If you are new to my blog, welcome. If you have visited the blog before, welcome back. As you might have noticed, I have not posted very much in the last year. This is not because there was any lack of topics or ideas. The real reason is that most of my time this last year has been dealing with a very aggressive throat cancer. This involved a number of major surgeries, hospital time, countless appointments and various problems that were side-effects of the cancer. As a result, speaking has been almost impossible and writing has been difficult. I am slowly recovering and should be OK (barring any other setbacks or recurrence.) In any case, I believe I am ready to take up posting again.
In addition to trying to resume more regular posts, I have started a new YouTube channel. I am posting new music videos there. These are original creations where I write the lyrics and use AI to produce the music. Most of them should be considered protest music about some of the worst aspects of the Trump administration and its deplorable actions. There are probably many more to come. I play guitar and have experimented with songwriting for many years. I would have preferred to work out the music myself, but I refuse to be silenced at this time in our nation’s history and so I resorted to AI. My wife Carol does the computer work and produces the videos, etc. In this, as in all else, she has been a pillar of strength! I have given the AI component the name of a virtual band I call “The Middle-Aged Poets Militia” (MAP’M).
So far, we have created about eight songs. I invite you to try them out. If you like them and the message they present, PLEASE like them, comment on them, and share them—this is the only way they will reach a wider audience. You can also subscribe and get notices when new material is posted. As with most of my other projects, our efforts are not intended for profit. You can find my channel at youtube.com/@GilbertSchramm, or if you don’t want to follow the link, go to youtube.com and search for me by name.
I would also like to remind people of the book of poems about Palestine I published a couple of years ago.
It is certainly still relevant to the world situation today. You can buy it at amazon.com. (Like using AI, Amazon wasn’t really our first choice, but it proved to be the easiest and fastest way to go to press). In addition, I am also active in posting on Facebook (under my real name).
I started my blog in the strong belief that art and culture can be incredibly powerful as a venue for progressive activism. That is one reason I have posted so much art, poetry, and book reviews. I hope that linking music to my blog will prove effective in that regard.
I also believe that everyone who believes in real democracy should recognize that the 2028 Presidential campaign begins now. Winning the 2026 midterms first is absolutely vital in the eventual removal of Trump and the reestablishment of the rule of law.
Thank you to everyone who follows the blog and is involved in similar work.
Mind-Cast 
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