Aerosmith Live at the Tacoma Dome

On August 8, 2012, Kristina and I were among the thousands of fans who flocked to the Tacoma Dome to see Aerosmith's Global Warming tour. We were especially excited about welcoming the band's front man Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry to our city.

Aerosmith is one of America's best-selling rock bands. More than 150 million Aerosmith albums have been sold worldwide. The band has more gold and platinum albums than any other American group.

Aerosmith's opened its show with an energetic rendition of "Draw the Line." This was followed by more of their classic songs, including "Love in an Elevator," "Same Old Song and Dance," "Livin' on the Edge" and "Last Child."

Lead singer Steven Tyler was born Steven Victor Tallarico on March 26, 1948 in Yonkers, New York. His father was a music teacher. Steven learned to play the drums as a child, but chose to concentrate on singing. In the late 60's, his family moved to Boston.

Aerosmith is also known as "The Bad Boys from Boston" because the band was established there in 1970. Original band members included guitarist Joe Perry and bassist Tom Hamilton, singer Steven Tyler, drummer Joey Kramer, and guitarist Ray Tabano. In 1971, Brad Whitford replaced Ray Tabano. The band chose its name because drummer Joey Kramer used to write "Aerosmith" all over his notebooks when he was in school.

In 1972, Aerosmith signed with Columbia Records. "Dream On," a single from their first album, became a minor hit. Other albums soon followed. Their third album, "Toys in the Attic," was released in 1975 and is among their most successful albums. Their classic songs, "Sweet Emotion" and "Walk This Way," are from this period.

Early in his career, Steven Tyler's voice and appearance were often compared to Mick Jagger's. As time passed by, Steven's unique style emerged.

Despite the group's commercial success, Steven Tyler's alcoholism and drug addiction took its toll on the band. Joe Perry left in 1979. Brad Whitford left in 1981. Jimmy Crespo and Rick Dufay replaced them. Unfortunately, the band did not fare well without its acclaimed guitarists.

In 1984, Joe Perry and Brad Whitford rejoined the band. Aerosmith launched a comeback with Geffen Records. But the album they released in 1985 ("Done with Mirrors") fizzled. Steven Tyler completed drug rehabilitation in 1986. When the band released their "Permanent Vacation" album in 1987, Aerosmith became as popular as it was in the 1970's.

Aerosmith played "Rag Doll" from this period of their career during their performance at the Tacoma Dome.

Aerosmith's success continued through the 90's and into the new millennium. The band's 1993 video, "Crazy," featured Steven Tyler's daughter, Liv. In 1998, the band released "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing." This love ballad was written for the 1998 film Armageddon, starring Liv Tyler. "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" became Aerosmith's first and only number 1 single.

In 2011, Steven Tyler joined the cast of American Idol, judging contestants on the popular television program. He quit American Idol to participate in Aerosmith's Global Warming tour.

When Kandice and I visited Boston several years ago, I thought Bostonians were as proud of Steven Tyler and Aerosmith as Washingtonians are of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana.

When Steve Tyler performs today, it's hard to believe that he is 64 years old. He's so full of energy. He dances all over the stage. He jumps around so much that it's difficult to take his photo. It's easy to understand why some people might say he "moves like Jagger."

Toward the end of the concert Aerosmith played their classic songs -- "Rats in the Cellar," "Sweet Emotion," and "Walk This Way."

For their encore, Aerosmith played the minor hit from their first album, "Dream On." This was followed by "Train Kept a Rolling."

It's amazing that Aerosmith has been playing together for 42 years and can still pack a house as large as the Tacoma Dome.

Some information in this article was taken from Wikipedia and Biography.com.

Cheap Trick Opens Global Warming Tour at the Dome

On August 8, 2012, the Tacoma Dome treated its guests to a double delight -- Aerosmith and Cheap Trick live in concert.

As the opening act for Aerosmith's Global Warming tour, Cheap Trick opened the show with "Hello There." Unfortunately, the Dome's acoustics don't do justice to Cheap Trick's energetic music. The volume was so loud that it was difficult to determine which song the band was playing. I'd prefer to see Cheap Trick at a smaller, less crowded auditorium next time. Another guest explained to me that he thought the Dome's acoustics are better than the Key Arena's. He said blaring volume is just part of Cheap Trick's style.

Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Cheap Trick has been in the music industry for more than 35 years. The band includes all of its original members: Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander, Tom Petersson and Bun E. Carlos.

The last time I attended a Cheap Trick concert was in southern California in 1981. Both the band and I are considerably older. Their concert brought back happy memories.

I enjoyed Cheap Trick's performance of the old Fats Domino song, "Ain't That a Shame." It was great to hear "The Flame," "I Want You to Want Me," and "Dream Police" again. My favorite Cheap Trick song has always been "Surrender," which they performed at the conclusion of their concert.



This is Kristina and I outside of the Tacoma Dome. It's great to have a daughter who loves classic rock n roll music as much as I do.

Mummies Uncovered -- King Tut Visits Seattle

Seattle's Pacific Science Center is offering a rare and wonderful treat -- an exhibit dedicated to ancient Egypt's boy pharoah, King Tutankhamum. Organized by National Geographic and Arts and Exhibitions International, the exhibit is on display for the final time in North America. Washingtonians are lucky to have an opportunity to see King Tut's treasures before they are flown back to Egypt.

On November 4, 1922, King Tut's nearly intact tomb was discovered in Egypt's Valley of the Kings by British explorers, Howard Carter and George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon. King Tut became the most famous of ancient Egypt's pharoahs because his tomb and its artifacts were the best preserved. His mummy's mask is a popular symbol of ancient Egypt.

King Tut was born circa 1341 B.C. His father was Akhenaten. His mother's name was lost to antiquity, but she is now known as "the Younger Lady." DNA evidence suggests that Tut's parents were brother and sister. It was an Egyptian custom that the Pharoah married his sister to prevent their royal blood from mixing with the general population's. Tut may have suffered genetic defects because his parents were so closely related. As a prince, he was known as Tutankhaten, which meant "Living Image of Aten."

Tutankhaten became Pharoah in 1332 B.C. when he was nine or ten years old. He reigned during the late 18th Dynasty during a period known as the New Kingdom. He married one of his half-sisters, Ankhesenpaaten. He and his wife had two stillborn daughters, who were buried with Tut when he died.

One of the most significant events of Tut's reign occurred during the third year of his reign. Tut's father had made the god, Aten, the supreme god. As Pharoah, Tut ended the worship of Aten, lifted the ban on the cult of Amun, and restored the traditional rights to Amun's priesthood. Thebes became Egypt's capital again. The city of Akhetaten was abandoned. At this time, the young Pharoah changed his name to
Tutankhamun, which meant "Living Image of Amun." His wife changed her name to Ankhesenamun.

King Tut died when he was about nineteen years old. Shortly before his death, he had broken his leg and his leg became infected. He also suffered from malaria. The relatively small size of his tomb suggests that his death was unexpected.

After his death, his body was mummified and buried with treasures, including a pair of golden sandals. Ancient Egyptians tried to erase Tut's reign from their history, partly because the boy king's reign was so short and partly because the god Aten was restored to supremacy.

My children were slightly disappointed because the mummy on display is only a replica of King Tut's mummy. They were expecting to see a real mummy. The history may also be difficult for younger children to understand. But if you are interested in the ancient world, you might enjoy the King Tut exhibit.

The exhibit will be on display daily from 9:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. until January 6, 2013.
The Pacific Science Center is located at 200 Second Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109.
Their phone number is (206) 443-2001.

Individual Ticket Prices For The General Public
Mon-Thurs Fri-Sun & Holidays
Adults (16-64) $27.50 $32.50
Seniors (65+) $24.50 $29.50
Youth (6-15) $16.50 $21.50
Child (3-5) $15.50 $20.50
Student (with ID) $24.50 $29.50
Add the IMAX movies Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs or Mysteries of Egypt for $4.00.
Add the Audio Guide narrated by Harrison Ford for $6.00.

Some of historical information in this article was taken from Wikipedia.

The Horrific Childhood of Francis Hernandez

Recently the Order Granting Part Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Francis Hernandez case was posted online. This is the order in which United States District Judge Ronald S.W. Lew vacated Francis' death sentence due to cumulative error during the penalty phase.

I read this long, legal document with the hope of finding answers about why Francis Hernandez -- a man with whom I was briefly acquainted when I was a teen -- murdered Edna Bristol and Kathy Ryan in 1981. While reading it answered many of my questions, I found myself asking even more questions after I read it.

Chiefly, why wasn't anything done about Fran until after he committed the murders?

Francis was adopted. I didn't think the courts would open sealed adoption records. But if a defendant is facing the death penalty, I suppose defense attorneys should be allowed to look at adoption records to find mitigating evidence.

Francis Hernandez was born in 1962. Beginning in utero, he had a horrific childhood. He was the product of a relationship between a 14 year old girl and an 18 year old man incarcerated for burglary. Both of his biological parents had histories of severe mental illness. While pregnant, his biological mother drank alcohol and used drugs. His biological parents' relationship was sometimes violent. Under the circumstances, it is easy to understand why his biological mother might have thought she was doing the best thing for her son when she gave him up for adoption.

Unfortunately, Francis' adoptive parents also suffered from severe mental illness. When he was five, his adoptive mother attempted suicide, was hospitalized for three months and diagnosed as having schizophrenia, paranoid type. This was the first of several hospitalizations. According to this legal document, relatives did not want their children around her because her medications made her behave like a zombie. Why didn't anybody try to help young Fran then?

I do not blame Fran for his adoptive mother's nervous breakdown. Having worked as a psych nurse for four years, I know that schizophrenia is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. However, I do not believe that children should be raised by a paranoid schizophrenic because the disease is so incapacitating. Why didn't the physicians and nurses who treated Fran's adoptive mother alert social services that she was the primary caregiver of a small child?

Francis' adoptive father had mental issues himself. He was frequently absent from the home and in denial about his wife's illness. Mr. and Mrs. Hernandez tried to adopt a second child. The adoption agency turned them down. Why didn't the adoption agency notify social services about the problems they found in the Hernandez home? Why did an adoption agency allow Mr. and Mrs. Hernandez to adopt Francis in the first place?

When he was in preschool, Fran's behavior was abnormal. His preschool teacher suggested that his parents take him to a counselor. His adoptive father refused. Why didn't the preschool teacher notify social services?

Francis' adoptive parents punished him by forcefully administering enemas to him and making them hold them for 10 to 15 minutes. It's difficult to believe that nobody knew about the abuse.

Perhaps if young Francis had been removed from his adoptive parents' home and placed with a more stable family, Edna Bristol and Kathy Ryan might be alive today.

The Barefoot Bandit in Prison in Aberdeen

When I last wrote about the Barefoot Bandit, Colton Harris-Moore was in solitary confinement at Walla Walla State Penitentiary. A spokesperson for the Department of Corrections stated that this was for Colton's own protection. After all, the Barefoot Bandit is a celebrity.

His attorney, John Henry Browne, argued that Colton did not or need this protection. Mr. Browne was concerned that solitary confinement would have a negative effect on Colton's mental health. Colton was housed in the intensive management unit, where those on death row are normally housed. Mr. Browne said that it would be better for Colton if he was with the general prison population.

I discussed this with a man I met in Seattle. He felt that keeping Colton out of the general prison population was a good idea because Colton did not commit violent crimes. He compared Colton to Clyde Barrow of the infamous Barrow outlaw gang. Clyde Barrow did not commit violent crimes until after he was imprisoned in Texas for car theft. The first time Clyde Barrow ever killed anyone was when he beat a fellow inmate -- a man who had repeatedly sexually assaulted him -- to death. After he was paroled, Clyde was a bitter, hardened man. He met and fell in love with Bonnie Parker. With the Barrow gang, Bonnie and Clyde robbed grocery stores and gas stations, robbed about 15 banks and killed 9 police officers and several civilians. It has been said that Clyde Barrow committed these crimes to get revenge on the Texas judicial system for the abuses he suffered in prison.

No, I don't want Colton Harris-Moore to become another Clyde Barrow.

In late April 2012, Colton was transferred to a medium-security unit at Stafford Creek Corrections Center in Aberdeen.

I know that many people dislike Colton. His crimes may not have been violent, but he hurt many people financially. Some people lost their livelihoods because of him. Nevertheless, I care about Colton because I feel that he was a neglected, disadvantaged child who fell threw social services' cracks.

Colton is still a young man. I believe that he can be rehabilitated. I hope he reads lots of good books and tries to get an education. I hope he finds Jesus. The best thing that Colton can do for himself is to use his time in prison to turn his life around.

Debra Brown Gets Her Comeuppance

I've been a registered Republican for most of my life, but something has occurred in Texas that has caused me to think about switching parties.

While I was following the stories about the FLDS trials, I learned that Debra Brown, the executive director of the Children's Advocacy Center in Tom Green County, took a trip to Colorado City, Utah with several ladies from CASA. Photos of Debra and her girl friends with a private detective named Sam Brower were displayed on Bill Medvecky's blog. It is my understanding that Mr. Brower was teaching the women about Warren Jeffs and the FLDS. The Yearning for Zion Ranch is located near San Angelo, but I don't think any of the FLDS children were in protective custody at that time.

But Debra Brown's affiliation with the antipolygamy movement is not what caused me to consider changing political parties.

The Children's Advocacy Center is a nonprofit organization that provides services to abused and neglected children in Tom Green County. Four programs -- Court Appointed Special Advocates, Hope House, Family Enrichment Services and Child Fatality Review Team -- are run by the CAC.

The CAC first placed its former executive director on administrative in February 2011 after Mrs. Brown was unable to explain several expenditures. She resigned shortly thereafter. The CAC hired an independent accounting firm to conduct a forensic audit. The FBI and the Texas Rangers conducted a fraud investigation. In September 2011, the veteran child advocate was indicted on six counts of theft from programs that receive federal funds in a Lubbock federal court. According to the federal indictment, Mrs. Brown “embezzled, stole or obtained by fraud” approximately $237,013 from January 2005 through Dec. 31, 2010.

The public does not know how much money Mrs. Brown actually misappropriated because the forensic audit and investigation only covered the last four years she worked at the CAC. Debra Brown served as the CAC's executive director for 17 years.

On January 26, 2012, Mrs. Brown pled guilty to one count of theft.

On June 19, 2012, Mrs. Brown was sentenced to four years in federal prison. She was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and nearly $325,000 to the CAC.

What has caused me to think about changing political parties is the fact Mrs. Brown was married to County Judge Mike Brown for 29 years. Mike Brown was the Republican candidate for County Judge and has been the County Judge since 1995. He has indicated that he plans to complete his term.

Judge Brown filed for divorce the day after Debra was indicted. Their divorce became final in December 2012. I think Judge Brown had a valid reason to divorce his wife, but I'm troubled by his claims that he was unaware of an increase in his household's income as a result of his former wife's crimes. I'm also concerned that monies his former wife embezzled may have been comingled with their community property.

This case has caused me to question if Republican candidates and their spouses are as honest, moral and trustworthy as they should be. Especially those from Texas. I'm not sure I will be able to continue to support the Republican party if its candidates and their spouses don't clean up their acts.

I'm also in favor of reducing federal funds for CASA, CPS and organizations like the Children's Advocacy Center because this case proves that those monies are not going to help abused and/or neglected children.

*Information for this article was taken from the San Angelo Standard Times.


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Why I Defended the FLDS

Call me crazy. Call me weird. But I'm an FLDS defender.

That's right. After the raid on the Yearning for Zion Ranch on April 3, 2008, I followed the story of Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. During online discussions, I voiced my disapproval about how the raid was carried out. I also defended the women and children who lived on the YFZ Ranch.

Why? I'm the daughter of a WWII veteran. From the time I was a young girl, my parents taught me that it is morally wrong to mistreat a religious, racial or ethnic group. My parents were disgusted by the way that Adolf Hitler and the Nazis mistreated Jews, Gypsies, gays, the mentally ill, the disabled, etc. during WWII. Their generation worked together to stop Hitler and end the Holocaust. My parents, who were of German descent, said that Hitler had brought shame to Germany. Dad was quick to point out that Adolf Hitler was not a German -- he was an Austrian. My parents also taught me that we must work together to prevent genocide in the future.

I'm not advocating polygamy -- I'm advocating tolerance!

I'm following my parents' good example by speaking up for Mormon Fundamentalists, the Roma (Gypsies), and other oppressed minorities. It's wrong to discriminate against people because of their religion or traditional lifestyle. We should be embracing diversity, not promoting hatred or intolerance.

The United Nations considers transferring children from one group (i.e. Mormon Fundamentalist) to another group (i.e. Baptist) to be a form of genocide. Genocide is against the rules of the Geneva Convention. Genocide is against international law. How can we teach other countries that genocide is morally wrong if we allow it to take place within our own boundaries?

I also believe that women should help women. I don't believe that a woman should lose custody of her children because of her religion. Yes, I know that the LDS church and the FLDS sect are two separate and distinct churches. Yes, I know that the FLDS is a Mormon Fundamentalist sect that still practices polygamy. Yes, I know that many people believe that polygamy is harmful to women and children. However, if an adult woman wants to be a plural wife for religious purposes, I feel that is her personal, private business. I don't feel compelled to "rescue" her. Our government should butt out.

If a person wants to leave the FLDS sect, I certainly wouldn't try to stop him/her. I'm acquainted with several former members of the FLDS sect. I like them. They are good people. But I don't think our government should force people to leave a religion, a church, or a sect against their will. I don't have an issue with people leaving the FLDS, but I think they should do so on their own volition. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion to all Americans.

Finally, I think it is wrong to say that "Everyone who belongs to a certain religious, racial, or ethnic group is a ________." (Fill in the blank with derogatory word of your choice.) That's stereotyping. I was taught in junior high that stereotyping is wrong. People are individuals. I believe that there are good and bad in every race, religion and ethnic group. If you're lumping people into groups and saying that everyone who belongs to a certain group is "a bad person," maybe the problem isn't them. Maybe it's you.