In Code

==Dec 15 2011==

[[File:Sign tour lovely 001.JPG]][[File:Narcissus.jpg]] [[File:Ricky.jpg]]

"We fail to understand why we should have to pay the cost of the crisis, while its instigators continue to post record profits. We're sick and tired of one injustice after another. We want human dignity back again. This isn't the kind of world we want to live in, and it's we who have to decide what world we do want. We know we can change it and we are having a great time going about it." From #HowToCamp by the Spanish indignados[[File:The sign tour 017.JPG]][[File:Ign tour 009.JPG]]

All is well.

The bank i was at this morning was robbed

and i was unable to withdraw money.

At the border I was turned back

so have hired a boat to take

the sign stateside. [[File:014.JPG]]

Without problems what would a life be?

==Seattle==

I lose contact with the captain of the ship as the west coast is swamped in fog. If the sign goes over board the salt water will ruin her make up and though she can swim she doesn't like to get wet. I leave in darkness and cross the border via an old logging road at dawn.[[File:Sign tour 007.JPG]] The trip is treacherous but the pine beetle infested forest provides cover as i emerge on the I-5 just past Bellingham. At speed I race to Seattle but the the captain fails to show at the appointed time...i spend the afternoon staring forlornly out to sea.

[[File:Sign tour 012.JPG]]

In the evening i walk the shore line for hours looking for any sign of the ship. Finally exhausted i rent a cheap motel room and fall asleep. I dream of rocks, waves and splintered plywood. As night turns to day i hear a soft knock. I open the door and the sign slurs "Good morning." [[File:The sign tour 003.JPG]]

I say, "Where the hell were you? I was worried sick." He explains woozily the ship arrived early and with time to kill he and the Captain went for a beer. Here he met an exotic Brazilian Cherry hardwood and one thing led to another. I scream, "You could have called!" I run into the bathroom, slam the door and sit on the toilet sobbing. After a good cry i go to see the sign but am horrified to see her smoking my cigarettes and drinking my beer.

[[File:The sign tour 001.JPG]]

I am flooded with tears and retreat once again to the can. After what seems like an eternity I open the door a crack and see the sign fast asleep on my side of the bed.

[[File:The sign tour 002.JPG]] I feel disrespected, used and start sobbing loudly. The sign knocks, knocks knocks. I open the door and the sign says, "Don't cry. The captain took some good shots and you can use them for your stupid wiki sign tour page." I slam the door in the signs face but deep down i can hardly wait to see the pictures. Even though she can be an asshole i still love her. [[File:Sign tour 016.JPG]][[File:Sign tour 040.JPG]][[File:Sign tour 021.JPG]][[File:Sign tour 027.JPG]][[File:011.JPG]][[File:Sign tour 032.JPG]]

Occupy the World!!! The sign tells his friend capitalism ain't going nowhere and in fact has no end game. Portland we're coming!

[[File:The sign tour 005.JPG]]

==Portland==

On the ride the sign is hungover and mercifully quiet as we listen to the National Public Radio announce the US troops have left Iraq. Over 4500 Americans and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi's have been killed and over a million displaced. The war has destroyed that country and cost the American people over 850 billion dollars. But i love Portland and have a friends in the music and muscle business there. I call the record company to discuss the release of my new album and i call the muscle to lay a beating on the sign. The sign over hears the conversation and thinks I'm joking. When we get to the music office the sign sweet talks his way in to a record deal and for some reason my contract is put on hold.[[File:The sign tour 006.JPG]] I'm furious.

Under my breath I whisper "It's not all about u!" The sign just shrugs and keeps talking royalties. I grab her roughly and throw her into the back of the truck. I call the muscle and drive like a madman through downtown Portland. We somehow make it to the park without an accident and i yell at the sign, "You're gonna get it." I see "muscle" and drag the sign into the park. "Muscle" goes to work. [[File:The sign tour 014.JPG]][[File:The sign tour 019.JPG]][[File:The sign tour 018.JPG]][[File:The sign tour 016.JPG]]

The sign begs for mercy and when i ask, "Are you ready to go back to work." He yells, "Occupy Portland!"

[[File:The sign tour 032.JPG]][[File:The sign tour 030.JPG]][[File:The sign tour 010.JPG]][[File:The sign tour 021.JPG]]

[[File:The sign tour 026.JPG]][[File:The sign tour 028.JPG]]

The rally is a great success, the library signs out way too many books, the stamp is a hit and Portland is solid. I hook up with the cool cats and the sign does an interview with a local community radio station.[[File:The sign tour 027.JPG]] The sign is on side, the police are running and Frisco/Oakland '''we're coming...

'''[[File:The sign tour 009.JPG]]

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/12/18/18703038.php

==San Fran==

On the I-5, the sign and table quietly chat as cars, trucks, RV’s, semi’s and the occasional motorcycle pass us by AS THE PLANET BURNS...Why are we in the Middle East again? The sign postulates humanities need to conquer starts with death…while the table comments people are now worried there will be no social network or running water in heaven…or perhaps many dare not consider the inevitable...I take the next exit and the the sign complains in a nasally voice, “I like the high way. ” I ignore her and absorb the desert like terrain, the lived in homes and sturdy fences. The sign annoyingly pipes up again, "You should take a picture of me." I am incredulous but stop none the less.[[File:Sign tour 003.JPG]]

I ask the table to join us and she replies, “What is best...cannot be said". I reply, "We don't want you to talk we just want a picture". He stares quizzically. We travel into the foothills, [[File:Sign tour 002.JPG]] hook up with an enlightened master and end the day pushing books in a small town in the middle of nowhere.

[[File:Sign tour 008.JPG]]The sun never sets on empire.

We sleep in a wheat field and in the morning continue...

In San Fran [[File:Sign tour 028.JPG]]a pig head is on a stick and [[File:Ign tour 016.JPG]] Goofy is bleeding.

[[File:Ign tour 001.JPG]]the sign is the toast of the town...beautiful people, regular people, working people, store people, Occupiers...even the graffiti wants a piece of the magic.[[File:The sign tour 023.JPG]][[File:Ign tour 008.JPG]][[File:The sign tour 042.JPG]][[File:San fran occupiers.JPG]][[File:Tour sign.JPG]] It is only when we hear the the 'po po' announce "No signs on the Bridge” do we relent but of course we take a picture.

[[File:Ign tour 005.JPG]] We've been in town a few hours and the sign is having the time of his life.I call some San Fran Occupiers (SFO's) and arrange a meeting at the Starbucks where the Occupation took place. [[File:Ign tour 015.JPG]] But when we're about to leave the sign doesn't want to go...i am relieved so i head off on my own needing time to myself...but when i arrive at the corporate coffee shop he is already there. "I thought you weren't coming." He replies, "You thought wrong." as he high fives a passer by. I leave in a huff...hit the street, drink, bullshit and play chess with the fellas. This guy beats me badly by pushing the pawns[[File:Ign tour 014.JPG]]. I get drunk and end up in a comedy club yelling "Wake up America...Wake up! I'm from Canada and I've got healthcare." [[File:The sign tour 033.JPG]] Occupy the Streets! hey!hey! no pictures!

==LA==

I call Oakland, they say it's on hold til 2012 and that we should come in the New Year.[[File:The sign tour 015.JPG]] A San Fran Occupier, with a broken leg, is heading to San Diego to help and i give him a ride. He lived at the encampment and i tell him of our Vancouver experience. He's well versed in the inequalities of the system, hooked into the internet, and active. He was arrested 5 times and i encourage him to make his court appearances. In a rare act of kindness the sign jumps in the back to hold down my fellow travelers crutches. "We cannot have infinite growth on a finite planet" is said on our eight hour journey. We discuss nuclear power, dirty oil and traction. He likes the mobile library [[File:Ign tour 007.JPG]]and i drop him off at the LA train station.

[[File:La sign tour 001.JPG]]

I get a room downtown... and learn in exchange for leaving city hall the Occupiers negotiated a hippo from the city zoo which has been under reported.[[File:La sign tour 005.JPG]] The sign says they are barbecuing it on xmas and feeding the homeless which is a small victory for the Occupy movement but i'm not sure about that... of course she loves LA. The Occupation site is well treed[[File:La sign tour 021.JPG]][[File:La sign tour 012.JPG]] but now it is defensively fenced with mesh, concrete and a less lovely sign threatens punishment...the commons is now entwined. As per usual the sign poses with the enforcement bylaw ...[[File:La sign tour 019.JPG]] and the MSM [[File:La sign tour 023.JPG]] Our supply of books is running low but fortunately we find[[File:La sign tour 032.JPG]] a final soldier in the near total infantilization of civilization. Put in a poem [[File:La sign tour 030.JPG]] and we load up[[File:La sign tour 031.JPG]] read a book...read a book...read a book! everyone!!![[File:The sign tour now.JPG]]

==Las Vegas==

In the golden dawn we cruise no where but leave LA early, around noon, to avoid traffic. The sign is going on and on about the oil sands while i drive comfortably in my truck/car...distracted we run low on fuel but amazingly there is a gas station...we arrive in Vegas. The sign excitedly demands a picture with his hero and i oblige .[[File:Sign tour lv 001.JPG]]Though some progressive liberal locals may argue differently [[File:Las vegeas day one 058.JPG]]this city makes no claims...a full on assault of the senses, yes! yes! In my home away from homes[[File:Las vegeas day one 010.JPG]] the Occupiers are still Occupying...[[File:Las vegeas day one 033.JPG]]off strip,[[File:Las vegeas day one 006.JPG]] close to the good music [[File:Las vegeas day one 043.JPG]] a kitchen [[File:Las vegeas day one 008.JPG]]a banking system [[File:Las vegeas day one 056.JPG]]and committed people.[[File:Las vegeas day one 023.JPG]] The sign hooks into the local library... [[File:Las vegeas day one 040.JPG]]chats with the people [[File:Las vegeas day one 031.JPG]] pretends to wash dishes and asks for a day off. [[File:Las vegeas day one 005.JPG]] This ain't a union..."Grapes of Wrath" anyone?

==Day 2 Occupy Vegas==

Hey Hey! My! My! Rock n' Roll will never die...[[File:Protest, hardrock, day 2 029.JPG]]

[[File:Protest, hardrock, day 2 060.JPG]]Occupy!!! Occupy!!! Occupy!!! [[File:Protest, hardrock, day 2 068.JPG]][[File:Protest, hardrock, day 2 076.JPG]] The people are well informed[[File:Protest, hardrock, day 2 070.JPG]] ...books are moving.

==Day 3 Occupy Vegas==