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Contents:
1 - Stumpy's Address 2 - Skinnee News 3 - Touring Schedule 4 - New Live CD Available at shows and on the web 5 - Soapbox 6 - Interview with Christy O'Sullivan 7 - Free Coupon for the Nov 23 DC Show 8 - Attachment info From the Desk of A.J. Stumpy Johnson As I'm sure none of you know, I have been keeping a secret for the last few months. You see, in July my car, a 1998 Prevost Suprema Deluxe GT tour bus, was stolen out of the Greyhound park and ride lot in Mt. Laurel, NJ with me in it. At first I thought that my presence had gone undetected and that I might be able to escape through my ejection module, but after successfully extricating myself from the mosquito net and sneaking from my waterbed to the bathroom I was horrified to discover it had been disabled via a rather unorthodox and malodorous poop attack. Aware now that the jig was up and that this was actually my kidnapping I was experiencing and not a mere bus theft, I emerged from the toilet determined to face my adversaries. Dressed in tuxedos, their leader (a man I later came to know simply as "Rico Sucio") informed me of the disturbing truth behind my abduction: I was to accompany them to a wedding where I would be forced to fill the role of the "Best Man". At first I panicked and rushed for the door, only to be tackled a mere 8 feet away. I then tried to reason with them, pointing out that I was seriously underdressed and hadn't had time to write out a decent speech for the reception, but they were undeterred. They had planned ahead, renting me a tux and supplying me with a notebook, a pen and a book called "1001 Wedding Toasts" they had picked up at the library the previous afternoon. Resigned to my fate, I settled in for the ride to an unknown destination in rural South Jersey and prayed.... When we finally arrived, a paper bag was put over my head and I was escorted into a church handed a ring and positioned in my traditional place by the Groom where I fulfilled my duties in the only way I know how: with Greatness. Unfortunately I was only rewarded with another bag on my head and a trip to a VFW hall where they forced me to drink alcoholic beverages and perform in front of a group of people I didn't even know... it was horrible. I know that this must be very troubling to all of you, but I want you to wipe your tears away. I made it out ok--I'm alright. I apologize for not having told you about this earlier, but national security was at risk and the White House didn't want any of our enemies to know that the President was speaking without any of his sayings from the Olden Days being monitored. Add to that the drop in attendance (and revenue) that would've resulted at the Skinnee J's shows while I was gone and it's easy to understand why it had to be this way. Thank you for your patience and God Bless... A.J. "Stumpy" Johnson NEWS!!
Low Dough Show at the Norva -- More to Come
Surf 107 Sundrop Party
Halloween Boat Cruise
WWE Wrestlers Adopt 3 Minutes as their Theme Music
Last Chance to See the J's before 2003
All Ages Show in Northern Jersey
Tour Schedule November
Friday, November 22
Saturday, November 23
Saturday, November 30
Big Merch News
Sing, Earthboy, Sing Reprinted!!!
2nd Limited Edition Live CD Now Available!!!!
Go directly to this link for Skinnee merch --
New T-Shirts!!!!
New 2SJ Winamp Skins on the web!
Websites
www.2sj.com
2SJ Soapbox From time to time, we at 2SJ like to let you know our thoughts on current events. Here's the latest. If you have any questions or comments, please write to us at skinneej@aol.com Why We Might Go to War For the past several months, the Bush administration has been feverishly attempting to convince the American public and the world community to declare war on Iraq in an effort to oust Saddam Hussein from power. What makes us primarily concerned is that we believe that the true objectives of the war are being hidden from the public and that if the masses understood them, they would be strongly against intervention. The administration bases its justification on three principal claims. First, that Saddam is an evil monster who must be stopped from hurting his own citizens. Second, that Iraq, with Saddam in power, is working with the Al Queda network to sponsor terrorism in the U.S. and elsewhere. And Third that Iraq is developing weapons of mass destruction (nuclear and chemical weapons) that he could use to harm the U.S. or destabilize the region. We are totally in agreement with Bush on the first question. Saddam has proved to be a megalomaniac who meets out judgment at his whimsy. He has little or no regard for the lives of others and terrorizes his people with threats of violence and death. But while we would like to believe that U.S. policy would be based on such unassailable moral judgments as these, the opposite has been true for most of our history. Indeed, one huge problem is that the US has historically chosen allies according to who will do our bidding. And the form of government most likely to do what we like turns out to be a dictatorship, where we only have to negotiate with top officials and people at large have little or no influence. Thus, despite our claims to the contrary, we actually despise freedom and democracy anywhere that it could possibly work contrary to our own interests (Look at how the Bush administration applauded the coup that temporarily deposed the left-wing government in Venezuela!). Indeed, the US has consistently supported military dictators who control their populations and open their resources to our corporations. Some of the worst barabarians in recent history have been supported by US money and weaponry -- Suharto of Inonesia, Pinochet of Chile (we even helped him overthrow the elected government) and, you got it, Sadam Hussein himself, just to name a few. Indeed, Hussein as a great example of how we use dictators as much of Hussein's weaponry and biological warfare capability came from the United States when we used him as an ally against Iran. In the end, we must conclude that the moral justification for the war, while valid, is NOT a moving force for why the administration wants to commit troops and is instead a smokescreen for something else. Iraq and Al Queda. We highly question the administration's link of Iraq with terrorism. Granted that Saddam is a vicious tyrant, BUT it is important to note that Osama Bin Laden is fighting a religious war and considers Hussein an "apostate" and does not believe him worthy of being a muslim. Bin Laden hates non-religious Muslims more than anybody else and has consistently denounced Hussein's secular government. More importantly most people in the US intelligence community, including members of Bush's own staff, have publicly stated that there is no clear link, and likely no link between Iraq and Al Queda. Some may argue that the two might ally soon, choosing the lesser of two evils, which is a possibility, but, again we believe all evidence suggests that we have more to worry on that front from our supposed allies like Saudi Arabia whose leaders have given money to Al Queda. Iraq and Weapons of Mass Destruction. Again, there is no hard evidence that Iraq has any weapons of mass destruction. The head of the past UN weapons inspection team, one of only a few people who have actually any experience in this matter, testified this summer in Congress that he does not believe that Iraq has a viable nuclear program. Even if he does, he's shown in the past that his main goal is to maintain his own power. For example he didn't use chemical or nuclear weapons against US troops in the gulf war, BUT he has used gas against Iran and the Kurds -- two weak opponents. Many in the millitary believe that even if he has those weapons he won't use them against the US or its interests UNLESS he believes he will be removed from power. At which point all bets are off. But what makes this justification so obviously unbelievable is the case of North Korea. Right in the middle of drumming up support for war on Iraq, North Korea, another member of Bush's axis of evil, ADMITTED to having a nuclear program. So here we have a rogue nation with a tyrannical, repressive, anti-democratic government only miles away from economic giant Japan, that is beyond a shadow of a doubt attempting to produce weapons of mass destruction and despite that there has not been one word suggesting that the world go to war with them. So what is really going on? We believe that the administration's position is not about terrorism or regional stability at all, but instead about oil resources. Oil is the only thing Iraq has that North Korea does not. Two articles from the October 10th New York Times point to this conclusion as well. The first noted that France and Russia have historically handled the distribution of Iraqi oil to the world, and both oppose the war. The second, in the business section, discussed how US and British oil companies were already making plans for the likely primary role they would have in Iraqi oil production and distribution after a US-led war was concluded. Interesting that the countries who now deal with Iraqi oil are against the war and those that stand to become the new Iraqi oil barons favor it. Some may believe that because we are so dependent on oil, that war is justified, but we do not. In the end, we think that the war's major consequence will be further alienating muslims in the middle east and inspiring new acts of terrorism and greater regional instability. Stumpy Interviews Christi O'Sullivan
The show itself was a huge success. Before starting the set, we serenaded Christi with our own version of Extreme's "More Than Words" and appointed a "Drink Caddy" who made sure Christi always had a drink in her hand. Plus, the catering rocked. Special thanks to everyone at SURF107 for making this great party happen! And now, A.J. Stumpy Johnson gives us his unique perspective on the event... Stumpy: Not too long ago I woke up the way I so often have these past ten years; On a strange stage with lights in my eyes, a beer in my hand and thousands of dollars in my pocket. After waiting politely for the show to finish, I asked around and discovered that I was in Wilmington, NC with 2 Skinnee J's doing a show for one Christi O'Sullivan, a radio contest winner. After it became apparent that I was once again being rewarded simply for being me with lots of beer and cash, I figured I should find out a little about Ms. O'Sullivan and her motivations. After all, she was the reason I had all that beer and cash in the first place! Stumpy: What kind of lengths did you have to go to to make all this happen?
Stumpy: So how much of that stuff did you drink?
Stumpy: How does it make you feel?
Stumpy: Would you say you have a problem and would you like me to be your sponsor?
Stumpy: After the show, you confided in me and told me a secret - who your favorite band member was. Why don't you let America know who that person is.
Stumpy: So why is he your favorite? In 1,000 words or more, please.
Stumpy: If you were me, what would you do to improve the band's music and performance? Be as critical and brutally honest as you like....
Stumpy: Ok, here's a hypothetical: If every member in the band was in a fight to the death, which one would be the last man standing? Why?
Stumpy: That's funny... I kick his ass all the time... This week attachment is the cover of the new limited edition 2sj CD "Return of the Furious Dragon". those of you not receiving it or not wanting to download it may view it on the webpage 2sjpromo.tripod.com as soon as this newsletter is uploaded. On that note, see you next newsletter!!! |