Charles Bukowski Quote

"I could never accept life as it was, I could never gobble down all its poisons. But there were parts, tenuous magic parts open for the asking."-Charles Bukowski 

From Betting on the Muse

A Good Definition of Feminism

I don't agree with the rough words used 
in the cartoon below, but they represent
the way people speak to women sometimes
so its accurate of the kind of prejudice 
abuse some women suffer. 

Charlie Brown Christmas Flash Mob

Charles Bukowski Quote

I think I need to seperate my cymbals. They keep multiplying when I`m not looking.

"Bluebird" by Charles Bukowski

"I Write Like" Analyzer

I write like
Kurt Vonnegut

I Write Like. Analyze your writing!

Bus Driver Stops Suicide

NanoWriMo Starts - Here's my playlist.

Late tonight/early tomorrow I'm starting NanoWriMo-National Novel Writing Month.
Here's my Spotify playlist if you want to listen along. I'm going to finally try to get
Frank's Bad Day finished for good.

Coconut Pear Oatmeal

1 cup water
1/2 cup milk (not skim)
1/2 cup oatmeal
1 medium pear-diced
2 teaspoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon molasses
1 packet splenda
1 tablespoon butter
3 tablespoons shredded coconut (I used unsweetened)
salt to taste
cinnamon to taste
pinch of ginger
pinch of nutmeg
pinch of cloves
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Add water, salt and spices to pan and begin to boil. Once boiling add oatmeal and stir. Wait several minutes and add pears and coconut and stir. Turn heat to low simmer. Add butter, maple syrup, molasses, and Splenda and milk. Cover and let cook for about 5 to 10 minutes-stirring occasionally. Once it gets to the consistency you desire add the vanilla, stir and serve.

Lily by Geoffrey Gevalt

Awesome story about a very deep 2.5 year old.

100 Miles

In April I started keeping track of my distance swimming. I soon decided I would swim 100 miles by the end of 2013. A mile is 36 laps down and back at the YMCA pool. I started out doing 1/4  to 1/2 of a mile each day. Then I would shoot for 27 laps, which is 3/4 of a mile. Several times after that I came in early and swam extra and got to 1 mile. It took about 1 hour and 20 minutes the first time I did it and I was spent afterwards. Finally, around the end of summer I was doing a mile several times a week. Now I can do it every day.

Today was the big day, I reached the goal early finished my 100 miles.

Lily Myers "Shrinking Women"

Here's an incredible piece of poetry about the nature of women. Powerful stuff.

Today I have swam a total of 99 miles this year. Tomorrow will be the big day I have been working for all year: 100 miles.

Quote from Robert Coles

Today I downloaded my weekly podcasts from The Writer's Almanac by Garrison Keilor and found this little gem:

"We should look inward and think about the meaning of our life and its purposes lest we do it in 20 or 30 years and its too late."-Robert Coles

Skidamarink a Dink a Dink: The Dramatic Reading

My cousin Melissa and her son Nate worked together on a dramatic reading for her daughter Jessica's reading. We were shooting for kind of a beatnik poem read by Bill Shatner effect. I'm pretty happy with it. If you have the bandwidth-click the HD button on the video player, it's much better.

1 Hour

Yesterday was awful. 

I was overwhelmed by work, swimming in emails. I made the effort to go the extra mile to help out a customer and I ended up staying way too late, and in the end I'm not sure it was value added work. Making a sacrifice for something you think is worth it can feel good, but when you come to the realization it may not have been as important as you were led to believe that's just disappointing. 

I came home in a snit. I missed out on exercising, catching up on chores and being with my wife. When I finally got to bed, it was later than I wanted and I drifted into a fitful sleep. 

About 2 am I started to slowly wake up and realized I was rested. I normally drag myself out of bed at 4 am to go swimming and it takes an hour of coffee and breakfast to come to a consciousness approaching that of Cro-Magnon man after a bad weekend. 

I lay there enjoying that type of lounging sleep that I normally reserve for Saturday morning around 8 am until I was done. I actually got up from bed an hour early and I wasn't despairing of life.  

I considered waking my red-headed compadre next to me, but I wasn't interested in seeing a bonafide, USDA inspected, Grade A snit, and it would be justified for waking her up at 3 am with no good reason other than I was rested and ready to face the day and wanted company. 

Instead I dressed and headed for the coffee maker. I got out the cat toy on a string as the coffee maker made the happy burbling noises and proceeded to make the other attractive female in my life happy. That would be Lucy the calico cat. She has deep green eyes and two permanent dirty spots on her nose. She is incredibly charming and always makes me feel like the popular girl at school wants to be my friend. After playing catch-the-cat-toy-on-the-string for about 10 minutes, I picked her up and scratched her ears and she leaned her cheek against mine and purred. 

I was ready to begin the day-ahead of the game. Today would be different and things would be good.  It was a moment of an everyday type of magic, an unexpected moment of God's grace after a very bad day, and it needed to be savored and shared. 

Zen Pencils Animation of Marc Maron's "Social Media Generation"

Just a warning, this is kind of vulgar, but it is so to make a point, not just for vulgar's sake. It makes a very strong statement about our use and abuse of social media. This is based on a comic on the site Zen Pencils with the animation developed by Jess the Dragoon .



 

Dear White Choc. Macademia #Clifbar, thanks for being there after swimming. Hypoglycemia was no match for your awesomeness.

Outside the Box

"The Scared is Scared"

Perfection...

The Sound of Sprinkles

Sitting in on congas with the jazz group Vibenation at the 2013 Elkhart Jazz Festival

There are things in this life that you keep forgetting easily, important things that you need to keep in mind. Its like how time and time again the Apostle Paul comes back to justification by faith to the church because they forget it so easily and legalism is such an easy trap to fall into. 

I have a similar experience regarding being a percussionist. I have to make a real effort to not forget the value of playing sparingly, not always trying to fill the whole musical space available with sound. It's as if I went to some audio garage sale and came back with awesome bargains. There is just not that much room for all I have but I still try to stuff it in all the closets until all the available musical space is bursting with too much sound.  This is especially true of playing with a band, but it also happens when I go out and play as part of a duet or trio. I have to remind myself that people like to hear things that don't always overwhelm them. All day long you can listen to music that is the equivalent of a pizza with everything, but then you don't even taste all of the subtle flavors in the cheese or the tomatoes and basil in the sauce. 

The same with music, sometimes to hear just an acoustic guitar and conga drums or just a shaker is kind of a rare experience because so much of the music that we listen to is a wall of sound. Think of the difference between Coldplay's "Hurts Like Heaven" and Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" and you will get the idea. 

Sometimes I have gotten down on myself in the past that I am not able to play more instruments at once, not able to produce the big sound that the kit drummer can, but then I remember that regardless of where I am at as a musician, there is nothing wrong with the addition of simple rhythms, they are accessible to more people, and they don't distract from the other instruments in the band. Even before I started playing myself I always loved those small accents, like triangles, shakers and bongos when I heard them in music around me. 

When I first started playing percussion, my music leader told me that I was the sprinkles on the cake. I wasn't the frosting or the cake itself, I was something that added a nice touch to what was already good on it's own. This saying comes back to me over and over. I'm there to support others and not to promote myself. It's a hard lesson, but it's worth learning over and over. 

Don Ward: Shoe Shiner Extraordinaire

I love seeing someone who loves their job.

Cantina Band

As a child I would lay on the floor and listen to one of my favorite records, (think of a really big black CD disc). It was an philharmonic orchestra led by Zubin Metha playing themes from Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. One of my favorite pieces on that album was the Cantina Band from Star Wars. Check out this video.

The Scarecrow

I just finished listening to Kissed By Rose by Seal. I`m not afraid to admit I sang it too. Just needed to share that.

Fresh Bread Like Jazz

My wife made fresh bread tonight. It tasted like Paul Desmond's alto sax sounds on "The Way You Look Tonight" on that classic jazz album, "Jazz at Oberlin" by the Dave Brubeck Quartet.
(see below).

That's without butter or honey, jelly, jam, Nutella, or even peanut butter!

Are you feeling me?

Can you dig what I'm laying down here?

It was really good bread...

A New Story of the People

There's a lot to this video. I have not decided what I think about it yet, but I thought it was worth sharing.

Questlove and David Byrne Discuss Public Enemy and Classical Musical

Ike Quebec - Blue and Sentimental

Cali Rivera - Cowbell Maker

Via Radio Diaries

\

Buy My Book - Honest Haircuts

Recently I self-published a chapbook of poems, stories and essays called "Honest Haircuts" 

If you are interested in buying a copy-I still have some of the numbered first editions left. 

The price is $7.00 each for a signed copy and that includes postage in the US. 

Below is a link to Paypal if you would like to pay with a credit card. If you want to 

set something up in person-email me at honesthaircuts at gmail dot com. 

The Dream of the 1890's

I want to believe...

Dave Brubeck Quartet Take Five

Frank's Bad Day Part XIX

"Hold on here. I just want to make sure I have this straight. You are telling me that you are the real Jacob Marley, the character from the Charles Dicken`s book, `A Christmas Carol`?  I don’t know if you knew it, but that was a work of fiction! You’re deranged if you think I`m going to believe that! I swear I’m trapped in some half-baked BBC Christmas Special where we all learn a valuable lesson from the Spirits of Christmas. Tell me this ‘Marley’...is Rowan Atkinson and Hugh Laurie going to appear next as Scrooge and Bob Cratchitt? This is all so incredibly lame…"

Marley snapped back while Frank was still speaking, "Oh stop making it all so tiresome. Ninety-five percent of people in the Underworld have never discovered my identity. If I had not ranted about my own story and if you weren't slightly literate you would have never considered it. “

Pausing for a second, a slightly wicked grin appeared on Marley’s face and he began to speak again.

“Here is an idea, oh most learned English scholar, why not consider the quote of the Bard of Avon, that of Hamlet, who was used to speaking to ghosts, ‘There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.’  Tell me, do you think that the only inspired literatures in this world are those dusty volumes that poufy vicars deem as ‘God-Breathed’? The Spirit of Truth communicates through avenues outside of Scripture*. Have you ever considered how one of the most popular stories in the English language was written in just six weeks?  Let me be clear, sir, A Christmas Carol was a true story, dropped into the mind of Charles Dickens by the Holy Spirit on the night of October 5^th, 1843 while he walked the streets of Manchester.”

Marley paused. He glared at Frank, nostrils flaring and eyes wide open.

“Enough of this…Returning to the subject at hand, unless you want to continue denying the cold reality of your present situation, I suggest we discontinue these academic discussions and you decide to make the best of things and stop acting like a spoiled child who thinks he is clever when he is obviously not. What say you sir?"





*Just a little theological clarification here. Marley is not saying that other works of literature can be considered on the same par as the Bible, he is saying that truth appearing in other sources can be influenced by the Holy Spirit, since one of the names of this member of the trinity in scripture is the Spirit of Truth. Like I said in introduction to this story, what's going on in this story does not reflect my own evangelical view of Christian doctrine. This story is fiction using the concept of a purgatory type afterlife to explore certain ideas. I do however agree with Marley's concept here insomuch as God is seeking to communicate truth about himself through many ways and there will be times that that influence can appears in other types of writings to point people toward a personal relationship with God.

"Roll the Dice" By Charles Bukowski - Read by Bono

"The Laughing Heart" by Charles Bukowski-read by Tom Waits

Frank's Bad Day Part XVIII

After an awkward silence M spoke. "What do you think?"

“I don’t know…is there some other way?"

"Not really. You were chosen for SMI instead of Purgatory because of your skills with people and because of your problems with people. The Heavenly Hosts have decided Purgatory is not an option. Have you read any of Dante’s works about the Underworld?"

"Yeah...but that’s just classical literature, that’s not scripture."

"True, but some of what Dante described is actually accurate in that the tasks you must complete are related to your own personal struggle with sin. Not to be trite, but the old saying, `the punishment fits the crime` is accurate when it comes to this. "

"Look, I know I wasn't a saint, and I could have been a better person…I get that. I could have been more involved with people, but I’m a little unclear on simply being overly self involved has brought me here with such an exhaustive plan.”

M looked hard at Frank. He seemed to be choosing his words carefully.

“Frank...do you know what the sin of omission is?"

"It’s when you fail to perform the commands of God"

"Very good. Nevertheless, there is more to it than simply that. When your actions don’t express positively what you believe, that is part of it. The first epistle of John says `how can you say you love God, who you don’t see when you don’t love your brother who you have seen?` You have been baptized, confirmed and went through all the motions but without producing any works positively expressing your beliefs. Frankly, this is why you have a sickly faith. You are fortunate you made it to SMI, let alone Purgatory. There’s nothing for it mate. You either do these tasks or you can take your place with those who have rejected God’s love in Hell...for eternity.”

Frank looked down and shook his head. He finally spoke, "Look, I know I don’t understand everything here, but isn't there some sort of appeal process or a different authority I can talk this over with? It’s obvious everything is well organized here, surely there is someone else I can talk to. This seems like way too much trouble for taking care of one guy who was a little selfish.”

“You are such a typical American. Everything is negotiable. Never taking ‘no” for an answer, trying to weasel your way out of everything. I thought you were different when first I met you but now I return to my first impression when I saw your file. I had a feeling this was a bad idea, I told Antonius you were not suited for this but he said that “They” wanted you here. Do you know who the Heavenly Host is?”

“I assume it’s the all of angels…I guess.”

“It’s a phrase we use to express the decision making body of Heaven. Which is really just the Trinity. The Almighty God made this decision, not some bureaucrat with a halo. You can’t negotiate with Him, you can’t fill out a form. You have received incredible grace ending up here. If you think you have been treated wrongly you are sadly mistaken. You have received more than you deserved and you don’t even have the sense to realize it and cry like some spoiled dandy that you are unjustly forced to do what you don’t fancy. “

Frank wasn't sure what to say. M stood up and began to pace the room.

“Let me tell you a story. I died about 150 years ago and for 10 years I wandered the earth in heavy chains as a result of my sins. Day and night, year after year I saw all my life could have been, seeing all the good I could have done, seeing all the suffering in the world that was a result of my selfishness or that I could have alleviated. I saw those that I did care for become more and more like me, heading towards this cold hell of regret that would never end. I prayed to God that I could have a chance to warn my friend and business partner even though there was no reason God should hear me. But he did. Antonius came to that region where I was trapped and told me I could warn my friend and three other spirits would help turn him back to God. I warned him of all the pain and suffering and how my selfishness had ruined my life and how he was in worse shape than I was. Soon after my visit and the three other spirits ministered to him, he changed his way. He turned his heart to God and opened his life to others. He became a new man. Even though I was still in this cold hell of regret, wandering on the wind, chained to my sins forever, I had some relief that I had helped my friend…”

M stopped at this point and looked down and was silent.

Frank tilted his head and squinted.

“Wait a minute. Are you Jacob Marley--the 'Marley' in the book?”

M looked up slowly.

“That’s correct my boy…”

A Not-So-Subtle Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing

"Alas, poor big giant salad! I knew him well; a salad of infinite taste, of most excellent dressing; he hath borne me on his back for one meal; and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is!" - Hamlet goes to the Salad Bar at Ryan's Steak House, Act 1 Verse 3

I've been eating at least 1 big salad a day for some time as part of my new diet/lifestyle changes. Now I don't subscribe to subtle tastes, so I wanted to share my oil and vinegar dressing, it's really tasty and the kind of high-octane thing that makes a salad attractive to bacon eating men. 

First of all, get out your salad bowl. The bigger the better-less chance of making a mess that way. Assemble the following:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1-2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 leaves of basil (Fresh from the garden)
thyme (Fresh from the garden)
1 pinch of garlic powder
1/8 tsp salt 
fresh ground pepper to taste
cholula hot sauce (Frank's will do)
A handful of nuts-pistachios, pecans or walnuts are good choices
a packet of stevia or splenda sweetner or agave syrup. 
3 fresh mint leaves (look in your yard if you are lucky enough)
a little fresh chives (Fresh from the garden). 

I'm lucky enough to have some herbs growing at my house-so I go outside and get some before making the dressing. 

Add the oil and vinegar to the bowl first, then the hot sauce and then the dry spices. Now cut up the fresh herbs from the garden into ultra small pieces and add to the bowl. Scissors works well. Grind the nuts-add to the bowl.

Now mix the dressing using a small wisk and coat the sides of the bowl. The idea is to coat the bowl and add the leafy vegetables first and then the rest of the salad. Then when you toss the salad it will be perfectly coated with the dressing. 

I recommend a variety of greens, but especially spinach and iceberg go well with this dressing. Don't forget the vidalia onions and the bacon bits. 

Buen Provecho. 

Unlocking the Truth

Showing some real rock and roll swagger

Gypsy jazz, sublime sunset, a loving couple slow dances next to the wells fargo atm on main street. #elkhart jazz festival

"Afro Blue" by Mongo Santa Maria

The Beastles - Yellow Submarine

Mash up of Beastie Boys and the Beatles.

Simon's Cat

Mirrors (Justin Timberlake K-O.ver) - Live by Kevin "K-O." Olusola

Very tight cover. Cello, cajon and acoustic guitar.

Spicy Black Beans and Rice

I'm not good at making chili and some of my Mexican food is sketchy, but I lived with a family in Costa Rica for a month where every meal could include the staple of Gallo Pinto (literally means painted rooster). Thats a subtly flavored black beans and rice that will keep you going for a long time.

I really don't do subtle when it comes to food. The more flavors exploding on my taste buds, the better. So here's my version of  Gallo Pinto:

Ingredients

6 cups of cooked whole grain rice
2 cans of Bush's Black Beans-rinsed and drained.
1/.2 large yellow onion-Vidalia if possible-chopped-but not minced.
1/2 cup chopped red bell peppers
1 clove of garlic-minced or a pinch of garlic powder
1 can of chicken broth
1 dried red chile pepper-chopped so the seeds are all seperate.
2 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of molasses or brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon of oregano
2 tablespoons of bacon bits-smallish pieces
1 tablespoon of Cholula hot sauce (Frank's is acceptable too)

Take a large non-stick pan, a little smaller than a stock pan. Warm the oil on medium heat, add the onions and bell peppers. Cover and let them carmelize-stirring occasionally. Add garlic, red chile and salt, pepper, oregano, and molasses. Stir, cover and let cook until thorougly "perfumed" (about 4-5 mins). Add chicken broth, stir and let simmer for 5 minutes. Add the rice, mix thoroughly and let it cook for 5 mins. Add beans now and mix thoroughly and turn the heat to low-make sure the pot is covered. Keep an eye on it stirring about...you guessed it--every 5 minutes. Add the bacon bits about 15 minutes after covering. It takes about 30 minutes for all of the flavors to permeate the beans.  There should be an almost light gravy that develops, I prefer to let that cook down some so there is very little broth left, but taste it and see.

Serves about 4 really hungry people.

Serving suggestions: Sprinkle with Mexican Rancherito crumbly cheese or any kind of Parmesan and eat it as is. Its a spicy dish-so a dollop of sour cream is a nice contrast. A garnish of chopped cilantro and Roma tomatoes adds a nice contrast. My favorite way to eat it is with 2 eggs cooked over easy on top for breakfast. It makes for a substantial breakfast and is chocked full of protein and fiber.

I Want Another Cookie...

This is a great youtube series where conversations with a 2 year old and her father are acted out by another grown man and her father. Its brilliantly overacted.

Ask Your Doctor About Tacos...

Do it today!



Also-consider adding ketchup to your taco regimen. The lycopene in ketchup contains natural mellowing agents.

John Luther Adams - Drums of Winter

Under Pressure

Queen's classic, "Under Pressure" stripped to vocals only. Incredible.

Anglobaptist.org

The blog Anglobaptist.org starts out with the following quote that really made my day:

Don't lose any opportunity, however small, of being gentle toward everyone. Don't rely on your own efforts to succeed in your various undertakings, but only on God's help. Then rest in his care of you, confident that he will do what is best for you, provided that you will, for your part, work diligently but gently. I say "gently" because a tense diligence is harmful both to our heart and to our task and is not really diligence, but rather over eagerness and anxiety...I recommend you to God's mercy. I beg him, through that same mercy, to fill you with his love. - Francis de Sales

Go check it out. Its smart reading. I especially enjoyed the essay on American Idol . I don't agree with all of Baptist theology, but there is a mountain of things that I do agree with. To be truthful, I don't agree with everything that everyone in my own "camp" believes. I'd rather concentrate on the good things I can agree with those around me anyways. Nuff said.

Burger King Hands Free Whopper Spanish Commercial

¿Necesito decir algo más?

Increible.

Charles Bukowski-"People simply empty out"

I'm a fan of Charles Bukowski's poetry.

There is a lot about Bukowski that is rude and offensive and contains things that are very unseemly.
I would not let my minor child read his stuff, nor ever quote it in church.

That said, life can be unseemly, not all truth is expressed wrapped up in a pretty bow, and life
cannot be kept sanitized for our protection like a fancy hotel toilet seat. Bukowski has a point of
view that is not easily found in literature that is refreshing at times.

The website Letters of Note featured a letter from Bukowski to his editor that I really enjoyed
a lot. Click the link below to read it.

Letters of Note: People simply empty out

Game of Thrones Theme on Cello and Djembe

Further proof that the djembe is the best all purpose hand drum in the world.

Craft Project-With Fiery Projectiles!

How to make a mini bow and arrow-including instructions for flaming arrows.
You Need:
Popsicle sticks
floss
pocket knife or nail clippers
Q-tips
Vaseline
Toothpicks

Speech from the Great Dictator by Charlie Chaplin

Awesome speech by Charlie Chaplin

MC Frontalot - I'll Form The Head

Gotta dig rap starting with "bright-colored robotic space rhinoceri..."

J Day

Alternative WWII History-Justin Bieber Saves Us All.

Scary Cat

This is what Al Gore had in mind when he built the
interwebs-I'm sure of it.

The Poet's View -- W.S. Merwin "Learning Your Own Language"

Here's a little gem on poetry, bilingualism and a lovely poem to boot.

The Omelette

In my periodic guerilla warfare to increase the influence of whimsy in the world today I changed both TV’s in the men’s health club at the YMCA from Fox News to “My Name is Earl”.

 

 

¡Viva el capricho*!

 

 

(whimsy)

 

Bubba's Hover

Dansons la capucine

Because of my international viewpoint, I am including a very artistic video in French, with cats playing Pattycake-don't worry, there are subtitles and the humor is fairly accessible.

Accordion and Cat Duet

Jonathan Batiste and The Stay Human Band w/ Wycliffe Gordon Take Over L....

Personal Review

Yesterday I had my yearly review. It went well.

This year we instituted a new system where part of your yearly review is that up to 15 people throughout the company judge you on how you do your job. Things such as integrity, delivering information in a timely manner and collaboration, entrepreneurial spirit and other such things. On the whole, I think its a great idea. Its possible for people in some workplaces to get away with acting any way they want to their coworkers and still get rewarded by a company for production. As a whole, I think this review process sends a strong message that a culture of cooperation matters.

 From a purely personal viewpoint, there were 2 things I learned from this new review system.

 1. There are probably times when I am too hard on myself. My boss and the 15 people that I work with throughout the company scored me higher than I scored myself. I scored myself lower because I know there are things I could be doing better. There are things that I am not satisfied with. Nevertheless, I need to remind myself from time to time, the rest of my colleagues and boss are satisfied enough that I can't take myself so seriously that work becomes a drag.

 2. Getting along with people, taking care of their needs, just doing what I can to be a good person still affects my overall performance-in the end probably on an equal footing to actual production. I read about a silicon valley company that has two interviews for prospective employees-one to determine their qualifications for a job and another to see how they will mesh with company culture. I hope that more companies start to consider this in hiring.

Work is not simply a bunch of superstars producing outside of each other. There are many people out there who believe that their qualifications make them an incredible addition to the any corporate machine. But there comes a point at which it doesn't matter if your casing is titanium, your springs highly polished beryllium, or even if your bearings are hermetically sealed and lubricated for a life time, if you can't fit into the machine you are part of, and if you can't work with the other components, you're just a useless tool that doesn't fit in...

 In my job dealing with Latino customers, I have seen this played out time and time again. Good relationships are the warm social lubricant that makes the day to day world work smoothly and not feel like metal wearing against metal, chipping away at what makes us all truly human.

 I'd also like to point out that the company I work for has quite possibly the coolest, nicest, and most awesome HR benefits administrator ever, and I would say this even if she didn't read this blog on occasion (but that does contribute to her overall awesomeness matrix).

Musical Coffee Table -2x2 Rumba

RED HANDS - Walk off the Earth

A Softer World

A Softer World: 917

Cat Island

I've had cabin fever lately, and here is where I want to go.

The Dream of America

I'm afraid to turn on the news lately. The President and the Congress and Sentate are struggling to deal with tragedies, taxes and budgets, and I am getting more and more disgusted with government as a whole.

I understand that there is a huge divide on many things between the two parties. I get that. There are many large issues that can't be just worked out easily. There will never be a magical day when congress can get together and just hug it out and all the social ills go away forever.  I can accept that.
I'm not a naive hippy. ( I still love the word hippy)

That said, I've got this reasonable dream. I have this paradigm that I know is possible. Its like a taste on the tip of my tongue, but it never fully realizes itself.

Why is it not possible for both parties to approach an issue, such as gun control, healthcare, or abortion and simply start from their intentions, their larger goals and desires and work their way back to small reasonable solutions? Many small solutions could make a huge problem less and less monstrous. It sure beats doing nothing and blaming the other side until you hope you can get a majority again.

Its like we have this huge house to be painted and we're trying to find this one magic giant brush that will paint the whole house in 1 stroke, instead of using little brushes and starting on the trim and moving on to the siding and on from there. Why does it seem that our government hates small solutions?

One of my favorite songs by Sting is "The Russians", where he talks about the nuclear threat during the cold war.

We share the same biology
Regardless of ideology
What might save us, me, and you
Is that the Russians love their children too

The two sides are not that far apart that they can't get some things done. We all love our children, want to have a job and a place of our own. Why can't we start from what we have in common, as little as it may be, and work from there?

It's a dream, but its worth believing in.  We can still work together to make a better country. Every politician can't be without virtue and no one party is utterly corrupt-there has to be some good left. Cooperation has to be possible.

The Land of 10,000 Homeless

Too Many Songs (feat. Larry Goldings) - Ryan Lerman

TED: The happy secret to better work - Shawn Achor (2011)

High Roller USA - Adult Size Big Wheel Christmas AD

I want...

My New Favorite Drummer

Carlos Skinfill Introducing Hi-Shaker

Eddie the slam-dunking sea otter at the Oregon Zoo

Eddie the slam-dunking sea otter at the Oregon Zoo:
An Oregon Zoo sea otter has been trained to dunk a basketball as part of its treatment for elbow arthritis.(2/19/13)


FOX19.com-Cincinnati News, Weather

Kittens On The Beat

A Shocking Revelation...

There are some days when I find snarkiness and cynicism more life-affirming than love.

That my friend, is a personally revealed character flaw.

Things gettin' real up in this room...

What room is that?

The room for IMPROVEMENT!!

I don't know if I'll leave this up, but its a masterpiece of lameness that makes
me giggle-so just for a little while.

Valentine's Day Comic

BUNI Comic

"Dear Esther" Video Game

Video games are bad for some people, we get it. No dates, no talking, anti-social tendencies, no exercise, rickets, scurvy and all manner of physical, mental and social ills come from their abuse. I truly get this.


However, I stumbled on a different sort of game that I really want to check out, because its not a game in the normal aspects of shooting things or finding this key to put in this door, or talking to this person to get this thing to get to another level.

Its called Dear Esther and is set on a deserted island. Check out the trailer and reviews below.
What intrigued me is that the game world is a vehicle for poetry, prose, visual art, music and ambient sounds. You explore the islands and certain locations trigger the narration from your uncle who is writing a letter to you, Esther.

The Grown Up Test

If you are unable to giggle by making silly faces at another person-its too late.

You have become a grown up.

You might as well start moving your waistline to your armpit and asking why
Matlock is off the air.

Ozymandias Gets Pwned.

Another awesome literate comic from Dave Kellett at Sheldon

Ode to Tacos

(From Scenes from a Multiverse)

Petsami Presents: "Dog Eat Dog" starring Zachary Quinto

Good story. Its got a little bad language-PG-13, but anyone who adopted a pet
from rescue will like it.

Just Play: "Twinkle" PSA Campaign for NAMM 2013 and NAMM Foundation

Walt Whitman Quote

"Washes and razors for foofoos .... for me freckles and a bristling beard."

Leaves of Grass, "Song of Myself" Stanza section 14

Why Drummers Should Learn Jazz

Modern Drummer Education Team Weighs In On: Learning Jazz

A very excellent article on why drummers should learn jazz from different sources. The quote below really spoke to me.

"We play drums because we love it, but the world doesn’t need another drummer. What it does need are creative, problem-solving critical thinkers who can help transform society. I don’t want to get too philosophical here, but learning to play any music that requires a high degree of improvisation, spontaneity, and listening develops skills that are transferable into other areas of life. The following are just a few of the life skills heightened by learning to play jazz: working effectively as a member of a team; improvising and thinking creatively, spontaneously, and imaginatively; entrepreneurial thinking; a willingness to experiment and take calculated risks; adaptability; self-reliance; self-confidence; synthesis skills (combining different ideas and theories); self-awareness (knowing your role and respecting others); empowerment (enabling your own voice and contribution); resourcefulness and problem-solving (modifying, altering, and adjusting); a sense of being an originator (playing, designing, and building unique parts); and collaboration (working with others to produce something different or unique)." - Marc Dicciani

Paperman - Full Animated Short Film

Dave Brubeck on Fighting Communism with Jazz

Its My Birthday.

You know, I have never been this old before.

That's all the deep thoughts I have for today-need coffee...head hurts...

Chau

Ho Hey - Lumineers Cover (Lion King Style) Alex Boye' Ft. Brigham Larson

The Underbelly Project - Walk Through - Art in the Streets - MOCAtv - Ep 19

Kurt Vonnegut Letters

Below is an entry in the website-Letters of Note. The link goes to two letters written by the author Kurt Vonnegut. I haven't read enough of him to make real judgment on his work. What I like about the letters is the way he confronts a type of hypocrisy that becomes present in all of us too easily. We would judge the s scandalous use of "naughty" words in common use, but leave intentions and actions un-examined. The bible says "Wisdom is proved by her actions". In that frame of viewpoint, I think Kurt Vonnegut has some valid points expressed.


Letters of Note: They surely are not violent

Sheldon comic

Sheldon Comic

Answering Some Emails and Changing the World

-----Original Message-----

From: Gina Rinehart [mailto:xxxxxxxx]
Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2013 6:16 PM
To: Recipients
Subject: My Dear Friend and Partner

My Dear Friend and Partner,

Greetings to you my Dear Beloved, my name is Gina Rinehart, a great citizen of Australia,born in Perth, Western Australia,I have a mission for you worth ($200,000,000.00) Two Hundred Million Dollars which I intend to use for CHARITY.Please reply if interested.

God Bless You.
Gina Rinehart


----------------------------------------
Reply Below
From: John Homan
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2013 5:30 p
Re: My Dear Friend and Partner,

Dear Ms. Rinehart,

First of all, I'm honored to meet a "great citizen" of Australia. Is that some sort of officially sanctioned national designation of quality citizenry or do you just have a really good sense of self-esteem? Just curious.

Anyway, down to business. Thank you for your offer of including me in the your campaign to help you obtain  200 million dollars for charity. I assume you aren't just going to give this out to just anyone and that's why I made the highly selective list of people you have humbly labeled as "Recipients".

I feel that I would be of more service to you in the distribution side of this endeavor-I want to help. Now, I am a humble man with small dreams of making the world a better place-let me share those dreams with you so you can have an opportunity to be a part of these plans.

First of all, I am very concerned about the plight of the American Retail worker. Specifically, the music store employee-I'm pretty sure they are oppressed...ALOT. To that end I plan to visit specially selected Guitar Center stores and provide a much needed infusion of cash to this wonderful organization in the form of 3 sets of custom made Latin Percussion Conga Drums in an Aqua and Cream Glitter finish. I will also order 3 sets of Toca Djembes in various sizes and finishes.

Secondly, I feel that the American Auto Industry is key to our recovery. Because of this I plan to purchase a Ford F-150 King Cab 4X4 pick up in Burgundy and 2 Cadillacs sedans in Champagne and Dark Hunter Green. I am also concerned about the Italian scooter industry, and plan to buy a pair of tan and cream colored Vespas with matching helmets.

Having been the son of a general contractor, I appreciate the kind of struggle that the housing industry goes through. To support this I plan to build several large houses throughout these fine United States, so that I can spread this kind of infusion of capital through the largest area possible. I'm really equitable like that.

I also feel that the United States has been a bad example in the area of savings. I intend to address this by setting up savings accounts and investments in the neighborhood of $50 million. After that, I will begin an grass-roots educational campaign to tell everyone I happen to meet that I have saved $50 million and they should do the same so they could be awesome...like me.

As you can see, I have well developed plan that will give you the biggest return on your investment and has the common-sense qualities that can make a difference in this world.

Attached please find all of my financial information so that you may make a wire transfer as soon as possible.

Yours Sincerely,


John Homan

Flashmob oficina paro (Carne Cruda 2.0)

Spain has a 25% unemployment rate with a huge debt crisis. A radio station there organized a flash mob to play Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles in the middle of an unemployment office. Nice to see the bassoon featured. Pretty moving.

Lost Buildings - This American Life

I really like This American Live from WBEZ Chicago with Ira Glass. Its one of the most
interesting radio shows out there. Here's an episode called lost buildings with a kind of minimalist
animation to the story. Enjoy.

Resolutions

I regret that I am reticent to repeat my resolutions to the rabble, lest any repeated recapitulations renders my resolve renegotiable.

Catzilla