Kindred – Octavia Butler

Octavia Butler was not the first woman to write science fiction. She was the first African-American woman who became well known for writing science fiction. Actually I think (thought) of her as a prophet.

Her books were crafted with her life experience into powerful stories. Those stories give me the creeps when I look around at modern day America. Pick up a copy of “Parable of the Soarer” with a nation divided and a President who uses neo-Christianity as a weapon on the population. She wrote the book in 1998. Draw your own conclusions.

I actually met Ms. Butler on an elevator at the Los Angeles Library. I was mushed mouthed as I asked if she was who she appeared to be. She said yes. I said something about enjoying her work.

She thanked me. I got off the elevator. I hold dear the people who raised me so I was just quiet for the longest period of time.

I think she was coming to Pasadena this month for a reading/book signing. The city has selected her most famous work, “Kindred”, as this years One Book/One City activity. I wanted to video record her talk but wasn't sure if I could work out the logistics of being two places at the same time. I feel rotten about it.

Octavia Butler died on February 24, 2006 after a fall at her home in Seattle. This is grievous. I hate loosing mentors. The invisible people that I know raised me via books from what I was to what I could be.

I wish to hell I was absolutely sure of what that would look like but I'm on the path.

So do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of any of her books that you can find, library or bookstore. But I warn you, she will draw you into a world that you might not be prepared to visit but at the end you will sign up for another voyage.

For more information about Octavia visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octavia_Butler
or http://www.sfwa.org/members/butler/Autobiography.html
or http://www.npr.org/programs/specials/racism/010830.octaviabutler.html

Philosopher-Citizen Q&A with Matthew

The problem with being a compulsive reader is that you are always taking in information. Then the questions start coming in your head and next thing you know you are talking to yourself to find the answers because many people are more interested in a movie star's life than their own community. Then those folks start to call you crazy just because you have a head full of stuff and insist upon sharing it. What do they know, invisible people are more fun anyway.


Click this link to view 6MB QuickTime Version

Click this link to view a 160x120 Dial-Up Windows Media version

One of the goals of the Philosophers-Citizen Institute is to create a climate that encourages citizens to talks about politics, social issues and planetary changes in a non-hostile, rational manner. In this Question and Answer with Matthew I asked him about what he gained from the seminar and what are the benefits for future attendees.

I've actually seen this in action. Years ago on PBS there was a test TV program with NPR's Scott Simon. He had two guest from opposite sides of the abortion issue. Each got to state his case, each had to repeat back what he understood the other person was saying and then offer clarification. Then, as I recall, they spent the remaining time trying to find common ground. No yelling, screaming, distorted or misleading point making. It was three people in a rational discussion on a hard issue. The show was never put into production. Grievous error on PBS's part.

For more information visit http://www.pasadena.edu/phil-cit

Philosopher-Citizen Part 2 - From Both Sides

One of the goals of the workshop is to get people to think beyond their preconceived ideas. The participants are presented with a worksheet that asked them to consider the question “In a nations self defense is it acceptable to harm one person, or a few innocent people, in order to save the lives of many people?”



Click the picture or this link for the QuickTime version

Windows Media Video Version
Each section of the paper has an acceptable or not acceptable side. It is further divided by more questions such as What are the major ethical arguments for and against each side? What information/research might we need to support or dispute these arguments?

By working through this process the participants are able to work their way to an informed opinion based on facts and a better understanding of the other person's point of view. For more information about the Philosophers-Citizen workshops and seminars you can visit http://www.pasadena.edu/phil-cit/

A Time For Thinking - Philosophers-Citizen Institute

Is it possible to live with people that you disagree with? Can you work with them? Is is possible to find common ground with the other if you don't believe “the other” has a right to his/her point of view?

I am always fighting against my base nature but somehow I do know we are not going to get out of this collective mess unless and until we start talking to each other across belief system, politic stances or what we know to be true. And for some of us that ain't much to work with, let alone defend a point of view.



QuickTime Version

Windows Dial-Up Version

Better Quality Windows Media Video

On my path of gathering as much knowledge before I croak, I stopped by Vroman's Bookstore and rushed up to the second floor where Dr. Linda Handelman was conducting a workshop to introduce folks on some of the skills needed for true understanding and communication. After you master those skills then you can dive into a problem to solve it.

In this section, Dr. Linda is talking about how Americans tend to want to act before they think. Considering current events, she may be on to something here. This is first in a series about the Philosophers-Citizen Institute.

Living In This Time - MLK Anti-War Video 1967

There is no question - without the activists, future thinkers, dreamers and courageous people from my historical past I would not be here today. Mother Parks, and Father King and those that walked in the paths they paved for me made me possible.

There was an enforced prohibition on renting to non-whites in the city I currently live in. I certainly wouldn't have the job that I currently have because, other than domestic workers, there were no other minority encourage employment, this was a proud "John Birch" city. Forget about shopping or siting in a park.

But I don't like to see Dr. King reduced to a twice a year icon. He was a multi-dimensional person. He understood that you couldn't ask for justice for your people but for all people. In 1967 he drew heavy criticism for participating in protesting against the Vietnam war. Some folks felt he should stick to domestic affairs, some felt he had stepped too far out, beyond his base. And then there were the "church folk."

But I promised Spirit I'd lay off pointing fingers at the "so-called" faithful and some of their leaders. They don't need my help, some of them are crashing into reality even as I type. But I am really angry at them for they know what they do can't be in alignment with their teachings and keep doing it anyway. Ugh.

I did have a point - oh yeah, over at the beloved Internet Archive there is a portion of a video shot by Universal Newsreel on a protest march to the UN with Dr. King. If he was here now I feel he would have stood against this war and the other non-legal actions that are associated with it. It is a public domain video. Everything old is new again.
http://www.archive.org/details/1967-04-18_Peace_March

Achey - Breaky Heart - My Tale of Woe...

Hey, how goes it. It has been a long time since my last confession, I mean post. It all started with my system acting goofy. I kept ignoring small warning signs. I just wanted to do my thing.

Then Windows XP started acting and cutting up like a fool. I could no longer ignore the problem but meet it head on. My plan was to instal Suse Linux for web surfing and XP for production work. I studied for weeks and got CD copies of the Linux software.

I thought I knew what I was doing.

I didn't.

I wrecked not one but two hard drives. I had backups but there is always something that you forget that you didn't make a copy of. Then the motherboard and CPU started acting dippy and did I mention that I caught a nasty bit of spyware trying to download my anti-virus program. I had to wipe the drive clean a third time.

Let's not talk about the joys of Windows XP product activation in a short span of time.

Lesson 1. - Videobloggers, back up your bookmarks, templates and emails that have the serial numbers to the programs that did not come in a box!

Lesson 2. - If you have not already done so, BUY A MACINTOSH! If this is not financially possible - and I share your pain, save money and when you are able BUY A MACINTOSH!

Lesson 3. - This is not Suse's fault - I did not understand that I should have partitioned the drive first - I was too cheap to buy Partition Magic. I had just bought cables, a new firewire card, a new mobo, cpu so my inner cheapskate was railing.

I shudda done it. I now face the joy of trying to restore the MBR (Master Boot Record) to one of the drives to try to get some of my info back.

Don't ask, I can barely read the manual let alone explain it. I just want to shoot video and post what I find. It should not be this much of a fight. It shouldn't be this hard. Somebody told me I should purchase the Windows Media Center Operating System.

Just $300. No, never, not one more dime to M$, on this I swear. Anyway my system is less than stable(crashing) but I shall return like the Pheonix from ashes to glory.

Stay tuned and keep the faith.

Motorcycle Art Gallery

It is starting to get chilly, even in Los Angeles. But three weeks ago it was a perfect day for a couple of motorcycles and art lovers to have a meeting of the minds. This was part of the Love Ride 2005.



I think I have bike envy. My legs are too short. I don't look like a biker babe. Too much meat in one place and not enough in the other. And I don't look good in leopard prints anyway.

But something about it makes me want to hop in a side car and say "Baby we are born to run..."

In other news, I am fighting the good fight trying to get my camcorder to show up in Windows XP. Let it be known that I have spent 16 hours and $60 of my life force trying to get XP to function as promised. Grrrrrrr!

On the positive side, I am re-directing my anger into cleaning, working on my school project and looking might hard at the Macintosh side of the fence.

Pasadena Slim Gauge Guild

The Pasadena Slim Gauge Guild had an open house a few Sundays back and it seemed like an opportunity to step into the unknown. The Slim Gauge Guild gets together and builds trains and landscapes to go along with the trains. According to the information sheet. There are two types, HOn3 and Sn3.

I don't know what that means but I do know they do good work. Amazing work. The word craftsmanship comes to mind.



Click the photo or this link for the Windows Media Version
Click this link for the QuickTime 7.0 & Video IPod Version
Click this link for the QuickTime 6.0 Version

Part of the job of living a full life is exploring places you don't know about to see things you don't know about and learn more of what you don't know. I grew up around trains and mass transit but I don't know anything about crafting trains, trees, narrow gauge modeling or landscaping. Got to put them on the list. She who dies with the longest list keeled over from exhaustion.

If you would like more info on the Pasadena Slim Gauge Guild check out their web site at http://www.slimgaugeguild.com

Video Blogging Stuff:

I am now faced with producing three or more video formats. Windows Media, QuickTime Video IPod M4V format, Quicktime 6.0 .mov and/or a Dial-up friendly version. They will be coming but not always on the same day. Hang in there - I am looking for a simple time friendly solution.

I am now petitioning the great Goddess of Cinema, please send me a web friendly video format that can be read by every know media device and player that these fool humans have created on the planet. Other than Flash cuz I really can't afford it and don't have time to learn it.

Hey, That's Amore for Soldiers In Iraq

In the Pasadena Weekly there was an article on page 24 about Supporting Our Troops. Normally I take that to mean, "Stop reading, you are the other and you are not invited. But the sub-head caught my eye, "Musicians and volunteers put politics aside to create care packages" for those doing active duty in Iraq. I knew that I wanted to document that kind of cooperation and positive action.

Here's the thing. The event started at 11 a.m. and I was diverted by art and motorcycles so when I arrived at 1 p.m. they were finished. Forty volunteers showed up at Hey, That's Amore coffeehouse and packed boxes like they were on mission.


The owner of the store was still a little amazed at how quickly things happened but they you go. Ask people not political labels to do something and you get a powerful result. But the job is half done. They still gotta ship those boxes overseas. So, if you are so inclined send a buck or two to:

Hey, That's Amore Coffeehouse & Store
27 E. Holly Street
Pasadena, CA 91103-3906

But I got no video. Some days I feel like Maxwell Smart, "Missed it by that much."

A Wee Bit Of Blogger Bother

You may have noticed that some of the images that link to videos are not appearing. Blogger is having major problems with automated blog spammers and low life humans who are infecting blogs with their crap.

In an attempt to stop such activites they are also cutting off my access to the location where I store photos. I have to find a safe place and re-link a bunch of photos. This will take time that I have not got unless I want to forgo sleep.

You really don't want me to do that. I get really cranky. The links still work just the photos are not appearing. Bummer.

Thanks for understanding.

5:43 p.m. update:

I swear - for three days no photos. I make the following post and "poof" they are back. Its enough to make me want to suck on some funny juice. You don't really want me to do that either. Never mind. Have a nice day.

2,007 Soldiers Vigil On Brand and Broadway Vigil - Part 2

I was having trouble trying to find the time to do this. I don't think enough people, even to this day truly understand the mess we as a country have created.

Maybe the moment has passed. The event is over and forgotten except for a few videos on my hard drive. I was feeling time pressured. I have to study, do laundry, work, write, investigate, research new purchases, be a human being in under 24 hours a day.
Who other than the mother that just lost her child or the spouse holding an empty hole in their soul, really cares?

Then I just heard that seven more young people died in Iraq.
I guess I still care. Millions do.



I'm not so tired now. This is the least that I can do to try to remind people that war has a price tag greater than the national debt. This is going to cost us dearly. We haven't a clue as to how much.

Do the best you can, stock up on can goods, build your water supply. Change is coming. Speak out against this dark night of the soul.

This is the link to the QuickTime Dial-up version.

Glendale Vigil - Part 1

This is the first video of one of the vigils held around the nation to honor the 2000+ (there will be more) soldiers who have died in Iraq. I asked this young man to tell me the reason he was at the vigil. Someday I will remember to ask folks names as I record.



I wish the quality was better but my ole putt-putt does not like the dark. This was a compromise brokered via Ulead Studio 9. I am getting close to being able to get a quality camera but in the meantime the adventure continues.

This is the link to the dial-up QuickTime version.

2000+ Soldiers Fallen - MoveOn.org: Vigils

Just want to pass the word that there will be vigils around Los Angeles to remember soldiers who have died, were killed or were put in harms way in Iraq.

If you have the time, grab a candle and light the darkness in support of those that have paid the price.

Some say for freedom, others say for oil.

For more info: http://www.moveon.org

Peace Rapping In MacArthur Park

There came a point in the program for the "children's section." A young man and his sisters approached the stage. The youngest, age two, was a force of nature. Her mother held her in her arms. Soon as she got wind that her siblings were performing without her she fought her way on stage. I'm not kidding, I saw her do it. The kid knew she belonged on stage with the rest of them.



The family did a few songs and then it was time for the young man's solo. I'm sorry I don't remember his real name but he goes by Phantom. He also belongs on stage, it was a second home, his workshop and place of business. Phantom is 17 years old.

He explained to the audience that he did positive raps and understood if some in the audience might not understand what he was saying. Like the jet that bears his name he took off and it wasn't quiet in the park anymore. It was a peaceful rap, just a young man sharing his feelings about his world, his nation and a people needing to move forward.

Peace can be defined in many ways. Sometimes there is a culture clash. Not intentional just happens. What if the one things that soothes your soul makes another person disjointed?

True loving beings work it out. The rest of us do what we can. Some folks left. People from the other side of the park took their place. Just another day in Los Angeles.

Peace Singing In MacArthur Park

The park was cleaner than I expected.
The water smelled of chlorine but compared to what it use to smell like it was an improvement. I wasn't able to get to the park until the afternoon. A lunch was to be eaten in silence. I've never seen so many people in the park.

As near as I can figure out, in order to have peace in the world you must first be at peace with yourself. Sounds good. In order to find the peace within yourself you must stop fighting and harming yourself with endless mind chatter. No argument there, I intellectually understand.



In practice, I got a long way to go before I achieve any form of inner peace without the aid of (legal) pharmaceuticals. I have my moments but I need the special ed version of meditation education.

Not from lack of effort either. You'd think of years of listening to tapes from Dharmaseed, Sounds True and that excellent tape series called Shambala Warrior something would have taken root. Yeah, I'm going to be recycled back here again for sure.

After lunch there was a performance by young folks who I assume belong to the faith or are connected with the organization that planned the event. It was a transition from the quiet of lunch. It was a lovely song, here is a sample of it.

Looking For Peace In MacArthur Park

A few weeks there was an ad in the L.A. Weekly about Thich Nath Hanh having a
walking protest in MacArthur Park. It was to be a silent walking meditation for peace. No protest signs, no verbalization just a walking exploration of quiet and humans attempting to manifest a huge amount of peace.



The park is located in the Mid-Wilshire district, just outside of downtown. That song, MacArthur Park was about this section of town. This is the same MacArthur Park that was a haven for hippies for what the calendar say it was a century ago.

20 years ago it was a haven for prostitutes, all types of addicts, bad, bad and extremely wicked people and a resting place for poor souls who had no where else to go.

It had such a reputation people didn't go near it in the daytime. Not through it, near it or around it. It smelled awful. If you could go someplace else, you wouldn't be caught dead in MacArthur Park. Folks were found dead; the former occupants of the park had a tendency to kill people.

So having a peace walk in such a place got my attention. I also knew that because of the Red Line train and the hots for land and lofts (not to mention the added police patrols) many of the former citizens of the park had been forced or strongly encouraged to move on to higher or lower ground.

It is not the same place. This is the view of the current surroundings. I got there in time for the silent lunch.

Ebb and Flow - Inner Peace Outer Action

I'm not a twinkle in any body's eyes at the moment. But there is a quality about some people that is sweet and wonderful. Most of us have learned to hide that quality because contemporary life will do its best to stomp out of you. You have to fight to get it back. Some never do.

If you are lucky or stay connected to your source this doesn't happen.

I got reminded of a part of me that I now keep hidden. Check out a new vloggers video at
http://www.ebbandflow.tv/blog/index.php/2005/10/16/ebb-and-flow-episode-01/

Remind yourself of who you use to be.

Art Walk #2 - Name That Band

The past week has been one that I am happy to say is in the past. Whew! I have a mid-term coming up that I am 3/4's prepared. I have a day job that I am glad to have but I need to convince myself that I should *want* to go instead of having to go. If I had a choice, I wouldn't go.



I guess that is why I tear into the weekends and bounce around town. I need to know that there is the other life. So I am working my way through the Art Walk videos. There will be more after I regain my sanity from the fear of flunking out of a class that I really enjoy.

I'm not in any real danger. The fear of getting a "C" is enough to get me to read the entire text book just to be safe.

The event started at 12 noon but I'm not sure when I arrived. This band is either "Also" or "The Glowbars". So if you know who this is give a shout out.
This is the QuickTime Dial-Up Version.

Go Downtown - OBD Art Walk #1

Any fool who says Los Angeles has no art or culture is probably sitting in New York working on his/her third cancer stick in a deep smoke filled dive.

There is no lack. I have discovered there may be too much stuff going on, more than the average person without a car can handle on a weekend. Man, my dogs (feet) are barking.

The premise of the Old Bank District Art Walk is to get folks to take a new look at Downtown Los Angeles, to discover the hidden gems that this city has to offer and maybe even sell a loft or two.



I've got a better reason. One of them is the people. I walked into Ryan's loft and it was filled with people, music and a dual projection on the wall of a man dancing in the street. Ryan has books, actual LP's and not bad guacamole. As I remember, he is an editor (film/video) and he really likes where he lives. Ryan likes the sense of community that he finds in the area.

Seems like a nice guy. He appears at the end of the video. Not only is he a nice guy but he had a DJ that uses albums, real vinyl. God bless her. And somehow she had a pink album and pink nail polish.

Too cool.

This is the link to the 160x120 Dial-up friendly QuickTime version.

YAAMC #2 - It Takes A Village

There is a role for parents and the community to guide young folk into adulthood. Observing the parents with their children, I learned that repetition is still important. Junebug may be six feet and eight inches tall but you still have to reminded him to say please and thank you.



I learned that parents might have to escort young Ray-Ray to this kind of event because parents can see further down the road than the beloved son can – he wants to be on the basketball court. Parents are trying their best to keep young men out of Superior court.

I know that this society spends a lot of time demonizing young black males. It is profitable to do so. It is a cash money business. But not every teenage male is going to be a rapper, ball player, or gangster. Some will be doctors, teachers, mechanics, and programmers. How visible are these folks on your television screen?

Despite the messages spewing from advertisers and pop culture, young teens cannot raise themselves. Let me rephrase that, they should not be forced to try to raise themselves. Some have no choice; they don’t have the kind of parents and resources that the need.

The good news is that there are thousands of people who are fighting to make a difference. So here is a just a snapshot of some of the folks who, after a long work week, made sure there was a counter balance to the negative messages poured into our young folks heads.

This is the link to the 160x120 Quicktime version.

Young African American Conference - Part 1

I wasn't sure if I should be attending. I'm not a guy nor a young person. But I kept getting the feeling I should show up and take a few snaps, at the very least. So I took old faithful down to Pasadena City College early on a Saturday morning not sure of what I was going to find.

I stepped up to the table and the gentleman in the photo above, asked me if I was from the press. "No, not exactly. I would like to record the event and place it in my blog." I could tell he didn't quite know what a blog was but he pointed out to me some of the highlights of the day.



There would be workshops in leadership, self-esteem, how to decode the messages in music videos, how to get into college. There would be workshops for parents on the nature of gang and how to keep young men safe and alive.

There was one other person taking photos. But there was no one from NBC, ABC, CNN and dang skippy not a soul from Fox News. They wouldn't have believed what they would have seen anyway, parents with their children, young men who were interested in college information, a community collectively raising their young men.

This is in the morning at registration/breakfast.

This is the link to the 160x120 QuickTime version.

Just Another Day - Smoking In Burbank

I knew about the fires in Los Angeles but around this time of year we always have fires. It is like birth and taxes, expected.

I live in the city so it doesn't worry me like a good quake does.

Quakes don't worry me. They scare the hell out of me. And although I would prefer a quake to a tornado or hurricane if I could select "None of the above" I would. This isn't great video but I wanted to show how big this thing looked in relation to everything else.

How quickly fear can set in from a glance. So fires were semi-real to me. Except when there is a potential fire coming across the hill. Click the above photo for the Windows Media version.

This is link to the QuickTime Dial-up version

This was at Pacific noon time. I had just come back from lunch and folks were a little agitated. I go take a look and thoughts of the past five weeks come rolling back. The firefighters are excellent here, so is the Conservation Corps, the Job Corps, there is a city to city mutual help agreement so the Los Angeles area can take care of 99.9% of fire season.

But I thought, what if the state has to call FEMA? And I am not talking about ground level FEMA workers. There are our neighbors. They know who we are and we know where they live.

I mean those chuckle heads in D.C. What if Dubya comes to town in a PR look see? Trust me, they have to sneak him in and out of Los Angeles. They do this even in non-emergency times. Maybe they will bus up some Orange county supporters or invite the entire L.A. staff from Fox News.

I was worried. But it is okay. For now.

Take Me To Another Place - Creative Anger

It is a week later. I am still angry.

But the good thing is that other people are angry too. This includes people who sometimes don’t have anything in common. Here is what is linking us in anger.
Human decency.

Some of those people are channeling their anger into creative action. This is very important. To know that folks are attempting to deal dealing with this madness through their art or craft is helping me to cope. So, let me share what I have found so far.

The Legendary KO has lit some flames by using Kanye West’s rally cry “George Bush Doesn't Like Black People.” It is a powerful rap track. I tried to download the raw version but folks must be maxing out the servers so click the link to download the radio safe version. It is a legal mp3 so go get it - http://www.k-otix.com

Afrika Bambaataa has some observations on the purging of the true history of hip hop and rap and his thoughts on Katrina-cide. This is a huge mp3 interview so you will need to have broadband to download and hear it. http://odeo.com/audio/229590/view

Zadi Diaz did a video collage of the news reports and matched it to a tune by Green Day. She had an article written up in the New York Times (which is where I found the link to The Legendary KO) To read the article and bypass that registration nag click the Tiny URL link - http://tinyurl.com/c2ufr To see the video visit Zadi’s blog at
http://smashface.com/vlog/2005/09/wake-me-up-when-september-ends.html

Color of Change is asking for a commitment from 250,000 Americans to make sure what happened in the gulf states to poor people never happens again. They are at this point asking folks to sign a digital declaration - http://www.colorofchange.org

The Vanguard Foundation has put up $200,000 for the Peoples Hurricane Relief Fund. On the day that I visited the site there was an excerpt from speeches from Danny Glover and Harry Belafonte. You can read more about it at http://www.vanguardsf.org

Pave Paradise - Essay #3

Sunday. I'’m running around doing the necessities. I don'’t want to do anything. It hits me. I need another dose of dirt and sky. Plus, I know that there is an informal drumming circle on Sundays. I bag my duties and go back to the cornfield.

I get there and I can hear the music from the gate. Sounds all right to me so I make my way. When I get there, there were some a-percussional, hmmm, how can I say this?, rhythmically challenged beats being dispensed. It was primal then organized but then zoomed into the uncharted territory.

People were birthing free form music from non-professionals. There were men, women, and a kid from a cross section of Los Angeles. People were weaving in and out and pulling their own positive energies.



QuickTime Dial-up Version

Well as it happened, there was a person who was not happy. He said, That's it! This is too much! You'’re not listening to each other, you are loud, uncontrolled?

One guy asked, "“What did we do wrong?"” and tried to plead with him to stay.

He took his stuff and went home. Folks said, "Oh well" and continued to make music.

I stayed for a little while longer but I was mad again. Why can'’t humans accept things and people for what they are? We are not perfect. In this situation, we did not have to be.

Why couldn't he see the beauty of people who came together from all ethnic and racial groups to make music? I walked between the cornrows again. At a junction, this is what I saw:



QuickTime Dial-Up Version

Yep. A perfect metaphor for what humans beings do to nature. We love nature, then we pave it, then foul it up, and keep it at a distance.

We have got to get back to the garden. Not totally back. I'’m not a Luddite. But we could cure a lot of ills if we could remember that we are a part of the earth and not the rulers of it.

Don't Know What You've Got-Cornfield #2

The sky is a joy of blue and white. I am walking through cornfields. The corn stalks are a foot taller than I am, planted thick so all you can see is green, yellow, sky, and earth.

I find the circle area in the meeting place. I sit and feel warm air wash over me. I look up, more sky. I look to the left; the Gold Line train is passing by. I look right I see industrial Los Angeles. Behind me is Chinatown.



QuickTime Dial-Up Version

Los Angeles is a source of constant contradictions. A few folks come by with cameras in their hands. One guy snaps one photo, looks hard at the land. I can see it in his eyes, “How much can I shoot of a cornfield?” But he keeps shooting and walks deeper and deeper into it.

I am alone with the elements. I like it. A lot. I start to heal a little bit. I have been too long from real land. Most of us have been separated from the healing powers of the earth. This is a quiet reminder of what we are missing. There are choices. We need to make better ones.

The Billows Are Tossing High - Prolog

This is a beginning of a text/video essay. I don’t really know how it will start or end but I have to follow this out. This will take a few days. This is new ground for me.

Sanctuary is a place of rest and safety. It is a permissible hiding place where you can lick your wounds and mend your soul.



After the past couple of weeks, I needed to find sanctuary. Because, quite honestly, I don’t know what to do with my anger, my rage about what is going on in the Alabama, Mississippi, and New Orleans areas of the country.

I know that the most Americans, even some of the ones that say they can’t abide liberals, are, at their core, good people. Honorable people. But something dreadful has happened to all of us. The American us. It is still happening. I can see it but others are rushing to put the scales back on their eyes.

The people who held guns at the crossing so as not to allow black folks to cross the bridge into their towns were evil. Pure ancient racists evil. I know it when I see it and hear it and no amount of justification is going to cause me to forget what was done.

The lack of preparation, the lack of communication, the plays for power and control and the hatred and continuous victimization of people in the least control of their situation. And the spin doctors working triple time to convince us what did and did not happen before our eyes.

The current American government did nothing. They let people die – of all colors, men women, children. It didn’t matter if they were conservative or liberal. There was no recognition of this event being a federal, national or humanitarian problem.

Not all of the victims are innocent. Perpetrators attacked other victims. Where did you think they placed ex-offenders in New Orleans? They dumped criminals in with the poor and the poorest of the poor. I’m not surprised assaults and looting of non-food/medical items happened. It was pre-ordained by current policies in effect across the nation. Not in my back yard, remember?

What am I to do with this? As an African-American, Black, Negro, Colored (I am old enough to have been labeled with all of the above descriptions) how do I keep rage, hate and distrust from dissolving me into my base nature?

I trust in Spirit but humans make me queasy.

I was riding the train and I saw the Cornfields. “Sanctuary," I thought.
Green stuff, dirt and air. I need real dirt. I need to sit in the sun. I need to reconnect with solid ground.

This is a bit of video taken Sunday September 18 at the Cornfields. Be warned. Sanctuary is elusive. It can be deceptive. Or it can be what it is. But for now it is a beautiful Sunday afternoon. The sky is blue. The cornstalks are high. The sun is warm. The beat goes on.

This is the link to the 160x120 QuickTime Version

The-Hold: poetry, prose, art, multimedia

It is funny. A week ago, Zadi Diaz and I had a brief discussion about making contact with poets or trying to find them to share videoblogging skillls with poets.

And by poets I mean anyone who choses to present themselves as poets; text, written word, audio, visual, the whole range of the craft.

I know some of them would be interested. It is on my to do list to seek them out.

http://the-hold.blogspot.com is a blog portal that is hosting some of the new found work in blogs and web sites. These are poets using audio blogging, podcasting, video blogging, vloging, videocasting and all the other words that discribe personal media production.

Make so and go with the flow.

My Heart Went Boom, Boom, Boom-Cell Memory

This work is the result of my inability to record one of my mammograms. I got the run around no, no, no.

"It isn't done."

Why not I asked?

"You don't have permission"

I then asked for permission.

"The machine is copyrighted, no one can take a photo of it."



I didn't want to take a photo of the machine, I want to show my friends what it is like to have your breast pressed between two plates and made to look like a pancake. It wasn't even about the recording so much as my need to have some control over the situation. I needed something positive.

"Liability Issues"

I know when to yield in the face of administrative wall. There were other women waiting and this is one place you don't want to linger.

Don't medical people understand about transmutation of purpose? Short answer, no.

I did the next best thing. When the technician was out of the room I took a photo of my x-ray. Later, I ran it through Photoshop. I discovered that either the universe is made of women or women contain the blueprint of space.

We have connections, the universe and I. This is me on the cellular level.

I Love L.A. - The Apple Store Meet The Vloggers

We did it! Five people who never met before planned the first Los Angeles Meet The Vlogges at The Apple Store, The Grove, Fairfax Village, Los Angeles, CA, Earth.

Wow. We had a good turn out.



This is a brief impression of the area and three of the presenters. They are in order Zadi, Aaron and Joshua. I was so worried I forgot to turn the camera on for Markus.

If you get the chance, stop on by and say hello to any vlogger doing a presentation. I will try to do a better job of keeping folks in the loop. We are going to do it again.

We have to.

We forgot to take the group photo of the participants. Can you believe it? We all had cameras and camcorders. Next up is Santa Monica and Irvine.

In-House Cleaning

For the time being I am testing out the new "Comment Spam" feature provided at Blogger. I must be doing better than expected because I'm getting more invitations to increase my masculine dimensions. I don't have any. I am a female person.

Yet on a daily basis I get comment spam that starts of "Dude, I love your site. Want to keep your lady happy?" Where is my aluminum foil hat when I need it the most?

We'll see how it goes. Sorry for the added step.

Sunday, Sunday - Ray Bradbury

On Sunday August 28th, I banged my ankle. It is not pleased and I refuse to give up. I head out. I negotiate with my higher nature. A compromise is struck with the Techno Muse and the Muse of Health. I can go to the Mystery and Imagination Bookstore that is hosting author Ray Bradbury.

The store was honoring Mr. Bradbury on his birthday. If I can do that then I could go to Sunset Junction. I wanted another opportunity to shoot pictures of half naked men. That involved a lot more walking so this will be a fair test if I can do it.



Intellect vs. Lust?
Upper Chakras vs. Lower Chakras?

I hobble on over. The place is packed. This is not saying a lot because it is a small bookstore. A wonderful independent but small bookstore. There are people oozing out the door. My impression was that Mr. Bradbury was going to talk about anything he wanted.

Well he was there. There was a huge cake. And he was signing books. He seemed nice enough. Someone from the crowd asked a clerk if was going to talk and the guy behind the desk said unlikely. “He would sign as many books as he could and then stop.”

Yep. This is how it goes. You intend to do something with full will and passion and then the environmentals of your life force you to stop. This does not make for great video. But it is a moment in time. In the meantime, for more information about his writing, his contribution to literature and other matters visit:

The official web site is http://www.raybradbury.com you can find out more information about him, his wife Margaurite and his body of work.

Science Fiction Weekly has an interview with Ray that shows how active you can be at 81 years of age - http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue255/interview.html

Wired For Books has an audio interview with Ray, it is in Real Player format - http://wiredforbooks.org/raybradbury

And no, I didn’t make it to Sunset Junction either.

Quicktime 160x120 Dial-up version

Fired Up - Quicktime Version of CNN Protest

I am experimenting with a new video editing software. This is the same CNN protest video as before but in Quicktime format for those that are on dial-up.

Fired Up - CNN Protest of August, 2005

The calendar listing in the L.A. Weekly read as follows:

"As a mouthpiece for the Bush Administration, CNN has a lot to answer for over its coverage of the Iraq War. You can send a message to the pro-war news media and to demand the repeal of the PATRIOT Act, a call for no draft and a halt to the war."

That is a lot of issues for one protest. I also know that the number of people participating has dropped of considerably. But even if it was only one person on that corner shaking a fist at the CNN building, I had to check it out. My destination? Sunset and Vine Streets.

This is a Windows Media Video of the CNN Protest:


Even in Hollywood there are neighborhoods and families. Businesses. There are real people behind the tinsel. When you live in Los Angeles you often have to practice creative disassociation. There is a tourist part of Hollywood. There is a growing presence of the Latino/a population. Upscale renovations that occupy the same space as the prostitutes and chicken hawks.

Let's Pretend is face to face with Let's Be Real. Sensory overload. Anyway, this is my take on the protest. To my knowledge, I was the only other person recording the event with the exception of a reporter and cameraman from Telemundo. I don't know if I should count the security guy shooting photos from high above.

Soups On Fire - Vigil Part Two

I leap out of the car with a bag full of candles. I am in a place I have never been with people I don’t know. Somebody welcomes me and I say, "I have candles."
I’m in like Flint.

It is still early but there is a good size crowd both Hill and Orange Grove. The car horns are honking in the positive. People are smiling. This is my first daylight candle vigil. This is California.


I’m taking pictures and squeezing off a couple of videos. I notice something. There doesn’t seem to be any 18 to 25 year old folks. Most of these people are over thirty years of age. Some are double that.

Where are the young folks? Is it not real to people that are under 25 years of age? Is it because there is no active draft so it does not concern them? In between the honking of the car horns of approval, I have questions. The potential answers sadden me.

The music in this video, New Age, is composed and performed by Peter John Ross. His website is http://www.sonnyboo.com

Soup’s On Fire – Vigil Part One

On a beautiful clear afternoon, the signs were raised and the car horns commenced to honk. This is the first wave of my documenting a small portion of the candlelight vigils that were held around the nation in support of Cindy Sheehan.


The Hill and Orange Grove Street vigil decided to start at 5:30 p.m. Participants wanted to stay in their own neighborhood and get the attention of folks coming home from work.




There was a candlelight ceremony at 7:30 p.m. but I had to leave early to get to another event. Which is another story for another time. In the meantime, click the picture to see the movie. It is in quicktime .mov format.

Soup’s On Fire – Vigil Part One-Photo Extra

Sometimes you have to yield to the forces. Abandon perfection and show 'em what you have. While I work out the kinks, here is another photo from the event.

Cindy Sheehan Candlelight Vigils Accross America

On Wednesday August 17, 2005 there will be candlelight vigils in support of Cindy Sheehan. Most of the vigils will take place around 7:30 p.m. local time. There are exceptions.

If you don't like what she is doing stop reading.

If you support or understand that she is risking everything for a chance to speak to the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue then the least you can do is be a witness. If you have a film camera, digital camera, Hi-8 camcorder or digicamcorder you have got to be there. Hell if you got a box of Crayola show up. Even cell phone cameras (I can't believe I said that!) are welcomed.

Bring a candle too.

Cuz mainstream media will say that no one supports this woman but those on the fringe. Come out Wednesday night and see that the fringe is just regular folk.

I support this woman because she is on a mission not of her making. This is one of those life paths that you are forced to travel. She has no choice. She is on her journey and it is a rough one.

Just check Move On.org to see if you have a vigil in your area. Put down the remote and stand for something for a little while. Whatever your beliefs.

MoveOn.org Political Action

This Land Is - Not A Cornfield

Los Angeles is a place that permits transformation. You can transform you body, your outlook on life, or your income status.

The physical land is also in a constant state of transformation. The “Cornfields” is a 32-acres section of land north of Chinatown of downtown Los Angeles. It used to be a huge patch of brown filler with junk and industrial waste sitting on top of it.



For the summer of 2005 the land is being transformed. However just to confuse folks, corn, beans and other food stuff are being planted in recognition of the ancestors. According to the brochure, it will be a living sculpture and an artistic resource center.



This is an art project created by Lauren Bon. After the corn is harvested, the land will transform again into a recreation park. In the meantime, there will be art events such as dancing, drumming, spoken work performances, and an opportunity to walk in true dirt.

When I visited the site the agricultural level dirt was in place and the irrigation system had been set up. A few weeks later there is a carpet of green stuff. For more information on the project, visit http://www.notacornfield.info

Fish Story - Daniel Kim

We all have stories.

We are filled with stories. If you survive childhood you have a million of them, most of which you have forgotten or want to forget. That's too bad because there is gold in those memories.



I was at the bus stop when Daniel was telling a story about his mom. I whip out old faithful and just catch him as he is sharing another story about him, his mom and a fish. The bus came too soon cuz he had a few more gems waiting to be shared.

The sound is a little fuzzy but you'll get the jist of it. Enjoy.

Everywhere A Sign – This Is Not A Good Sign

It was the end of my workday. I was looking for my bus stop. For the past three months, it isn't always in the same place. I like to think of it as involuntary exercise for all transit riders.

So, I'm walking four blocks away from my usual stop trying to avoid falling in a pit. I look up and see this sign:



1. Do they really want to eliminate all possible alternative fuel sources?

2. Perhaps this is an acknowledgement of a reduction on choices for competing companies?

3. This will insure higher prices and limited supply options?

4. This is an announcement of a merger between Arco and British Petroleum?

5. All of the above?

Is it really saying that? Oh my. I read it twice. There is song lyric that comes to mind. "Got me jerking back and forth." And not in a good way.

More Than Words - The Nelson Brothers

When a local city tries to have a community event it usually doesn't work out quite like they planned. The first thing is that they general forget to advertise that they are having an event.

The second thing about the show is that when the city hires the headline act that is supposes to show up, something bad happened to the star.

One year it was Ray Davies of the Kinks then he caught a bad case of the flu and Dick Dale had to take over. Same things happened this year. Dave Matthews (8-25-05 correction, it was actually Dave Mason) was the performer. He had a really bad back and had to cancel. The Nelson Brothers picked up the slack.

As usual, I stumbling into the crowed and notice a bunch of 25 to 35 year old women acting like teenyboppers. I look up and see two blond dudes in their early thirties. Then it hits me who they are. These Nelsons are the sons of Rick Nelson and the grandsons of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson.

Matthew and Gunner Nelson were on stage and that is why I was witnessing thirty-year-old women attempting to sling their hips.

I was pleasantly surprised. One cuz they can actually sing. I thought they were an MTV vanity creation. I was wrong. They were on that stages for almost two hours and there was no tape malfunction. It was their honest voices.

Two – they did a nice mix of their father's songs, their own stuff and guitar heavy pieces. They also had good sidemen to round out the band. Grandpa Nelson would be beaming – they really put on a good show on very short notice.

For more information on the Nelson Brothers, visit their official web site - http://www.thenelsonbrothers.com

Disclaimer: These lads made that record that I hate to the core of my being. The one where they sing in harmony about how the girl should prove her love with "more than words". On my list of musical toxins, it is right up there with Bungle In the Jungle and A Lovers Concerto.

Auditory poison. Then again, it could be just me. Naw, that song sucks. But musically they do not. If you see them on the road give them a fair shake.

April 5, 2008 Update - I owe the lads a humble apology. They didn't record that pile of steaming hormonally driven yukky-ness know as More Than Words. I am definitely in the minority vote in this case cuz 4 million plus people have viewed and love this song.

I wish I could have made amends sooner to the Nelsons but I had to wait for YouTube to be invented first. Dudes look right nice, love the black and white look of the video but that is as positive as I'm gonna get about that pressure filled emotional wedge to try and get a girl to spread 'em to show her love. Oh god, I feel a barf session rising from below. Gotta go.

More Than Words – Cars

Ah, yes. Once upon a time, the city that I live in had an antique car show. I had my doubts about going. See, when this city puts on events you never know if it going to be successful. They might get the event right but forget to let people know that there is an event. Or advertise the event and don't have anything anybody wants to see.


I decided to give them another chance. This year they had a good cross section of cars including the Batmobile from the 1960s television show. It was hard to get a shot of it; people were going crazy trying to get a good cell phone picture.

I had to look inside and see the dashboard. Yep, batphone, bat shoot, after-burner, anti-theft device all present and accounted for.



I'm not a car lover or hater so I see them more as pieces of a whole. That is how I shot the video.

Scooby-Doobie Doo - That Podcast Song

I told you.
I knew it.
This stuff is for real.

It is the only way. No matter what the RIAA does, no matter what kind of payola the recording companies dish out to corporate radio stations, no matter what slime they serve up on network tv there is a way for us to take back our music, compositions and videos.

Listen or download a legal free version of the song then pass it around. Let the song be heard around the world. Visit the site and read the lyrics.

thatpodcastsong: SONG: On A Podcast

Top Cat(s) – How Not To Ride A Cable Car

The ideal vacation is one where you don't have to sweat bullets over where you are staying. I have a friend in SF who was extremely gracious in putting up with me for almost 2 days. Plus we hooked up with another friend from high school and his family.


It was excellent. And in some respects, it was like a living nature study into the world of the men folk. The places we dined were meat intensive. Really good food but served on huge plates with starches and an occasional veggie or two.

Observation 1. Men really need women in their lives.

Cuz another dude isn't going to ask questions like "are you really gonna eat a double fudge sundae after scarfing that huge chunk of cow and taters?"

I didn't say those words but I thought them. And yeah, they did. Come to think of it, there was a lot of chocolate syrup poured on that sundae. This might be ice cream envy on my part.

Observation 2. Men folk are fixated on doing and achieving stuff.

The guys were fixed on making sure LJ, a neat kid, got to ride the cable cars. I wasn't all that keen to hang on to a moving vehicle going up a hill.

But when in Rome, do as.

LJ was just happy to be with dad and other people that were paying attention to him. But the guys wanted LJ to ride the cable car. Car one passes us by. Cars two, three and four pass by.

We then discover that although we are standing by the sign the actual boarding location is in the street. We relocate to the corner and one of the guys takes the point. Cars five and six pass us by. They were stuffed with tourists.


The guys are still set on getting LJ on the cable car. LJ is getting restless and after 25 minutes, my toe bones are not happy. Cars seven, eight and nine chug up the hill. The guys finally yield and we head back to the rental car. We aim for Pier 39.

In the automobile, I saw a beautiful view of the ocean and the steep hills of San Francisco. I would not have seen this sitting inside the cable car or hanging off the sides of the cable car for dear life. "This is great!" I yelp. The guys are still disappointed. I ask myself wasn't the point to see this?

Observation 3. The answer is no. The point was to put LJ on the cable car.

What about sharing time with an engaging six year old? Having the time to joke and kid around? Being present in the here and now?

Nope, it was about the kid riding the cable car.

Observation 4. I really appreciate men but I like being part of the women folk.

Only A Nobody Walks In L.A. - Ride Metro

The good thing about taking a vacation is that you gain perspective. You notice things.

San Francisco: drivers actually come to a stop when a pedestrian is trying to cross the street.

Los Angeles: if you are lucky you get a "rolling stop", or you can eyeball the driver to get his attention to slow down. Or take your chances if you have insurance. Basically, if you reach the corner before the driver keep one eye on the light, one on the lane and the third eye on the rest of the street. Pause for 1 second for the chuckle head who has to make the light. Move at a high rate of speed across the street.

San Francisco: I never waited more than 10 minutes to go from one place to another. They have busses, trackless trolley lines, real trolley cars, BART and Cal-Train. Folks in SF are spoiled. Yeah, yeah some folks have to commute long distances because they can't afford to live in the city. But once in the city they can motate just dandy. And you have a fair shot of getting home. The last commuter train is midnight. I recognize that they have a smaller area to deal with than Los Angeles but to hope perchance to dream this system will migrate down south.

Los Angeles: We have a framework in progress. If you have to be someplace show up a half-hour ahead of time to factor in jam up and slow downs. Make eye contact with the driver so there is a chance that he/she will open the doors. I'm not saying the system sucks. It is a lot better than it use to be - the Rapid busses help a great deal. But it ain't SF Muni. This is car country.

So this is my tip of the hat to SF and SF Muni - This ride by car would have taken maybe a half hour. It took about 1.75 hours and that isn't including the time it took for me to get into San Gabriel Valley in the first place.

I know. Get a car.

Sitting On Top of The World - Blogher At Last

Can't believe it.

I'm here. From Los Angeles to San Francisco to Santa Clara.

I had my doubts but the Angels were flapping double time. I am somewhat awake and ready to start some serious mouth flapping.

A tech conference with no booth bunnies. I never thought I live to see the day.

It will be a full day. I would like to know how I am going to get home but hey, one thing at a time.

Season of Us - Music At the Farmer's Market

Sometimes you need to get back to what is real. Food use to be real. It had a smell, a taste and an expiration date.

I like going over to the Farmer's Market when I get a chance during my work week. Sometimes they have performers. Bill and Stephanie make their living playing music.



This is just a little snip that I put together. Music does have a healing power. We all need to rev down at least once a day. Bill and Stephanie have music CDs that can help you do just that, very relaxing.

If this sample of their music has caught your interest you can learn more about them at their website http://www.seasonofus.com

Here We Are - Nina Paley's Sita Sings The Blues

It has been a long time since I had a flash animation movie I felt worthy of recommendation. Here is one with a twist or two. Take an ancient Indian story and animated it. Then use the music of Annette Hanshaw to tell the tale in what seems to me to be in "Bollywood" fashion.

Got my attention for sure. Read the FAQ's. There is more to the site than the movie. Nina Paley has got a tale to tell. Love found, lost and re-invention. A'int it always the way.

The animation takes about an hour on dial-up but worth it. The proper entrance is http://www.ninapaley.com

I've Got It - Art and Blues Part 4

Yes indeed the waiting is the hardest part. Please support independent artists and performers especially jazz, blues, alternative, traditional, folk, punk-rasta....

Oh heck, I'll make it easy on ya. If they don't appear on MTV, BET or CMT give as much love and money (buying a CD or mp3 will do) as you can.

More, More - Absolut Chalk Part 3

As the sun made way for the moon the artist finished up for the day as the band starts to set up.

In part 4 you'll get to hear Ricky P. and Blue Monsoon stir up a little dust. I have finished part 4. I've uploaded the video. The video does not want to play.

(Sigh.) This video blogging thing is gonna increase my hair dye budget by a power of 5.

More - Absolut Chalk Part 2

This is more of a slide show with a close look at some of the artwork from the event

Art is important to me because you need to have something other than your job for stimulation, even if it is just that another living soul is doing creative work.

It is inspirational to us working drones. Even the ones that don't know it.

Cha Cha Changes - Evolution Of Stoop

For the new folks dive in and welcome. Pardon the remodeling in progress. Long time readers of Stoop might notice a few changes.

I am including videos in the blog. I haven’t decided if I should set up a separate blog for videos (please no, not another thing to manage) or ditch the text (are you crazy?) I think, with more time, I can make this work. I can blend the two into a cohesive whole.

That time thing is a body wrecker. I have a job and attend evening classes. I still see clients every once in a while. I got to find things to record unless you want to see my surgical scars. Yeah, I though not.

Then there is the problem of acquiring sleep. And do laundry. And taking care of the home and hearth. Plus a girl has got to get her daily dose of information. I’m running a quart low as it is – need new stuff.

Maybe cuz of the events in London remind me about how temporary life really is. I want to try and pack it in just in case this is my last day. Did I do all I said I would? Did I keep my word to others and myself? Did I laugh? Have I created something of value to pass on to another person?

Have I had un-pure thoughts, and if so did I enjoy them? The answers are:

• Yes.
• No.
• Maybe.
  
• I’m working on it.

I'm Looking For Peace - Eyes Wide Open

Some days you do the best you can. You get up, go to work, deal with friends and family. Some days you would just like to vanish. It can get to be much more than any of us bargained.

There is pain. But it can't mean anything compared to the loss of a loved one due to war. So for the day after the Fourth of July let us try to remember that some of our babies will never come home. Course, I didn't think any of them should have had to go in the first place.

This is an traveling installation that I attended in March, 2005 at Memorial Park.

It is a display of boots that represent the war dead in Iraq and the civilians who have also died in the conflict. The movie is in QuickTime format and at 9MB it may be too much for dial-up folks.

The Cats Are Crazy – Keep Your Humanity

It has been a long time since any political or war based items have appeared in Stoop.

Maybe I just gave up. Or I got busy with other life bubbling up close to home. Maybe I thanked Spirit enough that my cousin is back in America so I didn't have to worry about attending a funeral.

Those of us who believe this war was wrong from the get-go are called anti-American, liberals commies and a bunch of other names. When we pointed out that there was no evidence of WMD, that war crimes are being committed in America's name and now certain U.S. crimes (such as breaking and entering) are now being classified as "domestic terrorist attacks,"
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4707465, we are accused of being nit picky or that what we see does not exist. In the long term, the benefits will justify the errors of the day.

Fine. Okay. There is another voice to be heard in this matter. A former Army soldier who served in Vietnam and is trying to educate the walking war wounded from Iraq. There is a powerful letter from Stan Goff, retired, US Army. No matter if you believe the war is just or a huge mistake, read this letter and then consider your position –
http://www.mfso.org/HoldOn.html

This letter is located at Military Families Speak Out, an organization of military families that oppose the war. The main site is http://www.mfso.org

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah - Chalk on The Walk Part 1

For some reason I can't link this photo to the video so click the link below.

Viva la video!

It was a good night in Pasadena. Creativity was flowing all over the joint.

Just wanted to share a taste of Absolut Chalk and the folks that gave their time and talent. There will be more. I got stuff on top of stuff. The video is in Windows Media Video format.

I Fought The Law & The Law Won – Bait Car & Chicago Crime

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Bait Car - A car is a parked where car thieves are known to strike. When a thief steals a car or attempts to steal a stereo the video cameras record what happens in the car. Most are young men with way too much time on their hands.

The car is outfitted with cameras, tracking systems and remote control options. When the bad people are caught (we are talking Mounties) they have the dubious honor of being convicted and
having the foul deed posted on the RCMP web site.

One dude was stone cold bonkers. Come to think of it, he might have been an U.S. nut job that slipped pass immigration. He was driving at 144-kmh (90 miles an hour) and yelling "Incoming" at the top of his voice. In any event, don't nick a car in Canada, eh. - http://baitcar.com/videos

Should you plan on visiting the Chicago area you might want to visit Chicago Crime to find the hot spots in town. I don't mean food or dancing. I mean crime. It is a visual map of active crime areas with the description of the crime, date, and time.

Combine Google maps with Chicago police department reports of crime in the area and you have a clear visual representation of who is boosting cars, performing acts of a carnal nature, and distributing non-legal pharmaceuticals. From what I could see the day I visited, you might want to keep clear of the waterfront area. Tsk, tsk. http://www.chicagocrime.org/

Memorial Day Reflections For 4th of July

With the fouth of July coming up I thought I'd toss in a poem about Memorial Day. The local town had an event and I took my Panasonic Lumix Digital Camera out for a walk.

For all the people who say they are patriotic but slept in that day. Be ye right or be ye left.

This is my first poetry photo movie - or as I like to think of it PNN, the Poetry News Network.

Creation Notes: Music "Loss" by Kevin MacLeod - http://www.incompetech.com Digital still images animated by Windows Photo Story.

Stoop Video Debut - Lunch Dibs

You know how you have this camera in your purse and your walking around and all of the sudden there is a photo video opportunity. Some of my co-workers crossed the street cuz they thought it didn't have anything to do with them. These are the people who always follow the rules.

I, however, saw what they did not see, vanilla ice cream wrapped in chocolate. There are no rules when it comes to a woman and free ice cream. Which I did not eat, but passed on to those same co-workers who only got one piece instead of six.

I bring to you my first true entry into video blogging, or vlogging or whatever is being denounced by main stream media this week. It is in Windows Media Video format, just about a minute long. This might open in a second window. Click the picture and enjoy.

Circles, Go Around Babe – ID Theft and Assistance

The theme for this issue is crime. It was inspired by a letter from my credit union informing me that a break-in had occurred. The thieves stole the computers. Not the money. Not the lock boxes. The computers. Said computers contained identifying information such as name, SSN, birth date, and other items to start a new identity for someone that has trashed their own.

I have been assured in the letter that the info was protected so that it can't be accessed. I take no comfort in this when I know that major banks and financial firms care losing customer information like water through as sieve.

But as I did in the first issue of Stoop, I do want to pass on the initial steps on what to do if this happens to you:

Visit the Federal Trade Commission's web site on Identity Theft http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft you can download or print information on how to fight back the tide.

Be sure to download the "Chart of Action"
http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/recovering_idt.html#9
You are going to constantly have to prove that you are who you say you are. You will have to document the efforts you are making to recover your identity. It isn't fair but you have to do it.

Place a fraud alert on your credit report. A temporary one is 90 days and a long term one is seven years. If anyone tries to make a purchase with your credit info they have to (or are supposed to) be asked questions and verify identity. This means you too. It will be a pain but better this than somebody racking up thousands of dollars in purchases in your name.

Equifax – 1-800-525-6285 or www.equifax.com
Transunion – 1-800-680-7289 or www.transunion.com
Experian – 1-888-397-3742 or www.experian.com/fraud

Get a free copy of your credit report. You are entitled to request an annual copy of your report. All three credit-reporting agencies can be accessed by going to http://www.annualcreditreport.com

Even if you never make a purchase with a credit card, you might want to get that free report. A co-worker of mine recently went to the DMV to get a driving permit.

She was handed a license of a blond, green-eyed woman. "Jane" has long braids, brown eyes and is African-American. She was also surrounded by law enforcement and spent two hours verifying her identity.

Memories - Five Years of Stoop

Yep, five whole years of writing the newsletter version of Stoop. The web site – soon to be converted into a holding place for videos, has been up almost 10 years.

The blog is coming along, will be adding videos as soon as I can. I've got isues with time and the lack of it in my life. Time is moving way too fast for me. It quakes me.

A quake is a movement of energy in the body of an entity. Earthquakes are easy to understand. Quakes in your body are sometimes desirable, or so I have been told. It is those mind and sprit
rattlers that make me want to duck and cover.

A 23 year old woman jumped from what the locals lovingly call Suicide Bridge last week. Recently I read of another journalist killing himself two months ago. This ups the tally to five or six well respected reporters offing themselves.

Quite honestly, we can't afford to have smart people deceasing themselves. America has a serious intelligence deficit. Why put the rest of us at further risk?

All I can tell you is to allow the energy to pass through and ignore the hyper critical voice. I'm not being deliberately cryptic. I don't know what will upset your day-to-day existence. I'm having a couple of life jolts myself. Nothing serious but if I could I'd down a pint or two of Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia or New York Super Fudge Crunch Ice Cream in a heartbeat.

Since I can't eat that stuff, I have to find healthy ways to deal with the challenges of life. Carrot Juice is good. Carrot and Beet Juice is great but very expensive. Do the best you can or at least call somebody. If necessary take your vitamines AND your medication for serious depression.

F*ck the Reaper but send him home alone.

Hold On To Your Humanity - Words From Stan Goff

This is so important I had to post this link no matter whatever else I had to do today.

It is a letter from a former army veteran who has been in combat and wants to speak to those fighting or just coming back from Iraq.

But I think those of us in America need to read it twice.

Then find a young man or woman who is thinking about taking the military up on that $45,000 signing bonus and make them read it aloud.

This is truth learned the hard way.

Hold On To Your Humanity

Everything Old Is New Again - I Wish Audio Collage

Artists have always found ways to communicate, inspire and shared art.

One of the methods was creating Postal or Mail art. Artists would work on a piece and then pass it down the line to other creatives. The work eventually would be mailed back to the originating artist to display the collaborative work.

Samantha Broun updated the idea by sending a list of questions and a mini disc to friends/acquaintances. These friends interviewed others folks and then returned the discs back to Broun. She then crafted a sound collage piece of their desires.

You can listen to a audio stream or download the finished collage in MP3 format.

One of the things I gained was that I don't have to have a weekly podcast. I can create a one-time only work that can stand on its own merits. I can spend time making a quality piece. In a strange way, it motivates me to feel comfortable to do more - http://www.transom.org/shows/2005/200505.iwish.html.

A Night In Birdland - A Great Day In Harlem Photo

In August 1958 photographer Art Kane assembled the leading jazz artists of the day for a photograph that made history.

How he got 57 jazz musicians to appear in the morning is a miracle in itself. But the true magic is the caliber of the talent. At the Harlem.org site, you can browse by the timeline, artist, instrument, or style. Charles Mingus, Pee Wee Russell, Mary Lou Wilson and Count Basie are just a few of the jazz greats in this photograph.

So if you are ready to wean yourself off pre-fabricated musical sawdust and are willing to explore American true classical music tradition then bop over to http://www.harlem.org/greatday.html

If you would like more information about the work of Art Kane you definitely should visit his site. He captured Janis Joplin, Louis Armstrong and Bob Dylan with images that a steps away from typical celebrity photos - http://www.artkane.com

Up Where We Belong - Starship Dimension

How do you measure a spaceship that does not currently exist? For example, what is the size of the Klingon Bird of Prey compared to the Starship Enterprise NCC-1701-D?

Or maybe you want to know the scale of the Martian Tripod From War of the Worlds compared to Centauri Primus from Babylon 5?

Starship Dimensions sets out to help television and movie science fiction fans view a meter to pixel rendition of their favorite ships. You can also compare ships to current real life objects.

New ships are being added all of the time but there is enough to keep a team from Memory Alpha busy for a week - http://www.merzo.net

Life Beyond L.A. – Chant Time Travel with Wat Thai

I get my seat, stash a set of batteries in each pocket, and start shooting. When I'm not doing straight photos I'm doing 20 seconds of Quick Time movies so I can record the chants. (Gotta get a tape recorder or a recordable media player.)

I do like the sound of people chanting. For a moment, I was suspended between multiple cultures. Yep. I love that transcendence time travel. Hard to book reservations but worth the effort.



Another event worker comes up to me and tells me that I can't take photos in the museum.

But I'm not in the museum; I'm in the Auditorium. Bummer. I put my Lumix down but not necessarily off – I still needed to record the chants so I aimed it at the door. Next thing I see is a couple of people, some event workers taking snaps. Puzzlement.

The original event worker comes back to me and whispers in my ear, "Sorry it is okay just don't use the flash." Not a problem, I use a little discretion but I'm back in the groove.



The highlight for me was when the Monk blessed the audience by flicking water on them. He seemed very happy to distribute the blessings. Must be like hitting folks with spiritual water balloons.

It never gets old.

Cosmic Wheels - The Monks of Wat Thai of Los Angeles

I have always loved the court yard of The Museum. Back in the day, I could walk in at lunchtime and watch the Koi in the pond. Office workers could hang out with the trees and listen to happy birds. You could decompress and regain a bit of humanity before going back to work.

You can't do that anymore because a few years ago some evil spirit posing as a human being murdered the original set of Koi in the pond. Such is the way of (some) humans.

Anyway, I'm making acquaintance with the new Koi and checking out the scene. This does not last long because an event worker is urging me to the visit the Auditorium to hear chanting by the Monks of Wat Thai of Los Angeles.

Cool! I have my camera, have three sets of fresh batteries. Life can be good if you are open to it.

The Reflex - Do Burgers and Art Mix?

I was walking along, minding my own business when I spy an In and Out Burger Truck. It was parked at the Pacific Asia Museum and I had a visual disconnect. Burgers? Museum?


That In and Out urge started messing with my mind and I was drawn to walk up to see what was happening.

A middle-aged woman shouted out "Come Join Us!" Sensing a plea for pledges or my soul, I walked forward carefully. In fact, The Museum was having a free open house. My heart went out to them. They did a phenomenal amount of work but they didn't let anyone know that they were going to do this, outside of their membership base. Who didn't shown up in sufficient numbers. They were reduced to plucking people off the street.

Not a news truck in sight, not that they would have showed any inclination to cover the event. I checked the free papers before venturing out. Not a word. Didn't here diddly on the local radio station. This got me to thinking.

Those of us with an interest in photography and all forms of blogging might want to consider adopting a museum or a non-profit to help promote or document events. We can all do our part to keep a docent off the streets.

http://www.pacificasiamuseum.org

Crazy For You - Zefrank

Zefrank. Where do I begin with this guy? Is he an artist? A designer? A futurist? A nut job? A visionary? A sensory explorer? Does he empty the contents of his head for public consumption?

Never mind. I'll start at the beginning. On his web site, there are choices. You can watch videos, play games, read manifestos, or just click a link to see what happens.

The first one that I selected was "How to Dance Perfectly." The poor soul. Rhythm he has not. I laughed when I wasn't gasping for air. You can try his steps at home but for the love of humanity do not attempt to perform any of them in public.

Then I checked out "Supahbad." It is fascinating in a train wreck sort of way. If I told you that this guy mouthed the words to James Brown's Super Bad it wouldn't do it justice. It is more like someone put on a very cool suit that his body or in this case, his head could not contain.

Not everything is funny or meant to be entertaining. If you need to bust out of L7 then this is the guy for you. If you don't know what L7 is don't worry about it, your fine. But check Ze out anyway. Ride the pony - http://www.zefrank.com

Keep It On The Down Low – Underheard Radio

My birth radio station was WDAS, 148 on the AM dial. From 6 a.m. Monday to Midnight Saturday night/Sunday morning it was my station.

There were great DJ comedians who were clean but they made you fill in the blanks. Some of them made it their personal mission to make you late for school or work.

You knew what play was in town or what celebrity was plugging their concert at the Uptown Theater. We didn't need the Emergency Broadcasting System. We had DAS.

Flash forward 40 years. WDAS is now a Clear Channel station. Clear Channel owns hundreds of stations. They homogenize play lists. The stations are programmed to assume what the listeners want to hear. If there are live DJs at the station, they have firm instructions as to what can and cannot be said over the air.

In the Los Angeles area, many DJs have lost their jobs and have been replaced by an automated system. One DJ may service multiple radio stations across the country. The most recent addition, Jack-FM has no DJs. Jack picks from a list of 1,200 songs.

He (the corporate "he") really doesn't want listener input, other than to record "this is a great station" promotional announcements. They are not breaking any new ground; it is the usual suspects and then a surprise recording or two. I don't know from whom, they don't announce or back announce. Snarky.

There are still terrestrial radio (traditional radio as opposed to satellite or cable radio) stations that still try to connect with the local community. They think about the programming and their
mission.

Underheard.org collects radio programs and streams a selection of independent and community radio stations from across the nation. Some of them are small 500-watt stations; others are connected to colleges or are truly independent of mainstream media controllers.

*If you have a thing for Hawaiian music then KCSN in Northridge will take you far past Don Ho. (No disrespect intended).

*If you are looking for a Dub injection, you can swing over to WCSB in Cleveland.

*If you need more stories, documentaries or sound exploration WZBC in Boston's Magnetic Tape fills in the gap while you are waiting for the next episode of "This American Life."

You can go to these stations by visiting their web sites. Most have streaming or download capabilities. Underheard.org makes it easy to sample and experiment with various musical, informational and alternative formats – http://www.underheard.org

From Sea To Shining Sea – Image America With Camera Phone

Robert Clark is taking pictures with a Sony Ericsson 5710a 1.3 megapixel cell phone. With sponsorship from Sony Ericsson and American Photo Magazine, he will travel the U.S. and Canada. The images are posted in a flash animation gallery.

Being a worker drone, I envy his ability to just go and see huge chunks of this country. I'll guess I will compensate by trying to cover my own backyard a bit better (with a full digital camera) but he does have some nice images.

Robert Clark is a professional photographer, you can visit his main web site. I imagine he has the kind of camera equipment I would dream of owning. He has the credentials to shoot for National Geographic, Newsweek, and Time magazines.

To cross the country to take photos with a cell phone just amazes me. If I am not careful, I might catch a bit of that road trip fever.

Hitching A Ride – Backpack Information Manager

Anyone who knows me knows I carry a messenger bag full of papers, books, notebooks, and free papers picked up from around town.

It is not because I want to do it. You never know who might need a copy of eye exercises or a list of music from the Alan Lomax collection. Really, it happens. I'm like a Boy scout. Always prepared. Except I'm not a boy. Or a scout.

While looking for something completely different, I don't remember what, I came upon a free service called Backpack.

You can create a "to do" or memory page that you can access from any Internet connected computer. You can post your travel plans or emergency contact information. You can put up a portfolio or a buying list for the building project.

Fore example, I'm at a client's home. There is a bit of information or software I didn't anticipate needing. I could zip over to Backpack and download or print from one central place.

The site is very easy to use. If you need convincing there are Quick Time movies to help you learn to use the service. If you can type you can use Backpack. You can email reminders, photos, and notes to post at the site.

You sign in to your own private section. No one can see your Backpack page but you or whomever you want to see it.

If you use no more than five pages (that you can re-use and recycle) Backpack is free. If you need more space then you can purchase more pages. For most folks five pages is plenty. Unless you are a compulsive pack rat, I mention no names - http://www.backpackit.com

On With The Show - Previewing & Distributing Your Web PSA's

(May 2009 update - you can upload .avi videos to Blip.tv, YouTube and most video hosting services. Try to keep the file size down below 100MBs. There are newer tools and options but this is what I knew in 2005. Consider this an historical post but check out my new stuff for current options.)

Wow! Almost finished. You gonna want to preview your PSA a few more time just to knock the bugs out. Better still have a trusted friend or a little kid peep over your shoulder. They might catch a bugaboo that you might have missed.

Time to share your PSA with the world. Here are your options:

The first order of business is to save your project. This will have the Dubit.dub file extension. Next, move to the file menu and select "Create Movie."

If you plan to post your PSA on your web site or blog Dubit can save files in the traditional Real Player format. Anyone with any version of the Real Player or Real Alternative who has a modern browser will be able to see your PSA.

The downside? Not everyone has a modern browser. Not everyone can or wants to use Real Player formatted files.

You can also save as a Windows .avi file. AVI files can be large but the advantage is that every media player can display this format. And although it is listed in the drop down menu, you can't save in the Windows .asf format. You wouldn't want to anyway.

If you have QuickTime Pro ($30) you can import the .avi file into QuickTime Pro and save it in the QuickTime format - .mov However, you run into the same issues as before. Not everyone is using a modern browser or they don't have the free version of QuickTime installed. Bummer.

Now you can't please all of the people all of the time but I think I have a solution for the masses. Swish Video ($50 from Swishzone) allows you to convert Windows Media (.avi and .wmv) and QuickTime media files into the Flash Animation format. It is quick, easy and most important the .swf file format has become the universal format for sharing media files. It is a very easy program to use and by dingy it works. You can download a free 15 day trial copy at Swishzone.

There you have it. And the good thing about it is that once you get the hang of it, you can apply what you have learned with other audio and video programs. But I wanted to use old technology to help good people reconnect with the ability to do good. Or do better. I'm not sure anymore. I need a nap.

Go forth, do good work and keep in touch.