tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54295102024-03-08T04:17:19.030-08:00An etherealgirl's Adventures in Cyberlanda link by link weblog journey of an eternally inquisitive netgirl... curiouser and curiouseretherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.comBlogger1004125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-79728225769412415192007-05-23T00:30:00.000-07:002007-05-23T01:33:37.669-07:00last danceI don't watch a whole lot of tv but I've had a secret little obsession with <span style="font-style:italic;">Dancing With the Stars</span> the last few months and so tonight was the one I've been waiting for all season. I actually didn't get hooked on it till the fourth show aired this season, quite by accident really. I'd just finished watching a missed <span style="font-style:italic;">Lost</span> episode online, which at that point was my only prime time tv obsession, when I noticed the <span style="font-style:italic;">Dancing With the Stars</span> Logo and my curiosity was piqued. I watched the first episode of this season, and then naturally I had to watch the second one and the first elimination episode and from that moment on I was completely taken in. I've been a faithful fan ever since and I even got my daughter and hubby hooked on it in the process as well. <br /><br />The last two weeks have been complete torture for me as I was totally in love with the four remaining celebs and hated to see any of them go, though to be honest, I've been sad to see everyone leave the show because they were all so much fun to watch and exhibited so much heart and courage. <br /><br />But yesterday's performances were especially satisfying to watch, for me anyway. Leila and Maks' pasa doble was gorgeous, Julianne and Apolo's Rhumba was very sexy and highly under-rated by grouchy old Len, and "theatrical" though it might have been, I totally loved Joey and Kym's cha-cha. And everybody was rockin' their freestyle - I was in heaven by the time Joey and Kym's <span style="font-style:italic;">Last Dance</span> played out!<br /><br />And tonight's perfect 30s for all three couples was a great way to finish but I'm going to totally miss this group of dancers even as I look forward to next season.<br /><br />Apolo and Julianne really did have the best couples chemistry and they were always fun to watch. All in all, I'm happy with the result tonight, though all 3 couples have been giving awesome performances week after week. <br /><br />I just hope next season's group will be as much fun as this group was :-)<br /><br />Now that it's all over for the season, all I've got left to look forward to is Lost's 2 hour season finale tomorrow.etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-47312954218405122172007-05-13T00:31:00.000-07:002007-05-13T19:57:05.610-07:00an update from the ethereal planeOh I just cannot believe how horribly long it has been since I've been here to post. Makes me so sad... I've been busy, I've been sick, I've been uninspired for the most part. But I'm up early this Mother's Day morning perusing my fav reads and <a href="http://www.crooksandliars.com" target=_"blank">Crooks and Liars</a> has just made <span style="font-style:italic;">my</span> Mother's Day with this sneak preview of Rush's <a href="http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/05/11/cls-late-nite-music-club-with-rush-2/" target="_blank"><span style="font-style:italic;">Far Cry</span></a> from <a href="http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?z=y&WRK=12176271" target="_blank">Snakes and Arrows</a>.<br /><br />My little sis already has the CD, super-mega-Rush fan that she is, but along with everything else in my disorganized life right now, I've not fired up iTunes for a listen yet, but it sounds great and I'm so excited coz the 3 of us are gonna FINALLY go see Rush for the first time EVER on July 25th (the day after hubby and my 25th wedding anniversary - what an AWESOME present) and my summer has just been made!!!!<br /><br />In other news, phase 3 of our major remodelling project is just about to roll out - probably by mid-June. We've bought the <a href="http://eurasian.com/italy/granite/uba_tuba.html" target="_blank">ubatuba granite</a> and the <a href="http://www.eleganzatiles.com/image/products/TRAVERTINE_18X18/OCRE-1.jpg" target="_blank">Eleganza travertine porcelain tile in Ocre</a> for the floors, we've got a contractor and a cabinetmaker who is going to build us some gorgeous caramel maple cabinets and today we bought the kitchen appliances. All we've gotta do now is buy the undermount sink and faucet and the door pulls and knobs and then we are good to go.<br /><br />Stu and I have also planted some flowers - blue wonder heliotropes and creamy minature roses and Gazania Gazanias in the front and mulitcolor impatiens, sunny yellow crysanthemums in the back - and enjoyed a gorgeous mild and sunny day today for our shopping. <br /><br />Oh and we finally bought paint to complete our master bedroom redecorating job: One wall is going to be Jakarta (DEC737) and 3 walls Gourmet Honey (DE6150) from Dunn-Edwards. Stu already installed our ceiling fan and once the walls are painted, the draperies up I guess I will have to snap a few pics of the lovely made over bedroom. <br /><br />I really should post the sunroom, and bathroom remodel pics as well but I'm guessing I won't get around to any of that till the kitchen is done. Wish I could be more faithful to my blog but I guess I just need a big ole break - someday, I hope I'll get myself together and get back here regularly. Right now, though, nothing is on schedule, on time, or particularly coherent. I don't know why - I blame it on my brain adjusting to midlife. LOL! I need to drink more water, eat more raw, and get my life in order.<br /><br />Happy Mother's Day to all you lovely moms out there!!!etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1164727375388533262006-11-28T07:15:00.000-08:002006-11-28T07:27:02.323-08:00i don't have one...an accent that is. That is what I've been telling hubby for years when he has teased me about sounding like a Hoosier. Though I am one (Indianapolis born)... but I DO NOT sound like it. :-p<br /><br />When I saw <a href="http://www.gotoquiz.com/what_american_accent_do_you_have" target="_blank">the quiz</a> via a link at <a href="http://pandagon.net/2006/11/27/for-everyone-who-has-told-me-i-dont-have-what-they-imagine-a-texas-accent-sounds-like/#comments" target="_blank">Pandagon</a>, I knew I had to take the test and prove it to hubby once and for all:<br /><br /><table style="width: 320px; border: 1px solid gray; font: normal 12px arial, verdana, sans-serif; background-color: white;"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background: white; color: black; padding: 5px;"><b style="font: bold 20px 'Times New Roman', serif; display: block; margin-bottom: 8px;">What American accent do you have?</b> <div style="font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 4px;">Your Result: <b>The Midland</b></div><div style="width: 200px; background: white; border: 1px solid black;"><div style="width: 85%; background: red; font-size: 8px; line-height: 8px;"> </div></div><p style="margin: 10px; border: none; background: white; color: black;">"You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.</p></td></tr><tr><td style="color: black; background: white; padding: 3px;">The West</td><td style="background: white; padding: 3px;"><div style="width: 100px; background: white; border: 1px solid black; margin-top: 4px;"><div style="width: 65%; background: red; font-size: 8px; line-height: 8px;"> </div></div></td></tr><tr><td style="color: black; background: white; padding: 3px;">Boston</td><td style="background: white; padding: 3px;"><div style="width: 100px; background: white; border: 1px solid black; margin-top: 4px;"><div style="width: 63%; background: red; font-size: 8px; line-height: 8px;"> </div></div></td></tr><tr><td style="color: black; background: white; padding: 3px;">The Inland North</td><td style="background: white; padding: 3px;"><div style="width: 100px; background: white; border: 1px solid black; margin-top: 4px;"><div style="width: 48%; background: red; font-size: 8px; line-height: 8px;"> </div></div></td></tr><tr><td style="color: black; background: white; padding: 3px;">Philadelphia</td><td style="background: white; padding: 3px;"><div style="width: 100px; background: white; border: 1px solid black; margin-top: 4px;"><div style="width: 47%; background: red; font-size: 8px; line-height: 8px;"> </div></div></td></tr><tr><td style="color: black; background: white; padding: 3px;">North Central</td><td style="background: white; padding: 3px;"><div style="width: 100px; background: white; border: 1px solid black; margin-top: 4px;"><div style="width: 46%; background: red; font-size: 8px; line-height: 8px;"> </div></div></td></tr><tr><td style="color: black; background: white; padding: 3px;">The Northeast</td><td style="background: white; padding: 3px;"><div style="width: 100px; background: white; border: 1px solid black; margin-top: 4px;"><div style="width: 45%; background: red; font-size: 8px; line-height: 8px;"> </div></div></td></tr><tr><td style="color: black; background: white; padding: 3px;">The South</td><td style="background: white; padding: 3px;"><div style="width: 100px; background: white; border: 1px solid black; margin-top: 4px;"><div style="width: 42%; background: red; font-size: 8px; line-height: 8px;"> </div></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; padding: 8px;"><a href="http://www.gotoquiz.com/what_american_accent_do_you_have"><b>What American accent do you have?</b></a><br><a href="http://www.gotoquiz.com/">Take More Quizzes</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Hubby btw, does have a small hint of an adorable accent, which I have long pointed out to him, and which may well be why he has insisted that I have one as well (though I clearly do not as indicated by my test results). His is only very slight but it shows up very big when he says: pin or pen (they both sound like "pin"). His family are from Arkansas and his pronunciation of those two words are pretty much the only hints of his southern heritage. It's just one of those lovely little treasures that makes him uniquely him and very comforting somehow.etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1161500212968343722006-10-21T23:52:00.000-07:002006-10-21T23:59:21.213-07:00legendary guitar tales<a href="http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/music/article/0,2792,DRMN_54_5081585,00.html" target="_blank">Rockers share stories of their most prized possessions</a>.<br /><br />This bit took me by surprise:<br /><br /><blockquote>In 1966 Beck gave Page the guitar that was used on the first Led Zeppelin recordings (the Walsh and Beck guitars can be seen in the band's DVD release from 2003). While fans have long thought Beck gave Page the rosewood 1959 Fender Telecaster as a thank-you for getting him in the Yardbirds, Beck says he gave it to him when he quit the band.<br /><br />"I left the day I gave it to him. I walked out," Beck says. "I was in Dallas. I said 'Jim, I've had enough of this. You'd better have this guitar. I can't be bothered to take it home.' I just ran to the airport with my bag and went home."</blockquote><br /><br />Count me as one of those fans who never knew the correct version of this story.<br /><br />Fun read!etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1160803759481813422006-10-13T22:25:00.000-07:002006-10-13T22:29:19.510-07:00elvis and his all star band<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=410214&in_page_id=1773&ito=1490" target="_blank">Elvis superband ad "a surprise internet hit"</a>.<br /><br />I gotta kick out of this BBC Radio 2 clip featuring my hero Jimmy (and my shero Sheryl Crow) as well as many other pop and rock music luminaries. It's very cleverly done and evidently it is a pretty big internet hit. If you haven't seen it yet, the YouTube capture is at the bottom of the Daily Mail article. <br /><br />It made me smile, so I had to share it...etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1157413954114079052006-09-04T16:40:00.000-07:002006-09-04T21:29:28.970-07:00steve irwin killed by stingrayI never could watch <a href="http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/crochunter/crochunter.html" target="_blank">the show</a> for more than a few minutes coz I'm a wimp and I was always worried sick that he was going to end up meeting his maker on the job. So I wasn't too surprised when my shocked and sorrowful daughter <a href="http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/crochunter/steve/statement.html" target="_blank">broke the news</a> to me early this morning. Not surprised but very heartbroken for his wife and young children. The only possible small consolation was that it has been reported that in all likelihood, he died instantly.<br /><br />My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. He will be missed by millions of heartbroken fans and admirers; his activism in support of wildlife will be greatly missed as well, in fact, his dedication and pr work will be irreplaceable. <br /><br />There will never be another Steve Irwin in this life, and for that I am so very heartbroken today. <br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/etherealfire/wmblog/Image10.jpg" border="0"><br /><br />A Memorial Forum can be found <a href="http://community.discovery.com/eve/forums/a/frm/f/9691947048" target="_blank">here</a>etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1156448764380786252006-08-24T12:42:00.000-07:002006-08-24T12:46:04.383-07:00and speaking of Plutomy natal Pluto is located at 2* Virgo and blowing kisses at the Virgo New Moon yesterday. All that action is focused on my 6th house of discipleship, service/work and do I ever need a little discipline, focus and organization there! <br /><br />Heaven sent as always, April Elliott Kent's latest astrology article, <a href="http://www.bigskyastrology.com/articles/lessthanperfect.html" target="_blank">Less Than Perfect</a>, has some lofty thoughts on the meaning of Virgo and Perfection!etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1156446221407562022006-08-24T11:54:00.000-07:002006-08-24T12:05:21.076-07:00pluto demotedto <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060824/ap_on_sc/planet_mutiny" target="_blank" alt="Astronomers Say Pluto Not a Planet" title="Astronomers Say Pluto Not a Planet">Minor Planet Status</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote><br />Much-maligned Pluto doesn't make the grade under the new rules for a planet: "a celestial body that is in orbit around the sun, has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a ... nearly round shape, and has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit."<br /><br />Pluto is automatically disqualified because its oblong orbit overlaps with Neptune's.<br /><br />Instead, it will be reclassified in a new category of "dwarf planets," similar to what long have been termed "minor planets." The definition also lays out a third class of lesser objects that orbit the sun — "small solar system bodies," a term that will apply to numerous asteroids, comets and other natural satellites.<br /></blockquote><br /><br />From an astrological and personal point of view, it matters very little what designation little Pluto is given; Pluto still packs an impossible to ignore, powerful punch in a natal chart as well as by transition and affects generations and nations.<br /><br />From an astronomical point of view the Minor Planet Designation no doubt makes a great deal of sense and I imagine that the daunting task of categorizing so many new and recent discoveries and the expectation of having to categorize many more waiting to be found had more than a little something to do with the demotion. It looks like our solar system is a little more crowded then anyone dared to imagine a generation or two ago...etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1156444600127805832006-08-24T11:28:00.000-07:002006-08-24T11:48:43.623-07:00draw your own kaleidoscope<a href="http://www.zefrank.com/dtoy_vs_byokal/" target="_blank" alt="drawtoy vs. byokal" title="drawtoy vs. byokal">here</a>!<br /><br />No I didn't and don't have time for this right now, but I don't have time for anything as usual lately so I just did it anyway :-P<br /><br />Link courtesy the most awesome <a href="http://www.creativepro.com/storyarchive/newsletter" target="_blank" alt="view their newsletter archive here" title="view their newslette archive here">Creative Pro Newsletter</a><br /><br />And to check out all of Creative Pro's previous listings for the Wacky Web Site of the Week, click <a href="http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/23661.html?cprose=7-34" target="_blank">here</a>!<br /><br />screenshot of kaleidoscope builder in progress!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.zefrank.com/dtoy_vs_byokal/" target="_blank" alt="now, go play!"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/etherealfire/wmblog/kalbuilderinprogress.jpg" border="0" title="now, go play!!!"></a>etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1156088188481518272006-08-20T08:22:00.000-07:002006-08-20T08:36:28.536-07:00what he said: get your drive by tragedy fix 24/7 on cnn<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-geiger/all-jonbenet-all-the-tim_b_27626.html" target="_blank">All JonBenet, All the Time</a>.<br /><br />To be honest this is only one of the reasons I avoid watching <i>news</i> on TV. To be completely honest, though, I find that I also try to avoid the <i>other</i> perhaps, more relevent news as well, these days. Just can't take it right now... <br /><br />Nevertheless, the point made is completely valid and raises another disturbing issue with me. Why is it that these horror stories are eaten up by the public? There really and truly seems to be an utterly sick and perverted obsession with tragedies like Jon-Benet as if a large segment of our population just can't get enough of it. <br /><br />I find that every bit as frightening as the events that inspire these obsessive fixes. As an indication of our collective national health, it just doesn't seem to be a particularly healthy sign at all. I can't help wondering if more people turn it off and walk away than these news channels seem to believe...etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1156084501363612042006-08-20T07:32:00.000-07:002006-08-20T07:36:33.906-07:00ponder thisI'm just back from a trip back from Kansas (taking my daughter's bf back to college) and Albuquerque (for a far too short visit with family) and as is usual lately I've got nothing. Except this all too true bit of wisdom that served as the opening lines for a recent newsletter I just read via email:<br /><br /><blockquote>"What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy?" <br /><br />~~~ Gandhi</blockquote><br /><br /><br />What difference indeed...etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1153106134741823372006-07-16T20:03:00.000-07:002006-07-16T20:47:21.673-07:00filmed performances by rock legends discovered<a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2271915,00.html" target="_blank">Hidden hoard of live rock to be released</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote><br />THE world’s largest independent rock and pop music archive, featuring stars from Jimi Hendrix to Elvis Costello and from Janis Joplin to Madonna, is to be opened for the first time.<br /><br />Up to 100,000 songs recorded and filmed between 1966 and 1991 by Bill Graham, the American concert promoter, languished in an underground basement in San Francisco for more than 10 years after his death. <br /><br />...<br /><br />There are unknown performances by Led Zeppelin such as a version of Howlin’ Wolf’s Killing Floor, which they later rewrote as the Lemon Song, and a tousle-headed Elton John singing his 1970 ballad Your Song.</blockquote><br /><br />From the excruciatingly painful and embarrassing to the sublime, Graham seems to have captured them all, with this incredibly hefty archive. I can't wait to see this!!!<br /><br />And neither can Jimmy Page evidently:<br /><br /><blockquote>Jimmy Page, of Led Zeppelin, who spent years begging for scraps from bootleggers so that he could compile a history of the band in 2003, is keen to dive into the archive.<br /><br />“Bill recorded a San Francisco show that Jimmy remembers as momentous: which Zep fan would not want to hear that?” said an Atlantic Records source last week.</blockquote><br /><br />Exactly :-) Very awesome news!<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/etherealfire/pagey/lzcirca68-69.jpg" alt="led zeppelin circa 69 or 70: they just don't make Rock Gods like they used to" title="led zeppelin circa 69 or 70: they just don't make Rock Gods like they used to" border="0"><br />They just don't make Rock Gods like they used to....etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1153104599568062572006-07-16T19:27:00.000-07:002006-07-16T19:49:59.666-07:00wish i was there<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/etherealfire/summer/windowdreaming.gif" border="0"><br /><br />I've only got another couple of weeks before hubby and I sneak off for a litte 24th anniversary mini-vacation (unfortunately it falls right in the middle of school so it's gotta be short) but it can't come fast enough for me! Hopefully I'll have some lovely images to upload and share when we get back.<br /><br />I hope that each and every one of you are having a glorious, beautiful summer!!!<br /><br />Love and Light to you all!!!<br /><br />P.S. That's all I've got right now... I'll try to post again soon <br /><br />(((hugs)))etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1152775349675306672006-07-13T00:09:00.000-07:002006-07-13T00:22:29.706-07:0023% and growing... chilling olbermann/dean interview23% - the approximate percentage of people in this country who profile as authoritarian personalities. And by all accounts the number is growing. <br /><br />The interview can be found <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMpuqRCRuM8&search=john%20dean%20olberman" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />Link found via a commenter at onegoodmove which has a lighter Dean interview with Jon Stewart, found <a href="http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/2006/07/conservatives_w.html#comments" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?z=y&btob=Y&isbn=0670037745" target="_blank">Conservatives Without Conscience</a>etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1149844843054636032006-06-09T02:09:00.000-07:002006-06-09T02:40:46.196-07:00when values and convictions collideOnce again, my favourite astrologer April Elliott Kent has written an essay that mirrors my own life experience so completely: <a href="http://www.bigskyastrology.com/articles/shallow.html" target="_blank">The Shallow End of the Pool</a>. I've got a Sag signature (stretching across my 9th House and MC) and a Gemini Moon in my own natal chart that probably explains why. <br /><br />It sounds as though she has been able to hold her tongue in check far more successfully than I've ever been able to, but nevertheless, I can relate completely to that disquieting feeling that follows stressful encounters of the friend and family kind; you know, when otherwise perfectly decent people, people that you love and respect and care about, start saying things you can't believe you are hearing and you find yourself wishing that what you are hearing is not coming out of their precious little mouths. Blood pressures rise, heart beats fast and furiously and something akin to temporary insanity tends to pervade the participants' airspace. And you find yourself standing there, looking at someone who looks and sounds more like an alien than someone you love and trust in the every day, mundane world.<br /><br />On those fairly rare occasions that I've been able to manage to hold my tongue, for the very reasons she has so eloquently stated, I feel as though I've betrayed myself by not being forthcoming and standing up for what I believe in. <br /><br />The consequences of opening my mouth, however, has resulted in the equally painful experience of bad, bad feelings for everyone involved. <br /><br />All in all, it is a completely unsatisfactory compromise and I've yet to successfully learn how to find a balancing middle between the two responses. Still, there's plenty of food for thought to be found in this lovely essay.etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1149068997125763742006-05-31T02:27:00.000-07:002006-07-16T20:19:25.423-07:00a few of my current favourite thingsOkay, so once I got started it now seems that I can't stop. But this is just gonna be quick.<br /><br />We saw <a href="http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thedavincicode/" target="_blank">The DaVinci Code</a> last week. And critics and protesters had zero effect on my sheer delight! Yes, I'm sure it's not exactly high art; yes, I know it is fiction not fact (so does the movie); and yes, I've read the book so I knew the plotline very well. I'm no movie critic and I've no problem jumping in with joyous abandon and with a great capacity to give in to the suspension of disbelief. And I suppose I'm one of those all-too-easy to please member of the unwashed masses but it matters diddly... I absolutely loved the movie!!!<br /><br />My other two favs are in heavy iTunes rotation right now:<br /><br />Neil Young's raw and outraged <a href="http://www.neilyoung.com/" target="_blank">Living With War</a> and The Dixie Chicks beautiful <a href="http://www.dixiechicks.com/" target="_blank">Taking the Long Way</a>.<br /><br />Neil Young's <i>Shock and Awe</i> is an amazing, visceral experience every single time I hear it. It sums it up so painfully and so starkly and captures the outrage I feel so completely, that it almost scares me. Somehow I know that I'm not the only one who feels that way. And I can't get through <i>Families</i> and <i>Flags of Freedom</i> without crying yet. And while it probably hasn't been helping my overall mood lately, I find that I have to listen to it alot. Somehow there is a strange comfort in sharing all these gut wrenching feelings and having them validated and vocally expressed so well...<br /><br />And I can't say enough about The Dixie Chicks; this cd has surpassed every expectation. The most beautiful and moving song, for me, is <i>Silent House</i> (evidently about Natalie Maines grandma who suffers from Alzheimer's) followed closely by <i>Lullaby</i> (trust me, it's a mom thing and you never ever stop feeling those sentiments no matter how old your baby gets).<br /><br />But everything on it is awesome and <i>Lubbock or Leave It</i> totally kicks a**.<br /><br />Post Updated on 05-31-2006 to add a screenshot of the latest desktop I've made featuring Tom Hanks and Audrey Tatou:<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/etherealfire/wmblog/davincidesktop-screen.jpg"><br /><br />Shoutout to my beautiful daughter Mina for giving me some tips on polishing the desktop up! Love you, dear Mina xoxoxoxetherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1149066692649207702006-05-31T02:02:00.000-07:002006-05-31T02:14:44.216-07:00a couple of things that defy categorization for the momentThe first one everyone probably already read but I thought it was awesome so I'm posting the link:<br /><br /><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060529/ap_en_tv/william_shatner;_ylt=Ai8MOArRLpWLL36kW1aiIKlxFb8C;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--" target="_blank">Shatner: Horses Can Help Disabled Kids</a><br /><br />Yeah, I love William Shatner and I think this is really wonderful!!!! So many things really bring me down this decade (HA!) that I treasure every beautiful little gem like this because it restores my faith in the human race!<br /><br />This next link... okay, don't harrass me about this. I got the link from a newsgroup I read (I know, I KNOW, but just humour me here a bit, okay????); something I'd never seen or heard of before:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vyVe-6YdUk" target="_blank">UFO Disclosure Project UFO Meeting</a> courtesy of Youtube.<br /><br />YES, I watched it; every single minute of it and I was really intrigued...<br /><br />At about 80:32 George Bush Sr. is mentioned. Then it gets reaaaaaally interesting. Whatever one may think about this kind of thing, it is still intriguing and fascinating stuff and the statements made about the way that Star Wars type programs and scenarios are justified by certain factions of our government... well, let's just say it was just another confirmation for me personally about the way our government is working to our detriment. This meeting happened in May 2001. As far as I know there has been no congressional hearing. <br /><br />It occurs to me that this can be added on to the enormous pile of <i>so September 10th</i> casualties. Public disclosure of ANYTHING appears to be <i>So September 10th</i> with this lovely administration so it shouldn't be surprising that something as controversial as this would be. <br /><br />Site link is <a href="http://www.disclosureproject.org/" target="_blank">here</a>.etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1149065062628730472006-05-31T01:24:00.000-07:002006-05-31T01:50:38.016-07:00lz picks up Polar Music PrizeUmm, yeah, but that was <i>so</i> last week....<br /><br />You may have noticed my ongoing posting-malaise. You know it is really bad when it takes me about a week to post any kind of Pagey~related news. <br /><br />Oh well, better late than never, here's some now: <br /><br /><a href="http://www.led-zeppelin.com/news/sweden1.html" target="_blank">Led Zeppelin picks up the Polar Music Prize</a><br /><br /><blockquote>[May 22, 2006] The surviving members of Led Zeppelin received the prestigious Polar Music Prize from Sweden’s king today in the city where they recorded their final studio album 27 years ago.<br /><br />Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones crossed the stage of the Stockholm Concert Hall – also the venue for the annual Nobel Prizes – to accept the award they shared with Russian conductor Valery Gergiev. John Bonham, the group’s drummer, who died in 1980, was represented by his daughter, Zoe.<br /><br />In a short acceptance speech, Plant recalled that Led Zeppelin recorded their last studio album, In Through the Out Door, in a Stockholm studio in 1979.<br /><br />“It’s a long time ago. Music has been a fantastic passport to us all,” he said.<br /><br />The award, which is typically split between pop artists and classical musicians, was founded in 1989 by Stig Anderson, manager of Swedish pop group ABBA, through a donation to The Royal Swedish Academy of Music. Each prize winner collects 1 million kronor (around €100,000).<br /><br />The name of the prize comes from Andersson’s record label, Polar Records.<br /><br />John Lord, a former member of Deep Purple, read the academy’s citation, calling Led Zeppelin “one of the great pioneers of rock.”<br /><br />Bonham, Page, Jones and Plant formed Led Zeppelin in 1968. The group disbanded in 1980 after Bonham died, but their music remains hugely popular worldwide.<br /><br />Before King Carl XVI Gustaf handed over the award diplomas, Swedish band Soundtrack of Our Lives performed Zeppelin hits such as Kashmir and Whole Lotta Love.<br /><br />To honour Gergiev, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra played classic music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Mikhail Glinka and Sergeij Prokofiev.<br /><br />The Russian is artistic and general director of St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre, and will be principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra starting in January 2007.<br /><br />Gergiev said he was “honoured to be on the same stage as my friends Led Zeppelin” and thanked his mother “who made it possible for me to become a musician.”</blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/etherealfire/pagey/sweden3.jpg"><br /><br />John Paul Jones and Robert Plant look on <br />as KingCarl XVI Gustaf greets Jimmy Page<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/etherealfire/pagey/prizeceremony031.jpg"><br /><br />A profile of the honorees sitting in the audience</blockquote><br /> <br />More images can be found on <a href="http://www.polarmusicprize.com/newSite/cerm2006_photos2.shtml" target="_blank">this page</a> of the <a href="http://www.polarmusicprize.com/newSite/cerm2006.shtml" target="_blank">Polar Music Prize</a> Site <br /><br /><br />Note to everyone and anyone who may have noticed an might actually care (lol!):<br /><br />I dunno what is wrong with me but I just can't get it together right now and so, I guess this is my official admission that I have not abandoned my blog but the posting may be very intermittent for the time being. I don't know how long this is going to last.<br /><br />Not long hopefully, but think I've got an extreme case of blogger~burnout and I can't seem to get out from under it right now. I'm starting to read blogs more consistently now but mainly I check C&L, OneGoodMove, dKos, FDL, Greenwald and Hullabullo the most. And sometimes, after I've done that I find that I can't summon the energy to read anything else, <i>and</i> when there is something I think I might want to write about, it is because of something I've already read at one of those fine establishments and they've already said everything better than I ever could.<br /><br />I could do what I've done so often in the past (and will no doubt begin doing again once I get over this burnout period) and just link them with little or no commentary but for some reason, right now I feel very self-conscious doing that. I don't know why. <br /><br />I know that there are those who would criticize the kind of blog that is long on links and short on commentary but I've done that in the past with no regrets because my biggest goal with my own blog was to be one more opportunity for someone to find something that I believe is very much worth reading about, on the off chance that they didn't already find it somewhere else. I've never claimed to be any great writer or great thinker. Just an information junkie in love with the www and a desire to share what I'm passionate, excited or outraged about. But for whatever reason, the past few months I find I cannot seem to summon up the energy needed to even do that. I keep holding out hope that this will change....<br /><br />I'm actually having that problem in all aspects of my life right now, both online and off. <br /><br />Somewhere out there is a sweet friend (at least I'm praying he still is) waiting for a long overdue astrology report with impressions, and I keep starting on it every day and then 200 interruptions later, I set it down for another day. (Dear Friend, if you are reading this, please know I'm gonna get to it as soon as I can, I swear)<br /><br />It is happening alot at Online groups where I'm supposed to be participating (horrors!) as well. It is happening at home as I listlessly try to pick through responsibilities that have been neglected or gotten half done as I lose my train of thought and pick up something else to do. I've let so many things get to the point of being overwhelming that I just often don't know where to begin. Suffice to say, I don't feel like I've got the right to expend too much energy online while that is going on. So, long story still longer than I meant it to be: things are a mess and I'm trying to work on it, get it under control and get back to things that always gave me the most joy. And... try to recover some of the joy that seems to have gone missing when I do get the chance to indulge in those said things.<br /><br />Awww, I really think it is the insomnia that is causing the problem. But insomnia is also how I finally managed to post this. I'll stop ramblin now....etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1147930805243732162006-05-17T22:35:00.000-07:002006-05-17T22:44:47.156-07:00pat robertson shares God's latest: a possible tsunami for the pacific northwest<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/05/17/rev-pat-robertson-god-s_n_21198.html" target="_blank">Rev Pat Robertson: God Says "The Coasts of America Will Be Lashed by Storms"</a><br /><br />Although there were lots and lots of quoteworthy gems coming from the comment section, this commenter pretty much sums up my feelings on the matter the very best:<br /><br /><blockquote>God also said that fat-ass fake religious types that pretend to speak for God will roast like chestnuts in Hell.<br /><br />By: shemplugosi on May 17, 2006 at 11:58pm</blockquote><br /><br />link via <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/" target="_blank">HuffPo</a>etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1146770054235769332006-05-04T11:54:00.000-07:002006-05-05T19:41:44.410-07:00hell is for children and animals????In reading through the Talk to Action <a href="http://www.talk2action.org/story/2005/12/4/193316/139" target="_blank">piece</a>, <i>"Every Zygote Is Sacred", or "Can I have my BC already?"</i>, I came across this disgusting bit of information, via a commenter that provides the links as well. I'm taking the liberty of posting the entire comment here; yes, I've heard all of this disgusting stuff before and no doubt so have you, but I think it bears repeating OVER and OVER and the source links are provided in the well documented comment:<br /><br /><blockquote>Good point, actually--not only do the Catholic hospital systems have a history of this, you are seeing dominionist denominations starting to buy up hospitals, too. (One of the things I'm carefully watching, in fact, is whether the Baptist Hospitals chain starts putting in religious-based restrictions. (We have five major hospital providers in Louisville aka the transplant research capital of the US :3. Three of these are religiously affiliated--Caritas (Catholic, specificially Sisters of Nazareth), Baptist Hospitals (Baptist, I suspect Southern Baptist but unsure) and Jewish Hospital (obviously affiliated with the Jewish congregations here, who largely seem to be Conservative Judaism).) One of the things I do make sure with doctors is that they have admitting privs to secular hospitals if need be.)<br /><br />Regarding the dominionist war on family planning in general, I think it's actually a twofold issue:<br /><br />a) There is very much a control aspect (in dominionist families, there is a very strict hierarchial setup in that the husband is supposed to be head of household, the wife is supposed to be completely submissive, and the kids are supposed to be completely submissive to the parents). I've posted the following in relation to this <a href="http://community.livejournal.com/dark_christian/322273.html" target="_blank">thread on Dark Christianity</a> which was concerning longterm effects of abusive childrearing styles in dominionist households:<br /><br />Heck, to give you an example of how bad this gets, this is from an actual A Beka civics book (specifically William R. Bowen et al., American Government in Christian Perspective, 2nd ed., (Pensacola, Fla.: A Beka, 1997), page 16):<br /><br />The importance of the family is underscored again and again; however, the family must conform to God's mandate, which is linked, in turn, to the proper relationship of human beings to government. " The A Beka civics text notes, "Governmental authority flows from God to human institutions and to the individuals responsible for ruling others within those institutions [according to] a definite order of command from God to human leaders to their followers. For example, the husband is the head of the wife and the parents are God's representatives to rule their children. Individuals obey God when they submit to and obey the God-appointed authorities over them."<br /><br />Yes, this is completely typical of dominionist groups (nearly all other dominionist curricula teach it, as do dominionist schools and even dominionist parenting programs).<br /><br />Examples from the Pearls (which also have published a <a href="http://www.stoptherod.net/NGJ.html" target="_blank">series</a> of <a href="http://www.stoptherod.net/ttuac.html" target="_blank">baby-beating manuals</a> popular in the dominionist community and which are often <a href="http://www.stoptherod.net/images/child-training-resources-flyer.jpg" target="_blank">included</a> with the sale of <a href="http://www.stoptherod.net/" target="_blank">chastening rods and similar "Biblical chastening devices"</a>; they operate a website, <a href="http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/" target="_blank">No Greater Joy</a> (also the title of one of their manuals on baby-beating the dominionist way) that promotes the same advise online; the Pearls are under investigation by the state of Tennessee for child abuse based on the material in their books):<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/index.php?id=75&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=81&tx_ttnews[backPid]=71&cHash=4679f9417d" target="_blank">woman is told to stay with abusive husband because "God hates divorce"</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/index.php?id=76&tx_ttnews[swords]=birth%20control&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=124&tx_ttnews[backPid]=118&cHash=185004e0c5" target="_blank">assertive women are accused of having a "Jezebel spirit"</a> (in dominionist groups into "spiritual warfare" there are even exorcisms in attempts to drive "Jezebel spirits" out of women who are seen as being too "uppity" and not "staying in their place")<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/index.php?id=76&tx_ttnews[swords]=birth%20control&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=124&tx_ttnews[backPid]=118&cHash=185004e0c5" target="_blank">woman is literally told it is her HUSBAND'S decision, not HERS, whether or not she is to practice birth control and how many children she is to have</a><br /><br />In some of the links at stoptherod.net noted above, it's detailed how the Pearls have advocated beating infants as young as eight months old with "chastening rods" for playing with their food and advocate pinching infants as young as four months.<br /><br />To give you examples of their "childrearing" techniques that I've not already mentioned:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/index.php?id=20&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=98&tx_ttnews[backPid]=22&cHash=ac6e7bf821" target="_blank">more on tyrant babies!</a> (Did these people watch too much "Family Guy" or something?) Yes, this is very sadly a TYPICAL attitude)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/index.php?id=50&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=28&tx_ttnews[backPid]=25&cHash=be698ef872" target="_blank">techniques practiced in dominionist households to break will of kids</a> (who are termed "Twinkie twerps" by the Pearls)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/index.php?id=48&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=133&tx_ttnews[backPid]=28&cHash=fc07a4b687" target="_blank">the Pearls (who, incidentially, are under investigation by the State of Tennessee for child abuse--in part because of material from the books) actually try to defend their child abuse manuals</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/index.php?id=48&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=92&tx_ttnews[backPid]=28&cHash=2939ff6660" target="_blank">advocates being extremely strict from birth; also claims kids being bullied somehow deserved it</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/index.php?id=48&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=86&tx_ttnews[backPid]=28&cHash=8d5beae16d" target="_blank">yet more fantasies of babies plotting to take over the household from "parental rule"</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/index.php?id=48&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=144&tx_ttnews[backPid]=28&cHash=f3fce758a9" target="_blank">advocating using a "chastening rod" on a seven-month-old child who will not get to sleep</a> (it's on page two)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/index.php?id=48&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=93&tx_ttnews[backPid]=28&cHash=557f0a0c46" target="_blank">advocates beating of children with "chastening rods" made from PVC plumbing pipe for thumbsucking</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/index.php?id=59&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=206&tx_ttnews[backPid]=35&cHash=cfb116c708" target="_blank">claims that people who have criticised the Pearls for their extreme methods of childrearing are literally demon-possessed</a> (sadly, a common form of "dead agenting"/"character assassination" in the dominionist community and one reason why it is at times next to impossible to debate dominionists heavily into "spiritual warfare")<br /><br />Lest people think the Pearls are an abberation, even <a href="http://www.nospank.net/dugan.htm" target="_blank">Dobson uses the beating of a Dachshund to demonstrate how children should have their wills broken</a> (the manner in which he beat the dog is guaranteed to increase aggression).<br /><br />There is evidence that this has carried over into official government policy with dominionists, in particular with the Abu Ghraib scandal. Actually, there is an EXPLICIT link between dominionism and Abu Ghraib (and, probably, between the generally abusive dynamics and Abu Ghraib); as it turns out, Gen. Boykin is one of the persons behind some of the policies there.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0520-03.htm" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a><br /><a href="http://www.yuricareport.com/Iraq/GeneralBoykinAndAbuGhraibPrison.html" target="_blank">http://www.yuricareport.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.yuricareport.com/PrisonerTortureDirectory/BoykinGoesToGuantanamo.html" target="_blank">http://www.yuricareport.com Prison Torture Directory</a><br /><a href="http://blog.au.org/2004/05/general_big_god.html" target="_blank">http://blog.au.org</a><br /><br />General Boykin is associated with the AoG and is strongly associated with the increasing dominionist infiltration of the military as well as the hijacking of the chaplaincy system by dominionists:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh102703.shtml" target="_blank">Daily Howler</a><br /><a href="http://www.pluralism.org/research/profiles/display.php?profile=73495" target="_blank">http://www.pluralism.org</a><br /><a href="http://www.yuricareport.com/Dominionism/InfiltratingTheUSMilitaryGenBoykinsWarriors.html" target="_blank">http://www.yuricareport.com ~ Dominionism</a><br /><a href="http://www.yuricareport.com/Iraq/PentecostalInChargeOfInterrogation.html" target="_blank">http://www.yuricareport.com ~ Iraq Pentecostal In Charge of Interrogation</a><br /><br />So yes, dominionism has been <b>specifically</b> linked to abuse both at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib--in fact, one of the major players seems to have been a major ringleader of the abuse.<br /><br />In all of these cases, I'm fairly convinced this is an extension of an underlying coercive dynamic in many, if not most, dominionist churches (it is my sincere belief that most dominionist churches, in particular the pente/charismatic churches affiliated with dominionist movements, are explicitly spiritually abusive and the general patterns of spiritual abuse are starting to show up even in congregations with a recent history of dominionism such as the Southern Baptist Convention).<br /><br />b) One thing, too, that is a major factor in the dominionist war on family planning is that in many dominionist churches it is explicitly taught as part of the "dominion mandate" that they must "be fruitful and multiply" and that any interference with this is at best a willful act of disobedience towards God. In some circles, women are even explicitly encouraged to have as many children as possible to breed "Christian Soldiers" and women with a "bushel full of kids" are held up to high praise. (Of course, the longterm health consequences of popping out kids every 9-12 months--not to mention the financial consequences--aren't touched upon.)<br /><br />by dogemperor on Mon Dec 05, 2005 at 08:10:44 AM EST </blockquote> <br /><br />Not too terribly long ago I was taken to task by a fellow commenter at another site, because I stated that as much as I don't like believing it, it has become clear to me that the reproductive issues that get tangled up within the minds of these people leads to one and only one goal, whether those who are trying to implement it, can or will admit it or not: and that is to control women's bodies and then, as well as any offspring that results from that control. <br /><br />Reading this reinforces that belief and why I have come to believe that it is so; and I cannot express fully enough my complete and utter contempt for anyone who would claim to be <i>Right to Life <b>and</b></i> adhere to the childrearing tenets of the repugnant Pearls and the dog-beating psychopath James Dobson. And, it is after moments of reading about the utterly loathsome behaviours of these people, that I am ashamed to say that I <i>wish</i> I believed in Hellfire and Damnation, if only to watch these evil creatures squirm. <br /><br />God/dess forgive me that; the rage-filled momentary fantasy of Dachshunds eternally tearing Dobson limb to limb and cherubic babes overpowering their monstrous caretakers and beating them unconscious passes and I feel horrid revulsion afterwards... but I find that cannot help the sheer momentary hatred I feel for these people, who claim to love life so much but have absolutely no compassion or regard for the most innocent among us once they are here.<br /><br />WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE???? Some things I'm pretty darn sure of: these people don't know the meaning behind the words <i>culture of life</i>. They certainly can't even begin to comprehend the essence of providing and graciously accepting in return a mutual and benign sort of <i>quality of life</i> for all of God's creatures, including and especially those most vulnerable. And since they show no mercy over that which they believe that they have been instructed to be custodians of, I'm thinking they'd better pray like HELL that God is the merciful Father that they don't even pretend to emulate. Because what they deserve is something far less charitable.<br /><br />Oh, and I'm sorry but I'm still seething a little bit and I just can't help asking: Have you ever wondered how those with the most might and the greatest ability to wreak havoc upon us all, somehow ended up being in the ultimate image of God??? And those who seem to be accused of embuing satanic qualities are those who just happen to be physically weaker and more vulnerable? Isn't it funny how it worked out that way? Umm, yeah... rant over. For today, anyway...etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1146542282768377162006-05-01T20:56:00.000-07:002006-05-01T21:05:50.680-07:00Happy Beltane ~ May Day ~ Beautiful SpringHere's my moment of beauty for today:<br /><br /><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/etherealfire/spring/beltanebeauty.jpg" border="0"><br /><br />Have a glorious May dear readers!!!<br /><br />Love and Light to all (((hugs)))<br /><br />Sig was created by blending lovely images from <a href="http://www.sxc.hu/profile/Zela" target="_blank">Zela</a> aka Marja Flick-Buijs and <a href="http://www.sxc.hu/profile/xymonau" target="_blank">xymonau</a> aka Dez Pain via their respective galleries at <a href="http://www.sxc.hu/" target="_blank">stock.xchng</a>etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1146541647782875592006-05-01T20:27:00.000-07:002006-05-01T20:47:27.913-07:00More on Colbert's brilliant and brave performancevia Chris Durang's HuffPo Blog: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-durang/ignoring-colbert-part-tw_b_20130.html" target="_blank">Ignoring Colbert, Part Two</a><br /><br />Oh and then there was <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jesse-kornbluth/all-hail-stephen-colbert-_b_20083.html" target="_blnak">this</a> from Jesse Kornbluth as well.<br /><br />And if you would like to thank Stephen Colbert for his intestinal fortitude and brilliance you can do it right <a href="http://thankyoustephencolbert.org/wordpress/" target="_blank">here</a>!<br /><br />I followed the links via my blog addiction, the very awesome <a href="http://www.crooksandliars.com/" target="_blank">C&L</a>.etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1146396642758149792006-04-30T03:26:00.000-07:002006-04-30T08:22:52.176-07:00picking my jaw up off of the floor...<a href="http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/04/29.html#a8095" target="_blank">This</a> was amazing. I don't even remember a time when a reporter has mentioned <a href="http://www.newamericancentury.org/" target="_blank">PNAC</a> to a member of this administration and certainly not like this. That's not to say it hasn't happened before but if it has I'm not aware of it, so it came as a complete and total shock; even though it shouldn't. <br /><br />The last five years worth of dirty secrets have been a festering wound in dire need of a lancing. If the wound isn't lanced, it is just as likely to nastily erupt of its own volition ~ and that's the <i>good</i> news. The alternative is far more dire but when you are caught up in the midst of a smelly, painful, infected mess, it is hard to focus on any other experience than unrelenting, unforgiving, enduring discomfort.<br /><br />I can only hope that this righteous reporter will have a positive effect of waking up our press corp to what their collective job is <i>supposed</i> to be. As for Bolton, he ought to be thoroughly ashamed of himself but he has no conscience so I know he isn't. Here's hoping he is removed from his outrageous "recess" appointment before too long. <br /><br />Then there was this <a href="http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/04/29.html#a8104" target="_blank">clip</a> of Stephen Colbert's outrageously brave but painfully blunt tribute to the President at the White House Correspondents Dinner last night which apparently left Colbert <a href="http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002425363" target="_blank">snubbed</a> ~ can't say I'm surprised as I squirmed uncomfortably through the whole thing myself. It's not as though Colbert's rant and roll wasn't lonnng overdue and right on target; it's more like I'm ashamed on behalf of the object of all this well-deserved derision but I also feel sorry that this man is so completely mockable. It's his own fault but that didn't make it any less painful to watch him receiving his just desserts. <br /><br />As for the oh so culpable News Media, they got their share of comeuppance as well and I'm sure that probably didn't exactly endear Colbert to them either. Yikes... that was painful... <br /><br />Still, it's a sad testament to the disconnect much of the country has been operating under for so long. For those who have <i>gotten it</i> from the beginning, I think the outrage has reached the boiling point and the long overdue response is going to play out as a whole lot more of the same, even as the diehard Bush loyalists respond in ever more hysterical denial and deflection and an acceleration of the smear tactics that worked far too well for far too ridiculously long. And those in the (ever diminishing) muddled middle look on in complete horror, not wanting to own any part of it. Unfortunately, that lack of commitment has been a very big part of the problem, imho. And unfortunately, I fear it is going to have to get lots uglier all over, before it has any chance of getting much better.<br /><br />Something about that (hopefully) diminishing middle; something that I can't help saying because it worries me to death. If we've learned one single thing in these last few horrid years, I hope to heaven that we've managed to learn that each and every one of us don't just have the right, we have the absolute obligation to participate in this American Experiment if it has any hope at all of living up to the dreams and expectations of our forefathers. If we are too lazy and too apathetic or too fearful to take a stand about the things that should matter the most, or to honour the gifts we have been given just by being lucky enough to be citizens of this beautiful country, we deserve exactly what we get. <br /><br />This country was created expressly to acknowledge and give rights to its people, but with that comes accountability. This government is supposed to be made up of us, to work for us and with us. But it can't do that if we don't do our part, to keep it ethical and to keep it strong, accountable and invulnerable to the weakness of deceit and corruption. It's accountability time, crunch time for all of us. I just hope we've all got the intestinal fortitude and the heart to stick it out and see this through.<br /><br />UPDATE: I've been gnawing on this all night and reading the blogs and though I only saw the highlighted clips once (and I'd like to watch it all again and get the whole thing), I think this commenter (Choska) at <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/4/29/23148/6032" target="_blank">dKos</a> really sums up Colbert's Appearance the best:<br /><br /><blockquote>It was BRUTAL - The Opposite of Irony <br /><br />Irony is defined as when the intended meaning is the opposite of the stated meaning. Tonight, I think Colbert wasn't engaging in irony at all, which is why the performance was so devastating.<br /><br />In line after line he meant EXACTLY what he said, and the assembled journalists and politicos were right to look uncomfortable.<br /><br />He destroyed Bush, but as rough as he was with Bush he was twice as rough on the press. That line about how Americans didn't want to know about issues like global warming, and the press heard that plea and didn't tell us about it, was crushing.<br /><br />At the end when he said, 'I have nothing but contempt for these people,' I wasn't so sure he was joking.<br /><br />This performance, IMHO, was a game changing moment. One of our own got through the gate, and the powers that be in DC have been put on notice.<br /><br />And that's the word.</blockquote>etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1146220288814784872006-04-28T03:29:00.000-07:002006-04-28T03:32:24.596-07:00Now Play at Neil's GarageHave a <a href="http://www.neilyoung.com" target="_blank">listen</a>; it's devastatingly raw and real ~ and very very good. <br /><br />Then check out <a href="http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/042606F.shtml" target="_blank">this review</a> at Truthout.etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5429510.post-1146199707204456892006-04-27T21:41:00.000-07:002006-04-27T21:58:21.146-07:00page plant to play montreuxJimmy and Robert are scheduled to play <a href="http://openairguide.eeee.ch/montreux/index.php?rub=confirmed&bid=2439" target="_blank">Montreux Fest</a> as <a href="http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/2006/04/27/1553611-ca.html" target="_blank">part of a tribute to Atlantic Records' founder Ahmet Ertegun</a> on June 30th.<br /><br />Led Zeppelin was good for Atlantic Records and Atlantic Records was pretty good to Zeppelin as well. So, I can't help wondering why, once again, John Paul Jones appears to have been left out of the loop... colour me disappointed yet again, if not surprised. Oh well... That wouldn't keep me from attending if only that were possible. Which it isn't...etherealfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06164289008645264575noreply@blogger.com1