The Ben Brooks - Comic. Rocker. Papa.

This week the Democratically controlled California Senate banned smoking at state parks and beaches. Within hours, Republican lawmakers were shouting how this was “yet another attempt by government to dictate how we should live our lives”.

Really.

Huh. So, telling people they can’t smoke is ‘controlling’, whereas telling people they can’t (for example) marry who they please, or, have total control over their body’s reproductive system is.. what? What the fuck IS IT?

The blind hypocrisy is stunning, but I’m willing to make a proposal: I suggest we allow smoking at the beach, parks, wherever. Hell, I’ll even reload the cigarette vending machines myself. In exchange, the controlling, fear mongering conservatives need to back off, shut up, take a look in the mirror and try to realize, they are on the loosing side. Once the flip has been switched ON, it can’t be un switched.

Here’s to better days and brighter minds.

Peace

Let’s kill the ordinary
Let’s take its life away
Let’s leave the bored and frightened
Who needs them anyway?

There are no more conventions
There are no rules to bend
It’s only our intentions
Tell me what you intend…

When you find
That time is an illusion
When you find
You made your own confusion
When you find
That everyone’s conclusion is concluded all alone.

Let’s drown the old familiar.
Let’s pull the common thread
Let’s drain the stagnant water
That’s bottled in our head
Let’s fight the fear inside us
Let’s put the guilt aside
Let’s let the night endear us
The universe is wide

When you find
That time is an illusion
When you find
You made your own confusion
When you find
That everyone’s conclusion is concluded all alone.

Let’s put the pain behind us
Let’s take another chance
Let’s let the rain remind us
Our hearts were meant to dance
Let’s follow every instinct
Let’s honor every day
Let’s let it all just happen
We have to anyway

When we find
That time was an illusion
When we find
We don’t need the confusion
When we find
Our beautiful conclusion
Will, conclude with only you
Only you.

Let’s kill the ordinary.

OK, I’m creating a little art project and I need your help.

If you have one, please let me know what your FAVORITE TWEET OF MINE is. By doing this you’ll automatically be entered for a chance to win INvaluable merchandise, not to mention the deep satisfaction you’ll have in contributing to the arts.

On March 31st, I’ll pick 3 lucky winners who will receive a T-shirt, with their select tweet on it – PLUS, an advance copy of “That’s What I Said”. A book, by me, with funny stuff in it, with other funny stuff in it.

If you don’t have a favorite, but want to play along, check out the following to see if something tickles you.

http://favstar.fm/users/thebenbrooks

http://twitter.com/thebenbrooks

Thanks for helping, I truly appreciate it! Peace

Send your favorite to ben@thebenbrooks.net, OR, just leave a reply with who you are!

I’m driving along Santa Monica Blvd. with my 2 1/2 year old “T” behind me in her car seat.

At the intersection ahead, this lady pulls a spectacular bonehead move and nearly kills several drivers and a pedestrian. Impulsively, I shout out:

“Stupid bitch!”

(Oops.)

T continues to look quietly out the window at the traffic – sipping her bottle.

One block.

Two blocks.

Three blocks…

Phew! I’ve dodged the bullet. Then – suddenly, a little voice says:

“Tupid Bitch!”

(shit)

I don’t miss a beat:

“Super beach! We should go to a super beach today! Big waves, nice sand.. a really, really super beach!”

T says,

“Super beach.”

Yes! Yes! Super beach! T smiles, goes back to her bottle and watching the world go by. Nice Ben – great cover. “Super beach”. She’ll never know the..

“Tupid Bitch.”

Goddamn. Little ears, BIG brain.

Well, it’s been a long time coming, but I’ve finally launched a website. Now that I have, it’s a great time to ask, “Ben, why the hell did you launch a website?”

(Thanks for asking.)

This website will be the place where I push beyond the 140 character confines of Twitter, where I show off my scintillating comic skills, where I serenade you with my music and where I beg you to buy a t-shirt. Or four.

Ultimately, thebenbrooks.net will be my digital 1 man show. I hope you have fun and if you don’t, I’ll see ya on Facebook.

Peace