Michelle Obama on the Soul of Responsibility

Taking a break from the rain inspired Doo Dah parade review I want to share with you a series of videos taken at the Obama Rally at UCLA on February 3, 2008.

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For those that don't care for politics please feel free to skip my next couple of posts. I want to show what is not being aired on American news programs. I currently endorse no particular candidate but I do believe in being informed. The sound bites provided by mainstream media are insufficient for our current needs.

Michelle is a powerful speaker. This clip gives a glimmer of that but I got more stuff to share. One of the things she has touched on was that the separation that has occurred within the past 12 years has truly damaged our collective identity of who we are as Americans. I've felt this ways for quite some time but this is the first time I've heard it identified in a political sense.

I have a bunch more videos to upload so hang in there and tell me what you think.

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Election Reminders for California Vloggers and Bloggers

I hear there is a little whoop-ti-doo next Tuesday. Something about a primary election. Now I know folks are itching to record the start of a truly historical presidential campaign (like the last two didn't mean anything?).

I know photobloggers and video bloggers are going to cover this seven different ways from Sunday but I gotta remind the California folks of the Election Code 18540-18548 specifically section 18541c which states:

18541.  (a) No person shall, with the intent of dissuading another
person from voting, within 100 feet of a polling place, do any of the
following:
  (1) Solicit a vote or speak to a voter on the subject of marking
his or her ballot.
  (2) Place a sign relating to voters' qualifications or speak to a
voter on the subject of his or her qualifications except as provided
in Section 14240.
  (3) Photograph, videotape, or otherwise record a voter entering or
exiting a polling place.
  (b) Any violation of this section is punishable by imprisonment in
a county jail for not more than 12 months, or in the state prison.
Any person who conspires to violate this section is guilty of a
felony.
   (c) For purposes of this section, 100 feet means a distance of 100
feet from the room or rooms in which voters are signing the roster
and casting ballots.

Now, lets get real. TV News crews will be taking photos and video recordings of people and polling places. You will see this on television and in your daily paper.

There will be folks from community newspapers and school newspapers snapping photos in polling places. Don't get me started on the cell phone and mobloggers contingency.

Depending on the polling place, the time of day, how busy it is and how attentive the poll workers are you may or may not have a problem. Here is what I have found to work:

1. Be polite.
   
2. Ask the person in charge of the polling place if it is ok to take a few photos. If they say yes, score. If they ask is this for a newspaper or report you can say "Yes, I'm writing/shooting photos about the election". The "Blog" word is scary to some and you don't want to scare anyone on Super Tuesday. Am I telling you to lie. No. Tell 'em your a blogger/vlogger if you want. But it might go easier if you flow with the writers/photos on this one day
   
3. Be respectful and don't disrupt the election process. You can and will be arrested if you delay or inhibit other folks ability to vote. The poll workers get to decide if you are disrupting the process. They have that power. Don't provoke them into using it.
   
4. If they say no then thank them for the answer and move on.
   
5. No kidding, be really polite even if the poll worker is acting like a power prince/princess.
6. If you are taking photos of voters (more than 100 feet way from the polling place mind you) you need to obtain their permission. Make it written permission. Have your photo/video release ready. Seriously.
   

It is not impossible. You can get great shots/stories on Tuesday. There will be people dying to talk about voting either for an old guy, a Mormon, An African-American or a Former First Lady.

Who am I voting for? Dang if I know.

Doo Dah Redux Number 2 Senor Groucho

Ok, 6:45pm. Change of plan. I'm letting serendipity take over. I find a good bit and I'm gonna slap a title on it and upload. Expect wild swings of coming and going. This is a bad work flow but I've got to hunker down and face the unthinkable, cleaning the fridge.

First up is Senor Groucho, the Sax Man. You try blowing a sax and toting your own float. Is he really blowing? Does it matter? Dude had to pull his own float down Raymond onto Colorado Blvd and then up Fair Oaks. Yowser!

***
Well it has been a little more than a week since my last post. I'm editing as fast as I can. I'm looking for my footage of folks pelting the Pope with tortillas.


I don't support pelting anybody with tortillas but there are a lot of Ex - C's that saw an opportunity and took it.

Now this guy, I dunno cause a bit of a fuss. It might have been the water gun he was packing or something about that lip action he had going on. Be back soon.

For more info on the Pasadena Doo Dah Parade visit http://www.pasadenadoodahparade.info

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The Things You Can See In L.A. If You Look

The local weather folks told us that Saturday night was going to be bad so there was a mad dash to stock up on the non-essentials. Me, I bought a drill. I've always wanted one and if I'm going to be stuck at home I might as well be productive.

Truth is, I'm scared to use it. But I have my goggles and screws and a closet that needs help. Anyway I trudge my groceries and my drill up the block and I see it, snow. On the mountain.

Snow on a Los Angeles Mountain Top

Where it belongs, far, far away from me. I don't want to shovel anything. But is is pretty. It was 60 degrees where I was standing. Sunny. Not a drop in sight. That came later and early Sunday morning.

Folks had cabin fever so people were rushing to get things done. There wasn't time to look up to see what I saw. One of those smell the roses moments. This is for them.

Oh, and one more thing. Hydroplaning is bad. If you are driving in the rain slow the f**k down because my local fire department has been working triple time peeling out dingbats out of their cars.

It Was A Doo Dah Kind of Day

We usually have the Doo Dah parade around Thanksgiving. It is a way of getting those lingering visitors out of the house and it won't cost you anything. But after 30 years it got predictable so in order to keep that from happening it was moved to January 20th. You have to do stuff like that when the parade has the word "occasional" in the title.

Something was missing. A bit of whimsy. Downright goofyness for the sake of being silly. Then again I do like watching men dance. It is so cool. Fellas, I'm telling you true you can't go completing wrong by dancing in front of a woman.

Click To Play Flash Video
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Click To Play M4V iPod Version

Now some of you are seriously uncoordinated but spastic can be kinda cute and at the very least you'd get a mercy hug or something. Mainly laughter but hey, you gotta start somewhere.

There are constants but this parade is not easy to pin down. It is a neighborhood meet up. A family outing on the cheap. A bit of satire. Flying tortillas. I got it, participatory perambulation. It will have to do cuz I'm whipped for original thought.

I'm culling those special moments from the parade and to start things off I present the Country Gentlemen (definitely not spastic), the Dead Robert Palmer Girls and the Bastard Sons of Lee Marvin. For more information about the parade visit http://www.pasadenadoodahparade.info

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God Doesn't Need Creationism

However, certain types of Christians seem to need it. They think that you and by extension every school age child needs it too.

What got me starting thinking about this was Catherine Morgan's post about a proposal to teach evolution in Florida schools. I didn't know that it wasn't as national standard to include the teaching of evolution in K-12 schools.

I didn't know adults still had major issues with distinguishing between faith and science. It was far easier for me to dismiss believers and proponent of creationism as a device to introduce religion into American schools. My new fear that it is something more.

Vocabulary Gauntlet

• From Conservapedia.com Creationism is the belief that the earth and universe and the various kinds of animals and plants was created by God or some other supreme being. Those that hold the views of Creationism are referred to as Creationists.
• Oxford English Dictionary The belief that the universe and living creatures were created by God in accordance with the account given in the Old Testament.
• True Origins.org creationism n. 1) general-the view that a creator brought the universe, its contents, and its inhabitants into being and into order from literally nothing (as opposed to the view that matter is either eternal or the result of a spontaneous self-creating process) 2) biblical-the view that the Creator is none other than the Creator-God whose nature and purpose in creation and history is revealed in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures (the Bible), including His initial acts of creation as indicated in a straightforward reading of the Creation Week account in Genesis and corroborated in the balance of the Bible; 3) scientific-the view that empirical science is fully capable of corroborating either or both general and biblical creationism viewpoints (described above), and which serves as the basis for scientific endeavors with that end in mind.
  

In each one of these definitions is a religious connotation of the beginning of life on Earth. It is a belief expressed as a proven fact derived from the Christian Bible. Therefore it seems to me to be a tenant of a specific religions belief in the origins on life on this planet.

How is this science? How does this invalidate the teaching of evolution? Why is it incompatible with evolution?

Science, in my understanding, is the ability to question, gather evidence, come to a conclusion and reproduce the results. I certainly can ask the questions but contacting God for a definitive answer independent of the Bible hasn't worked out. If you can't produce "God" or his/her authorized representative (and things didn't work out so well the last time there was a visit) then where is my proof? Where is your proof?

My understanding is that this isn't about God, Evolution or even quantifying an alternative teaching of the beginning of planetary existence. It is about Christian recruitment and retention. It is about making the U.S. a "Christian Nation." And that has me extremely concerned.

Wrapping Creationism as a true tested series of verifiable facts is dishonest. It takes away from the actual tenants of the faith to wrap them in a wolf's clothing of science.

Rebecca at The Upside Down World in her blog post Teaching Creation Science or ID? A Formula for Putting Your Child's Christian Faith At Risk makes many excellent points but this is a good one to start with:

Their work is limited to analyzing the work of others to look for potential holes which might be able to be seen as supporting a creationist perspective. This is not science.). When creationist materials do refer to the work of mainstream scientists, conducting actual research, they almost uniformly misquote and misrepresent them. If you do not believe me, then take a weekend or two and do the research yourself. The internet is a wonderful tool.

Now, if you take the time to actually look at the methods used to source creationist materials, you should already be disturbed by the idea that these purportedly Christian groups who produce such materials indulge in such blatant dishonesty to sustain their ideas. An idea which is true should not depend on deception.

Monado from Science Notes points out not only is there a tendency to misrepresent what evolution science says but to attribute the teaching of evolution to a decline in moral values and behavior is a bit much:

Creationists are up to their old tricks, lying about Charles Darwin and distorting history to make it seem like slavery, genocide, and religious intolerance bloomed after (and because of) the theory of evolution. It’s not true. Clear evidence-from the god-sanctioned genocides in the bible to Martin Luther’s verbal vitriol against Jews and women to Hitler’s pious Christianity “doing God’s work”-gives creationists the lie.

I'm not writing this to undermine your belief system. I'm not against teaching Creationism by the way; there is a place for it in a religion class. Provided there is instruction on not just Christian beliefs but some Rastafarian and Judaism with a bunch of Atheism, Hindu, Dao and Wicca on the side.

I just don't like being mislead or lied to. Most people of faith and/or reason don't care for it either. Once again, is it a matter of faith or of science?

Additional Resources:

Beliefnet.com

Supporting Creationism

Answers In Genesis
Chatting With Charlie - Argument Against Evolution on GodTube
The Creation Museum
Conservapedia - Wikipedia with a Conservative view

Supporting Evolution

Allison Hoffman - History of Evolution vs. Creationism via YouTube
Scientific Thinking and The Scientific Method by Steven D. Schafersman at Freeinquire.com
The Darwin Report
Pharyngula - Is This Going To Be The Major Creationist Strategy?


CE Gena Haskett is a second class heathen who is also a Contributing Editor at Blogher

Trash & Text In Art - Armory Center for the Arts

There are days you get the feeling that you are missing something and you should not go home. I have been going home a lot lately so I had more than enough cabin fever to propel me on a walk around the back streets of Pasadena.

The front streets are filled with stores and restaurants that come and go so quickly in an upscale downscale sort of way. My wallet is too narrow of funds and my hips are too wide to shop in any of them. The back alleys and streets are where you find the great places to eat and window shop.

Click To Play Windows Media Video

Click to Play QuickTime Video
Click To Play iPod version

It is also the beginning of the disconnection zone. I'll explain that someday.

In the meantime, for the my Semenal contribution of the week, and this week had eight days not seven; this is a mash-up of my visit to two exhibits at the Amory Center for the Arts. One is what H.S. students managed to do with converting trash to art and the other is an exhibit that focuses on using word and written text incorporated into the art pieces.

For more information on what is going on at the Amory Center for the Arts please visit (and if you are in the area go visit - most of the time it is free) http://www.armoryarts.org

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Food Language and Multicultural Groceries

I’m in the supermarket in the checkout line. I forget to put the separator between my items and the older gentleman ahead of me. I’m locked on to a copy of the Reader’s Digest promising me I can de-clutter my living space this year.

Next thing I know my groceries are being loaded into the older gentleman’s cart. “I think we have a problem here, he’s got my groceries.”

“Didn’t you use the separator?” the clerk asked disapprovingly. “No I guess not." The first time in 40 some years of shopping that it happened mind you. Meanwhile, my gracious benefactor is trying to leave. We both explain that there has been a mistake. He doesn’t understand.

The bagger asks “Spanish?” “I pipe in with “Is it Farsi?” “Armenian” he says as he is still trying to leave. The clerk puts out an SOS for Habib as I attempt to extract my stuff from his basket.

Habib never shows up but it is cool. I reclaim my turkey sausages and assorted other goodies. After much confusion and a good deal of gesturing the clerk refunds his money and I pay my own way with the reproachful eyes of my fellow customers.

Click To Play Flash Video
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Click to Videw MPEG-4 M4v iPod Format

Language matters here in Los Angeles. Communities form and dissolve based on who you are and how you say it. It is a blessing and sometimes a tribulation but language gives all of us an opportunity to reach beyond what we know and see. Unless you don’t speak the other person’s lingo.

It is never too late so here are a few resources to resurrect that dormant language class or learn something new.

The Arabic Language Podclass is just what is says it is, you have the opportunity to download mp3 that contain Arabic speakers and poetry. This seems to be designed for folks who might be taking an Arabic class or are trying to increase their vocabulary. There is also an Arabic Wiki Language area that you can use as a resource.

The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) has oodles of tools, tutorials and mp3 files You can learn French, German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese and you can download mp3 files to help you if you are just visiting. You can also follow BBC self-paced language instruction, for example Spanish or snag just enough to get you through a vacation.

I live in southern California. There are at least four Spanish language non-cable television stations, a bunch of radio stations and pound of publications. It is in my future best interest to re-activate my prior limited investment in my Spanish 1 and Spanish 2 classes. One way to do that is checking out Slow Spain Blog

There are far more resources but this will get you started. Bon Chance!

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Sipping Inspiration - Mr. Saul Williams

It is raining. It is pouring in Los Angeles. A'int jack on Terrestrial TV even if there wasn't a writer's strike. My TV is silent but the images are from the Korean channel but I don't speak Korean. It is just on for company.



I'm finishing a few projects and I need a dose of a poetical kick in the pants with a visual chaser. Time to expand the boundaries with a little help from Actor/Poet/Musician Saul William along with DJ Krust in a little 6:10 ditty called Coded Language.

For more information on Saul Williams you can go to his official website or to his MySpace joint.

How Do I Go Forward in This New Year?

My favorite day of this so-called holiday season is January 2nd. If it were up to me we'd just cut the months of December, January and February and head straight back to Spring and Summer.

That's right, no holidays, no Valentine's day and I a'int too crazy about Saint Pat's day so maybe we could knock off a bit of March as well. I was looking for a video representation of how I feel and I think this sums it up pretty well.

Click To Play Flash Video

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Click To Play Standard QT Video

Click To Play M4V - iPod Video

Yeah, I'm not proud of any resemblance to Dr. Smith. Once I get going through the year I'm fine and the closer to the warm times I feel I can do dang near anything. Or think I can.

As usual there are going to be some changes. Some for the good and some I can see are going to be life challenging.

I will say that life is not a dress rehearsal so if there is something that you want to do for the love of life get on with it. It is okay to incubate an idea but trust yourself to make it happen. Find folks that support your dream and do something while you can.

Why the shift from the negative to the positive? Well, a friend of mine wound up in the hospital with a possible heart attack. If that happens to me and I don't make it I want to know before I pass over that I did what I said I would do. That I made every effort to live the life I decided I wanted to experience.

So I may be internally screaming into the new year but on the other side I'm ready to go foward. I hope that you find reason to do the same.

For more information about Lost In Space or any of the Irwin Allen Productions like Time Tunnel, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea or Land of the Giants visit http://www.iann.net.

For more information on Lost In Space visit the office site www.lostinspacetv.com

K9 The Human Beatbox and Paul Dateh

There are times when you are lucky enough to witness a spark of magic. It can happen when two people decide to make music.

This is a great performance of K9 The Human Beatbox and Paul Dateh at the 2007 Winnies in Los Angeles.

For more information about Paul Dateh visit http://www.myspace.com/pauldateh or http://pauldateh.blogspot.com

April 4th Update - Yes! K9 got space at http://www.myspace.com/k9thehumanbeatbox

Thanks for the notification from a comment from the land of Anonymous. You can check out K9's action and hear more of his craft.

The Monkees - Riu Chiu

In keeping with KwanzaChananakSolisticMass of Festivus I share with you this memory from long ago with four guys, a candle and a tree.



May all of us continue to find joy and wonder in unexpected places.
Spanish Text:

Riu, riu, chiu...
La guarda ribera
Dios guarde el lobo
De nuestra cordera.
Refrain: Riu, riu, chiu...

El lobo rabioso la quiso morder,
Mas Dios poderoso la supo defender;
Quisole hazer que no pudiesse pecar,
Ni aun original esta Virgen no tuviera.
Refrain: Riu, riu, chiu...

Este qu'es nascido es el gran monarca,
Cristo patriarca de carne vestido;
Hanos redimido con se hazer chiquito,
Aunqu'era infinito, finito se hizera.
Refrain: Riu, riu, chiu...

Muchas profecias lo han profetizado,
Y aun en nuestros dias lo hemos alcancado.
A Dios humanado vemos en el suelo
Y al hombre nel cielo porqu'er le quisiera.
Refrain: Riu, riu, chiu...

English Text:

Refrain: Riu, riu, chiu (nightingale's sounds)
The river bank protects it,
As God kept the wolf
from our lamb.
Refrain: Riu, riu, chiu...

The rabid wolf tried to bite her,
But God Almighty knew how to defend her,
He wished to create her impervious to sin,
Nor was this maid to embody original sin.
Refrain: Riu, riu, chiu...

The newborn child is the mightiest monarch,
Christ patriarchal invested with flesh.
He made himself small and so redeemed us:
He who was infinite became finite.
Refrain: Riu, riu, chiu...

Many prophecies told of his coming,
And now in our days have we seen them fulfilled.
God became man, on earth we behold him,
And see man in heaven because he so willed.
Refrain: Riu, riu, chiu...

Translation obtained from the Interpreter's Friend

The Price of War - Ali Shafeya Al Moussawi

Ali Shafeya Al-Moussawi was a videoblogger/journalist Alive From Baghdad. He was 23 years old at the time of his death. He was murdered in his home with 31 bullets to his body. Alive from Baghdad produces video and news produced by Iraqis to show what the conditions are in their country from their point of view. They are documenting what has happened to their country.

Photo from Alive From Baghdad

You didn't hear about Ali's death from CNN and your M$M news spent way too much time talking about the pregnancy of a teenage actress.

Please know that for every mention of a goofy YouTube video by M$M know that there are talented writers, photographers and videographers who are using the tools of blogging and new media to tell the truths of their world. Being open to telling this truth can have a terrible price.

To contribute to the on-going work of journalist of Alive from Baghdad please visit the website and make a contribution.

Cell Phones For Soldiers - Don't Bogart That Phone

A good friend of mine knows that I like books but don't care for the holidays. So she splits the difference and buys me books knowing I'm not going to kick up too much of a fuss about having one more book in my home.

www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com

Anyway, in the box was a bag for recycling cell phones to help the troops call home. Cool. It is real simple. If you got a new phone and don't want to the old one send it to these folks, they will do the good karma thing and fix it so that soldiers stationed in harm's way can call home.

Doesn't really matter how you feel about the war. If you got a spare cell phone and you don't want to contribute to the growing pile of waste then visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com
So do it to help someone not feel so alone or do it to help the planet.

Not Everything Can Be Recycled

Forgive me for my sins. It is has been a while since my last post. I am slowly (by choice) ramping up to speed. Life is a balance until you do something stupid and then it get all out of balance and you have to clean up the mess. This is my confession. Er. This is my testimony.

For the record, I'm not Catholic. Or Baptist. I could hang with the Atheists except I do believe in a higher power. Ok, I am a second class heathen when it suits me. In other words, I am unaffiliated and proud of it.

It started as I looked into the refrigerator. There was food. I bought it but hadn't finished it from two or three weeks back. The voices of my frugal grandmothers were whispering in my ear "You aren't going to throw that out are you?"

Memories of lack played ring around the rosy. Eating oatmeal 24/7. Bean, beans and nothing but beans. I look at a wrapped bowl of Tomato sauce with meat.

I took a taste. Seemed ok. I smelled. It smelled ok. I heated it up. I scorched the pan to make sure it was good and hot.

No. That is not the truth. I was on the computer and forgot it was on the stove and when I smelled I burned another pan I raced into the kitchen to saved what I could.

I ate it. It was good. Until 10:35 that night. I will spare you the details but this was an "on the hour" type lesson. Ralphing my way into the special education version of "I shouldn't have done it, I'm sooo stupid, Never, ever again..." Recycle, repeat.

But in the mist of one of my porcelain ascensions I heard a voice say "Stop with the internal battery, Be kind to yourself!" Kinda hard to do as you are hugging the throne of limited expectations.

But I did manage to substitute "OM" and a deep breath for a monkey mind gone mad. There was a lot of OMing in-between the Ralphing.

So here is the thing I want to share with you. Toss out the old food in the fridge! It is ok. Next time you will do better and plan what you need. But I'm telling you - send it to the land fill.

Oh, one other thing. I did not ask Spirit to take away the food poisoning.

I asked that it comes full force and let me experience what I needed to learn and process. It is my way of understanding Acceptance. After hour five I had to accept my path to hurl was set and I need not fight it anymore. It made hours six, seven and eight easier to deal with.

This is a spiritual as I can get on this day. Take it or leave it. I'm not as evolved as I wanna be so I know I'm going to do a few more return trips on the planet before I get the hang of it. But what I do know I'm hugging on to for dear life.

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Anna Deavere Smith - Performance At TED

I gotta post this one. I have my final this Saturday but there have been rumbling on certain blogs as to the validity of storytelling and methods and processes.

Anna Deavere Smith is an Actor. She also carries on the tradition of our ancestors in telling the tales of others as we participate in the resonance of being human.



This is a performance given at the 2005 TED Convention. For more information visit http://www.ted.com

Mike Farrell on Purpose and Humanity - Day 29

I wasn't feeling very human so I had to stop and get my barrings. I never wanted to be one of those folks on an invisible treadmill but I was running and forgot where I was going.

I regret that I had to miss a few days of vlogging but hey, like I said, someone had to lower the curve. But I have some good stuff for the last two days. Mike Farrell is an actor. He is also an Activist and not just cuz someone paid him a $25,000 fee to pretend that he is concerned person about an issue.

Click To Play

Usually I try to stay away from industry people because the few that I have met were total assholes. Generally people who wanted to be connected to the industry for the fame and money part and not because they had any talent or something to add to the culture.

Mr. Farrell seems different. As I listened to him talk it seemed that he has personally experienced coming out the darkness into various forms of light. Can't be totally sure cuz he is an actor. He has a book out called "Just Call Me Mike".

But I'd like to think we could could collectively whip up a barbecue and have a jawbone session over non-fortified lemonade.

This is a video excerpt from a talk that Mike Farrell gave at the Glendale Public Library on November 28, 2007. In this short clip he talks about our being connected by purpose.

For more information about Actor - Activist Mike Farrell visit www.mikefarrell.org

P.S. I feel like a dope. I can't get into NaVlogPoMo. I can't get the image to come up. I can't find a skirt for Friday night at The Winnies.

Purpose, ha! I'd settle for linear thought at the moment.

Friday Night - The Winnies!

It happens to us all, it is mere days before the event. I ain't got a thing to wear. I have one last paper to write and what am I gonna do about my hair?

Shoes, lawd I need grown folks shoes but my feet demand sneakers. I don't do panty hose. Tights maybe but X-nay on the pantay.

The thing is there will be folks and food and drink and well, you know so I gotta go.

Saturday morning I'm going to be wearing shades in class cuz sleeping in the second row is not cool. I will be unnaturally quiet. I just hope I don't snore.

Carlos Ugalde - Andar por America Day 15

Sometimes good things come from the path that you were forced to take.
I had procrastinated on a project that is due on Saturday. I had to work on it today in order to get it ready for my presentation.

I hop on the shuttle to Glendale Community College so that I can use the library. I walk in and turn the corner. In the gallery there were photographs and portraits that commanded me to enter the room.



There was historical figures but also real people being reflected past what I am being told a Latin American person, a Hispanic person, and all the words we use to narrowly define a spectrum of people.

I was taking photos when a gentleman walked into the room. He popped a tune in the CD. It was Carlos Ugalde, photographer and professor of Latin American and Latino Studies at the college. He was very kind and gracious to allow me to interview him about his work.

P.S. Working on my final project, work and NaVlogPoMo do not mix - so I will be in and out of the loop until I finish the project proper and increase my chance of graduation or at least not having the lowest grade in the class.

P.S.S. Dear Universal Spirit, in my next life could you see fit to allow me to be at least 5'9 inches tall or there abouts. I'm running into a lot of tall men lately and well, hey sometimes it takes a lot of effort to get their attention.

I'm not complaining.

I'm working the shortie life fine and dandy but the shelf thing and having to ask for help from taller people got old around fifteen. Just putting in a pre-order consideration. Cuz there isn't always a step-stool around when you need to look a man face to face.

My Questions for 10Questions - Day 12

We take a slight pause for the cause on account I did promise to ask this question to the presidential candidates running for President. For more info check out http://www.10questions.com

For those of the candidates that understand social networking and communication we'll get the old answers in a new way. For those that don't get it they will choose not to participate.

In the interest of full disclosure, this is one of the questions that the BlogHer Voter Manifesto wants a response to and I am happy to convey the question and participate in this process.

Click To Play Flash Video

My concerns are that we as Americans continue to think in limited bands of time. We do not think or plan generationally. Our infrastructure is falling apart and we'll run to patch things up but that not a good way to sustain our cities or a country.

I don't believe that a four or eight year occupant can do a lot of good if we as a people choose not to participate in the process. That is the reason we are in the mess that we see today.

Tech Stuff: I don't know why but I am having problems with gettting my QT and Windows Media Videos. It seems I have to wait a few hours before posting them. I think those gosh darn vloggers have given a server or two a nervous breakdown. I'll post the alternative formats when I get the chance.

My Desk and Dusty Trails - Day 11

On the Ning list of NaVloPoMo one of the suggestions for posting videos when you run out of things to post is what is in your junk drawer. I go one step better, my junk top of desk. Normally it isn't as bad as I recorded it. It can be worse.

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As a special added bones at around the 04:31 mark is the opening title video for one heck of a bad sitcom, Dusty's Trails. I got this at the beloved 99 Cents Only store but I overpaid by 50 cents.

This is proof positive that not everything from the sixties is groovy.

Acceptance - Day 10

It was a long day. It is 11:25pm. I have been up since 4:45am. I am looking at my last homework question:

When Archimedes lived in Syracuse, who was his patron? It is kinda fuzzy but I didn't think Archie was from New York. It doesn't matter cuz the server is down and I can't get into the Arts database to find out who he was stroking for cash.

I'm thinking these so called patrons didn't fork up money just for the aesthetic pleasure of having a work of art in their homes. I'm thinking that this was an exchange program and part of what was exchanged was body fluids.

I have no proof of this. It may be my carnal nature rising because my common sense has taken hike. But if I was a wealthy old gal in the old days and I had a piece of beefcake painting my ceiling I might invite him to survey my landscape.

Yes, I am a heathen. A spiritual heathen.

I am trying to edit video but I keep yawning. I may not make it but there is the futility in trying.

So, the word for today is acceptance. There is tomorrow.

Life in Text and Video 2 - Day 9

This is the second experiment in text and video.

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This is day 9 of NaVloPoMo and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed at 22 more days to go. I'm so tired after this day I can't even blather on like I usually do.

Life in Text and Video Poem - Day 8

I've been feeling guilty. I do have a boatload of video that I haven't edited or uploaded but there are people creating original content daily.

If I am going to try to do something new then this would be the time. There is a particular type of poetry where the words are used as a sculpture. There is another type where words and images meld into a third meaning.



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So this is my attempt to try to get to that third meaning. What do you do when you want to create but you have to earn a living, provide for the essentials and not have you soul sucked away by the mundane?

You don't have to be an artist or creative person to face this and the answers are everywhere but your answer is some place else. That is the starting point.

Cantor Esther Leon - Day 7

Sometimes you can't get it right. I wanted this to be perfect because it was a perfect moment in real life.



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When I got home there were things wrong, sun flares, my zigzags and hand tremors that views as shimmies. I tried to fix it but at some point I gave up and time moved on.

It seems ok now, not as bad as I thought. And maybe it is time to add this voice to counter some of the cruelty running around as political commentary. I mention no names, insert your own breathing pejorative windbag here. This is my contribution to day 7 of NaVloPoMo.

Pasadena Bloggers Picnic - Day 6

It was a lovely afternoon. I didn't know any of these people. I knew one or two of their blogs but I felt like an interloper. I shop, work and go to school in Pasadena but I don't live there. Out of my current budget.

I bought some wet naps, Blood Orange Soda ( I really do like drinking that stuff) and something else I don't remember. I tended to stay near the tables because there was some good food on it and I didn't know what else to do. I don't have the automatic smoozing gene, I gotta kinda peculate up to it.

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Fortunately a very nice gentleman name Robin brought some excellent ribs of all permutation. I could her my doctor tsk, tsking me about wrapping my lips around those bones but me and Charlie understood that nature is not something to be defied. Unfortunately I couldn't slip Charlie any of the bounty cuz his human said he couldn't have any.

So this is simple video. No ribs, intense political debates or ants in the pants. A group of people who know, kinda know and don't know each other pose for a photo. Just like we did in grade school. But a little bit better than that.

A Soldier's Skin At PCC Gallery - Day 5

We all have feelings about the war but most of us have got it through our thick heads that the troops need to be supported. I would like to see each and everyone of them home but that is a discussion for another time.



Some those folks who are home have a living memorial to those that have paid the ultimate price. Mary Beth Heffernan, an artist and instructor at Occidental College in Eagle Rock, (Los Angeles) went to tattoo parlors near Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. She photographed honor tattoos on the body of the survivors and memory holders.

Visitors were permitted to take home copies of the exhibit in the form of posters. This is a video representation of that event. This was on of the events of the Arts and Ideas Festival 2007

Elizabeth's Poem - Day 4

I use to have more time. Time to hook up with other folks creating work that happens in the moment. I long to get back to those times but that requires more income than what I'm generating at the moment.

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This was recorded in 2006 as I followed the Poets on the Gold Line. Elizabeth is reading a poem about her mother. But time and real life conspire against a shared moment.

Digitizing Books - Day 3

For the past two years I've been learning about libraries, how the operate and some of the issues that we as a culture will have to deal with in the 21st century. I generally write about this stuff at http://pcclibtech.blogspot.com

I am not a librarian. Yet. If ever. But I am thinking about it more and more.

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I want to show you a device that you ought to be aware of, you should know that the traditional book isn't going gently into the dust. But it might be transformed.

This is especially important for fragile or extremely old materials. They wouldn't stand up to this type of processing; there are gentler scanning methods for the at risk materials.

This is an just one small example of how that change is going to happen. I'm not endorsing any specific product. I literally walked up to this one and hit record.

http://nablopomo.ning.com/group/videobloggers

Another Reason to Learn to Drive - Day 2

I'm on the bus. I'm always on the bus. Anyway this older lady gets on. She has a crumpled dollar. Crumpled dollars do not work well with modern fare collection boxes. It won't take. Sometimes in life you have a crumpled dollar and you got to work with what you have.

The driver is giving her a hard time. "You should not have crumpled it up. It should have been smooth before you got on the bus. You're making me late."

Cheeze...can you make her feel any worse about not getting the freaking dollar into the fare box?

Well, yeah he can. I can stand no more of his (non) encouragement. I look in my wallet, I have a smooth dollar. I trade dollars with her.

That should have been the end of it.

It wasn't. But it works out. I don't think she understood what he was saying anyway.

http://nablopomo.ning.com

I Must Be Out Of My Mind - Day One

It is a time for expression, high verbiage followed by a sleep deprivation chaser. In case you haven't heard is it:

• National Novel Writing Month - Think of it as the equivalent of a marathon, where folks with the best of intentions decide to write that dang novel they have been carrying in their bones. No prizes, no free drinks or sponsorship. Just you and your writing device facing down the calendar. For the record, I will not be participating in this event but ain't nothing stopping you from taking the plunge. I'd give you more info about it but I can't connect to the site. What you can do is check out the audio podcast related to the event at http://nanowrimopodcast.blogspot.com
• National Blog Posting Month - If you are a blogger now is the time to step up to the plate. You don't even have to blog alone, check out the list and find your kinfolk. If you are a belly Christian blogger into Goth I'm telling you there are folks waiting to hug your cyber-spirit. Seeing how I can barely muster two or three post a month now days the thought of doing thirty straight is overwhelming. But maybe I could do one small post a day.
  
• National Video Blog Posting Month - I could do one small text post a day but I'm a videoblogger damn it! That I can't do every day. Well, maybe on some of the days. But not all. I don't think. But I got stuff, just have to recycle and adapt to new purposes. Yeah. I might be able to do that.
  

Anyway, here is the deal. I will try to post "something" for thirty days. I will release myself from any thought of perfection, competence and will hold a tenuous grip on my sanity. If I make it through I will stand among people who do what they say they are going to do and mean it.

Or not, hell somebody has to bring down the curve.

The Priorities - Taking A Look At Where I Stand

Can I say what I have to say in five minutes? Fire clears away blockages. It helps you focus really quickly on what is important and what you need to do at any giving time you are involved with fire. The reality of living in Southern California means you have to be be flexible, adaptable and understand that what you knew to be true five minutes ago doesn't mean squat.

For my geographically challenged friends who haven't called yet, I'm fine. I am currently no where near an fire situation. It has been really warm temperature-wize and the Santa Ana's winds have been blowing but no gusting around my area as of yet.

Someone I knew has died, non-fire related. He kept working, ignoring his health and respect for the time he had left. He ran out of his fixed amount of life. It has been rattling my cage.

Life is about the choices that you make and how you step up to changing what you don't like. So the (mental) image of the day is "make that move," or "do the right thing" or "take time to see what is around you."

You might not get a second chance.

Books That Get Under Our Skin - Modern Primatives

This is the next video in the series I am doing for PCC Shatford Library. In this video Jane Pojawa talks about how this books lead her to rethink her perceptions about Journalism.

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If you would like to participate and add the book that got under your skin you can visit http://underourskin.blogspot.com You can add a text post and bring that book that rattled your bones to prominence.

I Don't Know Who She Is But She Sings Good

I'm running around Friday night, aim the camcorder at some folks, annoying others and recording what I could before I hop the last bus out of Dodge, er I mean Pasadena. I walk thought the courtyard past expensive stores and cobblestones and dresses my body will never fit into.

I see the flags in the sky but I hear her voice. I start recording. I don't know who she is. I'm not sure if she was part of the ArtNight festival or hired by a local business to sing for the customers.



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I didn't have my glasses on so I only know her name starts with V or Valencia or Valarina or something like that. There was a CD on the table but not cards or flyers. I couldn't read her name. She was singing around 8:30-9pm or so Friday night. She was good cuz I missed the dang blasted bus.

That was ok because there was a fire on Colorado and the was a bunch of fire engines. A story for another time. So if you know who she is let me know because I do want to spread the word on performers who can sing with their clothes on and can stand relatively still while doing so. I'll dig through my handouts but the pile is high.

October 16th Update: I found her name! It is Valencia Vas and I was listening to the Valencia Vas Trio. On her website you can check out more of her music or find out how to purchase her CD.

Books That Get Under Our Skin - Daniel Larios

I've been working on a project for the past couple of weeks, it is starting to roll out so I can share it with you. My school library has a blog called Books That Get Under You Skin. It is part of a city wide festival Skin: A Pasadena Arts and Ideas Festival.

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I have been interviewing folks about the book that got to them. This is the first entry and there will be a few more. This is new for me in that I have to plan and make sure I have all the stuff in places at the right time. I'm learning a lot about interviewing and time management and the need for naps. Much of it again my will.

For more information about Barbara Kingsolver visit http://www.kingsolver.com

Where To Munch In Pasadena

This is in response to Donna's comment about where to eat when she comes to Pasadena. My top five affordable yet tasty places for snacking and food consumption. Agggh I'm directionally impaired! I'm going to give you the name and the rough locations.

From the Pasadena Conference Center you will want to cross the street to get on Colorado Blvd. where the Post Office is located. The regular shuttle is $.50 cents. You can walk it as well. The next block heading toward the freeway is Arroyo Parkway.

King Taco on Arroyo and Union which is a block north.(I think) Under $8 you can get a close to authentic Mexican food and other goodies. It is a block or so before the Memorial Park Gold Line Station.

If you stand on Arroyo and Colorado Blvd. you will see motorcycles which means you have found Hooter's (NOT an endorsement) There is an new Italian Gelato ice cream store a few doors down. Moving toward the freeway you will find many other restaurants that will be jammed on Friday night.

Me? I like Saladang at 363 S. Fair Oaks (it will be busy) Tibet Napal House on Union slightly above Fair Oaks and Colorado I love this joint, it will mellow you out and dine you with excellent food. El Portal is near the Convention Center also an affordable din-din option.

As you move down Old Town on Colorado you will find a 2nd Italian Gelato place and on Colorado & Fair Oaks past the Cheesecake Factory (no way you will get in there in under an hour) there is a Pinkberry Yogurt Ice Cream store.

It is next to a bunch of restaurants, I think Mexican, Indian and there has been a change so I don't remember what the new place is about.

I haven't tried this place but I'm planning to Azeen's Afghani Restaurant 110 E Union St Pasadena, CA 91103

The Pasadena Visitors Bureau has a database of restaurants. You can select those that are near Paseo Colorado or Old Town that will keep you busy and well fed not to mentioned exercised trying to find these places.

Chow Baby!

ArtNight Pasadena - Your Friday Night Is Booked

This week you can't say that there is nothing going on, actually you can't say that about most weeks in the Los Angeles area.

Anyway, I'm giving you the head's up about ArtNight Pasadena where you can visit some of the artistic and cultural goodies for free. Not only that but you get the opportunity to fill your soul with some of the cultural richness that Pasadena has to offer.

Here is the deal, you find your way to Pasadena; ideally by MTA but I do understand the reality of traveling on buses at night. Ick So carpool if you can. Aim toward one of the following locations, visit it then then hop on one of the free art shuttle buses that will take you to various locations.

Or, you can hook up with fellow C.I.C.L.E bicycle folks and join the rolling tour. The meet-up for the C.I.C.L.E gang is in One Colorado Courtyard in Old Town behind the Patagonia store.

What locations?

• Art Center College of Design
• Pasadena Museum of History
• An installation and performances at One Colorado in Old Town
• The Armory locations at North Raymond and Fair Oaks
• Light Bringer Project on South Raymond
• Pasadena Symphony
• Pasadena Jazz
• Pasadena Public Library where there will be a bunch of dancing, graphic novels and music
• Pasadena Museum of California Art
• Pasadena Playhouse
• Pasadena Conservatory of Music - with a "Body Percussion" concert
• and Pasadena City College sharing The Soldier's Skin where you can take home a poster of a memorial tattoos from US Marines.
  

This is just a small part of what is happening in Pasadena this month. I got more to tell and show but this is the starting point. So bust out of L7 and do something different between the hours of 6 to 10pm on Friday October 12, 2007.

And it is free, no charge as in no cost to you. Be cool and frugal.

As an added insentive there are a couple of new Italian ice creme and yogurt places in Old Town that you need to introduce to your mouth. Serious flavor explosions.

The Connections Between Us and Burma

After work I took a walk. I was near Fuller Theological and I saw this stencil:

I saw it from a distance without my glasses and I thought that it was a group of women leading somewhere. As I got closer I could read the writing at the bottom, and one of the monks looks like she/he has been assaulted.

And the connection is that when the forces of power try to suppress peaceful action the world will know. And good people we stand and pray or affirm right action.

Take a moment to send positive thoughts, prayers or whatever your belief system will allow for the safety of the people of Burma.

October 7, 2007

I didn't know about Free Burma day on the Internet. I just wanted to express solidarity with spiritual people standing up to a hostile force.

Apparently so do a bunch of other people. It was International Bloggers' Day for Burma on October 4, 2007. I do know that with each step you move closer to the goal. It has been a long journey for Burma and they have miles to go before they can rest.

Amnesty International has information and action page to get you up to speed.

The Burma Digest blog has video of those citizens protesting in Rangoon. There are also photos of folks that have been beat, shot, maimed or killed trying to express their rights of free speech.

What are steps are you hesitating on taking to positively move your part of the world forward?

Change is coming.

Ethics of Reviewing Restaurants - A Discussion

I try and I try and life keeps filling up even when I zone out with a cold. It is like "Come on, stay on the mark, keep the pace, move it, use it, do it and you know what? Your body is gonna go tell logical mind to shove it, we have a shut down in progress.

Eh, yeah. It is getting better but I'm digging into my video pile of possibilities and this is what I've come up with.

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First I'd like to say that I like watching Chef Ramsay rake over the newbie chefs. I ain't ever eating at Hell's Kitchen but he gives me the shivers in a good way. I don't want to be a chef but I'd want one who has gone through the fire of his experience. The dude can be on the deep side of assertive. Like, don't lie to him. Ever.

Second, I like food. So in the spirit of understanding that it can be a tough job and the results are so transitory I bring you this clip from the Art of Foodblogging. I got no choice it is this or hand puppets but it is good stuff none the less.

There was an interesting discussion on what food bloggers can and should do ethically. I didn't know that there are some dark seeds out there that are mucking it up for the rest of us. In all things start from a position of respect and you can't go wrong.

This clip is from the Art of Foodblogging session at the BlogHer 2007 conference in Chicago.

Wear It Black - Support the Jena Six

9-25-07 Update: Ok, as promised from My Urban Report:

• Video from the rally in Jena, Louisiana.
• An interview with Mose Def on his reasons for participating and more importantly calling out those celebrities that didn't appear or have yet to speak out.

and for a little something extra, a YouTube video on the march that blends music with clips from Al Sharpton, Maxine Waters and other participants in the rally.

Original Post:

Too much time has passed waiting for the system to correct itself. Can't blame this on Katrina, it is the same ole Okey-Doke that gets young men locked up or killed. To get up to speed check out this mash-up of a Democracy Now audio report with photos SideTurn from Blip.TV



Dr. Mike over on YouTube did an interview with some of the Jena 6 defendants in the situation (Caution, if you venture over to YouTube and search for videos about the Jena 6 you will discover that some of the comments posted are of a highly insulting and racist nature. Nothing we haven't experienced before but you don't need to ingest them)



If you checked your local television news you may or may not see any references to the thousands of people who came to stand in support of the Jena 6. Some of the national news outlets have sent reporters down to Jena La.

But where are our voices? Not to worry, here is your chance to check it out cuz dang sure between focusing on OJ and focusing on a complicated story that requires examination we know whose face we are going to see on M$M.

From Nate Perkins Live: recording the Louisiana NAACP March for the Jena 6



Amani from My Urban Reporter has students in Atlanta talking about the situation



Soon as more of the day's activities are posted I will link to them.

Thinking About My Aniversary of Blogging

Yep, one of these days I'm going to make with the ashes to ashes and head for astral ground. Or is that astral space? I made this little ditty at Tombstone Generator and even if I could eat Ice Cream there would never be enough time.

This is my blogging/vlogging anniversary of sorts. Years ago I started an e-mail newsletter to keep friend and clients aware of what this thing called the Internet is, how to fix simple computer problems and some of the neat stuff that can be found on the InnerTubes. I wrote monthly.

September 11, 2001 changed my thinking. For me I wanted to connect with folks but also find the tools we all needed and were not necessarily getting from television. Cuz watching the destruction of the Twin Towers over and over again was not helping me.

I wanted to share with folks about how to deal with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. What was Anthrax? Dealing with anger and all of the other topics that were popping up. It was so quiet that day. It was my way of fighting back against the ignorant and the cruel.

If it was my last days on earth I was going to do something in affirmation. Honestly, I didn't think we were going to get to the end of the month.

It was my (and a lot of other people's) way of coping, of doing something positive to counteract the negative. From newsletters to blogging. Then in 2005 I discovered vlogging and that has opened my vision of my world and the people that I have been privileged to meet. Heck of a good time that is constrained by school and the Salt Mine.

It is now 2007. I now have tools I couldn't imaging owning in 1999. Hard drive camcorder, editing software, mp3 players. I can watch videos from around the world. I can't help watch the past fade more and more away.

So here I am. What will the next year bring? Dunno. But for those of us that were unemployed between 2001 and 2004 I'm thinking the secret phrase is "Stock up on can goods not made in China."

Saturday In Pasadena - The Heat of the Moment

It was hot. It was 107 degrees hot. It was so hot I didn't want to go directly home so I was going across town to pick up a bus pass. If you don't latch on to a bus pass by Saturday afternoon you are SOL and you will be forking up $5 a day Metro pass.

I had gotten out of class early. I caught the bus in less than 10 minutes which was a blessing due to the heat. Made it to Lake and Colorado and that is when life got interesting.

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One of the most stressful jobs in Los Angeles is being a bus driver. The idiotic things people do with their cars and pedestrians will age you before your time. Things like a bike rider approaching from the left, getting off his bike and then expecting to board the bus.

The driver has the option of not allowing the passenger on the bus. Especially if you almost get yourself hit by pulling up in front of said bus. Rest assured you will not be allowed to board the bus if the driver told you to remove your bike from the rack.

But this isn't really about the bus and the bike. It is about men and women. Self determination. Fantasy thinking and when do you accept defeat honorably and go about your business? It was dang poetic.

I had to leave before the Metro (cough) police arrived. Actually the driver encouraged us to catch the next bus.

A brief explanation. Although the driver called the police the Los Angeles Sheriff department is the law enforcement agency for the L.A. Metro transit system. Pasadena police could not respond unless it is life threatening (don't hold me to that, that is just bus rider intuition.)

And although there is a sheriff station in Altadena there was no way of knowing where this particular sheriff would be coming from. It would be a long wait. Once the driver called for the sheriff she couldn't move.

For all I know they are still facing off. The music is by Ralph Wooden, the tune is Bent String Blues.

The Skivvy on SubPrime - This Is Why We Need Librarians

I don't own a home. I would like to but my income is insufficient to purchase a home in the California real estate market. I've seen shacks sell for $2 million plus so I don't feel too bad about not buying.

Liber8 is a newletter produced by the St. Louis Federal Reserve. In the September issue they are talking about the Sub-Prime lending situation.

I knew that the sharks were in the water. On television, ads in newspapers and real estate seminars playing up the latest foreclosure for profits gambits. I'm sure parallels are going to be made comparing 1929 actions and the Sub-Prime mischief. Specifically only putting up a portion of the value of the loan, only having paper based valuations of property and feeding off the ill informed for fast cash.

I'm trying to get a handle on the Sub-Prime mess. If it is anything like the tribulation we all experience in 2001 to 2004 I want to know so I can stock up on glass, aluminum and plastic bottles. I get the willies just thinking about those days.

Anyway - this is a primer created for librarians but anybody can read and understand the information presented. The newsletter was composed by the library staff of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank.