Micro-Cast: Is this a laser?
Sometimes fiction is more reasonable than fact, and sometimes facts sound like pure fiction. Here are two examples.
ISSUE: Commodification of life
Batman: The Animated Series - The Laughing Fish. The scenario is such: The Joker just loaded all the waterways in and around Gotham (a port town) with a toxin, affecting only fish. Now, strange as it may seem, Gotham is a wicked sustainable city and gets all the fish that they require from its own waters. Uh-Oh. So the toxin, rather than killing or destroying the fish, merely turns their skin white, lips red, and causes a very Joker-esque phenotypic expression of the mandible. Big-o-grin. Whats he up to?
Act 1: In the Bat Cave
Act 2: Joker, Harley Quinn and Goons enter Copyright Law Agency
"No one can copyright fish...they're a natural resource."
This is no longer the case. Here's a little, slightly illegit article about the glowing Danio Rerio® often spoken about. A little googling and you'll find lots of brutal shit if you like.
Batman: The Animated Series was a very clever show. Ripe with such commentary, but keep in mind that this episode was from like '93. Also, the villains belie a certain preoccupation with eco-direct-activism.
Poison Ivy- Committed agrarian reformer. Kills humans who try to hurt plants. Destroys civilization with plants. Green Anarchy.
Catwoman- Animal rights activist. Violently opposes any advance against wild spaces for wild cats. Like tree-sitting but with a whip and more cat puns.
Ra's al Ghul- Ecoprimitivist. Wants to return earth to ecological stability, namely by killing off most of the humans.
ISSUE: Weapons
I think that this clip speaks for its self. I tried to "underline" certain phrases to bring out the totally sci-fi underpinnings of this topic.
"And the coming robot army."
I for one, welcome our robot overlords.
I think that Amy nails a certain humor during this interview. Her tenacity with the question "is this a laser" is priceless. But the subject is pretty dim. Slight remix.
Tangentially, Gary Anderson, retired Marine Colonel, brings up small arms, slingshots that are concealed in crowds by pregnant women and children can outrange conventional non-lethal weapons. These arms have been used in Somalia and Fallujah. Unfortunately, the US military didn't have a working heat-ray-gun-laser-stun-phaser during the siege of Fallujah. Instead, they had White Phosphorus, in mortar form, that burns flesh to the bone, leaving behind skeletons with clothes on. It reacts with water, making it near-impossible to put out. The people of Fallujah had enough exposure to this weapon to figure out that jumping into a vat of mud can starve the chemical reaction for air, thus putting out the fire.
Case study on how to handle questions that lay in silence, until someone went there, and said something. All quoters are official Pentagon spokespeople (and all from D-Now):
#1
LT. COL. STEVE BOYLAN: I know of no cases where people were deliberately targeted by the use of white phosphorus. Again, I did not say white phosphorus was used for illumination. White phosphorus is used for obscuration, which white phosphorus produces a heavy thick smoke to shield us or them from view so that they cannot see what we are doing. It is used to destroy equipment, to destroy buildings. That is what white phosphorus shells are used for.
#2 Official Army publication, Field Artillery Magazine discloses the Army had, in fact, used white phosphorus as a weapon. The magazine in its March/April issue reported, quote, "White phosphorus proved to be an effective and versatile munition and a potent psychological weapon against the insurgents in trench lines and spider holes." The magazine went on to report, quote, "We fired ‘shake and bake’ missions at the insurgents using W.P. [white phosphorus] to flush them out and H.E. [high explosives] to take them out."
(Shake and bake.)
#3
LT. COL. BARRY VENABLE: White phosphorus is a conventional munition. It's not a chemical weapon. They are not outlawed or illegal. We use them primarily as obscurants, for smoke screens or for target marking in some cases. However, it is an incendiary weapon and may be used against enemy combatants.
BBC REPORTER: Can you confirm, then, that it was used as an offensive weapon against enemy troops during the siege of Fallujah?
LT. COL. BARRY VENABLE: Yes. It was used as an incendiary weapon against enemy combatants.
BBC REPORTER: There are suggestions here that if used in that way, an incendiary weapon such as white phosphorus would be against the various conventions governing the use of weapons during war. You disagree?
LT. COL. BARRY VENABLE: Cite the conventions.
BBC REPORTER: The Chemical Weapons Convention.
LT. COL. BARRY VENABLE: Okay. Does it list white phosphorus as a chemical?
BBC REPORTER: No, it doesn't. But it says a chemical weapon can be any chemical which, through its chemical action, on life processes can cause death, temporary incapacitation or permanent harm.
LT. COL. BARRY VENABLE: But this isn't -- we're talking white phosphorus is an incendiary weapon, not a chemical weapon.
(Good Form!!)
#4
New evidence has emerged that the U.S. military used chemical weapons during the assault on Fallujah a year ago. Last week the Pentagon confirmed for the first time that it used white phosphorus as a weapon to attack Iraqi fighters. But the Pentagon rejected claims that white phosphorus is a chemical weapon. White Phosphorus is often compared to napalm because it combusts spontaneously when exposed to oxygen and can burn right through skin to the bone. While the Pentagon is denying white phosphorus is a chemical weapon, a newly uncovered Defense Department document, reveals that is just how the military described it when Saddam Hussein allegedly used it a decade ago. A declassified 1995 Pentagon intelligence document reads "Iraqi forces loyal to president Saddam may have possibly used white phosphorus chemical weapons against Kurdish rebels." Meanwhile a British commander has admitted that he trained his troops in using white phosphorus as a weapon. Until now the British government has maintained it used white phosphorus but only for tactical purposes.
There was an incredible D-Now interview with a Pentagon spokesperson where they were talking about MK-77, the present day form of napalm. This was used in the siege of Fallujah as well. The conversation was something like:
DN: Did the US use napalm in the siege of Fallujah?
Pentagon: NO! Totally not!
DN: But didn't you use MK-77
Pentagon: Yeah, totally. But that's polystyrene and kerosene, napalm is polystyrene and benzene.
DN: You fucking piece of shit.
I can't find that clip though. It exists.
ISSUE: Commodification of life
Batman: The Animated Series - The Laughing Fish. The scenario is such: The Joker just loaded all the waterways in and around Gotham (a port town) with a toxin, affecting only fish. Now, strange as it may seem, Gotham is a wicked sustainable city and gets all the fish that they require from its own waters. Uh-Oh. So the toxin, rather than killing or destroying the fish, merely turns their skin white, lips red, and causes a very Joker-esque phenotypic expression of the mandible. Big-o-grin. Whats he up to?
Act 1: In the Bat Cave
Act 2: Joker, Harley Quinn and Goons enter Copyright Law Agency
"No one can copyright fish...they're a natural resource."
This is no longer the case. Here's a little, slightly illegit article about the glowing Danio Rerio® often spoken about. A little googling and you'll find lots of brutal shit if you like.
Batman: The Animated Series was a very clever show. Ripe with such commentary, but keep in mind that this episode was from like '93. Also, the villains belie a certain preoccupation with eco-direct-activism.
Poison Ivy- Committed agrarian reformer. Kills humans who try to hurt plants. Destroys civilization with plants. Green Anarchy.
Catwoman- Animal rights activist. Violently opposes any advance against wild spaces for wild cats. Like tree-sitting but with a whip and more cat puns.
Ra's al Ghul- Ecoprimitivist. Wants to return earth to ecological stability, namely by killing off most of the humans.
ISSUE: Weapons
I think that this clip speaks for its self. I tried to "underline" certain phrases to bring out the totally sci-fi underpinnings of this topic.
"And the coming robot army."
I for one, welcome our robot overlords.
I think that Amy nails a certain humor during this interview. Her tenacity with the question "is this a laser" is priceless. But the subject is pretty dim. Slight remix.
Tangentially, Gary Anderson, retired Marine Colonel, brings up small arms, slingshots that are concealed in crowds by pregnant women and children can outrange conventional non-lethal weapons. These arms have been used in Somalia and Fallujah. Unfortunately, the US military didn't have a working heat-ray-gun-laser-stun-phaser during the siege of Fallujah. Instead, they had White Phosphorus, in mortar form, that burns flesh to the bone, leaving behind skeletons with clothes on. It reacts with water, making it near-impossible to put out. The people of Fallujah had enough exposure to this weapon to figure out that jumping into a vat of mud can starve the chemical reaction for air, thus putting out the fire.
Case study on how to handle questions that lay in silence, until someone went there, and said something. All quoters are official Pentagon spokespeople (and all from D-Now):
#1
LT. COL. STEVE BOYLAN: I know of no cases where people were deliberately targeted by the use of white phosphorus. Again, I did not say white phosphorus was used for illumination. White phosphorus is used for obscuration, which white phosphorus produces a heavy thick smoke to shield us or them from view so that they cannot see what we are doing. It is used to destroy equipment, to destroy buildings. That is what white phosphorus shells are used for.
#2 Official Army publication, Field Artillery Magazine discloses the Army had, in fact, used white phosphorus as a weapon. The magazine in its March/April issue reported, quote, "White phosphorus proved to be an effective and versatile munition and a potent psychological weapon against the insurgents in trench lines and spider holes." The magazine went on to report, quote, "We fired ‘shake and bake’ missions at the insurgents using W.P. [white phosphorus] to flush them out and H.E. [high explosives] to take them out."
(Shake and bake.)
#3
LT. COL. BARRY VENABLE: White phosphorus is a conventional munition. It's not a chemical weapon. They are not outlawed or illegal. We use them primarily as obscurants, for smoke screens or for target marking in some cases. However, it is an incendiary weapon and may be used against enemy combatants.
BBC REPORTER: Can you confirm, then, that it was used as an offensive weapon against enemy troops during the siege of Fallujah?
LT. COL. BARRY VENABLE: Yes. It was used as an incendiary weapon against enemy combatants.
BBC REPORTER: There are suggestions here that if used in that way, an incendiary weapon such as white phosphorus would be against the various conventions governing the use of weapons during war. You disagree?
LT. COL. BARRY VENABLE: Cite the conventions.
BBC REPORTER: The Chemical Weapons Convention.
LT. COL. BARRY VENABLE: Okay. Does it list white phosphorus as a chemical?
BBC REPORTER: No, it doesn't. But it says a chemical weapon can be any chemical which, through its chemical action, on life processes can cause death, temporary incapacitation or permanent harm.
LT. COL. BARRY VENABLE: But this isn't -- we're talking white phosphorus is an incendiary weapon, not a chemical weapon.
(Good Form!!)
#4
New evidence has emerged that the U.S. military used chemical weapons during the assault on Fallujah a year ago. Last week the Pentagon confirmed for the first time that it used white phosphorus as a weapon to attack Iraqi fighters. But the Pentagon rejected claims that white phosphorus is a chemical weapon. White Phosphorus is often compared to napalm because it combusts spontaneously when exposed to oxygen and can burn right through skin to the bone. While the Pentagon is denying white phosphorus is a chemical weapon, a newly uncovered Defense Department document, reveals that is just how the military described it when Saddam Hussein allegedly used it a decade ago. A declassified 1995 Pentagon intelligence document reads "Iraqi forces loyal to president Saddam may have possibly used white phosphorus chemical weapons against Kurdish rebels." Meanwhile a British commander has admitted that he trained his troops in using white phosphorus as a weapon. Until now the British government has maintained it used white phosphorus but only for tactical purposes.
There was an incredible D-Now interview with a Pentagon spokesperson where they were talking about MK-77, the present day form of napalm. This was used in the siege of Fallujah as well. The conversation was something like:
DN: Did the US use napalm in the siege of Fallujah?
Pentagon: NO! Totally not!
DN: But didn't you use MK-77
Pentagon: Yeah, totally. But that's polystyrene and kerosene, napalm is polystyrene and benzene.
DN: You fucking piece of shit.
I can't find that clip though. It exists.
Mad Professor
Would be the best professor.
Fellow built his own mixing board as a tween. Last night, I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Mad Professor, The PanAfricanist, and Dr. Israel at the Crystal Ballroom in the city of Raz-es.
Dr. Israel, PhD. layed down some very nice shit. Some liberation roots jams, some jungle dub, and some heavy dub & bass brooklyn slangs. Proper use of the Kaos pad. Ver nice.
Mad Professor and PanAfricanist were inexpressibly good. This was the most powerfully positive live music I've heard since a proper Little Wings show. Professor at the board, occasionally talking between songs, even though his mic was on perma-delay. Dub lifestyle. PanAfricanist played the MC role, toasting, precisely placing bo!'s, and such for a couple songs, including a live remix of some deep Congo's jams. Then PanAfricanist-
-played the best steel drum I've ever heard, backed by the thickest, fullest dub from herr Professor's mixing board. I was kindof used to hearing more lo-fi-ish beats from his catalog, but this was so beautifully full. The bouncy floor in the venue made for awesome response from the incredibly loud bass. So many white people with dreadlocks smoking the herb, gettin a 'umble thought. Fun dancing. I so very much regret not recording this show.
On the drive home, Heather, seen here with me and lil' Justice at Babgy Hot springs,
stopped at a gas station for fuel at 2:00 am. There were two white, young people attempting to play (with some success) Indian ragas. Over the course of the 10 minutes or so we were sitting at the pump, the dudes had some nice flow going. Then, having finished servicing us, the Slipknot sweatshirt adorned gas station attendant walks up to them, and starts singing in the most sincere Nu-Metal bray. Shit.
"I am the dub shepherd...It was only four tracks written on the machine, but I was picking up twenty from the extra terrestrial squad."
-lee s. perry
Fellow built his own mixing board as a tween. Last night, I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Mad Professor, The PanAfricanist, and Dr. Israel at the Crystal Ballroom in the city of Raz-es.
Dr. Israel, PhD. layed down some very nice shit. Some liberation roots jams, some jungle dub, and some heavy dub & bass brooklyn slangs. Proper use of the Kaos pad. Ver nice.
Mad Professor and PanAfricanist were inexpressibly good. This was the most powerfully positive live music I've heard since a proper Little Wings show. Professor at the board, occasionally talking between songs, even though his mic was on perma-delay. Dub lifestyle. PanAfricanist played the MC role, toasting, precisely placing bo!'s, and such for a couple songs, including a live remix of some deep Congo's jams. Then PanAfricanist-
-played the best steel drum I've ever heard, backed by the thickest, fullest dub from herr Professor's mixing board. I was kindof used to hearing more lo-fi-ish beats from his catalog, but this was so beautifully full. The bouncy floor in the venue made for awesome response from the incredibly loud bass. So many white people with dreadlocks smoking the herb, gettin a 'umble thought. Fun dancing. I so very much regret not recording this show.
On the drive home, Heather, seen here with me and lil' Justice at Babgy Hot springs,
stopped at a gas station for fuel at 2:00 am. There were two white, young people attempting to play (with some success) Indian ragas. Over the course of the 10 minutes or so we were sitting at the pump, the dudes had some nice flow going. Then, having finished servicing us, the Slipknot sweatshirt adorned gas station attendant walks up to them, and starts singing in the most sincere Nu-Metal bray. Shit.
"I am the dub shepherd...It was only four tracks written on the machine, but I was picking up twenty from the extra terrestrial squad."
-lee s. perry
Sinister man, Have at thee!
Long time, no css. That was a severe infringement on Jesse's amazing punnitry, so all credit do to Jesseroo.
I just watched a good chunk of Hook with lil' Justice-
-and very embarrassingly teared up a lot when Peter learns to fly, play basketball, and the real tear jerker, to crow. The movie really falls apart after the last fight scene, unfortunately. Dustin Hoffman represents so deeply in that movie. He and Bob Hoskins (Smee? Smee's me!) ad libbed all the homoeroticism apparently, making for the best depiction of flamboyant piracy until Mr. Depp stumbled into that other pirate movie.
Did you know that Charlie Korsmo, aka "Home Run Jack" went to MIT? He got a degree in physics, then started working for the US government on missile defense (BAD FORM!). He's also worked for the EPA, likey disposing of toxic clock waste, and for the Republican Party in the House (ear-waxing some moustaches, suggesting killing indians).
Anyhow, he got his doctorate in law from Yale's Law school last year. He was a member of the Federalist Society (BAD FORM!), and culminated his years there by signing a letter to Arlen Specter in support of Samuel "Samuri A" Alito. That's what happens to you when you leave Dustin Hoffman for Robin Williams. Bad form, again.
Rufio, aka Dante Basco, has gone on to make some funny sounding movies. "Biker Boyz" (2003), "Naked Brown Men" (2003), "Extreme Days" (2001), "But I'm a Cheerleader" (1999), and "Fakin' da Funk (1997). Naked Brown Men+Biker Boyz+Extreme Days= Bangarang.
By the way, have you ever asked yourself, "R U Revolutionary?" Of course you wouldn't, that would be terrible grammer. But the website, www.rUrevolutionary.com certainly asks the question, um, I think. I think the site/"movement" is the mega-tech-forward-geek-dork-christian take on all those posters you see in Liberation Theology circles in the South with pictures of Jesus on them, claiming him as the first revolutionary. But, as you will see in this article, the dorkiness takes it beyond Leo Boff and toward the Church of Mac. Brutal.
Why so much coverage on Christians, Tim? R U converting? Nah, maste, I just really think they make for fun reading. And watching. And talking. Small, lovely Brigette-
-came up for a deeply deep visit this past week, and we managed to jam on the current haps in Mormonism over in the always awesome Utah (no sarcasm, actually). Went to Bagby with Heather and lil' Justice, vibed on that place deeply. Deepest. We visited her very great friend Talmage Garn (incidentally, his name is also a Klingon phrase not fit to print here). I got to read these trippy items called Patriarchical Blessings that he had. In the Mormon Church, at like 16 yrs old, the Bishop lays his hands on your head and reads you your future. And then someone transcribes the blessing and prints it out for you. The bish' does that shit freestyle. The bless-ee provides the beat, and the bishop does the whole rap battle "...uh...yeah...uh...uh..uh...here we go..." thing and drops the truth on your brain.
To keep the Christian theme gwan in my life, I'm heading up to check out a Catholic Anti-Poverty conference in PDX das weekend, which looks pretty good. Catholics can be so schizophrenic with their very very leftist acts and harsh fascist words. We'll see how that goes.
The mayor of Salem is into my rooftop garden/food bank supply project for downtown Salem. First step in a long beaurocratic process, but a good first step. Garden? Did someone say food? Sorry, but I needed to invent a segway to this picture of me squeezing the biggest, meatiest hunk of Greg butt at the Oly Farmer's Market in the summer. God summer is so awesome.
Right now, I'm hastily editing up a fresh new 'kast, this one is different than the others. Art-ish, even. And beginning work on another before this one is done. And working on starting new projects with Jona. Busy busy.
New phrase for ashtray:
Tim
I just watched a good chunk of Hook with lil' Justice-
-and very embarrassingly teared up a lot when Peter learns to fly, play basketball, and the real tear jerker, to crow. The movie really falls apart after the last fight scene, unfortunately. Dustin Hoffman represents so deeply in that movie. He and Bob Hoskins (Smee? Smee's me!) ad libbed all the homoeroticism apparently, making for the best depiction of flamboyant piracy until Mr. Depp stumbled into that other pirate movie.
Did you know that Charlie Korsmo, aka "Home Run Jack" went to MIT? He got a degree in physics, then started working for the US government on missile defense (BAD FORM!). He's also worked for the EPA, likey disposing of toxic clock waste, and for the Republican Party in the House (ear-waxing some moustaches, suggesting killing indians).
Anyhow, he got his doctorate in law from Yale's Law school last year. He was a member of the Federalist Society (BAD FORM!), and culminated his years there by signing a letter to Arlen Specter in support of Samuel "Samuri A" Alito. That's what happens to you when you leave Dustin Hoffman for Robin Williams. Bad form, again.
Rufio, aka Dante Basco, has gone on to make some funny sounding movies. "Biker Boyz" (2003), "Naked Brown Men" (2003), "Extreme Days" (2001), "But I'm a Cheerleader" (1999), and "Fakin' da Funk (1997). Naked Brown Men+Biker Boyz+Extreme Days= Bangarang.
By the way, have you ever asked yourself, "R U Revolutionary?" Of course you wouldn't, that would be terrible grammer. But the website, www.rUrevolutionary.com certainly asks the question, um, I think. I think the site/"movement" is the mega-tech-forward-geek-dork-christian take on all those posters you see in Liberation Theology circles in the South with pictures of Jesus on them, claiming him as the first revolutionary. But, as you will see in this article, the dorkiness takes it beyond Leo Boff and toward the Church of Mac. Brutal.
Why so much coverage on Christians, Tim? R U converting? Nah, maste, I just really think they make for fun reading. And watching. And talking. Small, lovely Brigette-
-came up for a deeply deep visit this past week, and we managed to jam on the current haps in Mormonism over in the always awesome Utah (no sarcasm, actually). Went to Bagby with Heather and lil' Justice, vibed on that place deeply. Deepest. We visited her very great friend Talmage Garn (incidentally, his name is also a Klingon phrase not fit to print here). I got to read these trippy items called Patriarchical Blessings that he had. In the Mormon Church, at like 16 yrs old, the Bishop lays his hands on your head and reads you your future. And then someone transcribes the blessing and prints it out for you. The bish' does that shit freestyle. The bless-ee provides the beat, and the bishop does the whole rap battle "...uh...yeah...uh...uh..uh...here we go..." thing and drops the truth on your brain.
To keep the Christian theme gwan in my life, I'm heading up to check out a Catholic Anti-Poverty conference in PDX das weekend, which looks pretty good. Catholics can be so schizophrenic with their very very leftist acts and harsh fascist words. We'll see how that goes.
The mayor of Salem is into my rooftop garden/food bank supply project for downtown Salem. First step in a long beaurocratic process, but a good first step. Garden? Did someone say food? Sorry, but I needed to invent a segway to this picture of me squeezing the biggest, meatiest hunk of Greg butt at the Oly Farmer's Market in the summer. God summer is so awesome.
Right now, I'm hastily editing up a fresh new 'kast, this one is different than the others. Art-ish, even. And beginning work on another before this one is done. And working on starting new projects with Jona. Busy busy.
New phrase for ashtray:
Tim
Storytelling Festival
Few people are in the Northwest that might visit this blagh, but it's worth a shot!
The Northwest Indian Storytellers Association Storytelling Festival and Apprenticeship Workshop is going on at PSU from January 4-7, 2007. Looks like it's going to be way cool. Wintertime is storytime. Check out http://www.wisdomoftheelders.org/ if you wanna go. I think I'm gwan try to go on Saturday, as there's a sweet Old Time Relijun 12th anniversary show tonight at the Artistry.
I had a dream last night that highschool friend, coworker, and stereotypical mega jock Matt Applebaum shot me in the chest and neck, then jammed two chopsticks into the chest hole. I wasn't really hurt, but soon afterwards saw 50 Cent, and was like "hey man, I understand why you rock the Keflon vest shit, getting shot is painful." He was not amused, and snapped the chopsticks off in the wound. In my dream, I was already planning to use my injuries as a reason not to go to work. I even slept in a half hour because of the torso trauma.
The only very reliable dumpster in Salem is the one behind a florist. So many good flowers all the time. I managed to barter a few for a giant vegan choco-daddy scone at the cafe, and gave a single mum to a single mom (unconfirmed). This lady (50 year old white woman with a septum ring), grateful for the flower and in the mood for smalltalk, asked where I got my "nag champa gourd" (meaning my mate). I reflexively called her a racist. She got a little bummed, but understood the lameness of lumping all vaguely-hippy non-english words together in her mind.
Speaking of vaguely-hippy non-english words, I'd recommend the PBS documentary: Ram Dass-Fierce Grace. Similar to the Gatorade flavor "Fierce Grape" but about dealing with a stroke as a countercultural icon and psychonaut. Heartwarming movie. Was it David Frost that used to black sharpie out the G on the bottles of Fierce Grape in stores? That is a brutal, but clever joke.
The Northwest Indian Storytellers Association Storytelling Festival and Apprenticeship Workshop is going on at PSU from January 4-7, 2007. Looks like it's going to be way cool. Wintertime is storytime. Check out http://www.wisdomoftheelders.org/ if you wanna go. I think I'm gwan try to go on Saturday, as there's a sweet Old Time Relijun 12th anniversary show tonight at the Artistry.
I had a dream last night that highschool friend, coworker, and stereotypical mega jock Matt Applebaum shot me in the chest and neck, then jammed two chopsticks into the chest hole. I wasn't really hurt, but soon afterwards saw 50 Cent, and was like "hey man, I understand why you rock the Keflon vest shit, getting shot is painful." He was not amused, and snapped the chopsticks off in the wound. In my dream, I was already planning to use my injuries as a reason not to go to work. I even slept in a half hour because of the torso trauma.
The only very reliable dumpster in Salem is the one behind a florist. So many good flowers all the time. I managed to barter a few for a giant vegan choco-daddy scone at the cafe, and gave a single mum to a single mom (unconfirmed). This lady (50 year old white woman with a septum ring), grateful for the flower and in the mood for smalltalk, asked where I got my "nag champa gourd" (meaning my mate). I reflexively called her a racist. She got a little bummed, but understood the lameness of lumping all vaguely-hippy non-english words together in her mind.
Speaking of vaguely-hippy non-english words, I'd recommend the PBS documentary: Ram Dass-Fierce Grace. Similar to the Gatorade flavor "Fierce Grape" but about dealing with a stroke as a countercultural icon and psychonaut. Heartwarming movie. Was it David Frost that used to black sharpie out the G on the bottles of Fierce Grape in stores? That is a brutal, but clever joke.
salem, I hardly missed ye.
So nice to get out of the Willamette Valley for a few days. Or a week and a few days as it turned out. First and foremost, I'd like to encourage people to make neat stuff for this website. There is neat stuff being made, and I'm always psyched to see new things on here.
Anyhow, I went up to Seattle for a few lovely days at the Sherwood Co-op in the U-Distrikt. My mom was out visiting, and it was really powerful to see her out here in the relaxed PNW rather than the usual setting of the frantic/hectic Northeast. Lots of great food, great family, great people. Seattle can be so cool sometimes. However, I almost always come to the city via intercity public trans, and that is synonymous with stress in the PNW. The Greyhound, the noble beast, has been my ride for the equivilant of 5 days (120 hrs.) in the past year and a half. Lots of very cramped, loud, smelliness, but I must refrain from outright slander. Its just that it is the only "reliable" (very flexible use of the word) mode of long distance transportation in the West. Amtrak is way broken, Shared Route is awesome (biodiesel leftist shuttle bus) but limited to the Portland->Seattle I5 stretch, and I have not had a single bite with Craigslist rideshares. I find medication a necessity for the 24 hr stretches. Greyhound is subsidized very heavily by the prison-i.c, Jobcorps, and the military. That is the majority of the ridership, with a heavy dose of the Hispanic population, and, on occasion, me. Portland's Greyhound station was a total caricature of a Greyhound station this past trip. The stench of piss overwhelmed the nose upon entry, and in the middle of the lobby sat the offending pile of piss with three paper towelettes haphazardly strewn atop the pool.
No more Greyhound talk. My mother made me an incredible quilt. It is an abstraction on the Aymara whifala. Look how nice.
Then I headed south with perennial smile-maker Danny Kelly and his girl Karen to Helsing Junction Farm. One of the truly better places in the world. At least to a dude who's been away from friends for a while. I got the website (partially) up, which can be seen at www.helsingfarmcsa.com. Very exciting. We had a nice Christmas dinner. Good food, deliciously broke my veginity with some local goat cheese. Yum.
Jade is back. In good health by all accounts. And he gave me one of the best gifts I've ever received. Tailor-made saddhu-themed clothing from his trip to the orient. Notice the beautiful fair trade silk around my legs. The printed garment hails Ram and has some nice depictions of the deity. Such awesome clothing.
Here is Jade, Taxi, and Taxi's Hemi. Das 'roid has grown a nervous system of its own, and gets sad when insulted. This picture is a celebration of this beautiful, plum-like growth. Look deeply and see your future.
I went up the hill to visit my old home and my new home. Old home is the tipi carcass, new home the house. We left the hay that served as mattresses on the bunkbeds, and a cute result followed.
And the house looks quite the same. A very friendly brown squirrel lives in the heap of supplies. The mud wall that was completed has also grown some grass out of it. Also cute, but no picture. I cannot wait to finish it this spring when Grendel returns from his tryp.
Biggest hit of the break? A very very tabbed out trip to the lower Skokomish on the Olympic Peninsula with Jade, Item, Colin (Jade's brother), and Ben (Colin's homie). There was a really nice snow cover everywhere. Jade and I did a very epic river crossing over some giant logs, saw some amazing things in the sky for a few hours, then returned in an equally epic, significant manner. The moon had a very dramatic ice halo. So good. The weather was clear nonstop until the hike out. Great fire, good whiskey, dubboz. Very very therapeutic trip.
I have been feeling Bowlpack B's My Name Is a Killing Word so deeply. Everyone who hears it has felt it as well, because its awesome. I've also been feeling the Intro to Nonviolence Course Podcast from UC Berkeley. And the recent Trialogues on the Psychedelic Salon podcast. I am thanked for suggesting the UC Berkeley Drugs and Human Behavior Podcast by Lorenzo. Very silly.
Off to read some books regarding the Himalayas borrowed from Jade Baba.
luff,
Tim
Anyhow, I went up to Seattle for a few lovely days at the Sherwood Co-op in the U-Distrikt. My mom was out visiting, and it was really powerful to see her out here in the relaxed PNW rather than the usual setting of the frantic/hectic Northeast. Lots of great food, great family, great people. Seattle can be so cool sometimes. However, I almost always come to the city via intercity public trans, and that is synonymous with stress in the PNW. The Greyhound, the noble beast, has been my ride for the equivilant of 5 days (120 hrs.) in the past year and a half. Lots of very cramped, loud, smelliness, but I must refrain from outright slander. Its just that it is the only "reliable" (very flexible use of the word) mode of long distance transportation in the West. Amtrak is way broken, Shared Route is awesome (biodiesel leftist shuttle bus) but limited to the Portland->Seattle I5 stretch, and I have not had a single bite with Craigslist rideshares. I find medication a necessity for the 24 hr stretches. Greyhound is subsidized very heavily by the prison-i.c, Jobcorps, and the military. That is the majority of the ridership, with a heavy dose of the Hispanic population, and, on occasion, me. Portland's Greyhound station was a total caricature of a Greyhound station this past trip. The stench of piss overwhelmed the nose upon entry, and in the middle of the lobby sat the offending pile of piss with three paper towelettes haphazardly strewn atop the pool.
No more Greyhound talk. My mother made me an incredible quilt. It is an abstraction on the Aymara whifala. Look how nice.
Then I headed south with perennial smile-maker Danny Kelly and his girl Karen to Helsing Junction Farm. One of the truly better places in the world. At least to a dude who's been away from friends for a while. I got the website (partially) up, which can be seen at www.helsingfarmcsa.com. Very exciting. We had a nice Christmas dinner. Good food, deliciously broke my veginity with some local goat cheese. Yum.
Jade is back. In good health by all accounts. And he gave me one of the best gifts I've ever received. Tailor-made saddhu-themed clothing from his trip to the orient. Notice the beautiful fair trade silk around my legs. The printed garment hails Ram and has some nice depictions of the deity. Such awesome clothing.
Here is Jade, Taxi, and Taxi's Hemi. Das 'roid has grown a nervous system of its own, and gets sad when insulted. This picture is a celebration of this beautiful, plum-like growth. Look deeply and see your future.
I went up the hill to visit my old home and my new home. Old home is the tipi carcass, new home the house. We left the hay that served as mattresses on the bunkbeds, and a cute result followed.
And the house looks quite the same. A very friendly brown squirrel lives in the heap of supplies. The mud wall that was completed has also grown some grass out of it. Also cute, but no picture. I cannot wait to finish it this spring when Grendel returns from his tryp.
Biggest hit of the break? A very very tabbed out trip to the lower Skokomish on the Olympic Peninsula with Jade, Item, Colin (Jade's brother), and Ben (Colin's homie). There was a really nice snow cover everywhere. Jade and I did a very epic river crossing over some giant logs, saw some amazing things in the sky for a few hours, then returned in an equally epic, significant manner. The moon had a very dramatic ice halo. So good. The weather was clear nonstop until the hike out. Great fire, good whiskey, dubboz. Very very therapeutic trip.
I have been feeling Bowlpack B's My Name Is a Killing Word so deeply. Everyone who hears it has felt it as well, because its awesome. I've also been feeling the Intro to Nonviolence Course Podcast from UC Berkeley. And the recent Trialogues on the Psychedelic Salon podcast. I am thanked for suggesting the UC Berkeley Drugs and Human Behavior Podcast by Lorenzo. Very silly.
Off to read some books regarding the Himalayas borrowed from Jade Baba.
luff,
Tim