Even though the song title is Happy Xmas (War Is Over), I’ve always fancied this more of an ode to the New Year – to starting over, blank slates, opportunities renewed. “Another year over, and a new one just begun.”

So here’s to another year of peace, love, compassion and activism.

And many, many thanks to all of you who have stopped by and (hopefully) taken action on behalf of the animals in 2008!

(Video via Cara @ The Curvature; incidentally, and even though it’s not at all related to animal advocacy, you should totally go check out her “Yoko Ono: A Feminist Analysis” series. Part Two is here, along with links back to previous posts.)

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare happy new year john lennon yoko ono happy xmas war is over pcrm ecard

w00t. Two weeks in a row. Must be on a roll or something.

This week’s pick was inspired by a recent post on Pandagon, wherein “The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill” was chosen as one of the three worst Beatles songs penned by John Lennon, My Retro Boyfriend ™. Naturally, I disagree. Wholeheartedly.

According to the song’s Wiki entry (everything has a Wiki entry nowadays, don’t it?),

This song mocks the actions of a young American named Richard A. Cooke III, known as Rik [sic] who was visiting his mother, Nancy Cooke de Herrera, at the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Rishikesh at the same time that the Beatles were staying with the Maharishi. […] According to Nancy’s life account, Beyond Gurus, the genesis of the song occurred when she, Rik, and several others, including native guides, set out upon elephants to hunt for a tiger (allegedly presented by their Indian guide as a traditional act). The pack of elephants was attacked by a tiger, which was shot by Rik. Rik was initially proud of his quick reaction and posed for a photograph with his prize. However, Rik’s reaction to the slaying was mixed, as he has not hunted since. Nancy claims that all present recognised the necessity of Rik’s action, but that John Lennon’s reaction was scornful and sarcastic, asking Rik: “But wouldn’t you call that slightly life-destructive?” The song was written by Lennon as mocking what he saw as Rik’s bravado and unenlightened attitude.

Lennon later told his version of the story in a Playboy interview, stating that: “[Bungalow Bill] was written about a guy in Maharishi’s meditation camp who took a short break to go shoot a few poor tigers, and then came back to commune with God. There used to be a character called Jungle Jim, and I combined him with Buffalo Bill. It’s sort of a teenage social-comment song and a bit of a joke.”

Swoon.

And I think this goes without saying, but…not an official Beatles vid. Love it nonetheless. Wonder if any of the actors are veg*n?

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Tagged: the beatles john lennon my retro boyfriend bungalow bill The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill video music video video blogging vlogging animals animal rights animal welfare hunting trophy hunting big game hunting