Aint Got No on the Finally Freakout Friday

It is a time of reflection and moving forward. What have we got? What have we lost?

I had a scare a few weeks back. In the middle of it I wondered if I truly contributed more than I have taken from this life. The answer is, I could do better.

I have to make choices that will take me into uncharted lands and people. Not that I shy away from such possibilities but I need to make more of an effort not to be complacent.



I also need to kick the gratitude thing up a notch or two. By word and by deed. This is a musical reminder from Miss Nina Simone who had a way of making her point in 88 keys.

For me 2011 means going forward but with no resolutions I'll do it or I won't. But I'm willing to give it a try.

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Dudes Still Don't Get It - Women Can Talk Tech

It continues to happen and short of wearing microchip pasties I don't know how much more we can do to help the fellas get a clue. Brick and mortar retail stores are still dissing women walking in to buy products and services. How stupid is that?

Answer, very. Beloved menfolk, we don't hate you; we hate the attitude that you assume all women do not know anything technical.

• Yes, I can bake a cake. So can some men.
• Yes, I can install my terabyte drive without help. So can some men.
• Yes, I do know the difference between a Dual Core and Core Eight and really don't like it when you try to make me pay more for obsolete hardware.
• No, I will not walk into your retail store to buy a computer because you ignore me unless I have a guy standing next to me. Even if I didn't know the difference between a Pentium and an i5 laptop does not mean you should not offer sales assistance to women.
  

I value my time and money so I shop on-line where my gender is not that important to the vendor. I've never been to the Consumer Electronics Show known as CES.



I'd like to go but the budget and time does not permit it. These are people who work and write for CNet. This is a pre-show about the possible stuff that will be presented like Smartphones, cars and aps. Not necessarily iPhone/iPad aps.

I want to hear about the Android Tablets. And e-Readers and hopefully tune in to some skivvy about the potential to convert an e-reader into a tablet or maybe some manufacturer will get a clue that there is a chunk of the population that would really gronk a quality under $200 tablet. Not a crappy one, a good one.

For those fellas in brick and mortar retail I don't want to tax you any more than is needed. A stretch a day is good.

Just sit back and listen. Get use to women talking about electronic goods and services. This is a basic general discussion but get use to the vocabulary and the fact that women are using these words.

It could profit you in the long term. Or not. The choice is yours.

P.S. I also would like to go to Photokina in Germany, SXSW and a bunch more and there are others just like me. Some women do shoes, some buy tech.

Respect us either way.

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Lady Teena Marie Has Made Her Transition

I don't want to believe it. I just don't. But CNN, People and other media sources are saying that Teena Marie passed in her sleep.

This is Teena in a classic music video, Lovergirl.



Mercy. I'm not happy but if her spirit is at peace and pain free then so be it. This is Teena performing a rendition of His Eyes Is On the Sparrow.



Not ready to let my musical icons go but it seems I have no choice. Much peace and respect to her family and her extended musical family of fans who are hurting something awful tonight.

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Pema Chodron on Fear and Fearlessness

My neighbors are whooping it up in celebration which makes it hard to be in a contemplative mood. Can't blame them and who am I to tell folks not to sing and dance.

Pema Chodron is a teacher who can explain ancient wisdom for western ears.



Anyway, I'd thought I would share some stuff from Sounds True. Sounds True is a place where you can find inspirational talks and teachings from a variety of disciplines. It is a commercial business but that business is helping others find healing tools and techniques for living.

I have a subscription on iTunes and recently there are a few video excerpts that I think folks would be interested in checking out.

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This Is What I Want to Remember

On this day I have what I want and what I need. I try to remember that each and every day but there are some days and weeks that make me want to separate myself from everyone.

I get lost in the woulda, coulda and the pernicious shouldas that I forget that there is beauty around us.


I have proof. I was in a room of people talking and no one really saw what was occurring out the window. I almost missed it because I was scarfing down lunch but my eyes shifted and I saw the light burst through.

I could curse myself that I didn't have a better camera to take the photo but that is not the point. The point is that even in the darkest hour there is beauty in the smallest things.

There is a spot of peace in the middle of turbulence and it might take a shift in perception to see it. A willing shift in perception. But if it happens by accident that is cool too.

It is a reminder to be kind to ourselves and to each other. It is a bit of natural wonder to be respected. It could be my emotional overlay telling me not to curse the bad times but to appreciate the good times more.

You bring to it what you will.

Deep breaths, healing thoughts and best wishes.

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Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse 2010 by Kareem Brown

Once of the reasons I'm crabbing about the rain is that there was no way to record the lunar eclipse that happened on December 21, 2010. Fortunately other folks with cameras and camcorders did not let that stop them.



Kareem Brown shot this time lapsed video of the event. The actual eclipse was four and a half hours, this will take about 1:30 to watch.

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Have You Ever Seen the Rain on the Finally Friday Freakout

It is raining in Los Angeles. We have skipped Fire season and headed straight for the drips.

Don't get me wrong, Fire season is nothing to be desired but it was a bit warmer and you can do more stuff outside. We never got our heatwave. We didn't even have a proper summer, if you ask me.

No, we have, and I do appreciate on a certain level, rain.



It rained on me this week. It was one of those challenging weeks where I couldn't ignore my body. I caught a cold. I do not like to be sick. Hate it. This is the second time this year I had a really bad cold.

Dear people, If you think you have a cold or flu stay the heck home. I know you have a job to go to. I hear you. This is what sick days are for. To stay home and be sick. You'd be so much more comfortable than snapping at co-workers. And infecting people like me. Think about it.

Last weekend it was 80 degrees and I couldn't enjoy it. I missed out on recording 20 poets. Sadness. I had no choice. I was on bed rest duty. This weekend I'm better and it is a steady rain outside.

I know. I live in a desert. We really need the water. You don't have to shovel it and the plants are very happy.

I'm not.

Courage.

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Say A Little Prayer on the Finally Friday Freakout

Sister Aretha Franklin is in many of our hearts and prayers this day and in the days to come. I'm not ready to let her go just yet but God knows it is not in my hands.



It is harder to think of a family that hasn't been touched by cancer. You'd wish it be more selective and take out the crumb bums type of folks that need to leave the planet quick, fast and in a hurry.

That is me being spiteful. I meant it but it isn't a nice thing to say or think.

So let me try again.

I remember being a kid and walking around the neighborhood. Folks had either table radios or transistor 9 volt radios. I could walk around the block to the corner store and hear her music.

I don't mean to diminish the other singers of the time. Aretha made you pay attention. I wanted to sing like that woman. I still do. I can't carry a tune in a bucket but I try.

She makes you want to try.

So I'm a little fretful that the shadow of the Hard C is stoking up to take another passenger. I'm trying to brace up but I hope it is a very long time before I have to bust out the tears.

I'll say a little prayer instead.

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For Aaron's Birthday - The Full Dose of the Funky Chicken

There are times when you are funky and there are times when you need the power of The Funk to lift you to a higher space.

I don't know Aaron Vest because his wife twitters 72.8 times more than he does. I have met him once or twice but not a day goes by without Mrs. Vest throwing a tweet or two in his direction.



This is for his birthday and since I don't know what to get a man who has everything, even in the mist of a hell, high water and is that a tsunami about to break? kind of year.

This is the full get up off that thing version of Mr. Rufus Thomas and the Funky Chicken. Grab a thigh bone and do what you can. Those with wing trouble can sway and cluck, same thing but don't over do it.

Pace yourself. These are professional dancing cluckers.

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Listing To Rain and Other Thoughts About Lonlieness

It is raining on and off. This is strange. You see, this is supposed to be our fire season. Some doofus either sets a fire or nature causes a spark that has everybody nervous. It is better without the fires. I know that.

But it is raining. This isn't right.

You see we have our rain season between February and April. Los Angeles generally has really warm weather between September and November. I love my hot Santa Ana's winds. It is like being in love with an air stream.

Those with allergies do not love the Santa Ana's as I do. Those that hate high heat ain't crazy about them either.

Me, I adore them.

The winds haven't come as yet. Instead we've been having weather like San Francisco. It was so cold last week I voluntarily turned on the heater. It was a three blanket night.

Weather like this helps to make folks feel more isolated. Me? I'm good but I bought some DVD with classic movies that I use to watch on the Late, Late show.

For $9 the DVD set included:

• An Affair to Remember with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr
• Leave Her to Heaven
  
• Letter to Three Wives
• Peyton Place

The mini documentary on Peyton Place was most interesting. The author Grace Metalious
was a hard knock dame who shook up the home town and nation by bringing sex, sexual violence and morals into plain view.

I have to say I've never watched the movie nor viewed the television show more than I had to. I was too young.

I'm a Sci-Fi girl, I can watch a good romance movie but I don't seek them out. I still haven't watch the DVD but I have been reading about Grace. If she could have eased up on the liqueur and got into the 1960's she might have found her space and time.

Now if somebody wanted to film Grace's story I'd pay cash money to see that. Trying to carve a path in the time of the real world Stepford wives was a mental battle not many of us would take one. It did kill Grace, along with the booze.

Writing can be cathartic but it isn't a cure for what is missing in your soul. It is important to remember that that thought when the rain comes down and there is no place to go but where you sit.

But if you have to drink and write I think fruit smoothies are the way to go. Reduces the chance of brain damage that way.

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Being 52 - Reflections on VloMo 2010

It is Day 30 and this is just a quick reflection on how I experienced recording face to video.



This is day 30 of National Videoblogging Posting Month.

Yeah!

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Errol Elumir Acapella Video For NaNoWriMo

I'll post one one video on the last day of VloMo10 but I got time crunched toward the end. To make it up to you I present a one man cheerleader squad of four part harmony goodness.



Salud to our writing compatriots as well as those in the VlogNation. Special shout out to those that did 30 Pies in 30 Days. My hips forbade me from even contemplating such a crusty adventure but props just the same.

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Poetry In Plain Sight - Bruce Williams

I am not sure how older men see themselves. Well, I have glimmers. I think the image gets locked in at their best year and that is what they see from life forward.

I mention this because Bruce Williams has a great looking face. The white beard is working for him. He doesn't have the washboard abs that is being projected as the standard of male beauty and perfection. Bruce occupies a body well lived in that has stories and poems to share.



His poems are much like his beard, there is history in present and waiting if we would slow down and truly listen. If you would like more information Bruce has a book called The Mojave Road and Other Journeys that you can get at Tabotbach Press.

P.S. Have you tried to sleep with a washboard? I once again advocate going for comfort and not for speed. Pillow talk, not washboard abs talk y'know?

This is Day 27 of National Videoblogging Posting Month aka Vlomo10

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Do The Mouse on the Finally Friday Freakout

No ten dollar words today. I have met the challenge of the day by not spending any money or participating in any way toward Black Friday. It is time to dance, make silly and drop any pretense of maturity.



From the dust bin of time, I give you Mr. Soupy Sales and the Hullabaloo dancers doing The Mouse. For those that protest I remind you that a few months later we were all doing The Batman.

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Being 52 - A TechnoRant Before Black Friday

In the caves of the Salt Mine there were strategy meetings on getting the goods. Techniques were reviewed such as scarfing down dinner and then stand in line until the 4 a.m. opening. Miner #56 wanted first dibs on the 40" television.

Miner #39 was thinking about how many targets she could hit in a two hour window. The desk was lined with ads. She was marking her positions on her phone to graphically see if she could get to point A, B and C in time for the designated specials.

Salt Chizzler #320 questioned the need for sleep but was concerned about the biological impulses and line etiquette.

I tried to offer the voice of reason. "You could shop on-line. It will be in the store the next day. Do you really need to shop; I mean what about the meaning of the day? You know, giving thanks, talking and sharing memories, being with loved ones?"

I looked each in the eye when I said "Why the bum rush to Christmas?"

They looked at me like I just sat on a whoopee cushion.

I know when I am licked. I had more things to say so this is a short video on three techno rants about cheap netbooks, e-book readers and cameras.

This is my day 24 video for National Videoblogging Posting Month aka #Vlomo10 on Twitter

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Poetry In Plain Sight - Robert Thomas Lundy

Robert Lundy is the writing partner of Elizabeth Yahn Williams. They often write about the same topic but with different styles and viewpoints.

Rhyming poetry is deceptive in that there is a message or story that is carried by the rhyme. You might have to shift you perception antenna a little bit to really hear what is going on.



This is Robert reading his poem, Deja Vu All Over Again.

For more information about Elizabeth and Robert check out their web site atwww.hitherandyahn.com

This is day 23 of National Videoblogging Poetry Month aka #Vlomo10 on Twitter.

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Poetry In Plain Sight - Elizabeth Yahn Williams

I have to put this out there. Most of the older women poets will not allow me to record them or their poems. I totally understand and respect that decision. I think it is a mistake.

People need to see and hear from our elder poets. Not just because they are "older" but because they offer a bridge to what was and what is in the here and now. Growing older is not a toxic condition no matter what the advertisers try to tell us.



Take your choice, grow older or cease to be? Then again in Elizabeth Yahn William's poem maybe there is a choice to come back like ___________. This is her poem entitled On Reincarnation: Or, Bury the Dead at Hallow's Eve.

For more information about Elizabeth or her writing partner Robert Thomas Lundy you can visit their web site at HitherAndYahn.com

This is my day 22 video for National Videoblogging Posting Month aka #Vlom10 on Twitter.

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Poetry In Plain Sight - Julia Stein

Poetry can slice through a lot of nonsense. Politicized issues about aging, health care, faith, humanity and even pestilence are made clear line by line.

I listened to Julia's poems and I was uncomfortable, not in a bad way. It was the feelings of recognition. Of the reality of being vulnerable to other people who will take advantage. It is also the recognition of others who will rise up and overcome the darkness but not before a lot of tears.



The discomfort is the reality of remembering to focusing on what is really important. We need to be made uncomfortable if we are to deal with our ever evolving future. This is Julia Stein's poem entitled Where Love Is.

This is also day 21 of National Videoblogging Posting Month.

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Poetry In Plain Sight - Carl Stillwell

It has been too long since I've written a proper poem. I'm hanging out with the poets to find my voice that was shelved for a reason I can't remember. It might have been a job or a man.

I can't remember. Once of the things that I like about spoken poetry and poets is that there is a lot of risk taking. Can you say the words? Will they understand. Will the spirit of the poem come through.

This first poem is in memory of David Stillwell entitled REM Revelation.



Sometime you just have to let things happen. This is CaLokie with Don Kingfisher Campbell riding shotgun on Glory Golden Oldie.



This is my day 19 and 20 videos for National Videoblogging Posting Month.

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Being 52 - Software Blues

I'm a day late but just under a dollar short. I came home last night and I tried, I really tried to post something. My body was not having any part in it. I woke up around 3 a.m. to write about image sensors.

I really want to write about digital image sensors and I needed time to think and write. So that is what I did. Then went to work, did a few chores and then attempted to catch up.



I'll have you know the body will protest if you try to stay up more than 20 hours. Gone are the days when I could stay up to watch the Late Show, the Late, Late Show and the Late, Late, Late Show.

I'd sleep for two hours, go to school and then do it again the next night. Wouldn't break a sweat.

Being 52 you'd think I'd understand time and spacial relationships. I needed space in my bed and I tried to press past my allotted time.

Silly rabbit.

This is my day 18 video for National Videoblogging Posting Month aka Vlomo10.

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I Am Not A Princess on the Finally Friday Freakout

Wait, I can't find my ruby slipper! Oh, wait - I don't have one. My bad. I am learning to appreciate Twitter because the people know stuff. Liz Henry's tweet pointed me to this video by Maria and the Diamonds.



Yes. There is dancing and singing and merrymaking with menfolks on our terms.

Yo, what's not to like?

Still cranking away for days 18 and 19 of Vlomo. I fell asleep. I was tired of real life and needed to visit my dreams. Oh, well back to the sprint.

Carry on and dance why don't you. Menfolk too.

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Being 52 - Move Here

This is a place of motion. People coming and going. Things to do or at least we say so.



There is a lot of natural beauty that people really don't take the time to see. This is a visual poem of sorts. It is also day 17 of #Vlomo10.

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Being 52 - Writing A Post to A Stranger

Life was a bit simpler being a six-year old person. You could write a letter to someone you did not know. You thought about the letters that made up the words you wanted to say.

As you age up a bit you become more self conscious and hopefully a bit more reflective. I did type hopefully. Anyway this video is an answer video to Frank Carver's Vlomo10 post on the A14.



Hi Frank.

This is the California state highway 134. It is normally jammed up with folks going and coming from work or trying to get to the Rose Bowl. Lord help you if you are on it the same day as the UCLA vs USC football game.

The scenery is kinda cool. There are palm trees, oak trees, wild flowers, bougainvillea and whatever the wind blew into the land this week.

Lemme see, anything else. Oh, yes. The sound you hear is the on-board television called TransitTV. There are day old news stories from the Associated Press, PowerPoint type puzzles and commercials to ride the bus to people that have no choice but to ride the bus.

Thanks for the inspiration.

Gena

The Being 52 lesson of the day is go for it.

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Being 52 - A Burger Desire

I like really good hamburgers. I'll reconstruct the burger to make it right. I don't want mustard. I can tolerate fresh lettuce. A real tomato or nothing. I want onion rings, not chips of onion.



Pickles are optional. There is nothing quite as nice as a single burger from In-N-Out. No cheese. No fries required. Just a $1.75 burger.

I have had the Vanilla Shake with a burger. Made with real ice cream. It is thick. You'll need a spoon. I try not to order that more than once a month. Moderation of desire I guess.

So this is not only my homage to In-N-Out but to the time honored practice of animating photos.

I have to. Dang video codec jacked me up again. Part of my Thanksgiving will be spent re-building my system and clean out the cooties.

Being 52 is knowing what you want and not being swayed by other desires. It is also being ready to pull a bunny out of a hat when you have to make it happen. Steady on.

This is my day 15 video for National Videoblogging Posting Month aka Vlomo10

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Being 52 - Another Look At Manga

Well, the love that cannot be denied has struck me again. This time it is a book that helps demystify the storytelling process for those folks that want to create Manga graphic novels and comics.



I'm not one of those people. Not yet. I haven't finished the book. This is my day 14 video for Vlomo10.

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Being 52 - The Old and the New are One and the Same

I was clearing space and trying to throw things away. I found an old toy digital camcorder with a 1GB card in it. It works like a Diana/Holga camera in that the imperfections can make interesting videos. This one had a kind of meditative quality to me.

Anyway, I had recorded a video crossing Suicide Bridge. Yes, it has earned the name but the city doesn't like the bridge referred to as such.



With millions of people acting like they have drunk the equivalent of 2 cans of Four Loko (fortified alcohol drink with an added shot of caffeine = a lot of alert dumbass drunk on hype people)we need a touchstone that reminds us that this too shall pass.

The poem is The Calming Thought of All by Walk Witman from his book Leaves of Grass that can be found at Project Gutenberg.

Project Gutenberg's goal is to publish all books in the public domain.

This is my day 13 video for National Videoblogging Posting Month

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Being 52 - Seeing and Not Seeing

There are times when we are on automatic. We go shopping for stuff. Generally for the stuff we need but we are diverted by the stuff we want. Or think we want.



Or didn't know that we wanted it. Me, I go looking for what I haven't seen before and can tote home in a shopping bag. I don't want a painted Buddah or a tarted up angels.
But I did see that kitsch really does have a price tag.

This is a lemonade video on account that I didn't know that the iPod Nano will record 480 x 640 if I record in portrait mode.

This is my day 12 video for National Videoblogging Posting Month. Check out the rest of the folks via Twitter using hastag #Vlomo10. You can also find some of those rascals on YouTube

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Baby Got Back on the Finally Friday Freakout

I've got orange marmalade and leftovers in the refrigerator. I really like to mix food together. My derriere is not all fast food. Nope. I stuff it with veggies, pasta and other assorted food items.

Yet even I would draw the line at a Twinkie diet. And by Twinkie I really mean Chocodiles. Or Ding-Dongs. Chilled, of course.



And then I find this video. Merciful heavens. I've heard of cultural appropriation but this cuts the cake. As a funny parody example. I don't even like Gilbert & Sullivan musicals. I tried but meh, not for me.

But I get it. The source video is from the movie The Pirate of Penzance and the musical adaptation, well go visit Mike Hightower if you want more of the same.



In the spirit of equal time for those us with the amp in vamp and roll in the stroll I convey to you the original Sir Mix A Lot version of Baby Got Back.

Me, I wonder if you can mix Orange Marmalade with pasta?

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Being 52 - Willing to Experiement

Being 52 I don't like doing the same things the say way all of the time. I was thinking about the ruckus about the Twinkie diet experiment.

There are some people who are going to fantasize emulating eating Chocodiles for each and every meal. For the record, this is so not a good thing. Ok to fantasize but not ok to try.



Your body will rebel. So this is my attempt to try to make a video collage about that rapture of thinking about eating junk food and the rational behind it.

The good news is that I don't appear in the video. This is my day 10 video for #Vlomo10.

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Another Look At the Theater I've Lost

A few months back I wrote a post for BlogHer about the theater. This is a version of that post but I thought it would be timely to look again. The movie For Colored Girls opened this week. My heart isn't into rushing to the movie.

There has been a lot of discussions about the movie, the play, re-interpretation and so forth. My BlogHer colleague Nordette Adams wrote an excellent perspective from various stake holders.

Here is my two cents.

I attended a performance of For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf play many years ago. It was the must see play and folks packed the theater. It was the first time that I witness black women performing, poetry as stage craft and words as power.

I had the stage album and the book. So yes, I was a fan.

The movie is something else. It is another persons creation. Tyler Perry has put his imprint on certain sections of the text, removed others and placed it in a cinematic context.

I can't judge it based on my memories of 30 years ago. It has to stand as its own work. When I am ready I may or may not view the movie. A new generation of young women will find what is valuable and what is not.

But is is not Shange's play. And the play is the thing. Speaking of which good theater is like heartbreak. There is a space missing that needs to be healed. The sad thing is that I have learned to live without live theater. I have been away from it for too long.

Part of the problem is the financial accessibility of buying a ticket. No one really wants to pay money to see a stinker of a play. Not at $80 to $150 or more a seat.

Broadway made a $1 billion in gross sales for the 2009-2010 season. They don’t need me to tell them what draws the crowd.

Producers and audiences have made decisions on the kind of theater that will be supported. A visit to The Broadway Musical blog confirmed my suspicions. Many of the plays are revivals or converted movies and television shows.

I do like entertaining plays or musicals. There are times when you need to get away and just step into an experience that isn’t going to do anything to you but give you pleasure.

I know there is a place for Technicolor dazzlers like Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.



It looks like a great production. However, I won’t be seeing it when it comes to town. You see, I’ve already seen the movie. When the original movie came out I took a chance and bought a ticket. I was rewarded by stepped into a different world. I want that same element of risk in a theater production.

The Importance of Revivals

You can get that kind of experience if you’ve never seen the play or the source material before.

Revivals of classic theater plays are necessary. Unless the play has been recorded you can’t really pass along what made the play special. Even when you do record a theatrical performance an element gets lost – the actual connection between the play and the audience.

Sara B. of Adventures in the Endless Pursuit of Entertainment would love a revival of Mame.

Yvonne Korshak of Let’s Talk Off-Broadway wants you to know that there is a theater world beyond Broadway that are producing classics, revivals and contemporary plays in search of an audience.

For those plays that I haven’t seen or experienced in another form this could by a path of exploration. Kat at Painted Air is excited about a possible Lily Allen project. For me, this would be a compromise but I don’t know about me and Bridget Jones.

Still, I need something more.

In Search Of – The Unknown

I’m willing to step beyond the sure thing. Theater is about engagement but it is also about risk and taking chances. It is watching an actor stepping out on stage and giving 100% and the audience either accepts it or rejects it.

What do you do when you like the theater but your needs are not mainstream? When in doubt, find a theater blogger.

Linda at Pataphysical Science is talking up an off Broadway production of the play The Metal Children:

The Metal Children won't leave you with easy answers about the power of art and the responsibility of the artist, but at least it raises the questions.

Jill Dolan wants you to know about Silver Stars:

Silver Stars is a community-based, devised theatre piece by an Irish theatre company called Broken Talkers, who create work by mining people’s stories about their lives and knitting it into coherent evenings of theatre. The play, which I saw performed at the Under the Radar Festival at the Public Theater on January 16, collects narratives from middle-aged Irish gay men who, because of homophobia in their native country, had to flea elsewhere to live honestly and comfortably.

Marisabidilla is a theater/culture blog from Marisa Skudlarek in San Francisco who enjoyed Giant Bones:

I know, there are a lot of plays about plays out there, and sometimes it can seem like an overdone topic. But not when it is really well done--written, staged and performed by people who truly do know and love the power of theater--the way that Giant Bones is.

Still On the Other Side of the Ticket Box

If theater means that hit movies and television shows are going to be converted to the stage then count me out. It would have to be an exceptional production to get me in the seat.

If theater means a range of plays and productions that cater to a variety of interest I could be tempted if I was properly wooed. I haven’t been lately. I will say that being able to sample a play via web video or audio podcasts would be a good way to start.

It might take those of us in new media to find ways to help communicate about theatrical productions of interest beyond the tried and true. One of the thing theater lovers could do is help out the unofficial Internet Theater Database with contributions and citations of plays seen and experienced.

Portions of this post were originally published at BlogHer where I am a Contributing Editor.

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Being 52 - Opossums

There is a story underneath every blanket or two. This is one of mine. For the record, this opossum doesn't look half bad.

This is a starting point of just how ugly the one in my neighborhood looks like. It could just be the California Opossums got the short end of the ugly stick.


Do not be fooled by the slicked up portraits of nice smiling critters or Disney animations. These beings have attitude - generally bad.


This is my Day 9 atmospherically dark video in order to hide the laundry for #Vlomo10

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Being 52 - Bookaholic

Some women do shoes. I have books. Lots and lots of books. Mysteries, computer, history, dictionaries all over the joint. I have hardback, paperback, pdf, cassette, CD and mp3 books.



I do not as yet have a book reader. The desire is there but I'm waiting for the perfect one. I'll probably will be sleeping with it.

This is my Day 8 video for #Vlomo10 - National Videoblogging Posting Month.

Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. The music in the video is from Danosongs.com

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Being 52 - Book Learning

On this day I learned that no matter what you planned to do something can happen to make you wish you never heard of computers, cameras or vlogging. I went out and shot video.

I was using my 5th Generation Nano for what I like to think of as my retail whimsy documentator. Came home, extracted the video and discovered that the Nano records video in 480 x 640 as well as 640 x 480.

I had a bunch of video in a non-standard format. Ok, no problem. I can use QuickTime to apply layers. Something I haven't done in six years. It was clunky even then. Wasn't going to happen tonight either.

Corel Studio crashed three times. Magix only will play have of each videos and Serif Movie Plus is in on the human boycott too.



So this is my lemonade. It is true, but it took three hours to admit it to myself. I shake my fist as the mentioned programs and expect better from them in the future.

Which means tomorrow. This is Day 7 of #vlomo10. Whoopee.

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Poetry In Plain Sight - Carl Stillwell aka Calokie

This is another poem by Calokie. I could try to explain or interpret but he is moving so fast I guess I'll leave it to you to latch on and ride the roller coaster.



I recorded hand held with my Kodak Z1285 that also shoots HD video. That little sucker puts out a great image but I never know then the batteries will go splat. Still in search for the perfect for me HD camcorder.

This is also my Day 6 video for National Videoblogging Posting Month.

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Poetry In Plain Sight - Pete Justus

There is such a richness in Pete Justus poems. He gives you visuals and language. You have to be present and just listen.



This is Pete Justus reading his poem, Section 60.

For more information about Pete check out his Facebook page

This is my Day 5 video for National Videoblogging Posting Month.

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Le Petit Gonzales on the Finally Friday Freakout

We take a pause for the videoblogging cause on account I'm editing and trying to upload before midnight. This is the week that the republicans and tea party participants are celebrating.

Phase 1 on taking the country back. I never can get a straight answer as to where or back to. My guess is limited government. Limited social engagement and services. Less controls over the oppressed and downtrodden business class. Let me not forget the establishment of a Christian nation codified in some governmental documentation.

Even though the founding fathers said, "No." Yep. They were happy.

I was happy too because I live in California and almost everybody that was a Democrat got elected or re-elected. I don't think Carly has conceded the election to Barbara Boxer yet.

Twisting.



Anyway, this video is for those that want to go back in time and twist away any bi-partisan or communication ideas. I say twist and work that leg something crazy.

It is also an opportunity to observe one culture emulating creativity from another culture and making it their own.

For those of you on the TP tip twist and pretend that complicated issues can be solved with a red pen, no votes and a bible.

Go on, twist and make believe that establishing a stripped down government will make you all warm and fuzzy. We'll see how much you believe when your senator has a pork barrel project for your community and you will call for him to not push it through?

I don't think so.

Other Voices

The rest of y'all might want to check out Tim Wise post on the election and the long historical view.

It really is strong stuff. If you are tenderhearted person don't read it. If your spirit demands a loving and centered place do not read it.

If you however need to know what various people are talking about this is one of the items of conversation. I'm not condemning or endorsing.

I have to say that Tim's words had me all twisted up. For another perspective check out Mark Morfold's Letter to a Whiny Democrat at the SF Chronicle.

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Being 52 - Fizzies or Does Anything Really Go Away

I have to eat a bit of humble pie. I had finished the video yesterday but I looked at myself talking. I second and third guessed that maybe I should do this kind of video. This is counter to what I am telling other folks.

I'm not comfortable. I haven't found my public voice I tell myself. This is nonsense. Half the time you can't shut me up. It was the appearance thing.

I did not look pretty. Meaning slicked up. It really is embedded that women should not present themselves unless the are displaying physical and aesthetic perfection.



For who? Seriously.

Most of the people that watch know me. Those that don't might be curious. I am who I am and I know it.

Sometimes the internal critics aka haters slide up to you and have you re-thinking that perhaps you specifically should stay in hiding. Lay low. Don't be visible on the grid.

No, no and heck no. It does not matter. After a long day at work I wanted to tell the story about Fizzies. I don't need to adorne myself to tell you that story.

I do need to check if I have something up my noise or gunk on my lips but after that, I am who I am. With or without make-up. Which I don't wear. Mostly because of allergies but honestly, I'm just not in to it.

I may have to repeat this as a mantra or something. As a side note, BlogHer has a new project about Owning Your Beauty. I might have to take a remedial course or something. Read up on the back posts



After the women bashing year that is about to close we need support. It will not come from magazines, fashion houses or the latest diet goop. It will have to come from within.

This is my Day 4 for National Videoblogging Posting Month. To find other videos use the #Vlomo10 at Twitter.

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Being 52 - Bag of Peanuts

For the record peanuts are a good and necessary food source unless you are allergic to the goobers. Speaking of goobers, this is my not so sneaky attempt to get use to writing prose and poetry again.



This isn't prose or poetry but it is a commentary riff on how age is sold for profit. This is also my Day 3 video for National Videoblogging Posting Month.

To watch other videos by creators from all over the planet zip over to Twitter, plug in the hastag #Vlomo10 and see what you can find.

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Being 52 - Silent Declaration

This is an experiment on how to express being 52 years old. I want to play with visuals, silence and poetry. So for some of my contributions to National Videoblogging Month I'm going to see if I can tell that story in traditional and non-traditional ways.



This is a short clip on being able but not vocal about how many weeks I've been on the planet.

If you are so inclined, whip up your own video, upload it and use Twitter #Vlomo10 to let folks know that you have a video to watch.

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Poetry In Plain Sight - Jon Epstein

There are days you have to look at your own personal trash to know how far you have walked from it. A poem is a safe place to revisit personal hell and tribulations. This is Jon Epstein reading his poem, Eight Milligrams.



Today is the first day of National Videoblogging Posting Month. One of the reasons I started videoblogging was that I wanted to record people and places that were not being seen. It was the environments that I found myself in just being a regular person.

I'm not a high tech cadet. I buy what I the equipment that I can afford and make it work. Recording in existing light is challenging but this was what the camera saw on this day.

Un-adorned and no special effects.

As other media snort at user generated content they forget one small thing. They ignored whole segments of the population. They created a world in their own image.

That world never included me and my kind of people. It is a washed out pastel of the vibrancy in the real world.

My kind of people are the ones that are not celebrities or are objects of ridicule for profit.

We work or not.
We love or not but that love isn't contingent on body shape and size.
We exist outside of talking points and non-conference swag bags.
We, despite the demands of our daily lives, create.

Videoblogging is a reclamation of individuals being present and showing where they are at a given place in time.

Web video can be in support of poets and thinkers that do not need to yell to make their points. On the day of this recording, I heard Jon.

This is my Day 1 post for Vlomo10.

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Margaret Fabrizio on Creativity and Going Forward

Margaret Fabrizio is working on a quilt project. She is an artist, a vlogger and a bit older than I am. If you are watching this on a day after October 31st then you might be confused.



It is the questions. Always the dang questions that leads us to enlightenment. But not before you get kicked in the tush with lessons.

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Warming Up for Vlomo10 or Am I Freaking Crazy?

On November 1, 2010 those that are in need of honoring the muse are gonna give it go for National Novel Writing Month. Those caffeinated jar heads are gunning for 50,000 words of literary adequacy.

It doesn't have to be a great novel. Just a novel. So you can say with pride and conviction, "Yes, I have written a novel."


For web video folks we pay tribute to the spirit of the challenge and go them one better by trying to produce 30 days of video. National Videoblogger Posting Month has been invoked and I gotta try to answer the call.

Okay, others can do the 30 days. I think I might have done all thirty days. Once.

I think.

I have been pondering what the heck can I do? Any spare poetry videos will certainly be conscripted to the cause. That will get me about five days or so.

Here is what I want to do. There has been a lot of female body bashing lately. If folks ain't stomping on a head or two then there are attacks about the female body imperfect, i.e. those of us that are soft, round and ample.

Hips don't lie but at Marie Clare magazine people with hips like mine seem to provoke loathing. The kind of loathing I usually reserved for slimy overcooked Okra.

I get the itch just thinking about it.

I'm not linking to the article because at this point I do believe they are working the link bait side of the street. Personally, I think it is straight up booty-hate, booty envy and booty mis-education.

In 52 years I have collected a booty full of experiences. There are other 52 year old women but many of them won't admit it. I'm taking a risk as well. I'm about to loose a few folks because I am "this old."

A half century plus two.

So I'm thinking that I should represent the eclectic 52 year old woman with access to a video camera. What I could do is try to do is find examples of what it was like then and now. Or tell you. Or show and tell.

Not sure how this is going to work out or even it I can do it. I'm not even sure I should do it because this would require me to put prior mentioned ample derriere on the line.

Being visible is tough but being a visible older women is even tougher.

The answer is yes. I am freaking crazy.

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Lazy Bones on the Finally Friday Freakout

The intersections between Black folks and White folks is a precarious one. There are those that proclaim "I don't see color, I see people." That is acceptable until the person with the color on the skin speaks up.

Then folks get agitated.

Why can't you be like me? Why must you be different? Why must you speak different and what is up with the hair thing? My faith is all you need to know; anything else is blasphemy. There is only one true American and it ain't you because you don't look like me.

At the time this clip was created the only visibility in commercial films for African Americans was as domestic employees. Dancing, singing or just mugging it up for joy employees. Employees that perform the almost impossible but not really a part of the scene. They flicker in and out.

Unless you lived in the southeastern section of America in the 1940s where scenes like this was usually cut out.



The "I see people folks" would have seen the girl and man servant. They didn't call black men butlers in American movies. Nor did they do so to Asian domestic employees as well.

In this clip we enter a world of the Interlocutor where it is permissible to occupy the same space, just for a moment. Women can be frisky, Hoagy can be cool and Peter Ray and Dorothy Dandridge can almost make you forget you have Mr. Carmichael tinkling those keys.

One can see the other but the line is never crossed. I'd thought I watch this as a refresher course as we race backward in time. I hear the 1773 celebrations are busting out out all over and the election is just a formality to restoring America to what it was.

I think the guy's house that was allowed to burn down by the fire department in Tennessee is a real good example of just how much limited government some people want restored.

I know about Hoagy Carmichael from the movie To Have and Have Not. Historically, I know about Dorothy Dandridge and the tribulations she had in Hollywood. I know nothing about Peter Ray. A quick surface search led to zip. I can't find anything.

This is why we need a museum for musicians, women folks and dancers. To be on the safe side, we need a museum and library for every adjective person on the planet. That way nobody is left out and visibility is assured.

I'm not feeling hopeful about next week. I do want folks to vote. I don't care about your politics as much as you perform your civic duty and vote. For the love of god and country you political slackers have got to vote.

(Ok, I do care about the pot initiative. California, y'all know folks can't drive while texting, applying make-up or tuning satellite radio. Why do you want to add ganja to the mix? It is a badly written law. Hemp yes, straight up MaryJane no. Vote No 0n 19." )

In other news, I just can't understand how Delaware citizens can put up a candidate that seriously did not know the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievance.

Not, good. So not good, We are in deep, holding on praying expectantly for my change shall come. Dame doesn't know diddly about U.S. Government she is trying to represent... I don't understand...

(An actual logic loop freakout is occurring...I'll be ok in a couple of hours.)

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Dan Roan - Bank Bonus Explaination from BNet

So the dude from Countrywide is gonna beat the rap. Not even go to trial?

Not even gonna pay the fine because Bank of America will pay the bulk of the fine for him per a prior agreement?

Tell me again how crime doesn't pay? Unless you have an excessively white collar you seem to do just fine and dandy.



This is a video that I found on BNet a year or so ago. I meant to post it but it seems like this is a good time to remind folks why we are in the mess that we are in.

One reason is that is a serious separation between legitimate earnings and greasing the wheel to turn in order to generate bonus money activity. You slice and dice and damn near kill the company or the economy but you still are banking money.

It is not illegal. But is it ethical?

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Two Tribes on the Finally Friday Freakout

My head hurts. It has been a week of media personalities, companies and politicians acting badly. What is the difference between this week and any other?

There are some potentially unintended repercussions. At this point, it almost does not matter. I think I have an ache in my heart too. When I was thinking out the video of the week it didn't take long for me to remember this stunner from 1984. The band is Frankie Goes to Hollywood and this is Two Tribes.



I am a passionate believer of freedom of speech. I have found myself supporting really noxious people because no matter their behavior people still have the right to voice an opinion, a thought or a feeling.

There are exceptions. There are situations where I'd be the first to say go get the plank. I'm not sure that this is one of those times.

I am not a fan of Juan Williams. I don't seek out his reporting or commontary. If I heard him on NPR Weekend Edition I tended to tune him out within a minute of his analysis.

I don't watch commercial television anymore but if I did I sure as hell would not watch FOX News. Ain't that much antacid in the world.

And yet. There was a wrong done here. I don't think he should have been fired.

Yes, he should catch all the heat and borne the responsibilities of making those comments.



I am not supporting what he said. Nope, never and uh-uh. Bill O'Reilly said the similar things on ABC's The View. He still has his job. Rush says it as his mantra and clocks dollars by the second.

You can take to the bank that if a thought begins with "I'm not a bigot" you have got a problem. Remove the word Muslim and exchange it with Black, African-American, Woman, or any other descriptor of "the other."

Hey Juan, it was a fear based bigoted remark. Don't matter how many other people you think feel that way. It doesn't matter how nice you put it was a bigoted remark just the same. You can be exceedingly polite and still hurt a group of people.

I think I need medicine for the pain. Here is the thing. Mr. Williams was giving his opinion on how he felt on an airplane. His personal opinion. He has the right of the expression of that opinion.

Even if I disagree with it. We all have that right. That right is not negotiable.

Now free speech ain't free. You say it, you own it. It can cost you a job. It can separate you from friends and family. That is also a part of the freedom. The responsibility of honoring and speaking your words can get you into trouble.

Do you mean those word enough to stand by what you said? Are you willing to listen as other tell you that perhaps you are wrong, misguided or a bonehead?

Or do you suck up in glory how great you are when people who agree with you co-sign and lift you up as the poster child of clarity.

All of that is included in the freedom.

There is more to this story but it is beltway journalism. It is the part that I'll never know. Not sure I'm that interested. Juan Williams will do fine. I heard he just got hired at FOX News full time.

To each his own.

I do care about the future of NPR. I care that conservatives and extremists are salivating that this is a good time as any to remove any government funding of NPR and PBS.

Again.

I care that KCET, Los Angeles will no longer be a PBS television station as of January 1, 2011. I really care that this might give ideas to other PBS stations that want to leave and give it a go on their own.

If that happens we will lose an imperfect but necessary resource for community information, both local and international. If it is true that they do want to communicate with and work with the independent creative community in Los Angeles that would be great.

Not sure the corporate foundation supporters are gonna like it so much. True independent media that might have something to say about what is happening in Los Angeles. We all have cameras now.

It is too much. My head hurts some more. I need to Relax.



This is the uncensored version that I didn't know about. There are no 100% nekid people but there is a pound of leather, a tiger and well, happy men. If happy men dancing horizontally and vertically bothers you don't watch the video.

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Charles Bukowski Exhibit at the Huntington Library

If you have never been to The Huntington Library this is your chance to make it up to yourself. It is physically beautiful place and crammed to the rafters with books, art and a plant or two.

If you can, stroll in on a sunny weekday so that you can take your time getting lost in the stacks or in the botanical gardens.



Here is another good reason to head over to The Huntington. From now until February 14, 2011 there is an exhibit of his life and work. The library has posted a biographical guide the exhibit.



For those that are asking Bukowski who? I say shame on you and your English teacher too (Elementary through 11th grade English teachers are exempt.)

Admission to The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens is $15 during the week and $20 on the weekends. The weekends, depending on the weather, can be very crowded.

This is the kind of place you want to take your time to explore so plan on a good three hours to do the short version. The library is located on 1151 Oxford Road in San Marino, CA.

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Poetry In Plain Sight - Nancy Shiffrin

I purchased Nancy's poetry book called The Vast Unknowing. It is a journey into Jewish identity, living in Los Angeles and the fears that bind all of us if we are honest.

This is a poem with multiple levels of depth. The intersections of youth and culture mixed in with straddling living in America when you were born elsewhere. How do you fit in? How do you understand freedom?

For me it is loving the poetry of Rumi and finding out "Wait, there are others poets I should know about?" Of course there are other Persian poets and people I should know about. A poem gives you a chance to expand your world view, if you are open to hearing about the lives of other people.

Not everyone is willing.

Nancy has a new collection of poems called Game with Variations. If you would like to purchase her book you can e-mail her or visit the Unibook web site.

I generally try to only post one poem per poet but this one is short. I have to post this video to represent for those of us still longing for the touch and refusing to give it up, no matter what society says.

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Poetry In Plain Sight - Rick Smith

A poet is rarely just a poet. I don't want to affirm the poverty mentality of fiscally challenged poets but it is a tough slog trying to get non-poets to pay attention or come to a poetry reading.

When you do take a chance to attend a reading or performance good things can happen.

Rick Smith is a poet, musician and a bunch of other stuff. In this video Rick tells a tale about how fame can smack up an ego upside the head and reads one of his poems about blues harmonica players.



His new book is Hard Landing. There is an separate audio CD that has extracts from the book.



An unexpected musical pleasure was that Rick gave a little taste of his musical talents. This is a sample of what Rick can do with his harmonica.

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Poetry In Plain Sight - Karineh Mahdessian

It is raining. This means I'm going to be very productive today as I can't go any where. Sorry for the delay of posting poetry videos. I had a wicked cold/flu thing that made anything more than basic functioning impossible.



Ok, on with the goods. This is Karineh Mahdessian reading her poem, Manic Monday. Karineh's poem appears in the San Gabriel Valley Poetry Quarterly, Summer 2010.

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Los Angeles BWN Business Career Networking Forum

I get the Black Women's Network brochure every year. I usually can't go because it is on a weekday. This year it is on a Saturday. They almost had me until they said the LAX area. Los Angeles airport to the out of towners. Just can't do and make other commitments that day.

This is a bit of the history of the network from the web site:

Black Women's Network (BWN) was formed in March 1979 as the result of the energy of the Black women who attended a regional career conference in Los Angeles, California. Many of these women in attendance realized the potential strength that could be derived from creating a supportive organization that could serve as a vehicle for addressing the specific needs of professional Black women.

There will be a vendor marketplace, speakers and exhibitor booths. If you are in the area and you would like to check it out visit www.blackwomensnetwork.net.

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The Professor, Aluminum and Red Sludge

I have a subscription to the Periodic Tables videos from the University of Nottingham, UK. Professor Martyn Poliakoff, his team and videographer Brady Haran have created 118 videos about each element in the periodic table.

The videos are usually fun, informative or explosive. And I do dig the professor's hair.



They are moving on to minerals. However in this video Professor Poliakoff wanted to explain about how the situation in Hungary got started and where the trouble is going to end up, possible in the Danube.

Many of the broadcast news channels have gotten ride of actual science reporters. Those reporters that remain are either mangling the story or choosing not to report it as it is not American centered.

That is a mistake. I won't hold my breath waiting for corporate to see the light and higher science reporters. The BBC has a good summation of what is in the sludge.

Leonard Lopate has an interview with two scientists and a representative of the World Wildlife Fund in Hungary.

If we do not learn that there are long term penalties for irresponsible waste management, land use and environmental stewardship then we will spiral down the bowl.
The professor might be a little dicey on his geography but not about the effects of what will be dumped into various waterways.

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The Sounds of Blackness on the Finally Friday Freakout

I bought the cassette of the first album of the Sounds of Blackness. Side one was so good it took me two years to remember to flip to side two. I took inspiration anyway I could get it.

I watched Joseph Campbell on TV, even the re-runs of the program with Bill Moyers. The story about the man, the kid and the glass of milk still rattles me.

Les Brown was coming up at that time. Flipped through Science of Mind magazine to check out that action. Taking Yoga classes when I could afford them. Reading new age and thought type magazines.



This is a representational video of side one of that album. Special bonus that Roger Troutman of Zapp in spoofing in some of the video. Sadly, I don't think groups like the Sounds of Blackness could get radio time today.

Really, we do need more fun, danceable and singable tunes. I wouldn't mind a song or two that aimed a little higher than crotch level.

I don't know about you songs like "I got mine and I'll kill you for yours" does not help me move through my day.

Never did.

So a mini love letter to those musicians that want to play a different song. Go for it. We are waiting for you.

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Chocolate Salon at Pasadena Civic Center

A room full of chocolate and a few dames. We're talking the good stuff. Cacao powered chocolate. Chocolate with spices, vodka or a fruit or two. This is a advertisement for the event. It is time once again for the L.A. Chocolate Salon.



I went to the event a few years back. I had never been surrounded by chocoholics before. It was amazing; women were calling their friends giving reports on various confections they just tasked.

I was planning on going but something came up and I yield the floor to a chocophile that can take up the slack.

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Poetry In Plain Sight - Charles Harmon

A person, place or thing can inspire a poem. I have memories of chomping down on Ticonderoga #3. For those of us that have a different take on getting the lead out this poem is for you.



This is Charles Harmon reading his poem, A Day in the Life of A Pencil.

Don Kingfisher Campbell is the publisher of the San Gabriel Valley Poetry Quarterly. If you want more of Southern California poetry or would like to purchase a chapbook then scoot over to the blog.

Coming up on October 9, 2010 is another poetry reading by some of the areas known poets as well as an open reading. Scheduled to appear are Jon Edward Epstein, Jeffry Jensen, Don Newton plus special guest Rick Smith. As always, folks will gather at Santa Catalina Branch of the Pasadena Public Library on 999 E. Washington Blvd. between 3 to 5 p.m.

Poetry Off the Shelf

I have been listening to the Poetry Foundation's Poetry Off the Shelf podcast for a couple of weeks now and I think I'm falling in love with it. It is like a poetry espresso shot when I need a hit of poetry.

There have been some excellent episodes like discovering the poems of Eleanor Ross Taylor, the one about Actors vs Poets reading a poem, and a look back at Anne Sexton's work with poet CA Conrad.

Honest, it isn't stuffy unless you hit upon a stuffy poet. I haven't heard a clunker as yet. Give the show a chance.

If you need something to get you through the down times this could inspire something wonderful to spark up in your brain cells.

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I Will Survive Doing It My Way on The Finally Friday Freakout

We will survive if we can endure. I wish I could have told that those young souls who ended their lives because of bullies. Suicide is not a good option. It is final but the pain that is left behind for others to carry is too much.

There are people that want to do better but first, a musical interlude to mellow us out after a tragic week that will pass into time but not without a handkerchief of tears.

This is Chantay Savage with her rendition of I Will Survive (Doing it My Way)



If you never experienced being bullied as a child or a teen you really don't understand. There are adults who call it teasing, kids being kids or any other word used to explain away one or more people targeting another person.

Age is not an excuse. Youth is not an excuse. We've had elementary school students tease other children into suicide. There is something profoundly wrong here.

If you have never had 15 kids make fun of you in stereo then you do not know what hell on earth is like.

It can be physical. Verbal. It can be emotional. It can be a two for one deal that last for years. Let me emphasis that last part, "for years." That is after you tell the parents, after you tell the teacher, the principle and any other adult.

Some adults will act and some will tell you to suck it up or fight back. Some of the incompetent adults will laugh and join in on the attack because unbeknown to the young person an internal cage is being rattled.

Adults who hear stories of young suicides ask how did their pain get bad? Because the student in question had no place or person they could turn as a resource. There is embedded sexism, homophobia and all kinds of sanctioned body abuse.

Sustained abuse is either internalized, reciprocated or medicated. Death is the ultimate pain killer. Seriously, don't do drugs and don't kill yourself.

Survival and Coping

We as straight, gay, lesbian, transgendered, queer and asexual adults have to put out more emergency soul repair kits and mental life rafts.

We have the power to inform and counteract the negativity and the misinformation.

I like Dan Savage's idea about creating a video channel telling gay youth that there is another side if they can hang on because it does Get Better.

The Twitter hastags #stayalive #itgetsbetter has some good idea such as the repetition of the suicide prevention hot line for LGBTQ youth 886-488-7386. Other folks are offering coping ideas, music and resources.

The Gay Lesbian and Straight Eduction Network has an anti-bullying resource page students.

It doesn't matter to me if you are a teen or an older person trying to hold on praying expectantly or holding on 'til your change shall come.

It might mean actively looking for positive mentors. Artists, poets, dancers, sports folks. It might mean reading or searching for your historical pathfinders to figure out how they moved forward.

Deep breaths. One moment at a time.

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Poetry In Plain Sight - Rosalee Thompson

This is Rosalee Thompson reading her poem, "Everyone Gets Everything".



Don Kingfisher Campbell has a poetry blog (who am I kidding, he has a bunch of poetry blogs) for the San Gabriel Valley Poetry Quarterly that he publishes. You can amble on over to check it out the poets listed in the Summer 2010 edition.

For the record, all of the poems are owned and copyrighted to the original poets. I encourage you to support poets and buy a chapbook or audio mp3 whenever you get a chance.

What Else Have I Got?

Well, this morning I was listening to a podcast by Muir Lafferty called "I Should Be Writing". It was show #150 and it was a good program. The first part of the show Muir talked about being honest with yourself about what you are doing. Actually that was around the 6:26 point in the show.

If writing, blogging or working with video has become a drag, don't do it. It is okay to lament about the process. Creation is not always fun. If you feel you work is important or you need to do it push on. If if feels like a ball peen hammer and there is no joy then set it aside.

It can be rewarding and satisfying once you complete it but you might hit a roadblock or two.

The second part of the show was two interviews with Tracy Hickman and Scott Sigler and they both talked about alternative paths of publishing and the need for a new look at traditional publishing.

This took the sting out of not being able to go back to sleep at 3:34a.m. in the morning.

We do have to look for alternative ways of getting creative work out beyond our closed communities. Not to mention being able to benefit from our work.

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Common Sense Tips for Digital Generation Parents - Edutopia

I have a few spare minutes this morning so I'm trying to clear out my Drafts. Stuff I meant to post but forgot or was distracted. I don't have children but I have to interact with people 3x generations after me and have been raised different than I was.



There is no longer a cultural permission to be quiet. Each device, phone, portal connects with the other. Engagement is conditional. Maybe it is cellular communication. If you are not in the cell group you and your thoughts don't exist.

This is video from Edutopia on how parents can understand and communicate with their children in this media saturated time.

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Exhale on the Finally Friday Freakout

Terry McMillian is coming to Vroman's Bookstore to promote her new book "Getting to Happy." It is the continuing story of the characters from the book "Waiting to Exhale.

A quick visit to her web site shows me that she has moved on from turbulence to the next level. This generally happens when you work through it instead of staying stuck and swimming in it long after the event has passed.

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For those who need a little Shoop Shoop therapy this is your opportunity to engage in some long distance understanding and perspective on the need to let go and let fly with the future.

Cut 'em loose. Forgive yourself. Start again.

This does not have to be about love. Could be a job. Could be your car that keeps leaking oil faster than you can open the can and pour. It could be seeking another path to invoke positive changes in your life one step at a time.

Shooobey. Shoop. Shoop.

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Statistically Speaking I'm Amazed

I got sprung from the Salt Mine earlier than expected today so I actually can spend time doing what I want to do. I was looking at my Blogger Dashboard and I noticed the new to me blog statistics feature.


I'm happy if one person gets value or enjoyment from my blog posts. I have a lot of things I'm interested in. I was curious what folks read or glance through. The stats have been active since May 2010, but I think they just slapped them on everyone's Blogger Dashboard in August.

To the fine folks of Australia, Luxembourg, India, Brazil, Russia, Netherlands, Canada, Germany and the UK, I thank you for reading and checking stuff out. Drop a comment when you can and use your native language if English is giving you a pain.

So long as I can get to Babelfish or Google Translate I'm good to go.

Now as to what some of my mighty fine readers are perusing.

The Top Five Are:

5. The $99 NetBook
4. Nikki Giovanni Talks About Choices
3. The Confederate Flag, The Push Me Pull You of Culture
2. More Than Words - The Nelson Brothers (Again, I'm sorry fellas for linking you to that song.)
1. The Gift of Self-Pleasure the IFM site (My post is ok but that place is so NSFW)

Technology, Creativity, History, Entertainment and Sexuality. Something for everyone, I guess. Again this is just the stats from May to now. The poetry videos are popular on the separate page at the top of the blog. I guess they are easier to find that way.

I don't plan on changing what I am writing about because I really am interested in all kinds of people and ideas. Depending on how the hormones kick up though, well. Let me put it this way. Middle age women are rocking but not necessarily in a chair.

This blog has always been is a small reflection of my journey of this lifetime. To be of service. To discover new things. To laugh and hopefully remind folks on the other side of the pond that we are not all crazy with fear and malice.

I'll try to keep it flowing and juice up the Ice Tea a bit out on the stoop.

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