raise costs for the coal industry, Senate financial disclosure records reveal. Manchin’s first speech in Congress was an attack on the Environmental Protection Agency for trying to fight the crime of mountaintop removal mining. Manchin opposes EPA regulation of greenhouse pollution, produced disproportionately from burning coal. Last week, Manchin lashed out at Mayor Michael Bloomberg for the billionaire’s contribution to a campaign to shut down toxic coal-fired power plants.” Full Article
Heather Bresch’s questionable Value System is Nothing New
As early as 2015 Fortune reported: As CEO, Bresch has been eclipsed by Robert Coury, her predecessor and mentor, now Mylan’s executive chairman—a brash fountain of expletives who many observers believe still pulls Mylan’s strings. Institutional investors have long accused Coury and Bresch of putting their interests ahead of those of shareholders—a suspicion that Mylan’s rebuff of Teva only deepened. “They’re kind of in the penalty box,” says Marty Sass, a money manager of $7.5 billion who sold half his Mylan stake in July. “Everybody hates them.”
Bresch helped write and rally support behind the 2012 Generic Drug User Fee Act, a law that funded more FDA inspections of generic-drug factories overseas.
In 1989 the NYT reported: “When a drug comes off patent, enormous profits can be gained by the company that gets its generic version approved first. When Mylan Laboratories Inc. of Pittsburgh felt its applications were being deliberately held up in the F.D.A. approval process, it hired private detectives who discovered an F.D.A. official had accepted bribes from a competitor. So much money is at stake that falsification and bribery are constant dangers. The generic drug industry needs also to take the lead in policing its own members. The industry has been a potent force in keeping down the high price of drugs, and medical costs will rocket if the industry fails to overcome the doubts that may now be raised about its products.”
The FDA itself: “The generic drug industry has grown from modest beginnings into a major force in health care. According to the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics, generic drugs now account for 88% of prescriptions dispensed in the United States, and saved the U.S. health system $1.68 trillion from 2005 to 2014.” Mylan is the world leader in this industry and young Bresch is the CEO of the leading company. As the Puskar and later on Coury appointed government liaison she assisted in creating this industry. So why do the changes in law Bresch has pushed through Congress have such a profound impact on the Pharma Industry’s pricing structure? Why instead of saving money are the prices sky-rocketing?
Forbes reported in 2005 that generic drugs are going up by sometimes thousands of percent due to Drug Shortages related to Manufacturing Issues
“But post-industry consolidation, fewer generic manufacturers are applying to the FDA for permission to produce those drugs. With substantially fewer manufacturers producing a particular generic drug (in some cases only 2 or 3 makers), generic prices have crept up with time. However, there are more influential factors than this. When one or more of the manufacturers making a particular drug run short of inventory, demand overtakes supply and results in a price rise. Quality and manufacturing issues are a major reason for drug shortages, according to the FDA. The FDA monitors every facility that is used for production and should any issue arise, the manufacturing company will be issued a notice accordingly.”
Bresch started her carrier in the manufacturing control department. Mylan has an outstanding record. The law she helped write and get approved, is cutting out manufacturers, creating a free reign in price-gouging for Mylan. That children and human beings are adversely affected doesn’t seem to bother her one bit. To her and her husband it is all about money and power. Only about that. In her way of looking at the world she is brilliantly successful, while kids die needless from bee stings.
Now would be a good time to genuinely study the proposal of how to get the pricing back down to a reasonable level. The public and the legislators need to want it and vote for it. Full Proposal.
Marcus Aurelius was considered the last good emperor of Rome. He ascended to rule in 161 CE succeeding his uncle and adoptive father, Emperor Hadrian. Marcus chose him to co-reign his adoptive half-brother Lucius Aurelius Verus as co-emperors until Lucius’ death in 169 CE.
Marcus Aurelius was educated by the esteemed orator Marcus Cornelius Fronto before turning wholly to philosophy. He ruled according to the precepts of Stoicism. Unfortunately his rule was interrupted by constant warfare by Nazarenes and Christians. Despite his persecution of Christians who tried to over through the order and the laws in Rome he is considered the last good emperor. He consistently placed the needs of the people before his own desires or visions of glory.
During the last twelve years of his life, Marcus Aurelius fought the Germans successfully as one of the top generals of Rome, despite the fact that he was never trained in warfare.
He had 10 children nearly all of whom died. Unfortunately Commodus the only surviving child was deranged and one of the worst rulers in history. Commodus had his only surviving sister Anna killed after she and her husband tried to plot against him. Marcus Aurelius is considered the last of the good emperors as he did not succeed in passing on his stoic wisdoms.
Today we lost yet another musical icon, this time in the world of jazz. The diminutive Belgian Toots Thielemans, a jazz harmonica player, guitarist and whistler, was indeed a musical giant. He lived to the age of 94 and played almost as long. “Why would I retire?” he once said. “I do what I love.”
His sweet, unique sound came from a place he described as somewhere “between a smile and a tear.” What an amazing life lead by an amazing gentleman! We’re most fortunate that he shared his unique gift with the world for so many decades. I spoke with him and saw him perform several times over the years . He was kind, humble, honest and funny. He was Quincey Jones’ favorite musician and one of the world’s musical treasures. We’ll continue to enjoy his passionate legacy. We love you, Toots.
I just completed six days in a row of private and public gigs all over La Bahia, from San Jose to Walnut Creek. They included some beautiful locales, sensuous Russian girls who wouldn’t stop dancing and even a good amount of tears from appreciative listeners. It was a really good week that left me totally spent by the time late Sunday night rolled around.
I’m wrapping up my active August with some more lovely private events and four public shows. This Friday Aug 26 from 8-11pm, I do my very first solo performance at the Pairings Cellars, the brand new Pleasanton night spot. I’m looking forward to unveiling my diverse repertoire to that new audience.
Rolando Morales Performs Pairings Cellars Solo
I also have another fun duet show coming up this Saturday August 27 at The Vine at Bridges from 8-11pm with the charismatic Estaire Godinez, the Latin percussionist-vocalist who played with George Benson and Prince. She lights it up!
The beautiful Estaire Godinez joins Rolando Morales at The Vine at Bridges, August 27, 2016 from 8-11pm.
I’ll also have Maria, Maria in Walnut Creek on Sunday Aug 28 from 2-5pm on the patio, and also next Tuesday Aug 30 at Maria, Maria, this time in Danville, 6-9pm. A great way to wrap up the month. See you at the show!
